10 32 1900 http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/8188bb3abcfe1f861b996f4c28a4b077.pdf 2b953145b14b75977bd7aa9d42794739 PDF Text Text Official Publication of the Seafarers International Union• Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District• AFL-CIO Vol. 49, No. 4 April 1987 Six Week Delay Makes Payoff Even Sweeter for Seatare rs on the Stonewall Jackson See Pages 4 & 5 When the Ice Thaws, It's Time for Great Lakes Fitout The M/V Paul Thayer (Pringle Steamship Co.) slips past the breakwater and the last of the ice field coming into the port of Lorain, Ohio as the shipping season opens on the Great Lakes. (See pages 9-16.) Baltimore Boatmen The sand dredgers are an important part of the building and construction industry around the lower Great Lakes, and Erie Sand & Gravel has been a leader in the dredge industry for many years. Pumpman Jerry Bollinger, who has worked for Erie Sand for 17 years, readies the dredge J.S. St. John for another season. The vessel was fitting out in her home port of Erie, Pa. • • Trade, Bilateral Bills Advance Page 3 Inland News Page 6 Government Services Division Page 17 SHLSS Offers New Course Pages 19-21 The Hermes (Baker-Whiteley) is just one of several tugs operated by SIU members in Baltimore Harbor. See page 6 for more photos. The SIU in Washington Page 24 �! I President's Report by Frank Drozak ' ' THE war has taught us a great lesson! We cannot afford to be without the world's best merchant marine! We must have a great merchant marine as our first line of defense! The need for trained seamen is not temporary-there will be a continuing need for good trained men of the sea." During the course of the 45 year since Admiral Emory S. Land uttered those words, we have forgotten that ''great lesson.'' The U.S. no longer possesses the world's best merchant marine. We are ranked 16th in the world. It seems as if we in the maritime industry, both labor and management, have spent years trying to warn admini trations of both parties that the merchant marine is essential to national defense, but it is in serious trouble. '' its troops and materials anywhere around the world. The U.S. i · not. Because of the disastrou decline of the private U .S.-flag merchant marine. the Department of Defen e realized we don't act, and act now, we can kiss what's left of the U.S. merchant marine goodbye ... If we should ever need ships in time of war, maybe we could charter a few hundred of the Soviets' ... " · If I've had better luck talking to brick walls. The United States is down to 360 deep sea ships. The Soviet Union ha a modern 2,500 ship deep sea fleet. In addition, 70 percent of that fleet is scheduled for replacement during their current five-year plan. The majority of the U.S. fleet is containerized, a great way to move commercial cargo, but almost useless for military shipments. The Soviet fleet is the most militarily useful merchant fleet in the world. Their ships are built with strengthened deck with adequate tie-downs to accommodate military vehicles, provisions for chemical warfare, enhanced communications and crews wh~ are Soviet navy reservists. In addition, most Soviet ships are of the size that would allow them to operate in shallow ports and clo e inshore in most areas of the world. Our biggest adversary, the Soviet Union, is very well equipped to move something needed to be done. It began building up what will eventually be a 148-ship reserve force. You can stockpile ships, but you can't stockpile experienced sailors. Even conservative estimates show that if tho e hip were needed, there would be a shortfall of ome 6,000 qualified seamen to operate those ve sets. Some estimates say that as many as 15,000 billets would go unfilfed. The only place to develop a trained pool of qualified seafarers is the private merchant marine. In this decade alone the number of active eafarers has dropped 40 percent, from 51,000 to 29,100 in 1986. By 1992, when the 148-ship reserve fleet is complete, there will only be 22,000 licen ed and unlicen ed active seafarers. For more than 200 years a healthy merchant fleet ha been cited as necessary for national defense. We don't have that today. Acee s to cargo i the only answer I know to the problem of how to build and maintain a merchant marine that i adequate to develop commerce in peace time and serve as an arm of the Navy in war. Make cargo available to U.S. ships and the industry will rebuild itself. Cargo begets ships which beget seafarers. There are many way to get cargo for U .S.-ftag ships. It would be simple (and legal) for the pre ident to declare that a certain percentage (10, 15, 20 percent, or even all) foreign seatrade be carried on U.S. ship . But even though cargo preference is practiced by many countries, including the U.S., we all know that type of cargo preference will not happen. We could reestablish and refund construction and operating differential subsidies. But under this administration it is highly unlikely to occur. Our two bilateral agreements, with Brazil and Argentina, are good examples that bilaterals do work. But there has been no effort on the part of the administration to enter into uch agreements. There is another way to generate cargo. I firmly believe that it is the respon ibility of the entire citizenry of a developed maritime nation to pay for the maintenance of a merchant marine. One way of doing this is a tax incentive to exporters and importers to use U .S.-flag ships. In this way, the cost is spread equally between all taxpayers, both individuals and indus- try. In fact, such a tax incentive should be substantial enough so that it would even be po sible to specify not only U .S.-ftagged ships, but U .S.-built ships as well. And I have to tell you that I do not know of another way, short of a massive construction differential subsidy, to do something about our declining shipbuilding industry. A tax incentive to importers and exporters would provide a unique melding of the benefits of both a cargo preference law and a subsidy without all the drawback associated with either. First, the cost of such a program, unlike a cargo preference law, is spread across the entire tax base, and is offset. at least in part. by increased tax revenue from the expanding maritime employment base. Second, there is no direct subsidy to a specific segment of the industry, a concept which is seemingly distasteful to a country that likes to pride itself on competitiveness and free trade. Finally, the provisions would be contained in our internal revenue tax code, and therefore understood by a wider segment of our society. If we don't act, and act soon, we can kiss what's left of the U.S. merchant marine goodbye. If we should ever need ships to supply our troops in time of war, maybe we could charter a few hundred of the Soviets'. A Special 'Thank You' Last year John Cleveland, SIU cafeteria manager and SHLSS instructor, was killed in an automobile accident. His friends and employees at Union headquarters and the SHLSS rai ed everal thousand dollars to begin a trust fund for hi son. His widow Cheryl wrote the following letter to expres her thanks for the help and support she and her son have received since her hu band's death. My Dear Friends, I have tried a million times to write this letter, but each time my emotion have overwhelmed me. The passing of time has allowed the sorrow at losing John to lessen to the extent that I can now handle it, but the generosity and warmth I received from each and every one of you is o beautiful I still cry when I think about it. When John died I was left with not only my grief and sorrow but with problems and debts and a tremendou fear of the future. And you people banded together to solve my problems and ease my fear. John loved the Lundeberg School and was proud to be a U.I.W. member and proud to work at the Seafarers International headquarters. He would be so proud if he knew what you have done for his wife and child. I wish that I were a poet. I wish I could find the words to describe what is in my heart. You honored John with your good deeds, you gave a little boy a chance in life, you added sunshine to my heart when that heart was dark with pain, and all I can give you in return is my. thanks and my love. Off1c1al Publ1cat1on of the Seafarers International Union ol North Amenca, Atlanuc Gulf. La s and Inland Waters Oistr ct, Af r1n Apnl 1987 God Bless You, Cheryl Cleveland Vol 49. No 4 Executive Board Frank Drozak President Charles Svenson Editor Mike Hall Managing Editor Max Hall Deborah Greene Associate Editor Associate Editor 2 I LOG I April 1987 Angus "Red" Campbell Joe DiGiorgio Vice President Secretary Joe Sacco Mike Sacco Leon Hall Vice President Vice President Vice President George McCartney Roy Mercer Steve Edney Vice President Vice President Vice President The LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, AFL-CIO, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746, Tel. 8990675. Second-class postage paid at M.S.C. Prince Georges. Md. 20790-9998 and at addit.ional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. �Trade and Bilateral Bills Move Out of Committee Two SIU-backed bills which could help solve some unfair trading practices and boost the U .S.-flag share of imported cargo were approved by the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. H.R. 1290 would set up a system to combat unfair foreign trade practices in ocean shipping. If such practices are found, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) would begin negotiations with that country to eliminate them. If those talks could not resolve the issue, the FMC could then impose civil penalties or e tablish policies which ''mimic'' those of the offending country. ''This bill will spur our government to move aggressively to combat unfair transportation practices which harm U.S. flag operators. Teddy Roosevelt said, 'Walk softly and carry a big stick.' For too long we have been remembering only the first part of his quote. If we pass H.R. 1290 we'll finally have in our hands that big stick," said Rep. Walter B. Jones (DN .C.), committee chairman. Examples of unfair trading practices include: cargo reservation schemes that exclude the United States; integrated supplier-transporter companies that tend to monopolize trade; prohibiting U.S. operators from operating trucking or rail links in foreign countries on the same basis as is available to foreign operators in the United States; restricting access by U.S. vessels by imposing unreasonable time and dimension standards that are not applied to their own carriers. The bill, introduced by Jones and with 43 cosponsors, may be included in an omnibus trade bill Congre s is expected to draft this ses ion. The committee also pa sed legislation which would force the admini tration to enter into bilateral trade agreements in certain circumstances. H .R. 300 is sponsored by Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.). The bill would require bilateral agreements when a nation accounts for more than 1 percent of U.S. waterborne trade with less than one-third U.S.-flag carriage of the trade. Under the plan, one third of the cargo would be shipped on American vessels, one third on vessels of the trading partner and one third for other carriers. ''The primary goal is to assure that while other maritime nations unfairly divide up the world maritime business, the United States is not just left with the crumbs," Biaggi said. There are 26 nations which fall into the categories of the bill, mostly the indu trialized nations of Europe and the Far East, plus oil exporting countries. Seamen's Union Leaders Jailed by Sandinistas Two of the top leaders of the Nicaraguan Seamen's Union of Bluefields, who were guests of the SIU last year and visited Union headquarters, were arrested in Managua by state security police in February. Their arrest has sparked the AFL-CIO and the SIU to begin a campaign to win their release. The two men, whose whereabouts are not known any longer but who remain in custody, are union president Dennis Britton and secretary of organization David Williams. No charges have been filed against the pair, and an attorney from the Confederation of Trade Union Unity (CUS) has been prevented from contacting the two. Their arrest followed a takeover of the formerly independent union by the Sandinista government. The governm nt's action, the CUS said, was a flagrant violation of the new Nicaraguan constitution, that country's labor code and the covenants of the International Labor Organization. "We may be able to help free these two seamen through our efforts, the efforts of our membership and the help of U.S. union members. I urge Seafarers to take the time and write the Nicaraguan government asking for the release of the two," said SIU President Frank Drozak. Please write to the following people protesting the arre t of David Williams and Dennis Britton: President Daniel Ortega, Casa Presidencial, Managua, Nicaragua; Cmdte. Victor Tirado Lopez, Direccion N acional del FSLN, Barrio EL Carmen, Managua Nicaragua; Ambassador Carlos Tunnerman, Embassy of Nicaragua, 1627 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. IN ADDITION: Please ask your Congressional representatives and other elected officials to write letters as well, and please send information about this case to your local media. Note: Please send copies of your correspondence to: AIFLD, 1015 20th St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20036; and to the Inter-American Commission for Human and Trade Union Rights, Apartado 6-7734, El Dorado, Panama. SAMPLE LETTERS I am writing to protest the arrest of two Nicaraguan union leaders on February 18. Their names are Dennis Britton and David William , from the Seamen's Union. Such actions severely damage your government's claim to plurali m. Your immediate action is needed to secure the e men's release. It is my understanding they are in jail in Bluefields. I would appreciate hearing your reply. MTD's Stephen J. Leslie Dies MTD Vice President Stephen J. Leslie, the last charter member of the MTD Executive Board, died March 3. He had retired in 1986 as first vice president of the Operating Engineers and as business manager of its Local 25. He began his working career as a wiper aboard a merchant vessel, the S. S. Columbia, in 1934. He became a member of the Operating Engineers when he went to work as an engineer on a water tunnel project in New York in 1939. Leslie became an IUOE organizer for employees on dredges and floating equipment along the East Coast and on the Great Lakes. He was elected vice president of the MTD in 1979. He also was a member of the executive board of the Maritime Port Council of Greater New York & Vicinity. * * * Our organization has been informed that two leaders of the Seamen's Union of Bluefields-Dennis Britton and David Williams-were arrested by your government on February 18 in Bluefields. Prior to their arrest, your Sandinista party organizers intervened in their union election to insure its subordination to Sandini ta control. Your new constitution, a well a the International Labor Organization, prohibit uch violations of trade union rights. We call on your government to take immediate action to free the jailed union leader and cease its interfer- ence in independent unions. * * * On February 18, 1987, two union leaders were arrested in Managua. They are Dennis Britton and David Williams from the Seamen's Union in Bluefields. Isn't it time your government stopped persecuting such people and started respecting trade union rights? You rightfully condemn such actions when they occur in South Africa and Chile. How are your government's actions any different? I would hope you would move immediately to ecure the relea e of Dennis Britton and David Williams. Cash Transfer Could Mean Cargo The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a potentially important amendment to the FY '88 Foreign Aid bill by a vote of 18-10. If enacted into law, it would encourage the purchase of American manufactured goods and agricultural products. Widely known as the cash-transfer amendment, the provision addresses the manner in which the U.S. government provides aid to certain foreign countries. Under present law, the U.S. State Department gives ca h to foreign nations as a kind of foreign aid. At present, there is no requirement that the cash be used to purchase U.S. goods or services. The amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Robert Torricelli (DN .J .), would require that the cash be spent in the United States, and that a minimum of 50 percent of the goods purchased be transported on American-flag vessels. ''This is an important step in developing an overall trade policy,'' said SIU President Frank Drozak. ''Most other countries tie their foreign aid to the purchase of goods made in that country. It just doesn't make sense for the United States to subsidize Argentinian wheat or Liberian-flag vessels. The Japanese don't do it and neither should we.'' A similar amendment i pending consideration in the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. ''Enactment of the cash transfer amendment is a top legislative priority," said SIU Legislative Director Frank Pecquex. "It is a small but vital part of a comprehensive plan to stimulate economic development in the American-flag merchant marine." Title XI Narrowed In Marad Funding Stephen Le~lie Both the House and Senate are trying to find ways to overcome admini tration plans to cut the Marad budget even further in Fiscal 1988. The administration has proposed elimination of the Title XI loan guarantee program, aid to state maritime academies and all research and development funding. The Hou e Merchant Marine and Fi heries Committee pa sed its version, H.R. 953, with those items funded but with some change in the Title XI program. The Senate Merchant Marine Subcommittee began its first round of hearings on the authorization. Last year President Reagan vetoed the Marad funding because of the loan program and academy aid. In an attempt to overcome another veto, the House committee eliminated all offshore oil and gas drilling rigs, support vessels and river barges from the program. Estimates show that up to 80 percent of the loan defaults under the program were from that segment of the maritime industry. The ban on Joans for tho e vessels would last until 1990. Even with the added funding over the administration's request, the bill is $11. 7 miJlion less than la t year's funding. It authorizes $376.8 million for Marad and $15.3 million for the Federal Maritime Commission. April 1987 I LOG I 3 �What Fast Turnaround? .Stonewall Jackson's Long Trip Finally Pays Off The Stonewall Jackson (Waterman Steamship) was about 24 hours west of Gibraltar on the last leg of its regular Middle Eastern run last December. It had been several months since the crew had seen the States. It would be a lot longer before they finally got home. Major mechanical problems hit the LASH ship, and it was adrift for nine days before tugs finally took the Stonewall Jackson to Libson, Portugal for repairs. Those repairs took another six weeks. AB Robert Christensen (left) and Norfolk Patrolman David "Scrap Iron" Jones finish up some paperwork at payoff. "Lisbon is a good city. Everybody had a chance to see a lot of it. It has a beautiful harbor. It's a typical old European city and we had good weather for December and January," said AB Ivey Cox who was paying off at Norfolk where the ship was anchored for a couple days as Seafarers signed on and off. While Cox enjoyed the chance to explore Lisbon, AB Robert Christensen, a Seafarer since 1958, remembered his stay there a bit differently. "Lisbon is too damn expensive," he said. When Norfolk Patrolman David "Scrap Iron" Jones, with the help of Seafarer Herbert M. Davis, boarded the Jackson for the payoff, they found a few minor beefs to take care of, but mostly they found a lot of crewmembers who were happy to ee the end of the voyage. The Jackson had picked up a couple of new crewmen in New York, including an energetic and talkative Big Apple native, ''Big Mac from Bay Ridge." A steward assistant, "Big Mac's" voice was easy to pick out of a group of mostly Southern Seafarers. When the Stonewall Jackson steamed out of Newport News in the middle of March, it was the start of an almost three month voyage that would take her to Egypt, through the Suez Canal, to Pakistan, India, Singapore, turn around and head back through the Canal and home in June. No stop is scheduled in Lisbon this trip. ... ·:··::·:t·.:·.~ Steward Assistant Nelson Corey Jones sets a table in the officer's mess. After the long trip, Jones was looking forward to the next port, his home--New Orleans. QMED James "Tidewater" Tyson planned to use his free time on the voyage to complete several songs a major song publishing company is interested in. Launch pilot John Zeroes of the SIU-contracted Virginia Launch Service, checks his radar on the short, but very foggy trip to the Stonewall Jackson. Zernes has been working pilot boats for seven years in the Tidewater area. After a short but foggy trip to the Stonewall Jackson, crewmembers climb aboard. 4 I LOG I April 1987 Franklin Robenson, chief cook (left), QMED James "Tidewater Tyson (back to the camera) and Herbert Davis share a laugh on the launch deck. �"Big Mac from Bay Ridge," steward assistant and camera hog, slows down long enough to have his picture taken. Launch Deckhand Dean Everton in the wheelhouse of the Virginia Launch Service boat. A former Inland Boatman with Dixie Carriers, Everton also worked for Shawn's Launch Service before it went out of business and reformed as the SIU-contracted Virginia Launch Service. Hoping his trip won't be as eventful as the Stonewall Jackson's last run (nine days adrift and six weeks in a Lisbon shipyard), Steward Assistant "Big Mac from Bay Ridge" waves to the crewmembers getting off in Newport News. After a five minute trip through the Newport News fog, the Stonewall Jackson appeared from the mist. Launch Deckhand Dean Everton casts away the line as he readies for the trip to the Stonewall Jackson. ABs Robert Christensen (left) and Ivey Cox wait for payoff. QMED James Tyson is on the couch. Seafarer Herbert Davis, who assisted on the payoff, and Chief Cook C.C. Williams pose in the galley. AB Larry "Stash" Combs and Norfolk Patrolman David "Scrap Iron" Jones discuss the upcoming trip as they wait for the launch to take them to the Stonewall Jackson. April 1987 I LOG I 5 �... SIU's Baltimore Boatmen Photos by Frank Paladino The Kings Point (Curtis Bay). On the Cape Charles (Curtis Bay), Deckhand Milton Sheckells takes a break to feed some of the ducks in the harbor. In Baltimore Harbor, the Hermes (Baker-Whiteley Towing) comes alongside the tug America. On the deck of the Hermes are (I. to r.) Chief Engineer Manuel Alvarez and Deckhands Ronald Neibert and Bob Macalinski. Onboard the Cape Charles (Curtis Bay) are (I. to r .) Chief Engineer Herman Mooney, Deckhands Anthony Roman and Milton Sheckells and Mate V. Clinton Belcher. 6 I LOG I April 1987 Deckhands Ronald Neibert and Bob Macalinski ready to tie up the Hermes to her Baltimore dock. �In the Port of Philadelphia New Pensioners ABOVE: Aboard the Cape May (Curtis Bay) in Philadelphia, Pa. are (seated I. to r. ) Charles Cappello, steward; Kirk Fr~mmer , deckhand, and Jim Flanagan , oiler. Standing is Billy O ' Neill , mate. The following Inland members have retired on pension: Houston Benjamin Fitte Anthony J . Violante Jacksonville Harold Moll Norfolk Joe T. Daniels Lawrence G. Fagan Carlton M. Hodges In Memoriam William C. Bryant, 64 , died March 27 of a heart attack. Boatman Bryant joined the Union in 1956 and worked for G&H Towing since 1960 as a deckhand. He was buried in Grace Memorial Park in Santa Fe, Texas. Brother Bryant is survived by his widow, Odetta. Robert J. Miller, 52, died Jan. 25. Brother Miller sailed with Sheridan Transportation. Born in Connecticut, he was cremated at Clearwater Cremation Society in Florida. Seafarer Miller is survived by his widow. Jane. Pensioner John C. Simpson, 66, died March 8. Brother Simpson joined the Union in 1961. He sailed in the deck department and as a tugboat captain , last sailing with McAllister Brothers. Boatman Simpson went on pension in 1982. He was buried at Rosewood Memorial Park in Virginia Beach, Va. and is survived by his sister, Connie. Pensioner August J. Wojciechowski , 64, died Feb. 6 in Baltimore, Md. of a heart attack. He joined the Harbor Inland Waterways (a precursor to the IBU) in 1957 and sailed with Sonat Marine until he went on pension in 1980. Boatman Wojciechowski was buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. He is survived by his widow , Bertha. • • • RIGHT : Mike Albaugh, captain of the Tug McGraw (Taylor Marine Towing) in Philadelphia. Dispatchers Report for Inland Waters MARCH 1-31, 1987 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Ciass A Class B Port Gloucester ...... . .. . .. . . .. ... . ... . New York ... .......... . ...... .... . Philadelphia . . . ..... . . . .... .... .. . . Baltimore .. . .... . . .. . ... .. .. . .. .. . Norfolk .............. .. . . ....... . Mobile . . . ....... . ... . .. ....... .. . New Orleans . . . .. . . . ... . .. .. . .. ... . Jacksonville . . ... . ....... ....... .. . San Francisco . .. . .. .. .. .... .. ..... . Wilmington .. .. . . . . . ..... .. . .... .. . Seattle . . . .. .. .. . .......... . . . ... . Puerto Rico . ............... ... .. . . Houston ......... . .. . ... .. ....... . Algonac ............... . . . ........ . St. Louis ................ ....... . . Piney Point ....... . ............... . Totals .. . . . .......... . . . .. . .... . . TOTAL SHIPPED Class C **REGISTERED ON BEACH Class C All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 3 4 48 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 3 0 0 63 0 0 0 0 10 1 1 3 0 3 0 0 4 3 1 0 26 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 10 0 0 4 0 9 0 28 Port Gloucester .. . .... . ...... . . .. .. . .. New York .................. . ..... Philadelphia . .......... . ...... . .. . Baltimore . .......... . ...... .. . . . . Norfolk ........ . . . ... . .......... Mobile . . . .. ................ . . . .. New Orleans ...... . ......... . ..... Jacksonville ......... . ...... . ... .. San Francisco ..... . .. . ............ Wilmington . ..................... . Seattle ..... . . . ....... . . . ....... . Puerto Rico ...... . ...... .. ....... Houston . ............... . . .. ..... Algonac . . .. . ......... . .......... St. Louis .. ...... . ...... . . . . . .... Piney Point . . . . .... . . . . . .......... Totals ......... . .......... . ..... All Groups Class A Class B 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 7 0 0 0 1 0 29 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 20 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 11 0 0 0 0 10 0 77 30 0 0 4 4 48 3 0 0 0 16 0 0 6 26 1 1 26 169 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 1 0 2 0 14 0 0 4 38 0 0 78 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 3 0 6 1 28 ENGINE DEPARTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Port 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 20 0 0 44 31 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Gloucester ... . ............ ... .. .. . New York .............. ... .. . ... . . Philadelphia . ...... ...... . ........ . Baltimore ... . . .. . . .. . . . .. .... .... . Norfolk . . .. .. ...... . . . ... .. .... . . Mobile ....... . .... .. .. . . . ...... . . New Orleans . . ... . ... . .. . . . . .. .. .. . Jacksonville .... . ......... .. ... . . . . San Francisco .. . .... . ........ . .... . Wilmington .............. . .. .. .... . Seattle .. . ... ...... . . . . .......... . Puerto Rico ....... . ... . . .... . . ... . Houston .. ..... .. ........ .... . . .. . Algonac . ..... ..... . . . . .. . .. ... .. . St. Louis .. . .. . . . .. . ... ... . . .. . .. . Piney Point .. . .... .. ... ... . ... . ... . Totals .................. .. ...... . 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Totals All Departments ... .... . ... . ... . 86 35 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 34 93 36 27 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 18 0 23 1 0 6 231 132 32 1 0 0 *" Total Registered " means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. **"Registered on the Beach " means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. April 1987 I LOG I 7 �Area Vice Presidents' Report West Coast by V. P. George McCartney T HE SIU has been playing an active role in local elections out here. The political strength of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley is being tested in a series of elections for the city council and tate assembly. If the candidates he backs do poorly, then he can expect heavy opposition in next year's mayoralty race. Particularly important i the race for the council seat in the city's 10th District, where Bradley and much of organized labor is backing Homer Broome Jr. Broome's political resume bears a striking similarity to that of Bradley, his political mentor. Like Bradley, Broome was part of the first group of black policemen to desegregate the L.A. force 25 years ago. In other local races, the SIU is backing Cecil Green for the 33rd State Senate seat and Lucille Royball Allard for the 53rd District. Again, the SIU is involved in these races because some of these candidates will inevitably go on to higher office. It is an investment in this Union's future. The Union also has been supporting a heavily publicized strike against CBS Studios by the Writers Guild. This is just one more instance of how the SIU practices grassroots labor solidarity. A local boycott against Miller Beer proved to be less successful after several unions broke ranks, and Miller filed a $22 million lawsuit against the Operating Engineers Local 501. Still, the SIU stood solid with the Operating Engineers until they decided to pull the plug on the strike. In San Francisco, Nancy Pelosi was the top Democratic vote-getter in a special electio°" to succeed the lat~ Sala Burton. Pelosi is practically a shoo-in to win a run-off against her Republican challenger. One final word about Sala Burton: She was a good friend of maritime and labor. She and her husband Philip did all that they could to promote the American-flag merchant marine. Seamen have lost a good friend. Gulf Coast by V.P. Joe Sacco N EGOTIATIONS have been going on in the Mobile area with Pilot 81 LOG I April 1987 Service and Radcliffe Materials. We hope to have these wrapped up shortly. Shipping has been particularly good for the entire region. Leading the way, as usual, has been the military work that we've been able to pick up. It is important for our members to understand that this military work is the wave of the future. The only new work that is being created in the maritime industry is onboard Navy vessels that have been contracted out to the private sector. I therefore urge all SIU members to upgrade their kills at Piney Point. And remember: Political action is the key to job ecurity. It gives me great pleasure to report that seamen shipping out of Houston have one of the highest rates of SPAD and MDL contributions. bad." By any other standard than that, he is one of the most effective governors in the nation. Nearby in Norfolk, a contract at Northeast Towing was signed and ratified. Negotiations continue at the S.T.C. Little Curtis Company. Great Lakes by V.P. Mike Sacco N ow East Coast by V.P. Leon Hall T HE Seafood Producers Trial is slowly winding down. We expect the NLRB to make some kind of determination within a month or two. The problems that have plagued the American fishing industry over the past two years have not abated. Accidents are at near-epidemic levels. The cost of liability insurance is prohibitive. More important, Canadian fishing products have inundated the American market. The SIU is therefore closely monitoring ''free trade'' talks between the United States and Canada. Canadian fishermen already possess certain advantages over their American counterparts (do e government cooperation, large sub idies). The wholesale opening of the American market to Canadian market might prove to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Still, there is some good news. New Bedford remains the largest American fishing port. Gloucester remains in the top 10, despite efforts by local politicians to hand over the waterfront to real estate interests. Elsewhere on the East Coast, Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer, who was backed by the SIU in the last election, is completing a highly uccessful legislative session. Ninetyfive percent of the bills he placed on hi priority list were enacted into law, including a controversial plan to build two tadiums--one for the Orioles, the other for a prospective NFL team to replace the Colts, who ran off to Indianapolis. A self-styled perfectioni t, Schaefer said that this meant he was '' 5 percent that winter i finally over, Great Lakes seamen are able to ship out again. No other region greets spring with greater enthusiasm. Still, a cloud hangs over the area. The Great Lakes maritime industry finds itself on the wrong end of a ticking time bomb. Free trade talks between the United States and Canada threaten to complicate an already bleak picture. Mel Pelfry, a spokesman for the Great Lakes Task Force, says that any agreement that opens up domestic shipping to Canadian vessels could spell an end to the American maritime industry on the Great Lakes. As it is, American vessels carry less than 5 percent of all trade between the United States and Canada. The free trade talks have stalled over disagreements over the question of acid rain. Meanwhile, the Union has worked hard to protect the interests of its members on a local level. We're still in negotiations with a number of companies to secure contracts for our members. These companies include the following: Bigane Vessel Fueling, Dunbar and Sullivan, and Great Lakes Dredge and Dock_. One more thing: the SIU in Cleveland is gearing up to support Senator Howard Metzenbaum' s re-election bid next year. Metzenbaum, a strong supporter of the maritime industry and the labor movement, is expecting formidable opposition. for contracting-out (Circular A-76) MSC ships to private steamship companies. Nothing could be further from the truth. The facts are, the Reagan administration is of the opinion that the price of retirement for federal Civil Service employees is too high, not only for employees of the Military Sealift Command but for federal employees in all federal agencies. It is the aim of the administration to eliminate as many federal employees as possible, at the same time, any new or temporary workers will be and are being put under the Social Security Retirement System. The Civil Service Retirement System will, one day in the near future, become a thing of the past for all federal employees. A new retirement system for all federal employees became effective Jan. I, 1984 with the passage of Public Law 98-21 which states in part: Federal employees hired after Dec. 31, 1983 will be covered by Social Security. A second law, Public Law 98-168, provided for a transition period from Jan. 1, 1984 to Jan. 1, 1986 for employees hired after Dec. 31, 1983. During this period employees were fully covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Social Security benefits. This period was extended to Dec. 31, 1986 with the passage of Public Law 99-335 which established the new Federal Employees Retirement System (PERS). The new Federal Employees Retirement System became effective Jan. 1, 1987 with all new employees hired after Dec. 31, 1983 automatically covered by FERS. Employees currently covered by CSRS can make an irrevocable election to transfer to FERS between July 1 and Dec. 31, 1987; however, certain transition rules apply. Before making any change, all employees now under CSRS should study and compare all information concerning this subject, and understand thoroughly what it means. The SIU will forward any and all information to all MSCPAC ships as it is received. Another subject that should be addressed is that of retroactive money due all unlicensed marine employees in all departments. Retro money on all premium of 2 percent in two increments, from .April 1, 1985 to Sept. 30, 1986 and from Oct. I, 1985 to June 15, 1986. This money has been promised by the end of April 1987. Retroactive money on base wages of 3 1/2 percent due for the period April 1, 1985 to May 15, 1986 will be paid at a later date. Welfare Change Government Services Division by V. P. Buck Mercer T HERE are still a number of MSCP AC marine employees who are under the misapprehension that labor organizations were the reason The Welfare Plan rules have been amended to provide as follows: If an eligible employee has designated a beneficiary to receive his/her death benefit, such beneficiary will be entitled to receive the full benefit payable under the rules and regulations. If a beneficiary has not been designated, the estate of the deceased employee shall be entitled to receive a $1000 benefit for funeral expenses. �Conveyorman Ed Fabian in the workshop. The MIV Buffalo (American Steamship) readies for the 1987 season at her dock in Toledo. Wiper Richard Glowacki signs articles for another season. The QMEDs take a coffee break. From left are Tim Wallace, Rick Piper and Dave Sparling. Fitoot on the Great Lakes g 87 ... Photos by: CHUCK SVENSON Algonac Port Agent Jack Allen with the steward department, from left, Chief Cook Duwayne Schoeneck, Porter Missed Ali and Second Cook Julian Budnick. April 1987 I LOG I 9 �Fitout makes for hearty appetites. At the lunch table are, clockwise from left, Deckhand Joe Hance, Watchmen Dave Grigg and Eugene Repko, Wheelsman John Norton, Deckhand Ron Bochek, Bosun Dave Morgan, Wheelsmen John Church and Conrad Norbotton, and Watchman Lee Allen. The American Republic (American Steamship) at port in Cleveland. Standing before the massive conveyor boom are Conveyorman Dewey Sak, left, and Gateman Cliff Kracht. Algonac Port Agent Jack Allen checks books and clinic cards. 10 I LOG I April 1987 Watchman Eugene Repco on deck. �Chief Cook Herb Jacobs, right, and Second Cook Harry Petersen make a good team. Messman Yehiam Kaid ladles out hot soup for the hungry crew. Bosun Dave Morgan supervised fitout activities on deck. Deckhand Joe Hance makes a safety check on fire hoses. IF YOLJ UG'E DRU65/ YOLI NEED 1-/ELP.... IF VOt/REAN ALCOh"OLIC.> YOUNEEO If£2.I? GEi COAITACr YOUR PORT ;r;/' OFFICeR,OR fS./.U AT Pl/V£VPO!AITo April 1987ILOGI11 �Watchman Robert Allen, left, and Wheelsman Kenneth Johnson take a break. Bosun Jim Shupert checks out the hatch lift. ' - .., The Paul Thayer slips past Lorain Harbor Light on a short trip from Cleveland. QMED George Nelson takes a coffee break. 12 I LOG I April 1987 ,.. -I Deckhand Leonard Scott secures the forward line as the Paul Thayer ties up. �Deckhand Tom Hocking at twilight in Lorain. QMED Adam H. Smith is going to retire in November after 41 years on the lakes. AB Watchman Mohamed Muthana in the messroom. Donald Maskell is gateman with many years experience. Deckhand Tom Hocking takes the stern line ashore. Conveyorman Bill Truax has sailed with Pringle for many years. April 1987 I LOG I 13 �The Indiana Harbor (American Steamship) at her dock in Lackawanna, N.Y. Deckhand Rod Smith. Second Cook Kirk Diener and Porter Roger Flaherty in the galley. QMED Ed Savickas, engine delegate, signs the SIU Ship's Delegates Report. Watchman Nels Johnson, left, and QMEDs Fred Vance, center, and Gerard Anderson at lunch. - 14 I LOG I April 1987 Deckhand Saleh Saleh with an abandoned U.S. Steel mill in the background. �American Steamship's new maintenance crew program is under way, and the first of those crews was aboard the Indiana Harbor. Deep in the aft tunnel sump area were QMED Work Leader John Litzner, left, and Helpers Drew Sample, center, and Harold Walkey. Gateman Jess MacLeod, left, and Conveyorman Carmen Powell take a break. Chief Cook Harry Stockman keeps everybody happy, including the mates, Ted LaLonde, third mate, and Duane Demby, second mate. Wheelsman Cliff Cadreau, left, and Chief Cook Harry Stockman have been shipmates for 12 years. The Indiana Harbor sailed March 31 for the upper lakes. April 1987 I LOG I 15 �QMED Michael McCabe gets ready to begin fitout work. QMED Larry Kaczrowski cleans and readies components of the big diesel engine. QMED Al Ragnoni at the workbench in the engineroom shop. Wiper Fred Piotrowski is back for another season. - 16 I LOG I April 1987 Second Cook Ali Ahmed, right, and Porter Saleh Rashid get things organized on their first day aboard for the new season. Algonac Port Agent Jack Allen talks with Conveyorman Robert Billman, center, and Assistant Conveyorman Walter Lesczynski, at left. �Kilauea Steward Wins Honors by Bob Borden, PAO, MSCPAC A POLLO Beltran of the USNS Kilauea has been elected a winner in the MSCP AC A ward of Excellence category for chief stewards. Capt. W.T. Dannheim, COMSCPAC , made the presentation to Beltran in early April while the Kilauea crewman was in Oakland. The annual award recognizes sustained superior performance among mariners in seven different job categories. 'Tm pleased to recognize the top performers in the fleet, and Mr. Beltrain is certainly one of them," said Capt. Dannheim during brief ceremonies at MSCP AC headquarters. "The USNS Kilauea is a tough, hard working ship and the morale out there remains high because of people like Apollo Beltran." A 20-year submarine veteran of the Navy, Beltran joined MSCPAC in 1981 as a steward-utilityman. He served on nine MSCPAC ships before being assigned to the Kilauea in February 1986. Beltran, in addition to distinguishing himself and his department with quality food and service , introduced " Pizza Night" every Saturday aboard the ammunition ship when she was out at sea and provided popcorn on the mess decks during weekend bingo games. The popular chief steward also helps out on ship parties away from the ship when the vessel is in port. "I try to understand the morale of a ship and contribute my services to making it better," Beltran explained after receiving his Award of Excellence. "My priority is making sure our mariners have three good meals a day. Then I always try to give them something extra. "I know the crew is working hard. If I can give them something good, everybody's happy, including me." Other MSCP AC A ward of Excellence winners, each of whom receives a $2,000 check, include Third Deck Officer Willard W. Bickford; Bosun Hans H. Rook; Assistant Storekeeper Samuel Rosen; Oiler Edward Shirley; Chief Cook Edward C. Green II, and Chief Engineer Per R. Tyrin. Profile: The Kawishiwi's Carpenter The USNS Kawishiwi (T-AO 146) was in Oakland recently for repair and maintenance work after undergoing a three-month Material Readiness Upgrade Program at a Tacoma, Wash. shipyard to extend the life of the veteran MSCPAC ship. Built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, N.J., where her keel was laid in October 1953, the fleet oiler was launched a year later and commissioned i~July 1955. After 24 years of service with a U.S. Navy crew, the Kawishiwi was decommissioned in Oakland and turned over to Military Sealift Command, Pacific, in October 1979. The 38,000 ton vessel is one of six Neosho-class oilers and has a cargo capacity of approximately 180,000 barrels of liquid fuel. SEAL/FT went aboard the Kawishiwi in April to talk to a sampling of her talented, interesting crew before she headed back to her normal operating area in Southern California. W ithout hesitation, A. D. Engleman says MSC has allowed him to have some of the greatest jobs of I.is life. "If I have a job that to me is a hobby, what else could you ask for?'' reasons the carpenter aboard the Kawishiwi. "This isn't work. It's a hobby-and I enjoy it, whether it's carpentry or working as an able bodied seaman or a bosun. "Yessir, these are some of the finest jobs a man could have. You make your living from your hobby. What else could you ask for?'' A.D. Engleman, Ship's Carpenter For most of his life, Engleman has asked for little and given a lot. Born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa, his curiosity about how things worked led him to a lifelong fascination for puzzles and a vocation in locksmithing. ''A lock is nothing more than a puzzle,'' says Engleman, a regi tered, bonded and certified locksmith. After retiring from the Navy in 1968 a a chief bosun ' s mate with 22 years of military service, he opened up a locksmith company in San Diego. After seven years of midnight calls to open up locked cars and dealing with a sometimes unappreciative public, Engleman called it quits. "I made lots of money ," he recall , ''but I never had any time for myself. Then there were the constant hassles over payment. I didn't need the problems, so I got out of the business." Engelman and his family left San Diego and moved to Carson City, Nev., where he took a job with the Chief Steward Apollo Beltran (right) receives award from Capt. W. T. Dannheim, COMSCPAC. state prison as sergeant in charge of the_ culinary division. His work allowed him to interview most of the burglars in prison where he learned a few things from the inmates. "I thought I was a good safe man until I talked to some of those rascals," he laughed. "They gave me the cream of my safeopening education.'' Engelman quit his prison job the day two inmates were killed, then worked briefly for a Carson City newspaper as a proofreader before accepting a position with MSCPAC in 1980. He served aboard the USNS Myer, Taluga and Kilauea until his recent assignment aboard the Kawishiwi. His locksmith skills have come in handy aboard ship. When he was on the Myer, military department personnel accidentally locked themselve~ out of radio central when the safe lock on the door wouldn't turn. "Everybody panicked," confided Engleman. "They thought they'd have to get a torch or cut through the safe. I opened it up for them after I told everybody to turn their back to me for a few seconds. I didn't want to share my secret but it was easy to open." Engleman set up the complex master key system on the Kilauea and did the same thing on the Myer. In Oakland recently, he was called upon to open a safe at MSCPAC headquarters. Hi personnel file is filled with letter of appreciation and commendations for his locksmith work which has saved the government thousands of dollars. His inventiveness in creating ways to repair locks without destroying them and making tools to open up locked cars without damaging them has won him praise and national awards from the locksmith industry. And yet, he' never patented his inventions because he says he didn't believe there was any reason to do so. "I've got all the money I need," says the lanky carpenter. "If I had millions of dollars, I might be the most evil person on earth 'cause I could think of more ways to ruin my morals than any person I've ever known." An avid reader who estimates he's read about 10,000 books in his lifetime, Engleman is always trying to learn something new. He has A.A. degrees in mathematics and accounting, and once taught elementary math to Filipino children through the Navy's Handclasp Program. He's a licensed emergency medical technician (EMT) ... _ and a licensed EMT instructor. "I've got to keep my mind busy," he says. "I can't stand being bored." For those who are easily bored and restless, Engleman advises them not to seek a maritime career. "You've got to be able to stand regimentation and discipline-regimentation that comes from your supervisor and discipline that will · have to come from yourself,'' says the veteran seaman. "Once you've got the problems of regimentation, discipline and boredom solved, the sea's going to be a snap. You 're going to think it's the nicest job God ever gave someone on earth." (Next month this section will profile Aleck Dorsey, third steward aboard the Kawishiwi.) "Here's a NEW TAX LAW tip" The new tax law requires that all employees file a new Form W-4 before October 1, 1987 ... but file it now so you can make sure the right amount of tax is being withheld. Your employer or the IRS has the forms and instructions. -----A Public S-Vlcr at'U-1- April 1987 I LOG I 17 �CL L NP -Company/Lakes -Lakes -Non Priority Directory of Ports Dispatchers Report for Great Lakes MARCH 1-31, 1987 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac ...... ... .. . .... . . .. . 20 17 3 27 Port Algonac .... . . . . .. . . ... .. . .. . 9 10 0 15 Port Algonac . . ........ . .... . ... . . Frank Drozak, President Joe DiGiorgio, Secretary Leon Hall, Vice President Angus " Red" Campbell, Vice President Mike Sacco, Vice President Joe Sacco, Vice President George McCdrtney, Vice President Roy A. Mercer, Vice President Steve Edney, Vice President **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 30 33 4 0 0 19 0 3 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 8 4 0 0 9 2 21 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 16 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port Algonac ... . .......... . . . .... 21 4 15 HEADQUARTERS 0 54 6 115 50 35 0 30 Totals All Departments ........ 49 8 53 *"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. **"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. 12 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, Md. 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC, Mich. 520 St. Clair River Dr. 48001 (313) 794-4988 BALTIMORE, Md. 1216 E. Baltimore St. 21202 (301) 327-4900 CLEVELAND, Ohio 5443 Ridge Rd. 44129 (216) 845-1100 Dispatchers Report for Deep Sea MARCH 1-31, 1987 Port New York ........ . ...... Philadelphia .............. Baltimore ............... Norfolk . .. . .. . .......... Mobile ................. New Orleans ..... . ... .... Jacksonville ......... . .... San Francisco ..... . ... . ... Wilmington ............. . Seattle ................. Puerto Rico . . . . . .. .... . .. Honolulu . . .. . ... . ... .. .. Houston . . . .. . ... .... .. . St. Louis ................ Piney Point . . . . .......... Totals ....... . ......... Port New York ............... Philadelphia .. . ... . .... .. . Baltimore ...... . ..... ... Norfolk . ........ . .... .. . Mobile ... . . . ..... . .. .. . New Orleans . . .. .. ....... Jacksonville ......... . .... San Francisco ........ . . .. . Wilmington .... .... . . . ... Seattle . . . .. . ........ . . . Puerto Rico ............. . Honolulu .. ...... .. ... ... Houston . . ...... . ....... St. Louis ....... . ....... . Piney Point . . . .. ..... .... Totals . .. . . ..... . . .. .. . Port New York ... .. . .. .. . . ... Philadelphia . . . .. . ..... ... Baltimore .. . .. .. ... . . . .. Norfolk . .... . .. .. ... ... . Mobile . .... . .. ...... ... New Orleans ............ Jacksonville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Francisco . ..... . .. .. . . Wilmington . . . . .... . ..... Seattle . . ........ . ... ... Puerto Rico .... . ... . ..... Honolulu ....... ... ... .. . Houston . ........ . .... .. St. Louis . . ... . ....... . .. Piney Point . ... ...... . ... Totals .. ........ . .... . . *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 50 6 12 10 15 41 27 25 26 32 16 7 46 0 2 315 37 3 9 5 7 34 29 34 5 23 11 4 26 0 9 236 8 1 10 7 3 5 10 10 6 9 4 12 7 0 5 97 3 2 1 5 3 5 2 5 2 8 1 15 2 0 3 57 17 8 2 1 0 1 0 0 3 4 2 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 2 12 4 1 0 4 2 0 0 33 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 12 0 0 0 18 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs 30 28 17 12 24 13 6 34 0 1 DECK DEPARTMENT 11 0 1 0 5 0 2 9 2 2 1 4 7 2 7 10 1 3 4 1 2 0 10 8 1 3 0 0 4 0 11 0 0 1 1 8 3 4 0 3 1 4 7 0 0 24 3 5 6 6 9 29 14 10 17 5 6 18 0 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 2 0 5 2 2 0 4 1 6 0 5 0 0 0 12 9 4 0 0 0 0 2 45 1 6 12 10 399 157 49 30 12 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 12 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 6 4 1 0 1 9 0 10 1 115 6 0 30 1 7 4 7 0 18 2 0 2 8 0 15 18 2 12 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 3 190 218 17 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 17 0 0 0 28 137 23 2 6 5 1 14 12 37 8 26 13 7 9 0 1 31 3 3 14 8 18 10 20 8 13 1 91 11 0 9 4 1 1 4 1 22 0 18 9 2 0 145 4 0 27 12 1 1 5 0 13 4 14 6 27 0 6 11 0 0 2 4 9 28 13 47 11 24 5 7 14 0 7 70 Port New York .. . ... ... . .... . Philadelphia .... .. ....... . Baltimore .. .. . ......... . Norfolk . . .. . ... . ....... . Mobile .. .... . .......... New Orleans . ..... .. . . .. . Jacksonville . . ... .. .. . .. .. San Francisco ... .... ... . .. Wilmington . . .. .......... Seattle ..... . . . ... .. .... Puerto Rico ..... .. . . . . ... Honolulu .. .... ... .. . . ... Houston ...... ... .... ... St. Louis ... .. .. .. . . . . . .. Piney Point ............. . Totals . ..... ........... 164 240 238 100 Totals All Departments ..... . 905 612 317 793 49 26 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 16 2 1 2 2 1 5 3 7 0 13 10 13 1 13 6 2 0 11 1 0 0 99 65 1 6 0 0 4 15 ** REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 92 7 12 20 17 84 46 56 42 50 32 10 66 0 3 18 4 9 7 4 9 21 11 6 10 4 15 11 0 1 1 1 1 4 0 3 3 11 5 1 0 4 1 0 0 43 537 130 35 8 0 1 2 0 4 5 3 4 3 1 2 1 0 0 70 5 12 9 2 1 7 4 11 5 3 2 12 1 15 3 0 7 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 3 2 0 9 0 0 0 10 8 63 38 43 16 29 23 7 45 0 5 34 374 82 22 5 1 0 0 0 6 5 7 0 8 0 55 2 0 0 37 1 3 8 6 47 20 75 21 38 9 7 22 0 4 13 2 2 2 0 1 4 9 3 2 1 22 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6 2 0 0 29 0 0 0 10 89 298 71 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 3 33 7 4 15 10 26 8 37 18 32 9 93 19 0 7 9 5 0 3 1 30 4 20 12 3 0 223 5 0 25 148 151 0 316 219 166 8 11 2 29 11 82 22 35 12 6 21 0 1 28 318 340 1,495 601 437 *"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month . **"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. Shipping in the month of March was up from the month of February. A total of 1,494 jobs were shipped on SIU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,494 jobs shipped, 793 jobs or about 53 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority people. A total of 166 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 4,805 jobs have been shipped. 18 I LOG I April 1987 DULUTH, Minn. 705 Medical Arts Building 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU, Hawaii 636 Cooke St. 96813 (808) 523-5434 HOUSTON, Tex. 1221 Pierce St. 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. 3315 Liberty St. 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY, N.J. 99 Montgomery St. 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE, Ala. 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 36605 (205) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD, Mass. 50 Union St. 027 40 (617) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS, La. 630 Jackson Ave. 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK, N.Y. 675 4 Ave., Brooklyn 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK, Va. 115 Third St. 23510 (804) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 2604 S. 4 St. 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT, Md. St. Mary's County 20674 (301) 994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. 350 Fremont St. 94105 (415) 543-5855 SANTURCE, P.R. 1057 Fernandez Juncos St. Stop 16 00907 (809) 725-6960 SEATTLE, Wash. 2505 1 Ave. 98121 (206) 441-1960 ST. LOUIS, Mo. 4581 Gravois Ave. 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON, Calif. 510 N. Broad Ave. 90744 (213) 549-4000 �SHLSS Introduces a New Course The Lavino Sanitation Course In its continuing efforts to meet the needs of the industry, the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship has instituted a new course titled Lavino Sanitation. This course was designed, at the request of the Lavina Shipping Company, to further educate Steward personnel in all phases of shipboard sanitation, shipboard safety, leadership and communications. The six-week course concentrates on nutrition, menu planning, table service, how to present food, purchasing and inventory, and storing and rece1vmg. There is practical application in the areas of supervision, preparation of meals, clean-up activities and state room services supervision. First Aid, CPR and Fire Fighting have been incorporated into the course to cover all areas of safety. This course is a refresher course for most steward personnel. Students are hand picked through the ports, and graduates are expected to sail on Lavino Ships. Interested Stewards can contact their SIU Port Agent for more information. Touring the SIU Manpower facilities are (I. to r.) Richard Lemon, Marie Longo, Ba_rt Rogers, Admiral Tierney and Ken Conklin. ~.\ The Lavino ship De Steiguer, is one of the vessels which Lavino Sanitation Course graduates can expect to sail on. Admiral Tierney discusses· the goals of the Lavi no ~ Sa~itation Course. ==American Institute for Free Labor Development Tour SHLSS======== .• Bill Hellwege explains the capabilities of the manpower system to members of AIFLD. ~ ». Members of the American Institute for Free Labor Development pose for a picture after touring the SHLSS facilities. April 1987 I LOG I 19 �U.S. Government donates barge to SHLSS The Army 73rd Transportation Port Group, from Fort Eustis, Virginia, delivers a 75 foot flat barge to SHLSS. This barge was donated by the U.S. Government to be used for Sealift training. -SHLSS COURSE GRADUATE~ Ref rlgeratlon Maintenance & Operations Front row: (I. to r.)Gregorio Madera, John Day. Second row: Eric Malzkuhn (Instructor), John Herrlein, Rafael Matos, Bob Bryant, Donald Cox, Michael Hurst, Buddy McBride. Seallft Operations and Maintenance First row: (I. to r.) Rebecca Paullot, Pamela Taylor, Carlos Pineda, Crissy Wright, Pete Sanchez, Michael Murphy, M. Bolger. Second row: John Ballentine, Doriana Schmeltz, C. T. Poggioli, Russ Williams, Ray Brown, Cigi Grycko, Mark Trepp, Diana Nason, Robbynson Suy, Third row: Paul Domes, Werner Becher, John Orr, 0. C. Wiley, Jr., Tim Tierney, Othman Bin Chik, Marvin Zimbo, Tony Mohammed, Henry Bouganim, Harry Alongi (Instructor). C'lllege Program First row: (I. to r.) Brian Krus, M. Lynch Charles Petersen. Second row: Kenji Hoffman, Richard Robertson, Harry Berggren, Tom Hogan. · FOWT Able Seaman First row: (I. to r.) Green Hoskins, Mitchell Santana, Larry Martin. Second row: John Kolwe, Tim Smith, Tom Dowdell, Jake Karaczynski (Instructor). First row: (I. tor.) John LaDuke, John Steeber, Jim Johnson, James Bloodworth. Second row: Herman Best, Jim Gamache, Al Verzella, Darrell McDonald. Third row: Michael R. LasDulce, Jim Longo, Earl J. Mallory, John B. Leiter, Bill Foley (Instructor). ·- ·-~ ,,;~~t-'#"' , .,........<..-.. ' Marine Electrical Maintenance (L. to R.) Walt Davidson, John C. Orr, James McDaniel, Rudolph Salvaggio. Not shown: Chris Beaton, Tony Mohammed, Mike Murphy. Steward Recertification First row: (I. to r.) Dionisio Muyco, Sek Wong, Oswald Jones, Norman Johnson, Efumiano Magbaleta, Nick Andrews. Second row: S.C. Edmond, Ray Monette, Bill Seidenstricker, Joseph Speller, Edgardo Vazquez. Not shown: David Pappas. 20 I LOG I April 1987 Lifeboat First row: (I. to r.) Abdul M. Hussein, Eufemiano Magbaleta, Saleh Yafai. Second row: Jackie Davis, Aaron Ruiz, Jeff Johnson, Jim Tanner, A.R. Alwaseem, Jake Karaczynski (Instructor). Third Assistant Engineer First row: (I. tor.) Steven Byerley, John Nathan, Barry Kiger, Todd Smith, Rafael Atehorila. Second row: James Davis Stephen Treece, Steve Miller, Richie Wilson, David Timmons. Third row: Jim Fonville, Michael Peck, Raymond Brownlee. ~~- ,; _:· Bosun Recertification First row: (I. to r.)Carlos A. Pineda, John Ballentine, Jr., Tim Tierney, Mike Bolger, Ray T. Brown. Second row: Glen James, Mark Trepp, Werner Becher, Paul Domes, 0. C. Wiley, Jr., Marvin Zimbro, Henry Bouganim. Ref rlgerated Containers Advanced Maintenance (L. to R.) Donald Cox, Ed Smith, Bauren Bryant, Joe Pomraning, Ray Hart, Gregorio Madera, Eric Malzkuhn (Inst.). Radar (L. to R.) John Zarroli, Russell Williams, Alide Bijazic, Aldo Bijazic. Army Training Group First row: (I. to r.) Larry L. Mays, Marvin Stewart, Michael C. Crooms, Rickey L. Patterson, Wilmer Santiago. Second row: Jim Moore (Instructor), Keith Kornegay, John Ryans, Ross Schliepmake. Third row: Philip Peacock, Carlton J. Thomas, Richard Dickerson (Instructor). �----------------------------- - - --- Deck Upgrading Courses p rading ·course Schedule 1987 Check-In Date May 18 July 13 August 31 September 28 October 26 Completion Date July 10 September 4 October 23 November 20 December 18 Sealift Operations & Maintenance July 13 August 10 September 28 October 26 November 23 August 7 September 4 October 23 November 20 December 18 Lifeboat May 4 May 15 Third Mate & Original Second Mate May 4 July 10 Celestial Navigation July 13 November 2 August 14 December 4 Radar Obsever August 17 December 7 August 28 December 12 Radar Obsever (Renewal) Open ended course, however, must notify SHLSS before entering this course. Towboat Operator September 7 October 30 Deep Sea Deck Shiphandling Simulator June 15 June 18 Inland Deck Shiphandling Simulator October 12 Course Able SeamanlSealift Operations & Maintenance Programs Geared to I prove Job Skills And Promote U.S. aritime Industry May 1987 - December 1987 The following is the current course schedule for May 1987 - December 1987 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. For the membership's convenience, the course schedule is separated into six categories: Deck Department courses; Engine Department courses; Steward Department courses; Adult Education courses; All Department courses and Recertification Programs. Inland Boatmen and deep sea Seafarers who are preparing to upgrade are advised to enroll for class as early as ~ible. Although every effort will be made to fill the requests of the members, the classes are limited in size - so sign up early. The course schedule may change to reflect the membership's needs and the needs of the industry. · SIU Representatives in all ports will assist members in filling out the application. Course Schedule Notice * The above courses will be followed by a mandatory fourweek Sealift Operations and Maintenance Course. (If you already have a Sealift Operations and Maintenance endorsement you do not have to repeat this course.) Engine U ing Courses Course QMED • Any Rating * Sealift Operations & Maint. Check-In Date September 21 December 14 Completion Date December 11 January 8 Automation *Sealift Operations & Maint. utomation * Sealift Operations & Maint. July 13 August 10 June 27 July 25 August 7 September 4 July 22 August 19 Fireman/Watertender, Oller * Sealift Operations & Maint. Fireman/Watertender, Oiler *Sealift Operations & Maint. Fireman/Watertender, Oiler * Sealift Operations & Maint. June 8 August 3 August 10 October 5 October 12 December 7 July 31 August 28 October 2 October 30 December 4 December 31 Hldraulics * ealift Operations & Maint. May 11 June 8 June 5 July 3 Marine Electrical Maintenance *Sea lift Operations & Ma int. July 13 September 7 September 4 October 2 Variable Speed DC Drive * Sealift Operations & Maint. September 21 November 2 October 30 November 27 Electro-~draulic Systems *Sealift perations & Maint. Electro-Hydraulic Systems * Sealift Operations & Maint. May 18 June 29 November 9 December 21 June 26 July 24 December 18 January 15 Refri"eration Systems Maint. & Ops. *Sea ift Operations & Maint. July 20 August 31 August 28 September 25 Refrigeration Containers - Advanced Maint. August 31 *Sealift Operations & Maint. October 12 October 9 November 6 Diesel Engineer - Re~lar *Sealift Operations & aint. Diesel Engineer - Regular * Sealift Operations & Maint. May 15 June 12 November 20 December 12 April 6 May 18 October 12 November 23 Recertification Programs Course Steward Recertification Bosun Recertification Check-In Date May 5 June 29 August 31 November 2 Completion Date June 8 August 3 October 5 December 7 September 21 November 2 October 16 Steward Upgrading Courses & Maint. Check-In Date July 22 September 8 September 2 October 19 October 14 November 30 November 25 January 11 Completion Date Septemb~ October 2 October 16 November 13 November 27 December 24 January 8 February 5 Cook and Baker *Sealift Operations & Maint. Cook and Baker *Sea lift Operations & Maint. Cook and Baker *Sea lift Operations & Maint. July 22 September 21 September 2 November 2 October 14 December 14 September 18 October 16 October 30 November 27 December 11 January 8 Chief Cook *Sealift Operations & Maint. Chief Cook *Sealift Operations & Maint. Chief Cook *Sea lift Operations & Maint. July 8 September 7 September 2 November 2 October 28 December 28 September 4 October 2 October 30 November 27 December 25 January 22 Chief Steward *Sea lift Operations & Maint. Chief Steward *Sealift Operations & Maint. Chief Steward *Sealift Operations & Maint. July 8 September 7 September 2 November 2 October 28 December 28 September 4 October 2 October 30 November 27 December 25 January 22 Course Assistant Cook *Sealift Operations Assistant Cook *Sealift Operations Assistant Cook *Sea lift Operations Assistant Cook * Sealift Operations & Maint. & Maint. & Maint. Adult Education Courses Check-In Completion Course Date Date For students who wish to apply for the GED, ESL, or ABE classes for the first six months of this year, the courses will be six weeks in length and offered on the following dates: High School Equivalency (GED) August 3 September 14 November 2 December 14 Adult Basic Education (ABE) & English as a Second Language (ESL) August 3 November 2 September 11 December 11 The Developmental Studies Class (DVS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. They will be offered as follows: FOWT August 3 August 7 Towboat Operator September 7 September 11 College Programs Course Associates in Arts Check-In Date June 8 August 17 October 26 Completion Date July 31 October 19 December 18 April 1987 I LOG I 21 - �Pensioner Stanley Bojko, 67, died Feb. 2. Brother Bojko joined the SIU in 1938. He last sailed in the deck department as a recertified bosun. Seafarer Bojko went on pension in 1976. His ashes were commended to the deep from the S eaLand Innovator off the coast of California. Pensioner Marvin Gilby, 74, died March 20 in Seattle, Wash. Brother Gilby joined the SIU in 1968, sailing with Sea-Land Service in the engine department. He went on pension in 1981. Seafarer Gilby is survived by his sister, Althea Ramsever. Pensioner William B. Ferrell died March I 0 of a heart attack. Seafarer Ferrell joined the SIU in 1953. He sailed in the engine department and later joined MEBA . Brother Ferrell went on pension in 1981. He was buried in Clinton, N .C. Surviving is his son, Jerold and his daughter, Barbara. Alfred Winston Flatts, 62, died recently. Brother Flatts, who sailed in the steward department,joined the SIU in 1946. He wa active in the Falcon Carriers beef and in the General Strike of 1946. Seafarer Flatts is survived by a on, Alfred. Pensioner Cruz Negron, 66, died March 6 of a heart attack in Guayana, P.R. Brother Negron joined the SIU in 1944. A member of the deck department, he walked the picket line in the Wall Street beef and went on pension in 1974. Seafarer Negron is survived by his widow, Carmen. The following SIU member have retired on pension: DEEP SEA Algonac Sta nle y A. Stigen Baltimore Robert Stewart Honolulu Jack J. Schaeffer Houston Eugene J. Blanchard Harry Granger Andrew F. Kamedra Jacksonville Alfred Case Jerome Chapkewitz Edwin M. Felker Jack Nelson Jr. Mobile Jimmie A. Moody New Orleans Nicholas L. Pizzuto Bobbie B. Spears Stanley Zeagler KNOW YOUR RIGH New York William Karpiak Ra mon Perez Norfolk Rodney D. Borlase Morris C. Hill Philadelphia Thomas J. Henry San Francisco Mung How James A. Shortell Wilmington Lester Schrager Atlantic. Gulf. Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguarding the memhership's money and Union finances. The constitution requires a detailed audit hy Certified Puhlic Accountants every three months. which arc to he suhmitted to the membership by the Secretary-Trea-.urer. A quarterly finance committee of rank and file members. elected by the memhership. makes examination each quarter of the finances of the Union and reports fully their finding and recommendations . Memhers of this committee may make dissenting reports. specific recommendations and separate finding . TRUST FUNDS. All trust fund . of the SIU Atlantic. Gulf. Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the provision of various tru . t fund agreement . 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 fund are made only upon approval hy a majority of the trustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively hy the contracts hetween the Union and the employers. Get to know your hipping rights. Copies of these contracts arc posted and available in all Union halls. If you feel therl? has heen any violation of your shipping or seniority right · as contained in the contracts betv.een the Union and the employers. notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail. return receipt requested. The proper address for this i Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way and Britannia Way Prince Georges County Camp Springs, Md. 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to arc available to you at all times. either hy \Hiting directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of <111 SIU contracts arc availahle in all SIU halls. These contracts ~pecify the wages aml conditions under which ~.-ou work and live ahoard your ship or boat. Know ) our contract rights. as well as your obligations. -.uch as filing for OT on the proper '>hcets and in the proper manner. 1f. at any time. any SIU Personals Mark Holley Please get in touch with Maemae at 333 N. Columbus Ave. , Freeport, N.Y. 11520; (daytime tel: 516/227-0697) . Eddie Puchalski Anyone knowing of Eddie Puchalski' s whereabouts, please let him know his mother is ill. He should contact his sister Stella at 5115 Oak Circle, Moriches, N.Y. 11955. Tel. (516) 878-6023. GREAT LAKES Cleveland Joanne Kane New York Earl F. Burdick GLOUCESTER FISHERMAN Gloucester Judith Senos KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Ronald Vernon Schaeefer Your dad would like you to contact him at 512 N. 21st ., Escanaba, Mich. 49829. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Cop1e" of the SIU constitution arc availahle in FINANCIAL REPORTS. The con titution of the SIU 22 I LOG I April 1987 Pensioner Joaquin Nolasco, 69, died Feb. 1. Brother Nolasco joined the SIU in 1956. He sailed in the deck department and went on pension in 1982. Seafarer Nolasco was buried in El Alto Talara in Peru. He is survived by his brother, Felix. l~ 1-;+- · all Union hall.,. All memher" should oht a in co pies of this constitution so as to familiarize them-.elves \.\ith its contents. Any time you feel any memher or otlicer i-, attempt ing to deprive you of any con-.titutional right or ohligation hy any method-, ... uch a' dealing with charges. trial'i. etc .. a-. \.\ell a' all other details. then the memher ..,,) affected should immediately notify headquarter'i . EQUAL RIGHTS. All member-. arc guaranteed equal righh in cmplo)nH.:nt and a' memhers of the SIU . The-.c righh arc clc<1rl) set forth in the SIU constitution anJ in the contrach "'hich the Union has negotiated with the employers. Cono.;cyuently. no member ma} he di,crimi · nated again-.t hccau-.e of race. creed. color. \C'\ and national or geographic origin . It an) mcmhcr feel-, that he i... denied the equal righh to ~hich he i" entitlcJ. he should notify Union headquarters . 111111111111Ull1111111ll111111t1111111111111111Ull111111111111111lll1111111ll1111111ll11111111t1111111111111 patrolman or other Union otli:::ial. in your opinion. fails to protect your contract rights properly. contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE LOG. The Log has traditional!) retrained lrnm puhf i..,hing an) article !'>erving the political purposes of any individual in the Union. officer or memher. It has al"o refrained from publishing articles decmeJ harmful to the Union or its collective member~hip. This e-.tahlished policy has been reaflirmed by membership action at the Scptemher. 1960. meeting" in all constitutional ports. The responsihility for Log policy i-. vested in an editorial hoard which con'>ists of the E.\ecutive Board of the Union. The Executive Board may delcg.1te. from ~1mong its ranks. one indi idual to carry out thi!'> rc!->ponsihilit} . PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monic., arc to he patd to anyone in an) ollicial capacit) in the SIU unle-.s an otlicial nion receipt i" given tor "ame . Under no circumstances should an) member pay any money tor any reason unlcs'> he i" giq;n -.uch receipt. In the event anyone attempt'> to n:4uirc an) ... uch p.t) mcnt he made without suppl) ing a receipt. or if a memher is rc4uircd to make a pa} mcnt and is given an otlicial receipt. hut fccl'i that he should not ha e hccn reyuired to make such payment. this should immediately he reported to Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION -SPAD. SPAD is a "eparate segregated fund. Its proceeds arc uo.;ed to further it-. ohjccts and purpo-.e" including. hut not limited to. furthering the political. social and economic interc-.ts of maritime workers. the preservation and furthering of the American Merchant Marine with improve<l emplo1111ent opportunities for seamen and hoatmen and the adv:incement of trade union concept'>. In connection \.\ith such ohjccts. SPA)) supplHts and contribute" to political candidates for cfe(:tive otlice. Ail contribution-. arc voluntary . No contrihutio11 may he solicited or received hccause of force. jPh di,crimin<ttion. 1]nanc1al rcpri-.al. or threat ol such conduct. nr a' a condition of mcrnhership in the Union or l)f employment. 11 a contribution i-. made hy rca,on ol thc above improper 'onduct. notif) the Sealarer-. Union or SPAD h~ certified mail \.\ithin JO da}" of the contribution for im.eo.;tigation anJ appropriate action and refund. ii involuntar]. Support SPA D to protect and further ~our economic. politic<tl and ... ocial interco.;h, and Amer ican trade uniun concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitutional right of ace~ to Union records or information, he should immediately notify SIU President Frank Drozak at Headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The addr~ is 5201 Auth Way and Britannia Way, Prince Georges County, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. �Diaest Of Ships Nee•inas AURORA (Apex Marine), March 8Chairman Cesar A. Gutierrez, Secretary James R. Parker, Engine Delegate C. Hampson, Steward Delegate Frederick E. Otto. Some disputed OT was reported in the deck department. There is $285 in the ship's treasury. Brother Gutierrez spoke with the captian about the VCR on C deck not working. The captain said he would order a new one from the company. The crew decided that way would take too long and so decided to take up a collection and buy one themselves. Brothers Wilbur Adams and Jerry Bankston were elected to purchase the new machine in Baltimore-for the exclusive use of the deck, engine and steward departments. The secretary reports this to be a "top notch crew, from top to bottom." BORINQUEN (Puerto Rico Marine), February 15-Chairman Donald Wagner, Secretary C.B. Carter Jr. Some disputed OT was reported in the deck and engine departments. These matters of delayed sailing, disputed holiday OT, port time and linen allowances will be taken up with the boarding patrolman. There is $13 in the ship's fund. A letter from Brother "Red" Campbell was received pertaining to unemployme11t insurance from Puerto Rico. It was read and posted on the bulletin board. The chairman reminded all hands to take advantage of the upgrading courses available at Piney Point and to continue to support SPAD during these lean times. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. LNG CAPRICORN (ETC), February 15-Chairman Malcolm B. ods, Sec, ducational Director/ retary J. glne Delegate Ole J. Mortensen, Deck Delegate Pete J. Reed, Steward Delegate William F. Christmas. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $275.38 in the ship's fund. A discussion was held on safety aboard ship, and the bosun reminded all members that "safety is everyone's busiess." A letter was received from Vice " ed" ampbell reminding Preside members to conduct themselves properly as an American seaman aboard ship and ashore. The secretary noted that everything is running smoothly. One steward department member had to get off due to medical reasons. A round of applause was given to the crew on their sportsmanship, and for the fact that they are a winning team in their softball games played in Bontang. Mr. George Reilley, from ETC, paid the ship a visit while in the port of Osaka, Japan. A vote of thanks was given to the crew for a fine job-well done! Next port: Arun, Indonesia. FALCON PRINCESS (Seahawk Management), March 1-Chariman Thomas Walker, Secretary Cesar A. Guerra, Educational Director R. Tims. No disputed OT or beefs reported. The bosun reminded all hands that, as per the contract, no one is to be paid until their room is clean and all The flight deck fire team aboard the I st Lt. Jack Lummus during helicopter operations off Guam are AB Mike Tracey, left, and AB Mike Bullen. dirty linen has been returned. Due to the lay-up of the Princess following payoff, all ship's movies will be turned over to the captain. A particular vote of thanks was given to the steward department for all their fine work. One minute of silence was observed in memory of our departed brothers and sisters. Next port: Port Arthur, Texas. 1st LT. JACK LUMMUS (AMSEA), March 3-Chairman Luke Meadows, Secretary Kim Darmody, Educational Director/ Engine Delegate Ron Shaw, Deck Delegate Paul Evans, Steward Delegate Steve Parker. While there were no major beefs or disputed OT, the steward department did note that they were having trouble scheduling upgrading at Piney Point to coincide with vacation time. The four month on/two month off rotation doesn't leave enough time to upgrade, and seamen can lose their permanent job rotation due to scheduling. A question was brought up: If a flight out is unavailable on the date of payoff, is the crew entitled to one day's pay and lodging other than onboard ship? A motion was made to request telex numbers for Union representation, manpower and upgrading. A request was also made for the latest rulings concerning requirements to receive an A book on the different ships (MSC, TAGOS, etc.). Votes of thanks were given out: to the steward department for the great barbecues; to the Navy staff for the movie scheduling, and to the ship's fishermen for the fresh mahi-mahi, wahoo and yellow-fin tuna. Next port: Guam. MOKU PAHU (Pacific Gulf Marine), F ruary 26'-Chairman Ray Todd, Secretary R. Spencer, Educational Director D.A. Norris. No beefs or disputed OT. Brother Todd reported that the ship is running smoothly and things look good. The Moku Pahu will pay off in Galveston, Texas this trip. He reminded all crewmembers getting off to leave their rooms clean and turn in their soiled linen. He also stressed the importance of contributing to SPAD. Brother Spencer reminded all qualified members to upgrade their skills at the SHLSS in Piney Point, and Brother Norris urged that members practice safety onboard ship at all times. OMI MISSOURI (OMI), March 1Chairman Fred C. Cooper, Secretary Lawrence A. Banks. No disputed OT or beefs reported. The chairman reports that everything is running smoothly. The OM/ Missouri is expected to arrive in Mobile, Ala. on Feb. 3 with payoff the same day. Several suggestions were made. First, bigger sheets are needed for the bunks. The steward will check with the port steward about the possibility of getting fitted sheets. There is also a need for cloth hooks in the forecastle. A vote of thanks was given to the chief engineer for a job well done with the barbecues. OVERSEAS OHIO (Maritime Overseas Corp.), March 13-Chairman Pete Garza, Secretary E. Vieira. The steward department had their compensation disputed for work performed in the feeding and caring for five extra men. The ship will AB Mike Bullen, left, and SA Adam E. Martinez troll for turbot off the stern of the 1st Lt. Jack Lummus. pay off as soon as possible on March 15. The captain paid all those members who had money coming to them in lieu of time off. All hands wanting a relief should be able to get one with proper advance notification. There will be 15 new movies aboard ship every month. The educational director urged all trainees to try and upgrade their skills while putting in their six months training. A number of suggestions were made. The first was to have the sofa in the crew lounge repaired. It was also requested that the patrolman clarify as to who pays transportation and doctors bills when a man is on articles and obtains a masters certificate while in a U.S. port. There is also the need for some sort of launch service while in Panama. And a ruling needs to be worked out so that the 8-12 quartermaster can take a short coffee break in the morning. It was felt that the radio operator is spending too much time and get help! Contact your port agent or SIU drug and alcohol program at Piney Point. That treatment doesn't cost you anything!" It appears that there are bed bugs and roaches all over the ship. The master was informed and will wire for an exterminator upon arrival in port. The ship's crewmembers thanked the captain for his cooperation . A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. USNS WILKES (Lavino), February 22Chairman Sy Varas, Secretary J. McGill, Engine Delegate Aaron E. Thompson. No beefs or disputed OT. The bosun thanked all hands for their help during the shipyard period. He also reminded the members that our jobs with Lavi no are very important and should be taken seriously. Communications were received regarding negotiations between the SIU and Lavino. Copies The game was called a tie ( 12-12) after JO innings between the LNG Leo team and the Arun, Indonesia team. The team photo includes: Ray Bay/er, Tim Olvaney, Jack Davis, Dave Reilly , Z . Achmad, Pete Pinkerton , Tom Harding , Dave Terry , John Hoskins, Andrea Conklin, Steve and Lisa. doing work that the AB is getting paid to do. It seems that he is on deck chipping and painting. While docking and undocking, he is handling the lines. Ane while the ship is maneuvering, he is on the wheel. were made available for &II interested members. A question was brought up as to who pays for firefightintJ classes and why members weren't sent from Portland to attend. Next port: San Diego, Calif. ST. LOUIS (Sea-Land), February 20Chairman David Newman, Secretary Humberto Ortiz. No beefs or disputed OT. The chairman reported that a new engine delegate is needed for the next trip. Mr. Martinez, who was acting as delegate, is getting off. No one in the engine department wanted to take over, so the chairman will take over until a new delegate is nominated. The secretary said that Seafarers who become addicted to drugs or alcohol are lucky in one sense: they can make use of the Seafarers Addictions Rehabilitation Center in Valley Lee, Md. "Drugs are for dunces," he said. "You can stop Official ships minutes also were received from the following vessels: ALTAIR BALTIMORE CONSTITUTION GROTON MOBILE OAKLAND OMI CHARGER OMI WABASH OVERSEAS NATALIE PANAMA PATRIOT PONCE SAN JUAN SAN PEDRO SEA-LAND ADVENTURER SEA·LAND CONSUMER SEA·LAND ECONOMY SEA-LAND FREEDOM SEA-LAND LEADER SEA-LAND MARINER SEA-LAND PIONEER SEA-LAND PRODUCER SEA·LAND VOYAGER SENATOR SPIRIT OF TEXAS STONEWALL JACKSON THOMPSON PASS Monthly Membership Meetings Port Date Deep Sea Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point .............. Monday May 4 ...................... 10:30 a.m. New York ............... Tuesday, May 5 ..................... 10:30 a.m. Philadelphia .............. Wednesday, May 6 ................... 10:30 a.m. Baltimore ................ Thursday, May 7 ..................... 10:30 a.m. Norfolk ................. Thursday, May 7 ..................... 10:30 a.m. Jacksonville .............. Thursday, May 7 ..................... 10:30 a.m. Algonac ................. Friday, May 8 ....................... 10:30 a.m. Houston ................. Monday, May 11 ..................... 10:30 a.m. New Orleans ............. Tuesday, May 12 ..................... 10:30 a.m. Mobile .................. Wednesday, May 13 .................. 10:30 a.m. San Francisco ............ Thursday, May 14 .................... 10:30 a.m. Wilmington .............. Monday, May 18 ..................... 10:30 a.m. Seattle .................. Friday, May 22 ...................... 10:30 a.m. San Juan ................ Thursday May 7 ..................... 10:30 a.m. St. Louis ................ Friday, May 15 ...................... 10:30 a.m. Honolulu ................ Thursday, May 14 .................... 10:30 a.m. Duluth .................. Wednesday, May 13 .................. 10:30 a.m. Jersey City ............... Wednesday, May 20 .................. 10:30 a.m. New Bedford ............. Tuesday, May 19 ..................... 10:30 a.m. April 1987 I LOG I 23 �+ m Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO Washington Report The past two months have been anything but quiet. The Congress and the Reagan administration squared off over the $87 billion Highway Transportation Act. Despite an all-out effort by the White House, the Senate overrode the president's veto by one vote. Some political commentators were looking at the controversy as a prelude for an even more bitter fight over the trade issue. That possibility certain!) '"'xists. The new session is just three month~ and already a number of trade bills spanning the entire ideological spectrum from protectionist to free trade have been introduced. Presidential Bid 1988 is getting closer all the time. Several more presidential hopefuls have announced that they are going to run. On the Republican side, General Alexander Haig threw his helmet into the ring (as he himself said). Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.), one of the more zealous ''free traders'' in the House, or anywhere else for that matter, announced his candidacy as well. He has made the creation of a tariff-free North American trading zone one of his top priorities. As for the Democrats, the list appears to be growing and shrinking at the same time. New York Governor Mario Cuomo, one of the party's leading voices, took himself out of the 1988 race. On the other hand, Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), who has pushed heavily for enactment of legislation that would promote a fairer trading system, threw his hat into the ring. In February, Gephardt was one of three Democratic hopefuls to address the Executive Council Meeting of the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. April 1987 Legislative, Administrative and Regulatory Happenings centage of autos imported into the United States. It merely states that where the auto exporting country's vessels are benefitting from the substantial business generated by the United States car buyers, then U.S. vessels should share in the trade. Title XI Trade War Trade tensions between the United States and Japan rose considerably last month after the United States slapped a 100 percent tariff on $300 million worth of Japanese electronics products. The move was undertaken in response to Japan's failure to live up to a trade agreement forbidding the dumping of microchips onto the American market. Despite a precipitous fall in the value of the dollar, the trade deficit continued to mount. U.S.-Canadian Trade Trade tensions were not just confined to Japan. Talks to bring about lowered tariffs between the United States and Canada were mired in frustration, suspicion and bad feelings. Much of the bad feeling was brought about by differences over the controversial issue of acid rain. Canada was pressing the United States to take more far-reaching steps in cleaning up the environment. Still, the development had American operators on the Great Lakes breathing a sigh of relief, if only for a moment. They have expressed fear about a proposed opening of American and Canadian domestic shipping trades to free operation by vessels of both countries. Such a step, which The Journal of Commerce reports "is being discussed," could decimate the U.S. domestic fleet. Drozak Testifies Further Decline SIU President Frank Drozak testified before the House Merchant Marine Subeommittee last month on the subject of trade. In a 19 pag~ statement, he outlined numerous examples of trade barriers and discriminatory practices that American-flag operators must contend with. The American-flag maritime industry was having enough problems without implementation of a free shipping zone between Canada and the United States. According to statistics released last month, the U.S.-flag merchant marine declined by another 42 vessels last year. The decline of the American-flag merchant marine was coming at a time of great turbulence for seamen. According to The Journal of Commerce, U.S. Lines, this country's largest shipping company, stood little chance of pulling itself out of bankruptcy. The lines between deep sea shipping and other forms of transportation were becoming blurred by rapid tec!rnological advances. Industry experts were predicting that within 10 years , all surviving American-flag companies would have extensive intermodal operations. Fair Maritime Trade Rep. Walter B. Jones (D-N.C.), chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, introduced H.R. 1290, the Ocean Transportation Practices Act of 1987. The legislation provides for sanctions and retaliatory actions against any foreign nation found to be treating American vessels in an unfair or discriminatory manner. The bill has been favorably reported out of committee. Jones also introduced the Equitable Automobile Transportation Act of 1987. ''The bill,'' he said in an extension of his remarks in the Congressional Record, ''is intended to balance our maritime automobile transportation capabilities with those of Japan and South Korea by requiring those countries to transport an equal number of vehicles on U.S. vehicle carriers as on their own. "The bill," said Jones, "does not mandate that the U.S.-flag ves els carry a given per- 24 I LOG I April 1987 Aside from the military work that has been farmed out to the private sector, most cargo available to U .S.-flag deep sea vessels are generated by two sources-Alaskan oil and cargo preference statutes. Cargo Preference As has happened in every Congress over the past 10 years, legislation has been introduced that would severely restrict this nation's existing cargo preference laws. Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.) introduced a bill that would repeal cargo preference requirements for Department of Agriculture Concessional Export Programs. In an effort to persuade the administration to tone down its opposition to the Title XI Loan Guaranty Program, the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee voted to temporarily exclude offshore oil drilli ng rigs, support vessels and river barges m the government's construction loan guar ~ nty program. According to the Maritime Administration , which manages the program , nearly 80 percent of all loan defaults have involved ves ' els and drilling rigs used by the depres sed oil industry. Veterans' Status Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.) intfC'duced a bill that seeks to redress a long-stand111g wrong done to American seamen, most of whom have been denied veterans' status for the ti me they served in World War II. The bill, H.R. 1235, "The Merchant Seamen' Benefit Act," would, in Biaggi 's words, "provide the recognition that those old-timers deserve in their own right-a recognition that is not available under existing laws. " Such a move, said Biaggi, is 40 years overdue. CDS Payback Shipping and labor interests ha , joined forces to try to overturn the Depar nent of Transportation's program for paybac f Construction Differential Subsidies, ac( ·ding to The Journal of Commerce. "This is an issue that never seems to go away ,'' said SIU Frank Pecquex, director of legislation for the SIU. "As a result of this , 12 tankers engaged in carrying Alaskan oil have been laid up." The SIU is supporting an amendment to the FY '87 Supplemental Funding bill which prohibits shipping companies from re-entering the domestic trade in return for paying back CDS payments. ''People are always criticizing the merchant marine for not being unified," said Donald Yearwood, president of the American Trading and Transportation Company. ' 'This time everyone-the shipping companies, labor, the shipyards-is on the same side." Support SPAD � 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 1980-1989 Description An account of the resource Volumes XLII-LI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1987 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIX WEEK DELAY MAKES PAYOFF EVEN SWEETER FOR SEAFARERS ON THE STONEWALL JACKSON WHEN THE ICE THAWS, IT’S TIME FOR GREAT LAKES FITOUT STONEWALL JACKSON’S LONG TRIP FINALLY PAYS OFF KILAUEA STEWARD WINS HONORS PROFILE: THE KAWISHIWI’S CARPENTER SHLSS INTRODUCES A NEW COURSE THE LAVINO SANITATION COURSE THE SIU IN WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL BID U.S.-CANADIAN TRADE TITLE XI VETERANS’ STATUS CDS PAYBACK DROZAK TESTIFIES FUTHER DECLINE FAIR MARITIME TRADE CARGO PREFERENCE Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/1987 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. 49, No. 4 1987 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/2cc40403a7f4b3049f594d404fb8f648.pdf 9b29c5016350aedeb5792b152541ec01 PDF Text Text Official Publication ol the SealaJ"ers International Union• Atlantic, Gull, Lakes and Inland Waters District• AFL-CIO Vol. SO, No. 4 April 1988 Giant Ships Mean Giant Job Opportunities Sea-Land's addition of 12 huge containershjps to its fleet means nearly 300 new jobs for Seafarers. Originally built for United States Lines, the SIUcontracted Sea-Land purchased the ships when U.S. Lines went bankrupt. The ships, which carry unlicensed crews of 12, will operate on North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Mediterranean runs. All will carry SIU crews sailing under the U.S. flag. But in a unique arrangement, Trans Freight Lines and Nedlloyd will jointly operate five of the ships with Sea-Land. ''This is a great opportunity for all Seafarers and shows the SIU and its contracted companies can compete and operate efficiently,'' said SIU President Frank Drozak. See Page 18 for more pictures of the Performance and Quality in Houston. The New Ships • Sea-Land Quality Sea-Land Atlantic Sea-Land Achiever Sea-Land Sea-Land ~ Sea-Land Sea-Land Sea-Land Sea-Land Sea-Land Sea-Land Sea-Land Commitment Integrity Performance Value Galveston Bay Newark Bay Raleigh Bay Holland Hudson Sacco Named to Exec. V.P. Post Inside: Kuwait Update Page 3 ODS Hearings Page 3 Inland News Page 8&9 T-AGOS Stalwart Page 4 Page 11-15 SHLSS SIU President Frank Drozak congratulates Mike Sacco on his appointment as Executive Vice President. SIU President Frank Drozak announced the appointment of Mike Sacco as Executive Vice President at the headquarters membership meeting this month in Piney Point. Sacco will be directing the Union' s field operations, and coordinating outport and headquarters' activities. Sacco, a long-time vice president of the SIU, was named to the executive post effective April 1 by the Executive Board of the SIU, AGLIWD. �President's Report by Frank Drozak T HE strength of our Union has always been that we are willing to explore new ways to preserve job security for our membership when the old ways no longer work. We have adapted to meet technological changes in the industry, and we have sought new job opportunities for our members when the traditional job market began to decline. The U.S. maritime industry as we have known it is gone. The number of shipping companies flying the American flag is dwindling. In 1981 there were 600 commercial U .S.-flag freightships and tankers. Today there are just 360 ships in the active fleet. As one after another of our nation's old-line maritime companies goes under, the number of seagoing jobs sinks lower. Ten years ago there were approximately 20 ,500 jobs for American seamen. Five years ago that number shrank to 15,400. Today, according to the latest report from the Marine Index Bureau, there are just 10,340 deep sea jobs available to American seafarers. Even so, our membership today has full job security. How successful have we been? We are the only maritime union which regularly fills a large percentage of its billets with 'B' seniority ratings. That means that any member with a full book can ship if he or she wants to. The jobs are there. The reason is that we have gone out to find new job opportunities. Just last month, the SIU was able to capture the lion's share of the 71 Ready Reserve vessels put up for bid by the Military Sealift Command. This means tions--0ur older members wouldn't have to worry about losing their welfare coverage, or incurring a break in service. They could just throw in for these good jobs. Impossible, you say? Nothing is impossible in today's maritime industry. When U.S. Lines was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1986, hundreds of NMU and District 1 members were left without any options. I never want to see the day when SIU members are put in a similar position. Conditions on these vessels are steadily improving. The base wages on some of them are " ... Any member with a full book can ship if he or she wants. The jobs are there . " hundreds more of good job opportunities for our membership. * ** Even if our 'A' book members don't want to ship on these military vessels, they still will have the security knowing that they and their families are protected. If something unforeseen were to happen-if one of our larger companies were to file for bankruptcy or reflag its opera- Stewards Visit Hill On a tour of Capitol Hill are the recertified stewards, finishing up at Piney Point. The members are: Pedro Laboy, Ruben Padilla, Ivan Zuluaga, Raymond L. Jones, Nazareth Battle, George A. White, Earl Gray Sr., Leonard Lelonek, George Pino and R.G. Connolly. will be enhanced as a result of this training. There is no way to reverse long-term trends. Automation, more complex technology or newer vessels, smaller crews: all of these are here to stay. None can be wished away. But it certainly is possible to adapt to these trends. In that way, we are not unique. Progressive unions like the Airline pilots and the United Auto Workers are exploring new ways to protect the job security of their members. Like the SIU, these unions are unwilling to sit back and do nothing while the number ofjobs available to their members continues to shrink. Job security is first and foremost on their minds. * ** higher than those found on comparable commercial ships. But more important, these military vessels give the SIU something few maritime unions have today: a future for our younger members. From the moment he or she applies to enter this Union, an unlicensed seaman has options open which are unavailable anywhere else. For one thing, training at the SHLSS is free. Schooling at one of the state maritime academies can run in the thousands of dollars per year. But that is not all. A member of this Union can get an associate' s degree, free of cost. All he has to do is plan a little bit ahead so he can accommodate the course schedule. What this does , of course, is to give our members even more options than they would otherwise have. It may take a little extra effort to see that all our new trainees are cross-trained. But the job security of all of our members There is an old saying: sooner or later, everything comes back into style. After seven years of Reaganomics, people are beginning to reconsider some of their basic assumptions. More and more, you hear people saying that they believe that government can make a positive difference in their lives. Within certain fiscal restraints, they want to give government the authority to improve peoples' lives and solidify basic American industries. Because we have been able to adapt and develop new programs these past seven years, we are now in a position to benefit from this changed political atmosphere. It is not inconceivable that a new administration-Democrat or Republican. will take steps to implement some of the recommendations contained in the report of the president's Commission on Merchant Marine and Defense. By weathering these rough times-by beefing up our training facilities at Piney Point and by signing up new military work-we have positioned ourselves to take advantage of every new opportunity. Official Publication of the Seafarers lntemat1onal Union of North Amenca , Atlantic, Gulf, lakes and Inland Waters District, fl-CIO Apnl 1988 Vol 50, No. 4 Executive Board Frank Drozak President Joe DiGiorgio Secretary Charles Svenson Angus "Red" Campbell Joe Sacco George McCartney Editor Vice President Vice President Vice President Roy Mercer Steve Edney Jack Caffey Vice President Vice President Vice President Mike Hall Managing Editor Max Hall Deborah Greene Associate Editor Associate Editor Carla Tomaszewski Contributing Editor 2 I LOG I April 1988 Mike Sacco Executive Vice President 9 " The LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, AFL-CIO, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746, Tel. 8990675. Second-class postage paid at M.S.C. Prince Georges, Md. 20790·9998 and at additional mailing offices . POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. �Shultz Hints Kuwait Might Add U.S. Crewmen Kuwaiti officials are ''taking steps to increase U.S. manning" on the 11 reflagged tankers which have been the center of maritime controversy for almost a year. Secretary of State George Shultz, responding to a letter from SIU President Frank Drozak, defended the U.S. government's action in claiming a crewing waiver for the tankers which overrode a new law designed to place American crews on those ships. But Shultz also said, "We are also advised that Kuwaiti officials are aware of our concerns over the manning issue, and that they are taking steps to increase U.S. manning. We believe that our approach with the Kuwaitis will be effective in addressing the concerns of American seamen and the immediate needs of the national defense. I will be pleased to keep you apprised of the progress we are making on the issue.'' About 500 seagoingjobs are at stake on the tankers. When the ships were reftagged last year, the administration used a loophole in the law to allow the vessels to sail with only an American captain. Later, after pressure from the maritime industry, an American radio officer was added to each ship. Under the then-current law, a crewing waiver could be granted if a ship did not call on any U.S. ports. Maritime labor was enraged by the action and claimed the waiver was a clear misinterpretation of the law and of the intent of Congress . But the administration stood fast by its ruling, despite statements from Chesapeake Shipping (the vessels' owners) that they would employ American crewmen if the law called for it. They also said no previous deal had been struck to employ foreigners aboard the newly-flagged U.S. ships. Late last year after massive maritime lobbying,the House and Senate passed the Fishing Vessel Anti-Reflagging Act which required U.S. crewmen on all U.S. ships. Under provisions of that act, the only time a waiver could be granted would be if American seamen were unavailable or in a presidentially-declared national emergency. In January, President Reagan signed the bill into law. Americ ... n seamen were available, more than 200 Seafarers contacted the shipping company's manning agent inquiring about employment. There was no presidentially-declared national emergency. But in February the Department of Defense, citing a 1950 law, asked for, and was granted, a one-year waiver from the new crewing requirements. Once again the maritime industry was outraged. Bulletin A federal judge has ruled the administration has the right to waive manning requirements on the 11 reflagged Kuwaiti-owned tankers. Judge George H. Revercomb said the 1950 law which the administration cited as grounds to waive the U.S. crewing standards on the ships, is valid. He said the recently-signed Anti-Reflagging Act did not repeal the 1950 Act which says navigation and vessel inspection laws may waived if requested on national security grounds. Revercomb said manning standards are included in that authority. Five mant1me unions, the NMEBA, NMU, MM&P, SUP and MFOW had filed the suit asking for an injunction against the waiver. Five maritime unions, NMEBA, NMU, MM&P, SUP and MFOW filed suit in federal court to overturn the waiver. The SIU took the case to Shultz and Capitol Hill. "With the other unions attacking the case in court, we felt we could put more of our energy and resources in a different direction to gain the same result," Drozak said. The arguments Drozak presented to Shultz are basically the same points lawyers for the five unions are making in court. First, they are saying that Congress intended to require U.S. crews on those Kuwaiti ships when it passed the Anti-Reflagging Act. The act contained only the two situations where a waiver could be granted. Also, Congress did not believe that the 1950 law under which the waiver was granted applied to the Kuwaiti case. Drozak, in his letter to Shultz, said that the 1950 law was enacted in response to the just-declared Korean War. ''The authority was deemed necessary by Congress to facilitate the movement of troops and material to the warfront. Furthermore, the waiver was designed to bolster the U.S. merchant marine manpower pool available, not to replace American seamen. ''Examining present conditions to determine whether any similarity exists, it becomes impossible to justify extension of the 1950 waiver authority to the current reduction in n:ianning requirements. First, no state of national emergency exists. In addition, the 11 tankers in question are merely involved in commercial movements of crude oil and petroleum gas between Kuwait and other foreign nations. Finally, American seamen are available and have sought work aboard these vessels," Drozak wrote. The government contends simply that the 1950 act applies and that the Kuwaiti situation is in the national defense interest. Requiring U.S. crews "would have significantly changed one of the conditions existing at the time of the reflagging, a.nd thus would have tended to undermine the refiagging agreement. The arrangement continues to be in the national defense interest,'' wrote William H. Taft IV, deputy secretary of defense, in response to a letter from Drozak. "As hard as I try, I can't see any way the employment of foreign seamen on American vessels is in the national defense interest. The shipping company is on record saying it would employ Americans if the law said it must. The law does," Drozak said. A decision in the court case is expected shortly. SIU Joins Anti-Apartheid Rally SIU trainees and upgraders from Piney Point joined ranks with 200 other union workers and civil rights supporters at an anti-apartheid rally in Washington, D.C. last month. The demonstrators protested the Shell Oil Co.'s continuing ties to apartheid and pressed for stronger U.S. sanctions against the racist South African regime. The rally also marked the 28th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre, when police gunned down 69 black South Africans demonstrating against pass law restrictions. Washington Mayor Marion Barry Jr. read a resolution endorsed by more than 100 city mayors calling on Royal Dutch Shell-the parent company of the Shell Oil Co.-to completely withdraw from South Africa. Mine Workers President Richard Trumka stressed that American trade unionists can help by forcing companies like Shell to leave South Africa because ''that oppressive regime cannot survive" without oil and gas. Following the rally, the protestors picketed the oil company's headquarters, smgmg "We Shall Overcome." Maritime Unions Slam Administration's ODS Bid Unity is an elusive goal in the maritime industry. Yet four major maritime unions, including the SIU, expressed ''extreme disappointment'' with the administration's proposal to reform the liner subsidy program. Submitting a joint written proposal in the third and final hearing that the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee held on the line subsidy program, the unions said, "If enacted in its present form, (the administration's proposal) would upset more than five decades of congressionally mandated promotion of a strong, privately owned merchant marine and actually hasten its demise." abroad), the five bills take markedly different approaches. The other three unions submitting this testimony were the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, the National Maritime Union and the Masters, Mates & Pilots. Commenting on the inability of the maritime industry to take a united front on this issue, the mari~ime unions said, "We can detect little or no progress in resolving the differences presented by those bills ... The subcommittee is again examining five widely divergent pieces of legislation and we can detect no real conser.sus among the liner companies.'' The administration's proposal is one of five bills which has been circulating around Congress. Despite some similarities (opening up subsidy eligibility to all qualified U.S. carriers, providing operating flexibility, allowing the acquisition and construction of vessels Most experts tie any improvement in the maritime industry to resolution of the difficult liner subsidy program. The program, which has begun to expire, has become embroiled in the budget crisis. The administration remains committed to containing costs. While acknowledging that any new subsidy program must be cost-effective, the unions believe that the administration's bill "is an affront to labor." Its method of calculating subsidies amount to ''an unwarranted intrusion into accepted collective bargaining practices." April 1988 I LOG I 3 �On T-AGOS Stalwart Before leaving for their next slow voyage, Stalwart crewmembers load stores for the trip. In the spring of 1985, Seafarers found a new type of job opportunity and a new way to advance their careers-T-AGOS. Since the first Seafarers manned the USNS Stalwart, hundreds of others have taken advantage of this unique program. Now 10 of these top-secret vessels are in operation; five operate out of Little Creek, Va. near Norfolk and five from Honolulu. During the three years of the program, the SIU and Sea Mobility Inc. have tried to make T-AGOS duty as attractive as possible. The Union established a new program for B-book members to advance more quickly to A-seniority and a program for Seafarers with licenses to give them a chance to gain valuable seatime and experience needed for license requirements. While the T-AGOS voyages can be long and slow, the crew's amen- ~ QMED Paul Tyson (left) and Norfolk Port Agent Jim Martin discuss things in the crew mess. ities have been designed for maximum comfort. Each crewmember has a private room and shower. There is a fully-equipped gym aboard each vessel along with a large stock of movies and videos. On the Stalwart, which recently completed a voyage and tied up in Little Creek, Chief Steward Herb Davis completed 18 months of sea time aboard the vessel. Davis said he enjoys the duty aboard because it's steady work during a time of a shrinking job market. These pictures of the Stalwart' s crew were taken by SIU Rep. Frank Paladino. Capt. Norman Cubberly was formerly an SIU tugboat captain with the Norfolk, Baltimore and Carolina Lines. .. Pictured above are two members of the Stalwart's steward department, Chief Cook Philip Orlanda (left) and S/A Llitera. One of the favorite times of the day-chow. Chief Steward Herb Davis is a TAGOS veteran. Pictured above with SIU Rep. Frank Paladino, Davis has been with the program since its beginning in 1985. He has put in 18 months seatime aboard the Stalwart. 4 I LOG I April 1988 Bosun Raymond A. Maddock (left) and Chief Mate Mark Paine stand gangway watch. �In its monthly series of interviews and reports, "PROFILES" will highlight key government officials instrumental in shaping national and maritim.e policy. profiles Rep. Rep. David E. Skaggs Claude Harris A T TTRACTED by plenty of open space and a sizable white-collar workforce, the 2nd district of Colorado is rapidly emerging as a Rocky Mountain version of California's Silicon Valley. A number of major hightechnology firms have established operations in the Boulder area in recent years, and nearly three-quarters of the district's voters live in Boulder County. David E. Skaggs (D-Colo) represents this district which also includes the northern Denver suburbs and the mountains west of Bould~r. Congressman Skaggs was born in Ohio and raised in Kentucky, New York and New Jersey. After active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, he moved to Boulder, where his political career began. He received a B.A. in philosophy from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., attended the University of Virginia Law School, and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1967. Skaggs was admitted to the New York Bar in 1968 and the Colorado Bar in 1971. He practiced law in Boulder with Newcomer and Douglass (1971-1974 and 1977-1978) and the firm of Skaggs, Stone & Sheehy (1978 until 1987 when sworn into Congress). From 1975 to 1977 he was administrative assistant to then-Congressman Tim Wirth of Colorado. He managed Wirth's 1976 re-election campaign. In 1980 he, himself, was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. He was re-elected to the state House Rep. David E. Skaggs and elected House Minority Leader by the Democratic Caucus in 1982 and again in 1984. He then was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives Nov. 4, 1986. In the 1OOth Congress, Skaggs serves on the House Public Works and Transportation Committee; the Science, Space and Technology Committee, and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He has spoken out in support of a coherent and understandable Mideast plan that can be supported by the American people. "Good goals," he said, "can only be achieved in our democracy by intelligent policy that enjoys general public understanding and support. The administration simply must be in closer consultation with the Congress on this issue, and through the Congress, with the American people." Skaggs has also spoken in opposition to the' Reagan administration· s decision to refiag Kuwaiti oil tankers and its position on Contra aid. • (Continued from Page 24.) latest employment figures released by the Marine Index Bureau. The number of jobs onboard deep-sea vessels fell to 10,344 last year. There were 86,000 jobs in 1951. As recently as 1979, the number still topped 20,000. Meanwhile, other nations were beefing up their maritime capability. The Journal of Commerce reported that South Korea was fast closing in on Japan as the world's leading shipbuilder, and that it had actually overtaken that country in several important areas. Meanwhile, the number of viable American shipyards had fallen to eight. Two leading candidates for president, Michael Dukakis and George Bush, answered questions submitted by the Shipbuilders Council of America. Both acknowledged that there was a crisis in the industry, and pledged to do something about it. Meanwhile, there were indications that Congress was finally about to act on the Omnibus Trade bill that it had been agonizing over since the start of the session. The Senate and House conferees had already dropped a provision which would have taken some minimal steps in opening up the auto-carriage trade. In addition, there are indications that the conference bill includes a disturbing provision allowing the export of 50,000 barrels of Alaskan oil a day to Canada. On a more positive note for the maritime industry, there were indications that the conference bill would include provisions beefing up the powers of the Federal Maritime Commissioner to act on reports of unfair trade. Most attention has focused on nonmaritime issues, notably the issue of plant closing. There were reports that a water-downed plant closing provision will be included. While the administration has expressed severe reservations about the trade bill, it is unclear if the administration will employ a veto if the bill USCALOOSA is the largest city in the 7th district of Alabama, with an industrial base centered around the manufacture of rubber, chemicals and fertilizers but which is more often identified as the home of the U niversity of Alabama. It also includes a number of other counties in the west central portion of the state, moving southward from the outskirts of Birmingham. Although Republicans run reasonably well in most of the district in national and statewide elections, the area has kept up its tradition of loyalty to conservative Democrats at the congressional level. One such man is Claude Harris (D-Ala.), born in Bessemer and raised in Shannon. Harris received a bachelor of science degree from the School of Commerce and Business Administration of the University of Alabama and went on to earn a bachelor of law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. The congressman was admitted to the bar in 1965 and began his career in the district attorney's office as assistant district attorney. He worked with the victims of crime and-with law enforcement officers to prepare cases for presentation to the grand jury. He also prosecuted misdemeanor and f elony cases in the trial courts and particpated in the formation of combined law enforcement units such as the West Alabama narcotics Squad and the Homicide Unit. From 1977 to 1985 Harris served on the bench as circuit judge of the sixth judicial circuit. Here he was able to help implement the new Judicial Ar- contains a mild plant-closing provision. The administration has been successful in getting a number of laborbacked provisions dropped from the trade bill, including the amendment offered by Rep. Richard Gephardt (DMo.). ODS Reform In the eyes of most industry officials, the most important problem facing the maritime industry today has been the inability of the administration to come up with a program to reform the nation's liner subsidy program. Earlier MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK Rep. Claude Harris tide of the Alabama Constitution, the new Criminal Code and the revised Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, which in combination represent a complete modernization of Alabama's judicial and legal system. He also served as presiding circuit judge for three years. Since 1967 Harris has served in the Alabama Army National guard, rising from private to Lt. colonel. He is presently assigned to Judge Advocate General Corps. Before his election to the I OOth Congress in November 1986, Harris was a partner in the firm of Harris, Braswell and Shields. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Harris is very concerned with the present administration's policies in the Mideast-its strategies and adequate contingency plans in the event offurther hostilities. As for the wisdom of President Reagan's foreign policy, Harris says: "The election of a Democrat to the White House in 1988 should bring many changes." In addition to serving on the Committee on Agriculture in the House, Harris is also a member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. this month, the SIU joined three other maritime unions in expressing "extreme disappointment" with the administration's program on this issue. Five bills, including one formulated by the administration, are floating around Congress. In a joint statement presented at a hearing of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee, the maritime unions said, "We can detect little or no progress in resolving differences then represented by those bills . . . We can detect no real concensus among the liner companies." DANGEROUS? GET CONGRESS .. TO PASS HIGH-RISK NOTICE April 1988 I LOG I 5 �Area Vice Presidents' Report Great Lakes by Executive V.P. Mike Sacco R EPRESENTATIVES from the SIU recently attended a seminar on the recommendations that the Commission on Merchant Marine and Defense released last year. Dr. Alan Cameron, a member of the commission, met with politicians and officials from the Great Lakes to discuss what effect, if any, the recommendations would have on shipping in the region. It was a productive session. The Great Lakes maritime industry is central to this country's defense. A good portion of this nation's industrial capacity is located in the Midwest. At a minimum, we need to do more to modernize the St. Lawrence Seaway so that we can transport that industrial might overseas. Luedtke Engineering has been dedared the low bidder on a hydraulic dredging project near Gary, Ind. Yet for the most part, the Corps of Engineers has been slow in announcing new projects. This will change. Some of the ports and channels have been so neglected that the local governments simply can't postpone taking some kind of action. Members of the Great Lakes Task Force have been meeting to publicize maritime's agenda up here. There has been a concerted effort to get maritime officials north and south of the border to work jointly to come up with a program to stimulate shipping on the Great Lakes. If anything symbolizes-the ability of Ameri~an and Canadian officials to work closely to achieve important goals, it was the joint letter that SIU President Frank Drozak and SIU of Canada President Roman Gralewicz released last year requesting that maritime be dropped from the Canada Free Trade Agreement. All North American workers-Americans and Canadi- · ans-stand to be hurt by this treaty. Thanks to the efforts of Gralewicz and Drozak, seamen can breathe a sigh of relief. American and Canadian union members have been working closely on other fronts. The SIU of Canada has been sending a steady stream of upgraders and trainees to the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. Many of the problems that face maritime workers north and south of the border are international in character. It doesn't matter if a seaman lives in Canada or the United States. Either way, his job security is threatened through flag of convenience fleets. One last note: I was recently appointed executive vice president of the Seafarers International Union. This is an honor for many reasons. For one thing, I'll be filling the shoes of Ed Turner, the former head of the Marine Cooks and Stewards. Ed was a great trade unionist. Harry Lunde6 I LOG I April 1988 berg turned to him when the SIUNA wanted to sign up stewards and cooks on the West Coast. He played a important role in this Union's history. I'll now be working closely with SIU President Frank Drozak in Washington. I welcome this new phase of my career. There isn't anyone who knows Capitol Hill or the maritime industry better than Frank Drozak. It will be an honor to work with him. This is a great union. We're celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. It's been 50 years of hard work, 50 years of blood, sweat and tears. No one handed the members of this Union anything on a silver platter. We've earned it. And we'll continue to earn it. Some of our most important battles are still ahead of us. Unlicensed seamen are in a life-and-death struggle to protect their job security. Tug and barge workers have to confront a growing anti-union bias. Many segments of our industry lay in ruin. And yet, I believe that we can turn things around. And so does Frank Drozak. If the members of this Union stand united, there isn't anything we can't accomplish. Our first 50 years have been pretty damn good, but our best days are still ahead. East Coast by V.P. Leon Hall W E'VE reached a tentative agreement with the Seafood Producers Association in New Bedford concerning the scallopers and draggers. If all goes as planned, there will be a 30-day referendum. During that time, our members will be able to cast secret ballots. There are still, however, one or two last minute details that need to be nailed down. It has been a long, hard two years. The SIU came back to New Bedford to improve conditiOns in the fishing industry. Our members have walked picket lines, and we've gone eyeball to eyeball with the company in the courts. But finally, it's about to pay off. No one said that it would be easy up here, and it hasn't. But I believe that we've made a good beginning. Our Washington staff is working full time trying to come up with some resolution to the liability insurance problem that will be acceptable to _union members, boat owners and insurance companies. We're in close contact with Rep. Gerry Studds (DMass.) and other officials who share our commitment to revitalize the fishing industry. A lot of the progress that we've made in New Bedford is due to the hard work and commitment of Jack Caffey. Jack has dedicated two years of his life to trying improve conditions in that port. And all the while, he's been able to maintain a visible presence in New York and on the rivers. I don't know any union official who works harder or more effectively on behalf of his members than Jack Caffey. I've been keeping in touch with New York City Councilman Sam Horowitz on a bill that would change the name of Battery Place between Broadway and West Street to Merchant Marine Veterans Drive. In a city of monuments, there isn't one memorial to the seamen who risked their lives du~ing World War IL Many of our members played an important part in making sure that American troops and supplies reached their proper destinations. Without the efforts of these valiant seamen, World War II might have had a different ending. Of course, the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 made it possible for this country to develop an adequate-sized merchant marine in time for the war. Despite its flag-waving, the present administration has not demonstrated that it understands the importance of sealift. And that's where seamen come in. The Marine Index Bureau recently released statistics showing that the number of seamen's jobs had fallen to 10,000-half of what were available in 1980. The only way to turn things around is through political action. This union intends to play an important role in the upcoming election. Our job security depends upon it. Whoever is the next president will have to come up with a comprehensive plan for stimulating growth and development in the maritime industry. Maritime isn't the only industry that has declined: steel, auto, they've all been affected. Last year, for the first time, the United States ran a trade deficit in services. New York was once the financial industrial and maritime capital of th~ world. Now, our docks are empty and our factories have been turned into lofts. America needs a leader who understands that we need to rebuild our infrastructure, we need to stimulate growth. ruptcy on a number of causes: the near-depression in the maritime industry, the failure of the Reagan administration to come up with a coherent program to promote the American-flag merchant marine, and the decision of U.S. Lines to build 12 econships. By building these 12 econships, U.S. Lines had hoped to solidify its position in the maritime industry. But they were too costly, and the maritime industry too depressed, for that to happen. In addition, many industry experts questioned their design. Nevertheless, after U.S. Lines filed for bankruptcy, the surviving American-flag shipping companies scrambled to sign up those vessels. SeaLand, an SIU-contracted company, was able to buy the vessels for a fraction of their original price. In addition, the company was able to refit the vessels to substantially lower operating costs. Earlier this month, the Sea-Land Performance became the first of those econships to reach the port of Houston. The vessel was docked by a G&H tug. It was an all-SIU affair. G&H is an SIU-contracted company. As a result of these developments, the SIU was able to pick up more than 100 jobs for its members. Sea-Land's decision to relocate much of its operations in Houston will generate a lot of new business for the port. Through a combination ofluck, perseverence and hard work, the SIU has been able to keep its head above water during these rough times. No one says that everything is a bed of roses, but we have certainly been plugging away. We have been able to put most of our contract negotiations to bed. Delta Queen, Dixie Carriers. G&H Towing, Sabine Towing and Crescent Towing (New Orleans and Savannah) have all been resolved. Only two negotations are pending: Gulf Atlantic Transportation and Crescent Towing of Mobile. In addition to these developments, the SIU was able to garner the lion's share of the Ready Reserve vessels that were contracted out to the private sector. This is proof that our Union's program to sign up military work is right on track. In most of our outstanding court cases, we have been able to make substantiaf progress against the companies. The tug and barge companies that have decided to take us on have learned that they will have to pay a high price. And in most cases, we have high hopes of ultimately winning the cases. Gulf Coast by V.P. Joe Sacco T HE bankruptcy of U.S. Lines in 1986 sent shockwaves throughout the maritime industry. More than 1,600 employees of that company-including hundreds of NMU seamen and MEBA engineers-were thrown into the unemployment lines. Industry experts blamed the bank- West Coast by V.P. George McCartney I T is impossible to discuss the history of the SIU without touching upon larger themes. We are seamen, (Continued on Page 7.) �Area Vice Presidents' Report (Continued from Page 6.) union members and Americans. The SIU was born out of the despair and frustration of the Great Depression. The Union reached maturity during World War II, which transformed the maritime industry and defined a whole generation of American seamen. Americans have come to regard the 20 year period between 1945 and 1965 as a Golden Age in this country's history. Never had the United States been so strong or so wealthy. At the end of World War II, 50 percent of the world's industrial output was in the United States. Henry Luce, founder and publisher of Time magazine, summed up the prevailing wisdom when he said that the 20th century was destined to be known as ''The American Century.'' It didn't quite turn out that way. By 1988, America's share of the world's industrial output had fallen by onehalf, to 25 percent. Part of this decline was inevitable. At the end of World War II, much of the industrialized world lay in ruin. It was just a matter of time before countries like France, Germany and Japan would rebuild or that others, like South Korea and Taiwan would develop. Still, there is a group of historians and policy-makers which believes that this country's economic decline did not have to be so drastic, and that it was hastened by the failure of our leaders to understand the implications of several long-term trends. This is the central theme of an important new book by Paul Kennedy, The Decline of Superpowers. Columnists such as Jack Anderson have written at length on this subject. According to Anderson, while the leadership class of the United States has focused all its attention on the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, other nations have placed a priority on developing their industries. When asked to make an assessment of Soviet-American relations last year, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said that when the next century rolls around, the relationship may not be so important. The balance of power will probably shift East to Japan, China and India, all of which have concentrated their efforts on developing their economic resources. The relative decline of America's economic power will adversely affect its military capability, predicts Kennedy. America's rise to superpower status was caused primarily by the explosive growth of the industrial sector, said Kennedy. Our overwhelming industrial edge over Germany and Japan was the deciding factor in determining the outcome of World War II. In many ways, events in the maritime industry foreshadowed a different future for this country than the one tltat Henry Luce predicted. While the wholesale export of American industries and jobs overseas did not attract the public's attention until the 1980s (Pulitzer-prize winning author David Halbestram popularized this theme when he wrote 'The Reckoning,' which gave a detailed account of the decline of the auto industry), it was something that maritime faced as early as 1946. The first factory that could be easily transferred abroad was an oceanborne one-an American-flag vessel. There is a tendency in this country to equate the rapid rise of Japan with the loss of millions of well-paying industrial jobs. But Halbestram believed that this did not tell the whole story. ''Most academics and industrial experts, concerned with the decline of American heavy industry, were focusing almost exclusively on Japan," he wrote. "[Yet some experts] believed that they were looking in the wrong place. [They] believed that those who had become obsessed with Japan were neglecting other changes-subtle but crucial-such as the export of jobs, under American corporate seal, to other countries in East Asia and to South America, and the coming of high automation both here and abroad. "Gradually, in the early '80s, [some experts] came to believe that the Japanese challenge had given many American companies an excuse to do something they had always longed to do, which was to relocate their factories in underdeveloped countries, beyond the reach of American labor unions." This is exactly what happened in the American maritime industry. Many industry officials trace the decline of the American maritime industry to policies implemented shortly after World War II. These policies not only have had a profound effect on the job security of American seamen, but also they've effectively destroyed the maritime industries of our NATO allies, several of which have been forced to transform their registries into de facto flag of convenience (FOC) fleets. The most notorious of these policies was the Effective U.S. Control (EUSC) Doctrine. In 1947 the Defense Department granted War Risk Insurance to American-owned vessels that had been documented in Panama and Liberia. This enabled their owners to evade American wages, taxes and safety standards. It was felt that Panama and Liberia had a close relationship with the U.S. and could be easily "controlled." Forty years later, relations are so ''close'' between the United States and Panama that some people an~ calling for us to invade that country. If we do so, we'll have to rely on Panamanianflag vessels to carry American troops and supplies. The results have been predictable. By the beginning of the Korean War, the number of American-flag vessels had fallen from 5,000 to 1,700. That decline continued unabated until the Vietnam War. The number of vessels registered under the American-flag merchant marine stabilized after passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. Unfortunately, maritime' s decline resumed with a vengeance after the Reagan administration gutted most maritime promotional progtams in the early 1980s. There are now fewer than 400 active deep-sea vessels. Despite these developments, the SIU has been able to substantially increase the wages and benefits of its membership, and materially improve safety standards and living conditions. This, many people believe, has been its most important achievement. Before World War II, seamen lived on the margins of American society. Yet by 1959, they were solid members of the middle class. In 1950, the SIU negotiated its first welfare plan. One year later, it added a vacation plan to its list of benefits. In 1959, more than $20 million had been paid out in welfare benefits. A pension plan was not too far in the future. By 1959, vacation benefits were raised to an average of $400 per seaman. SIU halls were upgraded throughout the country, and the first in a nationwide system of clinics was in operation. Seamen and their dependents were now eligible for generous scholarships. The Union's training program, which was founded in 1946, was constantly being improved. All this was possible because of the Union's strong political action program. More than anything else, enactment of the Cargo Preference Act of 1954 made it possible for maritime unions like the SIU to continue to upgrade their members' benefits and working conditions during a period of industrywide decline. For more than three decades, the SIU has fought all attempts to weaken that law. Yet while the Cargo Preference Act of 1954 has enabled this country to maintain a minimum maritime base, it could not, by itself, revitalize the American-flag merchant marine. Throughout the 1950s,-the SIU joined with other maritime unions to take on the FOC fleets. During that decade, the National Labor Relations Board was developing a body of law which would have enabled AmeriQan maritime unions to organize flag of convenience vessels when they hit American ports, providing that there weren't a_ny contacts between the American company and the country under whose flag the vessel was registered. The SIU and its arch-enemy, the NMU, even formed a joint union, the International Maritime Workers Union, to organize flag of convenience fleets. Yet in 1963, the Supreme Court stopped this promising development dead in its tracks by stating that the National Labor Relations Board had no jurisdiction over flag of convenience vessels. Basic Agreement with the Military Sealift Command, Pacific, covering all unlicensed marine personnel, steward officers and MSC staff employees. One section on grievan~es is somewhat incomplete and is being revised. Of late, MSCPAC has ordered marine employees to emergency shipboard assignments without notice or gear, which could work a hardship on the mariner. Consequently, we are seeking to correct these types of situations by adding a section in the Basic Agreement dealing with these problems. In any case, if all goes as scheduled we expect to have this Agreement finished very soon. As always happens, whenever the MSCPAC Ad Hoc Promotion Board meets to select candidates for higher position, mistakes are made. Then come the complaints from the mariners: "I am better qualified than he was,'' which is never a valid complaint. "I have been with MSCPAC 10 years and the guy that was promoted has only been here five years, therefore, I have seniority.'' This is another invalid complaint because the man with five years seniority might have come into the outfit retired from the service and doing the same job in the service that he was promoted to. But, when a candidate follows proper procedures, is a veteran, comes hi_ghly recommended with excellent evaluations, gets his promotion request into the MSCPAC office ahead of time, and then receives no consideration by the Board, he has good reason to complain. Management, however, is not anxious to correct these kinds of iniquities even though they are to blame. This, too, is a situation that must be corrected. Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet: Improvement in the membership rolls at the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration installation at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet is noted. Eight new members are welcomed into the SIU Government Services Division. They include Reynaldo R. Brace, Johnny R. Belcher, Marcelino T. Cacao, lreno N. Jose, Helen D. Lotan, Federico D. Manuel, Gerald L. Scouten Jr. and Raymond W. Vandergriff. Welcome aboard. We also want to welcome Robert A. Bryan, the new West Coast Maritime Administrator who replaced the recently retir~d Capt. W. Galsten. We want him to know that he can count on our cooperation for a successful tour of duty. Welcome aboard! The new Assistant SIU Fleet Representative, Toese Maloe, is doing a bang-up job for the Reserve Fleet members and for the SIU. Keep up the good work. A Correction Government Services by V. P. Buck Mercer S INCE my last report, we have proceeded with work on a new The uriion affiliations of Henry "Whitey" Disley and Paul Dempster were incorrectly stated in a photo caption in the March issue of the LOG. The editor regrets the error and any misunderstanding it might have caused. We reprint the corrected photo caption: "MFOW President Whitey Disley makes a point during the manning conference. With him are SIU Vice President George McCartney (left) and SUP President Paul Dempster.'' April 1988 I LOG I 7 �I Fire Snuffed Out When SIU Boatmen Battle Flames Fast action by SIU crewmen on two G&H tugs in Houston prevented "a serious situation from becoming perhaps a fatal one," the company's director of safety said. In a letter to SIU president Frank Drozak, G&H's J. Dan Gribble said the crews onboard the C.R. Haden, where the fire broke out, and the J.Harris Masterson, who helped fight the blaze, "were involved at risk to their own personal safety.'' The starboard engine of the Haden caught fire after the tug was dispatched on a routine ship handling assignment about I a.m., March 3. The dense smoke left Engineer Darrell Camp ''little more to do than shut down the engine and evacuate the area,'' Gribble said. Camp informed Mate Eric Corgey of the emergency, and Corgey rang the general alarm and called the Coast Guard. Using the port engine, Corgey was able to maneuver the Haden to a safe spot along the bank. Minutes later the Masterson, which had been in the area, came alongside, and both crews took fire hoses from the Masterson and fought the fire. Shortly, two fireboats arrived on the scene and brought the blaze under control. The Masterson then towed the heavily damaged Haden back to the G&H dock. Onboard the Haden were Corgey, Camp and deckhands Chris Sachtleben and Jeff Willains. The Masterson crew consisted of Mate Angel Gonzales, Asst. Engineer Travis Turner and deckhands Lance Liska and William Carter. The fire aboard the Haden blew out the glass in the tog's portholes, buckled portions of the deck and blistered much of the outside paint. The serious damage was to the interior of the tug. On the Zimmer The fire spread from the engine room, and the flames and the heat caused considerable damage throughout the tug. Message in a Balloon, 'Just Say No!'-Memphis to L.A. When Lakeisha Marie Shields and Chauncey Washington wrote out their "Just Say No" to drugs messages and placed them inside a balloon, the Memphis, Tenn. grade schoolers had no idea that balloon would find its way to San Pedro, Calif. Just seven days later, the crew of the SIU-contracted tug Spartan (Crowley) fished the balloon out of Los Angeles Harbor. The crew of the Spartan was impressed with the messages from the young pair and sent them a letter. They also were impressed with the speed that enabled the balloon to cross the country so quickly. 8 I LOG I April 1988 "We were as surprised as you probably are that your message would be received so far away and so quickly," they wrote. LOG editor Charles Svenson was surprised, too, because as he pointed out, the prevailing winds across the country move from west to east. Certainly the balloon didn't sail around the world before settling into L.A. Harbor. A call to the Lester Demonstration School quickly solved the mystery. Principal Patricia Garrett explained that the school's second and third graders prepared about 400 balloons with anti-drug messages from the students. About 300 were released in the Memphis area. But Taking time out to pose on Orgulf's Zimmer are (I. tor.) Maurice Reed, Jack Bines and Mich Lewis. They are waiting to go through Lock and Dam #26 on the Mississippi. a school official was traveling to Los Angeles and took about I 00 of the messages and released them in balloons there. Garrett said the kids were ''delighted" to receive the letter from the Spartan's crew. Chauncey Washington's message read "I don't need drugs because I know it will hurt. And if somebody gives me some drugs I will just say NO!!!" "Just say NO to drugs and alcohol. Do not smoke dope and do not drink wine. Thank you," Lakeisha Shields wrote. "What a pleasure it was to see that you are concerned about others and the affect of drugs upon them. "The crew of the Spartan agrees with you, and "Ye all hope that children like yourselves will influence others who may be tempted (Continued on Page 9.) �Balloon (Continued from Page 8.) by drugs to 'Just Say No!' ," the crew' s letter said . The Spartan crew is comprised of Capt. Pat Carson, First Mate Ed Brady, Engineer Dave Waldblom, Deckhand Charles Holmes and Cook Dave Verschoor. Pensioners The following Inland members have retired on pension: Andrew J. Adams Timothy H. Burke William T . Carmean Henry Collins John G. Daugerea u George M . Davis Peter J . Dwyer David H. Gibbs John C . Goodwin Robert S. Gordy Carmilite Hebert Charles L. Horseman Carl Jupitz Emil Kominsky Gordon T. Luckett Myron T . Lupton Francis P. 0 'Connell William L Parks Walter L. Schroeder Binford L. Snead Albert Stampley Stephen P_ West SUPPORT SPAD Personals Attention Oldtimers Frank S. Chance Jr_ would like to hear from anyone who sailed on one of the following ships: SS In- Dispatchers Report for Inland Waters MARCH 1-31, 1988 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New York ..... .. ... .. .. . . . ..... .. . Philadelphia ...... .. . . .. . . ... . .... . Baltimore .. ... . .. . .. . .... .. . .... . . Norfolk ... . ............. ... ..... . Mobile .... . .. . .... ...... . . . ... . . . New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacksonville .. .. .. .. . . ..... .. .. .. . . San Francisco .. . ... .. .. . .. . . .... .. . Wilmington . . .. .. .. .. . . . ....... . .. . Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puerto Rico ............... . ...... . Houston ....... .... .... . ..... . .. . . Algonac ... .. .. .. .......... . .. . . . . St. Louis .......... . ..... . .. . .... . Piney Point . . ............ . ....... . . Totals .......................... . Port New York ... . ..... . .............. Philadelphia ....... . .. .. .......... Baltimore ........ __ ... _.......... Norfolk ............ . ............ Mobile.......................... New Orleans ...................... Jacksonville ...................... San Francisco ..................... Wilmington ....................... Seattle.......................... Puerto Rico ...................... Houston ......................... Algonac ......................... St. Louis ........................ Piney Point ....................... Totals .......................... 0 0 6 0 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 1 0 40 1 2 4 0 3 0 0 2 21 0 0 20 79 0 1 0 0 0 1 8 0 19 0 0 4 0 1 0 34 DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 3 0 31 5 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 60 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 28 13 6 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 61 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 18 39 0 0 0 0 37 0 0 0 26 9 184 0 2 0 104 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 6 0 3 0 0 0 0 18 ENGINE DEPARTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Port New York ........................ Philadelphia ...................... Baltimore ............ . ........... Norfolk ........... .. ............ Mobile ................. . ........ New Orleans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacksonville ..... ..... ............ San Francisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wilmington ...... . ................ Seattle . . ....... .... ... . ....... . . Puerto Rico .. . ... . .. . ............ Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . Algonac . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Louis .................... .... Piney Point . ... ........ ... .. . . . . . . Totals .................... . ... . . TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Totals All Departments ...... . ... . ... . . 0 0 7 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 123' 27 36 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 92 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 2 0 35 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 20 25 0 0 1 0 28 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 16 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 4 0 0 21 81 18 9 344 158 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 *" Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. *"" Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. gersoll, SS John J. Crittenden, SS Del-Aires, SS William H. Prescott. You can write him at P.O. Box 111, Tracy City, Tenn_ 37387 _ get in touch with you. Please write: Billee "Jones" George, 2994 Durand Dr., Hollywood , Calif_ 90068. Charles R. Gilbert A dear, old friend would like to Dear Bubba: Please let me know how to contact you. No emerg~mcy ··············································································~ SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Reservation Information -everything is fine-just want to know how you're doing and also to send tax forms. Love, sister. William Naylor Your Holidav... at the SHLSS Vacation Center: What It Will Cost Name:----------------------S.S.# Address:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- Telephone# Number in Party Date of Arrival: 1st Choice 2nd Choice 3rd Choice (Stay is limited to 2 weeks) Date of Departure Send to: Seafarers Training & Recreation Center Piney Point, Md. 2067 4 (Phone: 301-994-0010) ......••.....•.................................................................. The costs for room and board at the SHLSS Vacation Center have been set at the minimum to make it possible for all SIU members and their families to enjoy a holiday in Southern Maryland at your home away from home. ROOM RATES: Member Spouse Children $30.00 per day $5.00 per day $5.00 per day MEALS: Member Spouse Children $8.50 per day $4.00 per day $4.00 per day NOTE: No lodging or meal charge for children under age 12. So that as many of our members as possible can enjoy a holiday at SHLSS Vacation Center, the stay is limited to two weeks. April 1988 I LOG I 9 �Around Hawaii With the SIU Deaths The SIU has been notified of the deaths of the following mem- bers. SIU members in Hawaii rallied behind their union brothers and sisters in H.E.R.E. Local 5 during their strike. Dozens of Seafarers turned out at a rally to support the Hotel and Restaurant workers. il•:,: , : v-:'~ ' l 1i1lil:lil.i,i.i;i,i1i!i1!i!i!:!:;:•::0:::::.1 .,i:.. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) speaks at the dedication of the Sea-Land Hawaii. That ship and four others will begin a regular West Coast to Far East via Honolulu service. The SIU-crewed ships were purchased from the bankrupt U.S. Lines last year. John Allman (IBU) Enrique Alverez (A&G) Alvin Bausch (MC&S) Benjamin Constantino (MC&S) William Davis (A&G) Michael Drewniak (A&G) Robert Cunningham (A&G) Joseph Catalanotto (A&G) Travis Dean (A&G) Charles Dixon (A&G) Victor Egle (A&G) Harry Erickson (RMR/S) Apolonio Galacgac (MC&S) Craig Hannah (A&G) Leroy Hensen (A&G) John A. Knapp (MC&S) Joel Lodor (A&G) Clifford Longnecker (MC&S) James R. McLamore (A&G) Earl McKnight (IBU) Jorge Martinez (A&G) Robert E. Matheson (A&G) David Miles (MC&S) Thomas Mojica (A&G) William Nelson (Great Lakes) Jao S. Norte (Gloucester) Robert O'Neill (A&G) Joseph Rudolph (A&G) Anibal Santiago (A&G) David Saxon (A&G) Henry Senvitz (A&G) Joseph Szpek (A&G) Melvin Schrade (A&G) Franciszek Szwestka (A&G) Joel Thomas (A&G) Adolph Vante (A&G) :· It's retirement time for Chief Engineer Dee Lau on Matson's Manukai, and the SIU steward department helped prepare a festive dinner for the chief. Pictured above are Capt. Mike Bozzone, Chief Cook Wong Gunn-Ho, Port Agent Tom Fay, Chief Steward Koon Lau, Patrolman Ray Aldartst, 2nd Cook/Baker Lynn McKulsky and Patrolman Gene Barry. Candidates Court Union At one event in the Houston SIU hall, presidential hopeful Rep. Richard Gephardt talked to a group of more than 300 persons. He is pictured above with SIU Vice President Joe Sacco. Sacco says the ball is becoming a center of political activity this election year. Various forums have been sponsored by local labor groups, and organizations such as the Young Democrats and Democratic Forum are using the hall for receptions and events. 10 I LOG I April 1988 More than 200 trade union members in the Houston area gathered to listen to Democratic presidential contender Jesse Jackson. The meeting was sponsored by the West Gulf Ports Council, Building and Construction Trades and the Harris County Central Labor Council. �Pro ress-our Mos Important Product o you want to advance_ in your profession? Would you be interested in greatly increasing your chances for better pay, while at the same time bettering yourself by sharpening your mental abilities? If so, then your desires are the same as those wished for you by Paul Hall, the founder of SHLSS. His desire-to advance the seafarer in his vocational skills while also improving the "whole man" through D Rafael Gonzalez studies hard. advanced education-is being lived out here at SHLSS in one of the many educational programs available to our SIU membership. The SHLSS Adult Basic Education (ABE) program has been designed to help seafarers upgrade their basic educational skills of reading, writing and math. Just recently, two seafarers have taken advantage of this program. Dirk Adams, a native Floridian and 1982 SHLSS graduate, has worked for E.T.C. (Energy Transportation Corp.), an LNG shipper, for the past five years. Now an AB, Adams' motivation is his goal of becoming a third mate. "I've come here to upgrade my educational skills which have become a little rusty, being away from the classroom for so long. I am concentrating on technical reading, basic math, writing skills and also CPR. Now I can improve my skills and develop better study habits. This will definitely help me to prepare myself to take the third mates exam.'' Another upgrader, Rafael AB Dirk Adams prepares for class. Gonzalez, has the same goal in mind. Originally a Navy man, Gonzalez started working for Crowley in 1980 and so, joined the SIU and got his AB endorsement. Having returned to SHLSS a number of times by last year Gonzalez had completed the third mates course. Now working with Crowley Tug and Tow in San Juan, P.R., he needs to put in some deepsea time and then hopes, within the next year and a half, to go for his third mates license. His ultimate goal is to become a chief mate five years from now. Enthused with the opportunity to brush up on his learning skills, Rafael said, "We are really lucky to have this opportunity to take advantage of this program. Because of the nature of our work, we have a hard time registering at a regular college due to the inherent scheduling difficulties. But at the SHLSS, we don't have this problem. I can come here anytime that I can take time off from my job." These men are the living embodiment of Paul Hall's dream, and this same opportunity is open to all of you out there who wish to progress and make better lives for yourselves. The class sizes are always geared to give each student a great deal of individualized attention, so your capacity for learning is maximized. Fear of learning breeds nothing but ignorance and who wants to be ignorant? The staff at SHLSS encourages all SIU members to take stock of their lives and professional goals, and to then come to SHLSS for an educational opportunity you simply cannot pass up. he College Program at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship is now in its third year. Since its inception in 1986, 11 sessions of classes have been offered and 50 seafarers have come to Piney Point to take the eight-week program of general education courses. Courses in English composition and literature, mathematics, physics and physical science, and psychology and social science have been offered during the life of the program. Students who take these general education courses can round out their education and combine the credits with vocational courses and job experience to earn an Associate in Arts degree. Students who have credits from other colkges or universities may transfer in credits that are applicable to the degree program at SHLSS. T Your Earn Degree The degree programs , which are approved by the Maryland State Board for Higher Education, aJlow the seafarer an opportunity to earn an associate degree in Marine Engineering Technology or Nautical Science Technology. Many seafarers find it difficult to attend college on a traditional semester basis because their shipping schedules don't allow that much time off or time off at the right time of the year. The college continued next page April 1988ILOG I 11 �Earn Your Degree continuea program at SHLSS is offered on an eight-week basis (half the length of a traditional semester) at various times during the year to allow greater flexibility which better suits the lifestyle of the seafarer. Students take two to three courses at a time and return to school for whatever number of sessions they need to complete the degree requirements. Another advantage of the program at SHLSS is that the class sizes are small, so students who have been out of a school environment for a time can readjust to the rigors of academic study in a relaxed atmosphere where they can get plenty of individualized help and attention from the instructors. The philosophy of the Seafarers International Union and SHLSS is not only to train seafarers for the job they do on a ship but also to educate the whole person. The SHLSS College Program is another way that the school and the union are striving to meet their philosophical goals. All SIU members are encouraged to find out more about the College Program and take advantage of this excellent educational opportunity. The schedule of classes is printed each month in the Log, and more information and application forms can be obtained by writing to: SHLSSCOLLEGEPROGRAMS Piney Point, MD 20674 .., . ~~:~~:;1-:,7 :-f:~;~-.-~~·~ ':~ ~·.:.:~~:~:~i.~::W~~~ t~~~~;~~t ;~. ~~~/\; ~: \~-~ .~·; ~:·-:,_~~~:. :~:·.~~~~ ~~~•r SHLSS Executive Chef Honored Chef Romeo proudly displays his newlyawarded Diamond Jubilee Gold Medal. ~ ·:. ..- r - ~- nee again, the SHLSS Executive Chef/Chef-Instructor, Romeo V. Lupinacci, has been honored by his peers. This time, by being awarded the Diamond Jubilee Gold Medal of the American Culinary Federation, Chef Romeo has been singled out by the Federation as the first one of 10 other chefs throughout North America, to be recognized for his distinguished lifetime achievement. Having worked at SHLSS since 1981, Chef Romeo specializes in training crews for luxury liner food service. He and his students have staged numerous elegant international-style buffets in the Southern Maryland region to help local groups and his own Professional Culinary Seafarers Assn. to raise funds. This not only gives students valuable experience but raises the prestige of the school in the eyes of the public. His culinary group is the .. -. ~. : J" ~- .~ ~~ : - 'J ~~-- ~~~:=; ~~;~~ ~:, ~ "" ~ ' ;. ~ ' first and only chapter of the A.C.F. in the U.S. merchant marine. Back in January, Mr. Lupinacci was feted at an awards banquet at the Pittsburgh Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pa. The A.C.F. president, Jack Brawn, in presenting Chef Romeo with the gold medal, spoke to the 300 guests of Chef Romeo's proud professional record. He proclaimed Chef Romeo for, "his wisdom and foresight in establishing and pioneering the American Culinary Federation into the largest chefs association in the world (58,000 members). His fine record of achievement in culinary competitions held all over the world, his outstanding leadership in his field, and his overall qualities as a great culinarian serve as an example for all young chefs everywhere to follow.'' Congratulations, Romeo! The SHLSS is truly fortunate to have you on its staff. vocational courses Undergo Evaluation ~ A.C.E. evaluation team listens intently to school representatives Don Nolan, Tracey Foley and Bill Eglinton-all at right. T L-R: Conrad Younger, Ed Foss and Carl Swanson. 12 I LOG I April 1988 "'" -: he American Council on Education (A.C.E.) is a nationally recognized organization which provides many educational services to the nation. One division of the American Council evaluates non-traditional vocational and job related courses and recognizes them as being on a college level by recommending college credits. The vocational courses at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School certainly fit into this category. For that reason, ACE has been evaluating the vocational courses and recommending them for college level credit since 1978. The vocational courses just underwent their IO-year evaluation by a team of experts sent to the school by ACE. Dr. Sylvia Galloway, director of the ACE division was accompanied by Conrad Youngren from the State University of New York, Edward Foss from Cape Fear Technical Institute and Carl Swanson from Southern Main Vocational Technical Institute to conduct the three-day evaluation. Tracy Aumann Foley, the director of curriculum at SHLSS said, ''Overall, we are very pleased with the outcome of the evaluation. All courses were given recommendations, with the overwhelming majority of the recommendations in the associate or lower division baccalaureate degree category.'' What the Ace Evaluation means to seafarers who attend SHLSS is significant. Seafarers who wish to attend a college or university can request an ACE transcript from the SHLSS College Programs Office and have that transcript evaluated by a college or univer.sity for possible granting of credits. ACE A Dr. Sylvia Golloway, A.C.E. division director. publishes a national guide which college admissions officers use to evaluate courses and credit recommendations for courses. Vice-President Ken Conklin, along with all the staff of SHLSS, gives his full support to the school's partnership with ACE. "Having our courses evaluated by ACE is another way that the school and the SIU are working together to provide excellent educational benefits to the members of the SIU,'' he says. If you are interested in further information about the ACE evaluation and credit recommendations for vocational courses, contact the College Programs Office at SHLSS. �All Eligible OS Seamen WE WANT YOU! We really want to help you, but we can't. Why? Because we have no applications for our AB classes! That's why SH LSS is running Special AB Upgrading classes. If interested, contact Bart Rogers immediately at 1·800-732-2739 or your port agent. Able Seamen 319188 Fi.mt row left to Right: Tom Ho<king, Chad.es Collins, Lee A. Sdiw, Abdo S. Mashrah, Tmo RoblC!i, Tom Nealon, Robert Petko; Semnd row: Freddy Yant, Wayne Stewart, Kenneth L. Simbler, Sam Johnson, D..ivid A. Kole, Shawn Yakmh, Dana Naze, Jake ~ (Inst.); Third row: Mike Ga1tagher, Daren M~, Paai~ Dillon Trainee Lifeboat Class #424 &trow left to Right:VJ.Ctor Rosado, Curtis Aragon, Steve Hamfurd,Jeffrey Aguiar, Christopher Callahan, Russell Foxvog,John M. Allen, Bryan G. Chan; Second Row: Ben Cusic (imttuctor), Dean lshimma, Robert Rubio, Jr., Jake Troutwine, Rob Hanna, Mark Smith, James M. Stowell, Douglas M. Martinson, Oli.6.dio Joe &quire!, Jr., David Gay Stonehu&; Third row: Onille Zi~, hrad Camacho, Jr., Danid R. Bennett, Devin L. Gl<min, Gerard Walker, Ryan Hall FOWi' Gass 3/8/88 FiN: row left to Right: Lee R. laurent, Robett A. Sabatano, Ralph B. Gamer, Sonja M. Cements, Ramon L. Borrero, Guy Hemenget; Second row: Hermenegildo Tomboc, Don K. Teixeim, Taylor Oear, Chad.es M. Simmons, llive Gade, John H~, Greg Unkous, D. Rush Ingram, Tho~ Neuwiller, F.ad WJ]]js, Jim Shaffer (Inst.) Canadian Able Seamen 317188 Fi& Row left to Right: Bema1d Made, Stephane Gamelin, Ldand Johmton, Van fucde, Don JODC!i; Second row: Kevin Gann, Steven Crawford, Jamie Scotney, Loukas Ouwuryannis, Ivan Purvis, Ron !be, Military Sealift <:.ommand, LifeOOat 318188 Fmt row Left to Right: Edward Williams, Elvin Dunmore, Jeffery Pmish, Scrond row: Ben Cusic (Instt.), Aledc Harrisoo, Rodney Young, Pedro Perez, Third row: William Halliwell, Hugh Tilson, Jerry Lynch lifebo~t 318188 Left to Right: Ben Cusic (Instr.), Vernon Wallen John Ctoo; Canadian Seamambip Training Program 2/ 16/88 Fiist row I.fft to Right: Gary aumlm, Donald Bott,John ~ Guy GJte, Thanas Veyy.:y, Sean Walsh, OJiv Gale; Second row: Rwl Mamijenko, Lyixla-Marie G.ureau, Guy Robamn, louis V~ Robert~ Jdlrey MacRiee, Duane Dempsey, HucN>n SttMe; Third row: KevinJcncs, F.dmwxl Bynoe, Maik Suwek, Sean DemerahJohn Simpm, ills Suoch, Rooald Oowdfr, Jaque; Vad1on, ScqlheJi Canadian Stewards 3 / 7 / 88 First row Left to Right: Lillian Jodoin, Patricia Shannon, Joanne Sehn, Judy Maclean, George Marshall; Serond row: Thomas Baxter, Gary Watson, Paulette MacKay, Christine Tobin, Irene Ihvick>n, Adam Douglas, Wmston Adams, Wade Ladd umn April 1988 I LOG I 13 - �1988 Opgrading t • Engine (Jpgrading Courses ...{-~ ... Course Schedule 1 • t i Programs Geared to Improve Job Skills And Promote U.S. Maritime Industry April- December 1988 The following is the current course schedule for April 1988 December 1988 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. For the membership's convenience, the course schedule is separated into six categories: Deck Department courses; Engine Department courses; Steward Department courses; Adult Education courses; All Department courses and Recertification Programs. ,_ Check-In Date Completion Date Q.MED - Any Rating April 4 September 19 June 23 December 9 Fireman/Watertender & Oiler .Marine Electrical .Maintenance Refrigeration Systems Maint. & Op. May 23 August 22 June 27 October 3 July 1 September 30 August 19 November 11 Refrigerated Cont.ainers-Advanced Maint. August 8 September 2 Pumproom Maint. & Operations August 1 September 19 September 9 October 28 Variable Speed DC Drives September 5 October 14 Electro-Hydraulic Systems May 9 November 7 June17 December 16 Automation November 21 Welding November 21 December 16 December 16 Hydraulics May 30 October 17 June 24 November 11 Third Asst. Engineer/Steam or Motor Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for Starting Date) Course ,,,~I \JA 't A"'t-;.\\._. ;._ ·,~ Inland Boatmen and deep sea Seafarers who are preparing to upgrade are advised to enroll for class as early as ~ible. Although every effort will be made to fill the requests of the members, the classes are limited in size - so sign up early. The course schedule may change to reflect the membership's needs and the needs of the industry. SIU Representatives in all ports will assist members in filling out the application. *All students in the Engine Department will have 2 weeks of Sealift Familiarization at the end of their regular course. Recertification Programs PLEASE NOTE: All members are required to take firefighting when attending SHLSS. Deck Upgrading Courses Check-In Date Completion Date June 13 July 25 September 19 October 31 July 22 September 2 October28 December 9 Radar Observer Unltd. July 18 July 29 Radar Refresher/Renewal Open-mded, 3 days (Contact Admissions Oftke for starting date.) Radar Rec;;ertification Open~ded, 1 day (Contact Admi$Sions Office for starting date) Course Able Seaman April 4 May 2 May 30 June 27 July 25 August 22 September 19 October 1 7 November 14 December 12 Lifeboat LNG - April 15 May 13 June 10 July 8 August 5 September 2 September 30 October 28 November 25 December 23 Self Study Safety Course (This course is not offered as a separate course, but may be taken while attending any of the regularly scheduled courses.) *Upon completion of course must take Sealift Operations & Maintenance. Steward Upgrading Courses Course Check-In Date Completion Date Assistant Cook Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for starting date)* Cook and Baker Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for starting date)* Chief Cook Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for starting date)* Chief Steward Open-ended (Contact Admissions Office for starting date) * *All students in the Steward Program will have 2 weeks of Sealift familiarization at the end of their regular course. 14 I LOG I April 1988 Course Steward Recertification Bosuns Recertification Check-In Date Completion Date July 5 August 8 April 25 September 26 June 6 November 7 Adult Education Courses Check-In Completion Course Date Date For students who wish to apply for the GED, ESL, or ABE classes in 1988, the courses will be six weeks in length and offered on the following dates: High School Equivalency (GED) May 2 July 5 August 29 October 31 June 13 August 15 October 10 December 12 Adult Basie Education (ABE) & English as a second Language (ESL) May2 July 5 August 29 October 31 June 10 August 13 October 7 December 10 The Developmental Studies Class (DVS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. Developmental Studies (DVS) April 11 April 15 (Offered prior to the Third Mate & Original Second Mates Course) ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation Course June 6 June 24 This Three week course is an Introduction to Lifeboat and is designed to help seafarers prepare themselves for the regular Lifeboat course which is scheduled immediately after this course. This class will benefit those seafarers who have difficulty reading, seafarers whose first language is not English, and seafarers who have been out of school for a long time. College Programs Scheduled for 1988 Check·ln Course Date Associates in Arts or Certificate Program May 23 August 8 October 17 Completion Date July 15 September 30 December 9 �·······························•···••········•··················••············•·····•••••·••······•····•·••••••••·•••••··••••···••••·••·• Seafare rs Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship Upgrading Application Name (Last) (first) Date of Birth (Middle) Mo./Oay/Year Address (Street) (City) (State) Deep Sea Member D Telephone (Zip Code) Inland Waters Member D (Area Code) Lakes Member D Pacific D If the following imformation is not filled out completely your application will not be processed. Social Security# _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book#______ Seniority______ Department _ _ _ _ __ Home Port _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces D Yes D No Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now Held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~-------------- Are you a graduate of the SHLSS Trainee Program: D Yes No D (if yes, fill in below) Trainee Program: From _______ to Last grade of schooling completed _ _ _ __ (dates attended) Have you attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses: D Yes No D (if yes, fill in below) Course(s)Taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Do you hold a letter of completion for Lifeboat: D Yes No D Firefighting: o Yes No D ~ CPR: D Yes No D Date Available for Training _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Primary Language Spoken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I Am interested in the Following Course(s) Checked Below or Indicated Here if Not Listed ENGINE DECK 0 AB/Sealift D Towboat Operator Inland D Celestial Navigation D Master Inspected Towing Vessel D 1st CIHs Pilot (organized self study) o Third Mate O Radar Observer Unllmlted STEWARD D FOWT O QMED-Any Rating D Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Electronics) O Marine Electrical Maintenance D Pumproom Maintenance & Operation O Automation 0 Refrigeration Systems Maintenance ALL DEPARTMENTS o Walding D Llfeboatman (Must be taken with another courH) No transportation will be paid unless you present original receipts and 5uccessfully complete the course. & Operations 0 Assistant Cook Utility D Cook and Baker D Chief Cook 0 Chief Steward D Towboat Inland Cook COLLEGE PROGRAM D Associates In Arts Degree D Diesel Engine Technology 0 Assistant Engineer/Chief Engineer Un Inspected Motor Vessel o Orglnal 3rd/2nd Assistant Engineer Steam or Motor 0 Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance D Hydraulics D Electro·Hydraulic Systems O Cert If lcate Programs ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 0 Adult Basic Education (ABE) D High School Equivalency Program (GED) C Developmental Studies (DVS) C English as a Second Language (ESL) CJ ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You must also submit a COPY of the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, as well as, a COPY of your clinic card. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule until this is received. VESSEL RATING HELD DATE SHIPPED DATE OF DISCHARGE DATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rev. 2188 RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center, Piney Point, MD. 20674 .__,.._.-.•• - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._..~--.........111111111...\ April 1988ILOGI15 - �Top Navy Award Presented to Former MSCPAC Mariner Hopkins by Bob Borden, PAO, MSCPAC Two years after he helped save the USNS Mispillion from almost certain loss after she went aground off the coast of Japan, George A. Hopkins was awarded the Navy's highest civilian award in late March. The Distinguished Civilian Service Award was presented to Hopkins by Capt. William T. Dannheim, USN, Commander Military Sealift Command, Pacific, in ceremonies at a small community hospital near Grand Rapids, Minn. Last summer, Capt. Dannheim recognized other Mispillion civil service mariners who helped correct the extreme list of the ship when she went aground in March 1986. They were awarded the Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service Award for their part in saving the Mispillion. But Hopkins, most observers agree, did far more than anyone aboard ship in rescuing the vessel and preventing any loss of life. He remained in the auxiliary machine room after other crewmembers had exited the machinery spaces to abandon ship. Moving about in the dark while the ship listed 23 degrees to starboard, Hopkins single-handedly worked to start an auxiliary diesel generator. Power was eventually restorc:d to the main pump room, allowing cargo pumps to shift ballast and return the Mispillion to an upright position. The ship was towed back to Sasebo for major repairs to her hull and cargo tanks. Unfortunately, Hop- Capt. W. T. Dannheim pins the Distinguished Civilian Service Award on George Hopkins. kins suffered a stroke three months later aboard the Mispillion which left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak. He retired from MSCPAC and returned to his home in Minnesota. Hopkins, 68, was scheduled to receive his award at a March 25 banquet dinner sponsored by four veterans organizations in Itasca County. Four days before the event, though, he underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix and remained in the hospital to recover from the op- MSCPAC Employee of the Year by Bob Borden, PAO, MSCPAC Less than a month after she was named MSCPAC Employee of the Quarter for the peri~d ending Dec. 31, Christine L. Zarate was selected as the MSCPAC Employee of the Year for 1987. Zarate competed for the annual award against three other nominees, all of whom were MSCPAC Employees of the Quarter last year. Zarate, a GS-12 assistant division director for the underway replenishment ship division, is a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Acad- 16 I LOG I April 1988 emy at Kings Point who sailed with commercial firms for almost four years before she took an engineering position with CO MSC in 1983. The San Jose native came to MSCPAC in 1985 and worked as a port engineer for the USNS Ponchatoula and the USNS Mispillion until she was assigned to perform similar work for the USNS Spica and become assistant director of the UNREP ship division. It was Zarate's technical and administrative work with the Spica that helped her win Employee of the Quarter and Employee of the Year awards. Her planning for the Spica's regular overhaul required extraordinary work because a previous port engineer for the supply ship left MSCPAC to take another position in the Bay Area. Zarate' s planning and development of a viable plan of action for the Britishbuilt ship helped pave the way for an orderly formulation of the regular overhaul work package. At the same time Zarate was involved with the Spica, she was also overseeing work packages for several other replenishment ships. eration. The Deer River Community Hospital quickly turned a reception area into an awards room for their special patient. By the time Hopkins was wheeled into the area, it was filled with about 40 friends and relatives of the former MSCPAC engineer. An American Legion color guard smartly saluted their fellow veteran-a World War II sailor in the Navy who participated in the landings at Normandyand rendered him honors. Capt. Dannheim, who wanted to award Hopkins with the most distinguished certificate the Navy offers civilians after he learned of the third engineer's role in salvaging the grounded ship, spoke generally of the organization he heads and specifically about Hopkins' heroic actions two years ago. With Hopkins in a wheelchair, Capt. Dannheim leaned down to pin the blue and gold Distinguished Civilian Service Award to the chest of the former MSCPAC employee. ''This has been one of the most thrilling days of our life, .. said Hopkins' wife, June, who was there with couple's six children, 15 grandchildren and a score of other relatives when the award was made at the hospital. "I like port engineering," says Zarate. "I want to get more time in the field to the point where I feel very comfortable with what I'm doing. I haven't achieved that yet, but I'm working towards that goal.'' When Zarate isn't working at MSCPAC, she's usually involved with a variety of sports, including windsurfing, jogging, snow and water skiing, soccer and bicycle riding. "Sports help to keep my mind sharp, especially since I'm working with men," she says, adding with a chuckle, "You don't want them to get ahead of you!'' "We're all so proud of him. He really deserves the award and the recognition he's received.'' June Hopkins recalled the time about 10 years ago when George leaped onto an adrift barge on the Columbia River in Washingtonjust before it was about to plunge down a spillway. Using a pole and a pair of oars, he managed to work the barge ashore where it was quickly tied up. Remembering the story, she glanced at her husband and smiled. "He's quite a daredevil," she said. "He's done things most people wouldn't even consider doing.'' Understandably, most persons wouldn't want to remain aboard a listing ship when there's a very real possibility the vessel will roll over and sink. On March 15, 1986, when word was passed aboard the Mispillion for all hands to prepare to abandon ship, Hopkins ignored the order. Capt. Dannheim re-told the story of Hopkins' heroism to a large audience in Grand Rapids at the banquet dinner for the retired MSCPAC mariner. "Clearly, some are born to greatness and others have it thrust upon them,'' said Capt. Dannheim in an emotional speech to 200 friends, relatives and guests in attendance to honor Hopkins. "An act can be performed, or alternatively, the cup can be allowed to pass at no risk to the person. You can contemplate your alternatives and arrive at a conscious decision to act or abstain. You can act or spend the rest of your life wondering if you would have made a difference but chose not to try. This is, I would contend, an act which goes to the character of the actor: You have to be born to it.'' George Hopkins' heroism was the brilliant tri_umph of the soul over fear, fear of isolation in a pitch dark auxiliary engine room aboard a rapidly listing ship, and fear of death. For the brave MSCPAC engineer who saved his ship and shipmates, his heroism was a dazzling and glorious concentration of courage now recorded in history. Zarate was praised in a March message from COMSCPAC as the ''best of the best" from among a particularly strong field of nominees. Noted Capt. Dannheim, "This confirms the reputation she has earned throughout the command as a top-notch port engineer and administrator.'' Other outstanding employees who were nominated for MSCPAC Employee of the Year included Charles McCoy, marine cargo specialist; James W. McGowan, an MSCPAC accounting assistant; and Beatrice Ridela, a procurement assistant with MSCO Honolulu. �Holland Retires from the Game With Appreciation for Civilian Mariners by Bob Borden, PAO, MSCPAC Capt. Joe Holland, USN, retired from the Navy in late March in an unusual way. He could have gone out with sideboys standing at attention and a band playing in the background. But that wasn't the former MSCPAC chief inspector' s style. Instead, he bowed out by playing softball with the staff and celebrating the post-game activities with hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and beer. ' 'The people who know me know I'm a diehard baseball fan and the last time I was in Subic Bay with the inspection team, we played a couple of games against our fleet tugs out there ," said Holland, a 31-year Navy veteran. ''The game brought everyone together and made our association with the ships much closer.'' From the end of 1982 to early 1987, Holland was a frequent visitor to Subic Bay and other Pacific ports where he and his MSCP AC team performed annual inspections aboard command ships. He was amazed the first time he went out on an inspection to view drills from the bridge of an MSCPAC vessel. "I looked around and the only people up there besides myself were the master, th~ navigator and a helmsman:· he recalled. "When we had the same type of drill in the Navy, there were about 30 people up on the bridge. I appreciated the professionalism of MSC personnel after that. They got the job done with a fraction of the crew a Navy ship has aboard ... Capt. Joe Holland: pitching for retirement. Holland wasn't completely unfamiliar with the organization when he first reported to Oakland. His brother is a career merchant mariner who spent several years aboard MSC chartered ships. And when he was commanding officer of the USS Gurke (DD 783) for three years in the early 1970s, he would occasionally see MSCPAC ships in Far East ports. "MSC wasn't new to me," he said, "but it certainly was different. It took me a while but I learned to appreciate the civilian mariners and the work they perform aboard our ships. I can tell you that the operational Navy in the Western Pacific very much respects and appreciates the jobs MSCPAC civil service mariners are performing for the fleet.'' Without mentioning names, Holland says there were always a couple of ships he inspected that never seemed to have anything wrong with them. ''A ship sometimes reflects the personality of its master," he says, "and wherever a couple of our masters went, their ships would almost always receive outstanding evaluations from the inspection team. Times change , people change and so do the ships , but there's a continuing commitment to excellence by some people that was passed down the line whenever they took command. And that excellence showed up in their ships." When he reflected on his own achievements as chief inspector, Holland was most proud of the safety records attained by several MSCP AC ships. "We emphasized safety wherever we went, and I believe the fleet now understands that our safety people are here for a purpose,'' he said, "and that's to help the ships develop a good safety program. I think safety has become one of the most believable programs we have today. The mariners understand this because they know safety is in the best interests of their ships and their lives." Of his own career in the Navy which started in 1957 after he graduated as a chemistry major from Abilene Christian College in Texas , he. says his tour as commanding officer of a destroyer and an assignment as the sole U. S. naval officer to a NATO naval board in Brussels will always stand out. But his other sea tours aboard several destroyers and his shore assignments at the Pentagon, in Hawaii, San Diego, Saigon , the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and the Naval War College in Newport were equally interesting. ''Some memories are better than others,'' he said when he laid down his bat at the end of the MSCPAC softball game, "but overall, the Navy is still the only way to go." Bellatrix Loads in Oakland Retail Clerks Celebrate 1OOth Approximately 1,100 vehicles were loaded aboard the USNS Bellatrix at the Military Ocean Terminal Bay Area in Oakland, Calif. in March while the ship was in port. It was the first time a Fast Sealift Ship took on cargo there, an area recently dredged to allow deep draft ships such as the Bellatrix to berth at the facility. A week after the Bellatrix left port, the USNS Mercury tied up to take on additional Team Spirit cargo. (Photo courtesy of MTMC-W A) - THE UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS are celebrating the lOOth anniversary of the Retail Clerks, one of several unions that joined forces to create the over 1 million-member UFCW. The first retail clerks local chartered by the AFL in 1888 was in Muskegon, Mich. Historic photo at the left courtesy of UFCW. DROWNING IN BOOZE ?• llELP IS AVAILABLE. CONTACT '/OURPPRT AGENT OR YOUR I.INIONAT PINEY I POINr, April 1988 I LOG I 17 �Houston Becomes Regular Stop for New SIU "Atlantic" Ships T WO of Sea-Land's new giant containerships, the Performance and Quality, docked in Houston last month. Seafarers crew all 12 of the ships, which Sea-Land recently purchased. In the face of tough times, these 12 new ships mean jobs and job security for Seafarers. Steward/Baker R. Poovey and S/A Hobson in the Performance's galley. On the Sea-Land !Juali.I] are S/A Ambramovitch, Steward/Baker Dube and Assistant Steward Milla. C.E. Wilson, DEU {left), pays his dues to Patrolman Joe Perez. SIU Vice President Joe Sacco and Bosun Henry Jones aboard the Performance. AB Ray Short and DEU C. Wilson are ready for the Performance to dock. (L to R) on the Performance are Houston Port Agent Dean Corgey chatting with Sister Smith, OSF, from the Seamen's Center and Bosun Henry Jones with VP Joe Sacco. - Jones and Sacco 18 I LOG I April 1988 When the Sea-Land Quo.lily called on Houston, she was assisted to the dock by SIU Tugmen on the Eva (G&H Towing). �r ts \ .J~ ! ~/' • ......, J ... ~--->-~ T O SAFEGUARD your rights and the shipping rights of all SIU members, there are certain requirements that must be followed. These requirements are spelled out in the Shipping Rules, and they are there so that the rights of all members will be protected and furthered fairly and impartially. DUES Your current quarter Union dues must be paid at the time you register. RELIEF JOBS/REGISTERING When you are relieved, you must re-register for your job within 48 hours by reporting to the SIU Union hall. RELIEF JOBS/CONTACT WITH UNION It is your responsibility to keep in contact with the Port Agent at the port in which you are registered. RELIEF JOBS/SHIPPING It is your responsibility to claim your job from the hiring hall shipping board no later than one day before the ship's scheduled arrival. KNO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGA· TIONS. Copies of the SIU constitution are available in 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 three months. which are to be submitted to the membership by the Secretary-Treasurer. A quarterly finance committee of rank and file members. elected by the membership, makes examination each quarter of 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 hy a majority of the trustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively hy the contracts between the Union and the employers. Get to know your shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all Union halls. If you feel there has been any violation of your shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the Union and the employers, notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafaren Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way and Britannia Way Prince Georges County Camp Springs, Md. 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to you at all times, either hy 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 you work and live aboard your ship or boat. Know your contract rights. as well as your obligations. such as filing for OT on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If. at any time. any SIU GHTS all Union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its contents. Any time you feel any member or officer is attempting to deprive you of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details. then 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 clear;ly et forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the employers. Consequently. no memher may be discrinfr nated against hecause of race. creed. color. sex and national or geographic origin. If any member feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled. he should notify Union headquarters. 11111111uunnuuu1n1111111111111111111111111n1111111n11111111t1111111n11111un1111111111111111111111 patrolman or other Union offi:::ial, in your opinion. fails to protect your contract rights properly. contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE LOG. The Log has traditionally refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the Union. officer or memher. It has also refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the Septemher, 1960, meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for Log policy is vested in an editorial hoard 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 he 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. ln the event anyone attempts to require any such payment he made without supplying a receipt. or if a member i required to make a payment and is gi-ven an official receipt. but feels that he should not have been required co make such payment. this should immediately he reported to Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION -SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including. but not limited to, furthering the political. social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects. SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force. job discrimination, flnancial reprisal. or ·t hreat 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. notify the Seafarers Union or SP AD hy certified mail within 30 days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund. if involuntary. Support SPAD to protect and further your economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitutional right of access to Union records or information, he should immediately notify SIU President Frank Drozak at Headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The ad~ is 5201 Auth Way and Britannia Way, Prince Georges County, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. April 1988ILOGI19 - �Don't Miss Your Chance Help to Iinprove Your Skills A How? Friend SHLSS has self-study materials in many areas. Upon your request; SHLSS will send them to you to study in your spare time. You can use these skills: on your job. to improve your skills for upgrading. to further your education. Pkase send me the area(s) check~d below: Deal * * With * MATH Fractions Decimals Perce ms Algebra Geometry Trigonometry (Plane) (Spherical) - D and D D D STUDY SKILLS Listening Skills D D How To Improve Your Memory D How To Use Textbooks D Study Habits Test Anxiety ENGLISH: Writing Skills Test Taking Tactics Grammar Books D Stress Management Writing Business Letters D Notetaking Know-How SOCIAL STUDIES Geography D COMMUNICATION SKILLS U.S. History D Basic Metrics Economics D Drugs D D D D D D ( L, D D D D Name Street would~ ~ \ Addicts don't have friends. Because a friend let another man blindly. travel a course that has to lead to the destruction of his health, his job and his family. And that's where an alcoholic or drug user is headed. Helping a fellow Seafarer who has an addiction problem is just as easy-and just as important-as steering a blind man across a street. All you have to do is take that Seafarer by the arm and guide him to the Union's Addictions Rehabilitation Center in Valley Lee, Md. Once he's there, an SIU member will receive the care ,-------------------------------...., 1 : i Addictions Rehabilitation Center 1 Jm micrc,1cd '" ancndmg a "'·wcc~ pmgrnm "' ihc AJdic1 10 n, : Rchah1l11a11un Ccn1cr I undcr-iand 1ha1 all m) medical and rnunwlmg I n."1..·on.J, "-•II he kept slriclly confidential. and th~tt they "''II not ht.- t...cpt I anywhere ex.:cpi at The Ccnicr : and counseling he needs. And he'll get the support of .. . 800 ~ No .. . . . • . • . • . , brother SIU members who are fighting the same tough Name · • 1 battle he is back to a healthy, productive alcohol-free and drug-free life. AdJrc" .. . • ~irw •~ Ktui •l ,,\, .~ •• ;,·,· .... ii,j,i : The road is a long one for an alcoholic and drug user. 1 But because of ARC, an addicted SIU member doesn't Tdcph.-nc N" I have to travel the distance alone. And by guiding a Mail w THt: 0:111..-u : brother Seafarer in the direction of the Rehab Center, ~~.~.:':'.'::. M°:.' 21;;~; I 1 you'll be showing him that the first step back to recovery is only an arm's length away, 1 "' "' 11 · 14 1'""''"''"' 1"" 1101 ' vw.ww l----~~~~---------~L-------------------------------J 1 City _ _ _ _ __ State------- Zip _ _ _ __ Book No. Social Security No. Department Sailing In _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ___ .. Cut out this coupon and mail to: Adult Education Department Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship Piney Point, Maryland 20674 l i upport PAD Send it today! New Jersey Says 'No' to Sweatshops New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean signed a new labor-backed law aimed at eliminating sweatshops, the Ladies' Garment Workers reported. Modeled after a similar New York measure, the New Jersey law would make it more difficult for apparel shops to cheat on state regulations governing child labor, wages and hours, unemployment and disability insurance. workers' compensation and payroll taxes. The bill establishes a special task force of inspectors for the garment industry and a registration system for garment companies. Ar We want to make sure that you receive your copy of the LOG each month and other important mail such as W-2 Forms, Union Mail and Welfare Bulletins. To accomplish this, please use the address form on this page to update your home address. If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill in the special address form printed on this page and send it to: SIU & UIW of N.A. Address Correction Department 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, Maryland 20746-9971 Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official Union documents, W-2 Forms, and the LOG will be mailed. HOME ADDRESS Date: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ PLEASE PRINT Captain Arthur R. Moore, who has written a book on the history of the tremendous losses in ships and personnel suffered by the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II, would like you to get in touch with him. Specifical1y, he would like to know if you know the name of the master on the SS Benjamin Harrison when it was torpedoed. Please call him (collect) at (207) 623-9165, or drop him a line: RFD#l, Box 210, Hallowell, Maine 04347. 20 I LOG I April 1988 I I I Social Security No. Personal Albert Coles ----, ----------------~---------------~-~------------- Phone No. ( Your Full Name Street Area Code Apt. or Box# Book Number 0 State City SIU 0 UIW 0 Pensioner ZIP Other-------- UIW Place of E m p l o y m e n t - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This wlll be my permanent address for all official Union malllngs. This address should remain In the Union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. (Signed)------------------ ----------------~------------------------------------------~ �Diaest of Ships Meetinas COVE LIBERTY (Cove Shipping) , February 28-Chairman A. Saylors, Secretary Floyd Mitchell, Educational Director William Beatty, Deck Delegate Theodore Bush , Engine Delegate Van Joyner, Steward Delegate David F. Bradley. No beefs or disputed OT. The chairman reported that the ship will pay off in Richmond, Calif. The bosun will put out the new chairs and couch in the lounge as soon as he has put tips on them. He asked all hands to help the assistant cook keep the recreation room and messroom clean since he already has his hands full with own workload. There is no ship's treasury, but it was proposed that the crew establish one or an arrival pool in the near future to help build up a movie library. The educational director urged all members who qualify to take the time to upgrade at Piney Point. All eligible Seafarers should prepare themselves for the new skills and ratings that are becoming the mainstay of the maritime industry. He also stressed safety in everyone's daily work routine. A reminder was given for all hands to register and then to vote. And if a member knows he'll be at sea during elections, he should plan ahead and get an absentee ballot. Next port: Valdez, Alaska. LNG LEO (Energy Transportation Corp.), February 1~hairman John Davis, Secretary Stephen Gateau. Educational Director/QMED Brass. No disputed OT or beefs reported. There is approximately $200 in the ship's fund . The chairman telephoned SIU headquarters regarding the use of epoxy primer on the interior of the ship . He is awaiting a response. He also mentioned the shortages of fresh fruit and s ice , problems which will be taken up with the company in New York. The educational director stressed the importance of contributing to SPAD and of upgrading at Piney Point. LONG BEACH (Sea-Land Service), February 14-Chairman Rafael F. Vega, Secretary James W. Barnett. Educational Direc or Herbert Calloe, Deck Delegate Felix A. Santiago, Engine Defegate Frederico Rodriguez. Steward Delegate Rupeno Rivera. Some disputed OT was reported in the deck department. The chairman thanked the deck department for such good cooperation and the steward department for a job well done. Captain Lomoriello requested an opportunity to address the crew. He talked about the idea of having an arrival pool so that extra movies could be rented in Puerto Rico or the ship could buy fresh fish now and then. He also stressed the f a(;t that stowaways are a concern to everyone--to the safety of the crew and the high cost to the company. Additionally. it was noted that due to a possible tug strike, the ship might divert from Elizabeth, N.J. to Portsmouth, Va. OMI CHARGER (OMI), February 28Chairman F.R. Schwarz. Secretary N.N. Jugabi Johnson, Deck Delegate W. Burke. Some disputed OT was reported in all three departments, including the question of whether the SIU recognizes Martin Luther King Day. The chairman urged all eligible members to upgrade at the Lundeberg school. The secretary noted the-necessity for crewmembers to help keep the messhall and pantry clean as well as the microwave oven . The Charger sailed from the Mississippi River, and along the way made water for the vessel from the river. The question was brought to the patrolman onboard , however, as to whether Mississippi River water is safe for this purpose. There is $60 from the arrival pool. Next port: New Haven, Conn. OMI COLUMBIA (OMI), February 28Chairman Joseph R. Broadus, Secretary Chester A. Moss, Educational Director A.G. Milne, Deck Delegate Richard F. Bowen, Engine Delegate Karl Benes, Steward Delegate James W . Hines. No beefs or dis· puted OT reported. Payoff will take place at the dock in Long Beach , Calif., at which time the captain will be getting off. Everyone was reminded to wait for the partolman before leaving. The importance of donating to SPAD was stressed, and members were also asked to donate to the ship's fund to help buy a new VCR. The educational director urged eligible crewmembers to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point. Learning new skills is the best job security you can get. News of veterans' benefits for World War II merchant seamen reached the vessel. "We have two members here who sailed between 1941 and 1945 who have been waiting a long time." Nevertheless, it was a positive step and something to be thankful for. also made the request that any changes in the launch schedule be properly announced . Watch-standers requested consideration from everyone in keeping the noise level down. And a vote of appreciation was given to the steward department for the fine meals. A vote of thanks also went to the bosun and deck department for the 250 pounds of freshly caught fish . In its report to the LOG: " For the third year in a row, the D. T. Williams is participating in the "Team Spirit" exercises in South Korea. This is the second year that all four ships of squadron-3 are involved . Will forward pictures ASAP." Next port: Pohang, Korea. disputed OT reported. The ship will pay off in New Orleans, but little more than that is known for the time being. The ship will be getting port stores in Port Everglades and then a few more stores in New Orleans. The educational director urged all eligible members to go to Piney Point to upgrade their skills. New skills and endorsements is " where the money is. " There is $9 in the ship's fund . At the present time , there is no air conditioning aboard ship. Crewmembers would like for this situation to be remedied before it starts getting warm. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. Next port: Port Everglades, Fla. SEA·LAND LEGION (Sea-Land Service), January 3-Chairman George Bradley, Secretary Nancy Heyden, Educational Director Sam Beattie, Engine Delegate Solomon Benjamin, Steward Delegate George R. Boop. No beefs or disputed OT reported, although the steward department feels that there is too much work for one man to do on a ship with 26 crewmembers STAR OF TEXAS (Seahawk Management), February 21-Chairman Gene Paschall, Secretary I. Fletcher, Educational Director G. Thompson. Everything is going smoothly with no beefs or disputed OT reported. The chairman urged everyone to register to vote in the national elections next November and keep our own political activity going by contributing to SPAD. He said the vessel would pay off on arrival in Philadelphia if it gets in on time. He also advised all members to take advantage of the upgrading classes at Piney Point. The shipping industry is becoming ever more technical, and those with the skills will get the jobs. There is no money in the ship's fund at the present time, but donations will be solicited next trip. A motion was made that Seafarers be able to retire with 20 years sea-time at any age. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department. Next port: Philadelphia, Pa. - ~ Official ships minutes also were received from the following vessels : OVERSEAS ALICE (Maritime Overseas) . February 11 - Chairman Steven Copeland, Secretary Collie Loper Jr.. Educational Director Sebastian Perdon Jr .. Deck Delegate David Goldberg, Engine Delegate George Silva, Steward Delegate Mitchell K. Woodard. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $150 in the ship's treasury. Everything is running smoothly, according to the chairman, although there has been some problem with crewmembers being dispatched to the ship with permanent jobs when they are actually relief. "We would like to see this situation corrected." Another related problem is that these "reliefs" have not been properly informed about the new lower pay scales that went into effect in October of last year. The secretary thanked everyone for being so understanding as to why the ship has been unable to get some of the items that have been requested, but assured mem· bers that everything is slowly being taken care of. Next pon: Subic Bay, P.R. PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS (AMSEA), March 13--Chairman Mark Trepp, Secretary Donald C. Spangle, Educational Director M. Sabin. No beefs or disputed OT reported. All LOGs have been posted as received. The chairman stressed the importance of contributing to SPAD. "Without forward planning, jobs such as ours would not exist." The secretary added the need for upgrading. "With ever changing conditions in the industry, you may find your present job no longer available. Having endorsements is your job security." The educational director said that working for a company such as AMSEA is ideal in that when you need the extra time off, they will reschedule your return to the ship. That way you can maximize your time to upgrade and still pay the bills. There is $530 in the ship's fund. Anyone bringing video tapes for the ship's tape library will be reimbursed from the fund . Under the new business portion of the meeting, it was brought up that if a Union hall in Guam is not feasible, then the SIU should consider sending a patrolman once a year to supervise payoffs. Otherwise, crewmembers must wait until the ship returns every two years for shipyard work. Crewmembers (including 11 officers). The educational director reminded all hands to help the SIU and themselves by contributing to SPAD. He also reminded everyone of the upgrading opportunities available at Piney Point. Thanks were given to the steward department: " On behalf of the entire engine department, we wish to offer a sincere thank you for the assistance and cooper· ation shown by the steward department during the recent plant blackout at sea. They were also given a vote of thanks from the entire crew for the delicious food. Next port Long Beach, Calif. SEA·LAND PRODUCER (Sea-Land Service), March 6-Chairman Harry M. Fisher, Secretary Claude Hollings Ill, Educational Director P. Thomas. No beefs or LNG ARIES AURORA BAY RIDGE CHARLESTON GREAT LAND MARINER OAKLAND OMI HUDSON OMI SACRAMENTO TALIE OVERSEAS NEW YORK OVERSEAS OHIO PRESIDENT TAYLOR PRIDE OF TEXAS SAM HOUSTON SAN JUAN SEA-LAND ADVENTURER SEA-LAND CONSUMER SEA-LAND EXPRESS SEA-LAND VOYAGER STUYVESANT ULTRAMAR USNS STALWART USNS VINDICATOR Monthly Membership Meetings Port Date Deep Sea Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point . . .... . ....... Monday, May 2 ... . .................. 10:30 a.m. New York .... . .. . ....... Tuesday , May 3 ...... .. ........ . .... 10:30 a.m. Philadelphia .. ............ Wednesday, May 4 ..... . ............. 10:30 a.m. Baltimore .......... . ..... Thursday, May 5 ....... . ............. 10:30 a.m. Norfolk .... . . . ... . .. ... . Thursday, May 5 ... . ...... ....... . ... 10:30 a.m. Jacksonville .. ...... . . . ... Thursday , May 5 . . . . . ................ 10:30 a.m. Algonac . ..... . .. . . . . .. .. Friday , May 6 .. . . ... . . ... ..... . ... . . 10:30 a.m. Houston ................. Monday , May 9 ....... . . ... . ... ... ... 10:30 a.m. New Orleans ..... . . . . ... .Tuesday , May 10 ..... .. .. .. ...... .. .. 10:30 a.m. Mobile . .. .. . ....... .. . . . Wedne day , May 11 .... ........ . . . . . . 10:30 a.m. San Francisco ............ Thursday , May 12 ..... . .... .. ... . .... 10:30 a.m . Wilmington . ........ ... .. Monday , May 16 ... . . . ............ . .. 10:30 a.m. Seattle .... ........ .. ... . Friday, May 20 ...................... 10:30 a.m. San Juan ... ..... ........ Thursday, May 5 . .......... . ......... 10:30 a.m. St. Louis . . . . ...... .. ... . Friday, May 13 .......... . . . ... . ..... 10:30 a.m. Honolulu . .. .... . ... . .... Thursday, May 12 ........ . ........... 10:30 a.m. Duluth ... .. . ..... . .... .. Wednesday , May 11 . . . .. . ..... ....... 10:30 a .m. Jer ey City .. ... . ... . .. ... Wednesday , May 18 .... ...... . .. .. . .. 10:30 a.m. New Bedford . ............ Tuesday , May 17 ..... . ............... 10:30 a.m. April 1988 I LOG I 21 - �CL L NP -Company/Lakes -Lakes -Non Priority Directory of Ports Dispatchers Report for Great Lakes MARCH 1-31, 1988 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Frank Drozak, President Joe DIGlorgio, Secretary Mike Sacco, Executive Vice President Angus "Red" Campbell, Vice President Joe Sacco, Vice President George McCartney, Vice President Roy A. Mercer, Vice President Steve Edney, Vice President Jack Caffey, Vice President **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT Algonac ....... . .... .. .. .. . 0 7 2 0 10 2 0 7 Port Algonac .... . .. ... .. . ...... Port 0 0 24 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 14 0 0 20 0 10 0 27 3 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Algonac .. ... . .. . .......... 0 Port Algonac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 29 5 0 HEADQUARTERS ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 10 3 0 Totals All Departments. . . . . . . . O 53 15 O 46 0 0 *"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. **"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. 34 15 88 22 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, Md. 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC, Mich. 520 St. Clair River Dr. 48001 (313) 794-4988 BALTl MORE, Md. 1216 E. Baltimore St. 21202 (301) 327-4900 CLEVELAND, Ohio Dispatchers Report for Deep Sea MARCH 1-31, 1988 Port New York ............... Philadelphia .............. Baltimore ............... Norfolk ...... ..... ...... Mobile .. . ...... . ..... .. New Orleans ..... ... ..... Jacksonville . ............. San Francisco .. .. . .. .. . .. . Wilmington .............. Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Puerto Rico ....... Honolulu .. .. .. .... ...... Houston .... . ......... . . St. Louis . ... ............ Piney Point .. .. ........ .. Tulals ......... *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 52 4 11 7 22 29 29 34 21 52 11 10 35 0 14 4 2 5 6 6 4 1 0 5 5 8 12 11 13 6 6 0 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class 56 1 g 12 8 25 13 4 0 8 40 20 43 8 6 5 6 4 4 0 6 321 94 28 9 2 2 2 2 6 5 3 7 6 Tota s ................. 14 4 8 3 2 0 4 1 4 28 0 3 61 0 0 2 270 4 91 3 37 1 1 25 1 1 5 4 9 15 6 8 ~NGINE 2 4 g i4 21 21 26 11 15 7 3 4 1 8 0 0 25 3 189 4 10 65 1 0 0 10 24 6 1 0 2 37 4 1 5 2 0 0 4 6 9 14 38 12 19 6 5 15 0 4 155 Port New York ... _.. . ........ Philadelphia ... ... .. . ... .. Baltimore . . .. .. ....... . . Norfolk . . .... ......... . . Mobile .. . . ............. New Orleans ............. Jacksonville ..... . . ....... San Francisco ... .. . . . ... . . Wilmington ............ . . Seattle ..... .... ........ Puerto Rico ... . ... . .... .. Honolulu ...... . .... . ... . Houston ........ . ..... .. St. LOU is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Piney Point .. .. . .... . . .. . Totals ...... ......... . . 2 139 Totals All Departments .... .. 804 15 2 4 7 3 19 5 26 11 21 10 7 7 0 0 8 24 12 17 1 2 3 8 3 Port New York .. . . ... _..... . . Philadelphia .. . ......... . . Baltimore .. . .. . . . . .... Norfolk ..... .. . ......... Mobile ...... . .. ........ New Orleans ..... ........ Jacksonville ..... ....... . . San Francisco ..... ........ Wilmington .. .. . ......... Seanle . . . ......... . . . .. Puerto Rico . .... . . ...... . Honolulu ...... ......... Houston .. . .. ........... St. Louis . ... ............ Piney Point ............ . . Totals ...... . ......... . DECK DEPARTMENT 16 3 1 1 0 6 5 3 2 6 2 6 10 0 8 2 0 Port New York ........... .. . . Philadelphia .... .......... Baltimore ....... . ....... Nortolk . . . . . . ........... Mo~ile . . .......... ... .. New Orleans . .......... . . Jacksonville . ..... . - - - ... . San Francisco . ........... . Wilmington .............. Seattle ............... . . Puerto Rico ...... . ..... . . Honolulu ............... . Houston .. . ....... ... ... St. Louis ............. ... Pine¥ Point ... _...... .. . . 17 4 19 0 1 170 1 1 0 2 1 1 3 0 4 0 12 8 22 14 1 14 3 6 3 5 0 25 0 0 7 60 19 1 5 13 5 0 21 0 5 37 3 1 1 5 3 10 6 18 4 17 4 15 7 6 12 73 1 0 142 180 6 0 3 210 399 345 4 0 6 9 15 1 2 5 0 11 2 1 7 1 11 5 12 0 4 6 0 0 1 3 5 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 2 6 6 0 13 3 0 10 1 7 59 27 0 2 0 0 2 4 4 1 1 0 28 0 0 0 0 122 47 3 0 7 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 27 0 0 5 35 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 4 26 15 1 1 0 1 1 6 5 2 0 1 6 4 5 8 7 1 1 3 16 6 9 10 10 1 18 10 1 10 2 0 55 47 29 55 21 11 49 0 2 1 44 3 0 0 2 4 5 5 4 0 5 12 4 2 1 3 7 2 0 4 8 9 16 5 7 7 4 10 1 0 3 4 3 13 28 13 4 1 (201) 435-9424 4 2 10 7 5 7 3 2 9 4 0 8 1 0 0 5 5 5 3 0 0 9 1 0 2 4 1 6 7 4 27 18 80 19 37 8 7 1 1 31 2 0 0 132 17 0 4 3 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 230 0 0 0 3 0 20 1 0 0 87 31 31 25 5 6 20 6 21 14 26 13 20 10 84 9 9 10 55 18 33 16 6 14 0 2 243 1,229 50 Union St. 02740 (617) 997-5404 NEW YORK, N.Y. 675 4 Ave., Brooklyn 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK, Va. 115 Third St. 23510 (804) 622-1892 4 255 6 7 5 37 NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (504) 529-7546 0 1 5 9 4 g 0 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. 36605 (205) 4 78-0916 NEW ORLEANS, La. 630 Jackson Ave. 70130 3 2 1 MOBILE, Ala. 0 0 3 (904) 353-0987 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 1221 Pierce St. 77002 (713) 659-5152 8 1 0 23 1 107 HOUSTON, Tex. JERSEY CITY, N.J. 99 Montgomery St. 07302 2 0 0 0 4 2 636 Cooke St. 96813 (808) 523-5434 59 32 0 HONOLULU, Hawaii 90 70 7 705 Medical Arts Building 55802 (218) 722-4110 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. 3315 Liberty St. 32206 279 2 DULUTH, Minn. 6 8 0 6 3 0 1 33 277 1 28 31 19 0 3 345 0 0 13 43 0 0 ti7Z 148 7 13 31 178 73 5 2 2 0 110 0 5 12 12 18 57 65 0 3 148 8 79 2 452 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DEPARTMENT 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 23 3 1 0 0 0 2 1 c Trip Reliefs 5443 Ridge Rd. 44129 (216) 845-1100 1 2 7 3 34 6 33 12 5 0 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 2604 S. 4 St. 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT, Md. St. Mary's County 20674 (301) 994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. 350 Fremont St. 94105 (415) 543-5855 SANTURCE, P.R. 1057 Fernandez Juncos St. Stop 16 00907 (809) 725-6960 SEATTLE, Wash. 5 264 188 9 0 3 312 511 434 ST. LOUIS, Mo. 0 •"Total Registered " means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month . **"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. 2505 1 Ave. 98121 (206) 441-1960 4581 Gravois Ave. 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON, Calif. Shipping in the month of March was up from the month of February. A total of 1,524 jobs were shipped on SIU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,524 jobs shipped, 672 jobs or about 44 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority people. A total of 230 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 7,252 jobs have been shipped. 22 I LOG I April 1988 510 N. Broad Ave. 90744 (213) 549-4000 �Editorial See Rule 1 Everybody's seen the little sign posted in the boss' office: Rule 1-The Boss is always right. Rule 2---If the Boss is wrong, see Rule 1. That is the attitude the administration is taking on the refiagged Kuwaiti tankers. Despite all the evidence that the boss is wrong, they are living by Rule 1. They simply say they are right, no explanation needed, thank you. No one disagrees with the fact that the reflagging of the 11 Kuwaiti tankers under the Stars and Stripes is in the national defense interest. American presence in the Persian Gulf is an important part of American defense interest. What no one can understand and what no one in the administration will explain is how American merchant sailors working on American ships is contrary to American defense interest. See Rule 1. American seamen have fought and died for more than 200 years around the globe. There is no other group of industrial workers who have played such an important part in exercising American power and foreign policy. On top of being a pretty patriotic bunch, American seafarers are by far the best trained and most reliable in the world. Last year when the administration granted the first waiver of crew re- Letters To The quirements on the tankers, the explanation was very simple. The law says we can do it, so we did it. There wasn't any mention of national defense interests being furthered by denying U.S. seamen jobs. The SIU and others argued that was not what the law said or meant. Even representatives of the tankers owners said they would employ Americans if the law called for it. But the administration invoked Rule 1. Thanks to the hard work of many maritime groups and congressional supporters, a new law was passed. It was specifically designed to require American crews on those tankers. The drafters of that legislation have said so in federal court. The only way a waiver can be granted under the AntiRefiagging Act is if there is a presidentially-delcared emergency-there is not-or if there are not any American seamen available to crew the ships-there are thousands. But guess what? Rule 1 was invoked again. A law passed shortly after the out- break of fighting in Korea in 1950 said the Secretary of Defense could request a manning waiver in case of national security needs. That law was passed because there were not enough American merchant sailors available then to move troops and arms to Korea Citing the 1950 law, the Defense Department was granted a national security waiver for those Kuwaiti tankers. Yet in all the correspondence, congressional testimony and court appearances, no one from the administration has been able to explain why U.S. seafarers on U.S. ships would harm national defense interests. All that is said is such action would "change one of the conditions existing" at the time of refiagging. That sounds a lot like Rule 1 again. If the Kuwaiti owners of the U.S. tankers in the Gulf do eventually employ American seamen, as Secretary of State George Shultz hinted, then according to everything the administration has said in the past, that would be against American national defense interests. Right? No, see Rule I. a Editor ~· -' ~ · .~ · . !;-~- .A -"':,<(~ ~ ttr ... -·. .. l~~:! J.J~:-~~ ·- · :=-1--·_J.~t-.~~ .: •. '; ove of Sea and Love of Country" My father Rob@rt J. Burns passed away on Feb. 15, 1988. His family, which includes his wife Priscilla, his sons James R. Burns, John P. Burns, Thomas E. Burns, Donald J. Burns, and daughters Roberta Downey and Rosemarie Collard would like the LOG to recognize Robert J. Eurns for his devotion and a plishments in serving his country for 30 years in the United S Merchant Marines. Enclosed are copies of awards given to him in wartime as well as a letter of honorable recognition from the then president of the United States. My father and those other Merchant Marines who served and who died for their country during wartime, I believe, have not received sufficient recognition as being veterans. Hopefully, in the future, more can be done for these men who have done so much for their love of the sea and their love of their country. Sincerely, John P. Burns Editor's :Note: Brother Burns was awarded the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean War Zone Ears by the War Shipping Administration. He also received a commendation from President Harry Truman. Brother Burns retired in 1973. "Excellent Job on Tacoma" I recently had the occasion to tour one of Sea-Land's new D-7 oontainerships, the Sea-Land Tacoma, and I wanted to pass on to you the names of three of your members who did an excellent job while I was aboard. Bos'n Ray Ramierz obviously had a work party wash down the vessel and polish the bright work before my arrival. AB's Greg Taylor and Dana Cella stayed a.board on their day off in order to show me the bridge, a.ids to navigation and steering equipment. All three were outstanding representatives of the union. I have sent an three brief notes of thanks, but wanted to formally commend them to you. I look forward to seeing you in the near future. Sincerel:y, John Gaughan Maritime Mmtntatrator Pensioners The following SIU members have retired on pension: DEEP SEA Edward A. Allen Joseph 0. Baker William A. Barnes Michel Billo Marion S. Ciaglo Pedro Cortez Steve V. Crawford James R. Curran Leon R. Curry Robert W. Delmont Gerard A. Doering Eugene B. Flowers Benjamin Freeman Edward E. Garrity Milton R. Henton Lucian A. Johns Edwin D. Johnson Keith Jones George R. Kosch Edward A. Krause Robert P. Kurkerwicz Carl D. Lowery Harry E. Luckey James L. McLamore Humberto Ortiz N emesio Quinones Willie R. Reddic Frank Sandy Peter Semyk Charles L. Shirah John A. Smith Joe Spak Charles E. Taylor Emmett A. Thompson GREAT LAKES Laurence G. Bernard Loretta Murphy Joseph R. Turner April 1988 I LOG I 23 �Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO Washington Report The national mood is decidedly mixed. The business pages of the nation's most respected newspapers reflect this feeling. Stories about the "amazing resilience" of the economy run side by side with predictions that we are on the verge of another Great Depression. One widely-quoted story from The Wall Street Journal began with the following sentence: ''Just keep telling yourself, it's only a chart." A graph of the 1987 stock market was superimposed onto the 1929 Down Jones index. The two were nearly identical. The presidential election reflects this national schizophrenia. The Republicans have all-but-annointed George Bush as their candidate. He paints the Reagan administration's record in glowing terms. The country, he says, has benefited greatly from the administration's economic policies. The Democratic race has taken on a completely different complexion-literally. With strong showings in Michigan and Wisconsin, Jesse Jackson has captured the imagination of millions of Americans, even those who disagree with his policies or don't believe that he can be elected. Jackson's America is worlds apart from the one that George Bush describes. He talks about .. economic violence," lost jobs, rampant drug use and mounting debts, both fiscal and moral. For now, at least, Americans seem unwilling to make up their minds which assessment is closer to the truth. Effective Control? The situation in Panama has reached the crisis stage. The country is near bankruptcy. General Noriega, Panama's president and dictator, has been named as a co-conspirator in a drug case in the United States. Human rights abuses are endemic. Support for Noriega grows smaller every day. The military seems uneasy. The Catholic Church has condemned him. He has no following among the middle-class. Everyone agrees that the general has to go. Spain has even agreed to take him in, to facilitate the transfer of power. The only problem is, the general won't leave. And short of an actual invasion, the United States has just about used up its options. To seamen, at least, the situation in Panama is full of ironies. Some ancient but pertinent history: the decline of the American-flag merchant marine was precipitated by the formulation of the "Effective U.S. Control" (EUSC) Doctrine. In 1947. the American government decided to grant war risk insurance to American-owned vessels that had been reftagged under the registries of Liberia, Honduras and yes, Panama. As Irwin Heine, a former official of the Maritime Administration, has pointed out, "the fact that (foreign registries) play an important role in U.S. mobilization planning is ba.sed upon agreements, not treaties. Under international law, only the state of registry has the 24 I LOG I April 1988 April 1988 right to requisition and exercise control of its national-flag vessels." For years, apologists for the EUSC doctrine have side-stepped this issue by stressing the close connection between the United States and Panama. If anything should happen to upset that relationship, they have argued, the United States can exert pressure. Recent developments have laid bare the fallacy of these arguments. Short of actually invading Panama, the United States has taken its best shot at unseating General Noriegato no avail. Meanwhile, newspapers run stories about the growing connection between Noriega, the international drug cartel and Fidel Castro. Has this country actually reached the point where it is willing to pretend that it can rely on Panamanian-flag vessels to carry American troops and supplies in case further action is required to protect our stakes in the Panama Canal? Alaskan Oil: Part One Recent developments in Panama bring to mind the old Yiddish joke about the schlemiel and the shlemozzle. The joke goes like this: the schlemiel is the person who spills soup on the shlemozzle. If General Noriega is the schlemiel, then the hard-luck maritime industry is definitely the shlemozzle. Since oil was first discovered in Prudhoe Bay, maritime unions and companies have fought to keep Alaskan oil from being exported overseas. Several years ago, afte.r a bitter fight, the industry was able to get the ban extended. It was an important victory. As many as 40 Ameri(.;an-flag vessels stood to be laid up had Alaskan oil been allowed to be sold overseas. Opponents of the ban have used any pretext they can think of to overturn it. Last month, after it was reported that Noriega was threatening to close down a Panamanian pipeline, they renewed their attack. Few people expect that pipeline will be turned off. Yet the threat momentarily reopened an issue that everyone in the industry thought had been put to bed. The SIU legislative staff has worked closely with key allies on Capitol Hill to remind people that the strategic interests which prompted Congress to ban the export of Alaskan oil are still operative, and that no hasty action should be taken. Alaskan Oil: Part Two Citing national security reasons, SIU President Frank Drozak urged the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation and the Environment to facilitate the exploration and development of Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) oil. •'The vast quantities of crude oil developed on Alaska's North Slope have proved to be an invaluable asset," said Drozak ... Unfortunately, many oil analysts expect production from the fields . . . to decline in the near future. ''The SIU believes that efforts to replace Legislative, Administrative and Regulatory Happenings those fields must be undertaken, and that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain may contain the vast oil resources necessary to replace the production from the enormous Prudhoe Bay field." Under the best-case scenario, it will take 15 years before ANWR will start to flow. That does not take into account any delays. Yet a number of environmental groups have urged Congress to take its time with this issue. Meanwhile, American warships are escorting 11 refiagged Kuwaiti tankers up and down the Persian Gulf. Both sides are threatening neutral ships. The Iraqis have added a new weapon to their bag of tricks: poison gas. There hasn't been one serious environmental problem during the entire operation of the Alaskan pipeline. Yet the threat of an oil cutoff in the Persian Gulf remains vividly real. As it is, the price of oil is approaching $18. Congress should act, and act now. Kuwaiti Tankers Kuwaiti officials "are taking steps to increase U.S. manning'' on the 11 reflagged tankers which have been at the center of a year-long dispute between the administration and the maritime industry. Responding to a letter from SIU President Frank Drozak, Secretary of State George Shultz defended the administration's decision to waive American citizenship and manning requirements. Yet he also added that the administration has been "advised that Kuwaiti officials are aware of our conems over the manning issues, and that they are taking steps to increase U.S. manning." Meanwhile, five maritime unions-the NMU, District 1-MEBA, the MFOW, the SUP and the MM&P- expect a decision to be handed down shortly on a suit they file.d on this issue. For more details, tum to page 3. Busting The Strike-Busters If the SIU has its way, Congress will make it impossible for shipping and fishing companies to break strikes by importing foreign workers to man American boats and vessels. Importing foreign workers to break American strikes is illegal in this country, except in two industries: aviation and maritime. "We find it unacceptable that we should be singled out for this special treatment," said Frank Pecquex, director of legislation. The Union won an important victory last month when the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act prohibiting the admittance of aliens planning to work on American ships or aircraft during a strike by American workers. The SIU lobbied every member of the House on this important issue. The vote wasn't even close: 302-104. Trade Anyone who doubts that unfair trade remains an important issue for the American maritime industry should take a look at the (Continued on Page 5.) � 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 1980-1989 Description An account of the resource Volumes XLII-LI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1988 Description An account of the resource GIANT SHIPS MEAN GIANT JOB OPPORTUNITIES SACCO NAMED TO EXEC. V.P. POST SHULTZ HINTS KUWAIT MIGHT ADD U.S. CREWMAN SIU JOINS ANTI-APARTHEID RALLY MARITIME UNIONS SLAM ADMINISTRATION’S ODS BID ON T-AGOS STALWART ODS REFORM FIRE SNUFFED OUT WHEN SIU BOATMEN BATTLE FLAMES MESSAGE IN A BALLOON, ‘JUST SAY NO!’ -MEMPHIS TO L.A. SHLSS EXECUTIVE CHEF HONORED VOCATIONAL COURSES UNDERGO EVALUATION TOP NAVY AWARD PRESENTED TO FORMER MSCPAC MARINER HOPKINS MSCPAC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR HOLLAND RETIRES FROM THE GAME WITH APPRECIATION FOR CIVILIAN MARINERS HOUSTON BECOMES REGULAR STOP FOR NEW SIU “ATLANTIC” SHIPS THE SIU IN WASHINGTON EFFECTIVE CONTROL ALASKAN OIL: PART ONE KUWAITI TANKERS ALASKAN OIL: PART TWO BUSTING THE STRIKE-BUSTERS TRADE Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/1988 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. 50, No. 4 1988 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/3869533ca5da383656cdf9ebbe203221.PDF a215bb3045fd43f2ca8fb5461c417ffe PDF Text Text ilKpWfUW ;rs.-.->rvv,^-..t.-'.:: k:-*» ,V - —KT'lIr-Tr OrHClAL ORSAN OF iHi SEAFAiraS INTIRIUTIOItlU. UNION • ATUimC OWf. UUB AND INIAND WAFERS DiSI»a • AH-CIO SEAEARERS 1 ••,:'! '^^1- Socco Uiaes Switch ^MoKe MarAd Out of DOr poge 3 Commission Reports Volume 51f Number 4 April 1989 UNmU SIGHS THRU WG COHmCTS Panel Gtes Need For U.S. Ship Mity •'Vf iSOO t"*-' ooOC; -HJ>o C/?0-) rn-<0 o«>o>zo cua; « o z:3>t-<x mOc/j o CO 2:0 I • OJ 2:0 y> t— SIU Opposes Plan Keep Maritime Service < of GAIT Trade Talks •>T^' ' ' I'- r: Pictured above are Sabiue Towu^'s union and management negotiating teams. Representing the Union are SiU Area Vice President Thomas GUdeweU (left), Houston Port Agent Dean Corgey, Houston Patrolman Joe Perez, Harbor Engi' neer Dave Griggs, Harbor Deckhand Ken Moore, Camd CtqU^^tiZomand Harbor Captain Frank Jewell. Present for Sabine Tovring arePetsoMsrWanager Paul Moore (left), En^doymepf Agent Dot^ Thomas, Company President Gerald Friesz and Dennis Paese, director of Labor Relations. Symbolically, in the center of the table, side-by-side, are two caps—one has an SW logo and the other an "S" for StMne. For a round-up of tiu three settled ti^ contracts, see page 5. 0-; o o sr. t- I 0 ui CX> n r/ -i': •< >», \7 ui OJ I•r Was SlU's WffsAfffffloif Rep page 3 :: J'- Strike Halts Eastern S Lakes Seafarers Start Season eafarers, in traditional white caps, joined with striking Eastern machinists. Also on the picket line were Eastern pilots and flight attendants, who hon­ ored the strike. Pictured right is Sea&ier Steve Biles and below are Law­ rence Scott behind striking ma­ chinist, (left); Nick Celona, Port Agent of Piney Point, and SIU members Paul Gottor and Larry Arnold. Trainees and upgraders from the Harry Lundebeig school have provided daily pick­ ets at Washington, D.C.'s Na­ tional Airport. See pages 6-7. • >' V 5' Ike SW-contmcted H. Lee White sits ready for her first trip of the 1980-90 season ^ier winteru^ in Toledo. She left bkvdh 21 for Marquette, Mich, to load taconite for the blast furnaces of Aditabula, Ohio. With a record number of Great Lakes bulk carriers fitting out, it looks tike a record shaping season is in the making with fuU Job appmtnnities for SIU sdSors. See Great Lakes photo story on pages 11-14. 3 ' *. �E!i!WSW5j(l«SV<^^ ^ •: • • • , • \ 'S-- A'- SSAfARERS 106 "• •:;||g:V ; President's Report •• ' --^AAI A: • r here was a time when the forces affecting a seaman's livelihood, although most difficult, were less complicated and wide-ranging than they are these days. For the most part it was simply the basic matters of employment, wages, shipboard working conditions and treatment by the ship's officers that concerned the seafaring man. Today, the seafarer faces a much more complicated world. The issues affecting his livelihood spring from a great variety of social, economic and political factors, most of which occur at levels and at times that are fully removed from the workaday world of shipping. New Round of GATT Talks Take, for exaniple, GATT, an abbrevia­ tion that is unfamiliar to most Americans but which has an important bearing on their lives. GATT stands for General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, a group which consists of 96 nations that meet periodically to try to reduce barriers to free trade. An important round of GATT talks is about to begin. Traditionally, GATT talks have focused on manufac­ tured goods. But in the current round of talks, services have been placed on the agenda. These services include banking, insurance, telecommunications and, most important to us, marine transportation. Why is the SIU concerned about this development? We are con­ cerned because the U.S. trade representatives who will be negotiat­ ing for this country want marine transportation on the agenda but not because they are interested in helping U.S. shipping improve its position in world trade. What is more likely, is that they wish to use this country's maritime industry as a bargaining chip to gain conces­ sions for services industries like banking and communications that appear to rate higher in the administration's priorities. Unless we succeed in getting maritime services removed from the GATT agenda, all of the programs that are the underpinnings of the U.S. private shipping fleet and are practically the basis of all of American seamen's jobs, ard in absolute danger of being smashed by an invasion of cheap and slave labor foreign ships. And with it would go another vital area of our national security. ;•• f'.: -• '>/ ,• .- '• :-:t•* •• :. .]-;••&•• t>:-- tions shall be provided with a pre-determined policy statement re­ garding the U.S. maritime industry." Until that pledge is put into practice, we must continue to support the efforts of those senators and representatives who are leading the fight to preserve America's shipping industry and the vital role it plays in the national security. GATT certainly is on our agenda. * * * The Presidential Commission on Merchant Marine and Defense ^ has issued its fourth and final report, entitled "A Plan for Action. This completes the work of the commission, and the results of its findings and recommendations have been submitted to the White House. The report confirms the fears that are continually being expressed by those who are knowledgeable about the defense posture of the United States: our merchant marine capability is dangerously insuffi­ cient to fulfill its role as an instrument of national security. In submitting the final report to President Bush, the committee chairman. Admiral Jeremiah Denton, a distinguished Navy veteran and former U.S. senator, said "the commission reached the indis­ putable conclusion that there are today insufficient strategic sealift resources—in terms of numbers and types of ships, trained person­ nel to operate them, and shipyards to maintain and replace them—to carry out the national military strategy. Without decisive action the situation will worsen substantially by the year 2000. "Certainly there is no acceptable alternative," the commission chairman continued, "to taking immediate action to remedy the shortfalls in strategic sealift, in the shipbuilding and shipyard sup­ pliers, and in the available pool of qualified seamen and skilled shipyard workers." Then the commission chairman put his finger on what has to be the most essential element if there is to be a reversal of the present condition: "Only the president," Admiral Denton said, "can break the log jam that has prevented action to address the strategic sealift needed for our security." Only two presidents—Roosevelt and Nixon—^in modern history have possessed both an understanding of the role of merchant ship­ ping and the leadership qualities to do something about strengthen­ ing it. Let us hope that President Bush will now address this prob­ lem. • Threat to the Jones Act 1^ ; •• •• - •. • -'.;'/-^r. i.-' -' - '• , ,:s^ A. ;^; ;.;- -; •-if t * • • Immediately threatened would be the Jones Act, which protects our domestic shipping, the nation's cargo preference statutes, and what is left of the operating subsidy program—^to cite just a few of the most obvious danger points. Efforts to have the the trade representative remove maritime serv­ ices from the talks have not been successful, and it looks as though we are facing a repeat of the battle last year over the attempts to open our domestic shipping to Canadian vessels. Fortunately, the Congress has demonstrated its feeling that the U.S. maritime industry is essential to the economy and national security and should not be the subject of any trade negotiations. That is why the Canadian venture failed. What remains to be seen is how the Bush administration actions will square with the pledge that was made during the presidential campaign last fall. That pledge said: "Preservation of the integrity of the U.S. maritime industry shall be a priority in all international trade negotiations, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. All United States representatives involved in trade negotia- Inland Industry Reviews Impaif of Drug Testing Regulations We were saddened to learn that one of the great fighters in the cause of Seafarers has passed on. Phil Carlip, who was the SIU's very effective Washington representative for almost 30 years, until his retirement in 1978, died on March 25 at the age of 94. "Uncle" Phil, whose trademark was a chewed cigar, was the SIU's "man on the Hill," who never tired of walking the halls of Congress as he sought support on issues important to the well-being of Seafarers. Uncle Phil was known to hundreds of people in the Congress— both members and staffers—^as a man of principle and an astute observer of the political scene. To many,'many SIU members he was an .unselfish friend, always ready to lend a helping hand. Phil Carlip made a great contribution to our way of life and he will always have a place in our hearts. yolume 5], Number 4 April 1989 LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 fAuth'heUnion; Way; Camp Springs, Maryland 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. • 'A !• . •. .•" " •'. I • •'. 9^. vl. •• fw J attd inland con^any representatives listen to us Coast Guard and fy Customs Service spokesmen present information on each agency's anti­ drug programs. The meetings called by the union, is the first of a series. •'l :. ::• ;; P^V:. -;.i '•' ' , Second-class postage paid at MSG Prince Georges; Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the LOG, 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, Maryland 20746. President, Michael Sacco; Secretary-Treasurer, Joe DiGiorgio; Executive Vice President, Joe Sacco; Vice President Collective Bargaining, Angus "Red" CampbeU; Vice President Atlantic Coast, Jack Caffey; Vice President Gulf Coast, Thomas Giideweli; Vice President West Coast, George McCartney; Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters, John Fay; Vice President Government Services, Roy Mercer. Communications Department Director, yciwca Smith-, Editor, Charles Svenson; Managing Editor, Mike Hall-, Associate Editors, Max Hall and Deborah Greene-, Design Consultant, Dennis Goris. • Y' �mmm »iieswsw Sacco Deplores Ship Decline Under DOT, Seeks Improved Status for Maritime Administration PHIL CARLIP DLAD AT 94 Phil Carlip, who served as the SIU's chief Washington repre­ sentative from 1950 until 1978, died on March 25 at the age of 94. A familiar and respected fig­ ure on Capitol Hill for close to 30 years, he played a pivotal role in helping the Seafarers Union secure passage of scores of mari­ time-related bills, including the Merchant Marine Act of 1970, Active in New York City and state politics for more than a generation before coming to work for the SIU, he was named by SIU President Paul Hall to present maritime's case to Con­ gress. Known affectionately to everyone who worked with him as "Uncle Phil," Carlip achieved a near-legendary status in Wash­ ington, right down to his trade­ mark, an ever-present cigar. '.-•Ivy-' Played A Major Role As the SIU's chief Washington representative, Carlip played a key role in every major legisla­ tive battle, including the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, the Mer­ chant Marine Act of 1970 and the Energy Transportation Act of 1974, which failed to become law only after a presidential pocket veto. At the 1986 convention of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades De­ partment, former Speaker of the House Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill Jr. spoke of his deep friendship with Carlip. He said Carlip was the most respected lobbyist of his generation, and recounted a famous story involving former President Lyndon Baines John­ son. Johnson had called Represen­ tative Frank Thompson (D-N.J.) to gain his vote in the presi­ dent's effort to move the Mari­ time Administration from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation. Thompson apologized but said he could not support the presi­ dent, he had already promised his vote to Phil Carlip. The president, who was not accustomed to hearing the word "no," looked straight at Thomp­ son and roared, "Who the hell is Phil Carlip?" Despite the roar, Thompson resisted the presi­ dent's pressure. Johnson lost the issue in both the House and the Senate. Carlip is survived by a son, Alfred, a professor at the State University of New York in Binghamton, a daughter, Sylvia Secunda of Bethpage, N.Y., and six grandchildren. MM ichael Sacco, president of iwE the Seafarers International Union, criticized the Department of Transportation (DOT) for "al­ lowing the gradual liquidation" of the U.S. merchant marine. Speaking before a Propeller Club audience of diverse ship­ ping groups, Sacco pointed to the decline of active U.S.-flag vessels from 612 in 1981 to fewer than 360 today. He suggested that the maritime industry "ought to be considering plans and strategies for getting out of our solitary confinement" by moving the Maritime Adminis­ tration (MarAd) out of DOT. As alternatives, Sacco pro­ posed switching MarAd back to the Department of Commerce or giving it independent agency sta­ tus. He said, "My experience is that the industry has trimmed its sails, has substantially increased its efficiency and has done vir­ tually everything within its power to become more and more competitive." Despite the ef­ forts, Sacco continued, "we have faced a continuing lack of critical and essential support from our government that the fleets of virtually every other na­ tion receive from their govern­ ments." Sacco listed the results of eight years of neglect from "the agency that once served as a watchdog and advocate of the private shipping fleet." In addi­ tion to a loss of more than 250 vessels in 1981 there were 25,000 seafaring jobs; in 1989, 13,000. In 1981 Construction Differential Subsidy (CDS) amounted to $871.6 million. Today there is zero CDS funding. Finally, the Reagan/Bush budget proposes complete elimination of the Title XI loan guarantee program. m ''i SW President Michael Sacco speaking to the Golden Gate Propeller Club. "Further," Sacco pointed out, "the Department of Transporta­ tion sits by idly as other admin­ istrative departments and agen­ cies continually seek to disregard cargo preference statutes." Even the courtesy of consulta­ tion is missing, noted Sacco, re­ minding the audience that DOT's draconian drug testing regula­ tions were dropped unexpectedly on the U.S.-flag fleet while ex­ empting foreign ships and alien seamen. A striking example of MarAd's failure to promote the industry was the "shameful decision to allow 11 Kuwaiti tankers to fly the U.S.-flag while the vessels were manned by foreign sea­ men," Sacco recalled. But "One of the most con­ vincing proofs of DOT'S deter­ mination to downgrade the role of U.S. shipping," Sacco noted. Gen. Duane H. Cassidy • • •• •y,:' -fM. "was its decision to eliminate the four maritime attache posts in the American embassies in Great Britain, Brazil, Greece and Japan" which served as "physi­ cal reminders to the world of America's position as a maritime nation and a world power." "Their closing," warned Sacco, "signaled to the world that the U.S. was continuing on the slide down to a second-rate power." After reviewing MarAd's "in­ ability to carry out the policies and objectives of the Merchant Marine Act," Sacco remembered the late Paul Hall's classic battle to defeat the Johnson adminis­ tration's plan to transfer MarAd out of Commerce and into Transportation. After the SIU Won that round. Hall came back to Congress with a bill to make MarAD an independent agency. Continued on page 10 Gen, Cassidy: 'Coaiition Can Revive Maritime' S peaking to the Greater St. Louis Area and Vicinity Port Council, General Duane H. Cas­ sidy told the audience of labor, industry and military leaders, "We just simply believe, with the right kind of leadership and the right kind of coalition, we can do something that is so badly needed—and that is turn the maritime industry of our countiy around. We absolutely need it for national defense." General Cassidy, who began his military career in the Air Force and who currently serves as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Transportation Command n^RANSCOM), talked about the importance of a coalition effort to bring about the revitalization of the U.S.-flag merchant ma­ rine. TRANSCOM is the Depart­ ment of Defense entity responsi­ ble for coordination of land, air and sea transportation of Ameri­ can fighting forces and military supplies. .... i Calling it a "disgrace" when the largest trading country in the world carries only 4 percent of its cargo. General Cassidy added, "And for an airman to stand up here and say that—I think it's fairly significant." The importance of the labor movement in supplying maritime manpower in the event of a cri­ sis, was cited by General Cas­ sidy as one factor which is bringing together a coalition of military officials, operators and unions to fight for a strong na­ tional defense. "We have a moment in time," said Cassidy, "when we have the right people in the right places" to help build the na­ tion's sealift capacity. The Greater St. Louis Area and Vicinity Port Council hon­ ored General Cassidy for his ef­ forts to build a strong and secure America. In addition, the St. Louis affil­ iate of the Maritime Trades De­ partment, AFL-CIO, honored three community leaders: Mi­ chael F. Shanahan Sr., CEO and chairman of Engineered Air Sys­ tems; George R. (Buzz) Westfall, St. Louis prosecuting attorney, and Gerald Thomas Feldhaus, business manager for the Asbesr tos Workers, Local 1. •M-.;' •S?!' �., , - : : .i '• : * ••'s .'t'*- ' • 7 ••.'-••V-;!•':' \7-'•^KV./ ^ 'l"".••-;(,•" '^,'- safumioe 4 '>' '.- :.'r •:. •'''i':,"'.t''.C-'--"•'••'. ^ •••-' '•••,.. 'iV '' 7' ". '.-• 7 \ • ' "• - •;. ••'y DEFENSE COMMISSION URGES 'DECISIVE AOION' TO UPGRADE NATION'S FLEET, CITES LACK OF SEALIFT RESOURCES n epeating its earlier warnings n that the United States faces a critical shortfall in its sealift ca­ pacity, the blue-ribbon Commis­ sion on Merchant Marine and Defense completed its two-year mission by recommending a joint venture by the government and industry in rebuilding the na­ tion's maritime strength. The Commission emphasized, as it has previously, that there presently are "insufficient stra­ tegic sealift resources—in terms of numbers and types of ships, trained personnel to operate them, and Shipyards to maintain and replace them—to carry out the national military strategy." And, the panel added point­ edly, "without decisive action the situation will worsen sub­ stantially by the year 2000." Underlying all four of the re­ ports} issued by the Commission has been the same basic mes­ sage: that America must have a merchant marine actively in­ volved in its peacetime com­ merce if the nation expects to have a military sealift capacity in time of crisis. "The deteriorated condition of America's maritime industries presents a clear and growing danger to the national security," said the Commission headed by former U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton (R-AJa.), a retired Navy admiral. It painted this picture of the situation: "It is well established that fully 95 percent or more of the supplies needed to support our fighting forces overseas would have to travel by sea. Sealift would play a central role in the execution of our national mili­ tary strategy in time of war or national emergency, but a large proportion of the resources needed for strategic sealift would of necessity be drawn from among the militarily useful com­ mercial ships of the United States-flag merchant marine ... "Despite a historical national policy of drawing on the 'Fourth Arm of Defense' in time of war or national emergency, and de­ spite a series of legislative mea­ sures, dating virtually from the beginnings of the nation, that have been intended to support the merchant marine and ship­ yard industries in peacetime, the maritime resources of the United States have been and still are eroding." Earlier, the Commission had flatly rejected the claims of runa­ way-flag operators that America could rely on them both for peacetime commerce and mili­ tary sealift capability, warning that the nation "cannot be held hostage to foreign economic strangulation." It addressed this issue again in its final report, declaring: "The merchant fleets and shipyard industries of our allies are also in dramatic decline; they are not now and will not be suf­ ficient to offset the inadequacies of the United States maritime in­ dustries. In any case, the United States cannot in policy or prac­ tice depend on foreign assets, alone or in part, for assistance in situations where there are no commitments from our allies." The Commission concluded that it has fulfilled its mandate to recommend a program "to foster and maintain a United States merchant marine capable of meeting national security re­ quirements." Officially ending its work on March 31, the Comission laid out its "Plan for Ac­ tion" and declared: "It is now the responsibility of the nation's leaders in the Exec­ utive Branch, the Congress, and the private sector to take the necessary action to respond to the challenge presented by the deterioration of our maritime in­ dustries and capabilities." Established by Congress in 1984, the Commission formally came into being with the swear­ ing of its members in late 1986 and early 1987. It spent two years conducting public hearings throughout the country, taking testimony from government offi­ cials, union representatives, in­ dustry leaders and other inter­ ested in the nation's maritime capability. Prior to its final report, the Commission submitted three in­ terim reports to the president and Congress, all emphasizing the same basic theme—that the maritime industry was in serious decline and that a major national commitment was necessary to its revitalization. PAHEl SAn COSTS WOUIO BE TRIVIAl' COMPARED JO TOTAL DEFENSE $'s At a time when the government's defense expenditures are more than $300 billion, the total federal outlay of $13 billion between now and the year 2000 to correct the nation's sealift shortfall would be "trivial," the Commission on Merchant Ma­ rine and Defense emphasized. To fully implement the Commission's "Plan of Action" a cost analysis es­ timated total government expendi­ tures would be about $13 billion. In a letter to President Bush, Chairman Jeremiah Denton, con­ :>}- '•'A- \M'-: :•% •;4_- T ^1" ceded that the money involved is "significant in an era of federal defi­ cits and budget constraint." But, he emphasized, "the possible costs of failing to provide adequate sealift would be much greater." Beyond the contribution that a re­ vitalized inerchant marine would make to national defense, Denton told the president that there are added domestic economic benefits to be derived from the proposed pro­ gram. He said: "We estimate that the implemen­ tation of our recommendations would add 244 merchant ships to our sealift capability; provide reasonably well for a shipbuilding and supplier mobilization base by causing con­ struction of 194 of those ships in United States shipyards; create nearly 100,000 new jobs in the United States; generate more than $43 billion in Gross National Prod­ uct and $6 billion in federal tax rev­ enues; and help to continue the na­ tion's economic expansion through the 1990's. "When the economic benefits are considered, we estimate that the net investment cost to the federal gov­ ernment of the Commission's rec­ ommended program would be less than $6 billion over eleven years, and of course most of the economic and defense benefits produced by the expansion and growing health of our merchant fleet and our ship­ building industrial base would con­ tinue for many years beyond that period." coMMiss/ON RicoMmummm f'tp. •I' ,«?.-•• •••A' 1. 'i:' '•%•. ^,V - 7 " •^.' ,'• • •' ' . ' What the Executive Branch Should Do The Commission urged the president to reaffirm and restate a maritime policy clearly ac­ knowledging that a strong mer­ chant marine fleet and shipbuild­ ing and repair industry are vital to national security. In addition, the Commission called for a full-scale review of the way existing federal depart­ ments and agencies handle mari­ time-related matters; urged that the National Security Council take a hard look at the extent to which America relies on the socalled "eflfective-controlled" ships and foreign-flag vessels in meeting strategic and economic sealift requirements; and recom­ mended meaningful reform of the Operating Differential Subsidy (CDS) to ensure that the U.S.fl^ fleet is able to compete on the commercial sealanes of the world. The Commission also urged the administration to implement a national program for ship con­ struction in U.S. yards; enforce existing cargo preference laws; develop new programs to stimu­ late use of the U.S.-flag fleet in international commerce, includ­ ing encouragement of greater use of U.S.-flag ships by American firms and their overseas subsidi­ aries; and preserve, enforce and strengthen current cabotage laws. The Commission emphasized that presidential leadership is "absolutely essential" if revitali­ zation of the merchant marine is to continue. • Developing a design and build a prototype of ships opti­ mized for military utility and speed of construction. What the Legislative Branch Should Do • The report urged Congress to accept its responsibility for legis­ lative initiatives in a number of areas, including: • "Reforming the OperatingDifferential Subsidy program. • Reestablishing a "procureand-charter" fund to design and construct commercially viable and military useful vessels in U.S. yards. • Allowing the Defense De­ partment to obtain new cargo: ships through a "build-andcharter mechanism. • Limiting the loan guarantee program to oceangoing ships with potential military use. • Extending the scope of Cap­ ital Construction Fund. • Restoring the investment tax credit for shipowners and ship­ yards to levels in effect before the 1986 Tax Reform Act. • Strengthening ship repair provisions of the 1930 Tariff Act to limit foreign conversions or rebuilding, while at the same time providing a waiver of the duty if, within a five-year period, a ship owner spends in American yards an amount at least equal to the amount of duty. ContitiEted on page 24 • �jiFm,im JOINT KUNAGlMiNT/UNION COJUmtt pum AIDS maam CAMPAIGM M n industn'-wide policy for #1 distributing information on AIDS was announced by the Seafarers AIDS Forum for Edu­ cation (SAFE) steering commit­ tee, a cooperative group made up of both employer and union representatives. The SAFE steering committee, which held its second meeting at the union's headquarters in Camp Springs, also developed guidelines for handling AIDS re­ lated work-place issues. The four areas addressed by SAFE are education, safety and health, employment practices and health care cost containment. Committee members reviewed the programs SAFE has imple­ mented since its inception last year: articles about AIDS and HIV infection in the LOG, AIDS education classes for upgraders and trainees enrolled in the Liindeberg school, AIDS educational materials for members who make an information request and refer­ ral lists of AIDS community re­ sources for interested seafarers. Division Signs Pocti With ThFee Tug Boat '' ' ./''y/M' •> ,• • • The Seafarers AIDS Forum for Education (SAFE) steering committee, comprised of union and employer representatives, holds its second meeting to review current programs and develop guidelines on work-related issues. Over the next few months SAFE will tackle the sensitive issues of confidentiality, testing and the right to employment and job benefits for AIDS/HIV in­ fected individuals, reported Liz Reisman, the program's coordi­ nator. • W:-:- "'^1W- SIU DRUG sum UaRING DAK IS APRIL 24 IN FEDERAL COURT Federal District Judge Thomas Hogan set April 24 for a status hearing on the SIU's lawsuit against the Department of Trans­ portation's drug testing regula­ tions for the maritime industry. Filed in federal court by the SIU and the Transportation In­ stitute, the lawsuit states that the government's regulations are un­ constitutional and illegal. While violating individual privacy rights, the regulations also force U.S.-flag companies to police their workforces and bear the cost. The regulations do not af­ fect foreign-flag operators. On April 3, the government filed its response in court, argu­ ing that the Supreme Court has symbolically approved broad government mandated drug test­ ing programs. The Department of Transportation and United States Coast Guard, the govern­ ment says, are required to main­ tain safety on navigable waters. Drug testing prevents accidents and is therefore in the realm of public safety, claims the govern­ ment. The April 3 response was orig­ inally scheduled for March 10. However, the government re­ quested, and received two exten­ sions. The extra time was needed, said the lawyers, to re­ view the new administration's position on all drug testing pro­ grams and secondly, to evaluate the Supreme Court's decirions. SUPRtm COURT UPHOLDS DRUG-HSTING FOR RAILROAD AND CUSTOIRS WORKERS While the Federal District Court is considering the SIU's case against the Department of Transportation's drug testing regulations affecting maritime workers, two Supreme Court de­ cisions were made concerning screening and post-accident test­ ing. The Supreme Court ruled that the government regulations which allow railroad companies to test employees after an acci­ dent for drug and alcohol usage were allowable under the Consti­ tution and the Secretary of Transportation's statutory au­ thority. The high court also up­ held regulations which allow U.S. Customs to make a drug test mandatory for individuals being considered for promotions. The two decisions, announced in March, are the first rulings by the Supreme Court to determine the Constitutionality of manda­ tory drug testing programs for workers in jobs involving public safety and law enforcement. Neither case addressed the is­ sue of random drug testing. In the railroad case, the Su­ preme Court noted that evidence existed demonstrating that se­ vere alcohol and drug abuse by the industry's employees had caused or contributed to a num­ ber of significant train accidents. Because of this record, the court declared that no require­ ment of warrant or a reasonable suspicion that a particular em­ ployee is impaired is necessap', concluding that "the compelling governmental interests served by the regulations outweigh employ­ ees' privacy rights." Delivered by Justice Kennedy, the court's opinion on manda­ tory post-accident drug and alco­ hol testing of railroad employees was supported by seven justices with two dissenting. The Customs workers case was not as clear, as demon­ strated by the 5 to 4 vote of the supreme court justices. In order to obtain a transfer or promotion, customs service em­ ployees are required to pass a drug test. The court upheld the drug-screening program which requires a urinalysis test. In the courts opinion, pre­ sented by Justice Kennedy, drug screening did not violaite the fourth Amendment because "ex­ traordinary safety and national security hazards" could exist, if customs workers used drugs. Four on Court Disagree . Justice Scalia, in a scathing dissent, said there was no evi­ dence showing a drug problem among customs workers. "I do not believe for a minute that the driving force behind these drug testing rules was any of the fee­ ble justifications put forward by counsel here and accepted by the Court," Scalia wrote. "The only plausible explanation" is, as Customs itself has said, "im­ plementation . . . would set an important example ..." contin­ ued Scalia. The four dissenting justices in the customs employees case did not believe that the Fourth Amendment should be tossed out the window in the name of "setting an example." - •ii.v'.l-. A-'"U-, • "V-,'-L: • --ri-' • Mate CharlQi O'Bnan on the Tug Devon.' r i,-; i h^ SIU's inland Division ' : • wrapp€^ up negotiations with: three towing companies—Turecamo Coastal & Harbor Towing of Philadelphia, C.G. Willis, Inc. and Sabine Towing & Transpor­ tation Co., Inc. Turecamo, a new SIU com­ pany, signed an agreement cov­ ering wages, hours and working conditions for crewmembers em­ ployed on company vessels in the port of Philadelphia. Originally a family business j Turecamo Coastal & Harbor Towing is now a leading towing company on the eastern sea­ board. Turecamo recently bought Taylor Marine, Inc., a 75-year-old Philadelphia harbor towing company. The Union's negotiating team from Norfolk signed an agree­ ment with C.G. Willis, Inc. The company operates a barge line serving the Atlantic Intracoastal waterway. Willis's covered hop­ per barges and towboats shuttle from Philadelphia to Jackson­ ville, Fla. A collective bargaining agree- A ment between the SIU and Sa- 1^; bine Towing & Transportation Co., Inc. was ratified by crew- A members. Sabine, now a subsidi-A ary of SEQUA Corporation, op­ erates harbor docking and coast­ wise towing vessels in navigable waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Each contract covers the up­ coming three-year period. Each negotiating team overcame hur­ dles and produced labor agree­ ments which will benefit crewmembers and their families. I • h "M- ' �-.•3^ SIAFARIRS100 EflSIERN mm HONG TOUGH , .•'.- "".'yj'-'v!'- •„. . • jis uowao im aupm n * n an effort to break a strike by mechanics and ramp crews represented by the International Association of Machinists (JAM) at Eastern Air Lines, manage­ ment resorted to the bankruptcy route—^a favorite union-busting tactic of corporate raider Frank Lorenzo, who took over the car­ rier's helm three years ago. In a move that shocked the nation, Lorenzo used bankruptcy to bust Continental Air Line's unions in 1983. But with Eastern, it's dif­ ferent. This time, the unions are , ready. In a message to all Eastern pi­ lots who are honoring the ma­ chinists picket line. Captain John Bavie, chairman of the Eastern Air Lines pilots' council, said: "Chapter II bankruptcy envi­ sions continued existence of a corporation, under revised oper­ ating conditions, and in many cases, under new leadership. So instead of the continued slow dismantling of Eastern under Texas Air's plan, which would have resulted in the ultimate de­ mise of Eastern anyway, we have an opportunity to perform reconstructive surgery on the pa­ tient now, while it still has a chance to survive." Ironically, Eastern's unions "have never been more in con­ trol of their own destiny than they are right now," said Farrell P. Kupersmith, a financial con­ sultant to ALFA. "As long as the planes are parked, Lorenzo will have a very hard time dismantling Eastem . . . His choices are either to settle the strike and secure the airline on terms acceptable to Eastern's employees and credi­ tors—and the courts—or sell the airline to someone who will. In the end, it is because of the soli­ darity of Eastern employees that Lorenzo is, at long last, faced with some rough choices," Ku­ persmith said. , -."•i-l'';'I.:;',.; / -P:. Lormzo's Bag of Tricks After engineering the misuse of the nation's bankmptcy laws to bust unions at Continental Airlines, Lorenzo looked to ex­ pand his airline empire. After purchasing Eastern in 1986, Lor­ enzo presided over the system­ atic dismantling of Eastern Air Lines. He sold Eastern's most profitable assets and siphoned off hundreds of millions of dol­ lars from Eastern to Continental and the parent company, Texas Air. Now Lorenzo claims pov­ erty at Eastern. Since the notorious unionbuster acquired Eastern Air Lines, firings and other forms of harsh discipline have reached as­ tronomical levels. In 1985, be­ fore Lorenzo took over, 36 ma­ chinists were fired. With Lorenzo at Eastern's controls, there were 900 firings from 1986 1 ••I ated in 1938, the NMB has re­ quested an Emergency Board on 32 occasions. In each case, the president of the time, whether Democrat or Republican, has followed the NMB recommenda­ tion. This time, when the NMB proposed such action, the union urged the White House to act. But Lorenzo, a Bush campaigncontributor, objected and the president became the first to re­ ject an NMB recommendation. As AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland said: "All of the travelling public should understand that they have only Frank Lorenzo to blame for the inconvenience they suffer. The unions accepted arbitration, Frank Lorenzo said no. The unions asked for a Presidential Emergency board and Frank Lorenzo said no." How Lorenzo Basted ContinentaPs Unions to 1988. This included a number of stewards, chief stewards and local union officers. To justify management de­ mands for extreme pay cuts, elimination of pension fund con­ tributions and dirt low wages for new employees, Lorenzo cited Eastern's $517.2-million loss over the past two years. But his other carrier—Continental—lost even more in the same period. It went into the red to the tune of $573.6 million despite having a non-union workforce. The Real issue Is Not Un^ Wages Over the past decade. Eastern employees continually demon­ strated a willingness to save the airline, voluntarily giving up $1.5 billion in wages. In negotiations preceding the strike, the I AM agreed to a pay freeze, major work rule changes and reduc­ tions in new entry pay scales. Eastern management has tried to portray the salaries of the company's baggage handlers and mechanics as way out of line. Yet other airlines pay better wages and make a profit. Lorenzo also refers to ramp and ground personnel as being merely "baggage handlers." But that ignores their vital role in fueling planes, positioning air­ craft and making crucial deci­ sions on weight and balance so that planes can fly safely. Eastern's ramp service work­ ers start at an hourly wage of $9.32 (about $19,000 a year). Their top salary after more than seven years on the job is $15.60 (about $31,000 annually). In a public relations barrage, Lorenzo talked about wages of $45,000 a year. To earn that much, a ramp worker would have to put in an additional 536 hours of overtime in a year. It's management that schedules overtime—not workers. Lorenzo wanted veteran ramp workers to accept a wage of $11.60—an $8,000-a-year pay cut—and a five-year wage freeze. This contrasts sharply with what's happening at other airlines. Ramp personnel eam up to $15.51 an hour at American, $15.93 at USAir, $16.53 at Northwest, $16.57 at United and $17.14 at Delta. And all of these carriers showed profits in 1988. Eastern Dismantled, Continental Expanded What is at stake, say Eastern's unions, is the survival of the air­ line as a separate company. They contend that Lorenzo's real purpose is to transfer Eastem's assets, routes and wealth to non-union Continental. As soon as it acquired Eastern in 1986, Texas Air extracted more than $700 million in financ­ ing, fees, loans and deposits from the carrier. Eastern directly provided Continental with more than $180 million in loans and payments. Texas Air, in turn, fimneled $800 million into Conti­ nental. One of the techniques used by Lorenzo was to force Eastern to sell its valuable computer reser­ vation system to Texas Air at a bargain-basement price. Al­ though outside financial analysts valued the reservation system at as much as $500 million, Texas Air bou^t it for only $100 mil­ lion—with a six-percent note that doesn't come due until the year 2012. While Lorenzo slashed Eastem's size by laying off more than 13,000 employees, he dou­ bled the size of non-union Conti­ nental. Lormzo Ti%g»s Strike Labor-management relations in the airline industry are govemed by the Railway Labor Act (RLA). This law makes it possi­ ble for a National Mediation Board (NMB) to assist in resolv­ ing contract negotiation differ­ ences. When labor and manage­ ment exhaust all avenues and still are unable to reach an agreement, the MNB can pro­ pose arbitration. The lAM agreed to have the Eastern issue arbitrated, but Lorenzo balked. The NMB also has the power to ask that the president estab­ lish an Emergency Board. Since the Railway Labor Act was ere- Lorenzo created Texas Air Corp. in 1980 as a shell: a hold­ ing company. Almost immedi­ ately, he began secretly buying Continental stock and, aided by a Civil Aviation Board (CAB) ruling, acquired 48.5 percent of the carrier. Continental's unions proposed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which, in effect, would have allowed the workers to purchase control of the com­ pany. Continental's president agreed to the ESOP and pre­ sented the plan to the sharehold­ ers. But Lorenzo, with the lion's share of Continental stock, was able to block the ESOP. Conti­ nental's president shot himself to death. Texas Air and Loreiizo had won. By late 1982, Continental claimed it was losing money. Lorenzo personally persuaded pilots to forgo pay raises. The flight attendants' union offered to absorb $35 million but Lor­ enzo turned it down. Meanwhile, Lorenzo was ac­ cumulating cash through aircraft sales, loans and a Continental stock offering. As a result, de­ spite Continental's $84 million loss in the first half of 1983, Texas Air had close to $80 mil­ lion in the bank. In September 1983, Lorenzo put Continental into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The airline shut down, laid off 8,000 employees and reneged on its union con­ tracts. Continental management announced that the carrier would resume operations in three days, but that employees returning to work would face pay cuts of 50 percent or more—flight attend­ ants from $29,000 to $15,000, pi­ lots from $89,000 to $43,000. A bankruptcy judge ruled in January of 1984 that Continen­ tal's bankruptcy was carried out in good faith, and the next month the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Chapter 11 companies could cancel union contracts. Later that year. Congress passed a law making it tougher to use bankruptcy as a shield for invalidating union contracts. But it was too late to affect Loren­ zo's actions at Continental. • .iL,-' i '-a aC i'. % �n 'v— APRIl, 1989 " *• ••I'r 1:7 1 - '. UA , ' * 7. % Joining Eastern unionsV picket lines around the country, the SIU demonstrated its solidarity with the International Associa­ tion of Machinists (lAM), a fellow affiliate of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department. The lAM represents Eastern Air Lines ramp and ground personnel. At airports around the country, the unity of Eastern's em­ ployees was in evidence. The machinists' strike was whole­ heartedly supported by Eastern's pilots, represented by the 1 Air Line Pilots Association, and flight attendants who are r, !•/.• . >1' : "II represented by the Transport Workers Union. '' - i •' ri/Ab'? • •• Maritiine Traies Sept. AFL-CIO SIU ipons UUL U^bOMElOlS m mmj SUPPORTS IT A, A/1 mKMWSTV >.7-' MBi . ;7'7pi uiM0imnmi TAC ;7 - f ^7 -<S •••• :•- • SrjfanOT Vwih Aniwka. ^ "j" , 'H., 'V-'.-.v-.-'i•; . - . ' , 'f- vL • Undaunted by die Mt^or who blocked a union demonstration at Jacksonville's airport, the AFL-CIO rallied in a nearby field and turned the event into a picnic. The SIU had a large presence at the rally. Pictured here, left to right, are: Tommy Wright, R. Hassan, Tony McQuay, M. Mostapha, Dan Duncan, Ed Haber, Bill Sharp, Robert Dillow, SIU Headquarters Representative George Ripoll, Dimitrios Pappiannio and John Dmochowski. • •:; jV • ^ Joining Gus Tsoilis, a member of the Machinists Lodge 1018 (left), are Teamster Local 810 Field Representative Jay Silverman and SIU Sea-Land shoregang member Charles DK)annio on the Eastern picket Une at LaGuardia Airport in New York. i : " y- t' :-7^.777C' •; ;.7''-'^t;'. • 77 % XAM SIU , SUPTOMS lEA^Ti^j $em I FRANOSOO] PAOONG rmmmtrn,. 1 If AH M" ^ I tv , OrnDIElectmim iWiMy^right and Bosun Robert Dillon represent the SIU In Philadelphia, Captain Lou Flade (third from left) and Seaman Charles ColUhs at a Jacksonville labor raUylpicmc (r^l0 join Eastern pUoks on the picket line, supportu^ Eastern machinists. . x'''KS7l7S' N SIU member Francisco SalmSem (l^ and UIW Rep Ruth Fernandez on the lAM Los Angeles picket line. .5* iSTRlttl p»^ Sl//^/^0'e73 'C-r SIU men rallied at the San Francisco Airport where despite heavy rain, AFLCIO unions stewed a poweifid demonstration of st^port for Eastern's machinists, pilots and flight attendants. PardciprUmg in the rtdty on behalf of the SIU were (1st row, left to right) OS Kyle Martin, ILWU member, SUP Patrolman Andy Anderson, (2nd row, left to right) Chief Steward Samuel ("Smitty") Smith, SIU Business Agent Gentry Moore, IBU member Doug Crute, SIU Steward Wilton Dominguez, ILWU Regiotud Director Leroy King, and Buck Mercer, SIU Govemment Services Division Vice President. At Washington, D.C.'s Natiottal Airport, SIU member Oscar Lopez walks the picket line. The SIU has supplied daily pickets for strike activity at National Airport. ITIIIYA Deepsea SIU men John Fleming (left), Dennis McKendal, Carlito Episioco, Dave Gordius, James Francis at the Los Angeles airport. I -a .;'xU; srl-^CZ-.v .V *ii,'*» i'LS:.:, - - �StAfARCRS 106 8 •ffir ."I BI6 OIL SPILL SLOWS SHIPPING FROM VALOa i • S hipping out of the port of Valdez, Alaska has been cur­ tailed by new procedures re­ quired in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Immediately af­ ter the accident the port, from which 24 percent of domestically consumed oil originates, was shut down for five days. After reopening for the Alaska oil trade, tankers leaving Valdez can only do so in daylight and escorted by two tugs. On both incoming and outgoing tankers, pilots must have state and fed­ eral certification to navigate the entire Prince William Sound. In the past local pilots remained onboard only through the Valdez Narrows. The port of Valdez shipped an average of two million barrels of crude oil per day. As a result of diminished traffic, the current average is 1.2 million barrels per day. Q' SIU contracted com­ panies reported that ALYESKA—the combined own­ ers of the Alaska pipeline—has implemented breathalizer testing procedures for any nonALYESKA employees entering their property. In addition, be­ fore a vessel is allowed to leave the Valdez docks, the captain and Chief Engineer will be re­ quired to undergo a breathalizer test. The new regulations result from the Exxon Valdez running abound and creating the largest oil slick ever in U.S. waters. On March 24, a few minutes past midnight, the 987-foot su­ pertanker carrying a full load of $:• 'f '•'d "v; it- • 4:; 4 1.26 million barrels of oil, hit a reef while piloted by the third mate, it was reported. With USCG approvd, the vessel had changed to an inbound lane to avert ice chunks spotted in out­ bound lanes. A few minutes later the vessel hit Bligh Reef, creat­ ing six to eight openings in eight of the 13 cargo tanks. While trying to get back into the shipping lanes, it was re­ ported that the ship turned sharply back toward the main channel and struck the reef again, leaving about 30 percent of the vessel's bottom resting on a flat shelf area about 36 feet below the surface and spilling more than 10 million gallons of Prudhoe Bay crude oil. The accident, which occurred about 25 miles south of the en­ trance to the port oif Valdez, is being investigated by the Na­ tional Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB will try to deter­ mine why the ship strayed so far off course in an area with rocks marked on charts and buoys. While the Coast Guard claims it is not responsible for continually monitoring a ship which is rou­ tinely skirting ice from the nearby Columbia Glacier, the NTSB will investigate C~y\ whether a warning could \ I have prevented the accident. ^ \ Fishermen have orgaN\ nized to protect their live^ lihoods, organizing more than 40 boats to assist with boom deployment. Exxon Shipping Company licensed officers have no union affiliation. Radiomen and unlicensed crewmembers are covered by a contract with a company-sponsored union. U5w Shipping Wins Amendment to Keep New Aki^a Oil ^ Domestic Gmsumption 4 coalition of maritime inter­ ests, including the SIU, sought export restrictions for any oil found and developed in the Arctic National Wildlife Re­ serve (ANWR). In a Senate Enr ergy and Natural Resources Committee vote, senators voted by a 12-7 margin to allocate oil found in ANWR for domestic use. The vote was an important step toward keeping Alaska oil for consumption by U.S. con­ sumers. Alaska oil has been car­ ried to the lower 48 states on U.S.-flag tankers. The export restriction amend­ ment was offered by Senator Bennett Johnston (D-La.) to leg­ islate authorizing oil exploration and development on the coastal plain of ANWR. 'ii. - . President Bush favors produc­ tion from oil reserves in ANWR. As a result of the Exxon tank­ er's oil spill, 14 environmental groups have asked the adminis­ tration to further study the ex­ ploration plan. However, Bush remains steadfast in his commit­ ment to explore ANWR, and ex­ plore it soon. On the House side. Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee Chairman Walter Jones (D-N.C.) introduced legislation authorizing the controlled leasing of the ANWR coastal plane, located 70 miles east of Prudhoe Bay. The bill sets aside 260,000 acres for wildlife preservation, where ex­ ploration will be completely banned. Both the full Senate and House anticipate final action on legislation to authorize oil and gas exploration and drilling by early summer. • • ''V ergy independence by allowing continued development of Alaska oil. Natknai Sccnrity at Risk Development of ANWR oil becomes increasingly important as oil recovered from the North Slope declines throughout the decade. Without ANWR oil for domestic consumption, oil im­ ports will rise and nation secu­ rity interests will be threatened, the SIU has warned. The amount of imported oil has risen from 27 to 42 percent in the years 1982 to 1987. The cost of 1987 oil imports was $43 billion, the largest commodity in the year's huge $167 billion trade deficit. ThCiSIU has asked Con­ gress to defend the nation's en­ Also at stake is the nation's tanker fleet. As North Slope pro­ duction drops, so will the num­ ber of usable U.S.-flag tankers. Oil analysts estimate that fewer than 20 Alaska-trade tankers will be employed by the year 2000 unless new sources of crude oil are in production. ANWR oil would keep U.S.flag tankers in business and help meet the country's national se­ curity and strategic sealift needs, the SIU has argued. Providing fuel to military forces overseas is essential to any military maneu­ vers. �APRU^1989 Letters to the Editor FROM A RFTIRFD SEAFARER '• . I'i ' To the Editor: At this time, I would like to express my thanks to the offi­ cios and my many friends in the SIU. I would also like to give my blessings to the ones who have passed on. 1 have never been more proud of anything in my life as I have of being a member of the Seafar­ ers International Union. I am now retired for the past five years. I have no idea how I would make it without the help of the Union's pension and the Union's Welfare Plan in picking up the part that Medicare doesn't pay. For a person on a fixed income, those medical bills are something else. Being a member of the SIU and now a retired member of the SIU is a love I will enjoy to the end. My very best wishes to all. Leroy E. Joseph Sarasota, Florida StICK wm IHC SHIP To the Editor: In the early '80s, we lost our Med-Persian Gulf and Mediterra­ nean shuttles largely due to members flying home due to mostly phony medical reasons to collect unearned wages. They are now under foreign flag. Now that we have re-acquired the Manila, Subic, Kaoshiung shuttle, we are having the same problems and will lose them, too, if this continues. At a time when we are losing ships every year, we sure don't need that. There are a lot of us who would ride those runs. So please don't sell us down the river. If you don't want the jobs, don't take them. In the long run, you and I will be out of a job, and there are some of us supporting families. Please consider what I've'said. Richard B. Sanderson Seattle, Washington LIKES WELFARE PLAN To the Editor: Coming across the notice in the January issue of the LOG, "Want to be heard," is the rea­ son for this letter, hoping it will appear in the LOG informing the membership of the price of get­ ting sick and what the Welfare Plan has done for me. Having been a member from 1951 to the year of retirement in 1986, I have no regrets and never realized how good it is 'til I got sick about six months after retirement. I was doing just great when I suffered a very serious back problem. Having unbelievable pain, I went to one hospital for ten days and transferred to an­ other for six weeks as a bed pa­ tient ... After spending six weeks to the day, I was released and doing great, wearing a spe­ cial brace 24 hours a day for about six months. Getting blurry vision of the right eye, I went to the Eye Hospital and was told'I have 16 have an operation right away, right then and there . . The op­ eration was a success where pic­ tures were taken to be put in medical books. After spending three days as an in-patient, I was released and have been an out­ patient to the present day . . . The main purpose of this letter is NOT to feel sorry for me, but to inform the member what the Union has done for me as to my medical bills. Also you never fig­ ure it would happen to you, it's always the other person, but this time I was the other person. The Welfare Plan went through all the medical bills making sure that the bills paid by the Plan were called for by the doctors. It seems there was a bill of $500 the Plan questioned for medication that wasn't called for which wasn't paid by the Plan or by myself. The Plan does a wonderful job in paying the bills and sending me a statement for it. Being an out-patient to the present day, I have to pay when­ ever I have to go for treatments for which I'm reimbursed. I have heard patients talk of how they have to pay a percent­ age of the bills or paying into a medical plan, and I say to my­ self, "What a great union I be­ long to when the Plan pays 100%." The bills paid in my behalf are well over $55,000 and if I had to pay any part I'd be wiped out and be another person on the Street . . . I could continue, but feel I make my point stating I'll always be grateful to the Union for­ ever ... Walter Karlek Woodside, NY 'FEMAU MARINEIS EXaLLEMT IN JOB PERPNIMANCE' and provide support for their t) < families. I'm not denying the fact that there are some misfits out there but they are few and far between and they are gradually removed by their own action. We have a shipboard committee consisting of one delegate from each de­ partment (deck, engine and steward) headed by a ship chair­ man, usually the "Boatswain," to deal with any kind of problem that may occur aboard ship. This committee meets on a weekly basis and all crewmembers are required to attend. Any problem that cannot be solved aboard ship is referred to our union rep­ resentative that boards the ves­ sel on arrival in home port. If the problem cannot be solved by the union representative, a port committee hearing will be ar­ ranged consisting of a union rep, two company representatives and two independent delegates from the union rank and file. The case is also reported to the U.S. Coast Guard on arrival so appro­ priate action will be taken by them immediately. For somebody to label all mer­ chant marines a bunch of misfits that perpetuate sexual attacks on female mariners at will, is totally untrue and unfair. Since it is only in the last 12 years we have had female mariners on mer­ chant ships those alleged as­ saults need to be examined on a case to case basis. . . I can also assure you that 98% of all female mariners are excel­ lent in their job performance and that they are definitely morale boosters. There is no substitute for a warm smile. Women mari­ ners will always be welcome in our world and I'm sure I speak for the majority. John B. Lundborg Seattle, Washington Editor's Note: in March, the Tacoma, Washington Morning News Tribune ran an article enti­ tled "Women at Sea." The arti­ cle discussed a report by the General Accounting Office of Congress on sexual harassment experienced by female mariners and contained interviews with women who have worked on vessels. SIU member John Lundborg responded to the arti­ cle vvilK a letter to the editor/ '' Brother Lundborg, who has spent 37 years in the merchant marine, asked the LOG to re­ print his comments. *** In response to the article "Women at Sea" ... it particu­ larly rankles me since the story is totally lopsided. It is a total discredit to the hardworking men that go down to the sea and sac­ rifice their family life for a life on the high seas away from home, in order to earn a living JV£Xr Of KIN OF DECIASED SEAMEN CAN OBTAIN mill CERTIFICATES Mext of kip^eeking honorable Iw dischap^ certificates for de­ ceased y^rld War II merchant marinersNcan fill out Department of Defense form DD 2168. Ac­ cording to form DD 2168, a spouse, widow, widower, next of kin or legal representative can apply on behalf of a deceased mariner. Application form DD 2168 is available from the United States Coast Guard. The form requires the applicant to provide legal proof of the merchant mariner's death. The U.S. Coast Guard proc­ esses form DD 2168 and deter­ mines that the merchant mariner served in WWII between De­ cember 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945. A seaman who meets the Coast Guard's criteria who served in the merchant marine in oceangoing service during WWII is sent form DD 214, "Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty." At the bottom of form DD 214 will be the word "Honorable." He will also get the Coast Guard's honorable dis­ charge certificate. The Coast Guard forwards the names and addresses of recipi­ ents of honorable discharges to the Maritime Administration (MarAd) of the Department of Transportation. MarAd in turn sends a special "Certificate of Service" to the WWII merchant mariner who received form DD 214. To date, MarAd reports that 27,000 WWII veteran merchant mariners have received the spe­ cial certificate. MarAd's "Certif­ icate of Service" came about by a law passed by Congress in 1988. This information was revealed in a letter to Brother Eloris B. Tart from the Maritime Adminis­ tration. Brother Tart has passed MarAd's response to the LOG in order to advise survivors of de­ ceased seamen of the application process. The Seafarers LOG welcomes Let­ ters to the Editor from all union members and retirees. On occa­ sion, due to space limitations, it may not be possible to run a letter in its entirety. r; m- V.-.v-'/Zv �.r- SEAFARERS LOG 10 '"A-.f. Amm CRCW RESCUES SAILBOAT FROM 50 MPH GULF STORM DURING TRAINING EXERCISE . 'i- I • , :'•'••• • •'• f On the day of an underway replenishment exercise, the Antares responded to a "May Day" call from a 46-foot sail­ boat. Despite 15-foot seas and 50 knot winds, the Antares stayed with the craft for 12 hours. The U.S. Coast Guard then relieved the Antares of operational con­ trol. The "May Day" call came while the IMC Antares crew was engaged in sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. An underway replen­ ishment drill had just been can­ celed due to high seas when the Antares received the sailboat's call for help. BUSINESS AGENT GRIER RHIRES With her sails blown out and a fouled screw, this craft issued a "May Day" call. SlU crewmembers aboard the Antares responded. The Antares came across the sailboat during sea trials. •' f , MOBILE SEALIFT TRAINING TEAM VISITS WAnRMAN AND I.M.C SHIPS Lundeberg School instructors conducted specialized sealift training for Waterman and IMC while each company had vessels docked in Northern Florida. Instructors Bill Hellwege and Jeff Swanson conducted courses for Waterman crewmembers on Chemical, Biological and Radia­ tion Defense (CBRD); Damage Control, and Helicopter Opera­ tions. Hellwege noted that all three of Waterman's ships • GOV! DIVISION MEMBERS WELCOME NEW SHIP J,' :-f- li ;ifc 'Wry-.':- yw '1; ••.•-\ i:- :, ';• ,^^' • c.^^K^sd5fc3V.fc pi 'I.'J ',. SIU members in the Govern­ ment Services Division will crew the newest ship to join the fleet of Military Sealift Command, Pa­ cific (MSCPAC). Named after a pioneer of aero­ dynamics and hydrodynamics, the USNS Walter S. Diehl will be based in Oakland, Calif. It is a 677-foot fleet replenishment oiler, capable of carrying 180,000 barrels of fuel for combatant ships and aircraft. The new oiler will carry a ci­ vilian crew of 93 and a navy communications department of 21 men. It will be part of MSC's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, one of the components of the navy's larger Combat Logistics Support Force. The USNS Walter S. Diehl is the newest member of the MSCPAC fleet. The vessel's ci­ vilian crew will be members of the SlU's Government Services Division. JTC* Mi .1?!^ , George T. Grier, SIU Govern­ ment Service Division business agent, has retired after a 44-year career serving his fellow seafar­ ers. During 20 years of shipping with MSC, Brother Grier was in­ strumental in organizing the Mil­ itary Sea Transport Union (MSTU), the forerunner of the Government Service Division. In 1964, Brother Grier came ashore to work as a business agent handling beefs and provid­ ing union services to seamen employed on MSC vessels. Buck Mercer, SIU Govern­ ment Services Vice President, had high praise for Grier's suc­ cessful efforts in assisting mem­ bers and their families in filling out complicated annuity and death forms. In addition. Mercer said, he was adept at negotiating with management on behalf of MSTU members and was able to resolve the most difficult disputes to each party's satisfaction. Vice President Mercer noted that Grier will be missed by members and union officials alike. But, he added, "after 20 years on MSC ships and after 24 years as a union business agent, Grier has earned a well-deserved rest." DORSS MORAN AND MARITRANS LIBERTY IN FLORIDA 'More MarAd Ouf i" •' u p •-' • •* '• !• :v"H •'•• K-' ;• i "showed a great improvement in Damage Control since our visit a year ago." The Antares crew practiced underway replenishment (UNREP) while sailing at 36 knots per hour in 15-foot seas and 50 knot winds. Although this was the crew's first UNREP, the government observers on the vessel told the seamen they had performed well. "The crew was excellent and praised by all aboard," reported Hellwege. SIU members on the Antares successfully completed "man overboard" and fire drills and also received instruction in Dam­ age Control and CBRD. The Lundeberg School's mo­ bile sealift training team program was established in 1984 to assist SIU companies and crews make the transition from civilian prac­ tices to military sealift require­ ments. • ['-• Continued from page 3 Although both houses of Con­ gress passed the bill. President Johnson effectively killed it by using a pocket veto. Under Nixon, MarAd was substantially upgraded. The agency became part of the Department of Trans­ portation when Reagan assumed office. On behalf of the SIU, Sacco said, "Our Union means to move . . . and is sharpening its tools for the effort. We will cer­ tainly welcome the opportunity to work with all who share our view that America must have a viable shipping capability." ABITankerman Dave Summer has been working for Maritrans for two years. Brotiter Summer is pictured on the tug Liberty whUe it was tied to the GATX dock in Tampa, Florida. When tug Doris Moran pulled into Tampa's Gulf Marine Repair Yard, SIU reps met the vessel. Normally, the Doris Mpran works out of the Gidf. Pictured are Assistant Ei^ineer Lu LeToidevin (left), OS James Amaud and Chief Engineer Wallace Ashwood. �...:•• y^.:. APRIL, 1989 FOR ANOmER RECORD SEASON uRUtsr mm m 20 YORS, FIRST vtsstis AUIUDYSUUMG ITOUT began March 1 for SlU-contracted bulk carriers on the Great Lakes. It was the earliest fitout in 20 years, and with the number of vessels being broken out, this year promises to be an even better year than last which was the best season in more than :fiveyears. ^ A stronger deniaiul for steit and lighter than nbrnial icing on <)ie Lakes prompited the earlier than normal opening of the ^son. F The first ore port open was Marquette, and the MA^ Buffalo left Toledo March 20 to lead a fleet of four other American Steamship Go. vessels which followed her up the following day. All in aU, it should be another good year for our membership on the Lakes with sb^ger job oppoitunifies and the pronii^ increasing job security in the coming years. •Ir • li fit ; in W- • r'-S' • /'V^SIr f^tiecfdtand joe Hance, left, and Able Seaman Ron Vandercook await next dr^'s first salmg. (Note saiUng board announcement: "ASAP after CG Inspection." '-' J partment in the ASC fleet is seen here in the spodess gaUey of the American Republic. From left is Steward Herb Jacobs, Porter Yehia Raid and Second Cook Harry Pe­ tersen. ^ Able Seaman Larry Dudek and Bosun Terry Henretta take a coffee break ftrui^ duirfirudJUotU chores. £A0WSSff^SanJ^ttJto^n,Con-,: veyomtan Tm Orban and Abie Seaman Ron Bochek waii oid tkie CoasI Guard inspection in die warrrdh of the memwm. . .C.tr:'--.-- •A II; • • '« "'t'- J^JdhhCtiUrd member of the ASC Maudermnce Team, left, and AB Wheelsman Charlie Richardson compare notes as fitoUt mndis •• down. IPs teamwork that keeps -.v • and electrical plants op­ erating efticiendy and sttfefy. A part of that team is seen here in dte ermine console room. From left are OmOJirnBeland, First Assistard En^neer Eric Norton andQMEDMike Budnik. S TAe M/l^ American RepiiUic f^r^^ her dock in Cleveland as die Coast Guard competes dteiratmmlmspection,aii0' her crew prepares the b^ bidk carrier for herfirsttripof the season. J^Gedeman Alan Jidinson and Wiper Bidt Ereftetaan take ten m the messroomti ^ t , , . ' < 4 I ••• " V 1 • r i :r'-m '.•-J.;-At# Asmrn I '• liii ... �\:Y. -• ^ V , . : ^ ,f r ¥-• CHARLES f. ly/ISOiV -:i T:!.S :• • • 'i-i v;-'- .}y-' L-.." f ."1, ."i I JA^ AUe SeiiattitiH Ihury Kawka is Imi^^ chailenges even the best of the Great lAdtes saUorauH vHko ham to wmk om ttte -k "JA,. W^rMohseh Ehka^ toiA a aunu^for^l^w^ ginermm of the Clmles E. WM- QfHED Willis Evans posed for this photo in Uu eonstde roem. vv. -I •:,v.r .... -'.ft';,.' • ••: -I I-'. 'tr 'v' -'k. ! --i y.t ¥•• • • :"'If S' i:. ' if , . t. ,_ lUfihadJustcoikd a heaving Une when hepaused to have this jdteht taken agemst Oie t^erhouse pn a wet aod windy de^. , . .r-tk^r ^ k dtdte readyt Gateman Pat Patrieca, left, and CimvigwiiMM Bemn Mldar LaE^lte on de^ eaathe"amnmalritmalifthefitonL" • : AE Ifheedaheh M staiaBmg, nhdl^hmdBockerttalK cdtetf ••{[•nhiMhnmuss vdAA^onacPorf^ ^gmtjack AUen. �;•IIIs llliriMtft-| •••• i:Hilsr.%••' " MPRIk 1989 If A;"-' , i' ; ^ - W'S,;-- •; .V' • •' ' i'- - '' '••Ar-7A '•• • ;.' V j.-W' ,., •••••.•.*•,'t. ^ While the Coast Guani jettf fuushu^ thev onaual ia^pec^km. Boson Bob Mas-^i ten, left, AB Bmat Kkm^eeiebBriamd DiecU^^ took a break. ! ; ' •Mil: ^ Algonae PortAgent Jack AUen meets with some of the deck crew dwing a coffee bratk. Prom left are Able Seamen Tom Palmer, Doi^ WafieU and Brettdan • • biurphy. i'v ^ Steward Jim Badnick and Wiper Bk^ Rosso are bodt veterans of Bu Great Lakes. s."' Jj^ A cm^ of ej^rienced SlV and MEBA'2 er^fturnom hands stnile for the LOG fkoUi^epher in the es^ute console room. At left is QMED Jim Reilly, and at right is C^fEt^meer POMUBaker who sailed with the SlU in Bte early 1960% J| •. -:K/' - /ft, ' «,•"'i®' • 4 i ' yyyy' y'y-' •# -'ilr ,•'/ rm •': :U" - .-'M.V-. ^ Snow cottus early and stays late on the Lakes, so it's no surprise to have a bUzzard roar in from the northeast on the day before the fint scheduled sailing of the season. The Roger M. Keyes lays idottg ode a dock in Toledo while last minute preparations are being rturde for her trip to the Upper Lakes. . ••{ ' ft'\- . 'v. "-••'•jv '"•> -hv.-: .1'. •• .. �SOFARERS LOG ' ..''1' fy^ '''yr:^ :.'-Cii' -V- •>' ' ^ Dm Bihkmvsld, conveyorman,Uitfl, andAB Wheelsman Bob Emvold are veter0ns of the Great ' 11 The gtJtey crew ineludes one of the veterans of the SlU who will be retiring April 5 wUh 32 years on the Lakes. He is Second Cook James Thompson, center, who began his seqfaring life on the West Coast with the SIU in the eariy : I950's. He sailed most of his career on deck. With him are Steward Pood Bodamer, r^la, and Porter Ray Buzwah, at left. '' •' - ^ : 'Xi'ifm- ','•" v'-'l •-•>•: Jll^ QlHED Kerin Riee pritudfy exhibits his Welding Cert0cate from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship to QMED Herb Brandt who has 18 years sailing rime on the Great Lakes. Seafarer Rice earned his cert^ate after succesefulfy compfridr^ Ae Welding course in February and March during the winter htyup. '' 'w- at r^ht, andAB David Kole take a tJu nemMsgi's acHviries on deck. | / ' Hi- •11^ y; V' ^ The Mrv WilHam R. Roesch is one of the newer buUc carriers on the Great Lakes, and is one of the proud vessels of the Prit^le Transit fleet. Here, she lies alongside her dock in Cleveland during her an­ nual fltout. . eii • ?•' •$-.• If •nM: T 'V '-i ' 'I .| �• ' t' ••'* •' 15 APRIL, 1989 _ Know Yoiil 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 Account­ ants every three months, which are to be submitted to the membership by the Secre­ tary-Treasurer. A quarterly finance commit­ tee of rank and file members, elected by the membership, makes examination each quarter of the finances of the Union and reports fully their findings and recommendations. Mem­ bers of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and sep­ arate 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 agree­ ments. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these funds sh^I equally consist of Union and management represen­ tatives 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. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by the contracts between the Union and the employ­ ers. Get to know youi^ shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available In all Union halls. If you feel there has been any violation of your shipping or seniority rights as contained In the contracts between the Union and the employers, notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mall, return re­ ceipt requested. The proper address for this Is: Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way and Britannia Way Prince Georges County Camp Springs, Md. 20746 Fiill copies of contracts as referred to are available to you at all times, either by writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts ^e available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which you work and live aboard your ship or boat. Know your contract rights, as well as your obligations, such as filing for OT on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, any SIU patrolman or other Union official, in your opinion, fails to pro­ tect your contract rights properly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY—THE LOG. the Log has traditionally refrained from publish­ ing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the Union, officer or member. It has also refrained from publish­ ing 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 Leg policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the Executive Board of the Union. The Executive Board may del­ egate, 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 memberpay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to Union head­ quarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLI­ GATIONS. 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 con­ tents. Any time you feel any member or officer is attempting to deprive you of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, then the member so affected should immediately no­ tify headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION—SPAD. SFAD 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 im­ proved employment opportunities for sea­ men and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects. SPAD supports and contrib­ utes to political candidatesfor elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contri­ bution may be solicited or received because of force, job discrimination, financial re­ prisal, 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 improperconduct, notify the Seafarers Union or SPAD by certified mail within 30 days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and re­ fund, if involuntary. Support SPAD to pro­ tect and further your economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guar­ anteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the employers. Consequently, no mem­ ber may be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, sex and national or geo­ graphic origin. If any member feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Union headquar­ ters. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitutional right of access to Union records or Information, he should immediately notify SIU President Mi­ chael Sacco at Headquarters hy certified mall, return receipt requested. The address Is 5201 Auth Way and Britannia Way, Prince Georges County, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. mUAMim: FINl CRIW, GOOD FOOD ; j... • :• • ''-v. • t,i- . . ; v/i u-m. : When the OMI Willlamette sailed into Charleston, SIU Patrolman Anthony McQuay was there for the payoff. The crew told McQuay the food had been excellent on the Willamette. The tanker was on its way to Texas. Patrolman McQuay, who works out of the SIU hall in Jacksonville, told the LOG that the Willamette had anhexcel- ' lent crew. •f • Bosun Marvin McDuffie (left) and AB Walter Hildabrant on deck after checking the vessel's lines. Chief Cook Joe Clark fixes a meal of oxtails, steak, potatoes, rice, gravy and vegetables. After payoff in the galley AB Marvin Henry (left), OMU David Ballard, SIU Patrolman Anthony McQuay and GSU Larry Griffin take a moment for a photo. Steward Baker John Samuels before preparing lunch. QMED/Pumpman Joe Martin comes out of the engine room. SHIPPING WORKS BEST WHEN WE SAY: "Union Yes" is the message being heard by millions of people around the country on television, radio, billboards. In nationally televised spots, celebrity spokes­ persons Tyne Daly, Jack Lemmon, Howard Hesseman and . Edward James Olmos provide personal testimonials on how unions have made a difference in their lives. Individual unions have tailored the "Union Yes" message for their communities. A Clerical workers organizing at Harvard University used the "Union Yes" message to com­ municate the positive aspects of union membership. The Brick­ layers union created "Union Yes" spots for its organizing drive. The union reports in one city over 500 responses to its ad, signing up over 300 people and 14 contractors. The SIU hhs its own version of the "Union Yes" theme. Corrections from March Issue: On page 6, Terry Hoinski appears on the left and Captain Flade's first name is Lou. On Page 13 Joe Powers is lectured third from the left. y �«iEK^i«jS3 Jh. SEAMfffJIS LOG lUHDlBlKG New Shiphandling Coutse voawm Established at Lundeberg Schoo/, DinmsiHi Buuim First Classes to Start May 15 • •: " '• 'T»M;'-.; I' Pictured here is a futt view of the SHLSS ship simulator bridge, as the students see it, with radar scopes, helm controls, radio and navigation aids. Not pictured is a rear projection screen which allows students to see what's happening aft. %• :'••.' i-' •i;. '• '• ,• r he first formally established Shiphandling course ever held at the Seafarers Harry Lunde­ berg School of Seamanship is planned to begin May 15 of this year. This course has been de­ signed to provide realistic bridge watchstanding training for stu­ dents preparing to obtain one of the various Coast Guard Deck licenses. When final approval is granted by the Coast Guard, students will receive credit for up to a maximum of 60 days of sea time on vessels of unlimited tonnage. However^ time gained from this simulated training can only be used once but cannot be used as recent time. The 10-day course curriculum includes classroom lectures and simulated underway watchstand­ ing. Special areas of skill devel­ opment will include: basic shiphandling, restricted waters shiphandling, emergency shiphandling, underway watch-stand­ ing management, vessel-to-vessel communications, review of the rules of the road and lateral and I ALA buoyage systems, review of the use of radar—including the use of collision avoidance radar. The SHLSS simulator is capa­ ble of providing the student with six different types of ships to op­ erate, ranging from a 2,400 horse­ power pusher tug to a 250,000 DWT diesel tanker. Three auxil­ iary bridges are available to pro­ vide interaction among traffic ships. Each of these bridges can be maneuvered independently of all other vessels in an exercise. Immediately rfter an exercise is completed, the students re­ view their actions to learn from their mistakes. The geographic plot shows all the exercise ma­ neuvering data. The time-based graphs present data indicating speeds, courses, RM of engines, and other technical information. In order to successfully com­ plete the Shiphandling course, the student must pass a multiple choice examination on the basic theory and principles involved in shiphandling as well as demon­ strate this knowledge on the ship simulator. For the maximum benefit of the student, class size is limited to six students. If you are inter­ ested in this new course, contact the SHLSS Admissions Office. For further information on the class curriculum talk to the school's Director of Vocational Education. Lundeberg School Instructor Jim Brown with students on the smulator's bridge. M new Limited License ProFl gram has been instituted by the Vocational Department at SHLSS. This progam will cover original and upgraded licenses, inland and near coastal for: 500/ 1600 Ton Mate, Operator, and Second Class Operator Unin­ spected Towing Vessels (U.T.V.), 100/200 Ton Mate and Master, Limited Assistant and Limited Chief Engineer courses. This will be an eight-week cur­ riculum with CPR, First Aid and Firefighting also included. The first course will be offered from July 17 to September 8. Classes will be limited to 12 students, accepted on a first come first serve basis. Members applying for this program require an evaluation of sea time by the U.S. Coast Guard and cannot be accepted in the course until their sea service is approved by U.S. Coast Guard, Baltimore, Md. The ad­ dress is as follows: United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Office United States Customs House 40 South Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202 When your application for li­ cense is sent in for review, a handwritten note must accom­ pany it requesting that Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Sea­ manship be notified that your ap­ plication has been reviewed and accepted. Upon notification by the Baltimore Regional Examin­ ing Center we will schedule you for the next available class. SHLSS will require you to fill out the Upgrading Application featured in the LOG, listing any current licenses or certificates held. You must also have a cur­ rent SIU clinic card and have your dues up to date. Graduating This Month From the Lundeherg Schooi •> f li V 4; -Vr i-Vf STANDING IN FRONT of the SHLSS's automation board are this month's FOWT class graduates. Taught by Jim Shaffer (standing, far left) the six-week course covers a wide range of topics ittcluding engitte-room equipment, boiler parts, fire fighting, starting and securing main engines. These men having fittished the course are now prepared for the Coast Guard's General Safety, Oiler and Fireman! Watertender tests. First row left to r^ht: Nelson M. Roman, Kevin G. Wade, Curtis K. An^on, Lawrence Thorboume. Second row: Hector Frederick, Jeffery Parrish, Hamid Hizam, Steve Hansford, Ramon R. Urag, DeMyron Walker. Third row: Jim Shtffer (Instructor), T.C. Shaddox, Paul J. Duguette, Donald A. Thornton, Dean Klenkc, Uoyd Nelson, Troy L. Fleming, Terry Hapmon. Fourth row: Troy Sw^er, Bryan G. Chan, Terry Busk, Rich Natoli, Dennis Ctoy, Julio M. Tapia, Jeff Robertson. ANYONE WHO HAS a rating in Oteir department, whether FOWT, AB or even Assistant Cook, can take the four-week long Welding course. These men have acquired a valuable skill. In addition to classroom work, their practical training in the SHLSS vocational shop includes electric arc weldmgicutting and oxy-acetylene brazu^, weldmgicutting. First row kneeling left to right: Earl Chappel, Willie Franks, Ken Booker III, Dan Thomas. Second row: Bill Foley (Instructor), Michael Kelly, Charles D. Lore, Kevin A. Rice, Mark G. Lawrence: I:- �Anai,i9S9 Dtspatcheis Report for fofond Waters MARCH 1-31, 1989 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New York Philadelphia Mtiiiwm Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Houston Aigonac St. Louis Pinev Point Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Meetings Deep Sea, lakes. Inland Waters ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT "•* Port I New York 1 Philadelphia IjgBltimor^ Norfolk Mobile New Orleans I Jacksonville I San Francisco ISPmingfcpii Seattle Puerto Rico Houston I Aigonac St. Louis ' 't' Pfney Point Monday, May 8 New York Tuesday, May 9 Philadelphia Wednesday, May 10 Baltimore Thursday, May 11 Norfolk Thursday, May II Jacksonville Thursday, May it Aigonac Friday, May 12 Houston Monday, May 15 New Orleans Tuesday, May 16 . Mobile Wednesday, May 17 San Francisco Thursday, May 18 Wiimingtott jMonday, lyiay 22 , Seattle Friday, May 26 ? San Juan Thursday, May 11 ^ ^ dii St. Louis ,, Friday, May 19^ Hmidiulu Friday, May 19 Duluth Wednesday, May 17 Jersey City Wednesday, May 24 New Bedford Tuesday, May 23 • r'V- mrnk' , Totals Port i^eivYork Philadelphia i Baltimore, Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville^ San Francisco llplmington Seattle Puerto Rico Houston lAlgonaC iSt. Louis i - IftJPiyM. PmiMids iPiney PoinL ^ Totals 59 130 49 44 58 16 66 164 97 •"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ••"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. Dispatchers Repert for Great Lakes CL—Company/Lakes U-Lakes MARCH 1-31, 1989 Port Aigonac Port Aigonac Port Aigonac Port Aigonac NP—Hon Priority •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 21 2 0 8 1 0 3 1 b TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 36 1 E29G1NE DEPARTMENT 0 26 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 9 0 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH Ail Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 29 3 0 8 1 0 16 1 30 44 97 35 25 55 0 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually re^stered for shipping at the port last month. ••"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. 23 21 0 0 0 71 0 0 0 Please get in touch with George J. Anderson, 22576 Lan­ yard St., Boca Raton, Fla. 33428. Stanley Corenski is trying to get in touch with you. Please write him at 15031 Chatsworth St., #18, Mission Hills, Calif. 91345, or call him at (818) 3611926. VII An old friend, Brenda Yahes, is trying to get in touch with you. Please write her at 6023 N.W. Expressway, San Antonio, Texas 78201. Please contact your parents at :(817) 482-6427. CaiU your mother at (301) 342:9288.;V- m: ^ �^awjiiasii -• '••,••"- ''y' '•" •' ' '• - 'i-'\ 'iv' •••'••. SOFAReHS 106 :-r"p- ,-a:FFW. TWiNtYONI SUfARm BlCOMt PENSIONtRS "«tfi iim Retiring this month are 21 SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters seafarers. The pensions, which will be received monthly, were ap­ proved by the Seafarers Pen­ sion Plan. The pensioners are entitled to receive a pension check every month for the rest of their lives. I't' ' ilffhiir'':'. • i' -4;-J Deep Sea 4';• 'A:/:"'' • ' . i. • •" •' % , •••^'•' •• ' •'"' KICHAlID W. ANSiiilSOPi Richard W. An-^ derson, 65, joined the SIU in 1952 in the port of New York. A graduate of the SHLSS entry program, Brother Anderson sailed as a chief electrician, but has held all ratings in the engine department. Bom in Jersey City, N.J., Sea­ farer Anderson is a veteran of the U.S. Ar Force, serving from 1946 to 1949. He shipped out of the port of New York and makes his home in Elizabeth, N.J. jiMHe Bianyiius ^l:i' cently as a bosun. Brother Car­ roll was born in the Bronx, N.Y. and shipped out of the port of San Francisco, where he now lives. Seafarer Carroll also served in the U.S. Navy froih 1943 to 1947. CALVIN L. CHERRY Calvin L. Cherry, 64, was bom in Fulbright, Texas. He joined the SIU in Houston in 1960, receiv­ ing his class A seniority in 1971, although he started sailing as early as 1943. Brother Cherry sailed as a GSU out of the port of Houston, where he still lives. StEVEN L. CC»KER Steven L. Coker, 65 joined the Union in 1967 out of the port of Norfolk, Va. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Coker first sailed on the C.S. Long Lines (Isthmian) as an AB in 1965. Born in Roanoke Rapids. N.C., Seafarer Coker was a vet­ eran of the U.S. Air Force from 1945 to 1946. He also completed the bosun recertification program at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School in 1982. Pensioner Coker now lives in Scotland Neck, N.C. PATJ.COLmWA Pat. J. Colonna, 65 joined the SIU in the port of New York in 1954, but had been sailing since 1947. Seaman Colonna was born in Jersey City, N.J. Brother Co­ lonna sailed in the engine depart­ ment, first as an oiler with the Isthmian Steamship Co. Seafarer Colonna also served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He now resides in Apollo Beach, Fla. John Bekiaris, 61 joined the Union in 1964 in New York and upgraded to class A seniority in 1964. Brother Bekiaris graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in New York in 1960 and sailed in the deck de­ partment. His first SIU vessel was the SS Steel Surveyor (Isth' mian Lines), where he sailed as an OS. Seafarer Bekiaris, who was bom in Corinth, Greece, be^ came a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1963. He now lives in Athens, Greece. MMOSSmwmCE James H. Bruce, 65, was born in Galvez, La. He joined the SIU in the port of Houston in 1964 and received his full book mem­ bership, class A seniority, in 1971. Brother Bmce, who sailed in the deck department out of the port of New Orleans, La., also served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1942 to 1953. Sea­ farer Bmce resides in Prairieville. La. CHRISTOIS D. fUM&OlIS Christos D. Florous, 55, started sailing in 1968 with Hudson Waterways and joined the SIU in 1970 in Yokohama, Japan. Brother Florous attended Quar­ termaster and LNG training courses at the SHLSS in 1978, and in 1981 completed the bo­ sun's recertification program. Bom in Greece, Seafarer Flo­ rous became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1974. He now resides in Astoria, N.Y. JOSEiil M. CASRQLL Joseph M. Car­ roll, 63, joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York, He sailed in the deck depart­ ment, most re­ OaUSTCmER R. fLOIVERS Christopher R. Flowers, 62, joined the Union i|fl952 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck de­ partment. Bom Calvin T. DeSilva, 62, started sailing with the Union in 1951 in the deck depart­ ment. Bom in Trinidad, Bro­ ther DeSilva be­ came a naturalized American cit­ izen. Sailing out of the port of Jacksonville, Fla,, most recently as a bosun. Seafarer DeSilva makes his home in Orlando, Fla. in Aurora, N.C., Brother Flow­ ers also served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. Seafarer Flowers shipped out of the port of Houston and lives in Channelview, Texas. MIES Kim James Keno, 71, started sailing with the SIU in 1943 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in Ala­ bama, Brother Keno sailed in the steward department where , he was chief cook and master baker. Seafarer Keno partici­ pated in the Moore McCormackRobin Line beef in 1962. He at­ tended the SHLSS Piney Point Educational Conference in 1972 and completed the steward re­ certification program there in 1981. Brother Keno shipped out of the port of New York and makes his home in New York City. • • William Y. Mims, 65, started sailing in 1945 and joined the SIU in 1953 in the port of New Orleans, La. A member of the deck department, Brother Mims was bom in West Point, Miss. He now resides in Sun, La. CONLIN M. MURPHY Conlin M. Mur­ phy, 66, was a member of the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union and joined the SIU in 1952 in San Francisco when the two unions merged. Born in El Dorado, Miss., Brother Murphy also served in the Army from 1941 to 1944. He presently resides in San Fran­ cisco, Calif. £NasE.fyrr Enos E. Ott, 65, •was bom in Vir­ ginia and joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of, Baltiimore. He sailed as an AB. In 1975 he at­ tended the SHLSS Quartermas­ ter upgrading course. Upon moving to the West Coast, Brother Ott shipped out of the port of Seattle, Wash., where he now lives. IHMtEirr T. REIfEZ^ Robert T. Rentz, 44, joined the Union in the port of Baltimore in 1964. He sailed in the engine de­ partment. Born in Glen Bumie, Md., Brother Rentz first started sailing in 1963 aboard the Alcoa Commander as a utility. He presently resides in B^timore, Md. PAiILM.ROI»WBCH9 Paul M. Robinson, 65, started sailing with the SlU in 1973 in the port of Duluth, Minn. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Robinson served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1949. Seafarer Robinson shipped out of the port of Algonac, Mich. and now lives in Georgetown, Ky. IplllLBSR. SAWYER • Charles R. Saw­ yer, 63,joined the Union in 1955 in the port of Baltimore, but had been sailing since 1945. Bom in Stockbridge, Mass., Brother Sawyer sailed in the deck department. He makes Houston, Texas his home. |fS% JOANNES SOREL Johannes Sorel, 65, joined the SIU in New York in 1952, al­ though he began his sailing career prior to that time. Born in Rotterdam, Holland, Brother So­ rel sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He participated in the 1962 Moore McCormack-Robin Line beef. Seafarer Sorel com­ pleted the recertified bosuns course at SHLSS in 1975. A res­ ident of Pensacola, Fla., Sea­ farer Sorel shipped out of the port of Jacksonville, Fla. GLEN C, STANFORD Glen C. Stan­ ford, 62, started sailing with the SIU in 1955 out of the port of New Orleans, La. Born in Poplarville. Miss., Brother Stanford shipped out in the deck department, most re­ cently as bOsun. He completed the bosun recertification course in Piney Point in 1975. Seafarer Stanford also served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. He makes his home in Slidell, La. FRED VANCE Fred Vance, 61, joined the SIU in 1953 in the port of Cleveland, Ohio. He formerly worked on the Great Lakes. Brother Vance sailed in the engine department. Born in Pennsylvania, he served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1950. Seafarer Vance upgraded at Piney Point. In 1976 he com­ pleted the QMED seniority pro­ gram and in 1977, the diesel class. He resides in Mpnessefi^ S bdanil ^ ^ - ' '' "I MANIifELlLAi^^ Manuel R. Alvarez, 55 was is­ sued his SIU book in 1957 in the port of Baltimore. He sailed for 21 years with Baker-Whiteley Towing Co. and was licensed as a chief engineer. Bom in Balti­ more, Brother Alvarez served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1952 to 1956. In 1985 he took the re­ frigeration systems course and the welding course in Piney Point. Seafarer Alvarez makes his home in Linthicum, Md. fi-l �APRIL, 1989 -— IHspatfdieis Report for Deep Sea Seahtm brim&lhMl MARCH 1-31, 1989 Port New Yprfc^°^^ Philadelphia iBaltimore Norfolk ^ Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston . St. Louis Piney Point Totals rj: p^56|i^2:: 11 ^ is' PPxP'A'- : 6 4 4 13 30 m: w PAX •yx '3 XA' " 551 5 ' 91 -• . itV - :3Lmpx-Ps' ' '•X2x pPppPA. \ PA Px-P'-S 'P 6 7 0 12 8 18 10 12 2 1 13 10 2 7 1 0 2 2 2 7 2 0 0 5 8 3 ' 0 ^ 3 5 3 5 ..2- V. 5 10 29 16 52 0 1 .... ^ 2 2 10 'r'- 62 34 1 67 10 20 1 5 11 54 8 0 •'-•; I 0 505 58 M'4- 5 0 9 5 'gvO.' •.••, 1 4 0 7 60 75 233 ENGINE DEPARTMENT \'5XPX: 0 .4 :'^''-3V:;,46 • 18 6 0 XXxxPxA' •• -O'^ 1 •PPXPPS. 0 11 3 13 7 3 1 2 13 2 0 10 2 35 0 2 10 4 29 10 2 .19 'n,//.10 5 0 13 5 . 5. r. 1 4 :2 ' 42 20 . 2 8 8 12 8 14 3 .Of 5 4 8 7 17 2 1 7 10 1• • 0 ••• 3,.:.;3;: 4 83 133 • 5 11 4 12 7 5 • -2 10 5 13 0 '•; 0 1 0 2 7 STEWAim, DEPARTMENT Port New Philadelphia IBaltimorei Norfolk Mobile New Orleans B 0 11 11 21 ij- San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu r Ubifstoffl St. Louis Piney Point Totals 10 25 15 28 -.. 49 •••14 : 26 ••>;•'• 5 48 4 13 2 13 8 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville ' San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 'Hdustohf® •St. Louis Piney Point Totals 1 5 1 0 7 9 3 t 44 ' ZU ,, - J 7R /o .i,v f «T ,n '' • 1 6 2 4: If: 19 5 8 7 0 25 .'io'* 1 0 P'2 '• p 3. 164 70 . 8 7 11 0 34 1 1 3 M 0 15 p, ' 26 i.!. ^ 123 48 27 - 102 274 mm 101 31 7 0 4 10 0 5 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore m Norfolk Mobile New Orleans ; Jacksonville • ^ San Francisco I Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu J^Hiluston i 1st. Louis Totals Totals AO DqHuHneiits 821 367 365 575 281 276 190 1,292 556 471 •"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ••"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. Shipping in the month of March was up from the month of February. A total of 1,322 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,322 Jobs shipped, 575 jobs or about 43 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority people. A total of 190 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 9,694 jobs have been shipp^. ' Midnel Sacco, Joseph Sacco, Executive Vice President ^ Joe DiGiorgio, Secretary-Treasurer Angus "Red" Campbell, Vice President of Contracts Jack CafTey, Vice President Thomas GHdewell, Vice President George McCartney, Vice President John Fay, Vice President Roy A Mercer, Vice President Sitye EAntyy Vice President ••REGISTERED ON BEACH TOTAL SHIPPED Trip All Groups All Groups ReUefs Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C ^ ;i-1 -J) V HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301)899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 : (313) 794-4988 BALTIMQRE l2l6 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (301)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU z.' . 636 Cooke St. 3 Honolulu, HI 96813 / (808)523-5434 HOUSTON , " 1 1221 Fiercest. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 /'fc 'i-: JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. , V, 1? Jacksonville, FL 32206 ? (904) 353-0987 JERSEVCITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 ,• / MOBILE 4640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 ; (205) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 50 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 .'f '•S.: NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 -.5 . NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804) 622-1892 •m PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT St. Mary's County Piney Point, MD 20674 (301)994-W10 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos St. Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (809) 725-6960 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. SeatUe, WA 98121 (206)441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314)752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. WUmington, CA 90744 (213) 549-4000 • u VV\' • •TVi'vi. 'PX ; :i3' gf I :: W:.. •». • V: V. •j P .v-.-.r n l:,'r . •1 li' mm �-kkik: 20 ''JJ'. " -y ,V_;; . / •:, 1v;v\ • • • V." .-.••V*' '' ufi-. 6 • J'' •-.%*,"• • •"•i'-H:,." I n December of 1988, the Seafarers Welfare Plan sent a letter to all plan participants describing a new program called "COBRA." COBRA allows an employee to purchase health care benefits when he or she becomes ineligible to receive health and welfare from the Plan. This benefit program is part of a law called The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act or COBRA. Congress passed COBRA to provide individuals with the opportunity to purchase their health insurance in the event of losing eligibility for benefits under health care plan. The law spells out what events have to happen before a person can buy the health benefits. Participants who lose plan coverage after January I, 1989 will be able to purchase benefit coverage for themselves and their dependents. Under certain circumstances it is also possible for dependents to purchase health plan coverage for themselves. Below is the complete text of the letter. Dew Putkqpant: A new law requires the Seafarers Welfare Plan to give you and your dependents the opportunity to extend your health care coverage in situations where you have lost your eligibility for benefits. These situations are called "qualifying events." This letter will explain how the new law applies to you and your family and how to use this program should you become ineligible for benefits under the Seafarers Welfare Plan. In order to understand the new law, you need to know a few special terms. Please make sure that you and your spouse read this letter carefully so you will be able to take advantage of this program should you need it. 1. COBRA—The short name for the federal law which gives Plan partici­ pants the right to purchase Welfare Plan coverage. 2. QUALIFYING EVENT—A situation which causes the employee to lose Welfare Plan coverage because they ho longer work for an employer who must make contributions to the Plan on their behalf. A list of qualifying events will be explained on the following pages. 3. ELECTION—^An election is your decision to tell the Plan whether you would like to purchase Welfare Plan coverage under the COBRA pro-, gram. 4. COST OF CONTINUING COVERAGE—This is the amount of money you are required to send to the Plan office so your health care coverage will be continued. This payment is like an insurance premium. It is necessary because the employer for whom you worked before the quali­ fying event happened, is no longer required to make contributions on your behalf. WiRrf Iff9 9f shwalhH b a mMlihm§ emd mJtf (OBUi? .'r fi pr; The next part of this letter will explain what type of situations will allow you to continue your health care coverage under the COBRA program of the Seafarers Welfare Plan. As explained above, these situations are called "qualifying events." When one of these events happens to you, it means that you, your wife or dependent children will lose coverage under the Plan and can elect to continue coverage by purchasing benefits. The "qualifying events" are; 1. Your being fired from your job. You may elect to continue your health . benefits if you were fired for any reason unless you were fired for gross misconduct. 2. You were unable to continue to work enough time to be eligible to continue your benefits under the Rules and Regulations of the Plan. 3. Your death, which would entitle your spouse and dependent children to continue coverage. 4. Your divorce, or legal separation from your spouse which would entitle your spouse and dependent child to continue coverage. 5. Your eligibility to receive Medicare benefits. For example, you are age 65 but still actively employed, making the Seafarers Welfare Plan the pro­ vider of your welfare benefit coverage rather than the Medicare program. 6. Your dependent child loses eligibility under the Plan because (1) he or she reaches age 19 or (2) he or she does not fall into the category of dependents under the age of 25 and enrolled in a full time school program leading to a college degree. Ihw wiM I lauw if I m 9S§ikh to tmHawt wnlhn flm €9mRse wNfor Ifee COnU ffSfiMi? 'a. 'f" • kr k-k i • 5K -. kk. '.-• •,/ ill , I: •• r„ - -r"' 'Sy-- "-i •^ ^ ' .-. somxisioe COBRA: A WAY TO COmiNUE HEALTH COVERAGE •'<': 'M:-' fifc ' •: . • •- * When the Plan receives notice from you or your employer that one of the "qualifying events" listed above has happened, the Plan office will send you a letter with complete instructions about how to continue coverage. In the event of death, divorce, legal separation, receipt of Medicare benefits or when a dependent child is no longer eligible for Welfare Plan coverage, you or your spouse should notify the Plan at the address given at the end of this letter. Your employer will notify the Plan if you are termi­ nated, if your job with the company has ended, or if your hours have been \ reduced. If any of the "qualifying events" happens to you, it is also important that you notify the Plan of the change. Since seafaring employees are able to end jobs and get other work without generally notifying the Plan, it is very difficult to determine when a participant will lose his or her eligibility. The Plan is here to serve you, but we need your help. If you have not worked and you know you are ineligible for plan benefits, contact the plan's COBRA department to see if you can elect to continue your welfare benefits under this program. HiBf ffpo of itmfils oOl l nam if I etecf H aalmoo htmfUs CMM? If you elect to participate in the COBRA program and pay the costs, you will receive the same type and level of hospital and some medical benefits as you did before you lost your eligibility. To find out what benefits you should be entitled to, call 1-800 252-4674. You will receive these benefits as long as you are not already receiving Medicare benefits from the government, or you are not working for another employer who has a medical benefits program. "• • How ho§ wH kootk mo {omogt iftniffc lit COtBi jwwrwi losff The maximum period of time you, your spouse or dependent children will be able to continue health care benefits under the COBRA progam depends on your "qualifying event." If you lose eligibility because you were fired or laid off from your job or did not work enough time to establish eligibility, your maximum coverage period is 18 months from the date of the event. If you lose your eligibility for any other "qualifying event," the maximum coverage period will be 36 months from the date of the qualifying event. MM—« » Zf f •- J--- If you experience two "qualifying events," it is possible to extend your coverage through the COBRA program for up to 36 months instead of 18 months. The time period is measured from the date of the^irj/ qualifying event. In order to receive an extension of participation in the COBRA program the following must have happened: 1. Your first "qualifying event" must have been a termination of employ­ ment or a reduction in your days of employment which caused you to lose your eligibility. 2. Your second "qualifying event" must take place while you are receiving Flan benefits which you have purchased through the COBRA program. Your second "qualifying event" must also be (1) the death of your covered spouse; (2) divorce or legal separation; (3) your eligibility for Medicare; (4) your dependent child's loss of eligibility under the Seafar­ ers Welfare Plan because he or she has reached the maximum age for ' benefit coverage. •; -Si:' ' L Cw f COiM ionngo oo9 kohn Ifct Iftfc or 39Hi ttooHi oROMimm forioif Yes. Your COBRA coverage can end before the maximum period if the following events take place: (1) Your monthly payment to the Plan for the COBRA coverage is not timely. (2) You get another job which has health care benefits for you. Even if those benefits are less complete than those you are receiving from the COBRA coverage, you can no longer receive benefits from the COBRA program. (3) You become entitled to receive Medicare benefits. Illif s tko ohdioa forioi oo9 iww 9oo$ it woik? Once again, the "election" is your decision to tell the Plan whether you wish to purchase COBRA benefit coverage in the event you lose Seafarers Welfare Plan coverage. Depending on the "qualifying event," the Plan will send you notice, or you or your family member will send a letter to the Plan. Once th6 "qualifying event" has happened and the Plan sends you an "election" letter, ybu and your family will have 60 days to decide whether to purchase benefits through the COBRA program. The election period will end 60 days from: (1) The date you experience your "qualifying event" which caused you to lose eligibility time for benefit coverage from the Seafarers Welfare Plaii or (2) the date the Plan tells you that you have a right to participate in the COBRA program, whichever date is later. Mrar oHodR wiH COBttH tovongo tost? The cost of COBRA benefit coverage depends on what level of Plan benefits you were receiving at the time you or your dependents lost eligibility for Seafarers Welfare Plan coverage. Because the cost to participants will vary, you will be notified of the cost to you, or if you are married, for you and your family. After notification of a "qualifying event," the Plan will send you a letter which contains specific information for your situation. This letter will ex­ plain the cost of the COBRA benefit coverage and other important informa­ tion. If you choose to buy benefit coverage through the COBRA program, the first payment you make will cover the cost of your benefits, for the period before your election. After that, you will make a payment once a month. Coo ow spooso otod to tooliooo heohk can kooofhs? Yes. Each family member is entitled to make an election. If you make the election, your spouse and dependent children will be automatically included. If your spouse makes the election it will automatically include dependent children. Wtmt if otp popoRoot for €0999 totongo is toto? If you choose to participate in the COBRA program your first check must be received by the Plan no later than 45 days after you elect to participate in the program. You then must pay a premium every month to keep your COBRA benefits. You do have a 30-day grace period for making late payments. The grace period expires 30 days from the first day of the month during which your coverage is extended. If you do not pay within this grace period you will lose welfare benefit coverage. MIIM wff ffce pnprooi start? The COBRA program will be in effect on January I, 1989. If you need more information you can call Membership Services at I-800-CLA1MS-4 (1-800252-4674). You may also write to COBRA Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Maryland 20746. Leo Bonser . Plans Administrator ComctMo In the January and 1989 issues 6f the LOC^~'Pi©g 18, Ifie'lp'estloW"* reading "Can my COBRA coverage end before the 24th or 36th month maximum period?" should have read "Can my COBRA coverage end be­ fore the ISth or 36th month maximum period?" The April issue of the LOG clarifies the answer to the question "What type of benefits will 1 receive if I Select to continue benefits under COBRA?" ' �-tr-rei- APRIl, 1989 • • -,;, Mfc^..;. •iteSA- MONIS (Apex Marine), January 15Chairman Richard K. Wardlaw, Sec­ retary G, Marzett, Deck Delegate T. Richardson, Engine Delegate O. Espinoza. Steward Delegate W. Con­ nolly. Some disputed OT was re­ ported in the engine department. The ship is due to discharge its pres­ ent load of grain in Chittagong, Bangladesh. If no backload is avail­ able, the vessel will go to the Singa­ pore shipyard. The crew wishes to express its desire to pay off in the United States rather than in Singa­ pore. Two men were taken off the ship due to illness, one at Southwest Pass and one in the Azores. Both had joined the ship in Galveston, Texas. Next ports: Chittagong and Singapore. BAY RIDGl (Bay Tankers), January 30—Chairman T.E. Anderson, Sec­ retary Robert A. Brown, Steward Delegate Hank Spencer Jr. The steward department delegate re­ ported many hours of disputed OT. It was requested that a patrolman be present when the ship arrives in San Pedro, Calif, to settle the issue. Two injuries occurred in the engine de­ partment. Both the pumpman and the wiper were repatriated from Puerto Armuelles, Panama. Fresh provisions such as onions, carrots, apples, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. were in short supply this voyage. It was felt that the quality of the stores has deteriorated recently. Crewmembers were given a vote of thanks for their support of the Mari­ time Defense League this trip. SJNKMIS RMIGl (Interocean Manage­ ment), Chairman R. Edwards, Sec­ retary J. Pitetta, Educational Direc­ tor J. Scutieni. No beefs or disputed OT. The chairman reported that the ship probably will not go to Panama for a few more months. In the meanwhile, it will head for Los An­ geles to discharge cargo. All men were advised not to leave the ship until the patrolman holds a meeting. At that time he will also talk about the importance of contributing to the Maritime Defense League. The crew thanked Patrolman Robbie for com­ ing aboard and helping them at pay­ off. The educational directbr advised members to take advantage of the upgrading opportunities available at Piney Point. The steward was praised for doing an outstanding job after the chief cook took ill. He car­ ried the galley by himself, putting out at least 15 sandwiches each afternoon and a great salad bar. I: l(, IMG aPRKORM (Energy Transporta­ tion Corp.), January 29—Chairman Aubrey L. "Pete" Waters, Secre­ tary John L. Gibbons, Educational Director Fabious M. Ricord. No beefs or disputed OT reported. There is $380 in the ship's fund. The bosun reports a most joyful 120 days 'at sea. A special thanks goes out to the steward department—and to the entire crew for working together during this tour. All crewmembers were asked to comply with the new federal regulations requiring the sep­ aration of plastic goods from gar­ bage. Dumping plastic overboard is polluting our waters and destroying our sea life. Members were cau­ tioned about the new dock in the port of Bontang, Indonesia. The launch service is very poor, and many safety hazards have been noted. The matter has been brought to the captain's attention. Safety is of prime importance on this vessel. The LNG Capricorn had a good safety record in 1988. Crewmembers were asked to keep up the good work in this new year. Next port: Tobata, Japan. aHOUMA (PRMMI), January 23Chairman James D. Cunningham, Secretary Rafael R. Maldonado, Ed­ ucational Director David E. Sim­ mons, Deck Delegate James P. Por­ ter, Engine Delegate Bobbie Clark. Everything is running smoothly with no beefs or disputed OT reported. A vote of thanks was given to all de­ partments for keeping the crew messroom and pantry clean. One minute of silence was observed in memory of our departed brothers and sisters. C$ LONG UHSS (Transoceanic Cableship), January 13—Chairman Joseph J. Olson, Secretary K. Rosiek. Some disputed OT was reported in the deck department in regards to the Ipngshoremen's rate for dis­ charging cable. There is $212 in the ship's fund after the purchase of four cases of soda for the crew cook-out. Estimated arrival in Ho­ nolulu is Jan. 15: The bosun thanked all the crewmembers for complying with the new federal law requiring bers at Piney Point. A vote of thanks was given to the 2nd assist­ ant engineer for installing new TV antennas. Some problem was noted in the food requisition process. The steward said that if he has the food, he will put it out, but items such as butter and white bread are not in plentiful supply. Next port: Stapleton, N.Y. OMf aiARGtR (OMI Corp.), January 29—Chairman F.R. Schwartz, Sec­ retary Neville N. Johnson. No beefs or disputed OT. There is $10 in the ship's treasury. The vessel is sched­ uled to sail from New Orleans, La. to Tampa, Fla., discharge its cargo and then proceed to Corpus Christi, Texas to take on a load for New York.' There will be a payoff in Cor­ pus Christi. The chairman noted that the garbage situation needs to be re­ viewed. The educational director stated that the new federal laws reg­ ulating the dumping of plastics should make the company more aware of what types of stores are SmpsMeetings The Mhwkig d^t mml9$ an iust a smpiiMg of the moof moolbig nports He SlU recehes ooA mwrik from its slups oromul the worfd. Skips' minutes are reviewed by the Union's Xontma Department, Jhose issues requiring attmition or resolution are addressed by the l/uhn upon rereipt of the ship's minutes. the separation of plastics from gar­ bage. All hands were asked to keep their conversations down while watching movies so that other mem­ bers can hear. Crewmembers were asked to clean up after themselves in the crew rec room. Two cobkouts have been planned for the run from Honolulu to the Panama Canal. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for these cookouts as well as for the outstanding holiday and daily meals.. Next port: Honolulu, Hawaii. GRUT lAMD (Interocean Manage­ ment)—Chairman George Vukmir, Secretary Jesus Laxamana, Educa­ tional Director Steve Sentenney, Deck Delegate Jack W. Edwards, Steward Delegate William Sharp. The chairman discussed the drug testing situation, the Cobra medical plan recently written up in the Sea­ farers LOG and the upcoming con­ tract negotiations in 1990. A sugges­ tion was made to raise $5 from each crewmember to start an emergency and communications fund. A vote of thanks was given to the steward de­ partment for a job well done. GROTOH (Apex Marine), January 31— Chairman Neil Matthey, Secretary Marvin Deloatchf Educational Di­ rector J. Shuler, Deck Delegate Raymond Rainey, Engine Delegate Thomas CorreU, Steward Delegate Christopher J. Mosley. The chair­ man announced that payoff would be Feb. 3 in Stapleton, N.Y. at which time a new captain will take over. The deck and engine depart­ ments reported some disputed OT . regarding Martin Luther King Day. A telex was received from the com­ pany stating that Martin Luther King Day is not a holiday at sea. It is, however, a holiday in those ports where the longshoremen observe it. This information will be taken up with the boarding patrolman. A re­ pair list is being made up for the shipyard. The chairman urged everyone to take advantage of the upgi^ing courses available to mem- •. put onboard. In order to eliminate non-biodegradable plastics, tin should be used whenever possible, juice should be stored in paper car­ tons and milk in 2.5 gallon con­ tainers. There are many such ways to help control pollution. The educa­ tional director advised crewmembers to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point and gain as much knowledge as possible. He also noted that it is possible for the ship to get films on firefighting, first aid and CPR to show to the crew. A suggestion was made to post the Coast Guard clear­ ance in the messhall. Crewmembers would be grateful if they could get the latest literature on the SIU pen­ sion and welfare plans. Next ports: Tampa, Fla.; Coipus Christi, Texas, and New York City. OMf SNaMMIIiriD (OMI Corp.), Janu­ ary 22—Bosun William Baker, Sec­ retary Nancy Heyden. No beefs or disputed OT. There is $120 in the ship's movie fund. The chairman ex­ plained to the crew how the payoff will be handled at JFK Airport and how to reclaim jobs at the New York hall. Before leaving the ship, members were reminded to return survival suits and life jackets to the lounge. Sa-IAMDAOnmR (Sea-Land Service), January 22—Chairman Norbert Prats, Secretary Glen Dambrosio, Educational Director C.M. Devonish. Engine Delegate Terry Green, Steward Delegate Stanley J. Krystosiak. Some disputed OT was re­ ported in the engine department by the chief mate. This matter was re­ solved prior to payoff. The educa­ tional director stressed the impor­ tance of going to Piney Point to upgrade. A motion was made and seconded to request information on emergency relief or medical relief for permanent members. It was felt members should have a say on the choice of months of employment. This will be sent to the contract ne­ gotiating committee for evaluation. A safety meeting was held at which time the crew requested new lines for the ship. Crewmembers also stated that they have been waiting patiently for four months for a TV antenna and for the VCR to be fixed. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J.; Portsmouth, Va., and Charleston, S.C. [Editor's note: An antenna and a new VCR will be brought aboard ship this trip.] Sa-IAMD CRUSMER (Sea-Land Serv­ ice), January 30—Chairman Gerald Corelli, Secretary H. Fielder. No beefs or disputed OT reported. A repair list has been put out to all departments. Payoff will be in New York this trip, and the ship will then sail for San Juan, P.R. on Feb. 2. Members were reminded of the im­ portance of upgrading their skills at Piney Point in order not to be left behind. Crewmembers were asked to keep the noise down in the pas­ sageways, make sure that clothes are dry when taking someone else's laundry from the dryer, and gener­ ally help keep the ship clean. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department. SEA-IAND DISCOViRY (Sea-Land Serv­ ice), January 17—Chairman Harry M. Fisher, Secretary Jose R. Colls, Deck Delegate Carlos Garcia, En­ gine Delegate Valentin Martinez, Steward Delegate Leon Butler. No beefs or disputed OT. Everything is running smoothly. Payoff will take place as soon as the patrolman comes onboard. A safety meeting was held with some of the crew­ members. The captain wants an ex­ tra AB in addition to the regular watches to help keep stowaways off the ship. The deck department wanted to bring this up to the pa­ trolman, but the matter was settled onboard before payoff. Plastic items which had previously been thrown overboard now must be disposed of in a new way, according to a recent law. Trash cans have been placed on all decks for plastic. Everyone's co­ operation was requested on this is­ sue. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for the good food and a job well done. Next port: San Juan, P.R. SIA-UMD BOmnOM (Sea-Land Serv­ ice), January 24—Chairman Mark Zimbro, Secretary E. Vazquez, Ed­ ucational Director David Dukehart, Engine Delegate Johnny Hall. Some disputed OT was reported in the en­ gine department. Everything is run­ ning smoothly. The importance of donating to SPAD was stressed. A motion was made by the chairman to add one able-seaman and one util­ ity. This motion will be sent to the negotiating-committee for evalua­ tion. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department by Brother Dukehart for a job well done. Spe­ cial thanks also were given to utility Eusebio Gonzales for keeping a clean ship. IMG VIRGO (Energy Transportation Corp.), January 2—Chairman John P. Davis, Secretary Franklin Robert­ son, Educational Director/Engine Delegate Aaron J. Thaxton, Deck Delegate James Fletcher, Steward Delegate Udjang Nurdjaja. No beefs or disputed OT. The secretary noted that at this time the crew list and ship's meeting forms were being sent to headquarters. All other com­ munications were posted. A vote of thanks was given to the steward de­ partment for a job well done. Next ports: Tobata, Japan and Arun, In­ donesia. In MHipn to tho mioytos poUhM tbon, tho SIU ntoiood oKtU skips mmolos from Iko foHowiop skips; Omsoos Homolto, SoaImid Kodmk, Soo-lmd Padfk, Soo-lood Volin, Soaotor, aad Uhraamr. ! .n'': �• • •: . .. . ^ . • •• -. • •; <:" .i'••.• - .r. • ,• • „.•: •;.. :• '1| SEAfARCIlS LOG 22 -^:;> • .- • .... «t. -'"s' :•; . ^ i > < t'' ^ t "t. Deep Sea JOHN E. FLOYD John Elmer Floyd, 75, passed away Feb. 28 at home in Toledo, Ohio. Born in St. James, Mich., Brother Floyd sailed with the Boland Cornelius Lines as a fireman from 1940 un­ til 1960, when he joined the SIU in the port of Detroit, Mich. He then sailed aboard the Adam E. Cornelius (American Steamship Co.) from 1961 to 1974, retiring in 1975. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Seafarer Floyd is survived by his wife, Mary M. Floyd. flQS& ^ -"- . •.i- J- •••- ,Hr • '• • ' i," •-';. ';•' ) •. "i: • ^ '• ,•- ;*•. ' MV.; ^.,.1 - • •• • GERONIMO B. GAPAC Geronimo B. Gapac, 90, died Feb. 11 at the Veterans Admin­ istration Hospital in Dublin, Ga. after a long ill­ ness. Brother Gapac was featured in the Jan. 1989 issue of the Seafarers LOG as one of hundreds of Seafarers who sailed in World War II who was finally granted their WWII discharges and veterans' bene­ fits. Bom in the Philippines, Sea­ farer Gapac struck out on his own at 17 to become a merchant seaman. For the next 46 years he saw the beautiful cities of the world and the bmtality of action in two world wars. In 1943 Ga­ pac joined the SIU in the port of Norfolk, Va., sailing in the stew­ ard department until his retire­ ment in 1968. Burial was in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Surviving are his wife. Infanta S. Gapac of Savannah; a son, William S. Ga­ pac of Ellabell; two grandsons; two granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren. EMIL J. GLASER Emil J. Glaser, 66, died March 7 in Los Angeles, Calif. Bora in Disputanta, Va., Brother Glaser joined the SIU in 1944 in the port of New York. He last sailed on the Trans Indiana (Hudson Waterways). Seafarer Glaser, who was also a meniber of Dis­ trict 2-MEBA, retired on j^nsion in 1974. Burial took place in Val­ halla Memorial Park, North Hol­ lywood, Calif. Surviving is his wife. Rose M. Glaser. JOSEPH J. KEMP Joseph J. Kemp, 73, died Feb. 26 at the Northshore Regional Medical Center in SlideU, La. Bora in Key West, Fla., Brother Kemp joined the Union in 1940 in the port of Tampa, Fla. He sailed in the deck de­ partment. Seafarer Kemp last sailed aboard the Delta Uruguay (Delta Steamship Lines) in 1979 and went on pension in thht year. Burial took place in Me­ morial Gardens, Picayune, Miss. Surviving is his wife, Voncile Warner. STEPHEN KRAPSHA Stephen Krapsha, 75, died of lung cancer Jan. 18. Born in Laflin. Pa., Brother Krapsha joined the SIU in the port of Buffalo, N.Y. He sailed in the deck de­ partment until his retirement in 1978, last aboard the M.V. Peckinpaugh (Erie Navigation Co.). A resident of Plains, Pa., Sea­ farer Krapsha is survived by his daughter, Leocadia L. Snyder. JOSE MARTINEZ SR. Jose Martinez Sr., 64, passed away March 6. Bora in Spain, Brother Martinez had sailed since 1953. He joined the Union in 1958 in the port of New York, sailing in the deck department. Seafarer Martinez last sailed on the S.S. (Hudson Water­ ways Corp.) and retired in 1976. Martinez was a resident of Balti­ more, Md. He was buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in that city. Surviving is his wife, Sophia Martinez, and a son, Jose Jr. LEONARD W. PARADEAU Leonard W. Paradeau, 77, died March 14 at Mercy Hospital in New Orleans, La. Brother Paradeau was bora in Minneapolis, Minn. He joined the SIU in 1938 in Norfolk, Va., sailing in the engine department. Seafarer Paradeau last sailed on the Overseas Progress (Maritime Overseas) in 1970. Surviving is his sister, Blanche Arnold of New Orleans. STEPHEN A. SLONESKl Stephen A. Sloneski, 71, passed away Feb. 26 in Kissimmee, Fla. Born in New York City, Brother Sloneski joined the SIU in 1949 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Seafarer Sloneski went on pension in 1982. He last sailed on the C.S. Long Lines (Trans­ oceanic Cable Ship Co.) in 1982. Cremation took place at the Grisson Funeral Home and Cre­ matory in Kissimmee. Sloneski is survived by his wife, Meleana Dora of Kissimmee. WILLIAM J. TARRANT Pensioner William J. Tarrant, 63, passed away December 22, 1988. Brother Tarrant joined the SIU in January 1949 in the port of New York and sailed in the deck department. He last sailed in April 1987 aboard the Sea-Land Venture. He retired in Novem­ ber 1987. Brother Tarrant served in the U.S. Navy from January 1943 to August 1946. He was bora in New Orleans, La. and resided in Metairie, La. Surviv­ ing is his sister. Beryl Baumgartner of Metairie. HAROLD WARNER Harold Warner, 63, died March 20 of lung can­ cer. Bora in Sa­ ginaw, Mich:, Brother Warner joined the Union in 1%7 in De­ troit, Mich. He sailed in the deck department, most recently aboard the Medusa Challenger. Seafarer Warner lived in Deland, Fla. and was buried in Deland Memorial Gardens in that city. Surviving is his wife, Audrey. Great Lakes JOHN L. FLINT John L. Flint, 71, succumbed to pneumonia Feb. 13 at the Huron Medical Care Facility in Colfax Town­ ship, Mich. Bora in Whiting, Ind., Brother Flint started sailing with the SIU in 1968 out of Detroit in the deck department. A resident of Bay Port, Mich., Seafarer Flint re­ tired on pension in 1979. He last worked on the tug Margaret M. Hannah (Hannah Inland Water­ ways, Inc.) in that year. Crema­ tion took place at Sunset Valley Crematory in Bay City, Mich. Flint is survived by his wife, Dorothy Wallace. ADOLF F. KALISCH Pensioner Adolf Frederick Kalisch, 75, joined the Union in 1948 in Toledo. He was bora in Alpena, Mich, and shipped out from there. Kalisch^pent many years working on Huron Port­ land Cement vessels. He last shipped on American S.S.'s J.T. Hutchinson, Brother Kalisch worked in the engine depart­ ment, retiring in 1977. He died at his home on December 2, 1988. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Alpena, Mich. His widow, Martha E. Kalisch, sur­ vives him. WILLIAM I. KINSELLA SR. Pensioner William I. Kinsella Sr., 75, passed away December 28, 1988 at Lykes Memorial Hospital in Brooksville, Fla. Brother Kinsella joined the In­ land Boatmen's Union, Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Division, in August 1961 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. He sailed in the deck department with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company and retired in June of 1976. Sea­ farer Kinsella was born in Michi­ gan and resided in Brimley, Mich. Surviving is his widow. Myrtle Wilcox Kinsella. Brother Kinsella's body was moved from Merritt Funeral Home in Brooksville to Hillcrest Ceme­ tery in Superior Township, Mich, for burial. GEORGE H. LAMONT Pensioner George H. Lamont, 79, passed away January 22, 1989 at the Benzie County Medi­ cal Care Facility in Frankfort, Mich. He joined the Union in November 1953 in Frankfort and sailed in the deck department. Brother Lamont retired in March 1974. He was born in Michigan and resided in Arcadia, Mich. He is survived by his widow, Paula Hovis Lamont. Burial took place at Conway Cemetery in Arcadia. FRANK E.MAY Pensioner Frank E. May, 71, passed away January 22, 1989 at the Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Mich. Brother May joined the Union in Decem­ ber 1953 in Frankfort, Mich. He sailed in the deck department. He last sailed with Ann Arbor Railroad, a car ferry service. Lakes seaman May retired in May 1974. Brother May was bora in Michigan and resided in Frankfort. Surviving is his widow, Zelda E. May. Funeral services were held at the Bennett-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Beulah, Mich, and burial took place at the Blaine Twp Ceme­ tery in Blaine Twp. Mich. PAULM. WUORI Pensioner Paul M. Wuori, 65, passed away February 7, 1989. Brother Wuori joined the SIU in October 1960 in the port of To­ ledo, Ohio. He last sailed in No­ vember 1987 in the engine de­ partment aboard the Harry Steinbrenner owned by Kinsman Lines. He retired in October 1988. Prior to joining the Union, seaman Wuori sailed for 10 years as a marine fireman. Seafarer Wuori was bora in Maple, Wis. and resided there. Surviving is his sister, Alice O. Walamaki of Maple. I �.. APRIL, 1989 1989 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE xmr:. Check-In Date June 26 September 18 June 12 July 10 May 15 July ,31 September 18 Variable Speed DC Drives September 18 August 21 Hydraulics Limited Assistant/Chief Engineer July 17 *AII students in the Engine Department will have two (2) Familiarization at the end of their regular course. Course Automation QMED—Any Rating Fireman/Watertender and Oiler Marine Electrical Maintenance Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maint. Pumproom Maint. and Ops. June through September 1989 The following is the current course schedule for June—December 1989 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The course schedule may change to reflect the membership's and industry's needs. PLEASE NOTE: AU members are required to take firefighUng when attending SHISS. Deck Upgrading Courses Firefighting: • Yes Date Available for training Mo./Day/Year (Area Code) Deep Sea Member • Lakes Member • Inland Waters Member • Pacific • If the following information is not filled out completely your applica­ tion will not be processed. VESSEL ^ No G . - • RATING HELD DATE SHIPPED DATE OF DISCHARGE " t•. Department. Seniority^ SIGNATURE. • Yes Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces: DATE. GNo A*' • • • • ^— Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now Held. I Am intercs)ed in (he Following C'oursc(s) Checked Below or Indicated Here if No( l.is(ed Are you a graduate of the SHLSS Trainee Program: DliCK • Yes- GNo (If yes, fill in below) Trainee Program: From_ Last grade of school completed. to (daics atlcndcd) Have you attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses: • Yes • No (if yes, fill in below) Course(s) Taken. CPR: G Yes Book #. Social Security #. ,'. /• <, V With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You must also submit a COPY of the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, as well as, a COPY of your clinic card. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule until this is received. Date of Birth. Telephone. Home Port. NoG Primary Language Spoken (Zip Code) Completion Date November 6 July 3 Do you hold a letter of completion for Lifeboat: • Yes , No • (Street) (State) Check-In Date September 25 May 29 Course Bosun Recertification Steward Recertification Upgradiug Appliaitioa (City) i' • Recertification Programs SEAFARERS HARRY LUNDEBERG SCHOOL OF SEAMANSHIP Address. i The Developmental Studies Class (DVS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. Developmental Studies (DVS) June 5 June 9 (Prior to FOWT) July 31 August 18 ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation Course September 25 October 13 This Three week course is an Introduction to Lifeboat and is designed to help seafarers prepare themselves for the regular Lifeboat course which is scheduled immediately after this course. This class will benefit those seafarers who have difficulty reading, seafarers whose first language is not English, and seafarers who have been out of school for a long time. Check-In Completion Course Date Date Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker All open-ended (Contact Admissions Chief Cook, Chief Steward. Office for starting date)=*= '''All students in the Steward Program will have two (2) weeks of Sealift Familiarization at the end of their regular course. (Middle) I-': x: Check-In Completion Date Course Date The Adult Education Courses for 1989 will be six weeks in length. High School Equivalency (GED) July 3 August 14 September 4 October 16 October 30 December 11 July 3 August 12 Adult Basic Education (ABAE) September 4 October 14 October 30 December 9 August 12 English as a Second Language (ESL) July 3 September 4 October 14 December 9 October 30 Steward Upgrading Courses (Kirsi) Completion Date July 21 December 8 July 21 September 1 June 9 September 8 October 27 October 27 September 15 September 8 weeks of Sealift 1989 Aduit Education Scheduie Check-In Completion Course Date Date Able Seaman July 10 August 18 September 4 October 13 Third Mate July 10 October 13 Radar Refresher/Renewal Open-ended, 3 days (Contact Admissions for starting date) Radar Recertilication Open-ended, 1 day (Contact Admissions for starting date) Limited Inland Licen^ July 17 September 8 Lifeboat July 24 August 4 August 21 SeptemL>c.° 1 September 18 September 29 (This course is not offered as a LNG—Self-Study separate course, but may be taken while attending any of the regu­ larly scheduled courses.) *Upon completion of course, the Sealift Operations & Maintenance course must he taken. (I.asl) •' • Engine Upgrading Courses Pngnm Geand to Improve Job Stkills Ani Prombto US MarUimo Industiy Name. 23 • • • • • AB/Sealil'( Is) Class Pilot Third Mate Radar Observer Unlimited Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator Inland • Celestial Navigation • Simulator Course FNOINF • FOWT • QMliD—Any Rating • Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Flectronics) • Marine Flectrical Maintenance • Pumproom Maintenance & (Operation • Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation Q Diesel Fngine Technology • Assistant Fngineer/Chief Fngineer Motor Vessel • Original 3rd lingineer Steam or Motor • Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance • FTectro-Hydiaulic Systems • Automation O Hydraulics Q] Marine Flectronics 'technician •STIiWARD • • • • • Assistant Cook Utility tiaiok and Baker Chief Cook Chief Steward fowboat Inland Cook ALL DFPAR'rMliNTS • Welding • Lifeboatman (Must be taken with another course) ADUI T I;DU( ATION DI;PARTMI;NT [J Adult Basic Fiducalion (ABIi) • High School liquivalency Program tCil-.D) • Developmental Studies (DVS) I I Finglish as a Second Language tliSI.) • ABi;/i;SI. Lifeboat Preparation dm COI.LIiOF PROORAM • Associates in Arts Degree • Certificate Programs No transportation will be paid unless you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. Rii i uRN COMPLF:TI;D APPl.lt ATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center. Piney Point. MD. 20674 f , �jj d . ' ••••' ' •. 24 saatasioe SlU URGES REMOVAL OF MARIOME SERVICES wmismrf FROM CURREHT ROUND OF IRADE TALKS F 7 . " 'V: . : 'he SIU voiced strong otgections to the inclusion of mari­ time services in the current round of international talks being conducted under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tar­ iffs and Trade (GATT). The Union is urging Congress to pass legislation specifically excluding maritime services from GATT's agenda. The union warned that any ne­ gotiated agreement dealing with the maritime industry could wind up invalidating U.S. laws gov­ erning everything from coastwise trade to operating subsidies for U.S.-flag carriers. In its more than 40Tyear his­ tory, GATT has focused its at­ tention exclusively on trade in goods. The inclusion of services in the current round of negotia­ tions in Uruguay marks a dra­ matic departure from that prac­ tice. This marks the second time that the Union has been forced ' to oppose efforts to open up the U.S maritime services to as­ saults from abroad. The first time was during the negotiations that led up to the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement. Maritime services were on the agenda dur­ ing the early stages of those talks, too. But they were re­ moved in the end because an aroused Congress made clear it would not deal away historic protection of the merchant ma­ rine. In calling for exclusion of mar­ itime services from the Uruguay round of GATT negotiations, the SIU pointed out that efforts to abolish international trade bar­ riers could: • Invite a free-for-all in which foreign competition would apply pressure to open up the re­ stricted U.S. coastal trade. • Endanger the Jones Act by forcing the United States to repeal existing cabotage laws that bar foreign vessels and air­ lines from providing service be­ tween two destinations in this country. • Encourage third-worid and East-bloc countries to engage in these domestic trades, thus pos­ ing a grave threat to national se­ curity. • Risk forfeiture of protec­ tions extended to U.S.-flag ship­ ping through cargo preference laws which reserve a percentage of government-generated ship­ ments for American ship opera­ tors. • Force the United States government to drop existing op­ erating subsidies designed to help U.S.-flag carriers offset competition from low-wage for­ eign-flag shipping that does not have to meet U.S. standards for manning or safety. ices in the on-going GATT nego­ tiations. In addition, the nationally ac­ claimed Commission on Mer­ chant Marine and Defense, which has just completed its two-year study of the industry, made clear that it opposes in­ cluding the maritime sector in the GATT negotiations. And just prior to the close of the 100th Congress, Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) and Rep. Walter Jones (D-N.C.), introduced legis­ lation in their respective bodies not only reaffirming strong sup­ port for the Jones Act but also expressly stating objections to making maritime transportation part of the Uruguay found of talks. The Union pointed out that because maritime is the oldest form of international trade, it is already highly regulated. On the world scene, it is subject to the overview of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Confer­ ence on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). On the domestic scene, it is regulated by the De­ partment of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). Under the circumstances, the SIU stressed, it would be not only unnecessary but unwise to force maritime's involvement with anot^r multilateral agency—^particularly one that has no experience in, or under­ standing of, the complexities of international shipping. The SIU pointed out that the Omnibus Trade Bill of 1968 reaffirmed the principle that maritime services should be treated independently from other trade issues. Title X of that leg­ islation si^ifically prohibited the inclusion of maritime serv­ Commission Recommottdatioas continued from pt^e 4 • Receiving reports on gov­ ernment agency efforts to pro­ mote maritime industries. • Raising to 100 percent the percent of government-owned or government-impelled cargo that must be carried on U.S.-flag ships. • Improving the quality and military utility of ships engaged in Jones Act trade. • Ensuring that rates paid for Defense Department caigo are fiilly compensatory. • Establishing a National Maritime Industries Research and Development Program. • Requiring secretaries of De­ fense and Transportation to re­ port annually to Congress on sealift capability. • Updating the Longshore­ men's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act so that its benefits are comparable with those paid under industrial work­ ers' compensation programs. • Allow greater flexibility in use of maritime personnel. and labor must be heard in the deliberations undertaken by a number of different government task forces which will be needed to address the interrelated prob­ lems of building and maintaining an adequate merchant marine, and sending it to sea to compete in peacetime and be prepared to serve the national defense in time of crisis. Emphasizing that cooperation is vitsd between the government and the maritime industries, the report said that failure to achieve this "mutually beneficial" rela­ tionship could end up with the government becoming "more de­ pendent on its own resources, such as inactive reserve fleets and public shipyards," to meet national defense needs. "Such a course might sQund the death knell for the American maritime industries as we know them, to the disadvantage of our trade and commerce as well as of our fundamental national se­ curity in both peace and war," the commission concluded. The commission advocated es­ tablishing a maritime forum sponsored by the Secretary of Transportation in which all ele­ ments of the industry's private sector would meet with govern­ ment representatives. The forum could bring cohesion and unity on maritime public policy among all concerned parties. What the Private Sector Should Do The Commission acknowl­ edged the unique role of the American merchant marine as "a private industry required to per­ form a public Action." Under these circumstances, its report said, "subsidies paid to the mar­ itime industries must never be regarded as a gratuity . . . They are investments by the American people, through their govern­ ment, for the nation's well-being. For their part, the shipping, shipbuilding and ship repair in­ dustries must realize that "the government expects a 'return' on its investment in the form of ad­ equate, readily available, stra­ tegic sealift assets." One way that this goal can be accomplished, the report said, is through cooperation among op­ erators, unions, shipyards and shipyard suppliers to "reduce and eliminate counterproductive competition and disagreements and to enhance' development of coordinated and concerted ac­ tion." And, the commission said, the voices of maritime management ' •. br more than four decades, 94 governments have attempted to liberalize world trade and place it on a secure basis that win contribute to global eco­ nomic growth and development. This ambitious program is c?u-lied out under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)—a multilateral treaty first drawn up in 1948 and now subscribed to by 94 countries. WHAT IS GATT^S PURPOSE? Its stated purpose is to put mi end to discrimi­ natory trade practices, reduce trade b^ers and get rid of other devices which distort competition in the worid market. WHAT ARE 'ROUNDS' OF NEGOTIATIONS? PeriOdicaUy, ministers from participating countries sit down in wlmt are referred to as "rounds" fff multilateral trade negotiations. In the early days, these discus­ sions lasted only a few months CHT, at most, a year. But as Uie number of participating countries j^w, and the issues became more complex, negotiation rounds have stretched over longer and longer periods of time. The discussions that opened in Geneva in 1954, for example, weren't completed until 1967; the Tokyo round ran from 1973 to 1979; and the current round of talks, launched in Umguay in 1986, is still going on and isn't expected to wind up until next year. WHYISGATT IMPORTANT? ^ ITie present GATT ne^gotiations come at a time when trade imbal­ ances have developed into a source of increasing tension in the world economy and when governments are playing a grow­ ing and important role in deter­ mining the flow of commerce. The continued deep U.S. trade deficit, for example, is directly traceable to the fact that many recent actions by foreign govern­ ments—especially in the form of export subsidies, voluntary ex­ port restraints, other non-tariff barriers to imports, and bilateral agreements—contradict the GATT principles that have at­ tempted to supervise interna­ tional conunerce since the end of World Warn. WHAT DOES GATT MEAN TO A SEAMAN? On the agenda for the current round of GATT j talks in Uruguay are "services." Included in this catetgory is shipping. If maritime is included in GATT, the negoti­ ated agreement could wipe out existing U.S. laws governing coastwise trade and operating subsidies. . ••( V- '/•-;! S 4 � 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 1980-1989 Description An account of the resource Volumes XLII-LI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1989 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES PHIL CARLIP DEAD AT 94 SACCO DEPLORES SHIP DECLINE UNDER DOT, SEEKS IMPROVED STATUS FOR MARITIME ADMINISTRATION GEN. CASSIDY: ‘COALITION CAN REVIVE MARITIME’ DEFENSE COMMISSION URGES ‘DECISIVE ACTION’ TO UPGRADE NATION’S FLEET, CITES LACK OF SEALIFT RESOURCES PANEL SAYS COSTS WOULD BE ‘TRIVIAL’ COMPARED TO TOTAL DEFENSE $’S JOINT MANAGEMENT/UNION COMMITTEE PLANS AIDS EDUCATION PROGRAM SIU DRUG SUIT: HEARING DATE IS APRIL 24 IN FEDERAL COURT SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DRUG-TESTING FOR RAILROAD AND CUSTOMS WORKERS SIU’S INLAND DIVISION SIGNS PACTS WITH THREE TUG BOAT COMPANIES EASTERN UNIONS HANG TOUGH AS LORENZO TRIES CHAPTER 11 SIU GOES ALL-OUT FOR MACHINISTS BIG OIL SPILL SLOWS SHIPPING FROM VALDEZ U.S. SHIPPING WINS AMENDMENT TO KEEP NEW ALASKA OIL FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION NEXT OF KIN DECEASED SEAMEN CAN OBTAIN WWII CERTIFICATES ANTARES CREW RESCUES SAILBOAT FROM 50 MPH GULF STORM DURING TRAINING EXERCISE MOBILE SEALIFT TRAINING TEAM VISITS WATERMAN AND I.M.C. SHIPS GOV’T DIVISION MEMBERS WELCOME NEW SHIP BUSINESS AGENT GRIER RETIRES DORIS MORAN AND MARITRANS LIBERTY IN FLORIDA SIU CREWS ON LAKES READY THEIR BOATS FOR ANOTHER RECORD SEASON EARLIEST FITOUT IN 20 YEARS, FIRST VESSELS ALREADY SAILING CHARLES E. WILSON ROGER M. KEYES WILLIAM R. ROESCH WILLIAMETTE: FINE CREW, GOOD FOOD NEW SHIPHANDLING COURSE ESTABLISHED AT LUNDEBERG SCHOOL. FIRST CLASSES TO START MAY 15 SIU URGERS REMOVAL OF MARITIME SERVICES FROM CURRENT ROUND OF TRADE TALKS WHAT IS GATT? Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/1989 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. 51, No. 4 1989 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/7b078baa54a0cd464475d7a5e449f1d8.PDF dc9e12eeedfa721deafaf2490e5578c9 PDF Text Text mmm ': J; ' •-• • ••• v...:v. , -..f./y: I SEAFAKEISS •v'-h Volume 52, Number 4 April 1990 Giant Agnbnsiness Lust For Greater ProSts Would Destroy Nation's Shipping Independence f >'r •':\ • 7- 6 n c •f Cost to tJ.S. Taxpayer of Agricunurai Exports s^L.\.w'v-V".^Jy. '• 3- Funds spent by U.S. gov­ ernment for using U.S.flag ships. 2- $336,385,000 0- AGRICULTURE SHIPPING SOURCE: Unfted States Department of Agriculture 1991 Budget Summary, Budget of the United States Government FY 1991, USDA Office Of Budget and Program Analysis, Maritime Adininlstratlon Budget Fiscal Year 1991. J:CD >1— OOOC. —tjoo 0000 m-<o o(7>o>2:o $ 7,260,600,000 Funds spent by U.S. gov­ ernment for promoting sales of agri­ cultural ex­ ports and purchasing commodities for giveaways. Agriculture Panel Moves Ship Rgt To Senate Floor M^nce again the giant commodity interests are trying to get Congress to re­ duce or drop the cargo preference re­ quirement that applies to three percent of government-supported agricultural export products. But some members of Congress, con­ scious of the vital role played by U.S. ship­ ping in the rmdonal economic and security interests, are striking back with threats of allowing the purchase of such cargoes on the world's open mar­ kets. For stories on the cargo preference issue, see pages 3,16 and 17. • o-Ha: -• o Pagi Gov^t Service Sli Wins Back Pay Be — -f'fi , 'v-r,/ —looH-tC-f- mOoo o O-H 002:0 O I O • I—t Ut 2:0 I > H- 00 CX> r- o o o OJ •-H m •xi—i on >J O o o hH- ...i'r' - • • -I: .]'• r i; : Bahama Jinx Ship Fii . 200 Feared Dead .—^ Page 4 ".'07 > • Union Cooks Scon High In Top Culinmy Test - Page 5 Great Lakes Seafarers Get Set for Htout Page 12 Seafarers Get New FIreflghtIng Course The SIU's Lundeberg School of Seamanship has launched a new advanced training course in firefighting that includes the latest technology for handling marine fires. Coinciding with the offering of the new class, the Lundeberg School has begun conducting its firefighting courses at the University of Mary­ land in La Plata, less than an hour away from Piney Point, where the union's educational facility is located. In photo at right, taken by SIU member Les R. Farrell, Seafarers practice extinguishing a simulated deck fire at the La Plata training facility. For more photos and story, see page 6. "•fj-a •'f f • 7f|:. • A# 9 f •' 'M' ' 'vm Time to Return Maritime Administration to Commerce Department See President's Report -• �seuMEKioe President's Report '-'P' f - • • v,;.v: ;• ':- j Ir'm.r • \t,' ','• i-- V 'i:fi f; - • .,' h .'r.-n -.. . • •- . ' IIIPV ;\.v y' I .s vyi'p ft- ••-•5-0, tl'll ;.: ;'f f. vV-'V There can be no mistaking now that the Department of Transportation hasn't the slightest intention of making any serious creative effort to reverse the decline of the American-flag shipping industry. The record of the Department since 1981, when it took on the responsibility for maritime from the Department of Commerce, shows a steady lessening of interest in the state of the country's shipping capability. But the clinch­ er is the Transportation Department's recently issued "Statement of Na­ tional Transportation Policy" which, so far as railroads, bridges and highways are concemed, has been various­ ly appraised as a "dud" that "should be sent to the White House dumpster." On maritime it is even worse. , Aside from some acknowledgment that maritime is vital to the national security and some vague references to the need for shipping reform so that it can improve its competitive position, the "statement of policy" gave not the slightest sign of encouragement: no positive goals were set, no evidence shown that the department intends to do anyI Sling to promote American shipping. Not that we expected anything more from DOT; but we gave Siem the benefit of the doubt in the hope that the "statement of policy" might finally reveal that it understands the differences between the problems of maritime and those of the railroads, buses. Coast Guard, bridges, highways and the rest of its responsibilities. So if anyone was waiting for further proof that DOT has no intentions of moving maritime forward, we have it now. And that brings me to a suggestion that I put forth just a year ago: that on the basis of the record since 1981, it was a serious mist^e for all of the maritime industry to have agreed, as it did, with the Reagan administration, to transfer the Maritime Administration from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Transportation. I remember how we in the SIU and the rest of the industry, in the late '60s under the late Paul Hall's leadership, fought successfully against President Lyndon Johnson's move to transfer the Maritime Administra­ tion to a newly created Department of Transportation. We were to be shifted, along with the Coast Guard, to DOT which would also be respon­ sible for rails, highways, bridges and airlines. The Congress voted to ex­ clude the Maritime Administration from the new federal department, and MarAd remained in Commerce. SIU President Hall felt, however, that the nation's maritime affairs were important enough to warrant them being housed in an independent agency where they would get maximum attention and be directly respon­ sible to the president. Backed by the AFL-CIO and almost all of the maritime industry, the independent agency plan was overwhelmingly ap­ proved by a vote of 324 to 44 in the House of Representatives, including "yes" votes by former President Gerald Ford and the now president of the United States, George H.W. Bush, and then by the Senate. But an angiy Lyndon Johnson let the bill die on his desk without taking any action, effectively killing the proposal to establish the Maritime Administration as an independent agency. When the Nixon administration took over the reins of government, it immediately began working to strengthen American-flag shipping as can­ didate Nixon had said he would. MarAd was continued in the Depart­ ment of Commerce and the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 resulted. As evidence of the Nixon administration's determination to improve the nation's maritime posture, the new act provided that the Maritime Ad­ ministrator be elevated to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Maritime Affairs, a post that was ably handled by Andrew Gibson. The Nixon and Ford administrations were the last to show concem for the state of America's shipping industry, and it has been going downhill ever since. President Reagan, who had pledged a program to revitalize shipping, got industry support in 1981 for the transfer of the responsibility for maritime from Commerce to the Department of Transportation, and it has been suffocating from that moment to this. The record of DOT is a poor one. In 1981 the U.S. had 612 active, privately owned vessels. Today the number is 377. Although the SIU has maintained a favorable job ratio, seafaring jobs overall have been cut in half since 1981. Since 1981, the construction differential subsidy, and with it our shipbuilding base, has disappeared. Operating subsidies have been slashed and Title XI loan guarantees have been discontinued. Here is another example of the industry's deterioration under the DOT. Either the Transportation Department does not understand the sig­ nificance to the United States of a merchant fleet operating on the oceans of the world or it chooses to ignore it One of the most convincing proofs of DOT'S determination to downgrade the role of U.S. shipping was its decision to eliihinate the four maritime attache posts in the American em­ bassies in Great Britain, Brazil, CJreece and Japan. Not only were these offices sources of vital maritime information to this country, they were physical reminders to the world of America's position as a maritime na­ tion and a world power. They were appropriate and necessary instru­ ments of foreign policy. Their closing signaled to the world that the U.S. was continuing on the slide down to a second-rate power. So the experience of the nine years under DOT certainly indicates that the move from the Department of Commerce was not only not helpful, it appears to have been an error of some magnitude, and there is no sign of any improvement anywhere on the horizon. It should be pointed out that the problem is not one of personnel. The Secretary of Transportation has in several instances been supportive of American shipping, as he was when certain interests sought to exempt the Polish aid shipments from cargo preference, and as he is in the cur­ rent oil spill problem. The people in the Maritime Administration are competent and dedicated. The problem is that maritime does not belong in a department that has other priorities and is concemed principally with railroads, bridges, highways and airlines. It is a department that is regulatory oriented, rather than promotional. It is logical that maritime belongs in a department more concemed with promoting U.S. industries at home and abroad and which has the mechanism for dealing with inter­ national commerce, of which ocean shipping is a part. Within DOT, the Maritime Administration operates under a handicap, for example when it attempts to negotiate shipping agreements with the Soviet Union and China. While the location of the agency responsible for the welfare of U.S. shipping is alone no assurance that it will prosper, it can at least provide the proper atmosphere wherein its problems are understood and the atten­ tion it gets is not subordinated to other concems that are given much :i^ rfi'sifi 1 Pp'' ,K py r'-':-'^-t;-/' Iv' April 1990 Volume 52, Number 4 The Seafarers LCXJ (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFLaO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class j^stage paid at MSG iSince Georges, 20790-9998 and at additional maUing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. I^ident, Michael Sacco; Secretary-Treasurer, Joe DiGiorgio; Executive Vice President, Joe Sacco; Vice President Collective Bargaining, Angus "Red" Campbell; Vice President Atlantic Coast, Jack Caffey; Vice Presi­ dent Gulf Coast, Thomas Giideweil; Vice President West Coast, George MrCartney; Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters, John Fay; Vice President Government Services, Roy "Buck" Mercer. Communications Department Director, Jessica Smith; Associate Editors, Darnel Duncan and Max Hall; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah Greene. , W-; P''.Pp. % •,r, higher priority. To our list of objectives for improving the condition of U.S.-flag ship­ ping, we must now add getting the Maritime Administration into the ap­ propriate federal department—the Department of Commerce. v.'-'" '-'f • Rank and File Finance Group Meets SIU members elected to review the union's fourth quarter of 1989 financial records meet with Secretary-Treasurer Joseph , ph DiGiorgio. Pictured above are (clockwise from bottom left) Wagner Pellerin, illerir Robert Carson, Charles C. Clausen Jr., DiGiorgio, Stanley D. Vienna, Joseph Fratini, Gregorlo A. Blanco and Arthur H. Baredian. iP^' • ?P:P' P' IIS ' 'M Index to LOG Features COBRA Notice Dispatchers'Report/Deep Sea .......... Dispatchers'Report/Inland ........... Dispatchers'Report/Great Lakes . . . Final Departures Know Your Rights Letters to the Editor .... ....... Lundeherg School Application . . ... . . . . . • Lundeherg School Course Schedule ....... Meeting Notice • • • • • Pensioners Ships Minutes Union Hall Directory ........ • • • • Page ... 26 ... 20 ... 22 ... 22 ..29-30 ... 30 ... 19 ... 31 ... 31 ... 20 ... 21 ..25-26 ... 22 �vv... ^ APRIL 1990 v; -.i-i' Commodity Interests Seek to Scuttle U.S. Shipping AnA-Cargo Preference Amendments to Farm BUI WUl Be Brought to Senate Floor Debate The first shot has been fired in the 1990 battle to maintain the law that calls for carriage of 75 percent of U.S. government-generated agricultural cargoes to b« shipped on American-flag bottoms. Earlier this month in a meeting of the Senate Agriculture Gommittee where the main subject was the Food for Peace provisions of the so-called 1990 fairm bill. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) launched an effort to eliminate or weaken the cargo preference requirement that applies to government-impelled food aid. Although Lugar agreed to raise his amendments on the Senate floor, he used the meeting as a forum to begin his 1990 campaign against U. S. shipping. Currently, 75 percent of govern­ ment-generated food aid must be carried on U.S.-flag vessels. Prior to 1985 the amount allocated through the cargo preference law for American ships was 50 percent. The enactment of the 1985 food bill, known as the Food Security Act, contained a carefully con­ structed compromise reached be­ tween maritime and agricultural groups and supported by a majority in the Congress. As part of the compromise, maritime groups agreed to limit the application of cargo preference to aid cargoes and not to promotional programs of the Departnient of Agriculture and the Commodity Credit Corporation. In return, the •. f.': ... . farm lobby agreed to increase the share of food aid transported by waterbome commerce to 75 per­ cent. The three-tier amendment Lugar introduced during the Senate Agriculture Committee meeting proposed the following scenarios. First, complete exemption from cargo preference laws for U.S. government agricultural assistance programs to foreign recipients. If this amendment fails, Lugar's second proposal would bring down the share of total food aid carried on U.S.-flag vessels from 75 per­ cent back to 50 percent, the level established by the 1954 Cargo Preference Act and in place up until the Compromise of 1985. In the event that this amendment fails, Lugar's third proposal would mandate that 25 percent of all food aid cargoes be shipped from Great Lakes ports. Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) also proposed a rollback to a cargo preference requirement of 50 per­ cent, citing the absence of grain cargoes originating from his home state of Washington. Speaking eloquently in defense of cargo preference. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) pointed out how foes of the ship American concept often distort facts. . . On November 8,1989, the Department of Agriculture approved the P.L.480 cargo preference shipment of grain — 50,000 tons of com to Poland. The rate being charged by the U.S. vessel was $36 a ton." At the same time, Cochran noted, some Senators were saying the cost of shipping on U.S.-flag vessels was around $70 to $80 per ton. Senator Thomas A. Daschle (DSD) reminded the committee mem­ bers that advocating the use of. foreign-flag carriers because of a so-called cheaper cost could raise questions about doing the same for die food aid commodities themsel­ ves. Daschle asked the committee members if anyone knew the cost of wheat in other nations. Senator Lugar withdrew his anti-cargo preference amendments presented to the committee and said he would raise them during the floor debate in Congress on the 1990 farm bill. The Indiana senator took this course of action because of a Senate rale that would allow another committee to take up any introduced amendment that dealt with an issue within its juris­ diction. In the case of the cargo preference amendments, the matter could have been taken up by the Senate Commerce Committee and its merchant marine subcommittee. A review by another committee could have delayed the 1990 farm bill, a consequence Lugar and other senators were not anxious to ac­ tivate. Lugar's promise to raise his op­ position to cargo preference when the farm bill is being discussed by the full Senate indicates the maritime community can expect yet another battle on the issue of the carriage of 75 percent of the food aid cargoes by U.S.-flag vessels. For an analysis of U.S. government monies spent to support the promotion of agricuiturai products, includ­ ing grain, and the amount directed towards shipping costs, see centerfolddpages16 pages K and 17. Anticipating the attack on cargo preference, the presidents of four maritime unions, including the SIU, urged Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who serves as chairman of Ae committee, to reject any at­ tempt to circumvent the existing cargo preference law. The maritime union presidents pointed out, "We have not at­ tempted to increase our statutory share or otherwise change its terms." Their letter said, "Rolling back cargo preference require­ ments to the 50 percent pre-1985 level would not provide any benefit to the agricultural industry. Under existing law, the cost attributable to the increase in American-flag ves­ sel participation from 50 percent to the 75 percent level is paid by the Department of Transportation, not the Department of Agriculture." MarAd Head Insists on U.S. Ship Role in Soviet Pact • '•••" ' . . . •' s*" 5 -i • ' i' •••• The agribusiness lobby has been rebuffed by the head of the Maritime Administration (MarAd) in its attempt to tor­ pedo a proposal to share cargo in equal thirds be­ tween Soviet, Leback American and third-nation vessels under the terms of a new maritime agreement between the two superpowers. Last month, the National As­ sociation of Wheat Growers notified the administration of its belief that cargo sharing provisions in a American-Soviet maritime pact would harm U.S. grain sales to the Soviets. Responding by letter to the con­ cerns of the wheat growers, MarAd Administrator Captain Warren G. Leback said the U.S. proposal to provide access to one-third of the cargoes between the two nations to American-flag vessels "in no way jeopardizes the so-called 'free' flow of grain to the Soviet Union. In fact, all decisions on what rates will be paid will remain as they are — with the Soviet entities. U.S.fla'g vessels would be eligible to carry one-third of bulk grain car­ goes only if they can do so at world market freight rates." Leback noted the advantage the Soviet government has by having a "monopoly position in controlling access to cargo by stipulating the terms and conditions of sale." In addition to controlling the large Soviet fleet, the government in that country handles all aspects of ves­ sel chartering. "Because U.S.-flag vessels will compete on an equal footing with other carriers, it should m^e no difference to U.S. exporters of wheat whether their cargoes are shipped on a U.S.-flag vessel or a foreign-flag vessel There is no obligation that the Soviets pay any additional premium for a U.S.-flag vessel," Leback concluded. The MarAd chief also took the opportunity of addressing the American Association of Port Authorities earlier this month to stress the administration's commit­ ment to developing trade and transportation markets abroad. Leback told the participants of that meeting the concept of cargo sharing is a fair one, stating, "the cargo originates here, it's only fair that American-flag carriers" be al­ lowed to transport a portion of the products to be shipped, if they remain competitive with world rates. Talks with the Soviets on a bilateral maritime pact will con­ tinue in Moscow next month. Two rounds of negotiations have been held to date. The Maritime Ad­ ministration is the lead American government agency in the talks. On the negotiating table are the AYm •: •A Continued on page 10 ..M; SIU Gov't Setvices Division Wins MSCPAC Pay Beef Unlicensed deck department members of the SIU's Government Services Division will be receiving back pay with interest for all claimed overtime for watchstanding in port between the hours of 1700 and 0800 the next day denied since May 1, 1989. The Military Sealift Com­ mand—^Pacific Fleet (MSCPAC) announced the agreement before a hearing by the Federal Labor Rela^ tions Authority (FLRA) took place. Four union members—Barry D. Smith, Jinks Rhaney, John Meno Torees and Owen Dale Mooneyofficially filed the grievance, stat­ ing the lack of overtime pay was a violation of the union's contract with MSCPAC. -Ay,- Roy "Buck" Mercer, SIU vice president for the Government Ser­ vices Division, said this is a major victory for the members and would result in thousands of dollars going into the affected members' wallets. The Military Sealift Command (MSG) eliminated the overtime unilaterally in an effort to save money. Under the agreement, MSG stated it would "not interfere with the bargaining relationship be­ tween MSCPAC and the SIU by unilaterally implementing changes in overtime pay practices" without first bargaining with the SIU. MSG also agreed that it would not make any changes in the con­ tract without first negotiating with the union, would not interfere with -IK. employees' rights to file a charge with the FLRA and would reinstate the overtime pay as well as provide back pay for those affected. A copy of the agreement is being sent to all vessels in MSCPAC for members to review. After receiving the charges, the FLRA asked the SIU for all docu­ ments relating to the case. It also interviewed the union officials who attended the meetings to find out why the overtime was cut out. Mercer said he hoped the agree­ ment will end the confusion that has enveloped deck department mem­ bers for almost a year. He was not certain when checks would be is­ sued. is- - 'f �, ' V'.-'. .'-.'AV..••:.«••.; .. f/.': sma^m Fire on Bahama-Flag Ship Ends in 200 Deaths Scandinavian Star Had Been Cited Previously by NTSB mr- i:UC'h •;\ II' : •;••? • -T- ' 1. The loss of close to 200 lives in a lire aboard a Bahamian-flag passenger/ferry vessel would not have happened if recommenda­ tions made by the American government's transportation safety agency had been imple­ mented last year. The Scandinavian Star, which caught nre earlier this month as it sailed between Norway and Den­ mark, was the same vessel inves­ tigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for an engineroom blaze that occurred when the ship was engaged in the passenger cruise trade operating out of a U.S. port and owned by SeaEscape. The NTSB found the probable cause of the March 1988 Scan­ dinavian Star fire to be lack of preventive maintenance, inade­ quate crew training, lack of written firefighting procedures, mal­ functioning of a fire suppression system and the inability of crewmembers to communicate in a common language with each other and with passengers. The NTSB recommended that safety standards and training pro­ cedures be adopted not only on the Scandinavian Star but also on all foreign-flag cruise ships canying American passengers and sailing from U.S. ports. Initial investigations and tes­ timony regarding the April 7 fire on the Scandinavian Star indicate that crewmembers appeared con­ fused and ill-equipped to handle the emergency situation. According to the Associated Press, in a hearing before a Scan­ dinavian maritime authorities, police and judges, the master of the vessel, Oddvar Finstad, said he knew nothing about the ship's emergency plan or evacuation pro­ cedures and he was unaware of his role in an emergency team. The Scandinavian Star captain also acknowledged that the re­ quired fire and evacuation drills had not been held. The ship's first officer, who held the position of safety officer, said in testimony that he knew nothing about inter­ national safety regulations that re­ quire fire drills when more than 25 percent of the crew is new. - r. " 1 Firemen try to put out the fire in the bridge of the Scandinavian Star hours after the crippled ferry was towed to the port of Lysekii, Sweden. Officials suspect arson as the cause. News reports quoted passengers who said ttaee separate fires were set outside of cabins near the stem of the vessel while the Scan­ dinavian Star, which is now owned by the Danish company Da-No Line, was sailing between Norway and Denmark. Passengers said the crew, made up of individuals from the Philip­ pines and Portugal, were unable to understand the commands of the Norwegian master or other Scan­ dinavian officers. Additionally, crewmembers could not communi­ cate with passengers. Most of the crew had only signed on the Bahamian-flag vessel a few days before the fire. The master testified that safety procedures were not checked be­ cause "we had been onboard such a short time that we hadn't gotten around to it." The Scandinavian Star's safety officer reported during the inquity that he had not had any time to train the crew in rescue operations before the vessel was underway across the Skagarrak (Channel. The officers of the vessel tes­ tified that they abandoned the buming ship in a lifeboat while many passengers remained aboard waiting to be rescued. Oyer 160 bodies have been recovered. The death toll is es­ timated to be closer to 200 because no exact number of passengers is available. It had been the practice of the Scandinavian Star to not in­ clude children on the list of pas­ sengers. Additionally, the only passenger list on the date of the fire was kept on the bridge. That list was partially burned on April 7. Butcher Named to TRANSCOI\/l, Donovan New Head of NISC President George Bush has nominated Vice Admiral Paul D. Butcher to be the deputy com­ mander and chief of staff of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM). Butcher, who has been the commander of the Military TRANSCOM coordinates the wartime work of the Navy's MSC, the Air Force's Military Airlift Command and the Army's Military Traffic Management Command. Donovan also joined the Navy as an enlisted man. In 1955, he received a fleet apipointment to the ' 'W •iAdmiral Francis Donovan A rescue helicopter hovers over the ferry Scandinavian Star after it caught fire in the North Sea between Norway and Denmark. Sealift Command (MSC), will be relieved by Rear Admiral Francis Donovan. Butcher, a West Virginia native, started his career in the Navy as an enlisted man in 1948. He has com­ manded several vessels and task for­ ces. He is a former commander of Nayal Surface Group/Western Pacific and deputy commander and chief of staff of the Atlantic fleet. Admiral Paul D. Butcher U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. Besides being commander of five ships and an amphibious force, he is a former deputy commandant of Armapolis and operations direc­ tor at the National Military Com­ mand Center of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The MSC provides logistical sufrport to U.S. forces deployed worldwide. �^ f\. - r< APRIt 1990 Hulse Pan^ Iteaewmg Cost of IkHtle lhlls/B(atam Impact of Intemational Protocols Also Under Study as Congress Moves to Enact OU SpiU L^Iation The U.S. House of Repre­ sentatives conferees for the om­ nibus oil spill legislation have asked their staff to provide further information about the cost of fit­ ting U.S.-flag tankers and barges widi double hulls or double bot­ toms. The conferees, meeting before Congress recessed for Easter, also asked the staff to gather opinions from states'attorneys general on the possible impact of federal ratification of the protocols of liability on laws being considered and passed by states. The conferees' meeting was the first since House and Senate staf­ fers began working on compromise language for the legislation. Both houses of Congress passed by a large majority oil spill bills. How­ ever, differences in several major areas have prevented overall pas­ sage of the legislation. The action of the House conferees is expected to delay by several more weeks any possible action. Under the House bill, all newly constructed tankers entering U.S. ports must be fitted with double hulls or bottoms. Existing tankers, under the House bill, would be re­ quired to phase in the double hulls and double bottoms over a 15 year period. The Senate bill requires the federal government to issue regula­ tions on tanker construction. House conferees stated they had insufficient information concern­ ing the costs to tanker and barge operators as well as the consumer. Another difference between the Senate and House versions of the legislation concerns American participation in the international protocols governing liability for oil spills. Under the House bill, the United States would be a par­ ticipant in the intemational liability fund. The Senate bill, however, does not allow the United States to sign on to the intemational conven­ tions governing oil spill liability. While work has been continuing on the oil spill bill, a House over­ sight subcommittee heard from a Coast Guard official that double hulls or bottoms are not the total answer. Rear Admiral Joel Sipes of the Differences have prevented passage of the MIL usee Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environment told the a hearing on the Exxon Valdez that while double hulls and bottoms may be effective in groundings they would not protect Ae environ­ ment from spills caused by col­ lisions. Sipes said collisions are the prime cause of oil spills. He also noted that retrofitting tankers and barges with double bottoms and hulls could create a safety problem. U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin (D-LA) said oil spill con­ ferees are looking at something other than double hulls and bot­ toms, including the hydrostatic loading plan that was described in depth in the March 1990 edition of the Seafarers LOG Under a proposal put forth by George Blake, executive vice president of Maritime Overseas Corporation, a tanker would be loaded to the point that the weight of the oil carried equals the pres­ sure of the seawater surrounding the vessel. In the event of a ground­ ing, if the tanker's load is hydrostatically balanced with the seawater, the amount of spillage would be minimal. The beauty of the Blake proposal is that it could be imple­ mented immediately, without ex­ pensive retrofitting or new construction. '-i') % • ; V; • 'i • J--*, o 1 Bosun Ross Hailed by MSC 'r. SIU Cooks Capture Roned Culinary Prize Two stu­ dents from the Seafarers Harry Lund e b e r g School, along with Execu­ tive Chef Romeo Lupinacci, showed they are better than "the Grume best" last month at a regional culinary com­ petition in Washington, DC. Lupinacci Among the many items prepared for the contest were platters of meats and seafood, Maryland stuffed ham, vegetable gar­ nishes, hors d'oeuvres and much more. Avalon The highlight of the 65-foot display was an enorm­ ous tallow sculpture of a bald eagle with its wings spread. Chief Steward Lauren Cmme, Chief Cook Steve Avalon and Lupinacci finished third in the American Culinary Federation's Grand Salon of Culinary Arts competi­ tion for the Washington, DC area held last month. The trio was up against the best chefs from more than 60 restaurants, hotels The centerpiece of the Lundeberg School display Is this and resorts from bald eagle made of hardened animal fatMaryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and Washington. "I am really proud of what they did," Lupinacci said as he delivered the third place trophy to Lun­ deberg School Vice Presi­ dent Ken Conklin. "This was the first time the Lun­ deberg School competed. Cmme and Avalon really were dedicated, putting in more than 200 hours into the project." The trio spent the morning setting up the display, Lupinacci said. They had three hours to work on it in the ballroom of the Washington Sheraton before all the chefs had to leave so judging could take place. The only identification to each group's display was a number assigned by the federation so the judges would have no idea who prepared what. The competition is held by the federation among its members in various locations across the country to determine the U.S. Culinary Olym­ pic team. Lupinacci has not heard if any members This pork plate Including stuffed leg of old Maryland ham, of the Lundeberg team cheeses and vegetables was one of many Items the trio has qualified. spent more than 200 hours preparing for the competition. Bosun Jose Ross takes a break outside one of the llferafts he and his deck department prepared for Inspection on the DSNS Chauvenet. Bosun Jose Ross was recognized by Vice Admiral Paul Butcher for the work he and his deck depart­ ment crew did in preparing the USNS Chauvenet for its inspection after an overhaul. In a letter dated to SIU member Ross, the commander of the Military Sealift Command, said, "You are commended for your stel­ lar performance as ship's bosun (on the) USNS Chauvenet. You exer­ cised superb professional knowledge and leadership in or­ ganizing a deck department pre­ viously ignored." Butcher noted the work per­ formed to prepare winches, cargo booms, davits, ground tackle and lifeboats during the overhaul and inspection. He closed by saying, "It is a pleasure to work with men of your caliber and I look forward to that opportunity again." Ross, who graduated from the Lundeberg School in 1980, said he was surprised when he received the letter aboard the USNS Chauvenet. He said both the deck and engine departments deserved the praise. "All of my ABs worked very hard for this inspection," Ross noted. The able seamen on the Chauvenet were David Hooper, Hershel Turner, Jeffrey Serman, Robert Wankmueller, Charles Willingham and William Steele. Before joining the SIU, Ross served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. His younger brother, Frankie, sails with the SIU in the steward department. :ir . . :h �SEAFARERS LOG Advanced Firefighting Course Added to SlU School Agenda With the addition of an ad­ vanced firefighting course to its curriculum, the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship has become the first union training facility to offer both U.S. Coast Guard-approved basic and ad­ vanced firefighting training for merchant mariners. To efficiently conduct both courses, the school has moved its firefighting training facility from the federally-run center in Freehold, NJ to one owned by the University of Maryland in LaPlata, less than 45 miles from where the Lundeberg School is located in Piney Point. Only five other schools in the country offer the U.S. Coast Guard approved advanced training, ac­ cording to Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education. Neetran Nee (left) and Aaron Vaughan unfurl a hose as they prepare for firefighting training at the new LaPlata, MD facility. "This is a very unique oppor­ tunity for SIU members," Eglinton said when the USCG certificate of approval for the Lundeberg School's advanced firefighting class arrived last month. "With the changes in Coast Guard regula­ tions, more members are going to have to renew their firefighting training. The school can provide these courses." The Coast Guard requires men and women applying for a maritime license, those wishing to upgrade their license and those renewing their license to pass an advanced firefighting course. Before entering an advanced pro­ gram, the USCG stipulates that mariners must have passed an ap­ proved basic firefighting course within five years of taking the ad­ vanced session. The advanced course is designed, through classwork and hands-on experience, to mirror how to supervise an onboard fire, to learn what manpower and equip­ ment should be utilized and how to keep a fire-damaged vessel afloat. The course covers what may be available to handle fires at sea arid in port and how to determine when a fire cannot be extinguished even though the vessel still is operation­ al. Byran Cummings, a firefighting instructor at the Lundeberg School, said the SIU members taking the course would spend a day on the Bull Shepard, which is docked at Piney Point, and be faced with various fire situations. The students would be graded on how well they handle the simulated fires in order to save the ship. Fel­ low students will critique each scenario. A 100-question test will be given the final day. A score of 70 or greater is needed to pass. Hands-on experience for the basic program will switch from the New Jersey location to the LaPlata site. Although firefighting is not required by the Coast Guard for unlicensed mariners, the basic course is required by the Lun­ deberg School for all graduates no matter if they are trainees or upgraders. "We feel that within a year or two the Coast Guard will demand it," Cummings said. "We want our members to be prepared." The basic course features two days of classroom training fol­ lowed by a day at the LaPlata facility. To graduate, students must score at least 70 percent on a 50question test. Eglinton said the school has been negotiating with the Univer­ sity of Maryland, the Maritime Ad­ ministration (MarAd) and USCG for more than 18 months to allow the Seafarers to use the LaPlata location. The Maryland training area has a three-story building which can be used to simulate fires on a deck or within an engineroom, pits for mock tank fires and a con­ verted trailer that is set up to spew various smokes and gases that might be encountered on a vessel. Cummings noted the LaPlata facility offers students a realistic approach to firefighting. "The stu- While a straw fire is unlikely aboard a vessel, this Lundeberg trainee ap­ proaches the fire as if it were in the engineroom. Jeffrey Riemersma (left) assists Jamie Overby into his life support system. All the photographs on this page were provided by AS Les R. iFarrell. As backups prepare to support the hose, a trainee gives the order to start the water. All Lundeberg students and upgraders now will receive firefighting education at a University of Maryland facility 45 miles from Piney Point. dents will be able to feel the condi­ tions of heat and smoke," Cum­ mings said. "We now are able to use different scenarios. SIU mem­ bers can leam to use their gut feel­ ings to find and extinguish a fire." Both Eglinton and Cummings noted that Norman Atwater, senior MarAd firefighting instructor at the Freehold, NJ facility, was very instrumental in helping the Lun­ deberg School get MarAd and Coast Guard approval for the LaPlata site. They also thanked USCG Lt. Commander Scott Glover of Baltimore, Robert Spears of the USCG Washington, DC Training and Qualification Branch of Merchant Vessel Per­ sonnel, and Chris Krusa, MarAd's Maritime Training Specialist, for their assistance with the project. Cummings and John Smith will serve as the instructors for the Lun­ deberg School firefighting cour­ ses. After serving as a volunteer firefighter for six years in Prince George's County, MD, Cummings went to work for the department fiilltime. He retired in 1989 after 18 years as a certified master firefighter, the highest ranking recognized by the International Association of Fire Fighters. He started working as an instructor at Piney Point in July 1989. Smith came to the Lundeberg School in March 1988 after retiring from the Navy. He received his training at Texas A&M University and has been a volunteer firefighter in Lexington Park, MD for 25 years. He has served as a firefight­ ing field instructor for the Univer­ sity of Maryland. Advanced classes are set for May 14 through 18, June 25 through 29, August 13 through 17 and October 29 through November 2. To register for the advanced course, members must have taken basic firefighting within the last five years at a qualified location like the Freehold facility, and present their credentials. Further information on the course is avail­ able from the school. �jmmo •••E • •• -m SlU Stands by lAM in Year-Long Beef •-•fill,-- "" • ''•'M IM fi.• te' • i-'t I '• '1 «l''' • • •> • '! . -,,E.'\'!IE>#!'. •'. . • ". \ J.H. "Bucldy"Raspberry ILA Leader Dies After Long Illness J. H. "Buddy" Raspberry, 59, general vice president of the Inter­ national Longshoremen's Associa­ tion, passed away March 22 in Houston after suffering an ex­ tended illness. Seafarers across the country joined striking members of the International Association of Machinists (lAM) to com­ memorate the one year anniversary of their job action against Eastern Airlines. Union members representing many different crafts and services rallied at airports served by Eastern to show solidarity with the machinists. Chanting their battle cry of "One Day More!", the machinists' union vowed to remain on the line until Frank Lorenzo, chairman of Eastern's parent or­ ganization, Texas Air, is forced to sell the airline or rehire the strikers. lAM spokesman Frank Ortis said his members have been uplifted by several recent events, despite the inability of the House of Representatives to override a •111... .m--:- Chief Steward Raymond Groves (with glasses) and Recertified Steward Lincoln Finn lead a group of Seafarers past the Eastern ticket counter in Washington's National Airport. These SlU members were among thousands of union members who participated in demonstrations of support for striking machinists held around the country on the first anniversary oil the IAM strike against Frank Lorenzo's Eastern Airlines. Raspberry also served as the president of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District of the ILA, From that post, he negotiated in 1986 the first contract for southern and Gulf ports apart from the master contract that had served all Atlantic and Gulf ports. Raspberry proceeded with the negotiations rather than lose jobs to non-ILA dock operators. The Houston native attended Texas A&M University and the University of Texas before serving in the Air Force. Upon his dis­ charge, he went to work with the ILA. Raspberry rose through the ranks of ILA Local 1273 serving as personnel director, then getting elected president of the body in 1968. He was named secretarytreasurer of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast District by 1974. Four years later, he became president. In 1987, Raspberry was elected the international's general vice presi­ dent. He is survived by his wife, Velda; a son. Randy; two daughters, Chris Raspberry and Lisa Bowers; and two grandchildren. Services were held March 26 in Madisonville, TX.. Seafarers, from the left, Ambrose Cucinotta,E. Doruth and L. Trott walk the Eastern picket line with representatives from other New York-area unions at La Guardia Airport. presidential veto in January of a bill that would have required the presi­ dent to call in a mediator to review and attempt to settle the dispute. He referred to David Shapiro's audit of the company for a federal bankruptcy court and Easterri's reneging of a payback agreement made in March. Shapiro is the court-appointed examiner who reviewed the financial dealings be­ tween Eastern and Texas Air. On March 1, Shapiro told the court Texas Air had underpaid Eastern hundreds of millions of dollars on 12 different accounts. including the sale of its reservation system. He said the underpayment may have helped launch Eastern into bankruptcy. The independent auditor's report tended to support the machinists contention that Lorenzo was stripping Eastern of its assets to bolster Texas Air's non-union subsidiary. Continental Airlines. The report contained a quote by one Texas Air official who said Continental would "cher­ ry-pick the core parts of the Eastern system and become in effect the substitute carrier." Last month. Eastern reached an agreement with its creditors to pay nearly 50 cents on every dollar of debt. The bankrupt company also offered to make up the remaining debt with stock options. Feder^ Bankruptcy Judge Burton R. Lifland, who has presided over the Eastern bankruptcy case since the company filed for reorganization five days after the JAM went on strike, approved the deal. By the end of March, Eastern announced it could not stand by the agreeriient. The creditors, who are owed about $1 billion, contacted Judge Lifland and asked the court to appoint a trustee to run the com­ pany or order an immediate liqui­ dation of the company to sell the remaining assets. Lifland scheduled April 13 as the date to hear the creditors' complaints against Texas Air. The machinists, who began calling for a trustee to oversee Eastern when the company filed for bankruptcy, also have a hearing in Lifland's court to seek a trustee. This meeting will take place May 9. The current situation facing Lorenzo—agreement on the part of the creditors, the unions and much of the flying public—has resulted in widespread speculation that the union-buster may be forced to sell Eastern, a move the IAM would welcome. IAM members began theirstrike against Eastern on March 4, 1989, after Lorenzo locked them out the day before. The machinists were Continued on page 26 Byron Kelley Named to Great Lakes Commission Byron Kelley, SIU assistant vice president for the Great Lakes and inland waters, has become the second labor delegate to the 32member Great Lakes Commission. Kelley, 56, was named to the eight-state panel by Michigan Governor James Blanchard to rep­ resent groups or organizations in­ terested in or affected by the Great Lakes. Blanchard said in his letter of appointment to Kelley that he had "every confidence that the state of Michigan will benefit from your background and experience." Kelley joined the Tug, Firemen, Linesmen, Oilers and Watchmen Protective Association, AFL, in 1951. Ten years later, that union became the Inland Boatmen Union of the Great Lakes when it merged with the SIU. Kelley becomes only the second labor official to be named to the commission in its 35year history. The goal of the Great Lakes Commission is "to promote the or­ derly, integrated and comprehen­ sive development, use and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes Basin." It deals with such issues as funding a second lock at Sault Ste., Marie, MI, developing a regional steel policy and creating task forces to advise Washington politicians on the needs of the region. "I am very honored to be con­ sidered and appointed," Kelley said. "I look forward to Ae oppor­ tunity to put forth a balanced opinion to the commission by ap­ proaching the side of waterbome transportation." » <4 • Recertified Steward Ray Loretta was one of many SIU members to hit the bricks outside National Airport's Eastern terminal on March 3. . - ':f- EE" '.1 h' , 'E �SOFARCK106 8 Trnvelling Union School Team Holds Tialning on Bellatrix mim t •• I' When the USNS Bellatrix left the North Florida Shipyard in Jack­ sonville to sail to its new home port of Galveston, TX, the IMC vessel carried an extra erewmember: Lundeberg Instructor Harry Alongi. The teacher led the SIU crew aboard the ship in a series of train­ ing sessions. Among the topics covered were lifeboat drills, firefighting, damage control, flooding and overall job safety. Alongi said classes ran ap­ proximately two hours in both the morning and afternoon. They are required periodically by the Military Sealift Command. One of the instruments MSC wanted Alongi to explain to the crew was the recently installed thermal heat indicator. "I didn't even know how to work it," Alongi recalled. "The crew brought it to me. I read the instructions, then exp^ned it to everyone aboard, from Crewmembers William Burlis (left) and James Williams learn how to operate a thermal heat indicator which is used to locate personnel trapped in smoke-filled spaces. the mate on down." He said the sensitive instrument registers dif­ ferences in heat being given by ob­ jects. Its primary purpose is to save the life of aerewmember by finding him or her in a smoke-filled room. Karaczynski to Cycle Across United States •r: ' p. r';: -'f' Alongi reported the crew picked up the new procedures very quick­ ly. He praised the group as being very good to work with. GSU Constance Povalini demonstrates the fit of a survival suit which would be used in the event the USNS Bellatrix had to be abandoned. •iW MET Course Grade Find Jobs Earl Langley (left) became the first graduate of the Lundeberg School's Marine Electronics Technician (MET) course to catch a job as a MET on the cable ship Lono Lines. Langley recently completed his training at Piney Point. Along with Frances Brown (center) and Jay Moorehead (not pic­ tured), he studied mathematics, Morse code and analog and digital com­ puters and automation during the 12-week course. All three passed the very demanding FCC radio telegraph exam. Instructor Russ Levin (right) said all three found the course very challenging and rewarding. The 15-mile roundtrip Jake Karaczynski pedals every day from his home in Great Mills, MD to nearby Piney Point will seem like nothing on May 12. The Lundeberg School instructor will start on a 47day, 3,200-mile bicycle trip across the country from Los Angeles to Boston for charity. Karaczynski, 35, has rfever at­ tempted anything like this before. He has been riding a bicycle for as long as he can remember, but the most riding he ever had done until now was in weekend outings with friends or his cycling club. The vocational instructor also has a his­ tory of volunteer work. So, when he heard about the cross-country jour­ ney, he put the two together. His goal is to raise at least $5,000 to help create an animal shelter in St. M^'s County (where Piney Point is located) for the humane society. "There is no shelter in the county," Karaczynski noted. "Memters of the society have to care for the animals until an owner can be found." He found his own pet, a cat named Chainsaw, by housing it for the shelter. The tour is sponsored by the League of American Wheelmen of which the Brooklyn native is a member. The trip will follow a route across the desert southwest, down the Santa Fe trail to Dodge City, KS, across the Great Plains and Mississippi River, through the Midwest to the Appalachians and finally Boston. In order to make the trip in 47 days, some of the daily rides will be almost 120 miles long. Besides raising funds for the charities of the numerous cyclists involved, the League is using it to demonstrate bicycling as a transportation mode as well as a form of exercise. To prepare for the trek, Karaczyhski has been riding his bicycle to work every day. On weekends, he has been averaging trips of 75 miles, but recently, as the starting date draws near, he has increased the distance. If anyone is interested in pledg­ ing money for Karaczynski's ef­ fort, they can contact him at the Lundeberg School. Collision Avoidance Radar Study Is Part of SIU School Curriculum Unionists from Ecuador at School The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship recently hosted representatives from the maritime unions of Ecuador. The group toured the facilities as part of a labor exchange in conjunction with the George Meany Institute of Labor Studies and the U.S. State Department. The tour included visits to the shiphandling simulator, several classrooms and the Paul Hall Maritime Museum and Library. The Lundeberg School has adopted training on collision avoidance radar as a standard part of the training for students taking the Radar Observer Unlimited course. Instructor Jim Brown said the school decided to include the train­ ing because the Coast Guard is preparing to make it a requirement. "We don't know when the Coast Guard will announce the change, but we will be ready when it does," Brown noted. "The Coast Guard has announced the proposed change. It is up to them to imple­ ment it." Students work in one of the four shiphandling simulator rooms all five days of the class. During the first four days, they are given the same situation to plot on radar. On the final day, the scenario takes a new twist. All four simulators recreate a situation where there are ships in open water headed toward each other. The stu­ dents must decide what to do with their own vessel by determining the speed, direction and any possible course corrections made by the other three ships involved through the use of their own radar. "It is not exactly like actually being on a ship using the system, but it is as close as we can get," Brown said. �-J.!-- . „,r . ; imiw iiii i; i;,,.)iii:[!:y-iriini'iXi:n'^ APRIUm .= :;|!gv;i.',#-.i 4 '. ' •., •Sea-Land Port Steward Jimmy Mann (standing) addresses the recertified stewards. Mann is a graduate of the Lundeberg School and sailed in the steward department before being hired by Sea-Land. \ t2 : • "i Twelve Sill Stewards Study for Top Rating Training to be a recertified steward is not limited to the classroom. The stewards have to show they know their way around the galley. Kris Hopkins (center) and Ray Loretta (right) watch as Rafael Evans decorates a cake made during the galley training part of their recertified steward course. An even 12—11 men and one woman—^marched across the stage last month at Piney Point to receive their certificates of graduation from the Recertified Steward course. The crew studied from January 29 to March 5 and left behind lasting memories at the school. "They were one of the best groups we've ever had here," said Ken Conklin, vice president of the Lundeberg School. "They worked very hard and took advantage of everything the school had to offer." Among the items available to the students was the ability to work in both the galley and the classroom. The 12 SIU members studied menu planning and inventory control. They were able to work on computers to learn how effective these machines can be for their jobs. Galley detail included food preparation, dessert and pastry maJking and ice sculpting. The stewards discussed cost controls, inventories and making effective decisions on food usage with Sea-Land Port Steward Jimmy Mann, a Lundeberg School graduate himself. The stewards also met with representatives of the union and its health and pension plans. Contracts between the SIU and its various contracted companies were reviewed with officials of the union's collective bargaining department. The union's political operation was viewed firsthand by the stewards during a day spent in Washington with SIU Washington representatives. "They were a good bunch," said Romeo Lupinacci, executive chef at the school, "lliey learned a great deal from the course. More than half of them started their careers right here (Piney Point). They were very appreciative and grateful for all that has been done for them by the school." Carl Peth, director of admissions, recalled one steward in par­ ticular. "Kris Hopkins is known throughout Piney Point and the union as being there when needed," Peth noted. "He ships from Piney Point. Bart Rogers and the others in manpower know they can call on him." As they received their certificates during the March Piney Point membership meeting from Angus "Red" Campbell, SIU vice presi­ dent for collective bargaining, each of th^tewards thanked the union, the school and the instructors for the training and advice they received during their stay. ".r • • • i- _ , ' -y. '' -^r • :r-:$ •P. A 4 • .'V . •FF i-jii 1 P'-M. p y..: j, I./, J,,' .'.y • ••••Si •' ••jT... .•.-•xP--' V A' .-•'v...•av. • mA:.. ••• Ji'A- James Gleaton prepares the final touches on his freshly baked cake. • •i:;' .'lA 'i '44S-4!y A-''' •" '• i �SOFMROtS 106 10 MV Omar and MV Justine Rogers Pass Through St. Louis SIU crewmembers on the MV Omar readied the vessel for a new tow after workers at Walkers Boatyard completed minor repairs. Another Orgulf boat, the MV Justine Rogers was on a run on the Missis­ sippi River system last month. /jSv'V-y *.•-•_ .Iv . vr '; •:., • -'V ... ' As the two boats neared the port of St. Louis, SIU union representative Joe Sigler boarded the vessels to meet with crewmembers and answer any questions on the conditions of work under the union contract, wel­ fare claims and upgrading at the SIU's Lundeberg School. Deckhands Richard Daily (left) and James Chandler inspect the lines before the Omar leaves the boatyard after repairs. The MV Justine Rogers is the larger of the two Orgulf Transporta­ tion vessels. Its bridge is almost six stories high. The tug can handle up to 40 barges of dry cargo for runs be­ tween Moore's Landing, near Wyatt, MO (where the borders of Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois meet) and the New Orleans delta area of the southern Mississippi River. Lead Deckhand Vern Hoens prepares for making up a tow aboard the MV Omar in Walkers Boatyard, Paduch, KY. The MV Omar runs the Ohio and northern Mississippi rivers from the Moore's Landing staging area. It can push a maximum of 15 barges on its journeys. "• •#;.'• SIU Port Representative Joe Sigler (right) helps Deckhand Bobby Mann with a welfare claim. ,•." • -v . - •••.•••"• • Deckhand Mark Hargon carries a ratchet to the bow of the Justine Rogers to do some work. Third for U.S. Ships Cook Betty Reichert has dinner ready and waiting for the crew. The word from the boat is she does a fine job in the galley. Continued from page 3 • v.; •; >"'- following discussion items: greater and easier access for Soviet and U.S.-flag vessels in each nation's ports, involve­ ment in each country's crosstrades and cargo sharing which, in effect, would designate a portion of the products shipped between the two superpowere to the merchant marine of each country. The SIU position on cargo sharing varies somewhat from the position taken by the Maritime Administration in this respect: the union believes that if grain sales to the Soviet Union are sub­ sidized by U.S. taxpayers, then the cost of transporting the commodity should also be part of the American government's responsibility. Converse­ ly, the union believes that if the grain is purchased at world market rates, then U.S.-flag shipping must also compete with world transportation rates. MV Justine Rogers. Lunch is just a few minutes away as Lead Deckhand Elvin Lane (left) and Deckhand W.T. Bush wait in the crew's lounge of the Justine Rogers. Cook Sharon Munford is busy working on another delicious meal for the crew of Orgulf's Omar tug. • • •; -i,; . • �APRIUm r'm': V: 1 Union Shows Soiiciarlty With Greyhound Strikers The "White Caps" spring into action as a Baltimore-bound, scab-driven Greyhound tries to enter the terminal in Washington, DC. The photo above was taken by SlU Bosun James L. Carter. jj.j-' QMED Frank Jaworski yells at a fink driver attempting to enter the Philadelphia Greyhound terminal. Recertified Bosuns Robert Carson and George Diefenbach march with ATU members to demonstratre the support of the SlU against Greyhound. Seafarers have joined their brothers in the Amalgamated Tran­ sit Union (ATU) on the picket line against the management of Greyhound Lines, Inc., the owners of America's single nationwide bus service. From Washington, DC to Los Angeles, SIU members have hit the bricks in a show of unity with the bus drivers, maintenance workers and some office personnel who went on strike March 2. After years of concessions and wage cutbacks, ATU members went to the bargaining table this year seeking to regain some of their losses. Instead, Greyhound, which turned a profit since merging with Trail ways, balked and said it needed more concessions in order to operate. Only two days after the strike began, a veteran union driver, Robert Waterhouse, was killed by a scab-operated Greyhound bus while Waterhouse was walking a picket line in Redding, CA. T^e bus finally was pulled over two blocks from the scene of the acci­ dent, but the scab driver has yet to be cWged. The ATU has reported more I than 60 men, women and children have been struck and in­ jured on the lines. A federal mediator has been trying to reinstate the contract talks which ended when the strike began. Each time a date has been set. Greyhound management has backed out claiming it will not negotiate until the violence, which the company claims is being per­ petuated by the ATU, has stopped. Since the Waterhouse incident, buses across the country have been hit by gunfire. Although the com­ pany has claimed the union is not doing enough to prevent "these acts of terrorism" from happening. Greyhound has not proven that the ATU is behind or even connected to the shootings. Ed Strait, president of the Amal­ gamated Council of Greyhound Local Unions, said Greyhound is simply trying to use the gunfire "as a basic tactic to avoid going back to the bargaining table. We view it as a subterfuge." Strait repeated the fact that the ATU does not condone the shootings and is working with authorities to prevent them. Since 1983, drivers' salaries have fa:ilen from $31,324 to $24,750. The union has agreed to give-backs twice during that period in order to keep Greyhound rolling. This year, ATU is insisting on wage increases while the company wants to tie wage increases to socalled incentives and safety records that the union believes are simply a cover for weakening the union. The ATU filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board claiming Greyhound did not bargain in good faith before the strike. It also said the company is trying to bust the union. Greyhouse, which turned a profit in 1989, is spending almost $3.5 mil­ lion a month on strike security. |7t'" -,iR -if • ,,.v, • Turner Joins Headquarters Government Relations Dep't '-V: The Seafarers International Union has named Terry Turner, 42, as a Washington Representative for the union's Department of Con­ gressional and Governmental Rela­ tions. Turner's assignment's will in­ clude tracking maritime activity in the Senate. He joins the union's Washington team that includes Frank Pecquex, whose primary area of responsibility is the House of Representatives. Turner has an extensive back­ ground in maritime legislative af­ fairs for the SIU having been the field representative for Kentucky since 1981. The San Diego, CA native graduated from the University of Missouri in.,.1970 with a degree in psychology/special education. In 1975, Turner worked as a political organizer in the Jimmy Carter presidential campaign. He worked on the staff of Chuck T- GSU Stoney Hardy, OS Lyid Davis, DEU John Grisler, OMU Larry Holbert and Wilmington Port Agent Dpn Anderson participate in a memorial march in Los Angeles for striking G^yhountl driver Robert Waterhouse who was killed by a fink driver the second day| of the strike. Terry Turner Robb's campaign to become Virginia's lieutenant governor during 1977, then was employed in the White House Speaker's Bureau for President Carter. Turner worked as a political consultant for a Washington-based firm from 1978 to 1979 before he signed on to the campaign for the Carter/Mondale presidential/ vice presidential ticket. SEAFARERS SUPPORT ATU AGAINST GREYHOUND < Recertified Bosuns Paul Lewis and Carmine Bova take a break from tha picket line. Bova was nudged on the left side by a scab-driven bus while he was walking the line in Washington. T 4'^%. �scujum m 12 i- •. "P • ';• •.-.'i'l, 1.. •• Time to get the lifeboats ready for inspection as Bosun Mike Schaff unhitches the lines used to secure the craft for winter on the Belle River. Deckhands Willis Kingston (left) and John E. Parks race to return to the tug Arthur F. Zemen Jr., a Great Lakes Dredge and Docks tug, after moving a barge. Great Lakes Seafarers Prepare Stiips for Season h '. '•" ' ir: •W: ,. • '• V,v. ••• i|;'., i:' : :- Like a sleepy bear yawning and stretch­ ing after a winter hibernation, the shipyards arourid the Great Lakes are showing signs of life again after a winter-long layoff. Mariners have been making their way to places like Duluth, MN; Green Bay, WI; Waukegan, IL; Detroit, MI; Toledo, OH and Buffalo, NY to wake up the vessels of the Lakes. Beginning in mid-March, engine and steward crews have been onboard to fire up the ships and prepare the galleys for the nine-month sailing season. The deck department for most vessels arrived a few days later. The crews had to prepare the vessels— cement carriers, ore ships, grain haulers, tugboats and more—^for the annual Coast Guard inspections. Life preservers and vests had to be repositioned. Flare gims needed to be checked. Lifeboats had to be readied. This was the charge of the deck department. The black gang had to make sure the ice that formed both inside and outside the vessels had not harmed.the giant diesels hidden in the belly of the ships. Conveyor belts were examined and tested so they would be set for the taconite, com, coal and other materials that would be loaded into the holds. The steward department first made sure the galley was in working order. Then the galley gang began preparing the meals that can make the difference between a rough trip and a smooth voyage. Yet, during all this activity, there still is time to catch up on the lives of fellow shipmates. Tales of hunting, ice fishing. Continued on page 13 f-.: :• ? ••V -J •.•-;. 1 -.• ;• SlU Algonac Port Agent Jack Allen (left) talks with Deckhand Bill Cartwright aboard the Great Lakes Dredge and Docks tug Curly B. Conveyorman Tim Orban loads both arms for another trip into the engine room of the Buffalo. �.. Ami 1990 -'T- 13 • fm. • : • • ' "'v..' ' ';r' 'if- •' >•' • »l V M, .' '-v'r w' Sailing time draws near for the ASC St. Clair as Wheelman Ru(^ Tahtinen (left) and Watchman Mike "Gonzo" Bensman secure a tarp used to protect a life raft during winter. Shipmates Together Again QMED John Perry tests a water tank aboard the Belle River. QMED Dave Camerop checks the oil before firing up the diesel on the ASC Sam Laud. Continued from page 12 families and vacations to far-off (usually warm) places could be heard throughout meals and breaks. Some members used the time off to upgrade their skills at the union's Lundeberg School. Unlike the deep sea division, most mem­ bers have permanent jobs on the Lakes ves­ sels. The members look forward to seeing their friends and shipmates when the season begins and catching up on the latest news. Once cleared by the Coast Guard to sail, the ships' officers and owners check the calendar to plan the maiden voyageof the new season. None of the vessels dares to leave on a Friday—bad luck, don't you know. Everyone knows a tale or two alwut a vessel that started out on a Friday and had disaster strike during the season. Also, any Great Lakes member will scratch out the 13th for a first sailing date. Despite the Friday or 13th obstacles, the sailing date usually is within 48 hours of the inspection. Then, like the bear staggering out of its cave in search of food, the vessels, one by one, leave their docks and head down the channels and rivers to load cargo and resume the ritual once more. Wheelman Brendan Mure operates the aftwencneV during night loading opera­ tions on the American Republic. I Second Cook Julian Budnick slices dough to prepare dinner rolls for the crew of the Buffalo. Oiler Kirby Zolniberek replaces a light It bulb of the Paul H. T(bwnsend. • Luhchtime is getting near on the Belle River as Porter Ahmed Nasser peels an onion. •Watchman John Watson (left) and Bosun Jack Bluitt check out the activity on the deck of the cement carrier Paul H. Townsend, an Inland Lakes Management ship. ... V ' at Duluth Port Employee Delores Cheslak is greeted in the crew's galley of the ASC Charles E. Wilson by Bosun Mike LaFoille, AB Bob Hedine and Watchman Lowell Amundson. �' V,-' ' ^ 14 SEUARCRSm Activify Is Non'Stop on the USNS Mercury f -f Chief Cook Benjamin Bulatoo keeps an eye on the stove making sure dinner comes out just right. Even in port, the galley gang of the USNS Mercury still has its hands full to feed the crew. While a skeletal crew may be onboard. Chief Steward Africano Lakandula has enough work to stay busy. "Not only do we have to plan meals for the time we're docked, but we have to prepare now for what we want when the ship sails," Lakandula said. The steward department does a fine job in keeping the galley and dining areas spotless. Activity al­ ways is buzzing in the shipyard and there never is any idea when a snap inspection will be held. The USNS Mercury is part of the Military Sealift Command's Pacific Division. Its unlicensed department is crewed by members of the SIU's Government Services Division. Steward Utility Bienvenido Aguilar handOS William Smith stands watch on the grill during a break in the dinner the USNS Mercury. preparation. wr if ''f. Chief Steward Africano Lukandula prepares the inventory so he can plan ahead for meals when the Mercury is at sea. .'rT,-.' Steward Utility Pablo Catalasan gets ready to serve a steak for dinner. Steward Utility Clifford Walker makes sure the dining area is ready when mealtime arrives. ... I ''-f .'t.i. yVatch AB Barry Patin (left) hands Raleign Minix, SlU port employee for the Gbvemment Services Division, a visitor's pass for the USNS Mercury. �APRI11990 -J,J IWo OM-timeis Living in Utah Drop by SflJ Headquarters • '•> . SlU President Michael Sacco (left) and Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco (right) greet retired bosuns I jns Ralph Murray and Tom Reading during a recent visit to the SlU headquarters. Captain Rakyta's Art Woik is a Chance to 'Cioate' John Rakyta is so protid of his job as a tugboat captain that he has designed a ring for the workers of the merchant marine. Captain Rakyta has divided his time between his maritime work and his art since the 1960s. When he started as a deckhand in Rakyta Tampa, the captain also began "fooling around with art." He has designed rings for veterans, mem­ bers of the armed forces and the National Association of Muzzle Loaders. But his latest project,, designing a ring for seafarers and others who ship on U.S.-flag ves­ sels, gives Brother Rakyta an oppoitnity to combine his art skills and his career. John Rakyta joined the SIU in 1965 when he was a mate with Gulf Atlantic Towing in Florida. He be­ came a captain in 1967 and stayed in Florida until 1979 when he moved to the West Coast with Crowley Maritime. John and his wife decided to live in Arizona, a six-and-a-half hour commute frOm work. Rakyta works on tugs in Long B^ach and Los Angeles Harbor. He also has been involved in offshore construction work. He positioned a single anchor leg mooring buoy off Santa Barbara where the industrial ship Santa Inez is stationed. That vessel has equipment to clean the sulphur and sand out of offshore oil for Exxon. After it is filled, tankers carry the oil to Los Angeles. The former Floridian is at home in the West. On the job, he works with "a great group of guys" and has served with the same cook and engineer since 1983. Off the job, R^yta says he enjoys the moun­ tains and Arizona. He participates in hunting, trapping and archery ac­ tivities and likes to go camping north of the Grand Canyon. Rakyta also makes stained glass windows. Having been "always fascinated" by these windows, he took classes in Tiffany and leaded glass. He sells some windows but gives others away. Four Rakyta stained glass windows stand in a church near his home in Arizona. Soon, another will go to England. The captain finds his projects very satisfying, "It's something I create; it's like any art work. When you do something, you put part of yourself mto It. His love of wildlife shows up in some of his stained glass windows which depict trees and desert flowers. Rakyta and one of his sons are considering taxidermy, the art of stuffing and mounting birds and animals. Rakyta appreciates his member- Pictured above is a drawing of the ring Captain Rakyta designed. ship in the SIU. He says, "The union has given me a lot of oppor­ tunity. It's been a benefit to me as far as moving up. They've always supported me. I've always sup­ ported the union. They've always provided a job for me." Rakyta has advice for young people entering the industry: "Try and do your best. Be fair to your fellow workers and take advantage of all the school has to offer." Doing his own bit for the education of fellow union members, the captain has trained many young and old deckhands to run boats, move barges and become mates. To show his love of his life's work, Rakyta decided to make someAing of quality for merchant Continued on page 28 When Ralph Murray hits the road, it is almost certain that Tom Reading will be with him. From their neighboring homes in Utah, the two retired bosuns have been seen lately in SIU halls from San Francisco to Piney Point and other points in between. But their travels across the country are nothing compared with the tales they tell as SIU members sailing around the world. Murray, who turns 65 this month, joined the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of Norfolk, VA. He worked in many of the convoys that travelled across the Atlantic as part of the World War II effort. "We'd be in convoys of 200 to 300 ships with 10 naval vessels surrounding us," Murray recalled. "Not much protection. Everybody got scared when the bombs started dropping. Don't let anybody tell you any different." He told of ships trying to get through the Strait of Gibraltar to bring supplies to Allied troops in the Mediterranean theater. "We'd sail in three ships at a time. The (German) U-boats would hide under the Spanish fishing boats and go after us. But if we made it to a certain point, the British ships would take over protecting us." Murray claimed he was hit once, by a mine, during the war. "I wasn't no hero," he claimed. But his wife, Bette, told another story. "I bet he didn't tell you he was taken prisoner three times. He doesn't like to talk about it. The first two times the Germans stopped his ship before blowing it up. The crew got into lifeboats and were told to row back to England. The third time he was held prisoner for 18 months until the war ended." After a stint in Detroit follow­ ing the war, Murray retumed to the sea until his retirement last year. His travels took him back to some of the places he visited during the war. "Even now there are places around Europe and North Africa that look like they did right after the war. You couldn't tell if the war ended 45 years ago or last week." Murray worked as a patrolman in the port of New York in the early '60s before being asked to help crew the first of {he cable ships. Helped Organize Long Lines "I was on the Long Lines for \0V2 years. The union sent md" to Germany in 1962 while the ship was being built. I watched and leamed all that I could so I would understand the ship. But in 1963 the shipyard went bankrupt. The company kept a couple of officers, the Iwsun (Murray) and electrical officer in Germany because they didn't want to lose the talent. In mid-'63 a crew was sent over and we sailed the ship to Baltimore where it finally was finished." Bette Murray met her husbandto-be when he was bosun on the Long Lines while it was stationed in Honolulu. "I worked at a bar and had this friend who was looking for a boyfriend. I knew this one man (Murray) came in every night so I was going to introduce her to him. She didn't come in for a week. By then I decided to keep him." Within two years, the couple had made their way to Reno, NV to get married. Mrs. Murray remembered, " The justice of peace office was closed for an hour, so we went and played a slot machine. I won $1,100. We used that for our down payment on a house." Murray had a history of running a smooth ship as a bosun. "There are no big beefs. All a bosun has to •;/<"• • .f; ' '}'• . • if-' ^All a bosun has to do is make time to listen.' M —Murray do is make time to listen. The prob­ lem with most younger members is they have to be taught. A kid's main problem is he is away from home. The older members have to teach the younger members what it is all about. That's why I got Tom, here,, to go back to school to become a recertified bosun." \ y .'5 I'.y -f' Reading Has Vlidng Blood Tom Reading nodded in agree­ ment. After having a career in the military, Reading went to sea for the SIU. "I was involved in a lot of the organizing efforts with Ralph. I'll tell you why we won so many. We had the best contract, we had the best members and we had the best president, Paul Hall," Read­ ing said. "Our union is only as good as our product." Reading is of Scandinavian heritage. "I'm a Viking and proud of it," said the 71-year-old. I cut a cord of wood everyday. I've got to keep active." The bosun then puts his wood to use, making repairs around his home. Although he went to sea at the age of 12 as a deckboy on a Nor­ wegian ship, Reading did not be­ come an SIU member until 1966. He spent 27 years in the Army. Both Reading and Murray agree that new members need to know the histoiy of the union. "There are a lot of bosuns who don't take the time to talk with younger members," Murray said. "When a guy is trying, we have got to help him." Executive Vice President Joe Sacco said Brothers Murray and Reading practice what they preach. "Both of them spend a great deal of time talking about union matters with new mem­ bers," he said. When they aren't on the road, the pair stays busy at home by gardening, painting houses, chop­ ping wood and, when they find the time, fishing. Neither said he plans to ring the slow bell anytime soon. iS• r ^1 :• 'r 1 L ;• . �HrH •• :^'-'J'. ''^y^ • • • yy y:';j ^'v-lAf-'i:.'', r*' c' ' ' "•: :;,, -v;;. .-i-.Xi- ' • •• ^vT-y-y, 'I * •: . B.-; vi-yigW''r;-.3>a:!^ '•''" :• 'yyy '^'yiy.'-y yy<yy'^vilsysyy'';:.,/y'MB-,-: y SEAFARm m • I' I?•'• •/' '-• APRIl 1990 y:y:^y|i&35y '•y Jf •4y:y^yy'::' ^xftt;•yyfy^yy y*]y - -'• '^y •yyy-H:':, V.y •, . .V- y • .' • •-:•-• 5t|::y::yyy..;; iSyy': ay-y- y B.' = • • '• I yyiyy :-':m vtiiyy" -^f:lyyy 'i:iss fyy'yy'y--;^ :• •yK -y -< '• • ••'•., . •". yi:y:4y:yK.:yy^ ay?y.4«y;y',;yyy-y; yN:y' Blind to the National Interest, Commodity Profiteers Would Destroy American Fleet H iy',y.- y 'vyy yy'WCy:'y-yy" • >r'- -; '. •'• To promote U.S, agricultural products around the world, the Department of Agriculture maintains a small army of attaches posted in embassies and consu­ lates around the world. • •# ; ' .%• S>'3i*? In addition to the 60 attaches who dedi­ cate themselves to increasing American farm exports, the U.S. government maintains 15 agricultural trade offices overseas. The cost to the American tax payer is in the millions. On the other hand, the Maritime Administration, which at one time had five foreign-based representatives, now has zero. •m^- yy^'y-u - - 4. In the latest caigo preference bottle on Capitol Hifl, those who seek to enrich their ' own profits ore attempting to upset a pofey that has pnriected America's best '"t- i' • interests since the end of World War 11. •'•0' The maritime industry's supporters on Capitol Hill pointed out that if it was logical to target U.S.-flag ship­ ping for supposed economies, it would make equal sense to deny the participation of American agricultural inter­ ests in the emergency aid program. In theory, they pointed out, the federal government could maximize food allocations to Poland by purchasing less expensive agricultural products from foreign nations. But, said these members of Congress, agriculture is vital to the U.S. economy, and so is the merchant marine because it is a vital component of our national defense structure. Agribusiness and the commodity brokers do a staggering amount of business in the world market, but P.L. 480 cargoes con­ stitute only about 20 percent of the total amount of farm products sold abroad. -"•H.-'c=.' -'j^- •V\ In fiscal 1988 total U.S. agricultural ex­ ports amounted to more than $35.8 billion. 1^- : f, How much of that cargo moved on Amer­ ican bottoms? A MERE THREE PERCENT. In other words, foreign-flag ships carried 97 PERCENT of U.S. government-gener­ ated agricultural export cargoes. 77 The success of that legislation can be measured by the fact that American wheat exports have increased by 30 percent since that time, proving that government policy can have a major effect on supporting a domestic indus­ try. The maritime industry understands, a world trade domi­ nated by protectionist policies of governments. It is forced to operate in a market that includes direct subsi­ dies, tax credits and preference systems designed by many nations to promote their own fleets. Failure to help American-flag shipping compete in that world market would do more than merely endanger the maritime industry itself. At stake is the ability of the merchant marine to fulfill its historic role as the nation's fourth arm of defense in time of crisis. To have a fleet in readiness to carry out its national defense requirements means that America must have an active merchant marine functioning in the peace­ time carriage of cargo to and from our shores. No political considerations—and certainly no consider­ ations of the need to gain special favor for other seg­ ments of the American economy—can justify trading off the nation's maritime capabilities. ' •: • The giant agribusiness interests were defeated as Con­ gress rejected efforts to waive, weaken or undermine cargo preference requirements on food aid for Poland. The maritime .industry will be looking to these same enlightened House and Senate members to turn back this new effort by the heavily subsidized commodity dealers to sink the American-flag fleet. • '• : }y'm MM '/•fr. ... ; i.• • •••il ' ' TI W' MM. •I > T! •he national interest is all-embracing and covers the public welfare, security and economic considera­ tions. In the case of both the agricultural export and mari­ time communities, each is forced to do business in a world where no level playing field exists. The 1985 Food Security Act was enacted at a time when America's share of commercial wheat and flour exports dropped from 50 percent to about 33 percent between 1981 and 1984. The law was designed to assist American food producers to compete in a world market in which many governments subsidize their a^cultural exports even more liberally than does the United States. To promote, purchase and distribute -:: h,- i Export Credits Short-term: Intermediate-term Guarantees (GdM-103) Export Enhancement Program (EEP) PL 480 (deduct ocean freight differential ^,900,000 on Tifle f and III progr (deduct ocean freight differential on Title 11 programs) Foreign Agricultural Service Targeted Export Assistance OfRos (tf Intematkmal Cooperation and DNsvelopfnent Tom $4,789,800,000 425.500,000 338,300,000 1,486,500.000 <43,900.000) p.' 1 <28,300,000) 95,100,000 200,000,000 37,800,000 $74WO,600,000 OpertUing Differentiai Subsidy (from MarAd outlays) Oc^ Freight OMeietrttial-r-Cargo Preference il/lll Title II Sectiori 418 PL 480 Ocean Freight Differential (from USOA outlays) SOlffiCEitMMd IWI.USOAOfltoor 23,808.000 10,819,000 9,151,000 43,900,000 28.300.000 Title 11 Total 1M1 , .'rerireor ' • • '. ---• • •:'fy Lj iff 1989ActualGoverhfiiehtOutlays On Behalf of Agricultural BxfMrta ._ •y' ^•^•yy ymmm States. In addition to the $1.4 billion to cover the P.L. 480 shipments, 1989 outlays to promote the sale of American farm products overseas included: • More than $5.1 billion in export credits to assure that the agricultural giants were paid even when foreign purchasers defaulted on their debts. • $338.3 million for an "export enhancement pro­ gram" and $200 million for "targeted export assist­ ance"—both expenditures for the purpose of making American farm commodities more attractive to for­ eign buyers. • $95.1 million for the Foreign Agricultural Service, which places American representatives in key em­ bassies and consulates around the world, whose fulltime job is to represent American agricultural inter­ ests abroad. • $37.6 million for the Office of International Coopera­ tion and Development to provide market develop­ ment and trade promotion services for American agribusiness. All this adds up to 1989 outlays totalling $7.26 billion for farm interests—just to promote and sell American farm products in foreign countries. That doesn't include any of the billions of dollars spent by the government annually to stabilize domestic agricultural prices to as­ sure a profitable existence for the farm industry. Those sums stand in sharp contrast to the pittance the federal government allocates to the entire maritime in­ dustry. In addition to the $115.9 million which the gov­ ernment spent in 1989 for the ocean freight differential under cargo preference, it invested $220.4 million in op­ erating differential subsidies. That's an annual total of just over $336 million for all of maritime—compared with the $7.6 billion just to cover subsidies for the agricultural commodity industry's foreign sales. Why do these agricultural giants—whose subsidies for overseas sales are more than 22 times the total govern­ ment outlay for the maritime industry—want to write American-flag ship^ping out of the next farm bill? Their argument is that the national interest would bet­ ter be served if the tax dollars which now go to maritime's ocean freight differential subsidies were used, in­ stead, to buy additional agricultural commodities. This ploy is not a new one. Last year, during debate on legislation to provide emergency aid to Poland, the maritime industry had to beat back efforts on the floor of l50th the House and Senate to waive U.S. maritime pol­ icy reserving a portion of that cargo for American-fl^ vessels. Proponents of the scheme to delete cargo preference requirements on food shipments to Poland claimed that such action was necessary to maximize the amount of commodities being made available to the Polish people. '• Those who are willing to sacrifice the U.S. merchant marine in order to ship on foreign-flag vessels in the interest of sav­ ing a buck have been asked to extend the same logic to the sale of commodities. In last fall's debate on cargo preference as it applied to aid cargoes to Poland, many congressmen pointed out that cheaper goods can be had around the world. At the time of that debate, butter costs in the United States were $2,656 per metric ton compared to $1,850 for the same amount in Europe. Additionally wheat in the United States was selling for $161 to $166 per metric ton, while in Europe the cost was $158. American grain exports face stiff competi­ tion from Argentina, Australia, Canada and the European Economic Community. At any given time, at least one of these nations or groups of nations is likely to offer agricul­ tural products at a lower cost than the U.S. price for the same commodity. •fcf- vr S>y:':',' eavily subsidized by the American government so they can sell farm commodities overseas, profitswollen agribusiness interests are scheming on Capitol Hill to eliminate U.S.-flag shipping from carrying these taxpayer-supported cargoes. In what would amount to torpedoing a five-year-old pact between farmers and the maritime industry, agricul­ tural and commodity interests are gearing up to wipe out cargo preference laws which mandate that 75 percent of government-subsidized cargoes must be carried on Amer­ ican bottoms. The goal of these agricultural giants is to completely eliminate U.S.-flag shipping as a factor in this nation's aid programs. In search of added profits, they apparently are willing not only to destroy American shipping but also to sacrifice national security, since the presence of a domestic fleet in peacetime is vital to assure the carriage of military cargo in time of crisis. Additionally, a U.S. fleet ensures that essential products can reach America even in the event of economic embargoes and boycotts called by foreign interests. As Congress prepares to debate renewal of the 1985 Food Security Act, giant farm groups are trying to line up support in the House and Senate to change the rules so that they will have unlimited freedom to use foreignflag ships exclusively in carrying their cargo to overseas markets. In fiscal 1989, the Department of Agriculture spent nearly $1.4 billion of the taxpayers' money to underwrite the foreign sales of agricultural products by the giant commodity brokers under the provisions of P.L. 480. Subsidies to American shipping for the carriage of these cargoes cost Agriculture a mere $72.2 million in that same year. That represented the Department's share of the differential between American and foreign ocean freight costs involved in carrying 50 percent of P.L. 480 cargoes in American vessels. The Department of Transportation laid out an addi­ tional $48 million in maritime subsidies that same year to cover the remaining 25 percent of the governmentimpelled cargo reserved for American-flag vessels under the terms of the 1985 Food Security Act. In other words, the total ocean freight differential paid to carry farm commodities in American-flag vessels amounted to approximately $116 million—a scant 8 per­ cent of what the American taxpayers shelled out to farm interests to subsidize the: sale of their products overseas. The huge sums of money handed over to agribusiness for P.L. 480 sales abroad are dwarfed by the total amount of tax dollars shelled out to the agricultural in­ dustry to help it compete in the world market. ! H'^''-rvy'y'yy'y-'i"' f-'i"'' The Farm Lobby vs. What's Best for America I [::j:^: ''-y , vy l . y^yy:%%yy"'y.'; / ....• yy'i'«' '•"yy'''yy'y y y-BpMpyfS: y% •' J' . i �|r . . • •.• - •' .•••• -•••• • 18 •'/ •'^.• ..?/v v'-- •- • ij^'. Exxon Vaklez Skipper Cleared By Juiy of Criminal Charge .^i t'. • ?' ^ •; : { • • "l:/ The skipper of the Exxon Valdez was found not guilty of second-degree criminal mischief last month after six weeks of tes­ timony in a court case that resulted from the Exxon company tanker's spill of more than 10 million gal­ lons of oil in Alaska's Prince Wil­ liam Sound last year. Captain Joseph Hazelwood, a resident of Huntington, NY, was found guilty on one of the four charges, a misdemeanor accusing him of "unlawful and negligent discharge. ,. of petroleum into or upon the waters of the state of Alaska." The Exxon Valdez master was in his quarters and not on the bridge of the 987-foot tanker when the grounding oc­ curred. Captain Hazelwood had left the third mate in charge after the vessel sailed from the port of Valdez. After 10 hours of deliberation, the jury found Captain Hazelwood not guilty of the criminal mischief felony charge. Thejury also found the 43-year-old skipper not guilty of operating a watercraft under the influence of intoxicating liquor and not guilty of recklessly engag­ ing in conduct that resulted in the grounding of the Exxon Valdez on Bligh Reef. Superior Court Judge Karl Johnstone, a licensed commercial fisherman, sentenced Captain Hazelwood to spend 1,000 hours helping to clean Alaska's oilcovered shores and pay $50,000 in restitution over a period of time. Defense attorneys said the sen­ tence would be appealed. In a press conference after the verdict was announced. Captain Hazelwood indicated his desire to return to work. "I'd like to go back to sea. It's what I do," he said. Jury members explained how they arrived at their decision after the trial. Several said while evidence demonstrated that at some point Captain Hazelwood was drunk, there was nothing con­ clusive presented by the prosecut­ ing attorneys to prove he was intoxicated at the time of the tanker's grounding on Bligh Reef. The January 30 graduates of trainee lifeboat class 450 are: (1st row, left to right) Thomas W. Walker, Antjuan Webb-Birch, William J. Cameron, Ed­ ward Shamburg— ^ 1:..., Watklns, Robert A. A Gagllotl; Shamburger, William Li Hurley, Cornelius ' to right) Derrick Young, Michael S. Thornbury, Mike Nickels, (2nd row, left ; Jit:, Hazelwood, as he listens to his acquittal of three major charges. Hazelwood's attorney, Richard Madson, said the state had proved only that the captain was guilty of "bad breath." If convicted of all four charges. Captain Hazelwood could have faced a little more than seven years in jail and $61,000 in fines. More than 150 lawsuits have been generated by the oil spilled from die Exxon Valdez on March 24,1989 in Prince William Sound. Both Exxon Corporation and Exxon Shipping Company have been charged with a five-count federal indictment. Among the charge's facing Exxon is the ac­ cusation that the company know­ ingly employed crewmembers incapable of doing their jobs. Instructor Jake KaraczynskI (far right) guided the February 28 graduates of trainee lifeboat class 451 through the curriculum. They are: (1st row, left to right) Christopher Allen, Michael H. Chavez, Louis J. Francis, Gredory P. Calvello, Sonia Wolfman, Gregory Hickman, Robert M. Claessens, Dennis Reece Halstead; (2nd row, left to right) William J. RIeckelman, Thomas F. Sterenchak, Ricky L. Carter, Jason1R. Collins, Gerald L. Watklns, Kevin M. Kertesz, Randy Lee McAtee, Fred Freeman, Lee K. Danlelson, Joseph J. SmIglelskI and Brian Struense. MARITIME ROUNDUP In an effort to develop trade with China, American President Lines recently opened offices in Shan­ ghai, Tianjin and Dalian. APL es­ tablished modem-day service to China in 1979 and began direct weekly sailings to Whampoa and Chiwan a year ago. 4 '\ si: . : y**.' The passenger ship SS Monterey has been purchased by a Panamanian company, Compania Naviera Panocean SA. The ship will be registered under a Panamanian flag. The U.S. Maritime Administration has given its approval to the sale. • /}. SSAfARCRS LOG New SlU Members Complete Lifeboat Course ^ <£> <£> siu r -; 1838 PR Phone Workers Aided by SlU Elected officials in Puerto Rico Intend to sell the Island's government-run telephone company to private Interests. Puerto RIcan telephone workers, fearing the transfer will jeopardize their job security, marched In protest of the sale last month. The he SlU members pictured above joined the San Juan march: (from left to right) Catalino Gonzalez, Anton o Rodriguez, Juan Ayala, Joseph Reyes, Harold Gathers, Gregorlo Ortiz, Ruperto Rivera Jr., Terrene Daniels and Rufino Torres. The Port of New York and New Jersey announced a 10 per­ cent increase in general cargo volume during 1989 as compared to 1988. This marked an end to a slide that began in the early '80s. Port officials said they were op­ timistic that the tumaround will continue into the '90s. President Bush has nominated Rear Admiral William J. Kline to be the new commandant of the Coast Guard. Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner has nominated Robert E. Martinez as deputy maritime administrator and Penny L. Eastman as deputy administrator for inland water­ ways and the Great Lakes. M American Hawaii Cruises began advertising voyages on the Constitution and Independence on national television last month. Al­ though the company has advertised the cmise ships in spot markets for the last three years, this is its first effort at the overall national market. Crowley Maritime Corpora­ tion announced it was relocating its headquarters to Oakland, CA. The company had been based in nearby San Francisco for almost a century. The move will begin August 1. • •f- �''' $;»• T' • '^- mil 1990 Letters to the Editor Question: What was the worst weather or storm that you have experienced while at sea? (Asked of SIU members at the union hall in San Francisco, CA.) Roland "Bosun Bear" Blanchett, Bosun—It was January 1984. I was on the USNS Hassayampa as bosun/ mate. We were unrepping (underway replenish­ ment) the Camden and had an emergency breakaway because of high seas. The Camden broke to the left and its wake slammed onto our deck. My leg slid into the opening in a pallet which kept me from going over the side. I only suffered bruises and abrasions. Constance Beitran, Laundryman—I was on­ board the USNS Harkness in Oc­ tober 1989 when two typhoons hit one after the other. The winds for both were over 100 miles per hour. Posts were falling down. We were ready to leave the Philippines but couldn't. Fereuza Gilford, Entry/Steward— I was in Ty­ phoon Jeannie in 1948. I never got sick, but I sat up all night in my life jacket. The waves washed a crewmember into the bridge. He weighed more than 200 pounds. Ernie Woodman, Engine Depart­ ment—It was January 1978 on the last voyage of the SS Mon­ terey, which was on a 30-day cruise out of San Francisco. We were trying to outrun a typhoon but it changed directions. We spent 36 hours in it. All the pas­ sengers were seasick. Lucretia Ander­ son, Chief Stew­ ard—I was working as a telephone oper­ ator in the late '60s. We were sailing in the Tazman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. Its waters are either very rough or clear as glass. It was after midnight and the seas were very rough. The bar and cocktail lounge were above me and I could hear the glasses and bottles falling. I was ordered to go to the dining room to help clean the mess. There was no carpeting and chairs were all over the place. The next day the seas still were rough. One passenger sat down for brealrfast. As he got set to take a bite, his chair slid backwards and he just missed going down the steps. Wayman Sellers, Ordinary Sea­ man—^The first time I sailed was as an ordi­ nary seaman on -the USNS Silas Bent. We hit 20foot swells on the way to Yoko­ hama. It was scary to me. We were rocking and rolling. I was the only one shocked. Now it has become a part of life. Mitchell Ancar, Assistant Cook—| This was years ago. I was on a Liberty Ship and we were carrying troops and equipment across the Pacific to the Philip­ pines. We hit a typhoon and I thought we were going under. I saw planes, caterpillars and trad­ ers flying overhead and off the deck. I have been in rough ones but that was the worst. Sylvester Mason, Chief Cook—I was on the troop carrier General Billy Mitchell in 1959 taking troops from the Oak­ land Army Base. We carried 1800 recruits. The cots were stacked five high on the ship. We hit a storm off Okinawa. Those soldiers started getting sick and falling on each other. They certainly were green re­ cruits. It was hell getting that ship clean and getting rid of the smell afterwards. Roscoe Williams, Chief Steward— I hope this doesn't jinx me but I am one of the fortunate few to not have been in a major storm. I have seen some rough weather, but nothing bad since I started sailing in 1966. Mazur Reports Prompt Payment Of Bills by Welfare Plan; Urges Members to Stick With SIU To the Editor: I have recently undergone some very serious surgery. When all of the Medicare forms, hospital bills and doctor bills stopped coming, I mailed four large business enve­ lopes bulging with paperwork to the (union's) claims office. I want all of you who read this fine little tabloid to know how grateful I shall always be to the Welfare Plan for the very efficient and prompt manner in which these bills were all paid. This is the SIU way of taking care of us old pen­ sioners. Each one of us is impor­ tant just as long as we are still around. To those of you who have cho­ sen a sea-going career, I want you to know that you are very fortunate indeed that you are members of the SIU and are privileged to earn your living aboard SIU ships. No other union will give you more job secu­ rity than the SIU and no union will take better care of you when your sea-going days are over. So be ever vigilant and always back yom union, your whole future depends on it. Aiid always remem­ ber, if you don't take care of what you have, you will lose it. In con­ clusion, my very best wishes to all of our union officials, my former shipmates who are still around and to all of you who are still shipping out. God bless the SIU, there is none better. Charlie Lee Mazur Chipo Valley, Arizona WWII Gunner Recalls 'Good Job' Of Members of Merchant Marine To the Editor: To start off, I think you people are doing a good job. I was in the Navy, World War n, October 4, 1941 to December 10, 1945. I was in the Armed Guard. I was on five of your ships. I will never forget all the good men I met. They did a good job. We didn't help them much, but when we needed help, they were there... I was on ships Arthur Middleton, Lurline, George Boutwell, Antelope Hills and Durham Vic­ tory. The Arthur Middleton was built in a Mississippi shipyard. It was built as the African (jomet but we took it out of New York in December, made one trip. It was (ju taken over by the dbast Guard and named the USS Arthur Middleton APA 25—the sixth most decorated ship in WWII. I was gunner mate 21c... I have a brother in the merchant marine. He's been in over 19 years. Charles Howell. We had an uncle who shipped out over 50 years—Bill Treadway. He shipped out of Mobile and New Orleans. My uncle has passed on now. I'm retired from American Airlines. I was a union man for 32 years. James Howell Tyler, Texas iii Paul Y. Point Thanks Union To the Editor: ... I would like to retire my book at this time because I am no longer sailing... • I would like, and let me stress this point, to thank the SIU for all that it's done for me. I never got a hard time from anyone I ever dealt with. Thank you... Paul Y. Point Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Editor's Note: This letter was originally received by SIU Phila­ delphia Port Agent David Heindel who forwarded it to the LOG. i i i Quick Action by Union Eases Member Geier in Time of Stress To the Editor: I really appreciate the great in­ terest and quick action taken to help straighten out my problems due to long delayed medical bill payments which put unwanted stress on me in fighting my termi­ nal cancer. It takes a big load off my mind. My deepest respect and grati­ tude ... May God bless you all. I hope my model ship, donated to the SIU years ago, is still on display at the Lundeberg Training School. I am always a loyal SIU mem­ ber. My special thanks for the per­ sonal interest and action by new SIU San Francisco Business Agent Nick Celona, Vice President George McCartney and Vince Cbss, aliso Welfare Plan Adminis­ trator Leo Bonser... I• Harry Geier San Francisco, California Editor's Note: Brother Geier sent the above printed communication in the form of a mailgram to SIU President Michael Sacco and Ex­ ecutive Vice President Joseph Sacco. i i Tellez Family Thanks SIU For Love and Support To Our Friends in the SIU: We would like to express our most sincere appreciation to all our friends in the le SIU sn for all the sup­ port and love shown us during our recent loss. It was heartwarming to know that there were so many good peo­ ple thinking of Maria and David. Your prayers and expressions of sympathy were a great source of strength and comfort during this time, and it will never be forgotten. God bless you all. Tellez Family t ,• �h:'' :• 20 Dispatchers* Report for Deep Sea t'y. MARCH 1-31, 1990 *tOTAL REGISTERED AU Groups Class A Class B Class C fef'Iri!: .-S '•• •v;\. •' \ Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmii^on Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville : San Francisco Wilmingtpii Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston i1 St. Louis Piney Point Totals DECK DEPARTMENT 13 2 6 4 7 14 11 lb 7 9 2 8 8 1 :i 103 1,4: Sfefc: 290 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 26 3 5 14 15 18 21 9 18 5 3 25 0 • s.:. •: :•• 4 7 6 4 5• 0 4 • sI A• . 168 1 0 I 3 3 5 , 2 . 3 0 6 4 0 : 2 38 67 %r.:i • 18 2 2 5 4 12 0 w 0 A 1 • A 2 4 5 4 2 2 4 3 • 3 0 2 3 5 0 0 0 34 22 I • .1 ' 0 • ,3^^^':' 1 2 2 8 14 9 11 " 11 • sW- 0 4 <• 1 6 2 1 3 47 1 '• 0 / 115 . , ,6s;f| 41 2 6 .: 3 • 1 2 8 4 7 18 2 11 23 ;V!-4 25 8 15 • 36 5 •-.•;^3.: • ' ' 13 1 7 , 32 0 0 2 11 10 5 '7 "V 35 • ' 8 1 ... 1 •••; 86 59 4 32 1 .. 1 2 5 4 6 1 12 3 11 yy-4 20 14 86 23 12 27 0 6 38 9 1 250 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 1 0 1 2 1 3 0 "• 0 0 14 3 0 3 30 13 0 2 2 6 10 g 26 12 16 1 5 9 117 2 1 lv"|;g 1 2 2 3 6 0 2 0 10 1 - 0 , .,5 36 6 0 0 ! gi .i 4 1 4 1 11 1 •:6l3iV' >1/' 1 ii^:ll • • 4 0 3 0 1 0 59 14 If^ 3 ' 0 0 1 111 23 2 . '0 7' 268 1 iV:: 3 7 0 5 i9 9 15 3 2 7 0 0 84 6 12 14 13 11 3 6 44 14 2 27 196 0 7 1 8 5 16 4 2 137 2 2 0 199 :0 15 0 .... 4 3 8 8 9 11 '• 2 0 0. 4 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 m0 4 4 37 0 12 120 1 1 137 m1 0 1 169 - is 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 5 17 4 41 15 20 10 3 11 0 0 159 ^ •••v:44 Piney Point Monday, May 7 NewYiak V . Tuesday, May 8 Philadelphia Wednesday, May 9 Baltiinore Thursday, May 10 Norfolk Thursday, May 10 Jacksonville Thursday, May 10 A^opac Friday, May 11 Homtmi Monday, May 14 New Orleans Tuesday, May 15 Mobile Wednesday, May 16 San Francisco Thursday, May 17 Wilmington Monday, May 21 Seattle Friday, May 25 San Juan Thursday, May 10 St. Loins Friday, May 18 Honohdn Friday, May 18 Dnhith Wednesday, May 16 Jersey City Wednesday, May 23 NewBedfiMrd Tuesday, May 22 0 1 2 2 2 .f • '''Ir . •'•I. .'V ' :li^i :• t'} NOTICES ;:::5:;v 3 0 20 2 0 10. . 100 42 30 5 19 4 0 10 18 20 16 18 20 9 7 57 '"T6 5 36 276 8 5 18 14 22 12 4 3 170 4 3 0 286 593 477 306 515 Totals All Departments 705 441 340 *"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ••"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. Shipping in the month of March was up from the month of February. A tot^ of l,m jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,286 jobs shipped, 515 jobs or about^ ^rcent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were filled by "B" and "C" seniority Pe®Pi®-^'"P i!? were shipped. Since the trip reUef program began on April 1, 1982, a total of 11,781 jobs have been shipped. ,:4:: - Seafarers Invited to Fish Fry At Mobile, Alabama Union Hcdl Any Seafarers and SIU pensioners are invited to attend a April 28 fish fry being held in honor of all the union brothers and sisters who died aboard ship or in the work place. The event is being held at the union's Mobile, Alabama hall in conjunction with the AFL-CIO, which has designated April 28 as a workmen's me­ morial day. For further information on the April 28 fish fry at the Mobile union hall, contact Richard McCall at (205)675-3597 or (205)675-6526. Information on the event can also be obtained frxtm the union hall at (205)4780916 or Edd Morris at (205)432-4949. (|> ' '-YLs-',' •El®?- 1 • ENTRY DEPARTMENT 7' - Sea, takes. Waters **REG1STERED ON BEACH AU Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Membmlup 4 Port Arthur Catholic Parish To Hold Maritime Day Memorial A Maritime Day service will be held on May 19 at 10:00 am at the Sundial Memorial on Lakeshore Drive in the Port Arthur/Beaumont area of Texas. All SIU members and retirees are invited to attend. Additionally, St. Anne Catholic Parish has asked that names of in­ dividuals who have died at sea be forwarded to Father Sinclair Oubre, so mention can be made of these seamen during the service. Fr Oubre can be reached at (409)832-9%3 or P.O Box 3429; 2715 Calder at Eleventh Street Beaumont, Texas 77704. i":,'" �» r.lW.Uilli^ ,.1^1', .iiW APRIL 1990 24 SlU Members Retire ThisMonth The Seafarers Pension Plan an­ nounces the retirement of 24 SIU members this month. A total of 14 sailed in the deep sea division and five each in the inland and Great Lakes divisions. Inland member Joseph Pullen Jr. has been with the union for the longest period, beginning his career with the SIU in 1940. The oldest member to retire is Heinz Ulrich at 69. Brother Ulrich, a deep sea mem­ ber, was bom in Germany. He will be living in Alexander, NY during his retirement. DEEP SEA WALTER AMMANN Walter Ammann, 62, joined the Seafarers in March 1945 in the port of Phila­ delphia. The To­ ledo, OH native sailed in the engine department. Brother Ammann resides in Seattle, WA. JAMES W. HARNETT James W. Barnett, 62, joined the SIU in Febraary 1945 in his native Mobile, AL. The galley gang veteran upgraded twice at the Lundeberg School, becoming a recertified steward in 1984. Brother Bamett shipped from the ports of Mobile and Jacksonville, PL. He lives in Theodore, AL. JOSEPH D. BARTLETT Joseph D. Bartlett, 68, joined the union in July 1942 in the port of Baltimore. The deck department veteran was bom in Washington, DC. Brother Bartlett now calls Hayward, CA home. EUGENE W. BENT Eugene W. Bent, 64, joined the Seafarers in March 1957 in the port of New York. A native of New Jersey, he served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. Brother Bent upgraded his en­ gine department endorsement at Piney Point during 1976. He resides in Hayward, CA. THOMAS E. BEWLEY Thomas E. Bewley, 66, joined the SIU in Febmary 1953 in the port of Balti­ more. The Cleve­ land native sailed in the deck department. Brother Be­ wley has retir^ to San Fr^cisco. '"w.p .: Jjj 21 DELMARE. CRAIG DEAN W. PRINDLE Delmar E. Craig, 63, joined the Seaf^arers as a member of the Great Lakes Divi­ sion in Septem­ ber 1962 in the port of Detroit. A native of Wilming­ ton, NC, he started sailing in the deep sea division when he worked in the deck department aboard the Seatrain Texas. Brother Craig calls Avi 11a, MO home. Dean W. Prindle, 65, joined the Seafarers in April 1967 in the port of New York. Bom in Oakland, CA, he served in the Air Force from 1946 to 1948. Brother Prindle started his deck ca­ reer on Waterman vessels. He up­ graded at Piney Point in both 1976 and 1977. He lives in Hayward, CA. HEINZ ULRICH JOSEPH P. GAVIN Joseph P. Gavin, 65, joined the union in Decem­ ber 1943 in the port of New York. He was bom in WilkesBarre, PA. Brother Gavin upgraded to recertified bosun at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He lives in Jackson­ ville, FL, from where he shipped before retiring. JAMES E. GROSS James E. Gross, 65, joined the Seafarers in No­ vember 1947 in the port of New York. Bom in North Carolina, he shipped in the steward depart­ ment. Brother Gross calls Camden, NChome. Heinz Ulrich, 69, joined the SIU in August 1949 in the port of New York. The native of Germany served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He upgraded his deck department endor­ sements at the Lundeberg School in 1977 and 1978. Brother Ulrich re­ sides in Alexander, NY. RICHARD WILLIAMS Richard Wil­ liams, 64, joined the union in May 1958 in the port of San Francisco. The steward de­ partment veteran was bom in Mississippi. Brother Williams retired to Oakland, CA. ELIZE KITCHEN ROBERT T. YARBROUGH Elize Kitchen, 60, joined the SIU in January 1954 in the port of New York. He was bom in Cayce, SC and served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. Brother Kitchen was a mem­ ber of the galley gang. He resides in Baltimore. Robert T. Yarbrough, 64, joined the Seafar­ ers in July 1951 in the port of Mo­ bile, AL. He was bom in Wood­ land, AL and served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. Brother Yarbrough shipped in the deck de^ partment. He lives in Lake Chiu-les, LA. WILLIAM R. McCLINTIC William R. McClintic, 65, joined the union in Au­ gust 1967 in the port of San Fran­ cisco. A native of Santa Cmz, CA, he served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. Brother McClintic sailed in the black gang. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1976 and 1978. He lives in Tiburon, CA. ROBERT G.MILLER Robert G. Miller, 58, graduated from the Andrew Fumseth Train­ ing School in New York in April 1959. The native of the Rahway, NJ served in the Army between 1946 and 1949. Brother Miller started his deck career on the S.S. Choctaw. He has retired to Linden, NJ. INLAND FRANK BOROWICK Frank Borowick, 62, joined the SIU in July 1972 in the port of Bal­ timore. The Mary­ land native served in the Army from 1950 to 1952. He shipped in the deck department on Curtis Bay Towing vessels. Boat­ man Borowick resides in Baltimore. department in both the inland and deep sea divisions. He calls Sander­ son, FL home. JOSEPH R. PULLEN JR. Joseph R. Pullen Jr., 67, joined the Seafarers in Au­ gust 1940 in the port of Mobile, AL. A native'bf Texas, Boatman Pullen shipped in the engine depart­ ment. He resides in Westwego, TX. HENRY TULEWICZ Henry Tulewicz^ 63, joined the SIU in June 1961 in the port of Phil­ adelphia. He was bom in Pennsyl­ vania and served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. Boatman Tulewicz sailed in the deck department. He attended the 1978 contract conference at Piney Point. He lives in Clemington, NJ, GREAT LAKES JOSEPH P. CREGUER Joseph P. Creguer, 65, joined the SIU in June 1965 in the port of Al­ pena, Ml. The Michigan native sailed in the deck department. Brother Creguer lives in Ossineke, MI. WILLIAM OGSTON William Ogston, 62, joined the union in Septem­ ber 1961 in his native Sault Ste. Marie, MI. After serving in the Army Air Force, Brother Ogston shipped in the black gaiig for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. He has re­ tired to Brimley, MI. ROBERT L. POWELL Robert L. Powell, 61, joined the Seafarers in Octo­ ber 1960 in the port of Detroit. He was bom in West Virginia and served in the Air Force from 1946 to 1950. Brother Powell sailed in the engine department. He resides in Mannington, WV. RAYMOND J. SMITH Raymond J. Smith, 62, joined the SIU in Febmary 1962 in his native Cleveland. After serving in the Navy from 1944 to 1946, Brother Smith shipped in the deck department on Great Lakes Towing vessels. He calls Lakewood, OH home. BOBBY G. WILSON RONALDCANADY Ronald Canady, 56, joined the union in April 1951 in the port of Savannah, GA. Bom in Georgia, Boatman Canady sailed in the deck ...i' •«' Bobby G. Wil­ son, 58, joined the union in June 1966 in the port of Detroit. The deck department veteran was bom in Tennessee. Brother Wilson lives in LaFollette, TN, 4 . I' . �> SEAFARCRS LOG 22 "•K •• '• : m:'-Wy-\ CU-Company/Lakes L—Lakes MARCH 1-31, 1990 i£''W: NP—Non Priority •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 17 2 STEWARD DEPARTMENT w '-X- ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 • ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT MM l:':- Seafarers Intematioaal Union Direrfory Dispatchers' Repert for Greal Lakes B 2 0 •' 16^ ^ 0 45 4 iM 22 I Totals Ail Departments 0 . 50 28 0 79 3 0 97 28 *"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. **"R.egistered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters MARCH 1-31, 1990 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port iNew York Philadelphia IBBltimoi Norfolk MobUe New Orleans ficksoavflli Francisco ' Seattle m' • Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville^ San Francisdi j^filmington Seattle Puerto Rico Houston j Algonac I St. Louis f point Totals Port New York , |Philadelp^ iBattunor% Norfolk Mobile New Orleans STEWARD DEPARTMENT Ssm Francisco Wilmingtort Seattle Puerto Rico Houston |]^ey Points Totals Totals All Departments 49 16 52 66 14 124 243 108 107 •"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ••"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (313)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (301)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building ;; Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 636 Cooke St. Honolulu, HI 96813 tfc. (808) 523-5434 HOUSTON l:ai 1221 Pierce St, Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 50 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn. NY 11232 , (718)499-6600 NOREOLK 115 Third StNorfolk, VA 23510 (804)622-1892 FHILADELPBIA V 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia. PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT St. Mary's County Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 fi-.' Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos St. Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (809)721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (213) 549-4000 PERSONALS RAY MCDONALD of Tampa Please contact Greg Hess at (303) 399-9628. ALGATHAM Please contact Marguerite Maresco Basso at (914) 779-3189, 110 Grandview Blvd., Yonkers, NY 10710. �Lundebeig School Graduates Six Classes •' ife I '.U-. X' '-i 'M,. , V • MA '• . Jff t' Upgrader Lifeboat Course -J: The January 30 lifeboat graduating class consisted of both SlU and MSG Alessi-SIU, Leslie Farrell-SIU, Everette W. Sanders-SIU; (2nd row, left to members. Instructor Casey Taylor (back row, 2nd from left) taught the right) David Silvio-MSC,BrianC.Gauntt-SIU, Patrick K.Hanley-SIU, Michael conibin^ class all about emergency drills, lifeboat equipment and survival Allen-MSC, Craig Pearson-SIU, Rick Strongman-SIU, Richard C. Savi-SIU, / I'-- •.,;f' "A •' -T-' •s: • -'f • -^'rSW'S: Shiphandling Simulator Class This six-week course leading to endorsement as fireman/watertender, oiler consists of classroom instruction and practical training. Under the instruc­ tion of Jim Shaffer (far right), the following wipers graduated on January 29: (first row kneeling, left to right) William Heaton, Calvin Hicks, Mohsin Harhara, Garth A. Beattie; (2nd row, left to right) Marion VanBuren Franklin, Juan Martrinez, Gino Igneri, Johnny Guzman Jr., James Murray Jr.; (3rd row, left to right) Wayne Toole, Robert Ramsey, Steve Churchya, Rick Soto, Thom Kreutzer, Bill Kovack, Phil Zaiewski and Kleo Helm. This Coast Guard-approved course provides realistic bridge watchstanding training for deck personnel aboard both deep sea and inland vessels. Instructors Jake Karaczysnki (left) and Jim Brown (second from left) helped guide the four members pictured above through the two-week course. Tney are (left to right) Greg Johnson, Joan Ellis, Roy Delay and David Barber. •/ : • • V- ••• • ••••' ; -rSi- "i • '- .'A' .> . Hydraulics Class Instructor Bill Foley (left) taught the January hydraulics course in both classroom and practical training. Completing the course, which covered such topics as f uids, actuators, control devices, pumps, reservoirs, sym­ bols and hyudraulic systems in marine equipment, are (left to right) Bruce Smith, John Herrlein, D. Rush Ingram, Jim Musker and Charles Betz. , / V 1 ••• 'V.\:Z'. * '• T : •i Welding •I Eight members completed the Lundeberg School's welding class in March and were awarded a certificate of graduation. Instructbr Bilf Foley (far right) trained the students in electric arc welding and cutting and oxy-acetylene brazing, welding and cutting. Class participants are (front row, from the left) Donald A. Thornton, David M. Tillman, Rene Raoul Rosario; (back row, from the left) David Barber, D. Rush Ingram, Joseph Negron and Jim Musker. Missing from the photo is Herman Best. '-.t: ; • V; -.nw Upgrader Lifeboat Course Correction The Seafarers LOG incorrectly identified an upgrader in the December lifeboat class. The name should have read Alice M. Caballero-Wilder. We regret the error. Learning lifeboat skills and water survival techniques leads to lifeboatman certification at the Lundeberg School. Under the instruction of Jake Karaczynski (left), the following members made up the February 28 graduating class: rx « »: (leftto right) Jeffrey Sutton, Paula Plaisance, Duane Bergeson, Calvin York, Stephen Avallone, Samuel E. Monroe and Franz Winiker. •. 1-• •{••• I^^ Fireman, Oiler, Watertender Course ' •:yyi :if •> • 'v- • • •#. •£:.v V'it 'A' ••V I'is . i • • - ; .V-' r �SUFARISS tOG 24 ilig^Jvv • lis®-. •t--/';''"'. •-' - ' • .1 rrV;, Vi. "'r'' , I ' '-' "'.v'- As Summer Hears, SlU Families Look to Piney Point Vacations T he Seafarers Harry Limdeberg School of Seaman­ ship is available over the summer as a vacation site for SIU mem­ bers and their families. Nestled on the banks of the St. George's Creek in Piney Point, MD, the Lundeberg School's location allows for day trips throughout historic southern Maryland and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The Lun­ deberg School itself also offers comfortable surroundings and many activities for a family. Housing the largest training facility for deep sea merchant seafarers and inland waterways boatmen in the United States, the Lundeberg School is composed of a number of administrative and educational buildings as well as a library and maritime museum and a six-story training arid recreation center on more than 60 acres of waterfront property. A number of these rooms in the training and recrea­ tion center have been set aside during the summer months for vacationing SIU members and their families. Each room contains two double beds, color TV, bureaus, desks and a table with chairs. The Lundeberg School offers an olympic-sized swimming pool, teimis courts, game room, pool tables and a health spa featuring the latest in body-building equip­ ment, including Nautilus, free weights and a universal gym. A sauna and steamroom are also on site. Located in the main build­ ing are the Sea Chest, which sells personal items,.souvenirs, magazines and snacks, and the Anchor Bar, designed to resemble a Viking longboat and featuring the wooden frgurehead which originally highlighted the SIU hall's Port O'Call bar in Brooklyn. Boating and fishing ac­ tivities are also avmlable to vacationing seafarers and their families. There are many day trips that a vacationing SIU family can take using the school as a base. dent Abraham Lincoln. Mudd's house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open for tours. Another landmark is Smallwood State Park, the former plantation of William Smallwood, a Maryland patriot leader during the Revolutionary War. Besides the restored house, Smallwood State Park offers a marina for boat launching, a pic­ nic area and a nature trail. On cer­ tain occasions there are crafts demonstrations, military exhibi­ tions and other special events. working plantation overlooking the Patuxent River, and the Naval Air Test and Evaluation Museum, the nation's only museum dedicated to the testing and evaluation of naval aircraft. At Point Lookout State Park is the site of Fort Lincoln, an ear­ then fort and prisoner-of-war camp built by Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. On St. Clement's Island is the Potomac River Museum, which tells the story of the region. Many specif events take place during the summer months in St. Maiy's Coimty including fairs, the Governor's Cup Yacht Race and the annual jousting tourna­ ment. DAY TRIPS St. Mary's Coun­ ty: Piney Point is located in St. Mary's Coimty— and there is a lit­ tle something of iirterest for everyone who spends time in this rural area which dif­ fers little from what the first set­ tlers to this coimtry may have seen. Established in 1637, St. Mary's is a county of "firsts." It was the first proprietary colony in America, Ae first colony to practice religious toleration, the first colony to have peaceful rela­ tions with the native Indians, the first Maryland capital, the first site to place a black in a governmental position, and the place where the first request for the women's right to vote was recorded. Apart from the historical landmarks to visit, St. Mary's boasts 400 miles of shoreline, in­ cluding a 250-acre fishing lake, public beaches, tidal waterways, hiking trails and imspoiled countryside. It's the site of Sotterley Mansion, an 18th century Charles County: Ri^tnexttoSt. Mary's County is Charles County where rolling fields of tobacco surround picturesque villages. Perhaps one of Charles County's more notable residents was Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, the country doctor who examined John Wilkes Booth's fractured leg fol­ lowing his assassination of Presi­ Prince George's County: Named in honor of Prince George of Den­ mark, who was married to Prin­ cess Anne, the heir to the throne of England, Prince George's County was established in 1696 as an agricultural colony whose main export was tobacco. As the county grew during the 1700s so did the economy, and many of the stately mansions in this area—which are open for special events and tours—were built during this period through the Civil War. Prince George's County is also the home of Wild World Amusement Park, one of America's largest water parks. Besides all the water park fun. Wild World offers a variety of "thrill rides & kiddie rides." The "Wild One" roller coaster was voted one of America's top 10 roller coasters. Nine di^ereiit facilities operated by NASA are located in Prince George's County at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. The Visitor's Center of­ fers many different hands-on ex­ hibits as well as public tours. And each year, Goddard launches more than 1,0(X) model rockets from the grounds of the Visitor's Center. Visitors can join the launch team at the CenConUnued on page 26 SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES Reservation Information A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School is limited to two weeks per family. Member $40.40/day Spouse $ 9.45/day Child $ 9.45/day Note: There is no charge for children under the age of 12. The prices listed above include all meals. Send completed application form to Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, Piney Point, MD 20674 or call (301) 994-0010. Name:. Social Security Number: Book Number: Address: Telephone #: ( ) Number in Party/Age of (IMdren, if applicable: Date of Arrival 2nd choice: ' 1st choice: • 3rd choice: Stay is limited to two weeks. Date of Departure: • ; -: , 4/90 .;r �AMnimo 25 minutes ^mittett. CAPELLA (IMC), Januaiy 8 — Chairman James Dawson, Secretary H. M. Davis, Educational Director R. Smith, Deck Delegate John Cartos, Engine Delegate Mike Novak. Chairman discussed ship's contract with crew who asked contracts • department to review overtime situation onboard. Secretary reminded members to do their part to keep vessel clean. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked company to replace non-working refrigerators. Crew urged contracts de­ partment to fight for membership bene­ fits during upcoming negotiations. Next port: Oakland, CA. C>IP£i.L4 (IMC), January 28 — Chair­ man David N. Martz, Secretary H. M. Davis, Educational Director R. Smith, Steward Delegate Richard Emanuel. Chairman stated no VCR has been in­ stalled in crew lounge. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew asked contracts department for information on overtime and vacation pay on IMC vessels. Next port: Pusan, Korea. OVERSEAS ALICE (Maritime Overseas), January 21 — Chairman Stephen Argay, Secretary C. Leper Jr., Educa­ tional Director Donald Leight, Deck Delegate Steve Sylvia, Engine Delegate Jerry LaPeruta. Chairman announced crew working well together. Engine dele­ gate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and stew­ ard delegates. Crew reminded to follow policy for discarding plastics. Next port: Thameshaven, U.K. RALEIGH BAY(Sea-Land Service), Janu­ ary 28 — Chairman Howard Knox, Sec­ retary E. Vazquez, Educational Director D. Greiner, Deck Delegate J. Ocot, En­ gine Delegate All Mohsin, Steward Del­ egate Sergio Morales. Chairman reviewed procedures on SIU drug pro­ gram. Secretary thanked crew for keep­ ing lounge clean. He complimented Wiper All Mohsin and SA Ramon de la Paz for terrific job they have done. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for fine Job. Next port: Elizabeth, NJ. SEA-LAND ATLANTIC{Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 28 — Chairman W. C. Byrd, Secretary J. Rivera, Educational Director Michael Derringe, Deck Dele­ gate James V. Higgins, Steward Dele­ gate Ronald Tarantino. Chairman announced ship scheduled to arrive in Charleston, SC on February 2. Educa­ tional director noted no money in ship's treasury. Steward delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported by the deck and engine delegates. Crew asked union to look into raising pension and dental benefits. Steward said ship running out of food, especially pastries and fruits. Next ports: Charles­ ton, Port Everglades, FL and Houston. SEA-LAND DEVELOPER{Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 22 — Chairman R. W. Pinkham, Secretary P. P. Lopez, Educa­ tional Director Jerry Lamhert, Deck Delegate R. S. Bynum, Engine Delegate R. W. Dehlhom, Steward Delegate T. Pope. Chairman announced vessel would be going into dry dock in Kobe, Japan on its next voyage. Treasurer listed $38.25 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Tacoma, WA. SEA-LAND KODIAK (Sea-Land Service), January 18 — Chairman John Glenn, Secretary Melvin Morgan, Educational Director Sam Hacker. Chairman asked contracts department to review possibil­ ity of member being able to regain job after being declared fit following illness. He announced payoff in Tacoma, WA upon arrival. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew told new movies would be coming onboard this trip. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. Deck and engine departments declared best since ship came out. Next port: Ta­ coma, WA. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR{Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 31 — Chairman Don McFariand, Secretary John Alamar, Educational Director Walter C. Ste­ vens, Deck Delegate D. McGath, Stew­ ard Delegate Jimmy Williams. Chairman reported very smooth trip with problems already handled. Steward de­ partment thanked for good food, espe­ cially New Year's Day meal. Secretary thanked crew for keeping quarters and recreation room clean. Treasurer an­ nounced $84,in ship's fiind. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew received Seafarers LOG on last visit to Long Beach, CA. Crew asked Sea-Land to pro­ vide transportation at all ports to safely take crew to and from main gates. WESTWARD VENTURE {lOT), Januaiy 29 — Chairman George Vukmir, Secre­ tary Sherman Jarman, Educational Di­ rector John Ross, Deck Delegate Ahmed Hussain, Engine Delegate Mi- Members of the Overseas Ohio's steward department posed for this photo during the vessel's stopover In Nederland, TX. Pictured from the left are QMED 0. Suazo, Steward/Baker Earl Gray Sr. and QMED J. Miranda. chael Brown, Steward Delegate Jacob Dusich. Educational director announced installation of new VCR. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew discussed SIU drug policy and upcoming contract nego­ tiations. Next port: Tacoma, WA. AMERICAN HERITAGE{Apex Marine), February 25 — Chairman J. Passapera, Secretary J. Gonzalez, Deck Delegate Robert Dennis, Engine Delegate Kevin Quinlan, Steward Delegate George T. Winfield. Chairman said crew is so large that additional washing machine and ice machine are needed. Secretary asked company to provide crew with contin­ gency evacuation plan for extremely ill or injured members. Engine delegate re­ ported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Steward asked company to fu­ migate ship. Next port: St. Croix, VI. CAROLINA (Puerto Rico Marine), Febru­ ary 4,1990 — Chairman Edwin Rivera, Secretary R. Maldonado. Treasurer re­ ported no money in the movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contract negotiating committee to permit relief to retain job when perma­ nent meniber does not return. Crew re­ ported trouble with individuals who are not members of the crew. They have bro­ ken lounge door and have eaten night lunches. Next port: San Juan, PR. GALVESTON flJiy (Sea-Land Service), February 18 — Chairman Paul M. Butterworth, Secretary T. J. Smith, Ed­ ucational Director A. O. Cuevas, Deck Delegate Joseph M. McGill, Engine Delegate Daniel L. Johnson, Steward DepartmentJoeL. Clark. Chairman . urged members to tell captain if they want off when ship docks in Charleston, SC. He updated crew on SIU drug-test­ ing policy. Treasurer atmounced $147.50 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked SIU to look into raising pensions and guarding against loss of permanent job because of illness. Ship will be changing runs from Gulf to North Atlantic. Crew complained about stack gas on bridge. Crew reminded not to cook in quarters. Steward department given vote of thanks. Next port: Charles­ ton, Port Everglades, FL and Houston, TX. J/I/ilMC40 (Puerto Rico Marine), Febraary 4,1990 — Chairman P. Flores, Sec­ retary Cassle B. Carter Jr., Educational Director William B. Turner, Engine Delegate Robert Clark, Steward Dele­ gate M. Robles. Chairman announced payoff scheduled on arrival at Elizabeth, NJ February 7. He said individuals who are not crewmembers are eating all night lunch and fruit. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked chief engineer to adjust temperature controls in quarters to accommodate local jiort. Crew also sought to have shower water control fixed to keep hot water coming from cold faucet and steam from hot. Steward department thanked for job well done. Next port: Elizabeth. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Maritime), Febmary 4 — Chairman Cesar Gutierrez, Secretary R. Black, Educational Direc­ tor T. Koubik, Deck Delegate George McCurley, Engine Delegate Alphonse Thomas, Steward Delegate Ambrose Gabriel Jr. Chairman said VCR needs repaired. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. Engine and steward delegates reported no beefs or disputed OT. Crew thanked steward department for fine job. OMI CHARGER (OMI Corp.), February 4 — Chairman F. R. Schwarz, Secretary N. Johnson, Educational Director Wiley Yarber. Chairman and secretary re­ minded crew to separate plastics from bi­ odegradable trash. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer reported $400 and 800 movies in ship's collection. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked wel­ fare department to investigate reduction of days to qualify for pension. Captain Weis invited to end of meeting to an­ nounce new OMI safety recognition pol­ icy which will include prizes and awards to ships and crewmembers who reduce lost manhours. Next port: Texas City, TX. OMI SACRAMENTO{OMI Corp.), Febru­ ary 25 — Chairman Sy Yaras, Secretary David Der, Deck Delegate Jack Brown, Steward Delegate Willie J.Grant. Chairman reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. He thanked stew­ ard department for fine job. He asked contracts department to look into allow­ ing permanent members to regain job after retuming from illness. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Deck and engine departments thanked for keeping ship clean. Ship scheduled to be in Germany for five to seven days. Crew asked wel­ fare plan to review policy for family cov­ erage. '''''' '•f:r '• : ''-M . ' ^ • '• Clyde Kreiss, chief steward aboard the Overseas Chicago, In photo taken In Texas City, TX. OVERSEAS JOYCE (Maritime Overseas), February 22 — Chairman Richard Bradford, Secretary Steven Parker, Ed­ ucational Director Leonard Viles, Deck Delegate Duane Stevens, Steward Dele­ gate Keith Barfield. Chairman advised crew VCR will be replaced upon arrival. He told departing members to stay on­ board until replacements sign on. Secre­ tary said chandler in New York still delivering out-dated bread and spoiled fruit. He said company is aware of prob­ lem. Educational director requested all members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Seafarers LOG received onboard. Crew thanked steward department for fine meals and fresh breads. Next ports: Jacksonville, FL, Baltimore and Newark, NJ. OVERSEAS NEW YORK{Maritime Over­ seas), February 4— Chairman M. Gal- , braith. Secretary J. White, Educational Director L. W. Philpot, Deck Delegate J. McLean, Engine Delegate R. Santos, Steward Delegate W. Fruge. Chairman announced payoff when vessel arrives in Houston. He urged all members to up­ grade at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by the engine and steward delegates. Crew asked union to review increase in pension plan. Crew thanked steward department for good food and ship's cleanliness. Next port: Houston, TX. ROBERT E. LEE (Waterman), February 4 — Chairman Mark Trepp, Secretary Ernie Hoitt, Educational Director B. F. Cooley. Chairman reminded crew to do­ nate to SPAD and upgrade at Piney Point. Secretary told crew he had vaca­ tion, welfare and upgrading forms in case any are needed. Treasurer asked crew to rewind videos before retuming them. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Alexandria, Egypt. Continued on page 26 ;T • f '''Z •''A' �26 :'V ^g; '•'!• SlU Family Vacation Continued from page 24 ter on the Hrst and third Sunday of each month, and are invited to bring their own model rockets to launch. And Prince George's County is home to Camp Springs, site of the SIU headquarters. Anne Arundel County: Named in honor of the wife of Cecil Calvert, Maryland's foundI I ing sponsor, Anne .Zd Arundel County is famous for Annapolis, the state capital, and the Chesapeake Bay. With more miles of shoreline on the Bay than any other county, Anne Arundel is home to snug har­ bors, sandy beaches, picturesque waterfront towns—and fabulous seafood. First settled in 1649, Annapolis was once the capital of the new United States for nine months. The street plan of the two major circles and radiating streets remains the same as the original design of 1695. Home to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis is a lovely city through which to take a leisurely stroll. History is everywhere, from the oldest state house in continuous use in the United States to the his­ toric taverns to the BannekerDouglass Museum of Afro-American Life and History to the city docks, boutiques and waterfront restaurants. All this is Just a short drive from the Lundeberg School. if' S-:-! fv. li-^k I)... m: 'X' ' iig.: I ri. ":• M:": ,>• :«• sr. f i-i> • 1:.,: V' all-- .Northern Virginia: I Across the Potomac iRiver from Washing­ ton, DC and just about an hour-and-ahalf drive from Piney Point is Ar­ lington County and the City of Al­ exandria, both rich in history. One of the most historic spots , in Arlington is Arlington House, the memorial to Robert E. Lee. It is situated atop a hill in Arlington National Cemetery, site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and where President John Ken­ nedy, his brother, Robert, and many other of America's patriots are buried. The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial "Iwo Jima" is lo­ cated in Arlington as is the Penta­ gon, headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense and the world's largest office building. An 88-acre bird sanctuary in the middle of the Potomac River is dedicated to the nation's 26th pres­ ident, Theodore Roosevelt, and nearby is the Netherlands Carillon, a 49-1^11 tower, a gift from the Dutch people in gratitude for American aid given during World Warn. '£5^ In addition, a trip to Arlington offers the opportunity to visit the oldest standing log cabin in Northem Virginia, built in 1743, and the Nationd Inventors Hall of Fame, featuring artifacts of 44 members, including Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Alva Edison and Orville , and Wilbur Wright. Next to Arlington is Alexan­ dria, a riverfront town with a rich trading heritage. Best known as George Washington's hometown and site of his beloved Mt. Ver­ non, there are walking, trolley and boat tours of the historic area. Historical buildings are packed into a small area—the boy­ hood home of Robert E. Lee and the Old Presbyterian Meeting House where Washington's fiineral sermons were delivered, to name but two. Established in 1749 by a group of Scottish merchants, Al­ exandria is a tourist's haven, with specialty shops, historic homes, seafood and ethnic restau­ rants, art galleries and antiques shops. Washington, DC: A good way-to get acquainted with all of the sites of inter­ est in the nation's capital is a trip on the Tourmobile—a narrated, shuttle bus tour to 18 major sites in the area including the Jefferson, Washington and Lincoln memorials. That way, the tourist can get an idea of what he wants to explore further— from the Capitol, White House and Supreme Court to the hundreds of Smithsonian Institu­ tion museum exhibits (all free). Among the Srtiithsonian muse­ ums are the Museum of Natural History, Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum. The Museum of American Histoty is known as the "nation's attic" because every­ thing is there—from the First Ladies' gowns to old cars and fire engines, to coin and stamp collections. The nation's capital offers many art museums as well, in­ cluding the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhom Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Corco­ ran Gallery of Art. The Library of Congress, the nation's central depository of books and infoimation, is housed in three separate buildings, all open to the public, and the Na­ tional Archives is home to the major original American docu­ ments such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. A particu­ larly moving attraction is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Many families enjoy the tours conducted by the FBI of that agency's headquarters as well as a visit to the United States Treasury's printing site, where one can actually watch the nation's paper currency being made. It will take more than a day— or even a weekend—^to see some of the more famous landmarks, much less the other significant at­ tractions in the District of Colum­ bia. Since the nation's capital is only about a hour-and-a-half from Piney Point, many vacation­ ing seafarers make more than one trip to the city while staying at the Lundeberg School. '•raia-.-'Sii- ••i -' • ^^ji^s^gests Continued from page 25 SEA-IAND DISCOVERY (Sea-Land Service), February 18 — Chairman S. Rollo, Secretary J. R. Collis, Educa­ tional Director C. Welsh, Deck E)elegate R. Garay, Engine Delegate S. Padilia, Steward Delegate R. Escobar. Chairman announced payoff as soon as the vessel arrives in Elizabeth, NJ. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Steward department given vote of thanks by crew. Next ports: San Juan, Rio Haina and Jacksonville, FL. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), February 11 — Chairman W. E. Lough, Secretary W. Hawkins. Chair­ man announced crew with permanent jobs do not have to sign off only in Long Beach, CA. Treasurer stated $419 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Steward department thanked for job well done. SEA-LAND UBERATOR (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), February 25 — Chairman V. J. ArdowskI, Secretary C. M. Modeiias, Educational Director E. L. Ford. Chair­ man advised crew about hazardous work­ ing conditions and urged them to report any such problems. He stressed the im­ portance of preventing injuries. He an­ nounced ship would pay off upon arrival in Long Beach, CA. Secretary thanked members for keeping crew lounge clean at all times. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew held moment of silence for departed brothers and sisters. Next port: Long Beach, CA. SEA-LAND TRADER(Sea-Land Service), February 24 — Chairman J. Rader, Secretaiy R. Spencer, Educational Director M. Mefferd, Engine Delegate Willie Lee Jr. Chairman reminded members after being paid off in Long Beach, CA to be wary of thieves. Secretary urged members to donate to SPAD. Educa­ tional director stressed importance of SOFJUUKSIOG safety onboard vessel. Deck delegate re­ ported OT; engine delegate reported beef; steward delegate reported no beefs or disputed OT. Steward department thanked by crew. ULTRASEA (American Transport), Febru­ ary 18 — Chairman Jim Hassan, Secre­ tary John C. Reed, Educational Director E. Figueroa. Chairman reported a beef between him and chief mate. Treasurer noted $100 in movie fund. No other beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked for good food. WILLIAM B. BAUGHiMaersk), February 4 — Chairman Richard Fahey, Secretary William Justi, Educational Director H. C. Cancey. Chairman announced copy of drug laws onboard and all members should read it. He asked all members to submit list of items which need repair. Secretary announced travel pay would be included in February payoff. Vocational director told members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked for excellent job. Next port: Diego Garcia. OMI CHAMPION(OMl Corp.), March 5 — Chairman William R. Dawson, Secre­ tary Floyd Payton. Chairman announced payoff will take place in Norfolk. Trea­ surer reported $40 in ship's fund. No dis­ puted OT or beefs reported. OVERSEAS CHICAGO (Maritime Over­ seas), March 3 — Chairman John Zepeda, Secretary Clyde Kreiss, Educa­ tional Director Mark Sawin, Deck Dele­ gate Billy G. Hill, Engine Delegate E. Whisenhant, Steward Delegate A. Fuchini. Chairman announced payoff in Nederland, TX upon arrival. He said next voyage will be to Scotland. No beefs or disputed OT reported. February Seafarers LOG received. Crew asked to review pension requirements. It asked negotia­ tion committee to add another AB and make bosim a day worker. Crew re­ minded to upgrade at Piney Point, next • port: Nederland, TX. Seafarers Welfare Plan Notice COBRA: Continuation Heaith Coverage Seafarers or their dependents who have lost eligibility for health care coverage under the Rules and Regulations of the Seafarers Welfare Plan, may be eligible to purchase, at a pre­ mium, welfare coverage directly from the Flan. Seafarers who have lost their eligibility for Plan coverage must notify the Plan office immediately to find out whether or not they or their dependents may elect to continue benefits under this program. To obtain more information about this program, seafarers may call the membership sendees office at 1-800-CLAIMS-4 (1-800252-4674) or may write to: CX)BRA Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan 5201 Auth Way Gimp Springs, Maryland 20746 (The April 1989 edition of the Seafarers LOG contains a com­ plete description of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act—or COBRA—program.) Eastern Strike Continued from page 7 joined by the Airline Pilots As­ sociation and the Transport Work­ ers Union, which represented the flight attendants, in a sympathy walkout, thus crippling Eastern's operations. On March 9, 1989, Lorenzo placed Eastern under federal bankruptcy protection and has been trying to rebuild the car­ rier with scabs and through Lifland's court. As the LOG went to press, the airlines' creditors were seeking the ap^intment of an independent operating trustee to be assigned to the company. Judge Lifland is currently hold­ ing hearings on the airline's finan­ cial situation. �£5J- iSsi»"s«# APRIL 1990 27 At the Mobile hall's membership meeting SlU members listen to the monthly dispatcher's report on shipping and registration. Scenes from the SlU's Mobile Hall jVi* •pim 4.- V r-' •V- ; -V VM '• i /• •V'l. I MM Robert Vance (left) talks with Ex­ ecutive Vice President Joseph Sacco before a membership meet­ ing. Vance tells younger SlU mem­ bers to fill the union's jobs because, '1he sun doesn't always shine on the dog's tail, and you can't take it for granted that things will always go well." Bevelow D. Locke, who retired in 1978, is pictured with his daughter Heather. Brother Locke last sailed on Puerto Rico Marine's Aguadilla as a reefer electrician. SlU member Walter Guy is pic­ tured above as he,waits for the union meeting to begin. ' ''.'h ;• 1::•i "si* ''.'T,-' ' . J I i •! . J"' Standing in front of the union hall's new soda pop machine are QMED Electrician Jerald "Rex" Graham, retired Recertified Bosun Fred "Johnny" Johnson, Chief Cook Jack Rankin and Alicia Sanders, the secretary for the Mobile office. On the phone is DEU Clarence Scott. i QMED Pumpman Charlie E. Durden drops by the Mobile hall with his wife, Socorro, and daughter, Jamie Lee, to fill out and submit a welfare claim form. Brother Durden reported that his daughter had dislocated her shoulder but after a hospital visit she is doing fine. -1 • f •• 'v . vj - • I'-" ' -I V.-.-Ki Sean Walker (left), who currently sails as a junior engineer, is dispatched to the USNS Capella by Port Agent Dave Carter. -J • . L-k-.-- ' •I f '" irf ' • - t r: iV Pictured at the Mobile hall counter are AB Henry Gable, Bosun Raul Lawrence, Crescent Towing tug deckhand Ricky N. Shutlock and QMED James L. Bates. Brother Gable was on his way to the Baldornero Lopez in Saipan while Brother Bates was enjoying his time off the William Button. Photographed in front of a picture of the late Paul Hall, the union's president until his death in 1980, are Eloris B. Tart and Chief Cook Jack Rankin. Brother Tart has played an important role in the union from participating in beefs to developing procedures that work. His suggestion on changing the ratings in the steward department to a straight chief cook and a steward/baker was put into effect around 1980. : . •It •• •tj �StAFJUim LOG 28 -;;i^ t i. :'.rMf.. ;•• •:•:./••/ ••; •••.• ^^Riil , VvF" : Captain Designs Ring Bentz Visits Daughter in Coiiege in Maryiand Veteran AB and SIU man Henry Bentz stopped by the union's head­ quarters last month during a visit to the area. Maryland was Brother Bentz's destination because his daughter Joann is currently en­ rolled at the University of Maryland. At headquarters, Bentz introduced Joann to SIU officials '•'»• IS'V ; '•'•"•">3^ ••:' SIU member and Pittsburgh Steelers fan Henry Bentz came by the union's headquarters building last month. Above, Brother Bentz (second from left) and his daughter, Joann, are flanked by SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco (left) and Secretary-Treasurer Joseph DiGiorgio. Diego, who attends the University of Utah. Diego Bentz plays foot­ ball for the school's Ruiming Utes team. •U#-.','-'^vv' -VW' .... •• •i .>U-' -iM''-- v iss -, . •• •' :• . ,•• •/ ''^"• '"•; . • . - -. Brother Bentz's son Diego plays football for the University of Utah Running Utes. Brother Bentz divides his time on the beach between the Utah city, Puerto Rico and his native Pit­ tsburgh. He also visits family in Pasadena and Maryland during time off between ships. Brother Bentz told "Red" Campbell that he thoroughly enjoys keeping up with his family. Bentz began sailing in August 1953 at the age of 20, applying for his union permit in the port of New York. After a stint in the U.S. Army from '55 to '57, he became a full book member on October 31, 1958. He upgraded at the Seafarers Harry Limdeberg School of Seamanship in 1964 and 1967. Continued from page 15 mariners: a ring. He had felt for a long time that merchant mariners should have a ring comparable to those worn by service academy graduates. The ring's design states "United States Merchant Marine" around a birthstone. Other features include a sailing ship, two anchors and "1776" on one side and an anchor within the U.S. shield, two propellers and "USMM" on the other side. According to Rakyta, the ring "represents our industry, repre­ sents everyone involved with ships or tugs." Because many people in the industry have not had a chance to attend college or the Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point, they have "no ring, nothing, to show for their participation in the fourth arm of defense, the U.S. merchant marine," he said. Brother Rakyta believes his ring can be worn proudly by anyone involved with U.S. shipping. Rakyta has found a company in New York that will produce his design. He asks that any members interested in obtaining a ring write him personally at Captain John Rakyta, 3740 Sharon, Prescott Val­ ley, AZ 86314. After hearing from any individual interested in the merchant marine ring. Captain Rakyta will send out information on how to order one. - :•.; • .}x \r. u 'i-f, •h" \i.. '• i! . i'i . f." •o rrj and staff, reminisced with Execu­ tive Vice President Joseph Sacco about the days they sailed together in the '60s and compared notes with Vice President of Contracts Angus "Red" Campbell on the for­ tunes of the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the '60s, Brother Bentz sailed on many ships with Michael and Joseph Sacco, who now serve as the union's president and execu­ tive vice president respectively. While chatting last month in Joe Sacco's office, the two recalled some of the trips they had made together. "Henry was my watch partner," Joe Sacco explained. "He was very good company and a great seaman. We spent many hours talking about the merchant marine and shipping." Vice President Campbell describes Henry Bentz as a good SIU man. "On any beefs that the union was involved in, Henry has always made himself available." Both Campbell and Bentz were bom and raised in Pittsburgh. When the two get together, the conversation quickly tums to the records and activities of their hometown baseball and football teams. Campbell says Bentz is as good as an encyclopedia when it comes to information on the Pit­ tsburgh Pirates and Steelers. Joann is not the only child of Henry and Lourdes Bentz to go to college. While at headquarters. Brother Bentz provided Red Campbell with a photo of his son. Shirley displays freshly baked bread and doughnuts. Can't Beat the Food On the Harry Fisher Gerald Shirley^ an SIU Steward Baker, recently provided the Seafarers LOG with photographic proof of the culinary accomplish­ ments of the galley gang on the Harry Fisher. The group that keeps the crew of the Maersk Line vessel happy are pictured in photo at right. From left to right they are Steward Baker Gerald Shirley, Steward Assistant Omar Omar, Assistant Cook David Collison, Steward Assistants Genevieve Morris and Timmy Cyprus and Chief Cook Billy Gigante. Gigante (left) and Collison bring another tray of lobster tails to the serving line. �miiim Final DEEP SEA JOHN F.HALL JR. JULIUS BOCALA JohnF. Hall Jr., 64, passed away Jan­ uary 18. He was bom in Hahira, GA and served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1947. After joining the union in Savannah, GA in December 1955, Seafarer Hall sailed in the engine department. His first ship was the Oregon Naviga­ tion. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1979 and 1985. Brother Hall was ship­ ping from the port of Jackson­ ville, FL at the time of his death. Julius Bocaia, 78, passed away December 9, 1989. The Philip­ pines native joined the Seafar­ ers in August 1947 in the port of New York. He worked in the steward department. Brother Bocaia retired in June 1971. JAMES W. CANARD James W. Canard, 74, died February 23. Bom in Missis­ sippi, the deck de­ partment veteran joined the union in February 1951 in the port of New York. Brother Canard started collecting his pension in October 1982. EDWARD S. FAIRFIELD Edward S. Fair­ field, 81. pas.sed away Feb­ ruary 5. The Phila­ delphia native served in the Marines from 1930 to 1934. He started his engine department career when he joined the SIU in April 1953 in the port of New York. Brother Fairfield began receiving his pension in Au­ gust 1974. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth. HOWARD F. FOREMAN Howard F. Fore­ man, 67, died De­ cember 16, 1989. Bom in Clarence, MO, Brother Foreman joined the Marine Cooks and Stew­ ards, prior to its merger with the SIU, in May 1953 in the port of San Francisco. He re­ tired in January 1986. His wife, Dorothy, survives him. LUIS G. GONZALEZ Luis G. Gonzalez, 69, passed away Febmary 25. The Texas native joined the SIU in Au­ gust 1947 in the port of New York. He continued his engine departhient career when he , joined District 2 MEBA in 1968. Brother Gonzalez started to collect his pension in Sep­ tember 1985. HOYT L. HACKNEY Hoyt L. Hackney, 72, died March I. Bom in Arkansas^ Brother Hackney joined the Seafarers in Septem­ ber 1951 in the port of Galves­ ton, TX. He was a member of the black gang. He is survived by his wife, Edith. TOMMY JENKINS Tommy Jenkins, 87, died January 30. The charter member joined the Seafarers in January 1939 in the port of Mobile, AL. Brother Jenkins worked in the galley gang before retiring in January 1968. His wife, Taletha, survives him. KERMITA. KNUTSON Kermit A. Knutson, 82, passed away Feb­ mary 18. The Wis­ consin na­ tive joined the SIU in June 1944 in the port of Baltimore. He sailed in the steward depart­ ment. Brother Knutson retired in January 1973. FRANK C.KUMIEGA Frank C. Kumiega, 68, died March 14. Bom in WilkesBarre, PA, he served in the Army from 1942 to 1945. Brother Kumiega shipped in the steward depart­ ment after joining the SIU in December 1949 in the port of New York. He started drawing his pension in Febmary 1980. WOODROW W. LAWTON Woodrow W. Lawton, 73, passed away Febmary 19. The Georgia native was a charter member, joining the union in November 1938 in the port of Savannah. Brother Lawton upgraded to Recertified Bosun during 1975 at Piney Point. He retired in March 1987. He is survived by his wife, Delores. ELTON W. LOW Elton W. Low, 71, died Jan­ uary 10. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1958. Brother. Low joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in August 1974 in his native Seattle before the union merged with the SIU. He began collecting his pension in September 1981. His wife, Mary, survives him. department and sailed from the port of Jacksonville before retiring in December 1988. WOODROW W. McDANIEL JOHN D. MOORE Woodrow W. McDaniel, 77, passed away March 6. Bom in Winona, WV, he served in the Navy from 1942 to 1944. Brother McDaniel joined the Seafarers in January 1952 in the port of Baltimore. The engine depart­ ment veterari's first ship was the Sea Cliff. He joined Dis­ trict 2 MEBA in 1967. Heretired in June 1972. He is survived by his wife, Virginia. John D. Moore, 68, died De­ cember 23, 1989. The Louisi­ ana native served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1939 to 1945. He joined the union in November 1951 in the port of New York. Brother Moore up­ graded to Recertified Bosun in 1975 at the Lundeberg School. He started collecting his pen­ sion in November 1986. JOHN P. "BUD" McGORIAN John P. "Bud" McGorian, 68, died March 20 in San Fran­ cisco. Before coming ashore to own restaurants in San Fran­ cisco and New Mexico, Brother McGorian served as business agent for the Marine Cooks and Stewards. He also sailed as maitre d' and chief steward aboard the President Wilson (American President Lines) and the hospital ship USS Hope when it was under MCS contract. He was buried March 27 at Mt. Tamaipais Cemetery in San Rafael, CA. GEORGE H.MALIN George H. Malin, 64, passed away Jan­ uary 2. Bom in Chicago as George Malinowski, he served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. He joined the union in March 1958 in the port of New York. Brother Malin sailed in the black gang before retiring in November 1985. IRVIN MATTHEWS Irvin Matthews, 69, died Febm­ ary 13. He was bom in Pensacola, FL and served in the Army from 1943 to 1946. Brother Matthews joined the Seafarers in August 1951 in the port of New York. He sailed in the galley gang. He started drawing his pension in October 1985. HERBERT MINICK Herbert Minick, 63, passed away De­ cember 4, 1989 at his home in Jacksonville, FL. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. After joining the SIU in March 1969 in the port of San Francisco, he sailed aboard Waterman's Andrew Jackson, named after the president from Brother Minick's native Ten­ nessee. He worked in the deck JOHNR. MURPHY John R. Murphy, 72, passed away Feb­ mary 10. The Balti­ more na­ tive joined the Seafarers in June 1951 in the port of New York. Brother Murphy shipped in the deck department. He re­ tired in December 1983. JOSEPH J. NAWROCKI John J. Nawrocki, 63, died Jan­ uary 18. A native of Peimsylvania, he served in the Army from 1945 to 1946. He joined the union in October 1955 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Nawrocki sailed in the steward department before retiring in May 1984. CHARLES PERKINS Charles Perkins, 80, passed away December 28, 1989. The Alabama native was a charter member of the SIU having joined in December 1938 in the port of Mobile. He sailed with the galley gang until he re­ tired in December 197,1. Brother Perkins is survived by his wife, Inez. JULIUS B.SCHUTTE Julius B. Schutte, 91, died March 9. Bom in Connecticut, he served in the Navy from 1916 to 1919. Brother Schutte joined the SIU in January 1944 in the port of New York. He sailed in the steward depart­ ment and started collecting his pension in January 1964. His wife, Marie, survives him. WILLIE SCOPOLITES Willie Scopolites, 75, passed away January 24. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 then joined the Seafarers in his native Mobile in 1961. The steward department veteran began his career with Mobile Towing Company. Brother Scopolites was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery in Mobile. His wife, Lucille, survives him. JOHN W. SAMSEL JohnW. Samsel, 64, passed away Jan­ uary 30. The Con­ necticut native the port of Boston. Brother Samsel sailed in the deck department before retiring in September 1981. A/ :T THEODORE L. SIMONDS Theodore L. Simonds, 66, died March 13. He was bom in New York and joined the Seafarers in April 1943 in the port of New Yoric. Brother Simonds shipped in the deck depart­ ment. He started receiving his pension in March 1975. t m . --'-11. • n~ ^ •- : CARLOS VELEZ Carlos Velez,71, passed away Febmary 13. The Puerto Rico na­ tive joined the union in May 1947 in the port of San Juan, He sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Brother Velez retired in August 1963. His wife, Sal- . vadora, survives him. RAYMOND ROGERS * Raymond Rogers, 65, died December 23, 1989. After serv­ ing in the Navy from 1941 to 1961, the Blofton, FL native joined the union in October 1965 in the port of Jacksonville. He contin­ ued to sail from that port in the deck department until he re­ tired in August 1989. Brother Rogers is survived by his wife, Dorothy. •. - .v INLAND JOHN V. CLEARMAN JohnV. Clearman, 82, died January 28. The native of Monroe, LA served in the Army from 1942 to 1945. He joined the SIU in December 1956 in the port of Mobile, AL. Boatman Clearman sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He started collecting his pension in April 1973. He is siu-vived by his wife, Edwina. HOUSTON E. COOPER Houston E. Coo­ per, 75, passed away Jan­ uary 9. He was bom in CoatUmed on page 30 t• �I.-- : •• a..:': r- ^ ill® .-•••a.. iSAFMiteits m 30 Continued from page 29 Franklinton, LA. Boatman Cooper joined the Seafarers in November 1956 in the port of New Orleans. The engine department veteran retired in August 1973. His wife, Eva Viola, survives him. VITO DI GIOVANNI .,1 Vito Di Giovanni, 77, died Februaiy 27. He joined the union in May 1956 in his native New Orleans. Boatman Di Giovanni sailed in the deck department. He started drawing his pension in January 1973. OTTO M. FELKER OttoM. Felker, 81, passed away March 3. The Pen­ nsylvania native joined the SIU in November 1956 in the port of Baltimore. He was a veteran of the galley gang. Boatman Felker retired in August 1976. He is survived by his wife, Ruth. FRANK FLETCHER Frank Fletcher, 67, died February 11. Bom near Mc Coll, SC, he served in the Navy from 1939 to 1942. Boatman Fletcher joined the Seafarers in June 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. He sailed,in the deck department on McAlister Brothers vessels. He retired in January 1986. His wife, Catherine, survives him. #:• Vr" '• ._,/ •.\N - •••. • - »'• /• .* ••AHV':; V;V-: • :.V>\ i • • JIMMIEA.MOODY •tr.;, Jimmie Moody, 61, passed away Feb­ ruary 26. Bom in Theodore, AL, he joined the union in Au­ gust 1956 in the port of Mo­ bile. During his deck department career, he worked for Ideal Cement and Gulf Ma­ rine companies. Boatman Moody attended the 1984 In­ land Conference at Piney Point. He retired in December ji. f • • ••• !\ • ' !i) - i/i . 11 1986. His wife, Mamie Lee, survives him. KENNETH R.POSEY Kenneth R. Posey, 60, died Febmary 24. He was borrt in Marbury, MD and served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. After joining the union in Sep­ tember 1973 in the port of Piney Point, Boatman Posey shipped on Steuart Transporta­ tion vessels.He was an active member at the time of his death. EARL E. TALBOTT Earl E. Talbott, 63, passed away March 1. After serving in the Army from 1944 to 1946, the Florida native started his SIU deck career in the deep sea division in April 1948 in the port of New York. Boatman Talbott acquired his inland book in 1964 in Port Arthur, TX and sailed in both divisions until he retired in August 1988. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School during 1974. '"i •CK • This is a summary of the Annual Report for the SIU PD-PMA Supplemental Benefits Fund [Employer Identification No. 94-1431246, Plan No. 501] for the year ended July 31,1989. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement IncomeSecurity Act of 1974 (ERISA). Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust arran­ gement. Plan expenses were $7,667,835. These ex­ penses included $226,549 in administrative expenses and $7,441,286 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 1,588 persons were par­ ticipants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits. The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $2,793,303 as of July 31, 1989, compai^ to $2,646,335 as of the beginning of the plan year. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $146,968. The plan had total income of $7,814,803 including employer con­ tributions of $7,449,935, earnings from investments of $308,840, and other income of $56,028. Your Rights to Additional Information You have the right to receive a copy of the full Annual Report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report: 1. An accountant's report; 2. Assets held for investments; 3. Transactions in excess of five percent (5%) of the fund assets. To obtain a copy of the full Annual Report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the Flan Administrator, SIU PD-PMASupplemental Benefits Fund, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Telephone number: (415) 495-6882. You also have the legally protected right to examine the Annual Report at the main office of the Plan, 522 Harrison Street,San Francisco, CA 94105, and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Elepaitment of Labor should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N5507 Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 GREAT LAKES JAMES A. BROCK James A. Brock, 72, died March 5. The St. Peter, MN na­ tive served in the Navy from 1945 to 1946. Brother Brock joined the SIU in Febmary 1974 in the port of Duluth, MN. He sailed in the deck department on American Steamship Com­ pany vessels. He was an active member at the time of his death. JOSEPH FURMAN Joseph ^ , Furman, 70, passed away De­ cember 18,1989. He was bom in Amsterdam, NY and served in the Army from 1941 to 1945. Brother Furman shipped in the deck department on Great Lakes Dredge and Dock ves­ sels after joining the Seafarers in August 1961 in the port of Buffalo, NY. He started draw­ ing his pension in May 1981. HOWARD HANSON Howard Hanson, 63, died Feb­ ruaiy 28. The native of Iron River, WI served in the Army from 1950 to 1952. He joined the union in September 1977 in the port of Duluth, MN. He was an active member when he passed away. Cancer Claims Life of David Tellez David Tellez, 50, died of can­ cer Febru­ ary 27 at Lutherian Hospital in Brooklyn. Bom in Ponce, PR, Tellez graduated in August 1959 from the Andrew Fumseth Training School in New York. His first vessel was the S.S. Rose Knot with Suwanee Steamship Com­ pany. He upgraded in 1965 and 1979, becoming a Recertified Summary Annual Report for the SIU PD-PMA Supplemental Benefits Fund Bosun. His last job was on the Sea-Land shoregang in Port Eliza­ beth, NJ. Tellez had a strong history of volunteering for union activities. He hit the bricks in many picket lines from the 1961 New York Harbor beef to the more recent Sonat/Maritrans beef. Tellez is survived by his wife, Martha, and two sons, Raymond and David Jr. as well as his brother, Augie, assistant vice president of the SIU. Tellez was buried March 2 in the Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. 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 Accounts every year, which is to be sub­ mitted to the membership by the Secretary-Treasurer. A yearly finance committee of rank and file members, elected by the member­ ship, makes examination each year of the finances of the Union and reports fully their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee may make dissent­ ing reports, specific recommenda­ tions and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are ad­ ministered 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 repre­ sentatives and Uieir altemates. All expenditures and disbursements of trust fiinds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trus­ tees. All trust fund financial records are available at the head­ quarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member's shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the Union and the employers. Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all Union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as con­ tain^ in the contracts between the Union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Ap­ peals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Angus "Red" Campbell Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Ap­ peals 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 contract rights properly, they should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY—THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG has traditionally refrained from publishing any ar­ ticle serving the political purposes of any individual in the Union, of­ ficer or member. It has also refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This estab­ lished policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the Sep­ tember 1960 meetings in all con­ stitutional 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 cany 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 cir­ cumstances should any member pay any money for any reason un­ less he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to Union headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU constitution are avail­ able in all Union halls. All mem>ers 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 constitu­ tional right or obligation by any methods such asdealing with char­ ges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, the member so affected should immediately notify head­ quarters. EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in employment and 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 and national or geographic origin. If any mem­ bers feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Union head­ quarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL AC­ TIVITY DONATION—SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to fur­ ther its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and fur­ thering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employ­ ment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connec­ tion with such objects. SPAD sup­ ports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force, job dis­ crimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct, or as a con­ dition of membership in the Union or of employment. If acontribution is made by reason of the above improper conduct, the member should notify the Seafarers Union or SPAD by certified mail within 30 days of the contribution for in­ vestigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A mem­ ber should support SPAD to protect and further his economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitutional right of access to Union records or infor­ mation, he should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquarters by cer­ tified mail, return receipt re­ quested. The address is 5201 Auth Way, Camp Sprites, MD 20746. �uMml0 ihoMmti^ to Im^im M SIM^fSIU Memhors oml •;May-July 1990 • ' The foltci^ing is the current course schedule for May-July 1990 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship; ' ^ The course schedule may change to reflect the membership's and industry's needs. PLEASE NOTE: All members'are required to take firefighting when attending the Lundebe/^ School. July 20 Allfitudents must take the Od Spdl Prevention and Cpp^nment class pripr^ to the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course., y' July5 May 14 Marine Electrical Maintenance July 23; Sef^mber 14 Diesel En^ne Technology June 8 May 14 July 20 Pumproom Maintenance & Operations June 11 July 20 ReArigeration Maint. & Operations June 11 All students in the Engine Department will have a two-week Sealift Familiarization class at the end of their regular course. Deik Upending CotirsBi 1990 Adult idutafion Schedule Check-In Date Dale May28 Jitfy23 Augu^Sl All students rnust take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class prior to the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course. Lifeboatnuui May 14 May 25 June I I June 22 ;j«SiS2 July 9 Juiy'20 V. ShiphandHng SiiniMiitor May 21 May 31 ® iRSi'S June 25 July 6 Celestial NaVi^tion May? Jane 8 ... ': Limited License June 11 August 1? Upon completion of courise, the Sealift Operations & Maintenance cdurs^ must be taken. Course AbleSeanpn Steward Upgrading Courses Check-In Completion Course Date Date All open-ended (contact admisskMis Assistant Coidr, Cook and Baker (rflice for starting date) Chief Cook, Chief Steward All students in the Steward Program will have a two-week Sealift Famil­ iarization class at the end of their regular course. SHISS (allege Fragram Sehedule hr 1990 FULL 8-week Scs^ous May, 28 throng Jidy 20 (Firsi) Address. (City) Telephone. (Zip Code) '• yy. "yy May 14 May 18 July 9 July 13 July 23 July 27 Upon completion the Sealift Operations course must be taken. No • NoQ CPR: • Yes No • " (Area Code)" With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You must also submit a COPY of the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, as well as, a COPY of your clinic card. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule until this is received. VESSEL RATING HELD DATE SHIPPED DATE OF DISCHARGE Book #. Social Security #. ;• • :V; DepartmenL Seniority Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces: • Yes • No U.S. Citizen: • Yes • No ^ SIGNATUREL I Am interested in the Following Course(s) Checked Below or Indicated Here if Not Listed Endorsement(s) or License(s) Now Held. Are you a graduate of the SHLSS Trainee Program: • Yes • No (If yes, fill in below) Trainee Program: Fronu to Last grade of school completed. (dales allended) Have you attended any SHLSS Upgrading Courses: • Yes •No (if yes, fill in below) Course(s) Taken. Oil Spill Preventiwi & Containment (1 wedr) Primary Language Spoken. Mo./Day/Year Deep Sea Member • Lakes Member • Inland Waters Member • Pacific • If the following information is not filled out completely your applica­ tion will not be processed. Home Port Completion Date July2 Oil Spill Course Firefighting: • Yes (Street) (State) Check-In Date May 28 Course Steward Recertification Date Available for training _ Date of Birth- (Middle) KecertUicatiott Programs • Yes Upgndiag Upplkation (Last) w Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement; SEAFARERS HARRY LUNDEBERG SCHOOL OF SEAMANSHIP Name- The Adult Education courses of Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Equivalency (GED) and English As A Second Language (ESL) are six weeks in length. Check-In Completion Course ' Date Date September 8 Hi^ Scho(d Equivalency (Gpi) July 30 September 7 Adult Basic Education (ABE) July 30 September 7 English as a Second Language (ESL) July 30 July 6 ABE/ESL Lifelraat Ih'eparation Course June 18 The Developmental Studies Class (DVS) will be offered one week prior to some of the upgrading classes. June 8 Developmental Studies June 4 July 16 Jnly20 DECK • AB/Sealift • 1st Class Pilot • Third Mate n Radar Observer Unlimited n Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator Inland n Celestial Navigation • Simulator Course ENGINE • FOWt • QMED—Any Rating • Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Electronics) • Marine Electrical Maintenance • Pumproom Maintenance & Operation DATE. • Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation • Diesel Engine Technology • Assistant Engineer/Chief Engineer Motor Vessel • Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor n Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance • Electro-Hydraulic Systems Q Automation • Hydraulics Q Marine Electronics Technician STEWARD • Assistant Cook Utility n Cook and Baker • Chief Cook • Chief Steward • Towboat Inland Cook ALL DEPARTMENTS • Welding • Ufeboatman (Must be taken with another course) ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Q Adult Basic Education (ABE) O High School Equivalency Program (GED) • Developmental'Studies (DVS) Q English as a Second Language (ESL) • ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation COLLEGE PROGRAM n Associates in Arts Degree • Certificate Programs No InmporUlioB win be paid oidess you prescat origiiial receipfe BTKI successfully conpktc the conne. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center. Piney Point. MD. 20674 4/90 •'"la iL-f �H' SKM VAWtKltS April 1990 Vtriume 52, Number 4 Roesch's Fitout May Be More of a Roundup mf'%:. ^ 'l' '< m: •i'r, •\i} •^V.! I '.• '• • i ^ ^.V.V ^ : 'T'. • •A -J • \\y\ . , ' ,f'' • .'f X '.; - •,' ••: O';'^ :4 t v'' " -' •' i The "Hanging of the Horns" by the deck department's "bad boys" aboard the William R. Roesch sig­ nifies the start of a new shipping season on the Great Lakes. These are not your typical horns. Yes, the bulk carrier meets U.S. Coast Guard regulations with air horns, foghorns and bullhorns. Yes, the extra set of horns hangs just above the bridge. However, it would be tough to describe the extra set as a s^ety feature, unless the Pringle Transit vessel was being rammed. You see, the extra set of horns aboard the Roesch is from a steer and measures seven feet in length. The horns first made their ap­ pearance last year. Watchman Dave Kole brought the set to the vessel in honor of the ship's cap­ tain, Harlow Anderson of Colorado. "The captain is such a good guy to us that we had to do some^ing for him," Kole said. When Kole rustled the horns in the wild-and-woolly town of Al­ pena, MI, he knew he had to take them to the Roesch. The deck department, nicknamed the "bad boys," worked together to drill holes in the bridge so the horns could preside over the ship. "The horns serve as our flag," Kole said. "When the old man is aboard, the horns are up front. -mm} As Dave Kole steadies the horns, Leonard Scott pulls out the pliers to tighten some bolts. With the horns finally in place, the Roesch "bad boys" are ready for anotherl season. From the left are Conveyorman Don Pinkowski, Deckhand Ray Bennick, Watchman Tom Hocking, Wheelman John Kernohan, Watchman Leonard Scott, Watchman Dave Kile and Ordinary Seaman Jack Chapin. When the season ends, we take them down until the next season." With the holes already in place, the process of getting the horns up to the bridge and positioning them takes about one hour. Once the horns are in place, the crew goes back to the business of preparing the vessel for the 1990 Great Lakes shipping season. For the future, crewmembers are thinking about adopting the term "round up" rather than "fitout" for the start of a new season. ^Watchman Leonard Scott takes care of the seven-foot horns while other members of the crew gather the tools needed to hang the set on the bridge of the Pringle Transit ^ vessel. 18-Year-Old Missing for 2 Years St I;. P-Vv.-^ IjpV-'- itt <.':>• V'.'-V ms Loredana Elena Balu as she ap­ peared in a photo taken two years ago. Wk- The SIU has joined with the Na­ tional Center for Missing and Exploited Children in a photo distribution campaign of young people who have been reported as missing. Over the past several months, the SIU has published photos of missing children compiled by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Surprisingly, an overwhelming majority of the cases handled by the center do not involve abductions by strangers. Rather, they deal with children who have been kidnapped by fami­ ly members or children who have run away on their own accord. h^x- W'S ft' Wk: I;r O- • ; • m• I- -i. « m -. ;i 3 ^ I'l Watchman Dave Kole, who originally brought the steer's horns to the Roesch, is set to begin work to hang them for another season. Loredana Elena Balu is a typical case. Missing since 1988, the child left home while staying with friends of the family in San An­ tonio, TX. She had just turned 16, and her parents have not seen her since. Because many runaway teenagers do not possess marketable skills, they are at high risk of being exploited. Some wind up living on the streets, running drugs or selling their bodies. It is a national tragedy. Anyone having information about Loredana Elena Balu should contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She sometimes goes by the name Dana, Lora or Michelle, and she has a birthmark behind her ear. There are some scars on her forehead, and her light brown hair was dyed black when she was last seen. The number of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is 1-800-843-5678. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Loredana, they may also call the San Antonio, TX Police Depart­ ment, Missing Persons Unit at 1512-299-7484 or their local FBI office. Summary Annual Report for the SIU PD-PMA Supplemental Benefits Fund — Page 26 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1990 Description An account of the resource Headlines: COMMODITY INTERESTS SEEK TO SCUTTLE U.S. SHIPPING MARAD HEAD ISNSISTS ON U.S. SHIP ROLE IN SOVIET PACT SIU GOV'T SERVICES DIVISION WINS MSCPAC PAY BEEF FIRE ON BAHAMA-FLAG SHIP ENDS IN 200 DEATHS BUTCHER NAMED TO TRANSCOM, DONOVAN NEW HEAD OF MSC HOUSE PANEL REVIEWING COST OF DOUBLE HULLS/BOTTOMS SIU COOKS CAPTURE FAMED CULINARY PRIZE ADVANCED FIREFIGHTING COURSE ADDED TO SIU SCHOOL AGENDA SIU STANDS BY IAM IN YEAR-LONG BEEF ILA LEADER DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS BYRON KELLEY NAMED TO GREAT LAKES COMMISSION TRAVELLING UNION SCHOOL TEAM HOLDS TRAINING ON BELLATRIX KARACZYNSKI TO CYCLE ACROSS UNITED STATES COLLISION AVOIDANCE RADAR STUDY IS PART OF SIU SCHOOL CURRICULUM TWELVE SIU STEWARDS STUDY FOR TOP RATING MV OMAR AND MV JUSTINE ROGERS PASS THROUGH ST. LOUIS UNION SHOWS SOLIDARITY WITH GREYHOUND STRIKERS TURNER JOINS HEADQUARTERS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEP'T GREAT LAKES SEAFARERS PREPARE SHIPS FOR SEASON ACTIVITY IS NON-STOP ON THE USNS MERCURY TWO OLD-TIMERS LIVING IN UTAH DROP BY SIU HEADQUARTERS CAPTAIN RAKYTA'S ART WORK IS A CHANCE TO 'CREATE' THE FARM LOBBY VS. WHAT'S BEST FOR AMERICA EXXON VALDEZ SKIPPER CLEARED BY JURY OF CRIMINAL CHARGE AS SUMMER NEARS, SIU FAMILIES LOOK TO PINEY POINT VACATIONS SCENES FROM THE SIU'S MOBILE HALL BENTZ VISITS DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE IN MARYLAND ROESCH'S FITOUT MAY BE MORE OF A ROUNDUP 18 YEAR OLD MISSING FOR 2 YEARS Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/1990 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. 52, No. 4 1990 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/0be50078215b0304d8449cb3c5c06a63.PDF d7f1fb96311bd71982080c5f50a7227a PDF Text Text emeewwar- ^ / '^'^•••: ^\ -r' .'i^X :' '•-irrt^y ^rv^tf.rrc:'.r: ^'- SEAEUSEMCS 3^., '•m • April 1991 Volume 53, Number 4 Union Siates Benefits Taiks In Aii Ports The Big Pressure is Off With the threat of SCUD missiles having passed, SIU crewmembers aboard the Ready Reserve Force vessel Cape Cod relax in a nniqne way. AB Jim Higgins provides music with a set of bagpipes while OS Chris Hi^ins (left) and Bosun Ervin Bronstein listen. Pi^e 7. Aim Is to Assure Fuliesi Member Participation Poge 3:co i/)Cj >^- -H> OOG>2^ Hi coco m-< a na; —JCOt-iC_ moco . Ci—i COire —ti/iX• ,-11—1 • s:i:." :20 o rn en bJ o Debate Resumes on Alaska Oil Policy 4j,,»V v-jt. • • . Page 4 Vessel Liability an Issue U.S. Tanker Industry Faces '. .'-i • U' 'i'" Packing to Come Home As the United Nations continues to negotiate a cease-fire in the Persian Gulf war, SlU-crewed vessels like the USNS Regulus, pictured above loading a tank in Saudi Arabia, have begun the process of bringing troops and materiel to the United States. Page 3. Season Begins on the Great Lakes The Great Lakes Towing tugboat Ohio, crewed by members of the SIU's Great Lakes division, tows two refurbished tugboats from Cleveland to their a»ssignmpiu station of Detroit as hulkers, self-loaders and other vessels begin working on the Lakes. Page 9. The United States Con­ gress passed and Pres­ ident Bush signed the comprehensive Oil PdiJution Act of 1990 into law last August. fact that the federal leg­ islation does not have pre-emptive powers and have either passed or are considering state oil spill laws. The federal legislation is a far-reaching collec­ tion of measures de­ signed to prevent and contain marine oil spills. States that have en­ acted legislation are in the process of promul­ gating regulations to put in force the new laws. The Oil Pollution Act of 199Q, although exten­ sive, leaves the door open for states to enact their own oil spill laws. In many cases, the laws or regulations instituted by the states on this matter are punitive in nature and run counter to the federal statute. Scores of states have taken advantage of the • f J. A-: • - .1; • '9 • •i'M- •S" • ••• mm �mm. gill- 3':?X':'" .ji?'-;3' 'X •• ' ' 3 Mife'73 Militaiy Leaders Advise Congress Of Nation's Seaiift Reguirements President's Report The Runaways Are at It Bigger Than Ever Xt - •:•• . ..... iX: Px ••••'X XpV.'. I'pp .!• .• :. As we continue to examine the role of the runaway ship registries, we find more and more reason to feel that this is an area of activity that de­ mands serious attention. The selling of national flags to be flown on ves­ sels seeking to escape decent wages, conditions and strict safety standards is going to be increasingly more difficult to justify in light of today's realities. This sham of "flags of convenience" registries has been the subject of much controversy and hot debate over the years since the end of World War II, and our union, as an affiliate of the International Transport Workers Federation, has participated in many actions aimed at exposing the device for what it is. Because the proponents of runaway registries repre­ sent enormous political and financial power, the battle Michael has been difficult, but it has never been abandoned. But Sacco now that big changes are taking place throughout the world, a new look at the situation is in order, with a view to renewed ef­ forts in combating the rank abuses that the runaway flags encourage. No Democracy Here In a nutshell, the chief attraction of the so-called flags of convenience is the opportunity for shipping companies to escape the wages and condi­ tions, safety standards, taxes and other standards prevalent in the tradi­ tional maritime nations, which, incidentally, overwhelmingly function as democracies. Flying the flags of Liberia, Panama, the Bahamas, and the Marshall Islands, the runaway operators are free to exploit Third-World seamen who are without any voice in protecting themselves against pay­ roll cheating, decreased safety, blackballing and other throwbacks to the last century. As we look at conditions throughout the world today, with oiir own country's and the United Nation's emphasis on human rights, the dignity of the individual and talk of a "new world order" based on peace and sta­ bility, we cannot help but question how, for example, the use of the regis­ tries of Liberia, Panama and the Bahamas—where human rights abuses, rampant denial of liberty and wholesale drug trading abound—square with America's concern for the dignity of the individual. How does any responsible shipowner justify contributing to the cof­ fers of those who direct and control these political rackets? In Liberia, where getting your head knocked off is one of the least perils you face for trying to have your say, 12 to 15 percent of the national budget comes from contributions of runaway ship and corporate registries. The hard fact is that the registration fees paid out to these countries by the runaway ship operator are used to strengthen the grip of the anti-dem­ ocratic, anti-social forces in control. The United States, by ignoring this state of affairs, is seen as talking out of both sides of its mouth and it is time for the problem to be put on the front burner. Runaway registries may be good for shipowners who are concerned only with bigger profits, but on the other side of the ledger there is the tre­ mendous cost in terms of exploitation and abuse of working men and women, and loss of national self-respect. Because the issue of runaway registries and flags of convenience can get out of hand, it has to be given new priority on the seamen's agenda. Deserves National Attention It also must be given attention by policy-makers in the administration and Congress. There could be no better time for taking stock of the run­ away practices of American companies, especially in light of the collapse of tyranny in Eastern and Central Europe and the recent halting of aggres­ sion in the Middle East. In view of the manner in which Americans are standing up for right and justice, it seems particularly out of order for Americans to use runaway devices that exploit Third-World people. This nation cannot afford to have two sets of standards—on one hand promoting the "new world order" of decency, peace and prosperity while on the other hand continuing to duck the responsibilities of a civilized, democratic country by exploiting working people from developing coun­ tries while propping up illegitimate regimes. Volume 53, Number 4 SCAfARlRS LOG 3/; '.3 • far, so fast." Among the totals car­ ried to the Persian Gulf theater were more than 3.0 million tons of dry cargo and 4.2 million tons of fuel supplies as of the beginning of February. Both military men have told the legislators that more U.S.-flag ships are needed to carry materiel to a front. With more ships being sought, more crewmembers are needed. Donovan and Johnson discussed the need for keeping RRF vessels ready for call-out at any time. They noted if more ships are going to be purchased by the Maritime Ad­ ministration and placed in the RRF fleet, then more dollars will have to be spent to maintain those and the vessels already being used. 'We need—and quicklyRO/RO and breakbulk ships to meet early surge requirements," Donovan told a congressional hearing. He later noted to the Jour­ nal of Commerce, "I would like to see a combination of ready reserve and operating U.S. merchant ma­ rine vessels, with another 20 to 15 RO/RO ships that I would have access to." He said the MSC had chartered all such U.S.-flag vessels it could and still had to charter oth­ ers from allied nations. A need for more trained mer­ chant mariners, better upkeep of Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ves­ sels and more roll on/roll off ves­ sels are among the items being requested by military officials at congressional hearings looking into the Persian Gulf war. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have begun to review Oper­ ation Desert Shield/Operation Des­ ert Storm, analyzing the military's seaiift capability. From Admiral Francis Dono­ van, head of the Military Seaiift Command, and General Hansford T. Johnson, head of theU.S. Trans­ portation Command, the word the' legislators are hearing is positive about the men and women onboard American-flag vessels. "U.S. mer­ chant mariners have always re­ sponded to their country's call," Donovan said in a prepared state­ ment submitted to the House Armed Services Committee's panel on seapower. "Their re­ sponse to Operation Desert Storm has been no exception." The admiral pointed out that al­ most "94 percent of the total cargo moved to support our forces" came via strategic seaiift. General John­ son added in later testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee that "never before in history has any nation transported so much, so •'•P- Former Virginia Congressman Named to Head Seaway Corporation Former Virginia Congressman Stan Pariis has been sworn in as the administrator of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. Parris, 61, became the sixth director of the bi-national regulatory organization designed to promote commerce along the seaway. ^ ^ ^ Army Corps of Engineers Pred lineers Predict Short Missouri Sailing Season The Army Corps of Engineers is predicting a shorter than usual sailing season along the Missouri River because reservoirs along the waterway are three feet lower than this time last year. The season began April 8 and Is scheduled to end November 1, but a Corps spokesman said the final date will be examined July 1 and a new, earlier date could be determined. ^ Three Deep Sea Companies to Experiment With New Refrigerated Containers Three SlU-contracted companies—^American President Lines (APL) Ltd., Sea-Land Service Inc. and Maersk Line—^are reporting success in using a new type of container which allows the shipment of very perishable items. Sea-Land has approximately 75 of the new containers in use, while Maersk is using about 50 and APL has 25. April 1991 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSG Prince Georges, MD 20790-9998 and at additional mailing of­ fices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafar­ ers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. At the MID Meeting Communications Department Director and Editor, Jessica Smith; Associate Mitors, Daniel Duncan and Max Hall; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah Greene, Art Direc­ tor, Bill Brewer. Taking part in the MTD executive couricll meeting last month were, from left, Richara Mantia, president. Greater St. Louis Area and Vicinity f'ort Council, Jarnes E. Hatfield, president of the Glass Workers and John J. Banovic, Mine Workers secretary-treasurer. These individuals were incorrectly identified in the March issue of the Seafarers LOG. . •. • i*' , '• �n ~ ^ .4v APRIL 1991 SlU Benefits Conferences Set to Begin May 13 Schedule of Conferences On Seafarers Benefits The benefits educational seminars will be held in all union halls on the dates listed below. Further information on the schedule of work­ shops will be published in upcoming issues of the Seafarers LOG and will be available at each union hall. All Seafarers, retired mem­ bers and family members are invited to attend. Houston May 13, Monday Mobile May 15, Wednesday Jurte 4, Tuesday New York % ; Norfolk St. Louis June 6, Thursday .iJune 14, Friday Philadelphia July 10, Wednesday Sah Frarkasco July 18^ tliuisday YVilmlngton July 22, Monday Seattle July 25, Thursday Baltimore August 8, Thursday New Orleans Sefkember 10, Tuesday Honolulu September 13, FrkJ^ Jacksonville October 10, Thursday San Juan November 7, Thursday Algonac December 6, Friday /• U.S. Shi^ Starts Supply Line Home As the United Nations Security Council moves closer towards approving a resolution that will officially end the war in the Persian Gulf, Amer­ ican ships and American seamen continue to deliver the goods—^but this time the materiel is ^bout to be brought home. The amount of equipment shipped to the Middle East has been staggering. Under the auspices of the Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Department of Defense agency responsible for coordinating the waterborne carriage of supplies for the American armed forces, as of April 2, more than 3 million short tons of. dry cargo had gone by ship to support Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. 180 Ships Involved The MSC reports that some 180 ships are assisting in the sealift effort. This complement of vessels includes 56 from the Ready Reserve Force, 8 fast sealift ships, 14 prepositioning vessels, 5 long-term chartered commercial ves­ sels—all of which operate under the U.S. flag and many of which have Seafarers as its crewmembers. Additionally, the MSC has 77 chartered ships assisting in the effort to move supplies, of which 15 are U.S.-flag vessels. Twenty tankers, 16 of them American-flag ships, are providing petro­ leum and petroleum products to the military's Persian Gulf operation. MSC reports that a number of vessels have begun to bring materiel back to the United States from the gulf region, but to date none has arrived at either east or west coast ports. Aim Is to Assure Members, Retirees and Families Full Entitlements of Health, Pension, Vacation Plans What are the union's benefits, how do they work and how can a Seafarer, pensioner and their family members receive everything to which they are entitled are among the subjects be carefully outlined, with detailed information that will be addressed at conferences to provided on the level of services available. be held in every port in the upcoming months, SIU President Michael Sacco announced at the March membership meeting held at Piney Point. The purpose of the seminars is to provide the SIU membership and their families with an opportunity to fully review the benefits available through the union and its various plans. The sessions are open to all Seafarers, SIU pen­ sioners and family members. Leading the conferences will be officials and staff members from the Seafarers health plan, pension plan and vacation plan. The sessions coincide with the union's monthly membership meetings to give as many Seafarers as possible an opportunity to participate. All Invited to Join Talks In announcing the SIU benefits educational conferences at the March membership meeting at Piney Point, Sacco said, "These sessions are designed to be helpful to any Seafarer and pensioner and everyone in their families. I encourage every Seafarer and his or her family to come to 'these conferences." During the conference. Seafarers will have an opportunity to ask questions, make sugges­ tions and gather data regarding the benefits provided by the health, pension and vacation trusts. Nick Marrone, administrator of the plans, advised the March membership meeting at Piney Point that the conferences would address the most frequently asked questions regarding the trusts' benefits and procedures. "In addition, the workshop-like atmosphere of the seminars will give us a good opportunity to hear the suggestions of the members and exchange ideas on the kinds of materials and information we should be providing." The benefits of the Seafarers health plan will Among the items that will be reviewed are hospitalization, surgical procedures, major medical coverage, out-patient service, doctor's visits, maternity benefits, prescription drugs, dental and optical care, alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation. Information on the SIU's scholarship program will be available. This program offers scholar­ ship opportunities to Seafarers and their de­ pendents. Detailed Discussions Workshop leaders also will go over the pro­ tections afforded Seafarers in the case of death, dismemberment or disability. Eligibility require­ ments and the mechanisms for extending the qualifying factors will be discussed. Benefits provided by the Seafarers Vacation Plan will be presented as will procedures for correctly filing claims. Eligibility, application procedures and figur­ ing the rate of the vacation pay will be among the items discussed at the conferences. Planning for retirement, qualifying factors for the various types of pension benefits and the different kinds of pensions will be among the issues examined during the conference's ses­ sions on the SIU pension plan. Health coverage for retired Seafarers and the relationship be­ tween that benefit and the medicare premiums will be studied as well. Workshop leaders will go over the various forms used by Seafarers and their families and retirees. Additionally, all kinds of informational material will be handed out at the conferences, said Marrone. The plans administrator also suggested that those individuals who wish to participate con­ tact the union halls directly for a more detailed schedule of the sessions that will be held at the conference in their port. Defense Dep't Announces War Bonus for Seamen The first news concerning a war bonuis for American seamen serving aboard vessels in the Arabian Gulf during the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year was announced as the LOG went to press. SIU Vice President Collective Bargaining Angus "Red" Campbell, in a report prepared for the April membership meeting at Piney Point, advised Seafarers of the government's actions regarding implementation of a war bonus. "As of Thursday, April 4, 1991, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) was preparing a directive to establish a war zone bonus of 100 percent on ships that operated west of 53 degrees east lon­ gitude in the Arabian Gulf," Campbell reported. The SIU vice president also noted that MSC was evaluating a harbor attack bonus and a vessel attack bonus. He said the bonuses, once insti­ tuted, would be effective on and after January 17 and would extend until an official cease-fire agreement is reached between the United Nations and Iraq. (The UN Security Council in its Reso­ lution 686 outlined conditions for a definitive end of hostilities.) The membership will be kept fully informed of all developments on this matter, reported Campbell. "As soon as we receive definite in­ structions from MSC and MarAd, they will be - p forwarded to all ports and printed in the LOG,' he advised. Based on Historic Practice The first word of a war bonus for merchant seamen serving during Operation Desert Storm came in the form of a communication from Don­ ald J. Atwood, deputy secretary of defense, to the secretary of the Navy. Deputy Secretary Atwood said, "Pursuant to title 5, United States Code, section 5348,1 determine that it is in the public interest to authorize the payment of 'war zone' bonuses and harbor and vessel attack bonuses to merchant mariners." Atwood continued, "Such payment is commen­ surate with current and historic practices in the maritime industry during periods of hostility," A war bonus recently was announced by the Depart­ ment of Defense for merchant mariners serving In the Arabian Gulf west of 53 degrees east longitude on or after January 17, until an official cease-fire Is instituted. W'' ^cv . �SEAFARERS LOG U.S.-Flag Ship interests Seek Alaska Oil Deveiopmejit '• ;;s The maritime community is sup^ porting the development of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as a means to advance energy independence for the United States. As a national energy policy is being debated within the halls of the U.S. Capitol, a critical com­ ponent of the bill is whether to allow exploration of oil in ANWR. With the Prudhoe Bay fields yielding less oil each year, Con­ gress is deciding whether to tap the reservoir, estimated as one of the largest in U.S. history, be­ neath the tundra in the northeast comer of the state to help reduce the flow of imported oil. The U.S.-flag shipping com­ munity is working with allied leg­ islators to seek continued export restrictions of any Alaska oil. Such provisions will allocate all Alaska oil for domestic use. Various Proposals The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has two proposals before it: a plan offered by President George Bush in Febmary and one put together by the chairman of the committee, Ben­ nett Johnston of Louisiana. The two bills as well as another bill introduced by Walter Jones (DN.C.), the chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, all feature opening ANWR for oil exploration. A major difference in the bills offered by Bush and Johnston conceri^ the exportation of the Alas­ kan oil to other countries. The administration does not seek to restrict exportation, while John­ ston asks for the same restrictions as found in the Export Adminis­ tration Act for Alaska North Slope crude oil from Pmdhoe Bay. The Jones bill does not include export restrictions, but an amendment adding the constraints to the pack­ age is expected once committee consideration begins. Development of the refuge has been a major battle for years be­ tween oil producers and environ­ mentalists. Reports have stated the fight to include ANWR in a comprehensive energy policy could be as long and drawn out as the budget battle that caused a partial government shutdown last fall. However, efforts to include the exploration began as soon as the 102nd Congress convened in Jan­ uary and have been gaining sup­ port since. Support Mounts The opening of ANWR for oil exploration purposes has the sup­ port of Alaska's senators—Ted Stevens (R) and Frank Murkowski (R)—and the state's congressman, Don Young (R). In fact. Repre­ sentative Young has introduced a bill in the House that would allow oil exploration in the refuge. Young's proposed legislation has garnered the signatures of more than 100 fellow congressmen. Both the Young proposal on oil explo­ ration in ANWR and the Jones bill that is a more all-encompassing energy package will be considered in this current session of Con­ gress. Then the Secretary of Energy indicated the president would veto any energy bill that did not include ANWR oil exploration. Opponents of the energy plans TRAN^!OM Deputy Chief Butcher Retires After 42 Years in Navy Vice Admiral Paul T. Butcher, who most recently served his country as deputy commander-inchief of the military's transport logistics arm, retired last month after serving in the U.S. Navy for 42 years. Prior to his assignment as second-in-command at the mil­ itary's U.S. Transportation Com­ mand (TRANSCOM), he headed the Military Sealift Command. Vice Admiral Butcher, who will be working in the private sector, has long been a strong proponent for the U.S.-flag merchant marine. SIU President Michael Sacco praised the vice admiral for his support of the industry. "Vice Admiral) Butcher has demon­ strated during his tenure that he has a keen understanding for the merchant marine," Sacco noted. "He was more than an advocate, he was a doer for the U.S.-flag merchant marine." While speaking out for the U.Sflag merchant fleet. Butcher also did not withhold any criticisni of the operations in which it was involved. He noted in a Los An­ geles Times article, dated Novem­ ber 24, about Operation Desert Shield the sealift to Saudi Arabia succeeded because "we've had an almost perfect scenario in which to do our job" through a longterm buildup and aid from allied nations. The West Virginia native joined the Navy in 1948. After graduating from Marshall University, he re­ ceived his commission in 1953. Butcher served as commanding officer aboard the USS Mosopelea, USS Camp, USS Josephus Daniels and USS Oklahoma City. He also was commander for Task Forces 73 and 75. On shore, the vice admiral's assignments included deputy com­ mander-in-chief and chief of staff of both the Atlantic Fleet and the Transportation Command. Vice Admiral Paul Butcher addresses the 1990 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting. PROPOSED SITE FOR OIL EXPLORATION and ANWR exploration state none of them does enough to slow the consumption of energy by Amer­ icans. Senator Dale Bumpers (DArk.) has said raising fuel effi­ ciency standards on motor vehi­ cles could save more fuel that the most optimistic refuge production forecast! Estimates of the oil within the protected area in the northeastern corner of the state next to Alaska range up to 3.6 billion barrels. The proposals seek to explore across 1.5 million (an area called the Coastal Plains) of the 19 million acres in the refuge. Both the Bush and Johnston bills view ANWR oil as a revenue raiser to imple­ ment energy efficiency programs. A pipeline from the refuge would be built to connect with the exist­ ing trans-Alaska pipeline from Prudhoe Bay. In a Senate hearing last month. Energy Secretary James Watkins disclosed the transAlaska pipeline could be closed by the year 2009 because of an­ nually decreasing amounts of oil being pumped from Prudhoe Bay unless the ANWR drilling is per­ mitted. Relief Positions, Time Limits Returned to Shipping Ruies Eligible Seafarers aboard deep sea vessels are able once again to call for trip reliefs effective im­ mediately due to a ruling an­ nounced last month by the Sea­ farers Appeals Board. The same ruling also returned limits on the length of time mem­ bers can stay aboard their ships. With the end of hostilities in the Persian Gulf, the board, which is comprised of representatives from both the union and its contracted companies, rescinded its decisions of August 10 to extend the time members could stay aboard ship before signing off and of Decem­ ber 13 to suspend relief positions. The new ruling, dated March 22, returns limits on the length of sailing and the relief provision to the shipping rules. "We have been able to suc­ cessfully meet our commitments to the armed services in the Per­ sian Gulf," said Angus "Red" Campbell, SlU vice president for collective bargaining. "With the cessation (of the war), the board felt it was appropriate the change be made in the shipping rules." The complete text of SAB Ac­ tion 355 is printed below: SAB Action 355 The Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and the various Contracted Employers, hereby takes the following action. Whereas, on August 10, 1990 a national emergency occurred due to hostilities in the Persian Gulf, and Whereas, the emergency re­ quired the activation of vessels from the government's Ready Re­ serve Fleet, and Whereas, the vessel activation escalated the demandfor qualified seamen to man such vessels, and Whereas, the demand necessi­ tated modifying the Shipping Rules to ensure the delivery of materiel to the Armed Services of the United States, and Whereas, Action 352, dated Au­ gust 10,1990permitted Class "A" seamen to remain aboard their assigned vessels in excess of two hundred and forty (240) days, without relief and Class "B" sea­ men to remain aboard their as­ signed vessels in excess of one hundred eighty (180) days, and Whereas, Action 353, dated De­ cember 13, 1990 waived the sixty (60) day relief for permanent rat­ ings for a period of sixty (60) days, and Whereas, the waiver promul­ gated by Action 353 was extended for another (60) days by Action 354, and Whereas, the termination of hostilities in Iraq has resulted in the lay up of vessels from the Ready Reserve Fleet and has re­ duced the demands on the Man­ power Fool, Therefore, Rule 2 G 1, Rule 2 G 3 and Rule 5 A 12 (a) shall be re-instituted as specified in the Shipping Rules prior to the mod­ ifications created by the Persian Gulf national emergency. Effective date: March 22, 1991. �• •^' ' ^ /• w APm mt D1 MEBA/NMU Plan Would Give Control to Food Woi1(ers Rank-and-file anger with the DeFries/Parise scheme to control District 1 MEBA/NMU despite the wishes of the membership, has reached a new high, according to reports circulating around the na­ tion's waterfront. Frustrated by the mounting rebellion of its sea­ going members, the leadership of District 1 MEBA/NMU has de­ vised a plan to maintain control of the besieged union by diluting the seamen's voice within the or­ ganization. The District 1 leaderships—which includes C.E. "Gene" DeFries, who serves as president, and Louis Parise, the group's secretaryembarked last month on a plan that would enable cafeteria work­ ers, who primarily are employed by food service contractors on military bases, and government employees in Puerto Rico to dom­ inate the union. The move could forever prevent seamen, both licensed and unli­ censed, from entirely managing their own affairs in critical areas— such as on constitutional matters, policies, financial responsibilities, selecting union representatives and staff members and so on. Manipulating the Structure According to information re­ ceived by the LOG from NMU and MEBA members, the mech­ anism for achieving this transfer of power within District 1 MEBA/ NMU is the creation of a new division of non-seamen, shorebased workers who have been part of the Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees (ITPE) and ITPGE groups of the unlicensed section. The ITPE unit represents military base chow hall workers and others employed in shorebased jobs, while the ITPGE rep­ resents government employees in Puerto Rico. Up to now. District 1 MEBA/ NMU has had only two divi­ sions—one for licensed seamen from the former MEBA union and one for unlicensed seamen from the former NMU group. Any af­ filiates of either District 1 Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) or the National Maritime SlU, NATCO Ink Three-Year Pact SlU men George Silva (left), a mate on NATCO equipment and AB/ Dragtender Bill Padgett (right) assisted in the union's contract negoti­ ations with the dredge company. The SIU and the North Amer­ ican Trailing Company (NATCO) have reached a new three-year labor agreement. NATCO employs approxi­ mately 115 inland division Seafar­ ers in both licensed and unlicensed capacities aboard its dredges across the Great Lakes and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Captain George Silva, one of the members of the union's negotiating team, said he was pleased with the new agree­ ment. "In total, we gained," he told the Seafarers LOG. Dave Ling, a senior dragtender, echoed Silva comments: "We're happy with what we got. The union gave us tremendous support." Rounding out the union negotiat­ ing team were Angus "Red" Campbell, SIU vice president for collective bargaining; Augie Tellez, SIU assistant vice president; and Frank Paladino, SIU head­ quarters representative. Among the gains made by the SIU members employed by the dredge company was the addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday. NATCO, which uses split hull dredges, gets a large amount of work from the Army Corps of Engineers in its channel mainte­ nance and widening operations. t. -A ''V-l" ^ Steward Williams at Headquarters SIU Recertified Steward Roscce Williams (left) meets with the union's executive vice president, Joseph Sacco, on a recent visit to Washington, D.C. Union (NMU)—^including ones representing industrial, govern­ ment or service workers—were kept within the respective divi­ sions at the time District 1 MEBA and NMU merged in March 1988. Balance of Power By putting the ITPE and ITPGE groups in their own separate di­ vision within District 1 MEBA/ NMU, the shore-based member­ ship will have as equal a claim as do the licensed and unlicensed seamen to a portion of the delegate votes at the union's convention, thus becoming critical to the bal­ ance of power within the organi­ zation. Maritime labor observers note the top officer posts of District 1 MEBA/NMU are not elected di­ rectly by the membership as was done in the days before the two groups merged. Now, these posi­ tions are elected at a convention, giving special significance to the inclinations of the various dele­ gates from the unlicensed and li­ censed divisions and, now, the shore-based division. The District 1 MEBA/NMU top officer slots, which are voted on at the organization's convention, are the president, executive vice president, treasurer, secretary and a vice president representing each division. The union's highest de­ cision-making body, short of con­ ventions and membership referendums, is the district executive committee which is made up of the officers just named. The next District 1 MEBA/NMU conven­ tion is scheduled to take place in March 1992. Why the Change Now? Maritime labor observers say the plan to create an entirely new division within District 1 MEBA/ NMU appears to have been hastily drawn up after licensed division officers, who also serve as District 1 MEBA/NMU officials, were de­ feated in balloting concluded last December by a group of licensed engineers running on a platform to reform the organization. A couple of NMU seamen sized up the situation this way: Since the plan was devised after the MEBA members ran off the li­ censed division officials, it now appears the leadership of District 1 is, trying to lock up control of the organization even though they are devoid of support from the rank-and-file. The ousted licensed division leadership was replaced by MEBA challengers in all of the division's officer posts, all seven branch agents, two of the three elected patrolmen and 16 of 20 delegates to the District 1 MEBA/NMU con­ vention. The challengers orga­ nized under the banner of the socalled MEBA MAD Committee. (The acronym "MAD" has been used interchangeably for "Mem­ bers Advocating Democracy" or "Members Against DeFries.") With their election to the li­ censed division posts and a clear majority of licensed division con­ vention delegates, the MEBA challengers are one step closer to taking on the incumbent union officers—many of whom are the same individuals who lost their licensed division posts to the re­ form-minded engineers but are continuing to hold jobs as officers of District 1 MEBA/NMU or to serve in staff positions appointed by the union's president. Seamen Not Allowed to Vote The plan to create the new shorebased worker section was insti­ gated at a February unlicensed division council meeting. During that session, a Slate of officers and convention delegates for the new division was hand-picked by the District 1 MEBA/NMU leaders. A referendum vote supposedly is taking place from March 18 to April 18 among the ITPE and ITPGE members to approve the District 1 MEBA/NMU-selected slate of officers and delegates and the ITPE division's bylaws. Nei­ ther NMU nor MEBA seamen are being included in the referendum process. Locking in Power According to maritime labor ob­ servers, it is rather startling that District 1 MEBA/NMU leaders, who come out of the seamen's movement, should be willing to fritter away the strength and in­ tegrity of the seamen's divisions in an attempt to control enough convention delegates to stay in power. But many NMU and MEBA rank-and-file seamen see nothing new in the tactics of the District 1 MEBA/NMU officials. One NMU member remarked that the group of officers involved in setting up the new division was the same set of individuals that voted to give themselves huge severance pay­ ments at the time of the merger. (The so-called severance pay­ ments went to five individuals who were officials of District 1 MEBA and the NMU, who then became officers of the merged union upon its inception. The five split close to $2 million extracted from the groups' liquid assets in the pay­ ment scheme.) The NMU seaman also said the District 1 MEBA/NMU ITPE- ma­ neuver giving cafeteria workers on military bases and government workers a great deal of power over the affairs of sea-going members was not surprising in light of the fact that the union's officials had established a structure at the time of the merger that in effect reduced the unlicensed seaman to a sec­ ond-class status within the orga­ nization. (The District 1 MEBA/ NMU constitution says the posi­ tions of president and treasurer only can be held by a licensed division member.) What is obvious to all hands within the NMU and MEBA is that the District 1 MEBA/NMU structure was made complicated and complex, and now is being manipulated, so that a handful of individuals can stay in power, ir­ respective of the wishes of the membership. -'i: I: �• ''j •'[.7''' "• SEAFAKKm States Enacting Oil Spill Bills Tank Vessel Fleet Beset by Contradictory Laws _ •.:,•• y •• Although the federal government enacted , sweeping legislation last August designed to prevent and minimize oil spills in U.S. waters, state elected officials are promulgating bills that have the same intent but that often contradict or confuse the federal statutes. As a result, U.S.-flag tanker companies, American tank barge operators and foreign oiltransport groups find themselves operating un­ der conditions that have been likened to one big crap shoot. Seafarers crewing U.S.-flag tankers and oil-barge tows, have a direct stake in the myriad of state laws that have been passed or that are being considered because the manner in which these statutes are fashioned could determine the extent to which responsible U.S.-flag operators can manage to remain in the business of transporting oil. At the root of the pr^lem is the fact that the Oil Pollution Act of 199Q. while instituting a comprehensive array of pro^edttres-to eliminate oil spills resulting from the transport of petro­ leum and petroleum products by tank vessels (see box), did not give the federal bill pre­ emptive powers. Consequently, states are free to push their own versions of oil spill laws, and tank vessel owners and operators find them­ selves pummeled with a jumbled mass of stat­ utes and regulations. While there is a plethora of proposals insti­ tuted by states or under consideration in dozens of state Capitols that affect the carriage of petroleum by water, there are three particularly important areas that have life-or-death conse­ quences for the oil-transport industry. Liability Issues First among these are measures that set no limits on the amount of money a vessel owner or operator has to come up with in the event of a discharge, including being held responsible for paying damages even if the Spill is a result of circumstances beyond control. These pro­ posals are known as "unlimited liability" and "strict liability." The notion of so-called unlimited liability for shipping companies involved in a spill means that owners or operators of tank vessels can be held responsible for all costs which can in any way be tied to the spill. This can include not only the direct costs of the clean-up, but also administrative expenses, money to fully restore thie environment to pristine conditions, damages to all affected parties and civil and criminal penalties. The other doctrine governing the financial obligations of tank vessel operators in the event of a spill that is being bandied about by many states is the concept of strict liability. The idea here is to hold the shipping company responsible for paying all damages and allowing no defense posture except the citing of an act of God or an act of war. Under a policy of strict liability, for example, a tanker company involved in a spill caused by circumstances beyond the operator's control would be entirely responsible for paying all costs associated with the clean-up and dam­ ages caused by the discharge. An extension of this debate is the application of the unlimited liability concept to damaged natural resources. This kind of provision, for example, holds the tank vessel owner or oper­ ator liable for the costs associated with injured wildlife, fouled beaches or coastal lands and other damages that impair the environment in some way. The mechanisms for determining the dollar value of natural resources is of great concern to the industry. Financial Strength Tests The second issue troubling the tanker industry is the notion that each state can request a tanker or tank barge owner or operator to post huge amounts of funds with the state as a kind of financial strength test, or a kind of collateral, in case of a spill. Known as "financial respon­ sibility" proposals, these measures require the tank vessel owner to come up with colossal amounts of cash or the equivalent. Many states have concocted formulas whereby the gross tonnage of a vessel is multiplied by a dollar figure. Some states also are requiring that such a deposit be made for every vessel entering the state's waters. Tank fleet operators have countered with a proposal that a single deposit calculated on the basis of the company's largest vessel be lodged with the state. Most tank vessel companies, particularly ones not directly con­ nected to the deep pockets of the giant oil conglomerates, simply do not have such re­ sources available to meet the financial demands imposed by such unrealistic formulas. These "financial responsibility" provisions, along with the unlimited liability and strict liability regimes Of many states, have made it exceedingly difficult for companies engaged in the waterbome transit of petroleum and petro­ leum products to obtain insurance, which in the marine transportation industry is primarily se­ cured through Protection and Indemnity (P & I) Clubs. The world's 13 P&I clubs, which in effect are cooperative, non-profit and self-regulating in­ surance operations, have warned their members that the state statutes placing unlimited liability on owners for oil pollution expose the ship operator or owner to liabilities in excess of the insurance cover provided by the P&I clubs. In the case of an oil spill, the P&I clubs insure the first $1.6 million of a pollution claim against a member company. If the claim exceeds $1.6 million, the cost is shared, up to $12 million, among a pool of P&I clubs. Claims exceeding $12 million and up to $500 million are covered under the pool's reinsurance contract. In the current policy year, additional coverage of $200 million is available for any one incident. The $700 million of possible insurance an operator or owner has seems paltry indeed when compared to the Exxon Valdez court-ordered settlement that held the company responsible for damages in excess of $2 billion. Also, the costs to obtain insurance for oil discharges have gone up radically. The unbridled penalties tanker and oil barge operators face make it impossible to obtain insurance at reasonable rates. Overkill of Rules A third area in which states are seeking to push their own agendas is the process of de­ veloping contingency plans, as well as imposing and defining a host of standards in the areas of equipment, inspections, operating procedures and so on. In many cases these state proposals are at odds with U.S. Coast Guard procedures and federal statutes which have long-governed the waterbome transportation industry. In some cases, the states are attempting to define pro­ cedures which are currently in the process of being addressed by federal agencies assigned the same responsibility by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Additionally, the state regimes often contra­ dict each other, imposing a difficult situation on oil-barge operators engaged in the interstate coastal trade. For example, some states are requiring the development of contingency plans involving the local government and vessel operators. Mean­ while, the federal oil spill bill established a systematic timetable for development of contin­ gency plans that first requires the structuring of a national response plan and its implementation. The federal bill then requires that a coordinated plan of attack be developed and put in place between the various national, state and local government agencies with jurisdiction on the matter. The final phase of the national response plan calls for each oil transport vessel to have ill place a contingency plan. Squaring with Federai Bili What is fmstrating to the waterbome-oiltransport industry is the fact that the Oil Pol­ lution Act of 1990 addresses each of these matters—liability limits, financial responsibility funds and contingency plans—^and addresses them quite thoroughly. To the extent possible, the industry is seeking in state after state to keep the state regulations as compatible as possible with the federal oil spill bill. State Oil Spill Legislation Passed or Pending • Financial Responsi­ bility Alaska P California • '..^--P^ • 1 Connecticut Delaware P Florida P 1 Georaia Hawaii Indiana Louisiana Maine Maryland P ... P . Mass, Michigan Mississippi N Hampshire New Jersey C New York N. Carolina Oregon P Pennsyl. P R. Island S. Carolina P c Texas p Virginia p Washington Unlimited Criminal Liability*-^ • Penalties Civil Penalties P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P C P P P P P Tax, Li­ Oil Spill cense Fee Contin­ Generated gency Plan Req'd» Oil Spill Fund P P P P c C P P c c P P p p P P P P P P P P P p p p 0 p p p p p 0 p p P P P P P c P P P P P p oil Spill State/Local Reporting Reimburse R^ulre- (costs, tax loss, ment and/or fund) P P P P P P P P P P P P c P P P P • p c c P P P P P , P P P P ..i, P P P P P P P P P P P c p P .1 c P Key; P = Law has passed. C = Law is under consideration: ^ There are only 5 states that have ' Many states have a mix of limited caps on liability. They are: New York, and unlimited liability applications, such New Jersey, Florida, Delaware, and as limits only on clean-up costs which Virginia. is the standard in a state like Florida. Delaware is another state with partially limited liability. p p p p p P P ^ In many states, such plans fall are currently being required under a regulatpry process rather than through legislation. Among these states are; Maine, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. �APRIL 1991 First Merchant Vessel in Liberated Kuwait Frances Hammer SiU Crew Racks Up Accolades The SlU-crewed integrated tugbarge Frances Hammer received a commendation from the U.S. Navy for being the first merchant vessel to enter liberated Kuwait City despite the fact the harbor area was not free of mines and other potential hazards. U.S. Navy Captain R. A. Crooks of the Military Sealift Command commended the crew for its ef­ forts. "Your support to the Mili­ tary Sealift Command and other military personnel assigned to the port area was outstanding," Crooks wrote the vessel on March 20 after its one week stay from March 11 to March 17. "By allowing these personnel to utilize your facilities, they were able to keep their equipment fully operational despite the hazardous environmental conditions that threatened to curtail harbor clearance operations. 'True Professionals' "Your timeliness in getting un­ derway and transiting very dan­ gerous waters demonstrates the dedication and seamanship char­ acteristic of true maritime profes­ sionals. The U.S. Merchant Ma­ rine has steadfastly and intrepidly supported Operation Desert Storm, and (the) Frances Hammer is a shining example of this dedication to duty. Thank you for your professional and unselfish service. Captain Peter A. Thorpe of the Frances Hammer noted "the crew's willingness to go the extra mile." He wrote to Angus "Red" Campbell, SIU vice president for collective bargaining, about the crew, "Their skill in performing their duties allowed the ship to complete its mission success­ fully." . -- V'wv " ^- •T • - fiBi i. I Charter Since January The Ocean Shipholding vessel, under charter to the Military Sea­ lift Command since January, was sent to Kuwait's capital city to A The Frances Hammer, an integrated tug barge unit, was the first merchant ship to arrive in Kuwait after allied forces freed the nation from the grip of Iraq. Chief Cook Toyo Gonzales, shown in an earlier voyage aboard the ITS, was among the SIU crewmembers to take the Frances Hammer into Kuwait City. deliver 120,000 barrels of water for the citizens and allied forces there. Once at the dock the Hammer incurred several problems making it unable to transfer the water from ship to shore. Iraqi troops had so destroyed the capital city's infra­ structure that the military was un­ able to make the proper connec­ tions to safely unload the cargo. The ITB was ordered to leave after moving some of the water to a supply vessel waiting outside the harbor. SIU crewmembers aboard the ITB were Bosun/AB James Lewis; ABs W^ter Harris, Quinton Herrara and Edward O'Connor; QMED/Pumpman Terry Jacobsen; Engine Utility George Demetropolous; Deck Engine Utility Roan Barrett; Steward Baker Terry Ja­ cobsen and Chief Cook Toyo Gon­ zales. Cod Crew Glad to Leave Gulf After Missile Alert The Cape Cod is one of many Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ves­ sels sailing in the Persian Gulf with an SIU crew aboard. Operated by the OMI Coiporation for the Mar­ itime Administration, the Cape Cod offloaded materiel several times in Saudi Arabia. The crew recently was praised by the ship's master, Thomas Tray, for its outstanding work during adverse conditions, including mis­ sile attacks, while tied to a Saudi dock. (See March 1991 Seafarers LOG.) The RRF vessel was one of many SlU-crewed ships to dock in Saudi Arabia, unload its cargo and depart safely during the Per­ sian Gulf war. Bosun Ervin Bronstein sent these pictures of the crew during a mis­ sile attack and after leaving Saudi Arabia to the Seafarers LOG. He noted the crew was very relieved to leave the port area, but very proud to be able to deliver the goods and do its share to assist the troops in Operation Desert Storm. Crewmembers don protective gear and gather inside the ship after a missile attack warning siren. AB Roger Plaud displays his joy that a missile attack alert has been called off. Bagpipe expert Roger Piaud shows the rest of the Cape Cod crew how to play a tune. Chief Steward Henry Manning (right in white hat) throws a barbecue to help the crew relax after the vessel has departed-Saudi Arabia. Bosun Ervin Bronstein is seated in the center. OS Chris Stinger gets ready to go to the ship's deck to attend the cookout. •pm- �106 8 is-- Letters to the Editor Getting on a 'Good Old SlU Ship' i<r J ' 'J Pi.5S-^ '•h :lM'r W§M. I joined the M/V 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez on Friday, and I have to say that it never felt so good to climb a gangway—that says something as it was bitter cold and snowing and I had a 70 lb. sea-bag and 30 lb. suitcase in tow. The bosun said I should have hailed him, but frankly, I wasn't feeling much pain. I just wanted aboard. Tel Aviv was a bear, as you know, and my last night there we had three alerts. Once my mission was accomplished and I got my aunt out of the city, I had only one thing in mind—to get on a good old SIU ship and be privileged to join my shipmates in contributing to our country's well-being. Something that American seamen have and always will do. This is a "world-class" ship and a fine crew. It's good to be "home." I want to thank all of you at headquarters for being so helpful and understanding. It's wonderful to belong to a "brotherhood" such as ours which is one in deed as well as in name. Larry Reiner Aboard the Baldomero Lopez Editor's Note: Brother Larry Reiner boarded the 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez after a trip to Tel Aviv to assist a family member dur­ ing the Iraqi bombing of Israel. He wrote to the LOG from Bremerhaven, Germany. '.r' • v -.': it ^ Merchant Seamen and Women: 'You Have Not Been Forgotten' :;r, •'^"'u^-'' To all of you serving in the var­ ious capacities aboard the vessels which are relying on you in the Middle East crisis, I commend and support you in your important role in the war. I support our president, our troops and I support you, too! My prayers go out for you and your hunilies. It is apparent that people are not aware of the importance of the merchant seamen and women and their role in the Middle East crisis and what a big part SIU has done to meet the demand and the quick response since the very beginning of Desert Shield and now. Desert Storm. Only once have I heard anything on the news concerning the Seafarers' role in the crisis, and it was so short, I barely remember what it was referring to. But I've not forgotten, and I'm going to speak out about just how important all of you are. You will not go unnoticed and unrecognized for your important part in this war. My support also to the Seafarers school in Piney Point, Md. and to Ken Conklin for the young men and women who graduate from there "ready and prepared!" And to Bart Rogers of Manpower at Piney Pointr^Md., whom I know did his part in helping to get the ships manned as soon as possible. Thanks again. Ken Conklin and ' ''l Bart Rogers, for always taking the time to talk with me when I have called on you. As a mother and a wife of Seafarers [wife of QMED D. Mark Freeman, mother of DEU Reece Halstead), it means so much, and I'll never forget your kindness and help. To all you Seafarers—^you are important and I support you fully. God bless you all and keep you safe. Mrs. Grace Freeman Panama City, Fla. iii Rebuilding the Merchant Marine Editor's Note: Retired member Leo L. Seleskie brings to the atten­ tion of Seafarers a column by a prominent member of the Ameri­ can Legion ori that organization's support for a strong U.S.-flag mer­ chant marine. The article by Vern Hill, vice chairman, Dept. National Secu­ rity, Committee for Merchant Ma­ rine, which appeared in the December 1990 edition of the American Legion's ojficial publi­ cation, follows a brief introduction by Pensioner Seleskie. .. .The merchant marine re­ building column by Mr. Vern Hill and the American Legion shows some of the strongest support re­ garding the gulf crisis. Leo L. Seleskie Spokane, Wash. (From the December 1990 edition of the American Legion's ojficial publication) Again the national convention approved this department's reso­ lution as its lead mandate on our merchant marine in Indianapolis in August. It was resolution No. 460 (Washington) REBUILD THE MERCHANT MARINE, which is extracted as follows: In 1980 there were approxi­ mately 500 ocean-going cargo ships in the active U.S.flag mer­ chant fleet. Today there are about half that number, carrying less than 4 percent of our total interna­ tional trade; and since 1978, more than 55 shipyards have ceased op­ erations. A total of60,000 workers across the country have lost their jobs, and at least 14 ship compa­ nies are operating under Chapter II of the U.S. Bankruptcy Act. Only one shipping line has ordered a container cargo ship built at any American shipyard since 1984. The last commercial tanker built in the U.S. was in 1985. As long as foreign countries subsidize their yards and the U.S. does not, Amer­ ican ship builders are at a disad­ vantage because their costs are much higher. Our maritime indus­ try now ranks lOth among the 16 major fleets in the world,while the Soviet Union ranks second. The deployability of our mili­ tary forces depends on a strategic sealift, and requires national pri­ ority: now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the American Legion that we urge the U.S. Gov­ ernment in cooperation with mari­ time management and labor to rebuild the U.S. merchant marine to its former position as second to none in the world under the Mer­ chant Marine Act of1970; and, be it further RESOLVED, That we urge ac­ tion to modify the Merchant Ma­ rine Act of 1970 to promote the U S. flagging of U.S.-owned ships now under foreign registry. Since the foregoing was written, we have the Middle East crisis that fully demonstrates the critical need for a viable merchant fleet to sup­ ply our growing forces in a real wartime threat. Vern Hill,Vice Chairman Dept. National Security Committee for Merchant Marine Veterans of Foreign Wars Cape Gibson Galley Gang Thanked by SUP Crew We of the Deck Department (SUP) on the S/S Cape Gibson would like to commend the Stew­ ard Department for going all out in preparing a wonderful Christmas dinner. Everything, from food and pastry, plus decorations, was out­ standing, and without question we give special thanks to Chief Stew­ ard Wayne Ballard, Chief Cook Charles Taylor, Second Cook Paul Long, Third Cook Pat Patterson, Pass. B.R. Nicholas Gaines, Off. B.R. WiUiam Smally, Off. Waiter Esteban Luke and Crew Mess Arvis McCracklin. The Deck Gang S/S Cape Gibson Editor's Note: This letter was re­ ceived by SIU Vice President George McCartney and forwarded to the Seafarers LOG. Misinformation Abounds On Role of Merchant Marine I don't know whether the [American people] in general heard a broadcast that I did... on& of the few that praised union sea­ farers about their effort in the sealift to the Persian Gulf. How do the [other] experts keep overlooking us and our importance in military operations of ^s mag­ nitude—to let our merchant marine sink to its present level both in manpower and tonnage . . . Ac­ cording to a commentator, lots of the ships are having mechanical trouble... He went on to say some ships are being chartered for as much as $35,000 per day and one of the holdups has been getting the 7th Armored Division in place. How could anyone, especially in the higher echelons of brain power, entertain a thought of trans­ porting the huge behemoth tanks of these days by air—one to aplane— as opposed to hundreds on some of our ships.... I know what these GIs must be going through as I made a few trips in that locality myself. I just wish I could put my two cents in to assist them. I fully support them and the SIU's efforts. Jack Gardner New Orleans, La. ii i 1 Johnny 'Reb' Poovey Thanked I began to sail for the SIU in 1975. In 1978 I was aboard ship with Johnny "Reb" Poovey. Reb was chief steward and this is when my career began to expand. Thanks to Reb! It's rare when an older person takes time to teach past experiences to a younger per­ son. I wish more older seamen would take time to teach the youn­ ger seamen their experiences. That's an important part for the Brotherhood of the Sea. The youn­ ger ones learn from the older broth­ ers. Please, old timers, help us youn­ ger people! We will pay retirement, then we can teach the next generation. If each of us doesn't help the next generation, there will be no retire­ ment, and no union. Thanks to Johnny Reb. Glenn E. Bertrand Houston, Texas ^ i Keep Up the Good Work I thought it was about time sdineone wrote to... the union to let you know what a wonderful job the San Francisco office is doing, like Vince Coss of the Welfare Plan and Annie Lee Hensley, man­ ager of the PMA Pension Plan. I also want you to know that your office at Camp Springs is doing a good job. Louis Pratko Las Vegas, Nev. ^ 4d $ ii Remembers Sailing Days I enjoyed my life as a seaman. When you visit and talk to other people you find out just how good of a union we are. We have the very best insurance anybody can have... I am really proud of our union... I really miss all of you and wish I could make a trip back over to Ger­ many since the wall is down... I always enjoy the LOG, so please keep it coming. I miss all of my old buddies and friends so much and want to thank all of you for what you have done... Leonard O'Kennedy Stapieton, Ala Editor's Note: Brother O'Kennedy would like to hearjrom former ship­ mates, fellow pensioners and Sea­ farers. He can be reached at P.O. Box 338, Stapieton, Ala. 36578. �APRIL 1991 Orgulf SlU Members Appreve New 3-Year Contract Extension During a stop at Moore's Landing, the crew of the Midland had time to look over the latest Seafarers LOG and other union information. They are, from the left, Steve Winsor, lead deckhand; Rickey Shirley, deckhand, and Susan Wolfe, cook. SIU members who sail aboard Orgulf tugs recently approved a three-year extension of their con­ tract with Orgulf Transportation Company, The newly ratified agreement is for three years, retro­ active to January 1,1991. Orgulf operates 24 tugboats, crewed by SIU members, along the upper and lower Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri rivers. Four of the tugs belonging to the Cincinnati-based company are the Twin Cities, the Robert Kyle, the Midland and the B. John Yeager. All four are pushers and operate year-round, weather permitting. and each features a five-member unlicensed crew: a lead deckhand, three deckhands and a cook. The Twin Cities was recently purchased by Orgulf, which is based in Cincinnati. It primarily handles loads along the upper Mis­ sissippi River and along the Illinois River. The other three—the Robert Kyle, Midland and B. John Yea­ ger—are old timers in the Orgulf fleet. They usually work the lower Mississippi region, but can be found anywhere Orgulf operates. The photos of SIU members ap­ pearing on this page were taken at Moore's Landing, Missouri. • •" • )• mm V The deckhands aboard the B. John Yeaer are, from the left, John Thomas, helby Rankin and Michael Grogan. § Deckhand David Pitchford, left, and Lead Deckhand Curtis Grubbs are ready for work aboard the Robert Kyle. Lead Deckhand Terry Henley, left, and Cook Terry Godden relax aboard the tugboat B. John Yeager. .. Zolly Person, left, and Alvin Clark are both deckhands aboard one of Orgulf's tugboats, the Robert Kyle. Great Lakes Division Members Ready for Busy 1991 Season SIU crewmembers aboard freighters, bulkers and tugboats are plying the Great Lakes looking for another shipping season as suc­ cessful as the one completed dur­ ing winter. While, the SlU-crewed Medusa Challenger was able to get a head start on the season by leaving the docks in mid-March, the cement carrier was followed quickly by vessels from other SlU-contracted companies like American Steam­ ship Company, Inland Lakes Management, Pringle Transit, Litton, Kinsman and Erie Naviga­ tion. "Everything is running very smoothly," said Byron Kelley, SIU vice president for the Great Lakes. "The weather has cooperated and we have been able to maintain our fitout schedule." The only problem Kelley noted was the ice in Lake Superior had yet to leave completely. "We've also had our typical severe spring June Hughes, cook aboard the Twin Cities, fills out a claims form. weather, but only the vessels al­ ready sailing have had to tie up because of those storms." The 1990 season ran 335 days, the longest since the late 1970s. The Sault Ste. Marie locks re­ mained opened until January IS, a total of 18 days longer than the 1989 season closing of December 28. Iron ore shipments on the Lakes totaled 69 million tons, the largest year-end amount since 1981. Jeneta Keith, cook aboard the Robert Kyle, catches up on some paperwork. Baling on the recently purchased Twin Cities are deck­ hands Mathew Diehl, left, and Tim O'Brien. Michael Patterson, captain of the Great Lakes Towing tug Superior, enjoys the re­ cent spring-like weather in Detroit whne waiting for his next assignment. ' :•. • v'; In photo at left, Byron Kelley, SIU vice president for the Great Lakes , left, talks with SIU hawsepiper Kent Ralston during fitout aboard the American MahnPr. In photo at right, Algonac Port Employee Tim Kelley, left; and Steward Dick Gimpel npel look over the McKee Sons before all crewmembers report aboard. V -"Vi �'•^ -l"> 'h; •:'' ""' 'V'v,v::i::^i^^.V" VV'- ; • m :yc ! •'' ;'..i;-r-'-'V-'-' .,•. soHumm Piney Point Yoration Spot Opens for Seafarers 10 Is lying in the sun by the pool your idea of a vacation? Or is cast­ ing a fishing line from the side of a boat or touring historic landmarks more to your liking? Or maybe a little of each? However you are looking to spend your hard-earned time off, all these things are possi­ ble at the Seafarers Training & Recreation Genter in Piney Point, Maryland. }"•«• --'i- ' - M '^y-i i' -t.y ' I;.--/-;:-': •f"li" -• 1:1; ,'' . rir'--'7^ • Lauren Rumball and her mother, Se­ rene, play on the school's playground. Lauren's father is Douglas as Humball, who is attending the current QMED up­ grading course. Ideally situated on the banks of the St. Grarge*s Creek, the Seafar­ ers Training & Recreation Center, part of the SIU's Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, is available over the summer months as a vaca­ tion site for SIU members and thenfamilies. Facilities Are Ideal Housing the largest training fa­ cility for deep sea merchant se^arers and inland waterways boatmen in the United States, the Lundeberg School is composed of a number of administrative and educational buildings as well as a library and maritime museum and a six-story training and recreation center on more than 60 acres of waterfront property. A number of these rooms in die training and recreation cen- UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES ter are available during the summer months for vacationing SIU mem­ bers and their families. Besides comfortable accomo­ dations for the whole family, there is plenty to do at Piney Point. On site are a swimming pool, tennis courts and health spa with the latest equipment including Nautilus and free weights. You also can visit the newly refurbished sailboat Manitu, the very boat used by John Ken­ nedy while he was president. Just outside the school in St. Mary's Country are plenty of other sites to keep your family enter­ tained. St. Mary's County boasts 400 miles of shoreline, public beaches, hiking trails and un­ spoiled countryside. The coimty is the home of Sotterley Mansion, an 18th century working plantation, the Patuxent Naval Air Test and Evaluation Museum and Point Lookout, site of a Civil War fort and prisoner-of-war camp. Former Vacationers Agree Sonny Pinkham and his wife, Patty, from Latham, N.Y. took ad­ vantage of the comfortable sur­ roundings for their vacation last year. Pir^am, who sails as an AB and bosun out of the port of New York, said, "We both enjoyed it very much. We liked the facilities. And it's so close to Washington— really ideal." He said they had wanted to tour the nation's capital and got the chance to do so. 'They were able to see everything they wanted—^and just a short drive later were back in a comfortable room at Piney Point—^able to enjoy a dip in the swimming pool or a walk along the dock. Pinkham, who has been with the union since 1979, noted that the maritime museum at the school was especially informative. "Most people don't have much of an un­ derstanding about the maritime in­ dustry," he said, "and the museum was very informational." Pinkham and his wife are ex­ pecting their first child "any day," and he said Piney Point would be a good place to vacation again when the child is a bit older. George F. and Kathryn Hofmann, both retired school teachers from New York, took ad­ vantage of the school's vacation $40.40/day Spouse $ 9.45/day Child $ 9.45/day Note: There is no charge for children under the age of 12. The prices listed above include all meals. Send the completed applica­ tion form to Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, Piney Point, MD 20674 or call (301) 994-0010. facilities to spend a few days visit­ ing the area—and their son, George K., who was attending up­ grading courses at the time. The Bay Shore, N.Y. couple thought the whole atmosphere at the center was just lovely. They made use of the swimming pool and the dining room. "The cuisine was great. You couldn't ask for more," said Mr. Hofmann. And since they hadn't seen their son in a while, the convenience of Piney Point's location allowed them to combine sightseeing and visiting with their son when he wasn't in class. "We want to come back," added Mrs. Hofmann. Day Trips Piney Point is located in St. Mary's County—not far from a number of landmaiks in the area, both current and historical. There are many day trips that a vacation­ ing SIU family can talre using die i; .: •' -yl"'; --''7 .v.-• " J...,. Boating and fishing activities are avail­ able to vacationing seafarers and their families at the Lundetierg School. school as a base—Washington, D.C., Arlington, Va., Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.—and every­ where in between. It will take more than a day—or even a weekend—to see some of the more famous landmarks in Washington, D.C. Pictured above is the Jefferson Memorial. -§« SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Reservation Information A vacation stay at >the Lundeberg School is limited to two weeks per family. Member Gordon and Terry Cherup watch as their son, Nicholas, checks out a ship's model in the lobby of the Training and Recreation Center. Name: Social security number Book number: Address: Telephone#:!. 1 Number in party / ages of children, if applicable: Date of arrival: 1st choice:_ • / " 2nd choice:. 3rd choice: Stay is limited to two weeks. Date of departure:. 4/91 I I .J �r-»- • ^ -.—•V* 4-L*- f--» >•«•,' % -w Y mi 1991 H w!>5^ txplaiiMioi of New Reporting Date Policy • y">i :v;A:A-a:iS;';| • -rS'-f • •_/•• • •f'^'^". With this edition of the Seafarers LCXJ, the dispatchers' reports for the deep sea, inland and Great Lakes will reflect registration, shipping and members on the beach from the 16th of two months prior to the 15th of the month before the issue's dateline. The new reporting date is due to a revised publication schedule for the Seafarers LOG. Beginning with this April 1991 is­ sue, the Seafarers LOG will be available during the first few days of the dateline's month. Because this edition of the Sea­ farers LOG is the first to be pub­ lished under the new schedule, a 12-day overlap exists between these reports and those listed in the March 1991 Seafarers LOG. This will be the only time such an overly will occur. Khif&Juae Meinbership KHeehags; Deep Sea, lakes, ffl/oflrf Waters • ' 'f^:-:.v.' •^" •'•'• •"'.••"'f;'' "'•" I'v' ^::;,.r:ii, -v :i - ' U- Plney Point Monday, May 6 Monday, June 3 New York Tuesday, May 7 Tuesday, June 4 PhUadeiphla Wednesday, May 8 Wednesday, June 5 Baltimore Thursday, May 9 Thursday, June 6 Norfolk Thursday, May 9 Thursday, June 6 Jacksonville Thursday, May 9 Thursday, June 6 Aigonac Friday, May 10 Friday, June 7 Houston Monday, May 13 Monday, June 10 New Orleans Tuesday, May 14 Tuesday, June 11 Mobile Wednesday, May 15 Wednesday, June 12 San Francisco Thursday, May 16 Thursday, April 18 Wilmington Monday, May 20 Monday, June 17 Seattle Friday, May 24 Friday, June 21 San Juan Thursday, May 9 Thursday, June 6 St. Louis Friday, May 17 Friday, June 14 Honolulu Friday, May 17 Friday, June 14 Duluth Wednesday, May 15 Wednesday, June 12 Jersey City Wednesday, May 22 Wednesday, June 19 New Bedford Tuesday, May 21 Tuesday, June 18 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 15, 1991 •TOTAL REGISTERED Ail Groups Class A Class B Class C Porlt New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington ^ Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houstorf St. Louis |||tieY.|V?uii Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore;, Norfolk Mobile New Orleans i Jacksonville i San Francisco Wilnfiingtpg • Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu I Houston ; St. Louis Piney Point Totals Port lew York ^l^adelphia l^altimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans pl^ksonville San Francisco 4 Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Jlouston St. Louis Piney Point Totals TOTAL SHm>ED All Groups Class A Class B Class C **REG1STERED ON BEACH AH Groops Class A Class B Class C Trip Relief DECK DEPARTMENT 25 2 9 2 • „r.7 7 10 22 13 7 M w'm i-- 27 15 22 11 4 26: h X 195 13 12 2 7 3 5 125 7 4 0 9 15 14 16 10 20 1 3 28 6 7 0 4 I 2 J • . '. 7 7 1 8 8 5 7 14 9 5 4 6 9 . 7 10 10 4 21 6 ' 13 ' 1 11 8 4 2 r 0 0 0 141 139 • 04 87 1 0 0 3 0 0 ; 1 0 0 0 0 39 3 8 13 14 36 30 45 31 39 17 8 "O 6 1 1 325 . . 0 • 5 86 , 12 4 6 1 „ 2 7 3 10 4 13 17 13 - I7X:;\: 15 4 9 5 10 2 1 13 1 • im' -M 0 •X-•5' 109 114 -j • 15' 1 2 3 6 7 4 4 3 5 10 11 15 I 5 II • J, -• ... - 7 a • 9 f) " #* "v 18 1 -x; 1 5 '0 7 4 4 1 4 2 . 5 m&i • 24 4 11 0 . .-.jv. 2 ,. 19 6 1 3 0 0 3 11 10 V 15 4 3 0 •••-•^ 2 , 0 9 7 2 119 62 44 umm. J Ifld' 15 1 3 2 17 1 1 10 10 20 1' ? ; 1 T: 4 ; 14 ta3 2 9 3 6 6 5 1 22 8 X6 .• 0 3 0 57 59 193 .<-2 " 58 3 8 13 20 23 44 13 4 2 100 13 1 1 305 8 1 r 2 1 3 6 17 7 2 2 14 0 1 66 8 0 f , '.sp.;-^i 0 0 2 ~ 2 4 8 0 2 d' mm'") 5 2 0 5 0 2 38 0 5 32 mm MMo: 0 0 hi. : p3XxX-:' 0 1 0 6 .A, ENTRY DEPARTMENT 2 7 41 0 2^ -.2,••...• - . 2 2 7 8 0 5 7 2 6 11 4 .• 4 . 10 • 9:^-:-:P'.: 11 9 3 3 '.. .ft:' 4""' •"5'" 4 2 0 3 1 13 40 ... ^ ^ -p9 0 0 1 0 34 1 35 108 140 0 0 17 0 0 1 21 29 • " ml 0 1 h hti 2 •."»? sit .... ^ 9 11 10 61 36 5 7 16 2 3 215 3 3 )WWm 11 3 6 0 31 •;p ImM 1 0 24 ••^.".••4?^ 5'"; 0 0 ^^•3j 11 53 81 ;v-', • m 0 • ""20'"" 32 3 0 -m--2 4 Q .kk'.::"4.,. 10 0 2 0 2 10 18 29 0 d 0 31 20 10 0 14 13 0 "4 10 0 11 52 0 2 0 16 0 0 3 0 0 45 0 116 266 mhrn ••• 1 2 3 0f 7 1 5.1 5 11 42 23 60 18 8 3 198 20 • 2 2 460 Ik if •i • U-'-' •• • STEWARD DEPARTMENT Totals All Departments 447 437 583 323 295 330 27 824 524 686 *"Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. **"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. A total of 975 jobs were shipped on SlU-cpntracted deep sea vessels. Of the 975 jobs shipped, 323 jobs or about 33 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The re^ were filled hy and "C" seniority people. From March 1 to March 15, a total of 26 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trty rdief program began on April I, 1982, a total of 13,653 jobs have been shipped. 1900 I <r 0 . m -• �SV.' » i"' •" ——"-^ifrnn I liiitfMi, ®*?i«ssS35s5^:^^^ • •• ',••. •••• •:--y- ','r-r:-- \,-:. . '. •. •/• V-'-- 12 "V V";;': - /,-r^..-., • ^• SEUAHens lOG .r4v;4[riJ:^m-r^ CL—Company/Lakes L—Lakes UD Lakes » SMfum WBM* fl&wliwy :,-••• jr:''--" All Groups President Michael Sacco Secretary-Treasurer John Fay Executive Vice President . Joseph Sacco Vice President Collective Bargaining Angus "Red" Campbell Vice President West Coast ... „ 9®®nje McCartney Vice President Government Services _ Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Atlantic Coast vf • JackCaffey Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Byron Kelley Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Coigey » Port mmsMmt •--•• DEPARTMENT ^ Port AlgonackwS^ ' Port 4 » 0 5 0 ' 6 DEPARTMENT ...:•- . 0 v: 5 -; 2 •;28.: .:, 2' ] ';. ®^®^^ARD DEPARTMENT •JM" ^ ""UF'!:- •^/-•^ '-•••• iO Port ^onaci 0 3 0 ®^NTRY DEPARTMENT M 0 63 0 10 18 HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301)899-0675 FEBRUARY 16-MARCH IS, •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port ' •^/s' .. r"' Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Houston Algonac -pi ( St. Louis I lil^ey Point Totab Port New'foif^ ; Philadelphia i Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville - S^ Francisco i WUmington Seattle Puerto Rico Houston V. 0. t1 0 49 0 0 All Departments -Re^s.e^ 0, L 73 0 3 1 0 3 0 0 4 61 0 0 45 ,• 0 ' ei m-x 0 ' 20 ""^' 18 , '"-yV •'--br::. 0 0 0 0 • .':i' • tiX V If d'-i,. ^ - 8 0 0 6 0 0 3 22 0 -o> 42 0 26 0 0 0 " 0 0 0 u . ,-tr> , Qt. n 0' f V 0 0 -- 0 0 0 0 0 14 4 0 . 2 0 2 , 0 ' 4 ENGINE DEPARTMENT - ^ St. Louis J;j*iney Point Totals Port New York K Philadelphia i Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksbli^ille ; San Fraiicisco Wilmingtmi Seattle Puerto Rico Houston. [iiiOAiimiii Algonad"" St. Louis i^jlney Point Totak All Groups Class A Class B Class C a, ® ^ ,0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 6 0 0 1 HK3:-0 0 0 0 3 6 6.:::, 0 ,0 0 0 0 •• K 0 0 0 ? 0 0 0 ::r| j 6 0 0 4 82 35^" isms JQ '. 0 '. It' •'•'Vyt j' IK.' DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi Street Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904)353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 Fi (201)435-9424 MOBttE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 50 Union St. New ^dford, MA 02740 (508)997-5404 ! NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New gleans, LA 70130 (504)529-7546 NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK ^115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804)622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 1914* (215) 336-3818 PBVEY POINT _ St. Mary's County Ptney Point, MD 20674 poi) 994-0O10 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415)861-3400 • 0 0 2 0 ' "2"" . ' % V JHL : i !b " 0 ' ., 0 0 .0 47 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 :>K 0 10 520 St. Clair River Dr Algonac, MI 48001 (313) 794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (301)327-4900 REGISTERED ON BEACH DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 10 i >• : ' M. TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C l&t. ALGONAC lUS/ Fernandez Juncos St Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (809)721-4033 «.V-,(,..,:Y^ATTLE , " 2505 First Ave""'' "'"''*' Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave ^^K^ouis M0 63I,"6 (314)752-6500 WILMINGTON ^510 N. Broad Ave. . Wilmington, CA 90744' (213) 549-4000 m - • .v' f �' •' ' • : '. • • : AMtitm 13 r: - s,.. ^ - ->-4 USNS INVINCIBLE i\J .S. Marine Man­ agement Inc.), September 10 — Chair­ man Gary B. Scott, Secretary P. S. Pitcher. Chairman discussed OT con­ cerning watchstanders chow relief, se­ niority of personnel relating to watch bill and clarification of bosun as day worker. No beefs or disputed OT reported. En­ gine delegate advised round makers to keep careful watch on bilge level, help conserve water and to report electrical problems in living quarters. Announce­ ment of emergency shipping situation in Persian Gulf read to crew. Members ex­ pressed concern about watch bill placing two ABs on bridge during fire/collision drills leaving tire teams inadequate. USNS INVINCIBLE (VS. Marine Man­ agement Inc.), November 14 — Chair­ man Gary Scott, Secretary D. Rusk, Deck Delegate M, Johnson, Engine Del­ egate T. Dunn, Steward Delegate L. Skipper. Minutes from previous meet­ ing read. Crew elected new departmental delegates. Educational director said he would look into new mattresses and lack of towels and wash cloths. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Engine delegate noted items in weight room need to be secured and no smoking should take place in mess during meal hours. Stew­ ard delegate announced concern about unauthorized people being in galley and said cold cuts, cheese and dinner left­ overs will be available for night lunch. Crew reminded to keep ship clean. J .•a' ,. •Vr" ^ '• -^1; ' ' ALEXBONNYMANiMaevsk Line), December 16 — Chairman Richard Grissom, Secretary J. Mortenger, Edu­ cational Director ^njamin O. Conway, Steward Delegate Amor B. Myers. Chairman announced all business and anything from union will be posted. Edu­ cational director reminded members to upgrade at Lundebeig School. Treasiuer reported $6 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew expressed concern over lack of gas mask frlters aboard ship. Crew asked contracts depart­ ment for clarification on Martin Ludier King holiday and for a Maeisk contract Members noted a lack of mail, but ex­ pressed thanks for fresh Christmas tree. OMI SACRAMENTO (OMI Corp.), De­ cember 30 — Chairman Ray Gorju, Sec­ retary David Der, Educational Director Vincent Kirksey, E>eck Delegate Charles H. Foley, Engine Delegate Ron­ ald Gordon, Steward Delegate John Foster. Chairman announced vessel would be in Egjpt for nine days. He said agent would notify crew if there are any problems in members sightseeing or moving around freely while there. No beefs or disputed OT reported. No communications received. Crew asked for new movies to be sent to vessel. AMERICAN EAGLE(pacific Gulf Ma­ rine), January 27—-Chairman George L. Cruz, Secretary Douglas A. Thomas, ••.- • ^ The Seafarers LOG attempt to print as many digests of union shlptioard minutes as possitrie. On occasion, tiecause of space limitations, some wHi be omitted. Ships minutes are Kviewed by the union's contract department Those issues requiring attmtion or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt Of the ships minutes. AMERICAN EAGLE(Pacific Gulf Ma­ rine), September 30 — Chairman Billy Eastwood, Secretary F. W. Bishop, Edu­ cational Director E. Chappel. Chairman advised members to buy films for VCR while in port. Educational director urged members to attend Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew had ques­ tions for contracts department about war pay. Crew requested new range and chest-type freezer for galley, water foun­ tain for crew's mess and TV antenna for crew's lounge. Steward department given vote of thanks. Crew also appreci­ ated good air conditioning in Persian Gulf. ' •- •, ••-,-I.-:•• • Deck Delegate David Kolm, Engine Del­ egate Thomas V. McArdle, Steward Delegate F. Manandic. Chairman re­ ported receiving LOGs in Suez Canal. He requested verification of hazardous duty pay and explosive cargo. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew received notice of no reliefs. Crew submitted pro­ posals for increased dental and optical benefits to contracts department. CAPE CLEAR (OMI Corp.), January 13—Chairman Carlos H. Canales, Sec­ retary Michael A. Pooler, Deck Dele­ gate Edgar Townsend, Engine Delegate Mark Stewart. Chairman reported cap­ tain to buy TV for crew. $375 reported in ship's movie fund. Disputed OT for steward department concerning building boxes for deck department after chief mate okayed work. No other beefs or dis­ puted OT. Crewmembers reminded to clean up behind themselves. Members also reminded to have proper attire dur­ ing meals. Captain agreed to make re­ pairs on galley deck. Chairman reports laundry being fixed. CAPE CLEAR (OMI Corp.), January 27—Chairman Carlos H. Canales, Sec­ retary Michael A. Pooler, Deck Dele­ gate Edgar Townsend, Engine IDelegate • Mark Stewart. Captain bought new TV, 10 new movies. Ship's fund still at $375. Educational director cautioned crew about buying appliances in Germany— cannot use 220 volts in 110 outlet. No welding allowed aboard ship because of ammunition. No beefs, no disputed OT. Got December LOGs in Germany. Crew looking forward to hearing from union about reliefs. Galley deck has been re­ paired. CAPE COD (OMI Corp.), January 13— Chairman Ervin I. Bronstein, Secretary Henry Manning, Steward Delegate Samuel P. Sinclair. Chairman reminded crewmembers to pay more attention in picking up after themselves. Ship's fund reported to have $450, earmark^ for bar­ becue pit and movies. No beefs, no dis­ puted OT. No communications received. Steward department thanked for good hot food. More coffee cups, tea bags needed at night. CAPE FAREWELL mC), January 24—Chairman John A. Morales, Secre­ tary Gary E. Owens. Chairman directed steward department to work with com­ pany to provide more food for crew dur­ ing long voyages. No other beefs or disputed OT. CAPE MOHICAN (OMI Corp.), Janu­ ary 20—Chairman David N. Martz, Sec­ retary Manuel Faria, Deck Delegate Ronnie Makinski, Steward Delegate Luis Lopez. Crew discussed advent of random drug testing. Chairman asked crew to separate plastic and reviewed fire and boat drill procedures. No beefs, no disputed OT reported. Crew re­ quest^ company check on slow receipt of mail. Steward delegate requested more rice on menu. Members asked if radio operator could give more news on world events. Vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. CHARLES L. BROWN(TransOceaiuc Cable), January 31—Chairman Jereiniah J. Harmington, Secretary Delvtn Wilson, Deck Delegate Larry Lee, Engine Delegate Ken Strafton, Steward Delegate Donald Polzin. Chair­ man went through contract changes. Edu­ cational director reminded crewmembers of safety aboard vessel. Ship's fund has $130. including $75 from cleaning out scrap metal from warehouse. Still collect­ ing scrap copper and brass to be cashed in. Deck delegate said food has been ter­ rific. No OT disputes or beefs from any department. TV antenna and VCR need repairs. Next port: Honolulu. EQUALITY STATE (lOM), January 6—Chairman Wilfredo C. Rice, Secre­ tary Pat Brawley, Educational Director Steven Foster. Chairman reported no communication from company concern­ ing imminent danger wages. Engine dele­ gate reported OT dispute. No beefs, OT disputes from steward delegate. Crew raised strong concerns with food. Next port: Sunny Point, N.C. FALCON CHAMPION (Seahawk Man­ agement), January 27—Chairman T.S. Barnes, Secretary P. Cox, Education Di­ rector D.R. Ingram, Deck Delegate Scott J. Jones, Engine Delegate Mir chael Langenhach, Steward Delegate C. Willey. Beef reported in deck depart­ ment, possible disputed OT. Engine dele­ gate reported dispute resulting from delayed sailing. Steward delegate re­ ported no disputed OT, no other beefs. Article 2, Sections 2 and 3 and Article 2, Section 25 were read aloud to the crew and chairman explained how members should go through proper channels with beefs. Crew requested LOGs and corre­ spondence from headquarters. JULIUS HAMMER (Ocean Shipholding), January 10 — Chairman David Zurek, Secretary Donald Williams, Ediicational Director Dan Diehl. Chairman said crew is requesting checks at payoff. He reported ship needs new antenna, dryer and small fans for members' cab­ ins. Secretaiy noted good trip to Russia and back. He thanked Chief Cook George Sapp for job well done. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Changes in shipping rules received. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. INGER(Sealift Bulkers), January 20 — Chairman S. Jan Dora, Secretary A. M. Martinez. Chairman stated eveiything going smoothly. He reminded members safety precautions should be taken at ail times. He said vessel would be going through Panama Canal on its way to Lake Charles, La. No beefs or disputed OT reported. CPL. LOUIS J. HAUGE(Maersk Line), January 13 — Chairman Wayne Dean, Secretary Clancy Hennigan. Chairman advised crew patrolman would be boarding vessel when it docks in U.S. port. Secretary reported $41.53 left in ship's fund after $250 spent on new tapes. Educational director urged crew to upgrade at Piney Point and read Seafar­ ers LOG. No brofs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew waiting for determination on war pay. Crew asked for dumpsters in every port and slop chest be open more than once every seven days. Cabinets built for tapes. FRANCES HAMMER (Ocean Shipholing), January 20 — Chairman Rich­ ard Wilson, Secretary Eddy Usmany, Deck Delegate Royce Kauffman, En­ gine Delegate George Demetropoulos, Steward Delegate Toyo Gonzales. Chair­ man said captain would request port re­ lief for crew while in Jacksonville, Fla. He reminded crew of change in shipping rules allowing members to stay aboard longer. Secretary noted $100 in ship's fund. Educational director advised crew to make use of Lundeberg School and upgrade as soon as possible. No beefs or disputed OT report^. Crew reported it was proud to be serving country and union. Crew asked contracts department to look into war bonus and better life in­ surance. All members thanked galley gang for great job. •/'••riy.V.V.'" •. . • y'-/v • • '•. - t J PRIVA TE HARRY FISHER (Maersk Line), Januaiy 13 — Chairman Michael F. Hurley, Secretary Bernard Tyler, Educational Director K. Jones, Deck Delegate Robert A. Koppel, Engine Del­ egate I. Clemmons, Steward Delegate Billy Gigante. Chairman said there were no disputes or problems. He noted crew was glad to be heading home. Educa­ tional director encouraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer explained workings of ship's fund to crew. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked language tapes be purchased for ship. Next port: Bayonne, N.J. GALVESTON BA V(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), Januaiy 20 — Chairman David Manson, Secretary R. Hicks, Educa- tional Director H. Schlueter, Deck Dele­ gate Robert Shaw. Chairman announced ship would be paying off in Elizabeth, N.J. He reminded crew to take advantage of upgrading opportunities at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT re­ port^. Notice posted about tighter con­ trol at gate when overseas because of Persian Gulf War. Crew reminded to cany "Z" card when ashore. Deck depart­ ment thanked for keeping vessel very clean. Special thanks given to galley gang for good food and keeping every­ thing running smoothly. • •• If "ii 'a? ',V. Playing Tourist Bosun Ferdinand Gongora (left) and Steward Bill Collins spend the new year amid the ancient ruins In Athens, Greece—a well desenred break from their duties aboard the USNS SeaLand Pacific. LAWRENCEGIANELLA (Ocean Car­ riers), January 27 — Chairman Peter Hulsebosch, Secretary D. Cunningham, Educational Director Wayne Toole, Deck Delegate Don Gates, Engine E)eleg?ite Ernie Lacuza, Steward Delegate Vincent Ortiz. Chairman updated crew about pre-employment drug testing. He thank^ crew for good job of putting to­ gether and installing replenishment rigs. He informed crew about SAB action re­ garding reliefs. Educational director ad­ vised crew that video training about the procedures for new rigs is available. He noted safety manuals are in lounge. Trea­ surer aruiounced $127 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Deck del­ egate reminded crew to keep noise down and not slam doors. Crew asked con­ tracts department about war pay and lack of mail reaching vessel. Crew asked not to fill garbage bags completely so deck department will be able to handle them. Crew noted need for new washing ma­ chine. Steward reminded members to wash hands and change from clothes with paint on them before entering mess. Galley gang thanked for job well done. LNG GEMINKETC), January 27 — Chairman Aubrey L. Waters, Secretary William Christmas, Educational Direc­ tor W. Fey, Deck Delegate Amln Rsuab. Chairman stated contracts re­ ceived in last port of call. He thanked Continued on page 14 y-, w ,. -J. �••ill r A:v.•„•.• • • • • = -••>•.•:'>'•• rv *• v. ».,v\.;vi.^ Vr. •i^-'.s. "ivfirar'-'-'rvr"; L :- ' ' SLAFARCRS LOG It- ; V:~^- %sm. A:! ^htps Digeis^ Continued from page 13 crewmembers for not smoking during meal hours in mess hall. He asked crew to keep noise down and not to slam doors on 01 and 02 levels. He an­ nounced ETC vice president would be joining vessel in Singapore and new TV and VCR would be installed soon. Secretaiy thanked crew for keeping mess and lounges clean. He announced vessel would be going into yard in late April so all linens should be turned in before leav­ ing ship. Educational director suggested members upgrade at Lundeberg School. He also told members to be careful when ashore. Treasurer reported $375 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Union welfare and upgrading forms re­ quested. Steward department thanked for job well done. Next ports: Arun, Indone­ sia and Nagoya, Japan. •M';' MAERSK CONSTELLATION (Maersk Line), January 15 — Chairman Thomas Grosskurth, Secretary Patrick Brlggs, Educational Director C. Petersen, Deck Delegate Brad Shelly, Engine Delegate Shawn Harlburt, Stew­ ard Delegate Andre Zene. Chairman up­ dated crew on Persian Gulf situation. He said small ice machine too small for crew in hot climates. Secretary an­ nounced receipt of Seafarers LOG for November and December. He said very little mail has been received. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $200 in ship's fund. Crew reported dis­ puted OT for Martin Luther King holi­ day. Crew asked contracts department ' about restriction to ship pay. Question raised regarding extra pay when working cargo lashings in holds/deck. Steward had copies of standard freightship agree­ ment. Microwave oven received, but buffer had to be returned as it was wrong voltage. Crew gave big vote of thanks to galley gang for good food and excellent barbecues. Deck department thanked for nice job painting the pool. Crewmembers hope war ends soon so people can live at peace with each other. ..... NEDLLOYD HOLLAND (Sea-Land Service), January 13 — Chairman Louis W. Hachey, Secretary J. P. Speller, Ed­ ucational Director Charles F. Welsh, Deck Delegate Douglas Jones, Engine Delegate Nathan Adams, Steward Dele­ gate John Willis. Chairman spoke with captain about draws for new crew com­ ing aboard in Houston. He reported some rooms have refrigerators because they were installed by U.S. Lines and they will not be replaced when they break. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. Deck and steward delegates had no beefs or disputed OT. Crew asked to leave ashtrays alone for smokers. Bath­ room fans need repair. 12-4 and 4-8 ABs need separate phones. Steward department thanked for good food and job well done. •«> . \ S- s;= .'fes'--' - •;..-'y . l:;v 5i •fi I ••»•• ? Meeting On the Brooks Range Reviewing the most recent voyage on the Brooks Range are (seated, from ieft) Steward Deflate Joe Gonzalez, Chairman M.G. Gutierrez, Education Director Bob Hamil, (standing, from ieft) Deck Dei^ate Fred Collins and Engine Delegate Dave Goosby. NEDLLOYD HUDSON{Sea-hand Ser­ vice), January 27 — Chairman John Neff, Secretary R. G. Connolly; Educa­ tional Director Mike Overgaard, En­ gine Delegate Ali Mohsih, Steward Delegate M. Hussein. Chairman said crew is requesting more information about reliefs for permanent personnel, es­ pecially if member gets sick or injured. Secretary said crew discussed telex re­ ceived about change in shipping rules concerning reliefs. Engine delegate re­ ported disputed OT. E)eck and steward del­ egates reported no beefs or disputed OT. Bosun reminded crew to keep ship clean. Crew offered moment of silence over pass­ ing of fonner Secretary-Treasurer Joseph DiGiorgio. Crew thanked Chief Cook M. Hussein and GSU J.Santiago for good food and keeping things in order. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. OMI SACRAMENTO (OMl Corp.), Januaiy 20 — Chairman Ray Gorju, Secretary David W. Der, Educational Director Ronald Gordon, Deck Dele­ gate Charles Foley, Steward Delegate John Foster. Captain thanked crew for good trip. Chairman announced vessel would pay off January 25. He reminded crew to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked company for shortwave radio. All depart­ ments thanked for jobs well done. OVERSEAS MARIL Viltf (Maritime Overseas), January 20 — Chairman Paul Butterworth, Secretary C. Hazzard, Deck Delegate Peter Pinkerton, Engine Delegate Richard D. Holmes, Steward Delegate Charles Wilson. Chairman an­ nounced payoff set for Corpus Christi, Texas on January 27. He advised crew not to leave vessel without proper relief. He reminded crew to donate to SPAD and upgrade at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on duties for DEU. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Members reminded to clean rooms before leaving. Galley gang thanked for job well done and wonderful holiday dinner and spread. OVERSEAS VIVIAN (Maritime Over­ seas), January 13 — Chairman Richard O'Brien, Secretary Hector Guilbes, Ed­ ucational Director D. Campos, Deck Delegate William Jackson, Engine Dele­ gate Kenneth Harder, Steward Dele­ gate M. Ortez. Educational director urged all members to attend Piney Point to upgrade their skills. No beefs or dis­ pute OT reported. Seafarers LOGs re­ ceived. Crew asked contracts department for clarification about which contract is being used during Persian Gulf crisis and to seek from the company a change in lo­ cation where reliefs join the vessel. PAUL BUCK (Ocean Shipholding), Jan­ uary 28 —- Chairman S. Drafts, Secre­ tary J. Casalino, Educational Director L. Lee, Deck Delegate Chris Fairfax, Engine Delegate Mel Grayson, Steward Delegate Adolphus Young. Chairmw reminded crew to separate trash, order paper bags and eliminate use of plastics. He updated members on use of washing machine in laundry room. Educational di­ rector told members to take advantage of upgrading opportunities at Lundeberg School. Treasurer announced $270 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Letter from Angus "Red" Camp­ bell posted on bulletin board concerning gulf crisis and change in shipping rules. Crew asked to show consideration of othr ers by holding noise down. Crew re­ ceived job-well-done commendation from captain of USS Detroit for consol operation. RALEIGH BA Y(Sea-Land Service), January 20 — Chairman Howard C. Knox, Secretary H. Johnson, Deck Del- * egate Robert Brakeman, Steward Dele­ gate Alfred L. DeSlmone. All delegates reported beefs. Crew thanked steward de­ partment for wonderful Christmas diiuier and keeping ship clean. SAM HOUSTON (Waterman), Januaiy 4 — Chairman L. R. Coiangeio, Secre­ tary C. Rotdts, Educational Director Russell W. Zeller. Chairman asked con­ tracts department for clarification if com­ pany payroll master can override call for replacement of member. Educational di­ rector advised bosun to give repair list to chief engineer rather than chief mate. Deck and engine delegates reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported by steward delegate. Crew asked company to repair TV or replace stolen remote control. Crew advised to make sure pay is accurate before leaving pay­ off area. Crew will talk with patrolrnan about changes in shipping rules created by gulf situation. Next port: New Or­ leans. SEA-LAND ACHIEVER (Sea-Land Service), January 27 — Chairman John Bertolino, Secretary Robert Outlaw, Engine Delegate Jerry Dellinger. Chair­ man armounced payoff scheduled upon arrival February 3. He said TV antenna would be repaired and new 21-inch TV is ordered. Secretary said all was going well. He reminded those leaving vessel to strip linens and clean rooms. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Crew asked for dryer to be re­ paired. Galley gang thanked for its fine work. SEA-LAND ATLANTIC (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 24 — Chairman W. C. Byrd, Secretary J. Darrow, Educational Director C. M. Devonish, Deck Dele­ gate Claude Dick, Engine Delegate Charles Grogan, Steward Delegate Sisto DeAnda. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported by deck and steward delegates. Crew asked company to provide more variety of beef, fish and fresh fruit and more skim milk. Crew still waiting for in­ dividual room refrigerators. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Next port: Houston. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (SeaLand Service), January 29 — Chairman S. J. Rallo, Secretary L. Perales, Engine Delegate Valentin Martinez, Steward Delegate Jessie Lee James. Chairman said crew is requesting another washing machine be installed as present one is constantly in use. He advised crew to be on watch for strangers coming aboard and keep doors locked in port. Educa­ tional director urged members to attend Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew thanked captain for replac­ ing VCR. Steward department thanked for cleaning up ship. Deck and engine de­ partments thai^ed for cleaning and paint­ ing their areas. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J., Jacksonville, Fla. and San Juan. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (Sea-Land Service), January 20 — Chairman Mar­ vin Zimbro, Secretary E. Vazquez, Edu­ cational Director David Dukehart. Chairman talked with crew about laws prohibiting plastics being dumped over­ board. He reminded crew to separate plastics from garbage. Secretary said ev­ erything was running smoothly. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to seek addi­ tional AB and steward assistant for ship during next negotiation. Vote of thanks given to galley gang for job well done. SEA-LAND FREEDOM (Sea-Land Service), January 27 — Chairman S. Call, Secretary M. Sami, Deck IDelegate J. S. McKnight, Engine Delegate Rich­ ard Surrick, Steward Delegate Paul Fiore. Treasurer armounced $75 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Crew reminded to strip beds be­ fore signing off vessel. Members asked for lounge TV to be repaired or replaced. They also asked for additional copies of freightship agreement. Next port: Seattle. SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE (SeaLand Service), January 20 — Chairman J. A. Lewis, Secretary Paul Calimer. Chairman armounced vessel would pay off January 22 in Tacoma, Wash. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck and steward delegates. Change in shipping rules notice posted. Bosun donated 50 movies purchased from captain to unli­ censed members' movie locker. Next port: Tacoma. SEA-LAND ILE DE FRANCE (SeaLand Service), January 13 — Chairman J. Hassan, Secretary E. Doffoh, Educa­ tional Director E. Bain, Deck Delegate M. Masek, Steward Delegate William Campbell. No beefs or disputed OT re­ ported. Nejtt ports: Boston and Eliza­ beth, N.J. SEA-LAND MARINER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 27 — Chairman A. R. McCree, Secretary P. P. Lopez, Educational Director G. R. Speckman, Deck Delegate R. E. Charrion, Engine Delegate J. M. Graves, Steward Dele­ gate D. S. Skretta. Chairman armounced everything running fine. He will ask pa­ trolman about crew reliefs. He thanked crew for keeping vessel clean. He noted port time would be short as ship is be­ hind schedule. Secretary advised crew to see patrolman with questions concemirig upgrading at Lundeberg School. He asked members to keep reading material in lounge. Educational director urged crew to read Seafarers LOG for union matters and current events. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew warned to keep eye out for suspicious people aboard ship and in port. Next port: Ta­ coma, Wash. \ SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 30 — Chairman M. Whitsitt, Secretary Frank Sison, Educa­ tional Director J. Martin, Deck Dele­ gate B. Trainer, Engine Delegate S. AInagbig, Steward Delegate R. Rombach. Treasurer noted $43 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT report^. Crew advised not to turn back rhooring lines while docking or undocking vessel. Members reminded to keep lounge clean and asked officers to stay out of crew's lounge. Electrician thanked for provid­ ing extra lighting in work areas. Galley gang thanked for good food and barbe­ cues. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SPIRIT OF TEXAS (Seahawk Manage­ ment), January 6 — Chairman S. W. Parr, Secretary P. Batayias, Deck Dele­ gate G. E. Warren. Chairman urged all members to read letter received from headquarters posted on bulletin board. He asked crew to stay aboard as long as possible because Of situation in Persian Gulf. He reminded members they should be properly relieved before signing off. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine and steward delegates. Bosun noted food on last trip was not sufficient in quantity and quality. Crew thanked steward de­ partment for job well done. Next port: New Orleans. • ULTRASEA (American Maritime), Jan­ uary 27 — Chairman C. Gutierrez, SeCretmy R. Kennedy, Educational Director H. Bergeron, En^ne Delegate P. Boyd Jr. Secretary reminded members to re­ turn ice cream bowls to galley. He asked members to turn in any excess linens. Treasurer announced $25 in ship's ftmd. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck ^d steward delegates. Letter from Maritime Administration regarding ter­ rorists read to crew and posted. Crew de­ bated need for protection aboard ship from chemical weapons. Members rec­ ommended watches be stood 24 hours a day and noise be kept down in passage­ way for those sleeping. Vote of thanks given to steward department. AMERICAN CORMORANT(Pacific Gulf Marine), February 10 — Chairman Charles Davis, Secretary M. Pond, Edu­ cational Director L. Parker, Deck Dele­ gate Donald Smith, Engine Delegate L. V. Hargeshiemer, Steward Delegate Dante Slack. Chairman told crew ship's fund has $80 outstanding because new movies were purchased. He praised stew­ ard department for job well done. Sec­ retary reported arrival of January Seafarers LOG. Educational director annoimced 140 movies aboard ship, but VCR needs repairs. No beefs or disputed OT reported. - . —' r- - J 'T'- . .f 1-' �• •• "V •^'^'. '-! APKU 1991 -:i' T he Seafarers Pension Plan an­ nounces the retirement of 13 members this month. A total of 11 sailed in the deep sea division, while one each came from the inland and Great Lakes divisions. Two of the new pensioners were bom outside the United States. They are deep sea members Gerald J. Mc­ Carthy (Canada) and Stanislaw Kolasa (Poland). Two other retirees, Arthur Beck and William D. Morris, were class­ mates in the July 1974 recertified bosun training at Piney Point, Md. Brief biographical sketches of these and the other new pensioners follow. DEEP SEA ARTHUR BECK, 62, joined the Seafar­ ers in May 1951 in his native New York City. A veteran of the Army from 1946 to 1948, Pen­ sioner Beck assisted in several or­ ganizational drives between sailing in the deck department. He became a recertified bosun in September .1974 at the Lundeberg School. He lives in Keyes, Calif. JACK D. BROWN, 62, Joined the SIU in March 1945 in the port of Tampa, Fla. Bom in nearby Lake­ land, he served in the Marines from 1952 to 1954. Pensioner Brown shipped in the deck department, last sailing as an AB before retiring to Mobile, Ala. -EDMUND L. BURNETT, 63, joined the union in May 1960 in the port of Hous­ ton. The Hono­ lulu native sailed in the steward de­ partment. Pensioner Bumett now calls Galveston, Texas home. To Our New Pensioners ... Thanks for a Job Well Done Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently have become pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These men and women have served the maritime industry well, and the SIU and all their union brothers and sisters wish them happi­ ness and health in the days ahead. JOHN B. CRANE JR., 65, joined the Seafar­ ers in August 1951 in the port of Savannah, Ga. He was bom in Georgia and served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945. Pensioner Crane shipped in the deck depart­ ment. He resides in Clermont, Ga. RALE DAVIS, 62, joined the SIU in July 1957 in the port of New Orleans. Pensioner Davis last sailed as a QMED before he retired to his na­ tive Pearl River, La. fied steward at the Lundeberg School in November 1980, Pen­ sioner Kolasa wrote: "1 am proud to be a member of this organization, SIU, which gavQ me the chance to become an educated person." He calls New York City home. PHILIP B.LIV­ INGSTON, 66, joined the SIU in September 1947 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Massachusetts na­ tive shipped in the galley gang. Pensioner Livingston resides in Fre­ mont, Calif. GERALD J. MC­ CARTHY, 66, EDWARD JOHNSON, 59, joined the union in November 1961 in the port of Baltimore. Bom in Catonsville, Md., he served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1952. Pensioner Johnson graduated as a recertified steward from the Lundeberg School in December 1985. He lives in Balti­ more. joined the union in May 1947 in the port of New York. He was bom in New­ foundland, Can­ ada and sailed in the deck department. Pensioner Mc­ Carthy also is a member of District 2-MEBA. He has retired to South Ohio, Nova Scotia, Canada. STANISLAW KOLASA, 65, joined the Seafar­ ers in May 1959 in the port of New York. A na­ tive of Brzostowa, Po­ land, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1949 to 1951. Upon graduating as a recerti­ WILLIAM D. MORRIS, 65, joined the Seafarers in Febmary 1953 in his native New York. Known as "Rocky," he served in the Navy from 1943 to 1947. Pensioner Morris became a recertifred bosun at the Lundeberg School in July 1974. He continued his upgrading by at­ tending the LNG class at Piney Point in 1978. He calls Baltimore home. SPAD is your eyes and ears to government while you are at work. Keep it working for you. Donate today. Wedding Bells for SIUMember Venable BID member Robert W. Venable and Maria Isolina Car­ doso, who is from Sao Paulo, Brazil, recently tied the knot in Jacksonville, Fla. Originally from Boston, but now sailing out of the port of Jacksonville, Venable joined the SIU two years ago. He sails as an AB aboard Crowley TMT vessels. Elected legislators are confronted with issues concerning the maritime industry on almost a daily basis. Sea­ farers must make their voices heard on legislation that directly affects their Uvelihoods. The Seafarers Political Action Donation, or SPAD, is made up of the voluntary contributions from SIU mem­ bers. Through support of elected candidates, the SIU can work with legislators to promote the American merchant marine, protect the jobs of its members and pursue a better economic and social way of life for their famiUes. Such mainstays of the American merchant marine as the Jones Act and Cargo Preference are debated continuously in Congress. Federal agencies issue rules that regulate the maritime industry. SPAD monies are used solely to assist the agenda of Seafarers and their famiUes. FRANK J. SIRIGNANO, 69, joined the SIU in June 1972 in the |K)rt of New York. The Brooklyn native served in the Army from 1941 to 1945. He upgraded to assistant cook in March 1978 at the Lundeberg School. In between ship­ ping, Pensioner Sirignano worked in the Jacksonville, Fla. hall. His last voyage was on the Sea-Land Cru­ sader. He lives in Jacksonville. • • V' ^ INLAND JOSEPH W. BERRYMAN, 62, joined the union in November 1962 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He served in the Air Force from 1946 to 1949. Pensioner Berryman sailed as a cap­ tain on Interstate Oil Transport ves­ sels before he retired to his native Surry, Va. GREAT LAKES .1- • WALTER W. DURECKI, 60, joined the Seafarers in December 1960 in the port of Detroit. Bom in Rogers City, Mich., he served in the Army from 1954 to 1956. Pensioner Durecki spent many seasons sailing in the deck department aboard the Detroit Edison. He continues to re­ side in Rogers City. NOTICE Maritime Day Service To Be Held in Texas A Maritime Day service will be held on May 18 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sundial Me­ morial on L^eshore Drive in Port Arthur, Texas. All SIU members and retirees are in­ vited to attend. Additionally, the local port chaplains have asked that names of individuals who have died at sea be forwarded to Fa­ ther Sinclair Oubre, so men­ tion can be made of these seamen diuing the service. Father Sinclair Oubre can be reached by telephone at (409) 866-5088 or in writing at 6825 Gladys Street; Beau­ mont, Texas 77706. PERSONALS WALLY LAU Mail from Jack and me has been retumed several times. Where are you? Please contact J & J Sartup at 675 Summerfield Road, Apt. #15, Santa Rosa, California 95405. TELESFORO VASQUEZ Please contact the Seafarers LOG at (301) 899-0675 to ob­ tain a message regarding your father's estate. 'f • • �mi? s^jOttmuiG ^1.4;i.-' • is"'' ii; . • . •/. Deep Sea SANTOS G. ALEGAR Pensioner Santos G. Alegar, 71, passed away Feb­ ruary 5. Bom in the Philip­ pines, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1956 in the port of San Francisco. He retired from the MCS in 1978, the same year the union merged with the AGLIWD. f". . ••'i-i DANIEL M.ALVINO Pensioner Daniel M. Alvino, 81, died Feb­ ruary 24. The Jer­ sey City, N.J. na­ tive joined the Seafarers in Jan­ uary 1947 in the port of New York. The deck department member was very active in union efforts. Brother Alvino started collecting his pension in February 1971. JOE C. ARNOLD Pensioner Joe C. Ar­ nold, 76, passed away Feb­ ruary 25. He was bom in North Carolina and served in the Navy from 1942 to 1944. Brother Amold joined the SIU in August 1947 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He began draw­ ing his pension in September 1983. g ;t-:' 'lik'fi • ' • • I-:;.'. )?V * •• fcV;"'' •fe''h ,• • -J •' ••iii . if ••"••'' >!> GEORGE BARNES Pensioner George Bames, 73, died Febraary 12. After serving in the Marines from 1944 to 1946, he joined the union in his native Philadelphia in April 1957. Brother Bames last sailed in the deck department in August 1986. FERDINAND BERNARD Pensioner Ferdi­ nand Berrnard, 72, passed away Febmary 12. A veteran of the Anny ftwm 1942 to 1946, Brother Bemaid joined the Sea­ farers in Febmary 1948 in his native New Orleans. He sailed in the steward department be­ fore retiring in July 1983. He was buried in New Orleans* Lake Lawn Park Cemetery. ARVEL M. BINION Pensioner Arvel M. Binion, 65, died Febmary 19. Bom in Crowley, La., he served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. After joining the SIU 1 in June 1951 in Wilmington, Calif., he shipped in the engine department aboard Waterman vessels. He started collecting his pensioii in January 1984. WILLIARDBLUMEN Pensioner Williard Blumen, 73, passed away March 13. He joined the union in May 1951 in his na­ tive New York. The deck de­ partment veteran began collecting his pension in July 1969. JOSE BORGES Pensioner Jose Borges, 71, died January 22. He joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1957. The galley gang veteran retired in April 1974, four years before the MCS merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Borges is survived by his wife, Natividad. JERRY BROWN Pensioner Jerry Brown, 89, passed away £)eceniber 24, 1990 at his home in Oakland, Calif. A native of Louisiana, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1946 and started collecting his pension in July 1969. Brother Brown was bur­ ied in St. Joseph Cemetery in San Pablo, Calif. JACKSON R. CAVANAUGH Jackson R. Cavanaugh, 57, died Febmary 24. Bom in Los Angeles, he served in the Navy from 1951 to 1960. Brother Cavanaugh joined the Seafar­ ers in October 1970 in the port of New Orleans. He upgraded his deck department rating at the Lundeberg School in 1973 and 1975. He was an active member at the time of his death. PABLOP.DOLENDO Pensioner Pablo P. Dolendo, 71, suf­ fered a fatal heart attack Febmary 18. The black gang member was bom in the Philippines. He joined the union in Febmary 1953 in the port of New York. Brother Dolendo started collecting his pension in January 1975. ALFRED FARIAS Pensioner Alfred Farias, 80, died of a heart attack Au­ gust 8, 1990. A native of Hawaii, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1940. Brother Farias began drawing his pension in December 1972. He was buried at Holy Sepul­ chre Cemetery in Hayward, Calif. His wife, Julia, survives him. LEO DEKENS Pensioner Leo Dekens, 65, passed away January 26. The Riverside, Calif, native served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. He joined the SIU in No­ vember 1962 in the port of Wil­ mington, Calif. Brother Dekens' first ship as a steward department member was the Northwestem Victory. He re­ tired in April 1986. EDWARD R. LAFOUGE Pensioner jjjH Edward R. "Frenchy"La­ Fouge, 72, passed away re1 centlyin Califomia. Bom in Seattle, he was a member of the Marine Cooks and Stewards and came aboard the AGLIWD in 1978 when MCS merged. Brother LaFouge was held as a prisoner of war in the Philippines for three-and-a-half years during World War 11. He started col­ lecting his pension in 1979. He was biuied at Holy Cross Cem­ etery in San Pedro, Calif. He is survived by three children and four grandchildren. LEONLOCKEY Pensioner Leon Lockey, 70, was the victim of a house fire Febmary 20. The native of Fayetteville, N.C. served in the Army from 1942 to 1949. He joined the Seafar­ ers in June 1956 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Lockey up­ graded his engine department rating at the Lundeberg School in 1974. He began drawing his pension in September 1985. ROBERTA. LORD Robert A. Lord, 63, died March 2. After serving in the Army from 1944 to 1947, he joined the SIU in April 1968 in his native New York. Brother Lord upgraded his deck department rating at the Lundeberg School in 1974. JAMES B. LUNA Pensioner James B. Lima, 83, passed away April 3, 1990. ThePhiltpprnes native served in the Army be­ fore joining the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1945. He re­ tired in 1970 after sailing , aboard the Oregon Mail. Brother Luna's remains were scattered at sea. He is survived by a daughter, Susan Hughes, and a grandson, Rormie Hughes. ANTHONY J. MELANSON Pensioner Anthony J. Meianson, 75, died Feb­ mary 22. He was bom in New­ foundland, Canada and served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. Brother Melanson joined the SIU in October 1947 in the port of New York. The engine department veteran also was a member of District 2-MEBA. He started drawing his pension in March 1981. ULDARICO MERJUDIO Pensioner Uldarico Merjudio, 106, passed away Feb­ mary 22. The Phil­ ippines native was believed to have been the oldest living member at the time of his death. After serving in the Navy from 1919 to 1924, he joined the Seafar­ ers in December 1944 in the port of New York. Brother Meijudio sailed in the steward department before he retired in September 1969. He remained active in his retirement, attend­ ing a pensioners conference in 1970 and the union's 50th anni­ versary celebration in 1988, both at Piney Point, Md. He was buried in St. Peter's Ceme­ tery in West Brighton, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Therese Golez. JOSEPH P. NEVERS Pensioner Joseph P. Nevers, 67, died Febmary 19. Bom in Pittsburgh, he joined the union in March l944 in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Nevers shipped in the deck depart­ ment. He started drawing his pension in March 1981. EVANGELOS P. NONIS Pensioner Evangelos P. Nonis, 76, passed away recently. He was bom in Greece and joined the Seafarers in October 1961 in the port of New York. The black gang member began col­ lecting his pension in June 1979. EDMUND PACHECO Pensioner ^dmund Pacheco, 60, suf­ fered a fatid heart attack Febmary 25. He joined the SIU in March 1949 in his native New York. The engine department member up­ graded his rating at the Lundeberg School in March 1975. Brother Pacheco retired in August 1986. FELIMON PENIARANDA Pensioner Felimon Peniaranda, 78, died Febmary 18 in a Seat­ tle hospital. Bom in the Philip­ pines, he joined the Marine .Cooks and Stewards in 1951. He started collecting his pen­ sion in 1972, six years before MCS merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Peniaranda is survived by his wife, Vilma. ALEJANDRO R. PEREZ Pensioner Alejandro R. Perez, 80, passed away December 9, 1990. The Corozol, P.R. native joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1954. Brother Perez began drawing his pen­ sion in Febmary 1971. JOHND.PSATHAS Pensioner John D. Psathas, 86, died recently. He was bom in Greece and joined the Seafarers in Novem­ ber 1957 in the port of New York. Brother Psathas sailed in the deck department. He retired in November 1969. BRYON RICKETTS Pensioner Bryon Ricketts, 91, passed away March 1. The na­ tive of Jamaica was a charter member of the SIU, having signed on in January 1939 in the port of Boston. The galley gang member's first vessel was the City of Chattanooga. Brother Ricketts started draw­ ing his pension in April 1964. .y- r- FRANCISCO SOLIS Pensioner Francisco Solis, 73, died Febmary 27. Bom in Puerto Rico, he joined the union in May 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Solis shipped in the steward depart­ ment until he retired in June 1978. ALFRED T.VAUGHN Alfred T. Vaughn, 61, passed away March 12. A na­ tive of Franklin County, Va., he graduated from the Andrew Fumseth Training School in Baltimore in May 1960. He upgraded his engine department rating at the Lundeberg School in 1976, 1977 and 1981. Brother Vaughn was shipping from the port of Jacksonville, Fla. when he died. '"'•"kSi'k',? GERALD C. WESTPHAL Pensioner Gerald C. Westphal, 70, was the victim of a fatal heart attack March 1. After en­ listing in the Coast Guard dur­ ing World War 11, he joined the SIU in 1949. Brother Westphal served the Seafarers as a patrol­ man and port agent across the Gr^at Lakes in Chicago, Mil­ waukee and Detroit. He retired in 1967. He was buried in Milwaukee's Veterans Ceme­ tery. He is survived by his wife, Florence; a son, SIU bosun Gerald M.; a daughter, Delores Penkwitz; and four grandchildren. ROBERT WILLIAMS Pensioner Robert Williams, 72, died November 28,1990. The Continued on page 17 •.".'fi' �APRIL 1991 Final Departures captain before retiring in Octo­ ber 1985. Continued from page 16 JONATHAN SIMAR Jonathan Simar, 73, died Janu­ ary 23. A native of Iota, La., he joined the Seafarers in Septem­ ber 1964 in the port of Port Ar­ thur, Texas. Boatman Simar shipped as an engineer before he began collecting his p>ension in June 1981. Washington native joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in March 1959 in the port of Seat­ tle. Brother Williams started collecting his pension in Febru­ ary 1981. ..'"'•I-' j,. •-f • y •• • ^ 'I'V "••''• ;11.-"-,. 77 Inland Great Lakes LEWIS G. GIBBS THOMAS NOBLE Pensioner Lewis G. Gibbs, 69, suc­ cumbed to cancer March 8 at his home in Townsend, Va. Bom in Capeville, Va., he served in the Navy from 1940 to 1956. Boat­ man Gibbs joined the union in December 1972 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He sailed as an engineer until his retirement in March 1984. He was buried in the Capeville Masonic Cemeteiy. Pensioner Thomas Noble, 92, suf­ fered a fatal heart attack January 25. Bom in Wisconsin, he joined the SIU in Febmaiy 1960 in the port of New York. Brother Noble shipped as a fireman be­ fore he retired in April 1966. He was buried in the Green Hill Cemeteiy in Saratoga, Wis. GEORGE M. GLOER Pensioner George M. Gloer, 82, passed away Feb­ ruary 21. A native of Luckey, La., he joined the Sea­ farers in August 1963 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. Boatman Gloer shipped as an enginwr for Sabine Towing. He started drawing his pension in September 1973. THOMAS H. MARONSKI Pensioner Thomas H. Maronski, 65, died January 4. He joined the SIU in June 1961 in his native Philadel­ phia. Boatman Maronski sailed in the engine department for Curtis Bay Towing. He began collecting his pension in Au­ gust 1987. EARL E. MOORE Earl E. Moore, 52, passed away January 27. He was bom in Call Junction, Texas and served in the Navy from 1956 to 1959. Boatman Moore joined the union in Febmary 1965 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. He sailed as a tugboat ROBERT VAN DINTER Robert Van Dinter, 55, passed away Feb­ mary 18. The Appleton. Wis. na­ tive served in the Navy from 1952 to 1955. He joined the Seafarers in July 1964 in the port of Detroit. Brother Van Dinter an active member of the engine department at the time ofhisdeath. Atlahttc Fishermen CUSTODIO CECILIO Pensioner Custodio Cecilio, 79, suc­ cumbed to cancer Novem­ ber 29, 1990. The Gloucester, Mass. native was one of the first members of the Atlantic Fishermen's Union. Brother Cecilio sailed as a fishing boat captain until he retired in April 1976, prior to the union's merger with the AGLIWD. He was buried in Gloucester's Calvary Ceme­ tery. His wife, Mary, survives him. Seafarers Welfare Plan Notice COBRA: Continuation Health Coverage Seafarers or their dependents who have lost eligibility for health tare coverage under the mles and regulations of the Seafarers Welfare Plan, may be eligible to purchase, at a premium, welfare coverage directly from the plan. Seafarers who have lost their eligibility for plan coverage must notify the plan office inunediately to find out whether or not they or their dependents may elect to continue benefits under this program. To obtain more information about this program. Seafarers may call tte membership services office at: 1-800-CLAIMS4 (1-800-252-4674) or may write to: COBRA Program ^ Seafarers Welfare Plan / 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. 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 sub­ mitted to the membership by the Secretary-Trea­ surer. A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file members, elected by the membership, makes exam­ ination each year of 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. AU trust fiinds 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 represen­ tatives and their alternates. All expenditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon ' approval by a majority of the trustees. All trust ftind 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 bycertified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Angus "Red" Campbell, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, Md. 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other Union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, they should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY—THE SEAFARERS LOG.The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained firom.publishing any article serving the political pur­ poses of any individual in the Union, officer or member. It dso has refrained from publishing arti­ cles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaf­ firmed by membership action at the September 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibil­ ity 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 cany 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 memberpay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to Union headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLI­ GATIONS. Copies of theSIU constitution are avail­ able in all Union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize them­ selves with its contents. Any time a member feels any other member or officer is attempting to deprive him 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 and national or geographic origin. If any member feels that he is denied theequal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DO­ NATION—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 aqd furthering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employ­ ment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contribu­ tions are voluntary. Nocontribution 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 orof employ­ ment. If a contribution is made by reason of the above improper conduct, the member should notify the Seafarers Union or SPAD by certified mail within 30 days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should support SPAD to protect and further his economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any timea member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitutional right of access to Union records or information, he should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquar­ ters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. NOTICE All Seafarers are advised to keep voting in mind when they plan to be away from home whether for work or pleasure. Members of the U.S. armed forces or merchant marine and their spouses and dependents temporarily residing outside the United States and other overseas citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act may apply for an absentee ballot by mailing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to the county absentee voting clerk. The completed FPCA must be submitted from outside the county and received by the county absentee voting clerk not later than seven days brfore the election. Ballots are mailed approx­ imately 45 days before the election and voted ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day. Questions which cannot be answered locally may be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, De­ partment of Defense, Pentagon. Wash­ ington, D.C. 20301-1155, or call (202) 695-0663. Gov't Services Members Benefit from Computer The USNS Pecos, a Military Sealift Command (MSG) fleet oiler crewed by members of the SlU's Gov't Services Division, is the first MSG ship to be outfitted with fiber optic cables to run its shipboard computer system. Showing Pecos captain Mark LaRochelle how to work the system, which will improve shipboard communications, are MSG employees Tom Grabow (seated) and Tony DeVenuta. V "-I-- �9^. ' .m ;!• ',. 'Vk- 18 i•^^>.--:^•v^.' • 'M. Trainee Lifeboat Class 468-—Recently graduating from trainee lifeboat class 468 are (front row, left to right) Ben Cusic (instructor), Charles A. Venders, Ray Mack, Michael Ribeiro, Pete Murtagh, Andre Skevnick, Misty J. Shaw, Roger Shivers, (second row) Willis E. Gaboon, Edward E. Louis, Andrea L. Simmons, Kimberly M. Casto, Erik R. Larka, Bryan Blackwell, Steve Hoffman, Anthony DeCicco, Thomas Humphreys, Danette M. Funk, Norman A. Jackson, Ron Brown and Ryan Nowacki. SCAfAKiRS LOG Trainee Lifeboat Class 469—^The graduates of trainee lifeboat class 469 are (front row, left to right) Keeper Brown, Steve Derham, Dean Layer, Charles Collier Jr., Antony Bach, Rodney Baptiste, Richard A. Guitar, Robert Ditch Jr., Robert M. Penn, (second row) Clinton Bows, Tim Dumsha, Eric McKinney, John Mannino, Rodney Jimenez, Darryl Coale, Robert L. Rice Jr., Robert M. Ely, Scott M. Langlois, Kelly J. McDonald, Jasper Brown, (third row) Tommy Gainey, Barrett Duncan, Eric Jeffers, Adam Clifton, Otis J. Hawks II, Robert Grove, Russell R. Benjamin, Fred M. Stover III and Joseph H. Buczynski. K-l !C . •; ;• 1^'. ;• fe.l Refrigeration Systems and Operations—instructor Eric Malzkuhn led these eight members in classroom and practical shop training of mechanical refrigeration and repair techniques. With Malzkuhn, far right, are (front row, left to right) Eugene Thompson, RickGrosso, (second row) Robert Zientak, David Tillman, Rick Harris, Jim Musker, Isadora Campbell and Charlie Betz. Welding—Completing the four-week welding course are (front row, left to right) Butch Vane, Curtis Jackson, John Smith, (second row) Bill Foley (instructor), Brett Gary Lammers, Mike Las Dulce and Billy D. West. ; 1., v;v„. F.--^ ^•h tif-; ff •• if rnrn",.' I f : fi- Celestial Navigation—Six members successfully completed the celestial navigation course. J. They The are (front row, left to right) Brian Carolan, Jean-Pierre Visier, Heley O. Mareno, (second row) Mark Guinn, James L. Wood II, Jim Brown (instructor) and George Walker. Upgraders Lifeboat Class 469—Learning lifeboat skills and water sur­ vival techniques leads to lifeboatman certification at the Lundeberg School. Under the instruction of Jim Moore (right), the following members completed the course of study: (from left to right) Bobby Williams, Jr., German Valerie, Nelson Griffin, Lionel Leroy Noble and Pedro Aponte. i ii • i- '1 m ClTv ft- • - - l '" V •" f; WI-'- Upgraders Lifeboat Class—Completing the March 13 lifeboat class are (front row, left to right) Jake Karaczynski (instructor), Clinton Sherrod (MSG), Augustus C. Udan, Robert Hathcock (MSG), Charles Conine, Michael Congress, Ralph Carlton (MSG), Karl Scott, Joey Mateo, Otis Marshall, Thomas Wilhelm (MSG), (second row) Rafael Rosado, Dwayne A. Saunders (MSG), Frank Messick, Wesley Fry, Norman Tourtellot, Frank Hedge, Steve Nelson, Robert Seaman, John Bulawan, Robert St. Robert (MSG), (third row) Mark Gowan, Andrew Wessner, Jon Deenik,Roberto Bonilla, Vincent Moore (MSG), Daniel Blue (MSG), Frank Templeton and Charles Franks. Able Seaman Class—^The Lundeberg School graduated 25 members as able bodied seamen on February 27. Sitting in front is Jeff Frank. In the front row (left to right) are Mark Stabler, Charles Werner, Lindy Beth Wilkin, Erik Bekkelund, Carlos Goncalves, Greg Jenkins, All Lugman, Fr. Beasley, (second row) Dennis Thomp­ son, Matthew Holley, Walt Ritvalsky, Kevin Struzik, Nicholas Carey, Glenn Tate Steven Williams, Steve Nelson, Jake Cairaczynski (instructor), (third row) Keviri Baldado, George Bishop, Joe Cullison, Stephen Votta, Tim Thompson, Chuck Larson, Shawn Orr, David Endom and Phil Maguire (instructor). i... ' •" y �••: ^>'.:v ;' APRIL m l';-^''-v • T-r- -Vf:: -'l'^ •• V J" -*'i5tj54' vir-f- <» 3^ -j^tj r ^ "Pgr ' ^ » K™. , 1- ^ ^s., 'W^ ,•.-. .;,,,.v^, .' :••, -7." 'MWU-r •'i' . \./7r3£ ^KTr.-J^'.' ui fS-' '-i_^ ^ H ^ 1991 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDUEE Ji —;==• -dL -. - •• -- - « --'J- Oil Spill Course Hie following is the current course schedule for May-September 1991 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. All programs are geared to improve job skills of SIU members and to promote the American maritime industry. The course schedule may chanjge to reflect the membership's and industry's needs as well as the national emergency mobilization in the Persian Gulf. •. fp* WT- ^ ." Cbeck-In Comj^kiiOn Date Date m May 13 May 17 June 24 June 28 August s . . August 9', M' " S^ September30 Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must be taken. Z Course Oil Spill Prevention & Contkinment (1 week) .m «s Steword Ui^dii^ Courses Coiil^ '• :. . : •,.; ;X'1| ,•I u: • • PI# Sthedule for 1991 SHiSijCMm FULL S-week Swslbns June 3 August 12 Cbeck-In Date June 3 September 30 Course Stevmrd Decertification Bosun Recertificafion (Last) (First) Completion Date July 8 November 4 Date of Birth. (Middle) Address- Mo./I?ay/Year (Street) (City) (State) Telephoned (Zip Code) J_ (Area Code) Deep Sea Member • Lakes Member • Inland Waters Member • Pacific • If the following information is not filled out completely your application will not be processed. • Yes • No If yes, which program: fromJ ABEflESL Lifebwit l^paration Course #>fa Check-In Date July 29 July 29 July 29 September 29 June 17 Conqdmion Date September 13 September 13 September 13 October 18 July 12 With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your Lundeberg School identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and completed. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. RATING DATE DATE OF VESSEL HELD SHIPPED DISCHARGE • Yes GNo to Last grade of school completed. (dates attended) Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? • Yes • No —: Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations coufses? • Yes • No If yes, how many weeks have you completed? Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement? • Yes • No Firefighting: • Yes • No CPR: • Yes • No Primary language spoken • ^# # •: Course High Scbofd Equivalency (GED) Adult Basic Education (ABE) English as a Seqand Language (ESL) I am interested in the following course(s) checked below or indicated here if not listed Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? Date available for training Check-In Completion Date Date May 13 August 2 ; September 30 December 20 # Fireman/Watertender and Oiler June 10 July 19 September 2 1 October 11 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. \ Pumproom Maintenance & Operations September 30 NovembersMarine Electrical Maintenance Augusts September 27 Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operations May 27 Julys August 19 September 27 Marine Electronics Technician May 27 August 16 September 30 December 20 Electro-Hydraulics June 10 July 19 Basic Electronics April IS May 10 Hydrauiics j June 10 July S July 22 August 16 Refrigerated Containers Maintenance Julys August 2 Welding September 30 October 2S All students in the Engine Department will have a two-Week Sealift Familiarization class at the end of their regular course. • DATE. Home Port. Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held •; T.-| : •. ill #Course " •' TJMED-Any Rating SIGNATURE. DepartmenL Seniority If yes, (ibursels) taken engine Upgratling Courses Book #_ Social Security #_ U.S. Citizen: y:: 1991 Adult edurotion Sdieduie UP6RAIUMG APPUaWN Name- Check-in Completion Course Date Ibite Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker, AU open-ended (contad admissions#! Chief Cook, Chief Steward office fpr starting dates) Upon completion, all students will take a Sealift Familiarization class. ' # July 26 October 4 totorHfirallon Progfams — ^^ ^ ———' -V . •f- Ufinding Check-Ui Couij^tiWi -i. Date Date Abie Seanian May 13 June 21 Julys August 16 September 2 October 11 An students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class prior to the Seallft Operations and Maintenance course. Lifeboatman May 13 May 24 May 27 June 7 Jane 10 June 21 June 24 Julys • • . "'J..'' / ' : July 8 July 19 July 22 August 2 August 5 August 16 AugVESt 19 August 30 September 2 September 13 September 16 September 27 September 30 October 11 Ship Bundling May 27 June 7 June 24 Julys August 19 August 30 • -'f-y-yy' • • r'. ^ ; September 30 October 11 Radar Observer Unlimited May 20 May 24 Julys July 12 September 2 September 6 Inland Deck Lhsettses June 10 August 16 September 30 December 6 Celestial Nav^tkm July 15 August 2 Third Mate September 2 December 13 Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must be taken, Tankerman May 27 June 21 August 19 September 13 w'- . DECK • AB/Sealift • 1st Class Pilot • Third Mate • Radar Observer Unlimited • Master Inspected Towing Vessel • Towboat Operator Inland Q Celestial Navigation • Simulator Course ENGINE • FOWT . • QMED—Any Ratiiig • Variable Speed DC Drive Systems (Marine Electronics) • Marine Electrical Maintenance • Pumproom Maintenance & Operation • Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation Q Diesel Engine Technology • Assistant Engineer/Chief Engineer Motor Vessel • Original 3rd Engineer Steam or Motor • Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance • Electro-Hydraulic Systems Q Automation • Hydraulics • Marine Electronics Technician STEWARD • Assistant Cook Utility • Cook and Baker • Chief Cook • Chief Steward • Towboat Inland Cook ALL DEPARTMENTS • Welding Q Lifeboatman (Must be taken with another course) ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT • Adult Basic Education (ABE) • High School Equivalency Program (GEO) • Developmental Studies (DVS) • English as a Second Language (ESL) • ABE/ESL Lifeboat Preparation COLLEGE PROGRAM • Associates in Arts Degree • Certificate Programs p». No tramportatioa win Iw paid aidcis yoo presoil oripaal reccipta awl sacccafally complete the cminc. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Seafarers Harry Lundeberg Upgrading Center. Piney Point. MD. 20674 4/91 �-i' SAB returns shipping ruies to pre-warstatus ,• i m. April 1991 53, m--' .m Lundeherg School Trains Upgraders for Disasters at Sea fclf;::-.: Advanced Firefighting Teaches to Plan for the Unexpected If evCT thrae is a time that tiie Biodieitiood of tlie Sea truly is needed, itisi^ienashipdiousands of miles finom homecaldies on fire and the (Mily people able to answer the call are sltipmates. At that moment ctewmembers do not have the luxury of calling a fire department They only have time to squarely meet the situation and utilize the training each has received for just such a situation. That is why intensity and danger of a fire achtally are simulated for upgraders taking the Advanced Firefighting course at the Seafarers Harry Lundeherg School of Sea­ manship taught by Byron Cummings and John Smith, both qitaltfied to teach the course and both former firefighters. Frqiaring fmr Dfaaster The class lasts one week. The first foitr days involve classroom lectrrres and studies to prepare the upgraders for a mock disaster aboard a ^p and a 100-qu^tion final exartL "We want to cover everything possible in this class," Cumiinings said. "They already have taken tte basic [firefighting] course and should have a working knowledge of the equipment on a ship. This course teaches the students to plan ahead on how to tackle a disaster tfatU could h^pen at sea. "Witii the planning and thinking taking place when crewmembers are under no pressure, then people can react when a fire or explosion occurs rather than ask wh^ to do next," Cummings continued. In the classroom sessions, up­ graders actually design a blueprint of a vessel for firefighting. Cum­ mings explained this is ne^ed so members can identity the many ways a fire could spread, members could escape to safety and fire­ fighters could attack flames. The upgraders devise a station bill to be used later in the mock fire. Search-and-Rescue Tactics The upgraders then leam train­ ing proc^ures for firefighting and search-and-rescue aboard a ship. "During the course, the students lise every kind of hose and a variety of search procedures when they have drills," Cummings noted. *This shows upgraders many ways of holding drills to provide crewmembers with different op­ tions for attack." Training next covers how to fight a fire at sea and in port. "\i^en you are at sea, you can't coimt on someone coming to your aid, so everyone should know his place," the instructor said. "In port, you can count on shore-based fire­ fighters. But crewmembers still serve as the eyes [on a ship] be­ cause they have the knowledge of the ship and where a fire could spread." Before the mock drill, up­ graders receive training on the var­ ious types of fires as well as how explosions could happen on ves­ sels. They leam what can happen when chemicals mix, how to keep vessels afloat when water is used to extinguish a blaze and what de­ termines when a search-and-rescue or body recovery operation should take place. Finally the upgraders get to test what they have learned aboard the Help Locate This Missing Chiid The National Center for Miss­ ing and Exploited Children is seeking the help of Seafarers in locating yoimg Delta Jane Bartlett. The young girl was abducted by Charles Paul Elliott on Decem­ ber 5, 1989 from Rockmart, Ga., ij^ •11 _Page4 •ii- 4 -;, I.,'.' and a felony warrant for kidnap­ ping has been issued. At the time Delta was taken, she was 5 ft. 2 in. tall, weighed 113 pounds and had blonde hair and blue eyes. She will be 16 years old on Jime 10. She wears glasses or contact lenses and was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. Charles Paul Elliott is a white male, 35 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He weighs 240 pounds and has tattoos on his arms. Anyone having information should contact The National Cen­ ter for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or the Rockmart (Ga.) Police De­ partment at 1-404-^4-6558. Instructor Byron Cummings (on right with clipboard) reviews a mock disaster scenario with the upgraders who just have completed the mock disaster. Bull Shepard, a permanently docked training ship named after a former union official at the Lundeherg School. Cummings takes one of the station bills de­ signed by an upgrader and pro­ vides a disaster scenario. Then he tums it over to the students and monitors their decisions by roam­ ing the ship or listening on a radio. The Final Test Once the drill begins, crewmembers are fitted with masks obscured with tape. This gives them limited vision, similar to what they would encoimter in a very smoky fire. Cummings may grab an upgrader and tell him to stay put as he has become "trapped" by the mock flames. His shipmates then have to discover the disappearance and determine if or how to rescue the member. When the drill is over, as deter­ mined by Cummings, the students muster on the deck to discuss what went right and wrong. The process is repeated using other scenarios set up by different station bills. Then the students prepare for the final day exam covering both the basic and advanced firefighting courses. if Upgraders wearing visibility-limiting masks make their way through a mock fire while instructor Cummings checks on their progress. "Victim" James Paul Miller watches a fellow upgrader search for him during a mock fire. The mask worn by the upgrader all but blinds him as if he were in a smoke-filled room. He only can see through a piece of X-ray film. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1991 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MILITARY LEADERS ADVISE CONGRESS OF NATION’S SEALIFT REQUIREMENTS SIU BENEFITS CONFERENCES SET TO BEGIN MAY 13 DEFENSE DEP’T ANNOUNCES WAR BONUS FOR SEAMEN U.S. SHIPS START SUPPLY LINE HOME U.S. -FLAG SHIP INTERESTS SEEK ALASKA OIL DEVELOPMENT RELIEF POSITIONS, TIME LIMITS RETURNED TO SHIPPING RULES TRANSCOM DEPUTY CHIEF BUTCHER RETIRES AFTER 42 YEARS IN NAVY D1 MEBA/NMU PLAN WOULD GIVE CONTROL TO FOOD WORKERS SIU, NATCO INK THREE-YEAR PACT TANK VESSEL FLEET BESET BY CONTRADICTORY LAWS FRANCES HAMMER SIU CREW RACKS UP ACCOLADES CAPE COD CREW GLAD TO LEAVE GULF AFTER MISSILE ALERT ORGULF SIU MEMBERS APPROVE NEW 3-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION GREAT LAKES DIVISION MEMBERS READY FOR BUSY 1991 SEASON PINEY POINT VACATION SPOT OPENS FOR SEAFARERS ADVANCED FIREFIGHTING TEACHES TO PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1991 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. 53, No. 4 1991 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/4ffff10ee35377b6428c545fb8b4bf88.PDF 2e5b2d0a9c9272e2068a41f7c768c2a1 PDF Text Text Volume 54, Number 4 April 1992 . ,. Congress Gels Bill To Nix Seaman Tax r'mm-' 'I Pages •' - Gulf Coast Boatmen Establish Monthly Meetings Pat Thomas, who sails as a captain for Moran Towing of Texas, hits the deck at the SlU membership meeting for the inland division held in Port Arthur last month. Page 5. •iJt •..?i • r-n-:- :' V In this Issue . iM: •vfv'V-. 1^-: -5. • •P. , • ; \ .-t Quartel to Resign Commissioner Job, Seeks Senate Post Page 6 The Pride of Texas Is First U.S. Ship In Lithuania Since War Page 7 Leon Hall, 72, Dies; Showing Fraternal Support Was SlU Vice Pres. The SlU's United Industrial Workers participated in Anrl ChflirtDr Momhor a rally held by the United Food and Commercial Unancr IViemDer Workers Union, which is in the midst of a super­ market organizing drive. Page 3. ..W, .. •xm �- • ' '; • SEAFARBtSLOG ;vly-^''- 'Wmi • u'-'-h" •• '/' i''••••^v •-'• v-7'WK . •• .. «,' -.-: .i."r.'; , V - ', . V' , f j.'-:' '~:r'' ': y: '.'•i •" • "*:• •S' wy "'.y y''',- President's Report Making Labor Relations Fair In the next few months, the halls qf Congress will be filled with the hired guns of thn wealthiest Americans and their corporations doing thenbest to kill a piece of legislation that would help work­ ing men and women put back the word "fair" in the con­ text of collective bargaining. Due for consideration by the Senate this spring is a bill that would prohibit a company from hiring a scab to permanently replace a worker who has been out on strike. The legislation, which passed the House last year by a 247 to 182 margin, is called the Workplace Fairness Bill. Michael Sacco Coiporate America is exhibiting characteristic hysteria about this proposed legislation, acting as if the bill takes away all the privileges that are management's "divine right." But in reality, the legislation, if enacted, would do two things. First, it would restore practices in labor-management relations that were in effect until the Reagan administration took office in the early 1980s — and one can hardly say those practices were excessively damaging to business. In fact, the later laws of this country have always been far more favorable to companies opposed to unions and unionism dian are similar laws in other industrialized countries. Second, it would strike a blow to the patt^ of cor­ porate irresponsibility that has been a hallmark of the 1980s. Phenomenon of the '80s Prior to the 1980s, in a strike situation, a company would try to hire people to temporarily take the jobs of its striking workers. The strikers could put up picket lines and urge those temporarily hired individuals not to cross the line. The key word here is "temporary." The Reagan administration, however, decided to turn the nation's labor law up on its head. In 1981, during his first year in office, the president took it upon himself to re-interpret labor-management relations and the collective bargaining process. Reagan fired the nation's striking air traffic controllers. He said they were to be permanently replaced. Taking their cue from the president, hundreds of companies saw their chance to replace union employees with workers who would be practical­ ly enslaved by the employer. The companies and their lawyers began to cite an obscure 1938 court case called the NLRB vs. Mackay Co. This, in effect, was a judicially created loophole in the law that allows for strik­ ing workers to be permanently replaced. The Mackay decision is a loophole because it is contradictory to the nation's labor laws and negates their intent. Both the National Labor Relations Act and the Rail­ way Later Act state that workers have the right to strike without being subjected to employer retaliation, discipline or discharge. Workers Lose, Lawyers Make Millions Utilizing the loophole which was effectively sanctioned by Reagan during the air traffic controllers' strike, high-priced lawyers and socalled consultants began to peddle union-busting schemes to companies. Their pitch was something like this: Provoke a strike, hire permanent re­ placements, get rid of all the union employees, then hold a vote and get rid of the union completely, keep wages down and stop worrying about working conditions. These modem-day union busters are partly respon­ sible for the biggest transfer of wealth this country has witnessed in a long time — they helped companies reduce the wages and benefits of their workers and then helped themselves to huge fees, billing employers for millions of dollars. This is the same kind of logic that for the past decade has allowed companies to engage in irresponsible leveraged buyouts, massive ac­ cumulation of o^er businesses and quick-fix bankiuptcy schemes. Whether it was busting unions or swallowing up companies and taking on debt of immense proportions, it has all b^n done with am eye to hugei . short term profits and get-rich-quick packages for the top corporate dogs and their lawyers. A Fight to the Death The ability of employers to permanently hire replacements of striking workers has made later relations more unstable and more bitter. Strikes are no longer a mechanism for arriving at an agreement. They have be­ come fights to the death. The replacement worker management strategy of the '80s has provoked all-out wars in which neither side could claim victory — Eastern Air Lines, Greyhound, the New York Daily News, In­ ternational Paper, Ravenswood Aluminum Company are but a few of the casualties. No worker looks for a strike. It is now, and always has been, a tactic of last resort. Workers understand that wWle a strike puts economic pres­ sure on a company, it also means the individuals involved will bear economic losses and hardships. Certainly, workers recognize diat at the very minimum, in a strike situation, there will be no paychecks. But the ultimate goal of a strike is to resolve a dispute, to assist later and management to reach an agreement. The Seafarers will be working with all of organized labor to ensure that die bill banning the loophole that allows the permanent replacement of strikers passes die Senate. Enactment of the measure will restore the strike to its original purpose as a key component in the balance of power in employee-employer relations and eliminate its use as a scheme to en­ rich a few individuds at the top of the ladder while imposing substan­ dard wages and substandard conditions on hundreds of people whose interest is making a decent living for themselves and their families. mt Keep Wire Rope ProAtcts In World Steel Deal, SaysSIU The Seafarers International Union has called on the Bush ad­ ministration to ensure that wire rope products are part of any world trade deal covering the steel in­ dustry. In a communication from SIU President Michael Sacco to U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills, the union urged the American negotiating team to include steel wire rope on the agenda of the Mul­ tilateral Steel Agreement (MSA) talks currently taking place in Geneva between the world's 29 largest steel-producing nations. The Seafarers interest in the matter stems from the fact that it represents hundreds of men and women employed by Paulsen Wire Rope Corporation, one of a hand­ ful of remaining steel rope manufacturers in the United States. Additionally, Seafarers working aboard deep sea ships. Great Lakes vessels and tug and towboats use wire rope in many of their daily operations. At press time, officials from the steel-producing nations were nearing the final stages of negotiations wttich aim to create a level playing field for all steel manufacturers, regardless of nationality. Reports indicate that the United States is supporting inclusion of the wire rope industry in the pact, but op­ position has been raised by Japan and South Korea. The MSA, in seeking creation of fair rules to govern the $110 billion a year of world trade in steel and steel products, has addressed such issues as government subsidies to steel companies (a practice of many foreign nations) and tariffs on imported steel. Key Ingredient for Defense Sacco cited the need to promote a domestic wire rope manufactur­ ing capability because the product "is a key ingredient in defenseoriented equipment" and because "the industry provides hundreds of American citizens withdecent jobs that pay wages that can sustain families and communities." The SIU official also noted that American wire rope producers still are "reeling from loopholes in the 1984 Voluntary Restraint Arran­ gements (VRA), which preceded today's MSA talks and allowed smaller producers like Taiwan, China, Argentina, Mexico, India and Thailand to dump their products in our markets." For the past decade, the U.S. wire rope in­ dustry, along with the American steel industry, has sought to eliminate unfair competition from foreign companies subsidized by their governments. If a new Multilateral Steel Agreement is reached, it will replace the VRA, which expired March 31. ..... One of the few remaining successful and efficient of America's industrial resources is Paulsen Wire Rope Corporation, whose workers are members of the SIU. Operations are marked by careful inspection of the product, as demonstrated by a union quality control worker in photo above. Volume 54. Number 4 April 1992 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by theSeafarers Intemational Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSG Prince Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Communications Department Director and Editor, Jessica Smith; Assistant Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors, Jordan Biscardo, Max Hall; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah Greene; Alt, Bill Brower. "•i " �• • ''J'• MPmumzm Congress Gels Bill to Ropoal Work Tax The fight to repeal a work tax on seamen and boatmen moved to Congress this month as two bills were introduced in the House of Representatives to repeal the proposed fees for Coast Guard-issued result of a budget bill passed by marine licenses and docu­ Congress and signed into law by 'i:.. • • After the hearing In which the SlU presented its case against the marine license and document fee, Congressman Billy Tauzin (D-La.) shakes hands with FOWT Timothy Perkins while Cook/Baker Donna Takahashi (center) and Chief Steward Gina Lightfoot observe. Rep. Tauzin introduced the bill to repeal the work tax. .'•^-<•' - ". '• Seatarers UiW Unit Backs CteKks'OrgsuOs^ Ortve In a demonstration of union solidarity, the Seafarers' in­ dustrial workers union, the UIW, urged the employees of Ohiobased Big Bear grocery stores to select representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) instead of staying non-union. UIW Assistant Vice President Joseph Huber reports that Big Bear woiters who currently are repre­ sented by unions—^including the warehouse workers in the UIW, the truckers who are in the Teamsters and the bakers in the Bak^ & Confectionery Workers Union— have been assisting the UFCW get its riKssage to the company's non­ union store employees. UIW Vice President William Dobbins, who also serves as president of the Franklin County (Ohio) AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, said Big Bear should remain neutral so employees would be able to choose whether or not they want representation in an atmosphere free of misleading anti-union propaganda. Dobbins, who addressed a UNION PAYCHECKS BUY GROCERIES AT BIG BEAR Seafarers official William Dobbins urges the company to remember the value of aunion paycheck as its own store employees begin a drive for union representation. rally of Columbus, Ohio area unionists and Big Bear employees, said many of the grocery stores' patrons are union workers. UFCW Local 1059 President Becky Broyrer, whose union is spearheading the drive, said that Big Bear should not wel­ come union members as shoppers while at the same time discourag­ ing store employees from joining a union. Columbus, Ohio-based Seafarafs are helping the UFCW organize Big Bear grocery stores. Pictured at a support rally are UiW member Homer Cordle (left) and UIW Assistant Vice President Joseph Huber (second from left). ments. Congressmen W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (D-La.) and Herbert Bateman (R-Va.), both of whom heard the testimony of the SIU and other maritime unions last month outlining the unfairness of the measure, each introduced legisla­ tion designed to repeal the scheme which amounts to a work tax on seamen and boatmen. In the meantime, the federal judge hearing the SIU's legal case against the seaman tax determined that the union's lawsuit only could come before the court once the im­ plementation of the scheme was imminent. No ruling was made by the court on the substance of the SIU's position that a fee to be paid by seamen and boatmen for thenCoast Guard licenses and docu­ ments is in essence an employment tax, and thus unconstitutional. SIU Fights on Every Front The scheme to charge a socalled user fee for the issuance of marine licenses, documents and certificates of registry came as a the president in 1990. The Coast Guard was mandated by the 1990 Budget Act to collect fees for the various marine licenses and docu­ ments it issued to mariners. As presented in the Federal Register:, the Coast Guard intends to charge in the area of $135 for an AB or QMED endorsed document and $330 for an upper level license. The SIU has vigorously op­ posed the work tax plan. Last year, after the scheme was made public by the Coast Guard in the Federal Register, the union lodged a strong protest with the agency, noting the plan was flawed. The SIU argued that user fees only can be charged to direct beneficiaries of a service. The regulation and supervision of mariner's skills and proficiency is done in the public interest, the SIU said in a communication filed with the Coast Guard during a period of public comment In February, the union presented its opposition to the work fee to the House Subcommit^ Continued on page 10 P, I- • • '.m SIU Urges House to Close SaMy Loophole on Rivers A loophole in maritime safety standards of the nation's rivers and lakes endangers the lives and working conditions of crewmembers aboard tugs and towboats, and Congress should enact legislation to rectify the situation, the SIU told a congressional panel last month. "There is lack of uniformity be­ tween the requirements that must be met by individuals employed on various vessels," said SIU Vice President Joseph Sacco in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation. Sacco noted that on the one hand, individuals working aboard deep sea ships and Great Lakes vessels must carry a Coast Guard document and, in some cases, a license. On the other hand, Sacco said, crewmembers on tugs and towboats plying die 25,777 miles that make up the nation's inland waterways and on boats under 100 gross tons in coastal waters are not required to hold Coast Guard docu­ ments. On Uiese vessels, if they are more than 26 feet in lengA, the Coast Guard only requires the operator of the vessel to hold a license. All other workers on these vessels are not obligated to hold a Coast Guard document or license. From the SIU's standpoint, Sacco said, every individual work­ ing aboard any vessel must have confidence in his fellow crewmembers and their ability to handle the Vessel in any situation, includ­ ing emergencies that may arise. The men and women who work on the 3,300 tugs that ply the nation's river systems do' not have easy jobs, pointed out Sacco. Navigat­ ing on rivers and in coastal areas can be tricky—it takes skill and the efforts of all hands. He noted that currents, traffic, submerged ob­ jects, as well as weather condi­ tions, all have an impact on the safe navigation of a tug or towboat. The SIU official urged Con­ gress to enact the Merchant Mariner Document Expansion Bill (H.R. 4394) which would extend the Coast Guard documentation process to all individuals employed on towing vessels of more than five gross tons. The bill was introduced by Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee Chairman Walter B. Jones (DN.C.) and is co-sponsored by 31 House members. the fdrClosini TheRivi»v w '••ll i'• 14-10 Also testifying in favor of H.R. 4394 were representatives of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) and Crowley Maritime. Opposition to the measure was expressed by a representative of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), a group repre­ senting companies and their inter­ ests. TTie AWO's position is that documenting all individuals work­ ing on vessels in the rivers and lakes is unnecessary because the companies are careful in who they hire. The Coast Guard testifled, but did not take a position on the bill, urging that the matter be studied. V-M- m: . I• , J-.-.- -7 y, . iS ' �'3 3v'" f;K!;:3 >•; 3;:3l"'3=®'''^:-3>3333 •-. •' 333#.;::--^.: -3'—r--. • '3 SEAFARBISLOe Di PCD Ittikipendence and HaUonal MEBACoavenUott Signal The End of Shonslde Worker Dominance of Seagoing Uembers that union. The SIU president -v'x-'-^ The Hght to eliminate outside domination of seamen by shoreside worker units is well on its way to being won as a result of recent actions taken by the mem­ bership and elected officials of •hS- -,l. deals while turning control of a seaman's union over to shoreside workers—mostly cafeteria employees at military bases. District No. 1 - PCD, MEBA has been operating effectively 33..-y33'3'-3i: - '•; "! im- / f ' • •'" ' -' • :; •n.:^ :,:3J:;,3;.;.33 3'-'i.'':-''''3;3«i:.;.? :M\r •''^•«^:;v,:.--.... ': ' -^' 'i •••'i-3 r : -J ^ -^''i'r:.r'••":'••> . • f.':- Addressing the 102nd convention of National MEBA, SlU President Michael Sacco said American seamen, through training and education, are the best mariners in the world. District No. 1, Pacific Coast Dis­ trict, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) and by Na­ tional MEBA, the federated struc­ ture comprised of three autonomous MEBA districts. The first step to keeping MEBA a union of working professional seafaring people able to direct and influence their own affairs took place when the marine officers voted on January 15 in a special membership meeting to dissolve the 1988 merger between their union and the National Maritime Union, representing unlicensed seamen and shoreside workers and revert back to their pre-merger status as District No. 1-PCD, MEBA. The resolution calling for the dissolution noted that the merger had created, under the guise of a combined union called District No. 1—MEBA/NMU, a structure in which officials defeated in elec­ tions could maintain control and take millions of dollars from the union treasury in "severance pay" since its independence vote — maintaining shipping and servic­ ing from its halls, representing its membership in the halls of Con­ gress. In March, the National Marine Engineers Beneficial Association was scheduled to hold a conven­ tion. The three presidents of the MEBA districts—Gordon M. Ward of District No. 1-PCD, MEBA, Raymond T. McKay, of District 2 MEBA-AMO and Lewis Smith of District 3 - Radio Officers Union—determined that the of­ ficers of the defunct District No. 1-MEBA/NMU had no claim to National MEBA as they had been repudiated by their membership and their organization dissolved after the membership determined the fraudulent nature of the merger. The three presidents, in a joint resolution, dedicated them­ selves to restoring National MEBA to its status as "the nation's foremost association of maritime officers." During the National MEBA convention, held March 16 -17 in Fort Lauderdale, Ha., the marine officers recognized the inde­ pendence of the NMU, noting in a resolution that it was, since its founding, a strong and militant voice for unlicens^ seamen and that the NMU mariner deserves democratic trade unionism. Addi­ tionally, the National MEBA delegates adopted resolutions call­ ing for the strengthening and defense of the Jones Act, advanc­ ing oil exploration and develop­ ment in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, opposing second registry schemes, supporting a na­ tional health care program and a bill to prohibit the hiring of socalled permanent replacement workers in jobs of strikers. SlU President. Michael Sacco was invited to address the conven­ tion. Commending the delegates for their courage to restore MEBA to a union of marine officers, Sacco said it was time to move forward to build a strong U.S.-flag fleet and vital, vibrant maritime unions. He noted that there would be hurdles and said, "You have to be united. You have to work together , . . Don't let anyone see a crack in that fist." He said American marine unions must "put out the best en­ gineers, the best mates and the best unlicensed seamen in the world. That's how we're going to com­ pete." "We will survive, and the way we will survive is through training and education and safety. That's the thing that is going to make us the number one unions and the number one labor movement in the world. Better than anyone else can produce. The United States of America seamen will be the best," he said. Sacco also noted that much had been made by opponents of Dis­ trict No. 1-PCD, MEBA of a $500,000 loan made by the SIU to noted that the loan agreement had been approved by the membership of boA organizations. "I did not lend this man this money to take his union over or to tell this man what to do with his union/' Ss^o said. "I lent him this money because it was the right thing to do." The SIU official closed by pledging the support of the Seafarers and its members to the marine officers. He reported that the SIU membership had over­ whelmingly approved the loan. "That goes to show you Uie attitude of this membership toward this new organization. They believe in you. T^ey want to work with you and they want to help you. And they will be there; money, marbles and chalk..." The forces District No. 1-PCD, MEBA has been battling claimed to hold a National MEBA conven­ tion. However, this meeting was dominated by representatives of shoreside workers from cafeterias and aiiports. Also in attendance were representatives of unlicensed seamen in the NMU. The few marine officers in attendance were individuals who had lost their elected posts when the members voted them out of office. This group, now headed by A.C. Cullison, a man defeated in the 1990 MEBA licensed officer elec­ tions for the post of MEBA Hous­ ton branch agent, has been attempting, through its lawyers and public relations consultants, to find ways to take back control of the marine officers dues and stat­ ure. This group was headed by Gene DeFries, who recently resigned suddenly from all of his positions with the union. How­ ever, the DeFries/Cullison moves have been unsuccessful and Dis­ trict No. 1-PCD, MEBA and Na­ tional MEBA continue to operate effectively in behalf of the marine officers they represent. DOT Official Aniioinoes Policy 'In the Wcilcs' to Save U.S.-Flag Fleet ', •••£-•- "3 - vr-'s'^ I tv3'' fi •' '•' , If; 3 ^ • 3 '33^'S3^';; fh.-:\: ii-m p. •-W ' 'yi. ••*-• A Bush administration official announced last month the White House plans to formulate a policy to save the U.S.-flag merchant marine. James B. Busey, deputy secretary of transportation, told the Connecticut Maritime Association that the "administration intends to put forward sound policy proposals to rejuvenate the U.S. maritime industry." Busey noted since Andrew Card took over as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, "we have had in the last month more meetings— policj' meetings and informational briefings—on maritime policy at the top level of the Department of Transportation than they probably had conducted in the last sever^ years." The formal Navy admiral who spent the previous three years with the Fede^ Aviation Administra­ tion repeated the administration's support for the Jones Act, a 1920 ' '3, • 3 v:3-:3, law which liih®commeflle travelling within the United States to be carried only on U.S.-flag bot­ toms. He warned those in the audience that unless something is done soon, "There will be no U.S. fleet in the 21st Century. If this hap^ns, the national security implications will be unacceptable." In presenting alternatives to save the U.S. flag on the high seas, Busey rejected the premise that American carriers cannot survive unless they are protected from in­ ternational competition. "The U.S. maritime indusby can compete in world markets if wedevelop policies that permit that to happen." He proposed, "Any program must meet the national security need in the most cost-effective manner. This is the philosophy upon which we will build a new maritime program." Among programs Busey cited for change are &e need that vessels to can^ cargo preference materials must be built in American shipyards, the federal laws and regulations subsidized carriers must follow to operate and the numerous restrictions on business in foreign ports for U.S.-flag ships. The former admiral pointed to the subsidies receivedby foreignflat fleets. "At the same time we press to free our industry from the shackles that have bound it to government for all these years, we are painfully aware that the real world—the world in which our carriers must compete—^is by no means itself free of Weign govern­ ment restrictions. We all know that foreign carriers enjoy full, unfet­ tered freedom to oeprate in our in­ ternational commercial trades. But U.S.-flag carriers in the liner trades continue to face foreign restric­ tions on their access to cargo and their ability to do business in foreign markets." The Department of Transporta- -V » ,3= ' f." Admiral James B. Busey tidn official said, "It is obvious that the federal government cannot wait for a consensus to form before taking further action. This ad­ ministration intends to rise above the fray and put forward sound policy proposals to rejuvenate the UiS. maritime industry." '3 *1 ,• �.-it..'-.' s um.1992 '• I';! lat'lAi*;,;;^;'- I'j SW^atmen fix)m thi^ towi companies tetunied to their vessels aloiig the Texas coast of the Gulf Of Mexico with a renewed faith to wOfk together following a special^ union meeting in Port Arthur; Texas last month. "We need to have a positive at­ titude," Moran Captain Pat Thomas told the March 4 gather­ ing of more than 50 members from Louisiana and Texas. "We can do it if we do it with them (pointing to representatives of the union who were present). "Our image among ourselves went down over the years," Thomas added. "NOw is the time to bring it up. We've got the best." \^ile Thomas, who joined the SIU in 1965, noted he ^ong with several others in the room were nearing the ends of their careers, "I see a whole lot of people with a long way to go. This is the future right here. Now is the time to draw 1 together." As the tugboat captain finished, he drew a long round of cheers from the others. SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco followed by inform­ ing the members, "You guys are professionals, but you' re not being accorded that by the companies, You are the best trained boatmen out there." Sacco then spoke about the problems associate with non-union companies on the watCTways. "AU of you are tested for drugs," he pointed out. "All of you are test^ for alcohol. But they don't check to see if persons are qualified to operate (their vessels.)' The ex^utive vice president^ updated members on the figfilf against Coast Guard-imposed user fees. Moran AB Gary Denton asked Sacco, "Why do we keep paying, over and over and over for what we've already got? What are we using?" Sacco told the group he testified on behalf of the union at a congression^ hearing in February called to look into the matter. At the end of the hearing, U.S. Representatives Billy Tauzin (D-La.) and Herb Bateman (R-Va.), the subconunittee chairman and a ranking minority member, respectively, in­ formed Sacco the fees, also known as a worker tax, should be repealed. "The user fee was the initial spaik to what we're doing," Sacco told the boatmen. 'We are reaching out to you with the information that we have. We are not going to sit still. "I know what we can do if we all stick together. I know what we can do—like what (Higman Cap­ tain) Tony Primeaux did. We've got to do more of this. That's how you're heard." (Primeaux organized a petition drive among union and non-union boatmen to repeal the work tax. A total of438 people signed the peti­ tion which Sacco hand delivered to the congressmen during the hear­ ing.) Sacco and Gulf Coast Vice President Dean Corgey also spoke to the members about inland news from other parts of the country, local political information and contract updates. Members asked Moran Captain Pat Thomas urges the rnemterehip to stand together to keep Hitting the deck with his union book in the union strong. hand is AB Ed Quinn who sails for Moran Towing. that meetings be held monthly in Port Arthur so those sailing would be able to get union information firsthand. The tentative date for fu­ ture meetings in Port Arthur is the first Wednesday of each month. Six-year Sabine AB James Mc­ Neil said the meeting "answered all my questions." He stated he would return to his tugboat to pass the word to others. Moran AB Ed Quinn hit the floor holding his union book for all to see. "I've been a union man all my life," he told the others. "The best thing that has happened to me was to get the letter (about the meeting). It reminded me of what the union is for." 'It is important for all of us to get together, know each other and Asking a question during the meeting is AB hear each other's problems," said Denton from lulocan Towing. Kenneth Moore, AB delegate for 7, Reviewing materials relating to the Preparing to enter the Port Arthur meeting are inland industry is Deckhand Greg Captain Frank Jewell (left) and AB Kenneth ~ ~ Sabine. Moore, both of whom work for Rideaux who sails fbr Sabine. Captain Richard Montalvo (left) and Engineer John J. Biegalski waits his tum Assistant Engineer Andrew Chisholm while ABKerry Caillouet signs the meeting from Sabine take part in the meeting, register. Both sail for Sabine. V' ' v ' SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco updated the boatmen on the statusof the proposed work tax on seamen. Gulf Coast Vice President Dean Corgey (center) and Houston Port Agent Jim McGee also gave reports on inland activities to the members, Moran Cook Pat Caldwell addresses his brother Seafarers attending the first of what will be regular monthly meetings for the SlU's inland division. - 'W -1 �•' V 'r.-PT- ..,'.." FF .-.-•:F;F:''v • ^•••• : . i. f •ifr. •,. , -•Lf- .-'A-.- -.a, l£on HaUf Retired VP and Pepular Unlen Brotherf Dies at 72 Leon Hall, retired vice president of the Seafarers International Union and a charter member of the union, died of natural causes on March 26. He was 72. k 'f ^ ' •• • • S' > ';;';sX;. V •T» • -V •• V Leon Hall, in photo above from the early '80s, gives his vice president's report to a meeting of the SlU execu­ tive board. 'V":' • Always an extremely popular union brother. Hall had consider­ able experience as a seaman and union representative through his long career. Appropriately, Brother Hall was laid to rest at the Seafarers burial grounds in Valley Lee, Md., which is located on the St. George's Creek across from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. In his remarks to the member­ ship on Hall's death, SIU President Michael Sacco said, "We all loved Leon Hall. He had an even disposi­ tion and was always good humored in his dealings with his union brothers. "Whatever Leon's job was, he did it with all his heart and he did it well. He will be missed," Sacco said. Hall, who was a devout believer in seamen's unionism, joined the union in 1939 in the port of Mobile, Ala. He worked in every shipboard job in the galley, becoming a chief steward. In the early 1960s, he came ashore to work with the union's Maritime Advancement Program, the SIU's early upgrading and refresher training operation. Many Sequa Sells Sabine Tewing Te Heuston's KIrby Cerp. i ;•,; ^ SEAFMBISmS F-,-.:5'or--:'" , -::. ;.' ;• •' , ': Kirby Corporation, owner of several tugboat companies includ­ ing SlU-contracted Dixie Carriers, has purchased Sabine Towing and Transportation Company from Sequa Corporation, its parent com­ pany. The $36.9 million sale affects approximately 150 SIU members who work for Sabine on coastal and inland tugs and barges. While the SIU continues to rep­ resent the workers on the tugs and barges, Kirby has claimed the union contract with Sequa-owned Sabine does not follow the sale. The SIU contends that it does and is taking Sabine Towing and Transportation Company to ar­ bitration for not making the pur­ chaser assume the labor contract as a condition of the sale. During this period of time, the union urges all Sabine Seafarers to contact £e union should any ques­ tion arise. The union is staying in close touch with all Sabine mem­ bers and is holding regular meet­ ings in the Port Arthur, Texas, area where the Sabine fleet is bas^. Through the purchase of Sabine, Kirby added 33 owned and five leased inland tank bar­ ges, 11 owned and four leased towboats, three bowboats and eight owned tugboats to its inland operation. Kirby is a multi-faceted cor­ poration based in Houston with in­ terests in marine transportation, diesel repair and property and casualty insurance. Its primary business is marine transportation through Dixie Carriers which operates tugs and barges in the Mississippi River system, along the Gulf of Mexico, in the Carib­ bean Basin and on the Atlantic and Pacitic coasts. According to Kirby's 1990 an­ nual report, Dixie Carriers produced a pretax earning of $12.3 million for that year and $6.4 mil­ lion in 1989. Overall Kirby revenues were listed as $175.8 million for 1990 and $141.3 million in 1989. The corporation employs approximate­ ly 950 people. SIU officials discuss the takeover of Sabine Towing by Kirby aboard the tugboat Marathon. From the left are SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco, Pilot Nelson Plaisance, Tankerman William T. Winstead, Houston Port Agent Jim McGee, Pilot Jimmy Marks, Gulf Coast Vice President Dean Corgey and Patrolman Bobby Milan. Shown in one of his familiar activities—dealing with the membership—Brother Hall, who was a headquarters representative at the time this photo was taken, writes a dues receipt for a Seafarer aboard an SlU-contracted vessel. active and retired members honed their culinary skills under Brother Hall's food plan program. From there, Leon Hall went on to serve the membership in a variety of union posts—^including Philadelphia patrolman, San Fran­ cisco port agent in 1964, New York port agent in 1965 and head­ quarters representative. In 1979 he became Atlantic Coast vice presi­ dent, a position to which he was re-elect^ in every union election, until his retirement in 1985. Affectionately nicknamed "Radio" by his union brothers be­ cause he was never short of con­ versation, Hall is survived by his wife Charlotte Hall. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. Funeral services were held on April 2 at St. George's Episcopal Church in Valley Lee, followed by the interment During the services. Hall's neice, Dorothy Ealey, sang the spiritual "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." PMC's Quartet Resigns; MTD SougM His Removai Robert Quartel, the FMC com­ missioner who the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) sought to have removed from his government post, has an­ nounced that he will leave his job with the federal agency this month. From his position as a shipping industry regulator, Quartel has Qontended the United States does riot need a privately-owned com­ mercial fleet. Quartel intends to seek the Republican Party's nomination to run against U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.) in this year's election. Before Quartel made his an­ nouncement, acting on the MTD's resolution which calls for removal of Rob Quartel from his job as one of five members of the Federal Maritime Commission, MTD President Michael Sacco last month sent to President Bush a for­ mal request for such action. Sacco, who also is president of the SIU, wrote on behalf of the MTD, which consists of 42 unions representing 8.5 million American workers.The MTD disputes Quarters contention that the United States does not need a privately-owned fleet operating under the American flag. The letter to Bush dated March 5 reads in part: "Since his appoint­ ment as a Coimnissioner, whose job it is to enforce non-dis­ criminatory rates and practices in ocean shipping, Mr. Quartel has been using the position as a plat­ form to continually denounce American maritime workers, and to urge American companies to haul down the Stars and Stripes from their ships and r^lace them with foreign flags and foreign lahor. "We firmly believe that Quarters use of taxpayer funds to crisscross the nation urging dis­ solution of American-flag ship­ ping is an unethical, unjustifred abuse of the process that should be discontinued at once...." The MTD, in its resolution passed at the February executive board meeting calling for Quartel's ouster, pointed out that the govern­ ment appointee opposed the vety policies of the government in regard to U.S.-flag shippingsuch as the Jones Act and cargo preference. Quartel, who joined the FMC in 1990, previously failed in an at­ tempt to gain a House seat in 1984. Upon learning of Quartel's plans to run for the Senate, Sacco said that if the reports are true, "then inaritime's gain is Florida's loss. "The position of U.S. senator requires maturity, a dedication to .^erican interests and the com­ mitment to the preservation of vital American institutions," Sacco said. "As a member of the FMC, Quartel has failed to meet these requiiements." �V'-'- ;7 Jiumi992 Pride of Texas: 1st US. Sidp to Mer Lithuania Since 1939 WELCOME t • •/ X TO KLAff^QA 1 I "i, '-' L." '-r-V,':". A huge banner in English greets the crew of the Pride of Texas upon arrival in port The SlU-crewed Pride of Texas became a part of Lithuanian his­ tory on February 18 when the Seahawk Management vessel delivered the first shipload of American grain sent by the U.S. government to the newly inde­ pendent country. "The people were so grateful," Recertified Steward Ernie Hoitt told the Seafarers LOG. "All of us were really proud to be a part of history." With the delivery to die port city of Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea, the Pride of Texas became the first U.S.-flag ship to enter a Lithuanian port since Nazi Germany occupied the land in 1939 at the start of World Warn. Among the surprises prepared for the crew was a welcoming reception when the ship docked. "Captain Wayne Stolz had to go to the dock and make a speech which was carried on international television," recalled Hoitt, who sailed as the chief steward. The seamen's club in the town of200,000hosted the crew three of the six nights that the ship was trae. "What you see on the news is no lie. The shops still are bare." For Hoitt, the voyage marked the second time he sailed on the Pride of Texas when it became the first U.S.-flag vessel to deliver American goods to a formerly communist country. A year ago, he was on board when the ship docked in Bulgaria. The only difference he saw was Bulgarians had more items stocked on their shelves. Since 1945 until last year when it declared its independence, Lithuania had been associated with the Soviet Union. Hoitt recalled sailing into the old USSR at the port of Odessa many years ago. "Even under communist rule, I had no trouble ashore at all. I took some country music tapes and my _ tape recorder with me. No one would^,«thmethen:fhey were uSiSrind afraid. But they were all listemng." stamps in his passport. docked. Hie club provided perfor­ mances by folk singers and dancers in national ceremonial costumes, an opera singer and plenty of food. The ship, led by the galley gang of Hoitt, Chief Cook Billy MItcheU and Steward Assistant Clarence Evans, returned the favor February 20. Among the items prepared were macaroni salad, potato salad, fresh fruit com­ pote and finger sandwiches. The U.S. ambassador to Lithuania joined in the celebration. Hoitt, an SlUmonb^ since 1965, joined sev^ oth^ crewmembos in a visit to the town. "They all said thank you for bringing the grain," he recalled. "Most eveiybody spoke English. I believe they w^ tau^ it in school. Eveiybody who went ashore oijoyed it "The engine cadet went to one of the schools where he was treated like a movie star. Kids there kept asking for his autograph." Taking part in a union meeting aboard the Pride of Texas are (left to right) AB James Adaire, The steward, who provided the Chief Cook BiHy Mitchell, DEU J. Butler and Bosun Eugene Grantfiam. LOG with photographs, saw firsthand that stories about people having little or nothing to eat were "V • ABs James Colwell (left) and Arthur Machado await nolificalion of payoff n Noifok Ready to hit the tieach are (seated) AB Arthur Macharto, (standing, left to right) QMED Nelson Lazo, QMED Frank Bemer and AB Anilial Plata. Chief Cook Billy Mitchell ladles out a bowl of soupforacrewmember. Steward Assistant Clarence Evans helps serve during the reception. •silver .*»;•. f'. ' -' �;t--'ntk:'a»^<K;«f:« yi"! <M_i<lipnii^iii| '.in' '7^ilf;i^'TffP''fl' SEAFABBtSWe 8 11 steward Bem^ ;:vS .•'••• •.. :'A' •V."i;.; • y., •'•¥ '• ~-p\- .„'...'y^»;t'• UM•' • • • •>: :V I- • J-J. - 0-' •> V 'V. '. -''r 1^# "• Eleven SIU members recently completed the steward recertification course at the Seafarers Ha^ Lundeberg School of Seamanship, thereby finishing the highest cur­ riculum available to Seafarers sail­ ing in the steward department. Recognized during the March membership meeting at Piney Point, Md., the recertified stewards completed the five-week course during which they received ad­ vance training in menu planning, computer operation, and leader­ ship and communications skills. They also took refresher courses in food preparation as well as firefignting, CPR and First Aid. Additionally, the group at­ tended classes reviewing the union's medical and pension programs. Members learned about the SIU political and legislative operations and met with SIU offi­ cials. (This part of the curriculum is designed to help the steward in his or her job as ship's secretary.) Several of the recertified stewards said a highlight of their schedule took place when they saw • their union's political and legisla­ tive action program at work. On February 25, the day they visited SIU headquarters, the stewards travelled to Washington, D.C. and witnessed SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco testifying before a House subcommittee in regard to the work tax the Coast Guard is seeking to impose on American seamen and boatmen. After listening Sacco's presenta­ tion, three congressmen at the hearing voiced support for repeal­ ing the tax. "When one of the congressmen told Joe Sacco that the SIU probab­ ly can get more done with our law­ suit (against the Coast Guard) than the subcommittee could get done ... well, I was impressed," said Rick Sanderson, 35. "I'm thankful for the oppor­ tunity we had to get politically in­ volved," added Dana Cunning­ ham, who was in the audience when the subconunittee chairman asked all merchant mariners present to stand and be recognized. Cohesive Group In their graduation speeches and in interviews with the Seafarers LOG, the recertified stewards reflected on their most recent ex- The 11 SIU members completing the recertified steward program are (front row, left to right) Jill Prescott, Kenneth Jones (second row) Curtis Phillips, Ruben Dollar, Richard Sanderson, Dana Cunningham, Hans Schmuck, Sivasa Laupati (back row) Cheryl Burgess (computer operations instructor), Mose Peacock Jr., George Quinn and Francis Ostendarp. perience at the Lundeberg School. The cohesiveness among the gal­ ley gang members was evident, and several noted that it helped the group in its schooling. "This was a good group," said Jill Prescott, who joined the union nine years ago in San Francisco. "I thought the schedule flowed smoothly and at a good pace. Everyone made us feel very wel­ come." Kenneth Jones described the training as "excellent. You never stop learning. ... If you want to achieve, the opportunities are here." Jones, 35, signed on five years ago in the port of New York. He added that the Lundeberg School instructors do an outstand­ ing job, and that the ex^rience in Congress has inspired him to vote. George Quinn said he especial­ ly enjoyed die computer training, which covers word processing, windows and spreadsheet and disk operations systems. "I always thought I was a pretty good steward, but there's no doubt this course will make me better on the ships," said the 50-year-old Quinn, who joined the Se^arers 32 years ago in New Orleans. "I enjoy^ the whole thing, and I found the pro­ gram well-rounded." Ruben Dollar, at 54 the oldest of the new recertined stewards, said he was impressed by the facilities. He added that the Lun­ deberg School's picturesque, rural location is a boon to successful .. ; studying. "I also thought the firefighting course was great," said Dollar, who began sailing with the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1962 (15 years before its merger with the AGLIWD). Another former MCS member, Curtis Phillips, brought his wife and child to the Lundeberg School. "I recommend bringing your fami­ ly," said Phillips, 36, who was upgrading for the fifth time. "It's great for morale, and there's a lot for them to do." He also said the course was "very beneficial. I particularly liked (galley instructor) Ed White's classes. . . . This school represents an excellent oppor­ tunity to enhance your career and your education." CPR and first aid are part of the course requirements for completion of the recertified steward program. Getting ready to give CPR to the classroom dummy are George Quinn (left) and Mose Peacock Jr. Cunningham, 29, echoed those sentiments. "I've been treated more than fairly and received a good education in the eight years I have been coming here. You need to come back here if you want a future as a Seafarer." Francis Ostendarp, 32, who graduated from the Lundeberg School as a trainee in 1983, thanked the group member? for their cooperation, "That's a big part of it. Everyone got along well." Thirty-one-year-old Hans Schmuck, an 11-year Seafarer, summarized his time at the school as "a great learning experience." Sivasa Laupati appeared al­ most overwhelmed. "You can't find another place like this," said Laupati, 46. "I have learned so many things .... Our union offi­ cials are doing a great job." Mose Peacock, Jr., temi^red his enthusiasm with an advisory note for future students in the recertified stewards program. "Make sure you're ready to work, because each class gets tougher," said Peacock, also a former MCS member. "This is a competitive in­ dustry, and nothing is going to get any easier." Several of the stewards com­ mended the food handling and gal­ ley sanitation classes presented by SIU member Jim Mann, SeaLand Service's fleet commissary manager and a Lundeberg School graduate. Several others noted how much they gained from instructor Kate Richardson's communica­ tions and computer classes. Recertified Steward Jill Prescott en­ hances the appeal of a cake with flowers made of icing. ;• 'k- Computer operations is another skill leamed by Ruben Dollar at the Lundeberg School during the five-week recertified steward course. The famiiy of Curtis Phillips, pictured with SiU President Michael Sacco, joined the chief steward during his five-week course at the Lundeberg School. - T--: r- .-M.-.- �unatiwz '.•«a Andrew K Crew Saves TWo Four Seafarers who crew the tugboat Andrew K reacted quickly and efficiently and saved the lives of two men stranded in a flat-bot­ tomed skiff in the Houston Ship Channel late last year. The SIU members—Captain Kenny Wall, Chief Engineer Tig Turner, AB Danny Mixon and Engine Utilityman Richard Guerrapulled the helpless men from the path of a large, fiilly loaded tanker whose crew apparently did not see the small boat. "The guys in the johnboat didn't have any oars, lines or life jackets," Wall, 44, recently told the Seafarers LOG. "All they had was a small motor which had failed. The tanker had a full head of steam, and there's no way [the men in the disabled fishing boat] would have survived if they had been hit." "We had just been dispatched to a job when we saw those guys in the middle of the channel," Turner said. "We tried to make radio con­ tact with the tanker, but for some reason they didn't respond. "The guys in the johnboat seemed pretty worried. They basi­ cally were in a mess." Turner, 30, estimated no more than five minutes elapsed from the time the Seafarers sighted danger until they executed the rescue. By then, the tanker was within oneeighth of a mile. JThe wind was blowing hard, buFwe were pretty confident," Turner said. "We had enough rope, and Kenny's a good boat handler, so there was no prob­ lem there." "It was close, but we saved them," said the 30-year-old Guerra. "We were right there next to them. They were a little on the drunk side, but they knew what was happening." Seafarers credited with saving the lives of two stranded boatmen are (from left) Richard Guerra, Tig Turner, Kenny Wall and Danny Mixon. Wall and his crew of veteran Seafarers, all of whom ship out of the port of Houston, did not stick around to chat with the relieved fishermen. "We didn't want to be late for our job," said Wall, who joined the union 20 years ago. The president of G&H Towing Co., which owns the Andrew K, commended Wall, Turner, Mixon and Guerra in a letter. He noted the crew's "exemplary performance in expeditiously coming to the aid of the disabled craft and towing it out of danger." Wall and his crew also helped the Andrew K earn G&H Towing's 1990-91 first place award as die fleet's "safest tug." The Andrew K eamed G&H Towing's 1990-91 first place award as the fleefs "safest tug." Ttalning School's Course Rw 10 Menu Boatnmi EngHiaslios SahBly Skills Ten inland Seafarers from Moran Towing of Texas participated in a special week-long training program at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. in February. One of the classes taken by the barge captains and licensed officers was OSHA hazardous waste opera­ tions and emergency response training. The boatmen thoroughly reviewed procedures to detect a hazardous spill in its early stages and the steps that can be taken to isolate the area. Emphasis was placed on practices that prevent spills. Other training for the group included CPR tech­ niques, first aid and safety, communications and stress il'i- • Moran Towing membets who attended the week-long training session included (left to right, front row) Rusty Ma* Burger, Ron Lambert, management, shiphandling simulatorpractice inparalid indexing and rules of the road and company semion policies and procedures. (• ; rM • fH • • •i||m '.M ''i-' . I. Moran officials joined the 10 for several of the classes at the school. '•y- • • -H .11 MilesHeathappliesasplinttoRandyCooper'sannduringfiistaidclass. Instructor K.C. Taylor explains oil spill procedures. -Til " • •• • i• ,"•> • ' RandyOooper handles the wheel in practice. �; .jx\ 10 SEAFARERS LOG Seaman Tax Repeal Bill intreduced in Cengress y ; .n" X'f _ - i. . r^,' • . •' •• • " ' . • ; -V „ ,'* -f '.')" • •'. While Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) reviews testimony, Rep. Herbert Bateman (R-Va.) asks a panelist about the worker tax during the House Coast Guard Subcommittee hearing on the issue in February. Continued from page 3 tee on Coast Guard and Naviga­ tion, characterizing it as "dis­ criminatory." At that hearing, Representatives Tauzin, Bateman and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) pledged to seek a repeal of the user fee for marine licenses and docu­ ments. Last month, Tauzin authored House Resolution 4693 which, if enacted, will repeal the Coast Guard-imposed fees on marine licenses and documents. "HR 4693 prevents the federal government from singling out merchant mariners to pay what is clearly an employment act," Tauzin stated upon filing the bill on March 26. "Other occupations in transpor­ tation industries don't have to pay a federal fee in order to be lawfully employed. Why merchant mariners? The idea of the federal government taxing an individual for the opportunity to work is in­ herently wrong," the Louisiana congressman told his colleagues. Tauzin reminded Congress of the role of the Lf.S.-flag merchant marine during the recent Persian Gulf conflict. "Our national security depends on a strong mer­ chant marine. If anyone doubts this fact, I would only remind them, of our merchant mariners' heroic contributions to the largest sealift in maritime history. Desert Storm was successful because we had a base of qualified, licensed mer­ chant mariners who were ready to respond toi the call of duty." Bateman, who filed his bill prohibiting the federal government from collecting fees for the licens­ ing and documentation of seamen and boatmen on March 20, said in remarks addressed to his fellow House members, "No other sector of the transportation industry is re­ quired to pay a fee in order to work, and it is not fair that mariners should be singled out." Since both the Tauzin and Bateman bills are similar, the two will be consolidated. Tauzin's seaman tax repeal bill will absorb Bateman's legislation and the Vir­ ginia congressman will be listed as a co-sponsor. As the LOG was going to press, the bill had the sup­ port of Walter B. Jones (D-N.C.), who serves as chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Robert Davis (R-Mich.) and Jack Fields (R-Texas). The SIU is urging all other members of Congress to co-spon­ sor the Tauzin bill. A Seafarer should contact his or her member of Congress to urge the elected of­ ficial to sign on to the seaman tax repeal bill introduced by Tauzin. Roy Boudreau Dies at 66 Former SIU official Roy Boudreau, a key figure in the union's successful organizing of American Steamship Company, passed away recently due to a heart condition. He was 66. Boudreau joined the Seafarers in 1943 in his native Detroit. He sailed in the deck department for 15 years before coming ashore to work as an organizer. He repre­ sented the SIU in various capacities until forced to retire in 1977 because of heart problems. Brother Boudreau's positions in the SIU included patrolman in Detroit, Buffalo port agent and as­ sistant secretary-treasurer for the Great Lakes District. Jack Bluitt, former SIU head­ quarters representative for the Great Lakes district before retiring in 1985, worked closely with Boudreau for about eight years. Bluitt, also a former New York patrolman and Detroit port agent, described Boudreau as "very reli- •s.i. •K-I Roy Boudreau able. He was a real gentleman, very conscientious. When it came to the Seafarers, he was a dedicated union man." Brother Boudreau retired to Sun City West, Ariz. He was buried in Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Ariz. He is survived by his wife, Joan. Olh» Transport ^iRrioyees Are Hot SRitieet to a Wwk Tax The domestic watert)ome transportation industry must compete with the railroads, air lines and trucking firms. The Seafarers LOG takes a look at what kind of fees the individuals who work in these transportation sectors must pay for their federally-required licenses and certificates. The conclusion; No one pays like a seaman or boatman will have to pay if the CoEist Guard user fees go into full force and effect. Some brief examples: The Coast Guard wants to charge $35 for a duplicate seaman's license or document. The FAA currently charges $2 for the same service to airmen. The Coast Guard proposes to charge anywhere from $45 to $70 for evaluating all of the papenvork in processing a license or a document with a rating.The FAA does not charge a penny for evaluating an airman's papenwork. The Coast Guard recommends a $35 fee for issuing the license or document, the FAA issues certificates to all licensed and certificated air transport workers free of charge. The Coast Guard wants to charge a $17 fee for an FBI check and it has not yet advised the public what it plans to charge for the OPA 90-mandated check of seamen's records contained in the National Driver Register. Railroad employees pay between $3 and $14 for a National Driver Register check. A seaman, under the Coast Guard's plan, can pay as much as $135 for each endorsement to his license or document. A truck driver generally pays around $5 for an endorsement certifying he is qualified to operate special equipment or transport special cargoes. Airline Workers All personnel working aboard or with an aircraft are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with the exception of flight attendants. In addition to pilots, the following airline-related job classifications are among those that require FAA certification: control tower operators, aircraft mechanics, repair station mechanics, flight engineers, dispatchers, parachute riggers, navigators. The FAA Airman Registry, based in Oklahoma City, is the central office of the agency that keeps track of the 3.7 million individuals certified by the agency. Once an airman has tested and compiled all the necessary paperwork, it is sent to the Airman Registry. That office issues the qualifying individual his certificate (i.e., license). There is no charge for processing or issuing the certificate. The agency only charges a fee if it issues a duplicate copy in the event a certificate is lost or mutilated. The fee: $2. ' FAA inspectors conduct ride checks (akin to practical experience tests) and written examinations. The agency does not charge for giving these tests. The FAA also licenses individuals to conduct testing—both written exams and ride checks—in behalf of the agency. These "designated examiners," more often than not private entrepreneurs, are allowed by the agency to set fees fortheir services. A pilot therefore can choose to pay a designated examiner or test with an FAA examiner and not pay a dime. Commercial airline companies (including air cargo companies) have desig­ nated examiners among their personnel, consequently individuals employed by the major carriers do not pay any fees at all to the FAA for testing and ride checks. The FAA also does not charge an individual for becoming an FAA designated examiner. Nor does the FAA charge for certificating an airline and allowing it to conduct training and testing. Commercial pilot certificates are usually good for one, two or three years depending on the class of airplane the individual flies. Railroad Workers As of January 1,1992 all operators of trains, known as "locomotive engineers," must be certified, indicating they have met Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards. Under the FRA regulations, the railroad companies are responsible for training, testing and issuing licenses. There is no cost to the individual engineers, nor is the FRA Involved in issuing any kind of card or license. The agency approves a company's training and licensing plan. The FRA does not charge the company to review its plan or to indicate it meets the agency's guidelines. The only charge the locomotive engineer faces is the cost of a check of his record with the National Driver Register, the national database compiled from state motor vehicle department records. The cost, depending on the state from which the individual hails, ranges from $3 to $14. Train operators must go through recurrent training sessions that are conducted by their employers. The individual pays no fee for this training. Other ra Iroad employees—signalmen, switchmen, flagmen, firemen, conduc­ tors, dispatchers, car inspectors, brakemen, dispatchers, among others, have no government fees involved in obtaining these positions. Truck Drivers While the airlines, the maritime sector and the railroads have for the most part been regulated by the federal government, trucking primarily has been supervised by state government. It is only in 1986 that a comprehensive federal law was enacted that established certain uniform criteria that must be met before a commercial driver's license can be issued. The federal law, however, did not take away the administration of licensing and testing programs from state government. A comrnercial truck driver obtains a driver's license through his state and local motor vehicle administration. The cost for the basic commercial driver's license ranges from $5 to $75. Some states include the cost of testing in this fee, others establish a separate fee for taking a test. Truck drivers also pay for endorsements to their licenses. Endorsements certify a driver as capable of driving a vehicle outfitted with special equipment or for operating a rig that carries a certain type of cargo. Typical endorsements to a license might be: hazardous materials, air brakes, passengers, combination. The licenses are usuallygood for four tofive years. Renewal fees are minimal. Most states do not require re-testing once the original license is issued, so the only fee a truck driver most likely will pay, as long as he or she stays in the industry, IS a small renewal charge. _ Here are some examples of what a commorcial driver's license could cost: In Colorado $15 for the license, $40 for the test. In Florida—$50 for the license, $5 per endorsement. Louisiana—$15 for the application for a license, $40 for the written exam,$30 for the road test and $5 per endorsement. Michigan—$20 basic fee, $5 per endorsement and $60 for a road test, Virginia—$35 basic license, $5 per endorsement. As of April 1 of this year all truck drivers will be required to hold a commercial driyers license issi^ by their local motor vehicle department that complies with federal guidelines. The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now receives the records of all commercial truck drivers and maintains this data in a central data base. Sources^ F^ral Aviatiw Administration - Airman Registry and Dulles Right Standards District Office. Assentation of Right Attendants, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. �' y \7.'Cs^ '' ? APRIL 1992 11 Green, Healey, Helton Awarded MSCPAC's Top Tribute Three SIU Government Ser­ vices Division members have been honored for their outstanding work during 1991 by the Military Sealift Command Pacific Fleet (MSCPAC). Brothers Edward C. Green II, James J. Healey Jr. and Harold W. Holton received the 1991 Mariner Award of Excellence, MSCPAC's highest tribute. The trio, nominated by fellow MSCPAC mariners and officers, were selected for their "profes­ sional, knowledgeable, respon­ sible, intelligent, hard-working and honest" abilities, according to MSCPAC. Green, 45, serves as chief cook aboard the USNS Diehl. The ship's master. Captain Bill Baldwin, noted in his nomination, "Mr. Green is the soul of congeniality, cheerfulness and friendliness. Al­ most without fail, he has a cheerful word or greeting for everyone he meets." The galley gang member began his seafaring career in 1972 as a member of the Marine Cooks and Stewards. He transferred to the Government Services Division in 1982. Green was praised for his work in feeding 125 guests as well as the ship's crew during Thanksgiving and Christmas, keeping the vessel in top-notch shape during layup and serving as the vessel's equal employment opportunity repre­ sentative. Healey, 56, was featured for his abilities over and above his posi­ tion as an AB/maintenance on the USNS Kawishiwi. "Mr. Healey is a responsible, knowledgeable and highly professional individual who continually produces high quality results, regardless of the task at hand," wrote Captain Bruce Butterfield, former master of the fleet oiler. The 11-year veteran of the division was lauded for making sure safety signs were in place and creating signs when none were available. He also taught new crewmembers safety procedures on underway replenishnient. Healey is known aboard ship as a skilled carpenter and someone who can splice any type of line or wire. Holton, 65, sails as a rig bosunmate aboard the USNS Pecos. "It has become a natural reaction for the deckhands to defer to Mr. Hol­ ton when an impasse is reached on any given subject," wrote Pecos maintained to the highest state of rdadiness. Holton signed on with the union in 1976. Murphy proclaimed the bosunmate "an elder statesman in the Western Pacific." All three members received a plaque, framed certificate and cash reward. Pesky Zebm Mussels ^lead Beyond Lakes Zebra mussels will continue spreading beyond the Great Lakes, and the costly damage caused by the prolific organisms will get sub­ stantially worse before the tiny striped mollusks can be slowed, according to a government re­ searcher. Believed to have arrived in the Great Lakes in 1986 in the ballast water of a European tanker, zebra mussels have wreaked havoc in that region. The non-edible crea­ tures have disrupted navigation by causing marker buoys to sink; ruined fishing nets and grounds; altered a delicate aquatic ecosys­ tem; fouled beaches with sharp shells; and blocked raw water intake systems of many municipalities, utilities and factories. Additional­ ly, the mollusk has impeded ships by clogging engine cooling water lines, causing increased drag and lowering fuel efficiency. The spread is "extraordinarily rapid" said Bob Peoples of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Peoples has conducted finely detailed studies of zebra mussels during the past three years. "Various fish feed on [zebra mussels], but the den­ sities are so enormous, biological controls haven't kicked in. It's a classic case of invasion ecology, and it's going to get worse before it gets better." Zebra mussels use their sticky, elastic-like secretions to attach themselves in layers to almost any surface, and they do not easily let go. Each zebra mussel grows to a maximum length of slightly less than twoinches. But the minuscule mussel is causing serious financial loss; over the next 10 years the infestation will cost users of the Bush Signs Ship Gamhiing Biii The United States-flag pas­ senger ship industry is expected to grow due to passage of an SIUsupported hi 1 which President Bush last month signed into law. The new law allovys U.S.-flag cruise ships to offer regulated gam­ bling on the high seas. (Foreignflag vessels have been offering gambling for years.) Previously, two outdated laws which dis­ criminated against American pas­ senger ships prevented U.S.-flag vessels from offering gaming. Foreign-flag ships sailing from U.S. ports were not subject to the same regulations. The SIU supported the new law because it could lead to both the investment of dollars in U.S.-flag passenger ship operations and the creation of thousands of jobs for American seafarers. Master Michael Murphy. "The regard in which the crew holds him and the stability which he lends to a deck gang are great assets for any ship fortunate enough to have his services. Among the items for which Hol­ ton was singled out were being a selfless worker and keeping his rig Great Lakes more than $5 billion, estimates one government agen­ cy. The National Fisheries Re­ search Center (located in Michigan), in cooperation with other federal, state and private agencies, has developed a research program covering all aspects of the zebra mussel invasion. Eventually, the research will be used to predict the mussels' spread across the U.S. and to estimate damages. Further, millions of dollars are being spent annually by industries and municipalities bordering the Great Lakes in the U.S. and Canada in attempts to control the dangerous, clam-like critters. The primary control method now in use is treatment with chlorine, a costly procedure that may adversely af­ fect the environment. Other methods are under investigation. The Bush administration recently sought to cut $1.1 million in research funds in NCAA's proposed 1992 budget. But Mer­ chant Marine Committee member Dennis Hertel (D-Mich.) amended the $658.5 million budget request to include the funds for zebra mus­ sel research. Since being found in Lake St. Clair in the mid 1980s, the mol­ lusks have spread throughout the Great Lakes and surrounding areas including the St. Lawrence, Hud­ son, Susquehanna, Illinois, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Rapid Spread The Organisms, which live up to five years, congregate in clusters as great as 800,000 per square meter. They are most dense in depths of water to 45 feet but may be found as deep as 300 feet. For Seafarers, the problem means extra work and extra expen­ ditures. Boats must be carefully cleaned when leaving a con­ taminated area in preparation for going to uncontaminated waters. To prevent blockage in the boat's water intake system, outboard motors must be thoroughly flushed. Meanwhile, the epidemic con­ tinues. When will spread of zebra mussels finally be halted? As zebra mussel expert Bob Peoples put it, "Nobody loiows." This photo illustrates the stages in growth of the zebra mussel. A ruler (in millimeters) is shown for scale. The bill includes provisions legalizing the use of gambling devices aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the high seas during intrastate and cruise-to-powhere voyages in states not prohibiting such ac­ tivity, as well as on interstate and foreign voyages. The provisions are similar to H.R. 3282, the U.S.-Flag Cruise Ship Competitiveness Act, which passed the House late last year and was added by the Senate to the marine sanctuary bill. More than 85 percent of all cruise passengers worldwide are Americans. But only two of the more than 120 deep-draft cruise ships in the world fly the U.S. flag (the SlU-crewed Independence and Constitution). The tiny zebra mussels use their sticky secretions to attach themselves in layers to almost any surface, in this case, a larger shell. • ^ '"'VL �• «^«»«««K,<» SRISPS -«T SEAPUtHtSlM 12 ^^r'^-5:^---'V., :...Vi- 'bM.';''"'" .4:'-:44::te 1(- ,;C- , ' ^-•>•' bbbl'W • - ,4;. jb ^ / " '-b-- 'by-mbl f't".-,•?- .'/'V-- ••••..• • ' v;.v' ,•• Perhaps the most visible crewmembers aboard the SS Inde­ pendence outside of those who deal with passengers directly are the men and women of the deck AB/Watch Doug ULonde changes the anti-skid strips on an outdoor ladder. o wu r/ • .-.X .. OS Bobby Freer (right) shares some photos he received at mail call with OS Ivan Ingram. .%•: These SIU members can be seen throughout the cruise ship any time of theday or night performing their various duties. "Don't let anybody tell you our people don't work hard," Bosun Mike Rivera told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. "Just look around and you find us there." Most tourists are aware of the deck members only when the ves­ sel enters or leaves a port. The tourists gather wherever they can to witness, photograph or film the operations, seeing it as part of the ship's entertainment. "Our guys have a job to do," Rivera stat^. "Once we start, we , /lJ j Y,®" ^^are we re being watched. During daylight hours, deck gang members may be painting bulkheads in passenger areas, cleaning the swimming pools, working on lifeboats or assisting passengers on the gangway of the American Hawaii Cruises ship. "People will just stop and watch while I'm working," noted ABAVatch Doug LaLonde who was changing skid strips on an out­ door ladder. "I've gotten used to it." Deck members have to get the job done After dark, the deck gang stays whether the ship is in port or at sea. busy as well. Besides the usual bridge assignments of lookout and navigation, the department's mem­ bers also handle the fire watch. "Our goal is to identify fire or possible hot spots before they start," said OS Bobby Freer, one of four people who traverse the whole ship between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. every day on the patrol. "The safety of the passengers is our prime concem." fc: . I• • " •• . '5 : • •fe JM mmmmmm AB Luisito F. Balatbat keeps a straight course under the watchful eye of Second Mate Ed White, an SIU hawsepiper. Keeping the passenger compartments J.® AB/Hotel Painter Rolando Co. Night fire watch, done by OS Bobtiy Freer, is an important shipboard safely precaution! Mb ;-v • Bosun Mike Rivera (badt to camera), along with Junior Teamwork is In^^ in dodjg and undocking^^ Ready to take part in the weekly lifeboat drill are (from left) all hands are called to the d^. ABpreg Potter, OS Mike Ethridge and OS Mike Thomas. 'r-M • "•w-.. • •Vi;i 'j bij- �1992 House Panel Blasts Proposed Budget for MarAd as 'Meager • , ;• ,' • •• •s,.-. -. .,•. r%-'. ^ • ' P* .-f- • ••:sSsA«s. '•itA Members of the House Mer­ chant Marine Subcommittee strongly questioned and, at times, criticized the 1993 fiscal year budget proposed by the Maritime Administration during a hearing last month. Before the hearing began. Sub­ committee Chairman Walter Jones (D-N.C.) introduced a substitute funding bill that would authorize an additional $189.4 million to the Bush administration's request of $537.4million. Jones stated the ad- ditional dollars would better main­ tain the Ready Reserve Force. Three Democratic and two Republican members of the sub­ committee immediately signed on as co-sponsors. Captain Warren Leback, head of the Maritime Administration, presented MarAd's request to the subcommittee. He was joined by General Hansford T. Johnson, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Transportation Command, and Vice Admiral Francis T. Donovan, commander of the Military Sealift Command. In his opening remarks, Jones listed his reasons why the administration's budget was not adequate. "Once again, the administration does not include any request for operating-differential subsidy (ODS) reform. Once again, the ad­ ministration provides hardly any funds for research and develop­ ment, in contrast to certain of our foreign competitors who provide large sums of R&D monies to their shipping industries. Once again, the administration recommends only a dormant Title XI loan guarantee [construction differen­ tial] program, even though we could use this program to build new double-hulled tankers in American shipyards." Jones then said, "Our govern­ ment has failed to place enough value on the need for a viable m^time industry. I had hoped that the lessons of the Persian Gulf war would have changed that neglect­ ful attitude; but, once again, there is no indication of such a change in this year's budget request." When the questioning of wit­ nesses began, Jones quoted Leback's testimony during the FY '92 hearings that an ODS reform package would be ready for this hearing and asked where it was. Leback said work on the reforms was delayed because of the recent change in the position of secretary of transportation. Jones then wanted to know if that meant it would take the Bush administration another four years to propose ODS reform. Leback responded Secretary Andrew Card may announce a maritime program Ws BlU Lawrence Dies at 44 Bill Lawrence, who ran the West Coast office of the Transpor­ tation Institute from his native home of Seattle, Wash., died sud­ denly on March 14 at the age of 44. During his tenure with the In­ stitute, which represents 140 U.S.flag vessel operators engaged in ocean-going, domestic and Great Lakes waterbome transportation trades and which is dedicated to promoting the American shipping industry, Lawrence tirelessly worked in behalf of the U.S. mer­ chant marine. James Heniy, president of the Transportation Institute, paid tribute to his effectiveness as an advocate of U.S. shipping. Henry said Lawrence worked diligently for the preservation and enforce­ ment of laws to maintain the U.S. domestic merchant fleet. Also, Heniy noted that "Bill was a friend of the maritime industry and a great personal fnend to many • -1. of us who had the honor of working with him." Lawrence, a son of a shipyard worker, was well-liked and wellconnected throughout the maritime community, and he counted a great number of Seafarers among his friends. A University of Washington graduate, Lawrence had a great deal of experience with the politi­ cal process, having worked as a lobbyist representing maritime in­ terests with the state legislatures of Alaska and Washington. He was active in political campaigns, in­ cluding the 1974 re-election effort of Senator Warren Magnuson. Lawrence first joined the staff of the Transportation Institute in 1975. Bill Lawrence is survived by his wife, Ruth; three-year-old son, Evan; mother, Helga; and sister, Maijean Plouffi J- •J ''•QMK Bill Lawrence (center), who passed away last month, Is pictured at the dedication of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last August with his go^ friends and associates former SlU official Ed Mooney (left) and Robert B. McMillen. president and CEO of TOTE. this summer. In response to a question from Rep. Norman Lent (R-N.Y.), both Johnson and Donovan said the Defense Department is proceeding with sealift vessel design proposals; a decision is expected in May. Johnson noted the depart­ ment still intends to rely on the private sector as part of the sealift strategy. He also offered the vessel design program as an example of governmental support that will benefit shipyards, operators and maritime unions. Rejps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Helen Delich Bentley (R-Md.) wanted to know from Leback why the administration has done little to nothing to help the U.S.-flag mer­ chant marine. Taylor specifically asked what the administration had done in the last two years to help the fleet. Bentley questioned the government's resolve to enforce cargo preference laws. Within their prepared tes­ timony, both Johnson and Donovan urged Congress to ap­ propriate funding for 20 rollon/roll-off vessels to be in the fleet by the end of the decade for use as prepositioning and fast sealift ves­ sels. They also requested an addi­ tional 19 RO/ROs for the RRF. The subcommittee is expected to mark-up, the process of preparing legislation for the full committee and Congress, die appropriations bill this spring. •?r' ::: M •: .-•'i "• • . -'k 'M Culinary Pioneer Beyes Bles Felipe "Phil" Reyes, one of the original planners for the SIU's steward department upgrading program, passed away November 10 due to natural causes. He was 85. Brother Reyes, whom friends described as a tireless, productive and humane leader, joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Two years later, the ambitious Seafarer sailed as a chief steward. Reyes came ashore in 1971 to work in Oakland, Calif, as a port steward for Sea-Land. He later served in a similar capacity for various other companies. A native of the Philippines, Reyes in 1967 purchased 12 burial plots in League City, Texas, for SIU members who did not qualify for burial benefits. "I wanted to make sure that SIU members knew they would be taken care of when they died," Reyes told the Seafarers LOG in a 1990 inter­ view. "That's what 'Brotherhood of the Sea' is all about." Also nicknamed "Pop," Reyes retired to the Mobile area and in 1985 established the Association of Retired Merchant Seamen (ARMS), an organization for former Seafarers and other exmariners. That group, which has hundreds of members, keeps abreast of union and maritime ^fairs and has been active in Veterans Day celebrations in the Alabama port city. The group traditionally lays a floating wreadi in honor of fallen brothers and sisters during the annual National Maritime Day observance in Mobile harbor. Four years ago, Reyes' efforts led to construction of a monument in Mobile which honors merchant mariners who perished during World War n. It was that type of civic-minded activity which once helped Reyes win Mobile's Man of the Year Award. Lee de Parlier, retired SIU member and current president of ARMS, called Reyes "a great fel­ low and an asset to the Seafarers. I first met Phil in Houston in 1964, when he was with the Maritime Advancement Program. "That program was a forerunner to Piney Point, so in a sense he was a founder (of the Lundeberg School)." De Parlier said Reyes, a former ' • Felipe "Phil" Reyes food plan adviser for the SIU, was "well respected locally" and belonged to "every organization you can think of." Retired SIU official Pete Drewes recalled Reyes was wellorganized and enthusiastic. He said of an ARMS cookout two years ago, "Phil organized the whole thing and 200 people turned out for it at Red Smith's farm. Phil always did a heck of a job, no mat­ ter what the job was." Retired galley gang member Harry Houston sailed with Reyes and described him as "very sharp when it came to mechanical knowledge of the steward depart­ ment. He set up a feeding program when we organized the SS Atlantic in Mobile.... He was also active in Alabama politics." Ed Kelley, SIU representative at the port of Mobile, said Reyes' political activities were reflected in the turnout at the funeral. "There were more than a few public offi­ cials there," Kelley said. "Phil was quite a guy." Another retiree who sailed with Reyes, George O'Berry, said Brother Reyes "should be com­ mended for the time and effort he spent working for the union, train­ ing and upgrading our food system and worlang for the betterment of the people he served. Many people owe a lot to this man." Reyes was buried in Wolf Ridge Cemetery in Mobile. He is sur­ vived by his wife, Shirley, whom he married in 1934. One of Brother Reyes' children, son Phil Jr., cur­ rently sails with District 2/MEBA. • "i i. "VA-ii ^a -s• • '•'M r >. 1 �:si;w¥w-rc?ise».<»w*«fpw^ . ^7•: - :.•• \:. •;: :-s. f- ^ •' • - .• .«:- -. ::L .y;,_jy • - ;o7' 7. •:ait^v<'^>''»T>.iiii.»iii .111'n >i.iw.iii»»;Mijwii^^ • seAORBtstm Facts Show Documented Seamen Have A Better Safety Record Than Those Who Don't « -s': '-y'rn^:'. • A Way to Reduce the Safety Threat to Tug andTow Crewmen [i(S-V-.-';- I-''.' V''*T'feM,^JvS//r^'viV'-'f;/^ r ' • • k •••• -xs'-'sS-Al'-vifhr^^ ''''i :^'''^:iy '• ^'t''i. -:- '" A disparity that exists in the nation's maritime safety standards is endangering the safety of the men and women who sail on the nation's rivers and lakes, the Seafarers International Union has found. The loophole in safeguards stems from a section of the nation's laws that exempts the vast majority of individuals working on inland waters' ves­ sels—no matter the tonnage of the boat—from holding Coast Guard issued documents. Also among those seamen who do not have to cany documents are most individuals on vessels of under 100 gross tons. The law requires, however, that all seamen employed on Great Lakes vessels and ocean-going ships over 100 gross tons carry Coast Guard issued docu­ ments, which also are known as z-cards. Legislation has been introduced in the United States Con­ gress to close this loophole. The bill, known as H.R. 4394, was introduced in early March by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee Chairman Walter B. Jones (DN.C.). The legislation has the strong backing of the SIU, other marine labor unions and several maritime companies. In the few weeks since the bill's introduction, 31 congressmen have signed on as cosponsors. In an address to his fellow congressmen upon introducing the bill, Jones said, "It may be hard to beiieve, but there are vessels operating in waters of the United States with crewmembers who are not required to demonstrate their fltness for duty." Potential for Injury iSSIEf •;'. • .:i!.X''.,••••„:''.' •• 7-;C;,; .>^i'7.:f''.,'v4r ./ -.. ii-;. •--..T. •i''--fl-\ -" •••'•|S' *•.•. . •••'> -i;.-:'.^.-'. -.iJ :•-^ ' ' L ' ''' *»•• '•• -- ••:•••-- •.' ' "' '• '" "^ ' ' .': " jk": ./: r* •.• ! T, a. , Who Must Have A Merchant Mariner Document Seamen aboard U.S. merchant vessels of at least 100 gross tons are required under federal law (46 U.S. Code, Section 6701) to hold a merchant marine document except on vessels operating only on the navigable rivers and lakes of the United States other than the Great Lakes. Who Is Not Required to Hold A Merchant Mariner Document Currently, individuals serving on inland towing vessels and harbor towing vessels and ocean and harbor tugs of less than 100 gross tons are not required to hold merchant mariner documents. Oh navigable rivers and lakes, except the Great Lakes, no matter the tonnage of the vessel, the majority of individuals working aboard the tug ortowboat are not required to hold merchant mariner documents. The Coast Guard, how­ ever, does require that on all river and lakes, towing vessels of 26 feet in length (regardless of tonnage), the operator of the boat must hold a license issued by the agency. The Coast Guard also requires that tankermen hold a document with the appropriate endorsements. Al other hands aboard vessels on the nation's navigable rivers and lakes, except the Great Lakes, carry no merchant mariner docurherrt, other endorsements or licenses. Tens of thousands of mariners working aboard mora than 3,300 tugs and tows plying the nation's 25,777mile8 ofnavigable waterways are endangered by a loophole in maritime safety standards for rivers. and Navigation that the inland waterways need a "system whereby you can document, monitor and evaluate the per­ sonnel that are on the tugs and barges." He noted that all hands working on Crowley's vessels are documented. Faber said documentation of all inland maritime workers was in the "best interest in regard to safety." In written comments submitted to the committee, Maritrans GP Inc. Executive Vice President James H. Sanbom said, "The message delivered long and consistently by both houses of Congress to those of us who use our nation's waterways to move goods and material has been clear: operate safely; protect our environment." "Allowing undocumented seamen to work on these ves­ sels unnecessarily increases the potential for injury or death of other Waterway users. In addition, since many of these vessels transport oil or hazardous substances, any accident puts this nation at risk for serious environmental damage to our shores and natural resources," said the North Carolina congressman. Jones pointed out there are important safeguards con­ tained in the process of issuing merchant mariner documents. The Coast Guard, the federal agency responsible for policing the nation's navigable waterways and enforcing laws and regulations concerning the safety of all who use the marine transportation system, issues merchant mariner documents to individuals working aboard all deep sea and Great Lakes vessels. Applicants must submit to drug testing, undergo a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal investigation check and allow the agency to review driving records in the Nation­ al Driver Register, among other procedures. Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Coast Guard was mandated to renew merchant rtiariner documents every five years. (Before this law, an individual was issued a document once and this served him or her throughout his sailing career.) The agency is currently in the process of developing a procedure for the re-issuance of documents. on the these waters," Sacco said. The SIU official pointed out that currents and weather conditions can make navigation extremely tricky. He said tugs and tows and their barges must be maneuvered in congested waterways. Additionally, the vessels sail on rivers and harbors bordering very populated areas, as well as water­ ways adjacent to environmentally sensitive marshes, islands, shores, banks and coastlines. Sacco said every crewmember plays an important role in navigating a tug or tow and its barge units on the waterways. Sacco noted that crewmembers on tugs and barges are responsible for a multitude of cargoes, each requiring unique attention from the crew. Among the material transported on the nation's rivers and lakes are petroleum products, forest and farm products, coal, metallic ores, radiation materials, chemicals—including benzene, ammonia, sulfuric acid, fer­ tilizer. In many cases the cargo is hazardous or combustible or both, Sacco said. Sacco said the volume of cargo transported on the inland waterways was staggering. "In 1989, the Army Corp of Engineers estimated that 1,507.5 million tons of freight were carried on selected inland waterways." Safety of Crew at Stake Confidence of Fellow Crew • Evldenceof drug-free urinalysis test. From the SIU's standpoint, Sacco said, "Every hand on a vessel, whether it is operating on a river or in the ocean, must have confidence in his fellow crewmembers and their ability to handle the vessel in any situation, including emergencies that may arise." The enactment of legislation extending the Coast Guard documentation procedure to all crewmembers aboard tugs and tows would assure the men and women who earn their livelihoods in this industry that safeguards have been met. While a group known as the American Waterways Operators (AWO), which represents many tug and towboat companies, is opposed to the legislation, a number of maritime companies have thrown their strong support behind the legislation. Crowley's Pacific Operations Vice President Gary Faber said in testimony before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard • Oath to adhere to all applicable federaliaws. • Check of National Driver Register for relevant infor­ mation (alcohol use). • Criminal record check with the FBI. • Verification of U.S. citizenship or evidence from INS of lawful entry and permanent residence in country. • Proof of employment in the industry or evidence of military service. • Renewal every five years. • Completion of 60-90 days of seatime. • To obtain an advanced rating, a Coast Guard ex­ amination indicating proficiency and knowledge. In its testimony of March 17 to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation hearing on the legislation, the SIU emphasized that the safety of crewmembers on thousands of tugs and towboats is at stake. The loophole in maritime safety standards of the nation's rivers and lakes endangers the lives and working conditions of crewmembers aboard tugs and towboats, SIU Vice President Joseph Sacco told the congres­ sional panel. There are more than 5,000 tugs and towboats in the U.S.-flag fleet and close to 3,300 of those operate on the nation's rivers and lakes, which make up 25,777 miles of navigable waterways. Sacco noted that the crewmembers of those vessels Work under difficult Conditions. On the inland waters, tugs and towboats push or pull more than 23,000 dry cargo barges and 3,200 tank barges. "It takes skill, it takes training, it takes alertness and it takes teamwork to navigate Pollution-Free Standards Sanbom continued, "Marine accidents can be caused by a single person failing to conform to proper procedures. The result may be damage only to his vessel; or it may involve damage to a land-based facility. The accident may involve two or more vessels; one or all of which may be carrying a potential pollutant. ITie accident may result in pollution from a vessel struck and breached by a relatively small towboat and barge unit carrying a cargo as innocuous as gravel for constraction. The prevention of marine pollution then is not Requirements That Must Be Met For a Merchant Mariner Document confined to those who carry the cargoes with a potential for pollution, but by all who share the navigable waters." The role the Coast Guard plays in reducing accidents through, among other things, its merchant mariner document system is essential, said Sanbom. "The requirements are simple, straight forward and provide a means to assure that those entering the ranks of partners on our vessels have been screened by &e nation's maritime regulatory watchdog, the USCG." Crescent Towing & Salvage Co., Inc. of New Orleans, La. also submitted comments on the matter to the subcommittee. Crescent's Assistant Vice President Arthur T. Kulp pointed out that the company would benefit from a set of standards that would be applied uniformly to all employees of all tugboat companies. He said an individual subjected to all the safeguards required by the Coast Guard, "would make the process of determining the qualifications of a potential job applicant easier to assess for the company." Furthermore, Kulp said, "If all crewmembers had docu­ ments, employers would beassured that the person employed had met basic Coast Guard requirements... Since a merchant marine document can be revoked, an individual who has demonstrated gross incompetence or misconduct or negligence would be taken out of the industry." H.R. 4394 Closes Loophole The majority of crewmembers on inland vessels do not cany a Coast Guard document. The exception is a tankerman. Individuals employed as tankermen must hold a merchant mariner document with the appropriate Coast Guard endor­ sements. Also, operators of inland vessels more than 26 feet in length must hold a Coast Guard license. However, en­ gineers, deckhands, mates, cooks, among others, are not required to hold any kind of Coast Guard documentation. On ocean-going vessels of imder 100 gross tons, most hands are not required to hold documents. Many of these vessels operate in the nation's coastal waterways and har­ bors. The vessels exempted from the Coast Guard merchant mariner document requirement include marine equipment of substantial proportions. Many of the boats in question are driven by engines with horsepower in the tens of thousands. There are some towboats that push more than 50 barges at a time, maldng the overall tonnage of the combined marine equipment unit close to that of an ocean-going vessel. he striking difference in the total number of accidents due to human error between U.S.-flag deep sea ships or Great Lakes vessels or tugs and towt}oats provides evidence of the need to have all crewmembers meet basic requirements of the United States Coast Guard, the govern­ ment agency responsible for marine safety. The safety of fellow crewmembers is at stake, as well as the safety of others work­ ing aboard vessels operating in the nation's waterways and hart)ons. The SIU was led to examine the data contained in the Coast Guard's database Each category of vessel—whether inland, deep sea or Great Lakes equipment— was equally hit by weather and environmental conditions. The percentage of accidents causedby forces of nature was similar among all three classifications of vessels. "Environmental Factors" are con­ sidered by the Coast Guard to be adverse weather conditions, adverse current or sea conditions, debris, suction bank, ice, sub­ merged objects, unmaintained channels, among others. Systemic Deficiencies" cited by the MAIN) in an effort to ascertain the safety record of the inland maritime industry. The union found that within the inland field, human error is more likely to account for an accident than in either the Great Lakes or deep sea areas. The primary difference between the in­ dividuals employed aboard tugs and towboats in the inland sector and those working aboard vessels on the Great Lakes and oceans, is the great majority of crewmem­ bers on marine equipment in the rivers and lakes are not documented by the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard's data indicates that human factors are the primary cause of accidents involving tugs and tows. Conversely, on deep sea ships and Great Lakes vessels, the human factor only accounted for roughly one third of all accidents. The Coast Guard defines "human factors" as some of the following categories: bypass of available safety devices, inattention to duty, intoxication—alcohol/drugs, calculated risk, carelessness, error in judgement, lack of knowledge, lack of train­ ing, lack of experience, operator error, fatigue, stress, physical impairment, psychologicalimpairment, failure to comply With rules or regulations, inadequate super­ vision, failure to follow rules of the road. ccording to Coast Guard data, the most likely reason for an accident involving a deep sea ship or Great Lakes vessel is a problem with the vessel itself. The Coast Guard defines "vessel problems" as those factors related to the material or equipment of the ship or boat that cause trouble, but which are not related to improper maintenance. Examples of this category are inadequate equipment; inade­ quate stability; inadequate horsepower; failed materials, such as electrical,' mechanical and structural items. inadequate owner/operator safety plan, faulty designs, improper main­ tenance. In August of 1981, the Coast Guard added inadequate manning and inad^uate equipment to this category. more detailed examination of the Coast Guard's data, indicates that 32 ktug/tow accidents within the CASMAIN database listed intoxication by either alcohol or drugs as a contributory factor to the accident. A search of the accidents involving Great Lakes and deep sea ships revealed that intoxication has never been one of the reasons the Coast Guard found for an accident involving those vessels. It should be noted that the CASMAIN database only includes accidents where frie Coast Guard has completed its invesligation. Any open cases would not show "P |![| database. _ Crewrnembers aboard deep sea and ®"'P® ®''® rigorous ^"^9 testing procedures. All individuals on these vessels are documented and thus will have been subjected to a record check of the National Driver Register. The majority.^ crewmembers on tugs and towboats opiating on the rivers are not subject to the National Driver Register check. The union is continuing to study the infor­ mation contained in the C^st Guard's exten­ sive CASMAIN database. In the meantime, the Seafarers LOG would welcome the com­ ments of all seamen and boatmen on their experiences of crew safety. In the union's preliminary analysis, the evidence is clear that seamen with mer­ chant mariner documents have a better safety record and are less susceptible to injury and death than men and women working aboard tugs and tows who do not meet the standards the Coast Guard re­ quires of all mariners. A "'-Sj'Sa'5' . J. •• •7'' k'Xk'iy;' v.kd k.:- "t^ai 'I- Primary Cause of Accidents U.S.-Flag Inland Tugsn^ows, Ocean-Going, and Great Lakes Vessels (Percentage by Cause) Late 1970s - Mid 1991 CAUSE TUGSiTOWS Human Factors # 5,051 % 58% Vessel Problems 1,720 Environmental Factors ACCIDENTS LAKE SHIPS # OCEAN SHIPS 43 % 36% # 698 % 31% 20% 53 45% 1,038 46% 1,306 15% 14 12% 343 15% 43 0% 2 2% 20 1% OtherAJnknown 585 7% 7 6% 158 7% Total Accidents 8,705 100% 119 101%* 2,257 100% Human Factor, Any Cause 5,367 62% 46 39% 795 35% Systemic Deficiency L' "asi/-:;. Total sums to more ttian100 due to rounding. Tugs/Tows includes all such vessels less than 300 gross tons. Lakes ships are those vessels over 10,000 gross tons, self-propelled, which have been involved in an accident on one of the five Great Lakes. Finally, ocean-going vessels are all self-propelled vessels over 14,999 gross tons and which are one of the following type of vessels: Container, RO-RO, LASH, Ore-Bulk-Oil, liquid or dry buikers, or oil, gas or chemical tankers. Source: Coast Guard's CASMAIN Database. CASMAIN includes only closed cases; any accident still under investigation is not included. -. • • : - - .^77^ V'fa7'i'^ �ti: t-r SEAFARERStOS IS . Steward Utz's Activities Make for a Full ^Plate^ ||;::fc|i|| m • "• 't;- / • • .- • ' ' •••A. '• "-V, I'--::: Crewmembers aboard the Great Land look forward to Thursdays when Chief Steward Jack Utz is aboard. That is the day when Utz distributes his newsletter, the Ariang exPress, around the rollon/roll-off vessel. "It's been great for morale," Utz told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG when the TOTE vessel recently docked in Fife, Wash., be­ tween Seattle and Tacoma. Utz began producing the newsletter—full of poetry, quotes, off-beat stories and quizzes— about three years ago so he could share his views with his fellow shipmates. .Writing is the 62-year-old steward's primary form of com­ munications. He has been bothered, but not hampered, by a stutter in his speech since childhood. The speech impediment caused him to leave school early. "I dropped out in sixth grade, but my hobby was reading," Utz, who has a bachelor's degree in English, recalled. He read books by Pearl Buck, William Erskine and others from the Great Depres­ sion era that formulated his politi­ cal conscience to help others. "About 10 or 11,1 began picking books that were written by people who were socially aware. 'The average person ^— after the age of 30 — begins thinking of his own security and less of other people's (security). Whereas 1 didn't change." Utz weaves his beliefs throughout his newsletters. In his own words, the respohses and debates have been "great. In argu­ ments, 1 have been called every- Utz's shipmate, Wiper AN Hussein, works on board as the vessel unloads. n Robert Haley, who sails as an AB, says he would follow Utz to sea anytime. thing from a fascist to a communist and everything in between." In fact, Utz recalled one crewmember challenging his views with "1 don't believe this but you sure can write." The native of Baltimore began his sailing career in 1948 as a wiper on the Steel King. He found the job "too greasy." On his next vessel, he discovered being an ordinary seainan was "too cold." The only shipboard department left for Utz was the galley, where he has sailed ever since. He has upgraded four times at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship to become a recertified steward. While sailing and upgrading, he began to study for the GED to gain his high school equivalency diploma. After that, he acquired an associate's degree from a Washington junior college. Then, pushed by now-retired SlU official Ed Mooney, Utz applied for a Seafarers scholarship in 1978. "1 was so afraid, but 1 got the scholarship: It took me about six years to get my degree from the University of Washington because 1 continued sailing." Although he has been the per­ manent steward on the Great Land since 1982, Utz states that he is a better writer than cook. But don't s?.:: K: ;• Chief Steward Jack Utz works on the next edition of his newsletter. SlU Assistant VP Bob Hall (left) talks with AB Robert Wassink aboard the Great l.and. let crewmembers hear that. "I'd go to sea with Jack anytime," AB Robert Haley quipped after hear­ ing Utz's statement about cooking. Utz's fo'c'sle is like a smdl pressroom. Besides his personal gear, he stores his background material for the newsletters as well as his computer there. "1have plen­ ty of information on weather, jobs and politics that1have been saving for years." For QMED DeSue, Political Action Is a *Must' For Kevin DeSue, politics is not so much who you know and what have they done for you lately. It is more a matter of self-esteem for your conununity, your friends and yourself. "It's easy to get involved," the 23-year-old QMED says to fellow Seafarers. "Just take more time and get involved in your community. They'll be glad to have you." DeSue, who recently upgraded at the Lundeberg Schoo, urges union members to know their U.S. senators and representatives be­ cause they directly affect our jobs on U.S.-flag ships." He has lobbied on Capitol Hill several times on maritime matters. The graduate of Lundeberg School trainee class 444 also reminds members to not ignore local politicians. "Write your councilmen, mayor and school board. Ask them for their opinions on issues affecting the community. Develop a relationship with them. As soon as you begin to understand their jobs, diey will begin to under­ stand yours." The Jacksonville, Fla. native in­ cludes members waiting for a job in a union hall in this philosophy. 'We have the means and time to get more involved. We can't just go to the hall to look for a job. We should go as a group to meet people in the com­ munity and voice our opinions." In his own community of Springfield (in the northern part of Jacksonville), the engine depart­ ment member discovered only 27 percent of those registered bothered to vote in the 1991 municipal election. To urge more of his neighbors to get involved, DeSue has been meeting with them and preaching his "self-esteem" philosophy. "When you hear 'ghetto,ghetto. ghetto,' you begin to believe your area is nothing—that you live in a slum. SpringEeld is one of the oldest and most historic areas of Jacksonville. We have to get motivated about our area so others' will take us seriously." To that end, he has spent his time off the ship mowing lawns, repairing plumbing and doing other odd jobs for neighbors un­ able to handle those chores. Despite his age, DeSue is not a newcomer to the political process. One of his earliest memories is of his grandfather, a former minister, running for mayor of nearby St. Augustine, Fla. in 1976. He remembers a group of people asked his grandfather, who was serving on Ae city council, to seek the post because he would not be "a meek minister who would stay in his place." His grandfather did not win, but it taught DeSue the valuable lesson to stand up and fight for what you believe. DeSue still has his first letter from U.S. Representative Charles Bennett (D-Fla.). Bennett has been a frequent guest of DeSue's grandfather at various political and church-related functions. When DeSue was lobbying congressmen on Capitol Hill two years ago to vote in favor of cargo preference legislation, Bennett warmly wel­ comed DeSue to his office. DeSue plans to continue upgrading and obtain his engineer­ ing license. However, he does have plans to run for political office someday. "1 want to establish my maritime career first, then we'll see what happens." Kevin DeSue's meeting with U.S. Rep. Charles Bennett (D-Fia.) was featured on the front page of the July 1990 Seafarers LOG. QMED DeSue, flanked by Recertified Stewards Hans Schmuck (left) and Richard Sanderson, listens to testimony against imposing a user fee on merchant mariners. •K v'\ �APRIL 1992 V .--..a'j 17 ^ Membaship Meeting DwpSea,Lak^ •«r"Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1992 •-•x. InUhdWatm *TOTAL REGISTERED AllGroaiM C3assA ClaasB ClassC Nfonday, May 4 Monday, June 8 New York Tuesday TuesdayvJuneS Philad^hia Wednesday, May 6 Wednesday, June 10 • fe®fc ' f;;- Trip ReHeb **REGISTERED ON BEACH AU Groups dassA Class B< ClassC DECK DEPARTMENT 11 •.Si;:::: - Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacl^nviiy SanFtiuiciscp Thui^y, June 11 Norfolk Hiursday, May 7 Thui^y, Junell laeksonviUe I ' f. •V . ^ Port NisWYork l%iladelphia TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups OaaA Class B Class C Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu •m ^ursday, Ju^ ll • IMd^BifayS l^id%^ JUiie12 Houston M6nday,ft4ay 11 Monday, June 15 ® NewOrieans Tuesday, May 12 Tuesday, June 16 r MobUe Wednesday, May 13 Wednesday, June 17 SanFrancis(» Thursday, May 14 Uiursday, June 18 Wilmington Monday, May 18 Monday, June 22 SeatUe Friday, May 22 1 Friday, June 26 San Juan Thursday, May 7 rf i'-a .< Thursday, Juijie 11 I ; 1' StLoiiiS Frid^, May 15 " . Friday, June 19 s'..: ^' : J^olulu FridhyiMay 15 Friday, June 19 Dulutli Wednesday, MayU3 Wednesday, June 17 Jersey City Wednesday, May 20 W-'-. Wednesday, June 24 New Bedford Tuesday, May 19 Tuesday, June 23 Algonac Totals Port New York Philadeli^iia •f Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisc^ Wihniriglbrt: Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 14 mM -••j: ; ' '* ?*•;' J.' : Each port's meetfpff starts alt 10:30 ajn. Personals ENGINE DEPARTMENT St. Loui^fl PiiieyPc^ Algonac Totiils Port NewYbite Philaddphia BattyHife Norfolk Mobile New Orlemis J^ksonville San Ffancisccf Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Port New YOTK^ Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile NewOrieans STEWARD DEPARTMENT 10 2 < .0 19 " 0 -.:/: i: • • 4 1 ..JiSSS 6" ' : !svsia 11 16 16 3 10 7 88 26 • 25 4 12 13 1 26 10 0 17 1 155 14 0 5 0 277 fesssa ' ;./• •;•J', I', -.r.r-i i ENTRY DEPARTMENT ALFREDO GONZALES Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Alfredo Gonzales, please contact 10 his son, Albert Allie, at 1711 Gates Ave., Ridgewood, N.Y. 11385. 53 |San Ffancisc^ FREDKISE 16 11 Seattle As you requested, reissuance of 10 6 7 Puerto Rico lost check is complete. Contact 213 47 4 Honolulu Stephanie Wendell, Transoceanic -WW 40 8 Houstoir Cable Ship Co. at (201) 326-2314. 0 2 f;-0 St. Louis FRffiNDSOF •• ••'6i'.46 0 0 JOHN J. WHITE 0 Algonac I am John J. White's son and I am 123 464 609 Totals looking for any individual who knew my father. He sailed as a chief en­ Totals AU Department 523 675 604 394 409 300 263 1,022 1,068 1,140 gineer on the John Harvey, a Liberty * 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. Ship which went down in Italy on ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month, December 2,1943.1 would like John A total of 1,366 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,366jobs shipped, 394 jobs or about J. White's grandchildren to know more about him. Contact Jack White, 29 percent were taken by "A** seniority members. The rest were flUed by '*B** and C* seniority people. From 2705 Pine Creek Place, Forestville, February 16 to March 15,1992, a total of 263 trip reUef johs were shipped. Since the trip reUef pfpgram hegpn on Md. 20747, of caU (301) 735-4974. ...'C April 1,1982, a total of 16,070jobshave been shipped. . . ••• V •( . .e-• i"--" �• • 'fp' PP-- 'f}''m%' SEAFMRBISim 18 •;: 4. fl-H- I :«:v I•IS i'«•;•.• Pt Loma Steward EftecUeely Uses Lay-wp Time i:: lifii"'"'-' Irnmi &#• ;« ... V! :\x;c: y:.-.' . •> • r- .i; • • • ifeKi Chief Steward Claudia Allen finds lay-up time in San Diego a great op­ portunity to make plans for upcoming meals at^ard the USNS Point Lbma, a 492-foot Military Sealift Conunand— Pacific Fleet vessel. "I can make plans for up to a month and know what to order," the govern­ ment services division member of the SIU recently told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. Seafyrersinteimttohal Union Pirectoi^^^ ^ Aflchael Sacco , president ; : John Fay . Secretary-Treasurer ' Joseph Sacccr Executive Vice president Augustin Xellez v;-' ^ , • Vice IteMdent Wt»t Roy A, •®uclp^ Mercer .Jacfc'GaQiey • . ' Vice PTrndimt Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Roy "Buck" Mercer (extreme left), vice president of the govemment services division, addresses (left to right) Yeoman/Storekeeper James Page, OS Jeff Crummette, AS Mas Sawamoto and Bosun Stephen Bingham. j4 DeanCone;ey yice President Gulf Coast HEADQUARTERS i 5201 Autb Way j Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301)899-0675 ,, ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 013)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimoie, MD 21202 (410)327-4900 •''B# DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth,MN 55802 (218)722-4110 * ^ Chief Steward Claudia Allen plans future Making his way to the shipboard union Engine Utility Craig Dirks reviews classes meals for the Point Loma crew. meeting is OS Jeff Crummette. available at the Lundeberg ScfKX)!. HONOLULU 606KaUhiSt. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)845-5222 •HOUSTON 1221 Fiercest. . ^ FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1992 H0ti^,TX 77002 . CL~Company/Lakes Lr—Lakes NP—Non Priority (713)659-5152 ' ' •TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED ••REGISTERED ON BEACH JACKSONVILLE All Groups All Groups All Groups 3315 Liberty St Class CL Class L Class NP ClassCL ClassL ClassNP Class CL Class L Class NP Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904)353-0987 Port DECK DEPARTMENT • JlERSEY cnr • 99 Montgonwry St : Jersey City, NJ 07302 , ENGINE DEPARTMENT . . ,.(201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dat^ihin Island Pkwy. Mow e.AL 36605 ; , (205)478-0916 . , -tNEW BEDFORD 50 Union St New Bedford, MA 02740 (508)997-5404 NEW ORLEANS Totals All Departments 0 36 12 0 15 3 0 108 22 630 Jackson Ave, ^ Ui * 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504)529-7546 NEW YORK •PPWi 675 Fourth Ave. . ^ Brooklyn, NY 11232 ' c -c, (718)499-6600 ^ . FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1992 NORFOLK llSThiidSt •TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups All Groups All Groups i*; Norfolk, VA 23510 ClassA ClassB ClassC ClassA ClassB CbasC ClassA ClassB ClassC (804)622-1892 Region DECK DEPARTMENT PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St Rliladelphia, PA 19148 015)336-3818 PINEYPOINT P.O. Box 75 r 1Point MD 20674 (301)994-0010 ^ SAN FRANCISCO toifPJ': 350fiemontSt San Francisco, CA 94105 ' (415)543-5855 Govemment Services Division (415)861-3400 0 0 0 West Coast SANTURCE 2 0 0 Totals 1057 Fernandez Juncos St Stop 16 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Region Santurce,PR 00907 (809)721-4033 ipcyy, • SEATTLE 2505 Rrst Ave. Seattle, WA 98121 (206)441-1960 West Coast ST. LOUIS Totals 4581 Gravois Ave. St Louis, MO 63116 (314)752-6500 Totals AU Departments 43 6 23 10 0 4 165 10 33 WILMINGTON * 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actu^y registered for shipping at the port last month. N. Broad Ave. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last monOi. i Wilmington,CA 90744 j t ^ (310)549-4000 -N is- riis • - s;: v''- ;r*> • ' -••'•i'rrv;V;., .-1 ^ Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Dispatchefs' Report for Inland Waters '• T SH' �V. APmL1992 T he Seafarers Pension Plan announ(res the retirement of 17 members this month. Thirteen of ' those retiring sailed in the deep sea division, while two woiiced aboard tugboats in the inland division. Two sailed in the Great Lakes division. Deck department member Roald Bliksvaer, a native of Norway, began his seafaring career on foreign-flag ships before immigrat­ ing to America in 1955. Years ago, after upgrading at the Lundeberg School, he told the Seafarers LOG that U.S.-flag shipping offers sub­ stantially fairer wages and workers' rights to merchant mariners. Recertified Steward Robert Forshee sailed in the deep sea division, but he also served as an active recruiter for the training program of the SIU's affiliate, the Inland Boatmen's Union (before its merger into the Atlantic and Gulf districts). Brother Forshee lives in Granite City, 111., which is just across the Mississippi River from the SIU's St. Louis hall. Brief biographical sketches of Bliksvaer, Forshee and the other new pensioners follow. . DEEP SEA ROALD BLIKSVAER, 62, joined the SIU in 1956 in the port of Bal­ timore. Bom in Norway, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Bliksvaer has retired to Baltimorej FRANK CORVEN, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1962 in the port of New York. A native of France, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Corven served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. He resides in Prescott Valley, Ariz. 19 To Our New Pensioners ... Thanks for a Job Well Done Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently have become pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These men and women have served the maritime industry well, and the SIU and all their union brothers and sisters wish them happiness and health in the days ahead. BENJAMIN DAHLAN, 66, joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of New York. He was bom in Singapore and sailed in the deck department. Broker Dahlan upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School. He lives in New York. ROBERT FORSHEE, 67, joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of Houston. Bom in Granite City, 111., he completed the steward recertification course at the Lundeberg School in 1981. Brother Forshee served in the Army from 1943 to 1946 and from 1948 to 1952. He stiU caUs Granite City home. JUAN LAGUANA, 62, joined the SlU in 1969 in the port of San Francisco. He was bom in Guam and sailed most of his career as a chief cook. Brother Laguaha served in the Navy from 1948 to 1958. He has reti^ to San Jose, Calif. ARTHUR LONGUET,64, joined the Seafarers in 1945. in his native New York. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Longuet resides in Spring Creek, Nev. HARRY MEREDITH JR., 66, joined the Seafarers in 1962 in die port of New York. Bom in Waynesburg, Pa., he sailed in the engine department. Brother Meredith served in the Navy from 1943 to 1958. He lives in Houston. n JOHN R. McINTYRE,64, joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of Houston. A na­ tive of Alabama, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Mclntyre served in the Army from 1945 to 1947. He has retired to La Porte, Texas. VLADKO ROLL, 65, joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The native of Mt. Union, Pa. sailed in the deck department. Brother Roll served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. He continues to reside in Mt Union. GEORGE SLACK, 66, joined the SIU in 1965 in the ^rt of San Fran­ cisco. Bom in Mississippi, he sailed in the engine department. Brother Slack upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1950. Brother Slack has retired to Jackson, Teim. VINCENT VANZENELLA, 69, joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. A New York na­ tive, he graduated from the bosun recertiflcation course at the Lundeberg School in 1981. Brother Vanzenella served in the Pan PacUic Copyri^ris Kew 'Dolphin Sale' Label Pan Pacific Fisheries—^the only tuna canning factory in the continental United States—has patented a colorful blue "dolphin safe" design on the top of the can which will assist the American consumer in supporting American tuna fisher­ men and caimers. The 600 employees of Pan Pacific Fisheries are represented by the SIU's United Industrial Workers. Additionally, Pan Pacific buys much of its fish from fishermen represented by the SIU's Fishermen's Union of America. Pan Pacific cans for thousands of private labels, generic or "store-brands" and institution­ al segments of the American market In addition to the newly designed can, a Pan Pacific can of tuna may be identified by a serial number stamped on the can that begins with the letter "M." By law, every cannery must imprint a unique serial number on the lid of each can of tuna. The U.S. tuna industry is currently working to eliminate an unfair tariff that allows foreign countries to dump caimed tuna on the American market. Seafarers can do their p^ to support Look for Pan Pacific's colorful blue "dolphin safe" label which will be American tuna fishermen and the domestic tuna imprinted on the top of every one of its cans of tuna, regardless of the store label. canning plant by buying Pan Pacific tuna. Navy firom 1942 to 1945. He lives in Pinole, CaUf. GENARO RUIZ, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1948 in the port of Bal­ timore. He was bom in l^erto Rico and sailed in the deck department Brother Ruiz served in the Army from 1952 to 1954. He resides in Bayaihon, P.R. • - PERLEY WIL­ LIS, 63, joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of Nor­ folk, Va. He was bom in North Carolina and sailed as a chief cook. Brother Willis served in the Army from 1946 to 1948. He has retir^ to Houston. :tS. mm INLAND ' /' : :s&r LOWELL BROXSON,58, joined the union in 1963 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. A native of Florida, he sailed in the deck and engine departments. Boatman Bioxson served in the Navy fitom 1951 to 1954. He resides in Vidor, Texas. • ;4" • ROBERT REMMEL, 63, joined the union in 1967 in the port of Nor­ folk, Va. Bom in Conneaut, Ohio, he held a tankerman endorse­ ment. Boatman Remmel served in the Marine Coips from 1948 until 1952. He lives in Hollywood, Md. GREATLAKES DONALD O. NELSON, 66, joined the union in 1958 in the port of Detroit. A native of Min­ nesota, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Nelson served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946. He resides in Conneaut, Ohio. ARCHIE BELL, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1962 in his native Toledo, Ohio. Brother Bell sailed in the deck department. He still calls Toledo home. Personal • V Mi 7?. W CHARLES B. HIGGINS * 'vfSf Please contact your brother, Kevin Higgins, at 207 Moore St., Tilton, m. 61833. Correction On page 5 of the March 1992 issue of the Seafarers LOG, As­ sistant Vice President Bob Hall's birthplace was listed in­ correctly. He was bom on Long Island, N.Y. Also, Hall was appointed by the state's governor to the Washington State Maritime Council, not the Labor Council, as printed. §81 -V �\ 5£aMRlEll5I0e 20 Steel Ships and Iron Men: Part III '^lili i' • 'H--. . .-I. •':' . - , • .<•" , - tv m fe-^ ifSSS ..>v.:''.., ivs J• ' -. • • n mate. He turns to me and says, Father Sinclair "Sinclair, you're on the wheel." I Oubre is Port respond tiying to contain my surprise Chaplain in Beau­ and panic, that I was an ordinary seaman mont, Texas and and there must be a mistake. He says that an SIU member. he has talked it over with the c^tain and He sails during his eveiything is OK. time off. During his last trip—as an After a brief repast in the lounge, I ordinary seaman headed to the bridge. There was the aboard the Cape Sinclair Oubre bosun at the helm. "Who sent you?" he Chalmers—he asked. When I told him that the third jotted down his thoughts regarding the had sent me, he seemed to be satisfied, voyage and the profession of seafar­ but continued to steer for a few mo­ ing. ments. I thank God that he did. It was Last month's Seafarers LOG con­ probably the fastest helmsman course tained several excerpts from a journal ever offered, but it demonstrated how Brother Oubre kept during his days the vessel was handling at half speed, aboard the Cape Chalmers, an RRF how much to let her swing before com­ ship operated by OMI. What follows is ing midship and how much was neces­ an additional item from that journal— sary to correct any overage. Listening taking his turn at the helm. to a few commands and how the bosun responded to the pilot gave me my foundation for the night. (I later found At The Helm After six days in port, expectations out that the bosun had stayed around to began to grow that we were going to be watch and see that ever>thing was all going to sea soon. The shipyard right. In the morning he said that he was workers began to pick up their many pleased, knew that I was able to do it, hoses and welding lines. The trash and and went on his way.) debris began to clear from the decks, I did not notice much. I was a comand the stores and supplies began to jjlete he^ of flesh focused on the city arrive and be stored in place. The sail­ lights of Norfolk, my mast and its ing board was set out and we looked to a Tuesday sailing at noon. At 10:00 in the morning, I noticed that the shipyard gangway had been removed. The remaining workers were being lifted on and off the ship by a Question: If you had the oppor­ basket. The pilot came on board. Then tunity, what would you tell a the bosun took the deck crew aside and presidential candidate about assigned us to the port or bow stations. the U.S.-flag merchant marine? I was assigned to bow watch. This was a wonderful experience for me. I (Asked of SIU members in the have sailed the intercoastal canal in my union hall in Houston.) small motor boat for over 15 years. I have been from the Sabine Pass Jetties Gordon to Orange and all water in between. To Wheeler, go through the same water on the bow Cook — of the Chalmers, 50 feet above the There is a water, was a new experience and view whole lot I'd of the world. like to tell There were the men in the little them. There boats chasing the reds and flounder are so many that were migrating as the water things they cooled. There was the Cow Bayou cut do. need to that went up to Bridge City. In the First, user fees—-I don't like that distance I could see the two bridges we have to pay to get seamen's spanning the Neches River, and then papers. Sabine Towing. What a surprise for me. There at the Lawrence dock was the Guadeloupe. She had Zepeda, been the first ship that I had sailed on. They were doing a lot of deck work on Recertified her, but she seemed to be bidding me Bosun — welcome and good-bye on my new More jobs. voyage. We're losing On down we sailed. There was my a lot of jobs. apartment and St. Mary's Catholic I'd like to see Church. I waved but I don't think the legislation to staff was watching me go by. Then subsidize the Texaco Island came up. I could see that fitting of double bottoms on my cousin had two ships at the dock at tankers. Gulf Copper. We turned to port and were out of the Intercoastal Canal and Bob now in the Sabine Ship Channel. I was Caldwell, now relieved and got out of the cold for Chief supper. I hurried from the meal to Electrician watch Dick Dowling Park and the oil — I could rigs slide by. The jetties came up, and tell them so we were out at sea. much. They BANG, BANG, BANG! Time to need to get up. Argh! It's 2330 and the ordi­ recognize nary for the 8-12 watch has just that they pounded on our door. Friday night, last need us as a strong force all the evening on the ship. It's time to hit the bow and do bow watch as we pilot into time, not just when they need us. Norfolk. I am getting set for the cold. I sailed in Vietnam. As soon as First the longjohns, both the top and that war was over, they dumped bottom. Then work pants and shirt. us for 20 years. In Desert Storm, Over all this are my faithful Sears over­ we carried everything over, alls. With p-coat in hand, I prepare to brought it back and now they're exit the room when there is another dumping us again. knock heard at the door. It's the third relationship to the lights and every command that came from the pilot I began to relax when I noticed that the approach to Norfolk has both an inbound arid an outbound lane. That was reassuring. The more space be­ tween me and any other large moving or stationary object was fine. One of the great philosophical mysteries that has been revealed to me on this trip is not to think too much. Not that the work encourages a lack of in­ dividual creativity, but rather that one can think too much and then make a mistake. For example, while I was at the wheel, the pilot gave me the order: "Come 188." I responded, "188, sir." I then proceeded to come left to 180. Not a good move with a small tug coming up the port side. I had heard what the pilot said. I repeated it back to him. I thought, and then I went the wrong way. It is real important to put oneself in a nonthinking, robotic mode. That way one can respond immediately to the pilot's command, not be seduced by the demon of trying to figure out the next move and finally to react to just the command that is given. I figured that as we got closer to dock, they would all agree that the BY SINCLAIROUBRE priest had had his fiin and it was time to get someone who knew something about the wheel. One hour passed. 0130 came. No one came up the pas­ sageway. The channel was getting narrow. The captain came to the bridge, then the docking pilot, and then Jack from MarAd came up. It was looking like a party, but no one seemed to notice that their lives and licenses were in the hands of a total rookie. Tugs tie up and with them I no longer have to keep a course, just turn the mdder according to commands. Left 10, right 20, hard left, hard right, steady up. What do you mean by steady up? Pilot, aren't you through with me yet? I mumble "steady up" and try to get the stem to stop swinging. With the slow speed, she is very slow to react. I think he gave me that last order for jollies, just to see if I was paying attention, because just as I was beginning to slow the sweep, he started giving me new mdder instmctions. "Are we through yet?" I mumble to myself. For in fact we are. Except for a few hard lefts and rights, we are in the noses of the tugs and they are slowly and gently nudging us to our berth. Who needs a relief? I could do it, it was a snap. Seafarer Frank Lyle, Bosun — We need to get moving. We found out we weren't ready with the ships we had in RRF. We need to beef up the RRF and merchant fleets. We're giving it all away it seems like. Mauro De La Cerda, Recertified Bosun — We need jobs. We were the backbone of the Persian Gulf war. Don't forget us. If we can help them, why can't they help us? We put money into the economy. What good are medals if they don't give us jobs? Domingo Mireles, OMU—l need a job. I don't want these jobs going over­ seas. I want to work here in the States, no matter where. Olifidio Esquivel Jr., QMED "•—We need more ships, more jobs and more money. There just are not enough jobs right now. WiUiam Dickey, Bosun — Save it! That's good enough and says it all. Osvaldo Castagnino, Steward/Baker — We need more ships. The Sea­ farers showed very clearly that the govemment could count on us. We did the job. The companies should change their minds and build with American flags. We are responsible people. Beau James, Retired StewardThey have to learn that any time they have a conflict, they cannot de­ pend on foreign shipping. With­ out a strong merchant marine, any future fighting we'd have to do would be on our shores. Red King, Recertified Bosun — We need more sup­ port because I think we were sold out. The merchant marine needs to be strong like when I first went to sea in 1955. -i:-fvv; �APRIL1992 vLi."' aspoulble. On oc&»k>n,immm of limHatiOM, somo will be omitted. upon receipt of the ships minutee. The minutes ere then forwarded totheSee^rml^for pubtbsaBon. " ^' SEALIFT 4f7C77C (International Marine Carriers), November 20 — Chair­ man Victor Mikkelsen, Educational Director Hal Puckett, Deck Delegate Jerry Woods. Chairman reported crew wrote letter to captain about TV and VCR for crew lounge, as ship has had neither for one month. He reported dif­ ficulties in getting reliefs. He thanked crew for outstanding job on tank clean­ ing and other duties. Secretary reported steward department running short of stores due to company not supplying enough for foreign runs and due to providing extra meals to shoreside workers.^Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No b^fs or disputed OT reported by department delegates. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers and sisters. LIBERTY S(/Af (Liberty Maritime), December 29 — Chairman P. Green­ wood, Secretary Dana Cunningham, Educational Director J. Smart, Engine Delegate Jerome Butler. Educational director noted importance of reading Seafarers LOG and upgrading at Lun­ deberg School. No bwfs or disputed OT report^. Chairman asked all crewmembers signing off to clean rooms and turn in keys. He noted all OT due shall be paid at payoff. Crew noted certain of­ ficers are cleaning own rooms and per­ forming sanitary. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department. NEDLLOYD HOLLAND (Sca-Lsmd Service), December 8 — Chairman Fred Goethe, Secretary A. Robinson, Educa­ tional Director Don Bush. Chairman noted implementation of random drug testing. He extended vote of thanks from crew to steward department for excellent holiday meal. He urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and give to SPAD for job security. Secretary urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. He asked port steward to circu­ late memo about food planning aboard these ships. Education^ director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT report^ by deck or engine delegates. •.••HAy- SEA-LAND QUALITY (Sea-hand Ser­ vice), December 15 — Chairman Michael Marquette, Secretary R.G. Connolly, Educational Director Ken­ neth Linah, Deck Delegate Charles Collins. Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Time to Eat i' ' .- Deck delegate reported beefs. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Chairman discussed dangers of alcohol use and drug use. He reminded crew to put plastic in ap­ propriately labeled containers on third level. Crew thanked galley gang for good work. Chief Steward G. Shwarz and Chief Cook R. Cosme are ready to serve another meal aboard the Sea-Land Expedition. OVERSEAS KALD£?(Maritime Over­ seas), January 20 — Chairman J.E. Rountree, Secretary A. Hassan, Educa­ tional Director M. Mickens. Educational director noted changes in Lundeberg School schedule and advised members to Deck Delegate Juan Ayala, Engine Delegate M. Hall, Steward Delegate E. Sempritt No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department. CAPE COD (OMI Corp.), February 2 — Chairman Ervin Bronstein, Secretary Stephen Bates, Educational Director Paul Gilhe^ Deck Delegate Roland Nohle, Engine Delegate John Cassidy, Steward Delegate Gerald Hyman. Chairman ask^ crew to have rooms ready for layup. He stressed im­ portance of donating to SPAD and MDL. He encouraged members to upgrade at Lundet»rg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew voiced support and thanks to Red Campbell, • • 7'. y*. .3. Ahh... Go Fly a Kite SEALIFT4HCr/C (International Marine Carriers), December 12 — Chair­ man Victor Mikkelsen, Secretary An­ tonio Haii, Educational Director Hal Puckett, Engine Delegate B. Maxwell. Chairman reported launch service not provided. He thanked crew for outstand­ ing job on tank cleaning. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew appreciates brother­ hood shown on board vessel. USTS PACIFIC aOM), December 29 — Secretary P. Cnun, i^ucational Director T. Flynn, Engine Delegate J.R. Paminiamo. Secretary and educational director stressed importance of upgrad­ ing at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted Chief Cook John Collins passed away Christmas day aboani vessel and will be missed. OALVESTONBAY(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 26 — Chairman David Manson, Secretary R. Hicks, Education­ al Director Peter Kanavos. Qiairman announced impending Coast Guard in­ spection. He reported payoff scheduled for after fire and boat drill. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward depart­ ment thanked deck department for keep­ ing mess hall and crew lounge clean. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang. GOLDEN MONARCH (Apex Marine), January 26 — Chairman D. Martz, Secret^ Juan Gonzalez, Educational Director M. Ruhl. Chairman reported beef. Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported by depart­ ment delegates. Crew thanked stewa^ department for job well done. ITB MOBILE(Sheridan Transporta­ tion), January 26 — Chairman Fred Jen­ sen, Secretary Pedro Sellan, Educational Director M. Roherson, Deck Delegate S. Drafts, Engine Delegate Paul Davenport, Steward Delegate Oliver Keen. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. 1STLT. JACKLUMMUS(AMSEA), January 26 — Chairman S. Solomon, Secretary L. Oram, Educational Direc­ tor R. Tannis, Deck Delegate Mark Treesh, Steward Delegate Richard Holt Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $592 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department for clarifica­ tion on procedures of random drug test­ ing program. OMICHAMPION(OMI Corp.), M:': . . Marvin Zimhro, Secretary Darrei Touchstone, Educational Director Ed­ ward Self. Chairman reported beef. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate reported beefs. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by steward delegate. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on DEU doing sanitary for deck department. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent job. Next port: Hous­ ton. January 23 — Chairman George Brad­ ley, Secretary Alphonso Davis, Deck Delegate Reuben Fife. Chairman an­ nounced payoff. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew noted vessel needs to be sprayed for roaches. OVERSEAS NEW YORK(Maritime Overseas), January 19 — Chairman •; "No problem" says Steward/Baker Scott Upsahl on the deck of the President Madison. This photo was taken while the ship was at anchor off Taiwan. check Seafarers LOG for details. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs ^r dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. TV anterma needs repair. Chairman asked crew separate plastics. OVERSEAS VALDEZ(Maritime Over­ seas), January 28 — Chairman J.E. Rountree, EducationalDirector M. Mickens. Chairman discussed SlU sup­ port of MEBA's desire to dissolve merger with NMU. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew dissatisfied with steward/baker's work. SEA-LAND PACIFIC (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 12 — Chairman O. Wiley, Secretary D. Spangler, Deck Delegate M. Revak. Chairman urged members to register and vote in national and local elections. He noted importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted ongoing problem with transporta­ tion between ship and front gate. Crew reported unsatisfactory treatment of OMU by captain, after OMU was in­ jured. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND QUALITY(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 19 — Chairman Michael Marquette, Secretary R.G. Coimoiiy, Educational Director Kenneth Linah. Educational director urged members to take advantage of upgrading oppor­ tunities at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Next port: Charleston, S.C. USNS WYMANCMar Ship Operators), January 23 — Chairman Steve Herring, Secret^ Michael Pooler, Educational Director Ed Evans, Steward Delegate Joseph Gallo, Jr. Chairman com­ mended deck department for good job keeping ship clean. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Steward delegate reported beefs. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Crew reported insufficient quantity of stores. AMERICAN HERITAGE(Apex Marine), February 8 — Chairman Oyde Smith, Jr., Secretary Jose Chacon, former SlU vice president-contracts, for terrific job. Crew thanked Michael and Joseph Sacco for excellent leadership of union. Crew thanked galley gang for great food and excellent work. Chairman thanked entire crew and noted this is one of best ships he has sailed on. Next port: Surmy Point, N.C. - * • '''.i CAPE EDMONTQOM), February 19 — Chairman Mark Holman, Secretary Henry Manning, Educational Director Paul Hariey, Deck Delegate Scott Kreger, Engine Delegate Jamie Her­ nandez, Steward Delegate Ralph Fann. Educational director lu-ged members to upgrade at Piney Point. He noted impor­ tance of donating to MDL. Deck delegate reported beefs. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew ask^ contracts depart­ ment to seek increase in dental and opti­ cal benefits. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department. J CAPE FAREWELL (International Marine Carriers), February 9 — Chair­ man James Deano, Secretary Mohamed Abdelfattah, Steward Delegate Ruti deMont. Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. COVE LIBERTY(Cove Shipping), February 17 — Chairman W.E. Reeves, Secretary F. Mitchell, Deck Delegate H. Butts, Engine Delegate Bobbie Clark, Steward Delegate George Vorise. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmember asked that doors be returned on deck and engine showers and bathroom, due to presence of female crewmember. Crew discussed sanitation of rec rooms, asked memb^ to cooperate in keeping ship clean. Crew thanked galley gang. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers. GOLDEN MONARCH (Apex Marine), February 19 — Chairman David Martz, Secreta^ J. Gonzalez, Educational Director J.Trent, Steward Delegate Pedro Perez. Chairman advised crew to approach him with any problems they may have. Education^ director enCondnued on page 22 ' I'' ^ m W i- •> �Ml SEVARBISUe 22 Sl^psDigtsst' Continuedfiom pt^e 21 couraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment for job well done. GREAT LAND (TOTE), February 4 — Chairman V. Dowd, Secretary Jack Utz, Educational Director S. Senteney. No beefs or disputed OT reported. GROTON (Sheridan Transportation), February 2 — Chairman Jessie Thomas, Secretary M. Deloatch, Educational Director J. Cameil. Chairman an­ nounced payoff scheduled for Stapleton, N.Y. No beefs or disputed OT reported. :: B; Mm fv •• ' ••..!i^--r • /;, ;;:^ '?.•. • •. va- FRANCES HAMMER (Ocean Shipholding), February 3 — Chairman R. Wilson, Secretary Hazel Johnson, Educational Director James Rohhins, Deck Delegate William Galloway, En­ gine Delegate M. Gaher, Steward Delegate Toyo Gonzales. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Lundeberg School as soori as possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chair­ man read clarification regarding day workers' penalty time. Crewmembers ex­ pressed concern about company not paying travel time, which in some cases has been three days. Crew voted to sign petition against possible worker tax on merchant mariners. JULIUS HAMMER (Ocean Shiphold­ ing), February 11 — Chairman B. Gor­ don, SecretaiY Frank Costango. Chairman thanked crew for cooperation in sorting trash and keeping fantail in order while anchored off Gibraltor. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew ex­ tended vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers. GPL. LOUIS J. HAUGE, JR. (Maersk Lines), February 7'—Chairman James Duer, Secretary R. Mensching, Educa­ tional Director David Powers, Deck Delegate David Knuth, Steward Delegate John Hnyett. Educational director reminded members of upgrading opportunities available at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. NEDLLOYD HUDSON(Sea-Lsmd Ser­ vice), February 2 — Chairman C. James, Secretary R.G. Griswald, Educa­ tional Director C. Tsipliareles, Deck Delegate P. Orischak, Engine Delegate T. McArdle, Steward Delegate T. Mc­ Neills. Chairman noted all running smoothly and thanked crew for coopera­ tion. He thanked galley gang. Education­ al director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thank^ deck gang for keeping 03 deck spotless. Next port: Charleston, S.C. -^. Practicing a Maritime Art LNG GEM/itf/(ETC), February 9 — Chairman B. Schwarz, Secretary K. Hopkins, Educational Director Curtis Jackson, Deck Delegate George F. Hol­ land, Engine Delegate Thomas E. Har­ ris, Steward Delegate Ronald E. Aubuchon- Educational director urged members to take advantage of courses of­ fered at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of ' departed brothers. Next port: Amn, In­ donesia. Bosun Cesar A. Gutierrez practices the fine art of wire rope splicing aboard the Ultrasea. reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. SEA-LAND ACH/EVEff (Sea-Land Service), February 16 — Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary Lawrence WInfield No beefs or disputed OT reported. Grew discussed random drug testing program. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for clean conditions and good meals. SEA-LAND CONSUMER (Sea-Land Service), February 9 — Chairman Wil­ liam Mortier, Secretary M. Kohs. Chair­ man displayed benefits forms. Educationd director distributed upgrad­ ing forms. No beefs or disputed OT Educational Director E. FredericksKm, Deck Delegate Clyde Luse, Engine Delegate Juan Garda, Steward Delegate Dennis Skretta. Chairman noted microwave oven needs repair or re­ placement He announced payoff and sanitary inspection. Secret^ noted upgrading and benefits forms available. Educational director asked all shipmates to report any electrical problems Aey notice. No beefs or cUsputed OT reported. Chairman thanked all hands for smooth trip. Crew thanked steward department for fine meals. Next port Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND SPIRIT(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), February 2 — Chairman J. Schoenstein, Secretary S. Apo^ca, Educational Director Charles Henley, En Route to Gdansk RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN(Ocean Shipholding), February 18 — Chairman James Martin, Secretary James Swart, Deck Delegate Dana Naze, Engine Delegate Robert Gaglieti, Steward Delegate Plurinsus Ordansa. Education­ al director noted QMED upgrading poster had been posted. He reminded all hands that they must be registered at hall before requesting upgrade. No beefs or disputed OT report^. Steward to order waste baskets for plastic only. Exercise equipment for rec room will be priced and voted on. New typewriter needed, will be purchased at next port Chairman remind^ everyone to be more con­ siderate of day sleepers. Crew extended hearty thanks to galley gang for great food. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers. NUEVO SAN (Puerto Rico Marine), February 24 — Chairman D. Murray, Secretary R. Fagm, Education­ al Director J. Rolwrts. Chairman noted ship received message regarding SIU's loan to MEBA. Educational director pointed out information posted about QMED'prograin. No ti^fs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to do away with permanent jobs and return to rotary shipping/six months on. Crew thanked stewa^ depart­ ment. OMI STAR (OMI Corp.), February 23 — Chairman Robert E. Allen, Secretary Ezekiel M. Hagger. Chairman an­ nounced payoff scheduled for Houston. Educational director noted educational film available. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for best food. Next port: Lake Charles, La. OVERSEAS ALICE(Maritime Over­ seas), February 13 — Chairman Steve Copeland, Secretary J.F. Miller, Educa­ tional Director L. Phillips, Deck Delegate Ricky Wiemer, Engine Delegate J. Martinez, Steward Delegate G. Shinholster. Chairman atmounced payoff. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department OVERSEAS Ofl/O (Maritime Over­ seas), February 8 — Chairman Michael San Angelo, Secretary Earl Gray, Educational Director Byron ElBot, En­ gine Delegate Eric Hyson, Steward Delegate A. Langlois. Chairman reminded members to work safely. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Steward delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or en­ gine delegates. Crew thanked steward department for excellent job. Next port: Houston. •«7' n HUMACAO (Puerto Rico Marine), February 11 — Chairman L. Rodrigaes, Secreta^ Cassle B. Carter Jr., Educa­ tional Director W. Tamer, Deck Delegate B. Fountain, Engine Delegate J. Parrish, Steward Delegate M. Rubles. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Tile in various rooms needs repair. Next port: Elizabeth, NJ. RALEIGH BAY(Sea-Land Service). February 16 — Chairman Howard Knox, Secretary J. Speller, Educational Director D. Greiner, Deck Delegate J.C. Blavat, Engine Delegate Joseph Sadler, Steward Delegate Clarence Wfliey. Chairman urged members to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT Deck gang members aboard the Ultrasea pose with Old Glory while en route to Gdansk, Poland. They are (from left, kneeling) ASJack Shouest, DEU Abraham Carbajal, (from left, standing) Bosun Cesar Gutienoz, Deck Maintenance Terry Hilton, Deck Maintenance James Brinks, Deck Maintenance Robert VanBrunt and AB Screano Hilton. reported. Crew noted company does ncit provide bus service. Crew thanked gal­ ley gang. Next port Oakland, Calif> SEA-LAND ENDURANCE(Sea-Land Service), February 9 — Chairman Lance ZoUner, Secretary John Samuels. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Rep^ being made on grate catwalk and lad­ ders. Next port Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION(Sea-Land Service), February 9 — Chairman Raul Flores, Deck Delegate E. Perez, Engine Delegate Jose Ortiz, Steward Delegate R. Cosme. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND MARINER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), February 15 — Chairman Ray Ramirez, Secretary S. Call, Deck Delegate Richard Bynum, Engine Delegate Gene Speckman. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR(Sest-Land Service), February 2 — Chairman Lothar G. Reck, Secretary R. Peralta, Educational Director D. Baker, Deck Delegate Richard Smith, Engine Delegate John E. Coleman, Steward Delegate V. HolEhnan. Chairman urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School, donate to SPAD, read Se^arers LOG. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward dq>artment for ex­ cellent food. SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (SeaLand Service), February 9 — Chahman R.R. Newly, Secretary L. Ewing, Educa­ tional Director D. Johnson. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT report^. Crew thanked galley gang for good job. SEA-LAND RELIANCE(Sea-Land Service), February 9 — Chairman R. McGomigle, Secretary L. Ug^tfoot, Steward Delegate Jaqier Jackson. Chairman thanked galley gang. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thermostat con­ trol system needs repair. Next port* Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND TACOMA (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), February 15 — Chairman T. Mur­ phy, Secretary D. Boone, Educational Director George Ackley, Deck Delegate D. McFarland, Engine Delegate D. Rhodes, Steward Delegate J. Anderson. Chairman announced payoff. Education­ al director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT report. Crew discussed importance of separating plastics from other trash. SEAUFT INDIAN OCEAN(Jntemational Marine Carriers), February 6 — Chairman John L. Sullivan. Ship still has ventilation problems. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. THOMPSON PASS aOM), February 16 — Chairman J.L. Carter, Secretary GJF. Hiomas, Educational Director JJ". Walker. Engine delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward dep^^ent for healthy meals. STAR OF TEXAS (Seahawk ) rnent), February 22 — Chairmati^O^ liam Baker, Secretary James M Educational Director W. Jones, L _ Delegate Roy Windham, Steward Delegate H. Batiz. Chairman atmounced payoff. He urged membos to upgrade at Lundebog School. Educational director stressed s^ety. Deck and engine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Crew noted problems with mail service. Ship needs addiHnnal washing machine. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on transpor­ tation for replacements. Crew thanked galley gang. Next port Port Arthur, • Texas. . -- . •' V- *•••• mm �• . "• -'. •IBKUl in iiiiMU'lilHi i^MlH f". > .''-'-i, ••^.^•rt^.'3Vi'icui.>,:^.j-,v., -.-.- vZ'Ss^P$pWm» DEEP SEA •r -^: EDGAR ANDERSON Pensioner Edgar Anderson, 64, passed away February 9. Bom in East Providence, R.I., he joined the SIU in 1954 in the port of New York. Brotiber Andmon com­ pleted the bosun leceitification course at the Lundeberg School in 1974. He retired in July 1989. BENJAMIN BARRETT Pensioner Benjamin Barrett, 66, died December 14 due to heart failure. A native of Texas, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1943, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Barrett began receiving his pension in September 1973. J.C. BLEDSOE Pensioner J.C. Bledsoe, 70, passed away December 19 due to pneumonia. He was bom in Oldahoma and in 1952joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Bledsoe retired in Sep­ tember 1970. BAILEY BROWN Pensioner Bailey Brown, 63, died Febmary 16. The native of Ryan, Okla., joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco in 1963, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Brown began collecting his pension in August 1990. LEE COLLIE '• Pensioner LeeColUe,66, passed away Febmary 23. Bom in Rosedale, La., he joined the Marine , Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco in 1967, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Collie retired in May 1990. •* JOHN COLLINS before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Dawal began receiving his pension in March 1975. DAVID COPP David Copp, 34, pass^ away Febmary 13. A na­ tive of Buffalo, N.Y,he graduated fiom the Lundeberg School in 1978. Brother Copp sailed in the deck department. PASTOR DELGADO Pensioner Pastor Delgado, 83, away January 18. Bom in Puerto Rico, he joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of New York. Brotho- Delgado sailed in the engine department. He retired in December 1973. HUGOFUENTES Pensioner Hugo Fuentes, 81, died December 1. He was bom in the Philippine Islands and in 1958 joined the SIU in the port of New York. Brother Fuentes sailed in the galley gang. He began receiving his pension in November 1982. ALEXANDER GEGA Pensioner Alexaiider Gega, 69, passed away February 6. A na­ tive of Honolulu, he joined the Seafarers in 1971 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Brother Gega sailed in the engine department. He served in the Army from 1942 until 1946. Brother Gega retired in February 1986. GONZALO GOMEZ Pensioner Gonzalo Gomez, 59, died January 10. Bom in Puer­ to Rico, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco in 1968, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Gomez upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1983. He served in the Army fixim 1948 to 1953. Brother Gomez began receiv­ ing his pension in March 1985. John Coli f lins,44. i i died B «4 Decem­ ber 25. f t He joined the SIU in 1971 in his native Mobile, Ala. BrotherCol­ lins sailed in the engine and steward departments. In 1986 he upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Collins was an active member at the time of his death. DELFIN GUEVARA Pensioner Delfin Guevara, 71, passed away January 11 due to a heart attack. He was bom in the Philippine Islands and in 1966 joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Guevara retired in September 1982. CASIMIRODAWAL Pensioner Casimiro Dawal, 75, died January 4 due to a heart at­ tack. He was bom in the Philip­ pine Islands and in 1954join^ the MarineCooks and Stewards, STEPHEN HALULA Pensioner Stephen Halula, 88, passed away January 18. Bom in Kansas, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1944, before that union merged w it with the AGLIWD. Brother Halula retired in June 1967. VAINO HAKKARAINEN Pensioner Vaino Hakkarainen, 73, died January 16. A na­ tive of Finland, he joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Hakkarainen sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in November 1983. ROGER HARKLEROAD Roger Harkleroad, 58, died February 21. He was bom in Detroit and in 1966 joined the SIU in the port of San Francisco. Brother Harkleroad sailed in the engine department. He served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1956. OLIVER HESS Pensioner Oliver Hess, 69, passed away Febmary 8. The Texas na­ tive joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of New York. Brother Hess sailed in the engine department. He served in the Army from 1940 to 1945. Brother Hess retired in January 1985. KERSTIN JOHNSON Pensioner Kerstin Johnson, 78, died December 5 as a result of lung cancer. Bom in Sweden, she joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1956, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Sister Johnson usually sailed with Matson Navigation. She retited in July 1977. DAVID MANSON David Manson, 53, passed away Febmary 8. He was bom in Maine and in 1971 joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. Brother Manson com­ pleted the bosun recertiflcation course at the Lundeberg School in 1983. He served in the Army from 1963 to 1965. Brodier Manson was an active memb» at the time of his death. EDDYMARKLE Pensioner Eddy Markle, 73, died December 30 due to a heart attack. The native of Hawaii joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1945, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Markle retired in January 1974. BOBBY MOORE Bobby Moore, 62, died April 17, 1991. He was bom in Can­ ton, Texas and in 1981 joined the Seafarers in the port of San Francisco. Brother Moore sailed in the deck department. He rerved in the Army fioim 1946 to 1972. HENRY J. PETERSON Pensioner Heruy J. Peterson, 56, passed away January 21. He joined the SIU in 1960 in his native New York. Brother Peterson sailed in the deck department He upgraded at the Limdeberg School in 1984. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1959. Brother Peterson retired in January 1991. RUDELRAMAGE HAROLD LOLL Pensioner Rudel Ramage, 72, died Febmary 27. The Detroit native joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of Wil­ mington, Calif. Brother Ramage sailed in the deck department He upgraded at the Limdeberg School in 1975. He served in the Navy from 1937 until 1967. Brother Ramage retired in December 1984. Pensioner Harold Loll, 63, died January 8. A na­ tive of Permsylvania,he joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of New Yoiic. Brother Loll sailed in the deck department In 1960 he received a safety award for his part in keeping the SS Maiden Creek accident free. Brother Loll retired in February 1990. BOB SCARBOROUGH Pensioner Bob Scar­ borough, 71. passed away Decem­ ber 4. A native of Cametun, Texas, he joined the SIU in 1966 in the port of Houston. Brother Scarborough graduated from the steward receitification course at the Lundeberg School in 1980. He BOB LEE Pensioner Bob Lee, 67, passed away November 23. He was bom in China and in 1959 joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Lee began receiving his pension in June 1989. served in the Coast Guard from 1942 to 1945. Brother Scar­ borough retired shortly before his death. RALPH RUFF Pensioner Ralph Ruflf, 76, passed away Febmary 3. He was bom in Ohio and in 1938 joined die SIU as a charter member in the port of Bal­ timore. Brother Ruff sailed as a bosun. He began receiving his pension in July 1973. JOSEPH C. SMITH Pensioner Joseph C. Smith, 72, died Febmary 19. Bom in Philadelphia, he joined the Seafarers in 1949 in the port of New York. Brother Smith sailed in the steward depart­ ment. He served in the Army fium 1941 to 1947. Brodier Smith began receiving his pen­ sion in July 1985. ALBERT SPANRAFT Pensioner Albert Spanraft, 64, passed away January 22. The Chicago native joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Spanraft sail^ in the engine depkrtment. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946. Brother Spanraft retired in July 1991. GEORGE STROPICH Pensioner George Stropich, 63, died Febmary 17. He was bom in Michigan and in 1947joined the Seafarers in the port of Bos­ ton. Brother Stropich sailed in the engine department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He served in the Army from 1946 to 1947. Brother Stropich began receiv­ ing his pension in Febmary 1991. PAIGE TOOMEY Pensioner Paige Toomey, 86, passed away Febmary 4. A na­ tive of Massachusetts, he joined the SIU in 1944 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Toomey sailed in the deck department. He retired in August 1980. EARL C. TYLER Pensioner EarlC. Tyler, 66, died January 30. The native of Alabama joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Tyler sailed in the engine department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1974. He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. Brother Tyler began receiving his pension in January 1990. Continued on page 24 p.* -, »• -ffl �-,rrr~r- •vf kv -;. _ T; Fii^ Bepar^e A..; • , Brother Anderson Laid to Rest -.-» WALLACE WRIGHT Wallace Wright, 53. • r:i- mmim atyay Janaaty 29. Bom in Marks, Miss., he joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Wright sailed in ti^e deck dqiartment. He served in the Air Force fnim 1957 utitil 1961. Brother Wright was an active member at the time of his death. /F'-: : ffe'V'1"'^;v.- Bi.^ EDWARD ZUBATSKY Pensioner Edward Zubatsky, 80, died January 22. He was bom MACK HOPKINS, JR. Mack Hopkins, Jr., 47, died January 18. Bom in Mas­ sachusetts, he joined the union in 1972 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Hopkins most recently sailed as a captain. ALMY O'NEAL Pensioner Almy O'Neal, 69, passed away January 15. A na­ tive of NorA Carolina, he joined the union in 1960 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman O'Neal sailed in the deck department. He served in the Coast Guard from 1941 to 1945. Boatman O'Neal retired in Febmaty 1983. Ardiur Hoidonsm, a Ipading proponent of the 1977 merger.between the SIU and the Marine Cooks and Stewards, passed away January 7 after a long bout with cancer. He was 61. Brother Hendeison was an Army veteran and served in the Korean conflict. After his dis­ charge from the service in the 1960s, he enrolled in the Marine Cooks and Stewards training school in Santa Rosa, Calif. Upon graduation, he sailed with American President Lines as a pantryman aboard the passenger ship President Roosevelt. He also sailed on the Monterey and Mariposa as cook and baker. Brother Henderson came ashore in 1975 to work as a building maintenance man at the Marine Cooks and Stewards head­ quarters building in San Francis­ co. He was building manager what he died. He was extremely active in union matters, including the aforementioned merger. Brother Henderson's ashes were scattered at sea from the S.S. Lurline en route to Honolulu. "I knew him since he joined the union," said San Francisco port employee Kwong ('TomTom") Hom. "He was a good union democrat. He knew that was his livelihood. He always said that without a union, we wouldn't be here. ... He was always helpful, always went out of his way to help others." Final Farewell Bid to Brother Robinson ;<V in Ken­ tucky. He also was a volunteer fireman for four years. Seafarers aboard the Missis­ sippi Queen recently bid a poig­ nant farewell to fellow SIU member William Robinson, who passed away February 21. Brother Robinson, 55, was a watchman for nine years aboard the SlU-contracted steamship. A native of St. Louis, Robinson shipped out of the port of New Orleans. New Orleans port employee Steve Judd, who Imew Robinson well, described him as "well-liked and re- spected by everyone." Brother Robinson formerly worked 14 years as a police officer Brother Robinson, who died two weeks before his birthday, is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn. As a final tribute to his co­ worker and friend, Mississippi Queen bandleader Brian O'Neill penned the foUowing poem: Sky Watch Upon the steamer Mississippi Queen Once walked a man who watched, and saw, and knew Of things both fair andfoul among the crew. All hours of the night, he could be seen Making his rounds as watchman, and as Lord. He marked his every circuit on the clock While watching o'er the boat, and us, his flock. We all slept sound when Wiliam was aboard. The biggest boys held this small man in awe. Sleep now, William, take your rest. You've earned your place on high with all the best. We'II miss your soft voice laying down the law. On Earth has rung your last departure beU And now you're on the sky watch. All is well 1, IS.-1 INLAND BroUwr Henderson Succumbs to Cancer ^C" ' ". <>> Manitbwac, Wis., and in 1961 joined the Seafarers in the port of NewJ^leans; Brother Zubatsky sailed in the stewed department. He began receiv­ ing his pension in January ' 1977. Continuedfirom page 23 r^ -m-' V • Bst • Edgar C.R. Anderson Jr., known as 'Tiney,' was laid to rest at Seafarer's Haven In Valley Lee, Md. on February 13, just short of his 65th birthday. Uney" was an SIU member for 45 years. He first sailed as a deckhand out of Tampa, Fla. and in 1954 sailed out of New York as a recertified bosun. Members of his family came down from New England for the burial. 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 ^tailed audit by Certified Public Accountants every year, which is to be sub­ mitted to the membership by the SecretaryTreasurer. 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 cormnittee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate fitidings. 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 thesefiinds shall equ^ly consist of Union and managernent repre­ sentatives and their alternates. All expenditures and disbursements^f trust funds.are m^ only upon approval by a^majority of the trustees. All trust fiind 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 thecontracts between the Union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is; Angustin Tdlez Chairman Sealhrers Appeals Board 5201 AnthWay Camp Springs, MD 20746 Fiill copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the Union OT to the Seafarers .^qieals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. Hiese contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat Mendrets should know their contract rights, as weU as thdr obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the iHrq)er maimo-. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or otho- Unkm official fails to protect their contractual rights properiy, thty should contact die neatest SIU pmt agoit EDITORIAL POLICY—THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refiained from publishing any article serving the political pur­ poses of any individual in the Union, officer or member. It dso has refiained from publishing ar­ ticles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaf­ firmed by membershipaction at the Sqrtember 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The respon­ sibility for Seafarers LOG ^licy 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 should not have been required to make such payment, this should inunediately 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 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 inunediately 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 jthe employers. Consequently, no member may be discriminated against because of race, creed, ct^r, sex, national or geographic origin. If any memberf(rels that he is denied the equal rights to wMch heis entitled, he should notify Union head­ quarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION—SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force, job dis­ crimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such con(luct, 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 con­ tribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should sup­ port SPAD to protect and further his economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been virdated, or that he has been denied his constitntionai right of access to Union records orinformation, he should inunedi­ ately notity SIU President bfiduel Sacco at head­ quarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Anth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. -'A ' •.;4 »S-J! ^ •mmWy �• ,., - ;- "t- •;. -. - .• '<•; • APmLisaz Piney Point Is a Seafarer Family Vcu:ation Site Sru members usually associate rigged ship that brought the first Piney Point with upgrading—an settlers from England to the important benefit to help Seafarers Maryland shores. Now berthed in increase their job skills. But St Mary's City, some 15 minutes another benefit to Seafarers and away by car from Piney Point it is their families is the use of Piney open for touring. Point over the summer months as a A vacation stay at the Lun­ vacation spot. deberg School is limited to two Ideally situated on the banks of wedcs pCT family. The cost for each the St. George's Creek, all the in­ member is $40.40 per day. An addi­ gredients for a fiin-filled vacation tional $9.45 per day is charged for are found at the Paul Hall Center each spouse and child. (CMdren for Maritime Training and Educa­ under the age of 12 can stay for free.) tion, the complex embodying the These prices include all meals. Harry Lundeberg School of To sign up for a week or two of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. vacation time at the Piney Point The facility has a large swim­ facility, complete the application ming pool, tennis courts and health form and mail it to the Seafarers spa for those who want to stay in Training & Recreation Center, shape. A stroll along the waterfront Post Office Box 75, Piney Point, brings the Piney Point visitor to the Md. 20674; orcaU (301) 994-0010 refurbished sailboat Manitou, and make reservations now. A wonderfuloollection of modelships in the museum is a treat for children and adults alike. which was used by John F. Ken­ nedy while he was president. A guest may also take out a smaller boat and cast a line from the side for a lazy day of fishing. Kids will especially enjoy using their hands to create a masterpiece in the arts and crafts center or look­ ing at the model ships displayed in the maritime museum. All meals are included in the vacation package. Sight-Seeing Piney Point is located in St. Mary's County—not far from all the sights of Washington, D.C., Arlington, Va. and Baltimore and Aimapolis, Md. And just outside the school are plenty of other sites to keep an entire family enter­ The gym equipment, whichin this photo is tained—seafood festivals, art exbeing used by trainees, is avaiiable to hibitions, antique and craft shows. Seafarer Bob Sullivan and his femily enjoyed their visit to Piney Point last year, vacationing families. concerts and theater productions— as well as 400 miles of shoreline, acres of unspoiled parkland and many historic landmarks. One such property is the Maryland Dove, a replica of the square- - ,• 11,'--'"' " . -J M The pool at Piney Point can be used by serious lap swimmers or by those interested in a more relaxed approach. SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Reservation Information I Name: 1 , Social security number: I Address: Book number: Telephone number:. j Number In party / ages of children. If applicable: ____ ! Date of arival: 1st choice: ^ 2nd choice: Stay Is limited to two weeks. Date of departure:. Prosideht Kennedy's refurtjlsf^ yach^ j" the Mantew, returns to the manna aflera day of sailing. 3rd choice: completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, Md 20674. 4/92 �SBWARBtSLOa tt" O fv'; :fc, A.; i n!' ^SEAFARERS HARRY LUNOEBERG SCHOOL LIFEBOAT CLASS , ,s- ~ ^V::Wh¥M: 492 •-.SI ^SEAFARERS HARRY LUNDEBERG SCHOOL LIFEBOAT CLASS 493 —" • Trainee Lifeboat Class 492—Graduating from trainee iifetwat class492 are Trainee Lifeboat Oass 493—Recently graduating from trainee lifeboat (from left, kneeling) Tfiomas Johnson, Brien Harris, Bryant Cromwell, Chad class 493 are (from left, kneeling) David Homisak, Derrick Herbert, Gary Heller, Jack Rodriguez, Scott Costello, Howard Bryant III, (second row) Douglas Salsman, Kevin Franko, William SzkJo Jr., Anthony Milam, (second row) Steve Westfall, Chris Starr, Young, Shannon Teem, Steven Cookson, Steve Falkenstein, Rotiert Phelps, Warren John Thompson, Terry Smith, Walter Mixon II, Rick Barron, Serina Aguilar, Timothy Sewell, Pat Scott, Joshua Gustafson, Theodore Hagan, Lavon Jones, James Naus- Jackson, Stephen Barry (instoictor), (third row) Anthony Lieto, Dominic Jacobelli, baum and Jim Moore (instructor). Yohan Callen, Dean Evans, Steven Kafka, David Lewis and Michael Hall. via II lii-' T ^ 1« .. . . UpMaaersLlteboat—Completing the upgraders lifeboat class on January 27 are (from left) Carlos Murray, David Memfield and Warren Smith. With them is their insmjctofy Stophon Bairy. Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operations—Upgrading menibers of the engine department completing the refrigeration systems course are (from left, front row) John Carr (instructor), John H. Smith, George Barrett. Bobby Steams, (second row) Theodore Hawkins, Dave Plumb. Tom Barry and Robert Scrivens. So® - .} 'J M: 'J '"•'I O-'Ov Able Bodied Seaman—Graduating with their able bodied seaman's endorsement are (from left. kneelirig) Jason McGrew, Antonio Centeno, Gamal Ahmed, Barry Hamm, Gary Toomer, Ken Strong, Jesus Torres, Paul Bashers, Nick Moceri, Donald Willis, (second row) David Collins, Lambert Soniat Dufossat, Matthew Rentie, Ronald Webb, Glenn Thompson, Vincent D'Amelia, Donnie Collins, Tobias Rose, Jeffrey Sousa, Joe Soresi, Jake Karaczynski (instructor), Reginald Muldrow, (third row) Rob PlanL Sam Hagar, Jim Lombard, Don Smith, Jonathan Davis, Roy Blankenship, Richard Henderson, Joseph UperadefS Lifeboat—Instructor Jim Moore Heftt conaratiiDean,DarTenColli^,MattRoberson,JamesReed,RonMarchand.Jame8Woods,Albert-Burch-Austln latf^^m^Son^^ incent Scott upon completion of the upgraders iifeboat class and Juan Campbell. on February 11. ?.•" V*; Marine Electiical Maintenance—Completing the course of instriK^'on leading to complete the marine electrical maintenance program are (from left, kneeF ing) William Brodhaim Jr., Paul Burchhard, Dave Bargo, (second row) Tony MueF leisman.C^uTTiineBartiati, Eric Malzkuhn (instructor), Mike Clayshaw, Herman Best, Phillip A. McKenzie and Taylor Clear. •'••I' I.. mis: . Marine Electfomcs TecnnKian—^Successfully completing the marine electronics technician course are (from left, seated) Walter D. Rityalsky, Chris Doyle, Shahnda Caviness, (second row, standing) Mark Rainess (instructbi), Michael Gregory, John Glynn and Jeff Sieloff. . �V. APmiBK UnmBERG SCHOOL tooz^&uumm eimtSE SCHBHHJE Coarse Steward Recertificatioii Boi^ Recertiflcation _ foHowing is die current course schedule for May-September 1992 at the Seaf^re Hany Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the Paul Hall Center for Mantime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. AH programs are geared to improve job skills of SIU members and to promote the American maritime mdustiy. •^e coui^ schedule may change to reflkt the heeds Of the membership, the mantime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation's security. .3^, SW', Check-lji Date May 25 July 20 September 14 Completion Date AugU8t28 October^ classpriortd the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course. Ship Handiing > , , I'j \ Check-In Completion Course Date Date QMED-AnyRatiii|i May 11 July 31 September 14 December 4 , Fironan/Watertender and Oiler May 11 June 19 i ' July 6 August 14 Aagust31 'October9 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. \ Pumproom Maint. & Operations Mayll June 19 AugustJl October 9 / IMarine^E^ August 17 October 9 M Rd^erati^ & Operations May 11 June 19 , ' Rafirig. Containers—Advanced Maint June 22 July 31 Marine Electroniis—Technician I Mayll June 19 Marine Electronics—Teclinlcan H ;;'^me22" :;^July;3l , . Basic Electronics ;:A':;Aiigust31;:/v:v;v September 25 Hydrauiics '^:;June:22; July 17 August 17 September 11 Diesel Engine Technology July 6 "July31 • •, •* Tankerman July 10 July 31 Safy^Sp0ela^Courses June 22 July 6 August 17 Aii^t31 T.ifrfMUitwmn ^ June20 July 10 August 21 Septeinber4 coune must be tedxn. May 11 May 25 June 8 June 22 July 0 July 20 Au^t3 August 17 August31 September 14 June 10 ftv r Completion Date -^eck-Iii,, : -Date Course OU Spill Prevention add Containment ^ . May 22 June 12 June 19 July 2 July 17 July 31 August 14 August28 September 4 September 18 June20^^ ni: orajMPiiviLiiyiuKAnpiv Name Address .Date of Birth (Last) (Rnt) (Middle) Montb/Day/Year (Street) (City) (Stale) Deep Sea Member D .Telephone _L (Zip Code) Lakes Membo-D (Area Code) Inland Waters MemberO November 2 mdlngComses May 4 May 15 June 29 July 10 August 31 September 11 Radar Observer Unlimited May 18 May 22 July 13 July 17 September 14 September 18 Celesfial Navigatkni AugllstJ Augast28 HiirdMate May 4 August 14 August31 De^mberli Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must be taken. iK T-? Completioii Date Check-In Completion ." Comnsi:' Date Date Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker, Aii open-ended (cmitact admissions Chief Cook, chief Steward office for starting dbtes) Upon completion, all students will take a Sealift Familiarization class. DeOLUpgnuHng Cmln&s Course Able Seaman Check-lh Dale Junel September 28 All students in the Engine Department will have a two-week Sealift Familiarization class at the end of their regular course. -i:# : 1 iM-: imMuttOtaeatkmSenedule : The following courses are available throng the Seafm%rs Harry Lundeberg School. admissions office fear enrollment information. Check-In Completion Course Itete DWte ^' ' • "" • High School J^iiivalency (GED) All open-ended (contact Adult Basic Education (ABE) admissions office for starting English as a Second Language (ESL) dates) .. ; ' 1 SHlSSCoUegePngrsm Schedule for 1992 FULL 8-week sessions May 11 JulyO August31 July 3 August28 October23 With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. Youalso must submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page of your union book indicating your depaitrnent and seniority, yourclinic card and the front and back of your Lundeberg School identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and completed. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. RATING DATE DATE OF VESSEL HELD SHIPPED DISCHARGE PaciticG tT-- If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be process^. Social Security #. Seniority SIGNATURE Book#. ; . Department U.S. Citizen: DVes D No I am interested in the following courseCs) checked below or indi­ cated here if not listed Home Port. Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held • Yes Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? If yes, which program: from DNC to. Last grade of school completed Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? • Yes If yes, course(s) taken ^ Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses? • Yes •NO •NO If yes, how many weeks have you completed?. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement? • YCS •NO J>ATE. Firefighting:• Yes •NO Date available for training Primary language spoken , CFR^Yes •NO DECK AB/Sealift IstClass Pilot Third Mate Radar Observer Unlimited Master Inspected Towing Vessel Q Towboat Operator Inland D Olestial Navigation D Simulator Course • • D • Q O Marine Electrical Maintenance G Pumproom Maintenance & Opei^on G Refrigeration Systems Maintenance & Operation G Diesel Engine Technology G Assistant Engmeer/Chief Engineer Motor Vessel G Original 3rd ^gineer Steam or Motor G RefiigeratedCknitainers Advanced Maintenance G Electro-Hydraulic Systems G Automation G Hydraulics G Marine Electronics Technician ALL DEPARTMENTS. G Welding G Lifeboatman (must be taken with anothercourse) G Oil Spill Prevention & Cknitaiimient G G G G G ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Adult Basic Education (AB^ High School Equivalency Program (GED) Developmental Smdies(DVS) English as a Second Language (ESL) ABE/ESL Lifeboat Ptepantian STEWARD G Assistant Cook Utility ENGINE G Cbok and Baker G POWT G ChiefCook G QMED—Any Rating G Chief Steward COLLEGE PROGRAM G Variable vanaoie apeea Speed DC trnve Drive St/ttt#>mQ (Marine Electronics) G Towboat Inland Cook G Associates in Arts Degree Systems TraMporlatiiM win be |«U In aaatdaiKc wttk (he sdMAdli«ietl(r soly tfyou prooit origtaal recc^aiM SDcccMlUIr pkte theeoune. ITyon haveany qneilisne, cetfM^ yew poH agnt befbre dqiartiag br Pfawy Paial. RBniRNOAlFLEIED APPLICATION TO:SeafuenHinyLoiiddietiUpfradiiii Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Pbiiit,MD 20674. 4(92 ••• a �SEtgaRraeyg^yt Volume 54, Number 4 •liS: ' ''v'^ The SIU Is a Family Affair for the Darleys ' fj/^: •• ••'.••';••• I^r-- •I oifr: .•••••;•• •- A ISSl V "y .} One might say the Darley fami­ ly of Morganville, N.J. has found a home with the SIU. When class 494 graduated last month from the Lundeberg School, it marked the continuation of a longstanding relationship between the Darleys and the Se^arers. In fact, the Darleys are so en­ thusiastic about maritime careers with the union, they have led numerous friends into the SIU fold. Third-generation Seafarer George Darley, 23, graduated in class 494 along with his friends Dan Del Buono and Tim Vota. Like other friends of the Darleys, Del Buono and Vota were unoffi­ cially recruited into the union by George's mother. Dot. The Darleys' SIU connection begp in 1938, when Robert Dar­ ley joined as a charter member. He had been sailing since 1918, the year he was honorably discharged from the milita^. Robert spent most of his maritime career as a bosun. Robert's son Bob, 56, who now sails as master aboard the SeaLand Value, signed on with the Seafarers in 1952 in the port of Galveston, Texas. And all tfiree of Bob's and Dot's sons—OS George, 21-year old AB Charlies and 24-year-old OS Robert A. Darley —^are active members. The link does not stop there. Bob's brother Mike is an SIU retiree, and his nephew Miak sailed with the Seafarers before be­ coming an officer on the SS Con­ stitution. Miak now works as a chief mate. Nine other people, all friends of the family, are meipbers or trainees who became interested in the union because of the Darleys. "And we have a couple more recruits on the way!" exclaimed Dot, who resides with Bob, Robert A. and George in Morganville. Active Recruiter Dot Darley, 55, has never worked as a Seafarer. But she knows plenty about the union and what it offers. Having been mar­ ried to Bob for 27 years, she under­ stands the challenges and rewards such work presents for seamen and their families. When her sons and many of the sons' friends in the New Jersey area became interested in the SIU, she unhesitatingly praised the union. "I encouraged them, told interesting. I figured I'd give it a try." While in the trainee program, he said he already knew he made the right choice. 'It's going great here. I've learned a lot." S Bi • MM:':./ The Darleys are a seafaring family. From left to right are Rob, Bob, Charlie, George and Dot. them it's a good union and a good field," Dot recently told the Seafarers LOG. "There's always a job out there if you want it. "But I also warned them about how women have to deal with the men going away to work for long periods. You have to be very stable and you have to hang in diere." With Bob often at sea. Dot be­ came a counselor and sounding board for her sons and their as­ sociates. When people expressed . interest in the SIU, she listened, gave advice, helped obtain ap­ plications and double-checked to make sure various forms were completed correctly. "Dot's a great lady," said Howard Hendra, a 1991 Lun­ deberg School graduate. "When I went [to the school], none of her kids were home, so she was my main source of information. She' went over everything with me." Hendra, 24, sails in the engine department and is ready to upgrade. Del Buono, 23, said he "lived two minutes from the Darleys, so I had been thinking about joining for a couple of years. It sounded pretty George Darley (left), Dan Del Buono (center) and Tim Vota are ready to ship out after the ceremony marking their graduation from trainee class 494. OS Vota, 18, credited Dot with helping him act on his decision to join the SIU. He said his exposure to the seafaring Darleys opened his eyes to a worthwhile career. "It sounded very good, especially for someone just getting out of high school," Vota noted. "There's no work back home I talked with Charlie, and this seemed like a good trade. I'm just looking for­ ward to getting out on a ship." Bob and Dot added that they never pushed anyone (including their sons) toward the SIU. Rather, they reacted to people's interest in the union. SIU a Family Tradition Bob, whose father passed away in 1955, is proud that his sons chose the SIU. "I feel good about it," he said. "The sea has been very good to me. It's just like anything else in life—if you make an effort and put a lot into it, you'll do well. Anybody can go as far as diey want. "I have no qualms about my boys picking this career path. We've lived pretty good over the years." Robert A. Darley, who turns 25 in May, graduated from the Lun­ deberg School in October 1991. He sailed on the Cape Edmont throughout the Persian Gulf crisis and recently said his career choice and initial voyages have given him a tremendous sense of accomplish­ ment. He also described Dot as "a mother not only to us, but also to our friends." George felt the recession's sting before enrolling at the Lundeberg School. He had been woiking as a computer repaimian but got laid off. "My brother Chuck had already gotten into the Seafarers, and I saw he was making good money," recalled George. "He always came back with interesting stories. . . . Nowadays, without college, it's hard to find another occupation that provides a good living." Others whom the Darleys helped get started with the SIU in­ clude Russell Desaro, Timottiy Gray, Thomas Taber, Michael Taber and Billy Birmingham. According to Bob, the Darleys traced their involvement in maritime to well before Bob's father began sailing. "This is just something I read, but apparently our ancestors were ship builders in England" centuries ago, he said. "There's a book about Darley an­ cestors, and they claim we built the Mayflower. But again that's just something I read." Help Locate This Missing ChiU The National Center for Miss­ ing and Exploited Children has asked the membership of theSIU to help locate Aaron James Gar­ rison. Missing from Grants Pass, Ore. since Febru^ 15,1991, the now 15-year-old is considered an endangered child. Aaron Garrison has green eyes and dark brown hair. At the time of his disappearance, he was 5 ft. 9 in. and weighed 150 lbs. He has a brown patch between his neck and left shoulder and was last seen wearing a gray striped shirt, blue jacket, gray slacte, white socks and pink tennis shoes. The youth is slightly retarded, and is considered at risk as lost, injured or otherwise missing. Anyone having information should contact The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 or the Grants Pass (Ore.) Public Safety Department's Missing Persons Unit at (503) 474-6370. Aaron James Garrison •^• � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1992 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES KEEP WIRE ROPE PRODUCTS IN WORLD STEEL DEAL, SAYS SIU CONGRESS GETS BILL TO REPEAL WORK TOAX SEAFARERS UIW UNIT BAKCS CLERKS’ ORGANIZING DRIVE SIU URGES HOUSE TO CLOSE SAFETY LOOPHOLE ON RIVERS D1 PCD INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL MEBA CONVENTION SIGNAL THE END OF SHORESIDE WORKER DOMINANCE OF SEAGOING MEMBERS DOT OFFICIAL ANNOUNCED POLICY ‘IN THE WORKS’ TO SAVE U.S.-FLAG FLEET BOATMEN GATHER IN PORT ARTHUR TO TARGET TUG ISSUES LEON HALL, RETIRED VP AND POPULAR UNION BROTHER, DIES AT 72 SEQUA SELLS SABINE TOWING TO HOUSTON KIRBY CORP. FMC’S QUARTEL RESIGNS; MTD SOUGH HIS REMOVAL PRIDE OF TEXAS: 1ST U.S. SHIP TO ENTER LITHUANIA SINCE 1939 11 STEWARDS REACH TOP OF CULINARY LADDER ANDREW K CREW SAVES TWO SEAMEN TAX REPEAL BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS ROY BOUDREAU DIES AT 66 GREEN, HEALEY, HOLTON AWARDED MSCPAC’S TOP TRIBUTE PESKY ZEBRA MUSSELS SPREAD BEYOND LAKES BUSH SIGNS SHIP GAMBLING BILL HOUSE PANEL BLASTS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR MARAD AS ‘MEAGER’ CULINARY PIONEER REYES DIES TI’S BILL LAWRENCE DIES AT 44 STEWARD UTZ’S ACTIVITIES MAKE FOR A FULL ‘PLATE’ FOR QMED DESURE, POLITICAL ACTION IS A ‘MUST’ STEEL SHIPS AND IRON MEN: PART III PINEY POINT IS A SEAFARER FAMILY VACATION SITE THE SIU IS A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR THE DARLEYS Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1992 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. 54, No. 4 1992 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/ff0527fc2aadfd77a40cebbbc0df5324.PDF 6be5ea1bf45225a163a7ed2e73a3d61b PDF Text Text . -•'v.. ' V... • • • . ,•'.• : • :• : OFFiqAl ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS iNTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC GULF, LAKES AND INUND WATERS DISTRIQ • AFKIO ••• Volume 55, Number 4 Aprll1993 Bentley Seeks Cargo Preference Loophole Closure Pages Runaway Bulker Los^ AH Hamfo Perish Page 4 • v:. Coast Guard Revives Seaman Work Tax Pages SlU Urges Congress to Hatt Phony 'Cruisos-'to'Nowhoro' Pages Anyone Call for a Cab? INSIDE Twelve Stewards Graduate from Top Training Course ^ Renting ayehicle for sightseeing can be a challenging experience for Seafarers, no matter where their vessel is docked. AB Keith Finnerly and SA Elisabeth Leech discover their "cab" wants a bath while the pair was visiting Indonesia. Once clean, the baby pachyderm continued its journey and retumed the members to their ship, the L/VGAguanus. \• { :• Page? • '=• if Polish Winter CoUer Than Home for Louisiana Memher ^ ^ *'1''r' • y-i':- Page 11 =!i!iga . -im: flli'fe:: �2 APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG President's Report DOT Head Sets Indusby MeeRngs Te Develep New MariHme Pnposal Bargain,Basement Shipping A Threat to Life and Limb Meetings between a commit­ tee of representatives of the U.S.flag shipping industry and the government continue in order to hammer out maritime revival legislation that will be presented to Congress. revival before Congress no later than May of this year. Meets with Subcommittee According to published reports in the Journal of Com­ merce, Pena told the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee late last month that the maritime package would be greater than the one submitted last year by the Bush administration. (That package, presented late in the congressional session by then-Secretary of Transportation Andrew Card, proposed a sevenyear, $1.1 bilhon program that would have helped U.S. com­ panies acquire new vessels, in­ cluding governmental payments for up to 74 militarily useful com­ mercial ships. Congress ad­ journed before action could be completed on the measure.) "I'm absolutely convinced that if we do not take action very soon, we will soon see large num­ bers of U.S. carriers reflagging under foreign flags," Pena was quoted as saying to the House subcommittee. "That would be a disaster for our nation." Carriers Offer Plan Prior to Pena's meeting with the maritime representatives, U.S.-flag shipping companies proposed a 15-year, $4 billioii package, which has been cited as too expensive in most published stories. The efforts to come up with some sort of legislative program for the U.S.-flag fleet began in January 1992 when executives for Sea-Land and American President Lines declared they would have to go foreign unless something is done to help the in­ dustry. Executives from both companies recently reiterated their statements that if a maritime revival package is not passed soon, they will be force to reflag their vessels. One of the biggest threats to the lives and safety of seamen is the runaway flag device used by shipowners the world over to attain low shipping costs and other savings by avoiding the regulations and controls of the legitimate maritime communities. Seamen on runaway-flag ships are the principal victims of the runaway shipowner's shortcuts because they must work The committee was formed for low wages without any of the standard after Secretary of Transportation benefits enjoyed by union seamen. These seamen also are shortchanged on everything from food Federico Pena met with officials and drinkable water to survival suits and basic of maritime labor, the vessel gear. They also feel the impact of many of these operating industry and shipbuild­ operators' practices of stinting on maintenance. ing companies on March 2. Presi­ Michael Sacco and averting needed repairs. In many cases, dent Michael Sacco represented seamen on runaway ships are likely to find them­ the SIU at the meeting. selves on rickety old scows—^rustbuckets that don't belong on the seas As a trade union representing American merchant seamen and their Pena called the meeting in interests, our concern with this runaway flag device is that it is an in­ order to leam more about the strument of exploitation and abuse of seamen from various parts of problems of the U.S.-flag mer­ the world who are unable—for a variety of reasons—to protect them­ chant marine and what could be selves by means of collective action. It is this kind of runaway ship­ done to help it as well as to ex­ ping activity that the American merchant marine is criticized for not plain the Clinton administration's competing with. Certainly we accept the need for our industry to com­ position. During the meeting, the pete. But we cannot match ships in which the seamen are virtual wagesecretary stated the new ad­ slaves working on floating sweatshops for pay levels that would force ministration wants to offer a Americans to live on the streets. legislative package for maritime Those who are trying to make this subhuman, substandard mode of operation a new norm to be imitated by civilized and progressive countries should know with what we are dealing. How can the United States, for instance, compete on a level playing field when nations like the Philippines consider human labor Aeir number one export? The annual financial commit­ Baltimore and Ordinal Seaman the committee is to be read in all The Philippines government promotes the employment of its citizens tee consisting of rank-and-file Jobn McLain of Philadelphia. ports. The report just finisheid will on foreign ships—no matter the level of pay and benefits—^^and in Seafarers elected during the Also elected but unable to serve be issued this month. some shore-based industries in foreign countries in order to relieve the March membership meeting at on the committee was Recertified nation's huge unemployment crisis and to bring in funds to its Piney Point, Md. found the 1992 Steward Anthony Curran of economy. In another example, a government such as the one in power union's financial records to be in New York, who was called out of in Burma hawks the labor of its own citizens to foreign-flag order and issued a report which town. shipowners, promising a docile workforce which can be paid peanuts. will be presented to the April Article X, Section 15, Subsec­ To sweeten the pot, the Burma regime makes it illegal for Burmese membership meetings. tion (c) of the union's constitution seamen to contact the International Transport Workers Federation "We went through boxes upon deals exclusively with the aimual (ITF), the worldwide union federation which organizes seafarers on ijoxes of materials and everything financial committee. The group's runaway ships. Or take the case of Russia. There, with the dismantling ooked fine," noted OMU Robert sole charge is to "make an ex­ of the once vast merchant marine of the Soviet Union and a weak ^ulvaney from the port of amination for each period of the economy, thousands of Russian seamen have turned to runaway ships Philadelphia. finances of the union and (to) for employment, becoming one more exploitable group of shipboard The committee met at the report fiilly on their findings and labor. Throughout South Asia and Latin America there are scores of union's headquarters in Camp recommendations." nations in which labor and employment conditions are"such that their Springs, Md. for one week tocon­ A total of seven members are citizens are easily lured to the promises associated with shipboard duct the review. All departments to be elected to serve on the com­ employment on runaway-flag vessels. For the unscrupulous runaway ship operator this means a vast pool of seamen who can be paid as lit­ were represented on the commit­ mittee. In the event one or more tee with the members coming members cannot fulfill their term, tle as $300 a month and fed as much as one meal of rice a day. rom around the country. the committee can carry on More than half a million seamen who work on runaway-flag ves­ Joining Mulvaney on the com­ without replacements until the sels mostly come from nations which are in no position to complain or mittee were Recertified Stewards number still serving reaches Chairman Robert Mulvaney looks seek justice in behalf of their citizens. Labor conditions in these Mark Flores of Houston, Carl three, at which point all work through one of the financial countries are often deplorable. In this regard, the International Labor Poggioli of Honolulu and Wil­ shall stop and a special election records. Organization (ILO), a branch of the United Nations, reports hundreds liam Winters of New Orleans; be held. of cases of worker abuse. In Sri Lanka, young boys are indentured as Cook/Baker Barbara Beyer of fishing camp laborers, working 17 hours per day. Forced labor, par­ Upon completion; the report of ticularly at harvest time, has been reported throughout Latin America. Slavery is practiced in Sudan where boys between 7 through the age of 12 are sold to traveling merchants for $70. In dozens of nations in South Asia and Latin America, a vast crimp system exists. Workers are charged for accommodations, tools and food by their employers. Their meager salaries can never cover these expenses, leaving them in a permanent debt bondage to their employer. A Fight That Must be Fought It is obvious the fight to help the seamen on runaway-flag ships will not come from the nations of which those seamen are citizens. The fight must come therefore from the traditional maritime nations where union seamen enjoy decent conditions and from the union seamen themselves. This is why the SIU participates in, and is af­ filiated to, the Seafarers section of the ITF, which consists of unions representing transport workers throughout the free world. The aim of the ITF is to continually try to improve and raise the conditions of the exploited seamen on runaway ships. This is a massively difficult job Preparing to approve the review of two separate files are Recertified Cook/Baker Barbara Boyer adds as the issue of national sovereignty must be dealt with. For example, Stewards William Winters (left) and Mark Flores. her signature during the review. the SIU, in the early '60s, tried to organize foreign seamen on runaway-flag ships when they came to U.S. shores. The U.S. Supreme Volume 55. Number 4 Court denied us the opportunity to pursue this course, which had been April 1993 very successful in that the foreign seamen had jumped at the oppor­ tunity to organize with an American union, arguing it interfered with the The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published sovereignty on those ships. Most nations endorse the idea that the flag of a monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, ship represents sovereignty of the flag state over all dealings on that vessel. Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 In recent years, among the strategies of the ITF has been the use of Auth Way; Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) a policy is known as "port-state control." This program allows the nation 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSG Wnce to which the waters of a port belong to exercise some legal authority over Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional mailing the vessel anchored in its area, no matter the flag of the ship. Thus, if a offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the runaway-flag shipowner is operating an unsafe ship or one on which Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. crewmembers are being abused, the govarunent authorities of that 20746. country can take action aimed at correcting the situation. Communications Department Director and Editor, Jes­ The SIU will continue to address this problem, no matter how sica Smith; Managing Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate tough the fight, and attempt to end the discrimination seamen on Editors, Jordan Biscardo and Corrina Christensen; As­ runaway-flag vessels face. We will work with the ITF and its af­ sociate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, BUI filiates. More and more in the days ahead there will be an intensifica­ Brower. tion of activity in this area. And, we will continue until these seamen Studying the figures in a file is Recertified Steward Carl Poggioli. are free to have a voice in their own destiny. Rank-and-File Panel issues Finance Report ' V �• • '•• ^ •: '#«;%aa3i; APRO. 1993 SEAFMERSIOG BenUeyPuslKs Cargo Prefemwe AoflfiAnie Clasurv SlU's Mercer Thanks NAACP's Hooks for Job Well Done RayCroweD/Pa^One SlU Government Services Division Vice President Roy (Buck) Mercer extends his congratulations for a job well done to NAACP Executive Director Benjamin Hooks. Mercer, who has worked with the civil rights organization for many years, represented the Seafarers at a reception thrown by the AFL-CIO in honor of Hooks'retirement which started April 1. USCG Revives Work Tax Scheme The U.S. Coast Guard wil begin charging a fee for the is­ suance of merchant marine docu­ ments and marine licenses on April 19, the agency announcer in a government publication last month. The scheme, labeled a "user fee" by the agency, revives a proposal initially put forward by the Coast Guard in June 1991. When the Coast Guard's plan was introduced in 1991, it was greeted by a barrage of protest from seamen and boatmen throughout the United States. The SIU branded the ploy a "work tax" and raised vigorous objec­ tions about the measure to the agency. Congress and the courts. Issued in a notice for proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, the 1991 Coast Guard plan to attach a fee to the is­ suance, evaluation and testing for merchant marine documents (also known as z-cards), marine licen­ ses and certificates of registry had its roofs in a 1990 budget action initiated by the Bush administra­ tion and Congress. The 1990 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act was passed to raise funds to offset the nation's deficit. The act included the repeal of a long-standing statute that prohibited the collection of fees for the licensing of certain shipboard positions. Majority Against Fees On March 19 of this year, the Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register a final rule on the. user fee plan. The Treasury Department agency admitted, "Only a few comments supported the concept of charging fees for these Coast Guard services. The majority of comments objected to any fee being charged, and many stated the view that the general public receives the benefit of the licensing program, and not the mariner who is required to obtain the license, certificate of registry or document." The agency opened two com­ ment periods to handle all the protests against the fees. More than 3,000 letters and 15 petitions with 1,600 signatures were received. The fees being charged start at $35 to duplicate a z-card, license or certificate of registry and can go as high as $272 to acquire an upper level license. While the standard fee for a z-card alone is $35, examination costs range be­ tween $40 to $150 depending on the test. Evaluation fees are be­ tween $45 and $70, again depending on what is being sought. (See chart on page 4.) For example, a Seafarer seek­ ing to upgrade from an ordinary seaman to able bodied seaman would have to pay a total of $135—$60 for an evaluation fee, $40 for an examination fee and $35 for the new, updated z-card. One of the statements against the work tax came from the Military Sealift Command (MSG) noting it barely had enough mariners to crew Ready Reserve Force vessels during the Persian Gulf war. MSG added that the user fees "would keep many otherwise available mariners from renewing their licenses." The Coast Guard dismissed those who stood against the fees by saying the "licensing program does confer special benefits upon those who hold a license, certifi­ cate of registry (or z-card). The Coast Guard has determined that it is appropriate to establish fees for services provided to these in­ dividuals." Public Hearing Dismissed Many of the letters also asked the Coast Guard to hold a public hearing. However, the agency stated, "Whereas receiving oral presentations at public hearings would increase the number of comments, the hearing process would not materially assist in the development of the final rule." In December 1991, the SIU filed a federal lawsuit seeking to have the user fees declared un­ constitutional because they are actually a tax. The federal judge presiding over the case declared in March 1992 the suit could come before him only when (he Continued on page 4 A loophole found in certain laws promoting the use of U.S.flag vessels for the transport of American-generated cargoes has been used by several agen­ cies to ship their goods on foreign-flag bottoms, charged U.S. Representa­ tive Helen D e 1 i c h Bentley (RMd.) during a Rep. Bentley congressional hearing in late February. Appearing as a witness before the House Merchant Marine^ubcommittee, the legislator, who is a former chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, said the loophole—no more than the clause "notwithstanding any other provision of law"—has been invoked by certain governmental agencies to evade cargo preference requirements. Cargo preference laws call for a certain percentage of govern­ ment-generated cargo for export to be carried aboard U.S.-flag vessels. Bentley also introduced legis­ lation to codify a 1954 agree­ ment between the departments of Commerce arid Defense (known as the Wilson-Weeks Agreement) to set limits on the number of Defense Departmentoperated vessels that can be used in peacetime. The bill, known as H.R. 57, is designed to emphasize "maximum reliance 3 '-•ym on privately owned U.S.-flag shipping" and limit the use of foreign-flag shipping to times only when U.S.-flag ships are not available. During the hearing, which was a follow-up to one called in Sep­ tember 1992 to look into cargo preference practices, Bentley revealed the results of her re­ search by citing example after ex­ ample which took place in 1991 and 1992. The five-term legislator presented examples of how the Maritime Administration (MarAd) during the Bush ad­ ministration was contradicting its own>earlier rulings on what is and is not covered by cargo preference laws. She also listed efforts by several federal agen­ cies during the early '90s at avoiding or ignoring the law, in­ cluding the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty Implementation Act of 1991 (CFE Transfers), the Defense Department Humanitarian Assistance Programs, the Bush administration's $10 billion loan guarantees to Israel and the rebuild­ ing effort in Kuwait Fines 'Not Appropriate' At the beginning of this year, she asked MarAd why the Agen­ cy for International Development (AID) was imposing loading delay assessments on Food for Peace shipments. Such fines are "not appropriate under the 1954 [Cargo Preference] act," she noted. Continued on page 5 Sacco Cites the Union Hiring Hall As Marine Unionism's Heart and SouV Editor's Note: The chairman of the Federal Maritime Com­ mission, Christopher L Koch, expressed his view on the state of the U.S. merchant niarine in a recent interview with Sea Power (February 1993), the magazine of the Navy League of the United States. While Chairman Koch put forward many constructive and incisive observations about the industry's condition, he did attack the union hiring hall sys­ tem. This drew fromSIU President Michael Sacco a response in which he emphasized the critical role of the union hiring hall throughout its history. Sacco sent his views to both Chairman Koch and to Sea Power magazine. The letter from Sacco to Chairman Kochis reprinted in its entirety: Dear Chairman Koch: Just a note to let you know that I thought your comments on the state of the U.S. merchant marine as reported in the February issue of Sea Power were, for the most part, right on target. The industry would be wise to give the maximum serious consideration to your views. Those of us who are com­ mitted to the preservation of a U.S.-flag industry will be putting ly suitable for the industry's all our energies into the big job had to endure to obtain jobs. To "break" the hiring hall is peculiar requirements. that faces us, because we recog­ And the flexibility of the nize the gravity of the situation. to break the union. Even the late However, I was greatly disap­ Senator Robert A. Taft, a spon­ hiring hall is enabling the in­ pointed in a viewpoint expressed sor of the restrictive Taft-Hartley dustry to meet each new demand in the interview that I thought law, recognized the superiority of m^em shipping—as it has in revealed a narrow, anti-worker of the hiring hall over the chaotic the case of the complex drug test­ bias. I refer to your statement that hiring system that preceded it ing and benzene-related testing "We have to break this thing and agreed with the late Harry programs. The union hiring hall where you have to go to the Lundeberg, who headed the facilities permit across-thehiring hall." Seafarers International Union of board implementation of the I don't know whether or not North America from 1938 until various government-instituted you are aware of the reasons for his death in 1957, that maritime programs that otherwise would the hiring hall or the construc­ union hiring halls should be ex­ require substantial multiplica­ tive, stabilizing role it has played empted from his law banning tion of the dollar costs involved if each shipping company had to in maritime. It is the very heart closed shops. deal with these situations on an and soul of maritime unionism Aside from its benefits to individual basis. and it came into being because of merchant seamen, the hiring hall Examples of the hiring hall's discriminatory and corrupt is a distinct asset in a great many unique, essential role can be hiring practices that were ram­ other ways to both the industry cited on and on. Perhaps the most pant in an industry that was vi­ and the nation generally. During telling testimony to the effective­ ciously anti-union and military operations—as for ex­ ness of the hiring hall institution notoriously violative of ample in Desert Storm and is the widespread endorsement it seamen's civil and human rights. Desert Shield, in the Korean and has been given by ship operators The hiring hall, with its Vietnam wars—the hiring hall themselves. democratic rotary system of serves as a reliable source of ex­ If there is to be a revitalization shipping, for the first time gave perienced, skilled and respon­ of American-flag shipping, I American seamen a sense of dig­ sible manpower for the crewing think unions will contribute nity and self-respect. That was of the vital support ships. responsibly to the effort. The impossible under the employerSimilarly, the seafaring record will indicate that unions controlled, archaic and abusive unions' hiring halls make avail­ fight at least as hard for this in­ hiring system which was an open able to all shipping companies dustry as does management. invitation to exploitation by alilce a manpower pool of trained, Without the hiring hall that crimps and other corrupt senous, career seamen which couldn't happen. employment practices, notable translates into the most efficient, Sincerely, for the "piece-off and other cost-effective and equitable Michael Sacco forms of bribery which seamen m^od of hiring that is p^cular- •I* •{1 •• :vi • ' "• V'zj.,' .y .• •4/ y . �4 APRIL 19^ SEAFMERSLOe All 33 Crewmembers Lost in Storm Ubman-Fkm Bulker Sinks OH Nova Scotia Investigators still are search­ ing for the reason why a Liberianflagged, U.S.-owned bulker set sail from a Canadian port during the onset of a severe winter storm, then sank hours later taking the lives of all 33 crewmembers with it. "We still are looking for the cause," noted Captain Bill Chadwick, who is heading the inves­ tigation for the Liberian-flag shipping registry, from his office in Reston, Va. "We can't add any­ thing to what has been reported already in the press." The fully loaded Gold Bond Conveyor, owned by Skaarup Shipping of Greenwich, Conn., was en route to Tampa, Fla. from Halifax, Nova Scotia on its regular gypsum ore run when it hit the full force of the storm shortly after midnight March 14. 65-Foot Seas ••. • Vr Wf§$- ' At approximately 12:20 a.m. the captain radioed waves were breaking over the bow and the crew was' abandoning the 584foot ship. Winds in the area were recorded at 80 miles per hour with swells listed at 65 feet. When search-and-rescue planes descended on the area at daybreak, all they found were the body of one crewmember, an oil slick, a damaged lifeboat and two life rafts. There was no sign of life from any of the Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwanese crew. The runaway-flag vessel hac only six survival suits on boarc for the entire crew. (Canadian and American-flag vessels by law must have one survival suit for each member of the crew.) Inter­ national standards call for three survival suits per lifeboat on a vessel. The Gold Bond Conveyor was equipped with two lifeboats. The Liberian registry only re­ quires three suits be on board. The suits are designed to help keep people alive even in frigid water and weather conditions for up to 36 hours. The lone crewmember whose body was recovered was wearing only work clothes and a life jacket. Only Ship to Leave The Gold Bond Conveyor v/as, the only vessel to leave the Canadian port during the storm. Warnings and advisories were posted. The vessel's owners were reported as saying that there was no pressure on the captain or crew to head for sea. Patker Robinson ofI "We arie looking for any This damaged lifeboat was nearly all that was left when search-and-rescue planes circled the North reason, any evidence that com­ Atlantic where the Go/d Bond Conveyor went down. There were no signs of life. pelled the captain to sail on time," Chadwick said. "Unfortunately, ping registry, which is taking the the captain is no longer available ead in the investigation. Chad­ wick estimated a final report for comment." would not be available for at least Canadian authorities are working with the Liberian ship- three months. sill Crewmembers Donate Funds To Build Subic Bay Bus Shelter Citing the need to help those left behind when the Navy left Subic Bay, 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo crewmembers SA Maria S. Hanna and Recertified Steward Hans Schmuck'collected con­ tributions from the crew to build a bus shelter in the city of Gerona, Philippines. "We donated the money to the )eople of Gerona to build a public )us shelter in a strategic spot to help protect those less fortunate in both rain and sun," Hanna told a reporter from the Seafarers LOG. She noted that her motiva­ tion to help the people of Gerona stemmed from the fact that she was bom in the Philippines. "There is so much misfortune there. We thought that we'd take up a collection and have some­ thing done on behalf of those we've left behind as a result of the closing of Subic Bay," Hanna said. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 caused exten­ sive destruction to Gerona and the Special recognition given to Hanna and Schmuck—as well as to the entire Bobo crew—is printed on the side of the bus shelter. surrounding areas of the province of Tarlac. The destruction was so severest caused the U.S. to reas­ sess its position in the Philip­ pines. Clark Air Force Base was damaged so heavily that the U.S. decided to abandon it. The U.S. then sought an extension on its lease of Subic Bay Naval Base. Despite efforts by Filipino Presi­ dent Corazon Aquino to support the extension, the Philippine senate rejected the deal. The last American forces left Subic Bay on November 24, 1992, ending a 94-year history of U.S. military fo rces on the archipelago. The Municipal Court of Gerona gave a special thank-you to the Bobo crew when it met on February 24 and forwarded a copy of the minutes to the ship. An excerpt of the proclamation stated: "We extend our appreciation and thanks to the officers and crew of the John P. Bobo through M.S. Hanna for their generosity in donating a waiting shade at Nam Kuwang St., Gerona, Tar­ lac." The city recognized the con­ tributions given by crew overall and Hanna and Schmuck specifi­ cally." Hanna joined the Seafarers in 1990 and sailed with American Hawaii Cruises as a cabin steward. She is currently sailing as a steward assistant aboard the Baldomero Lopez. Hannah stated she plans to upgrade in the near A Gerona resident relaxes in the "Waiting shade" while waiting for a bus. future. Coast Guard Announce Feeds tor Documents Win Begin This H/ienth Continued from page 3 Coast Guard implements the fees. In February 1992, the House Coast Guard Subcommittee called a hearing to look into the matter. SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco presented the panel with a petition against the work tax signed by more than 400 Gulf-based boatmen (both union and non-union). Congress Offers Repeal Shortly after the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (D-La.) offered a bill to repeal the work tax. The House Coast Guard Subcommit­ tee unanimously approved that the legislation go before the full House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, but Con­ gress adjourned before any other action could be taken. The Reagan administration started the idea that mariners should pay for their documents by including such fees in their budget proposals in the mid1980s. However, the Congress refused to consider such fees. But the latest round of user fees to be collected by the Transportation Department were amended onto the 1990 budget act without going through the normal legislative process. As the Seafarers LOG waS going to press, the SIU was study­ ing foe Coast Guard's final rules to determine a course of action on behalf of its members and their interests. User Fee Costs to Mariners Evaluation Examination Fee Fee issuance Fee Total Fee Z-Cards Without Qualified Rating With Qualified Rating .0 0 60 35 40 35 Certificate of Registry Jr. Asst. Purser, Medical Doctor, Nurse 0 >dChief Purser, Purser, Sr. Asst. Purser .... 45 35 135 0 35 ^ 35 0 35 80 35 35 35 35 3^ 3? 135 80 180 255 35 35 License Continuity Endorsement . 0 Renewals or , Endorsement 45 Radio Officer ....... 45 Lower Level 65 Upper Level 70 Duplicate or Replacement for Any of Above .... 0 55 0 80 150 Note — An additional charge of $17 may be applied for an FBI criminal record check if the application is for an origina z-card, license or certificate of registry. Source: FederalRegister; Department of Transportation Coast Guard "User Fees forMarine Licensing, Certification of Registry andMercfiant Mariner Documentation; Final Rule,"March 19,1993. . !';• I.'" .'i • �•:. :• APRIL 1993 SEAFARERSLOG 5 SIU to Congress: Time to End Foreign-Flag Day Cruises In U.S. Coasbl Waters The SIU is urging Congress to during a hearing on the bill on Taylor called the cruise-topass legislation that would put an March 11, Terry Turner, the nowhere industry "a sham." He end to foreign-flag passenger ves­ union's legislative and government noted U.S.-flag cruise ships rep­ sels operating one-day excursions affairs dilator, noted passenger resent jobs for American workers from American ports. The bill, safety is a major reason to imple­ on board the vessels as well as in sponsored by U.S. Representative ment the bill. He stated the vessels shipyards where they are built. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), would predominantly serve U.S. ports and close the loopholes in several carry American citizens. Pay No Taxes maritime acts which allow such Passenger Safety Vital Taylor pointed out that pas­ voyages—^known as "cruises to "Often a lack of shipboard sengers on the world's cruise nowhere"—to take place. safety skills and the inability to ships—85 percent of whom are The United States-Flag Pas­ communicate in English to pas­ American—spend approximately senger Vessel Act of 1993 (H.R. 1250) would sengers—or even in a common $8-10 billion annually. "These Terry Tumer (center), SIU legislative and governmental affairs direc­ tor, informs subcommittee members passage of H.R. 1250 would amend both language among the crew—^under­ foreign-flag cruise-to-nowhere mean more American merchant mariners available in case of a crisis score a serious threat to passenger vessels are making millions of the Passenger like the Persian Gulf. safety," Turner told the subcom­ dollars in profits without paying Vessel Act of mittee. "American merchant 1886 and the mariners must meet U.S. Coast one cent in taxes to the U.S. Treasury," the congressman said. Jones Act of Guard requirements, are drug- "Less than 3 percent of [aU cmise Joining the SIU in testifying Marine and Fisheries Commit­ 1920 to close tested, are subjected to an FBI ship] money is spent on American- for the bill were representatives tee is expected to take up the loopholes that background check and are able to flag ships b^ause our government from the American Maritime Of­ bill sometime this spring. permit the communicate allows these foreign vessels aU of ficers, the Masters, Mates and Similar legislation to H.R. sailing of with pas­ the privileges of doing business in Pilots, U.S. shipbuilders and 1250 passed the House of Rep­ foreign-flag sengers." Rep. Taylor resentatives in the last session America but without them paying cruise operators. cruise ships to The full House Merchant of Congress. Turner any of the costs." and from the same port without was asked by stopping anywhere else. Over Subcommitt the years, the U.S. Customs Ser­ ee Chairman vice has ruled these voyages are William legal. Lipinski (D(The Passenger Vessel Act of m.) what the 1886 states no foreign vessel can significance Rep. Lipinski transport any of these di lions statute, but merely clarifying ex­ Continued from page 3 transport passengers between two of such a bill unless something dra] isting law to make crystal clear to U.S. ports directly or by way of a would be on the U.S. merchant curs," she said. government agencies its intent." She told the panel that the foreign port. The Jones Act calls marine. He responded that pas­ The Maryland legislator told Congress Ignored for commerce between two sage of H.R. 1250 could mean response she received was that the subcommittee how she had Concerning the Humanitarian MarAd was "powerless to require domestic locations to be carried thousands of jobs for American AID to remove the [assessment] Assistance Program, she stated contacted the secretary of state on U.S.-owned, U.S.-built and workers aboard ships as weU as in provisions from [the Food for that Defense Department wit­ when the Israeli loan guarantees shipyards and steel mills. U.S.-crewed vessels.) because it is noi nesses told Congress the delivery were being proposed seeking the In presenting H.R. 1250 to the Peace] program Speaking before the House subject to cargo preference under of meals ready to eat (MREs) Bush administration's "assurance Merchant Marine Subcommittee subcommittee. Representative the 1954 act. were not covered by cargo that binding U.S. procurement and shipment provisions will be Bentley went on to ask under preference laws. applicable to this assistance in­ Since those hearings. Con­ what authority MarAd can itiative." finance incremental differential gress included within the funding for the for Food for Peace if the program authorizations Agreement Sought Humanitarian Assistance Pro­ is not subject to the 1954 act. After receiving no response, "The only authority for such gram statements that the 1954 act she contacted the secretary's of­ financing is provided in the Mer­ does aplply. fice, again only to be told the ad­ "It is my understanding that chant Marine Act of 1936. This ministration would not placesuch authority only applies to some MRE shipments are still provisions on the original $2 bil­ The committee noted that programs which are subject to moving on foreign-flag vessels lion of assistance. The Hous^e Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee is seek­ during the Persian Gulf war, more cargo preference. Therefore, because [the Defense Depart­ ment] believes that only MRE Bentley said she has written ing a presidential executive order than "80 percent of critical MarAd—according to MarAd appears to lack the authority to shipments financed with [Fiscal the new secretary of state.Warren requiring federal agencies to Department of Defense cargoes finance any freight differential Year] 1993 funds are embraced Christopher, to include a side comply with the nation's cargo were carried on U.S.-flag vessels for [Food for Peace]. Yet, it still by cargo preference the Con­ agreement covering the rest of the preference laws in the wake of a which were crewed by the United has provided the financing. gress was not making a new Israeli loan guarantee. congressional hearing in which States merchant marine. Con­ "I will be extremely interested the departments of Defense, sidering only two years have in MarAd's response on this issue Agriculture and Transportation passed since the war, it is a traves­ because either MarAd's legal were cited for bypassing regula­ ty that our own federal agencies opinion is faulty—as I believe it In recent testimony t>efore the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee, tions that call for a certain per­ do not support the United States is—and should be retracted, or U.S. Representative Helen Oellch Bentley (R-Md.) revealed the names of centage of U.S.-govemment aid merchant industry." MarAd officials have been guilty several federal programs that avoided or Ignored cargo preference laws to be carried aboard U.S.-flag Follows Hearings of misappropriation of funds—a during the Bush administration. By doing so. she noted tfie federal govern­ vessels. ment has jeopardized revenues for iJ.S.-flag merchant shipping, thus The letter came a week after a very serious offense. MarAd can­ aiding in the decline of size of the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. In a letter to President Bill Listedbelow are the programs included in Benttey's testimony that have Clinton dated March 4 and signed House Merchant Marine Sub­ not have it both ways." Ignored cargo preference laws: committee hearing in which U.S. Defense Programs Cited by the members of the House The congresswoman then B The SouthernReghnAmendment Tranefers. This program, overseen by the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Representative Helen Delich of D^ense, was an agreerr^t between the U.S. and the Bentley (R-Md.) detailed several began citing the two Defense Department Committee, Committee Chair­ former Soviet Union to move conventional military equipment from NATO programs that have avoided cargo Department programs that ig­ bases in northern Europe to bases In southem Europe. Defense claimed man Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) noted, "No other nation in the preference laws during the Bush nored Congress' call to obey the materiel no longer belonged to American forces but to NATO, so cargo preference didnot apply. cargo preference legislation. world donates aid to other administration "I believe the CFE matter is • HodtorPeace. The Agency for International Development (AID), which Among the governmentcountries without returned economic benefits for their own generated programs that used one of the clearest examples of administers the program, has t)een Imposing loading delay assessments maritime industries. We believe shipping but avoided cargo deliberate cargo preference penalties. Bentley noted these fines should not be levied because the our maritime industry and the preference were the transfer of evasion," Bentley told the sub­ shipments are covered by cargo preference regulations. American taxpayers are entitled U.S.-owned surplus equipment committee. She pointed out that • The ConrntUond Forces In Europe Treaty knplmnenlathn Act of 1991. This to benefit from the considerable being shipped to allied European Defense Department witnesses Defense Department program has been using fore^n-flag ships to deliver amount of United States foreign nations, the Defense Department's before a House panel were told in surplus U.S.-owned ^uipment to allied European nations despite t>eing aid we offer to needy nations humanitarian assistance efforts to "'grpeit detail" about how cargo advised by Congress the program Is covered by cargo preference. ship meals-ready-to-eat to needy preference laws would apply to around the globe." HumanKarian Asdslance Program. Another Defense Department pr<Miiram countries, the $10 billion U.S.- the transfer of surplus U.S.- In which ready-to-eat meals are delivered to needy countries. ~he The Rscal Precedence Established backed Israeli loan guarantees owned equipment to allied Year 1993 authorization trill for the program includes cargo preference The letter pointed out that with no "Ship American" European nations. language to make crystal dear to government agencies (Congress*) precedence for such an order al­ provision included by the Bush "Unfortunately, at this time Intent," Bentley said. ready exists. In 1962, President administration and the Kuwaiti more than 50 percent of the U.S. $10 BlUon Israeli Loan Guarantees. Bush acknintetration dUclals within the John F. Kennedy issued a direc­ government's exclusion of U.S.- donated equipment already has • State Department toM Bentley the department would not Include provisions tive that "all executive branch flag ships to transport rebuilding been transported by foreign-flag agencies comply fully with the materials to the country follow­ vessels and there is virtually no has ask^ the^Ciln^l'ackninlstratjon to^dude a side agreern^^provk^ for "Ship American' provisions for the remainder of the loan ^jarantea purpose of our various cargo ing the war. I chance that U.S.-flag vessels will preference laws." Rep. BenUey: Loophole Clause illloiirs Govomnumt Fnlghl to Sail Forolgn'Flag House Marine Panel Urges Clinton to AfHim Cargo Preterence Law Violations of Preference Laws •\. •r: % .. A- ;.•?• • <*,•' . • •••'I �6 APRIL 1993 SEAFARERSLOG Charles Brown Crew 'Flawlessly' Handles Repair Exendse Chief Steward Dennis Prescott reported that the SlU-crewed cable ship Charles L. Brown recently "operated flawlessly during a simulated cable repair exercise near Hawaii. "Thanks to a dedicated SIU crew and the expertise of Captain John Dooley and Chief Mate David Sherman, it couldn't have better," Prescott said in a letter to the Seafarers LOG. The chief steward, who also sent the accoitipanyin photographs, noted there is an in teresting mix of work aboard the Brown. Owned and operated by the AT«feT subsidiary Trans Oceanic Cable, the Brown "is a unique ship," Prescott wrote, serves as both.a cable repair ship and sometimes as a showpiece used for public relations oc casions. She is kept in immacu late condition by the SIU crew and, when decked out with shin­ ing brass rails, varnished rails anc duck-boardings, she looks like a millionaire's mega-yacht." He added that the SIU has con­ nections with both the unlicensed and licensed crew. Chief En­ gineer James Logan is an SIL hawsepiper. glazed carrots for lunch; roast New York striploin of beef, chicken and turkey chow mein, baked potatoes and com on the cob for dinner; and cherry pie and homemade peanut butter and jelly cookies for desserts. The galley gang also provides plenty of health food such as iced yogurt and salads. AB Bob Freer is all smiles after a successful repair exercise. Great Feeder According to copies of the Brown's ships minutes, the vessel is a great feeder and morale is outstanding. Items on one of the ship's recent daily menus in­ Chief Electrician Bill (Hoppy) Carroll (left) discusses the cable repair cluded diced ham, eggs benedict, exercise aboard the CharlesL Brown, operating out of Honolulu, with coffee cake and French toast for Bosun Jeremiah Harrington, Chief Steward Dennis Prescott breakfast; roast turkey, dressing, prepares the weekly menus. mashed potatoes and honey- The crew gets a chance to enjoy a meal between cable operations. From the left are AB Victor Mariano, Oiler Arthur Marshall, Wiper Jerty SAs Toni Amalfatino (left) andJennifer Storms prepare a health salad Howard, Oiler Seamus Canada and Messman Jose Fernandez (in consisting of mixed greens, sliced mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower 3uds, tomato wedges, sliced cucumber and carrot curls. background). „ Third Engineer Walter Jacobson (left) and Oiler Arthur Marshall keep the power up in the ship's engineroom. Committee Begins Work to Determine Schoiarship Winners As the staff of the Seafarers Welfare Plan collects the last of the applications for the annual Seafarers Scholarships, the men and women who review the sub­ mitted paperwork are beginning the process of deciding who will be awarded the seven grants. Members, their spouses and dependents had until April 15 to apply for one of the seven scholarships offered by the plan. Four of the awards, worth $15,000 each, are given to de­ pendents or spouses of SIU mem­ bers for use at a four^year college or university. The remaining three grants are reserved for Seafarers themsel­ ves. One of these scholarships is for $15,000 to be used at a fouryear college or university with the remaining two valued at $6,000 each for use at a two-year voca­ tional school or community col­ lege. The program, which made its debut in 1952 and presented its first four grants in 1953, has awarded altogether 221 scholar­ ships to Seafarers and their family members. 25 Years of Service A total of eight professional educators will comprise the scholarship review committee this year. All eight have served on the committee, with two going as far back as 1967. Dr. Char­ les D. O'­ Connell is one of the two withaquzutercentury of service to the scholarship review com­ mittee. The Dr. O'Connell dean emeritus of the Univer­ sity of Chicago, Dr. O'Connell also served on the board of trus­ tees for both the College Entrance Examination Board (of which he was chairman) and Educational Testing Service. Presently, he and his wife are serving with the Citizens Democracy Corps in the new Czech Republic where they are volunteer consultants to Palacky University. Also serving on the committee since 1967 is Dr. Charles A. Lyons Jr., chancellor emeritus of Fayetteville (N.C.) State Dr. Lyons Jr. University. He served as president of the National As­ sociation for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education from 1973 to 1981. The Maryland resident is president of the Center for Leadership, Development and Research, Inc. of Arlington, Va. Maryland Educators Another Maryland resident who serves on the committee is Dr. Trevor D. Carpenter. The Pennsyl­ vania native is the director of physical education and intercollegi­ ate athletics at Charles Dr. Carpenter County (Md.) Community College. Dr. Carpenter received his doctorate from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Michael S. Glaser teaches as a professor of literature at St. Mary's College of Maryland. He also serves as the director of the school's study abroad program. Dr. Glaser received his Dr. Glaser bachelor's de­ gree from Denison University and his doc­ torate at Kent State University. (Both schools are located in Ohio.) Ethics Professor The Rev. David Albert Boileau teaches as a professor of ethics at Loyola University in New Orleans. Father Boileau received his doctorate at the University of Louvain, Father Boileau Belgium in 1961. His work has included visiting all South American countries as director of Loyola's InterAmerican Center. A member of the staff at the University of New Orleans for the last 22 years. Dr. Gayle A. Olson is the coordinator of the psychol­ ogy depart­ ment's doct o r a 1 programs. Dr. Olson Dr. Olson received both her master's and doctorate at St. Louis University. Dr. Keith K. Schlender is the dean of the graduate school as well as professor of pharmacol­ ogy and therapeutics at the Medi­ cal College of Ohio in Toledo. During the 1992-93 academic Dr. year. Schlender the was "Visiting Professor of Pharmacol­ ogy" at Shan­ Dr. Schlender ghai Medical University, People's Republic of China. He holds a master's degree and doc­ torate from Michigan State University. History of Seafaring The final member of the com­ mittee is Dr. Henry P. Toutain, the dean of students at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. His working career in­ cludes positions within the stu­ dent affairs curriculum at the University of Chicago (where he received his doctorate), For d ha m University and Buclo^dl Dr. Toutain University. Dr. Toutain's biography reflects a multigenerational interest in the sea: his French ancestors were pirates. The LOG will announce the winners in the June issue. �APML1993 SEAFARERS LOG 7 Stewards Attain School's Top Twelve SIU members recently completed the steward recertification course at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in the Paul Hall Cen­ ter for Maritime Training and Education, thereby finishing the highest curriculum available to Seafarers sailing in the steward department. Recognized during the March membership meeting at Piney Point, Md., the recertified stewards were the first to com­ plete the five-week course taking Recertified Steward Monica Kohs gives an enthusiastic graduation speech, thanking the staff and in­ structors at the Lundeberg School. advantage of the new steward department training facility. The recertified stewards received advanced training in menu planning, computer opera­ tion, leadership and communica­ tion skills. They also took refresher courses in food prepara­ tion as well as firefighting, CPR and first aid. Additionally, the group at­ tended classes reviewing the union's medical and pension programs. Members learned about the SIU political and legis­ lative operations and met with SIU officials. Several of the recertified stewards said a highlight of their schedule was March 3, the day they visited SIU headquarters ant traveled to Washington, D.C. to join theSlU's legislative program for a day. The Political View Michael Thornton, 35, who sails from the port of Jackson­ ville, Fla. said, "1 enjoyed learn­ ing about the political standpoint of the union during the visits to headquarters and Capitol Hill. We were informed on things tha are politically helping our in­ dustry as well as hurting us." "The political end of the course was very informative, said John Reid, who graduatec from the Lundeberg Schoo trainee program 14 years ago. "I is important to discuss the future of this union and gather informa­ tion to keep our government rep resentatives accountable on SIL issues. "I got a lot out of speaking The 12 SIU members completing the recertified steward course are (from left, kneeling) William Winters, with President [Michael] Sacco Andrew Austin, Michael Thornton, Patrick Briggs, (second row) Anthony Curran, Monica Kohs, President and learning about my future in Michael Sacco, Julio Roman, Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco and Joe Ortega, (back row) Carl the SIU. It was very important to Poggioli, Richard Paulson, John Reid, Assistant Vice President Tony Sacco and Mark Floras. me to discuss the political anc legislative action of the union, instructor and we all worked wel In his graduation speech, Julio added Patrick Briggs, who note^ together breaking in the new lab.' Roman gave a special note of that steward recertification was gratitude: "I would like to thank Several of the recertifiet not the end of his training. "I'm stewards began their SIU careers my best friend, my mother, for all looking at the long-term future of at Piney Point and have continuec of theencouragement and support the SIU and I know I will always upgrading over the years unti she gave me. Without her this need additional training to grow being accepted into the recer­ would have not been possible." with the union," said Briggs, 34. tification program at the Both of Roman's parents traveled He added that his Seafarers Harry Lundeberg to Piney Point from Pennsylvania grandmother, an SIU pensioner, School of Seamanship. to attend the graduation ceremony. worked in the union hall in New "I enjoyed meeting and learn­ Orleans during the early years of ing from my peers. It is always A former MCS member, the union. Roman said the course was "very nice to return to meet new people beneficial. It was worth coming "It is a little joke I play with and to recognize familiar faces,' people. I say 'My grandma has said Anthony Curran, 32, who all the way [to Piney Point]. Upgrading your skills is very im­ more time in the union than graduated from the Lundeberg portant." you!"' School as a trainee in 1982. Monica Kohs, 30, thanked the William Winters describee Reflections on the School^ staff and instructors of the Lunhis experience at the Paul Hall In their graduation speeches Center deburg School. "The course was "very good. The course and in interviews with the touchedason great and I enjoyed my stay at a lot of areas in the Seafarers LOG, the recertified steward department that I was not Piney Point," Kohs said. stewards reflected on their most sure of. Training has really im­ recent experience at the Paul Hall proved for the steward depart­ Deftly chopping vegetables is Center. The cohesiveness among and the entire culinary field Recertified Steward Mark Flores. the galley gang members was evi­ ment with the of the facility. dent, and several noted that it Winters,addition 38, also signed on at I'm recertified, I have reached the lielped the group in the schooling. Piney Point as a trainee 17 years top. I've waited 30 years for this,' "This was a great group. I real­ ago. Ortega enthusiastically said. ly enjoyed working and learning Andrew Austin appeared al­ "Being a recertified steward is with qualified class members,' the best," said Mark Flores, 45, most overwhelmed. "It was all said Carl Poggioli, who joined who joined the SIU 15 years ago very exciting," Austin, 37, told a the union 11 years ago in in Houston. "Once recertified, reporter from theSeafarers LOG. Honolulu. "Ed White was a good you have the advantage of train­ "I particularly enjoyed the dif­ ing and education. That is the best ferent demos given by the other part of being a recertified stewards." He added that learning steward." Flores added that he to create ice carvings and canapes also gained a lot from the CPR, was ^so a favorite part of the firefighting and first aid sections course. Austin began his career in 1978 as a member of class 265 out Joe Ortega mixes up batter for his of the course. recertification demonstration. of Philadelphia. Proud of Endorsement "They don't pick just anyone or this," commented Richard Paulson, 37, who joined the Sparine Cooks and Stewards MCS) two years before that union merged with the union's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLFWD). "1 am proud that I completed the steward recertification program, and I am happy to get the endor­ sement that will enable me to ceep moving ahead." Paulson added he enjoyed the computer training which covers word )rocessing, the windows pro­ gram, spreadsheets and disk operating systems. He first began upgrading at the Lundeberg School in 1980. Joe Ortega, at 61 the oldest of the new recertified stewards, is preparing to take advantage of his Demonstrating their ice-carving abilities are Recertified Stewards William new skills. "1came here to better SIU President Michael Sacco joins Recertified Steward Julio Roman myself—and I have. Now that and his parents for a photo following the graduation service. Winters and Andrew Austin. f . • .: . I-'. �8 ^ APRIL 1993 SEAFARERSLOG Conveyorman Provides Experiencey Education To Crew on Sam Laud After the Sam Laud had tied up before getting a good contract. Lakes and seeing it grow to be the in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. late in He sailed and collected pledge union it is today on the five lakes, the 60-year-old admitted he December, Conveyorman John cards, one of the first steps Frankovich came down the union takes in an effort to secure would do it all over again. He gangway having completed his union representation for non­ noted that the change in pay 42nd year of sailing on the Great union workers, aboard the Syl- scales, overtime rates and living conditions on the ships have been Lakes. He began his sailing career yania. Upon completion of that drive, substantial. in 1951 before the SIU repre­ The one piece of advice he Frankovich signed on the William sented crewmembers there. His vast, rich experience is a J. Reiss in 1959 as an oiler. Once would offer to new members is to source of much conversation with again, he helped to organize "keep moving up, keep upgrad­ his fellow Laudshipmates. In dis­ another Great Lakes fleet and col­ ing. Leam as much as you can and Waiting for the signal to start offloading coal from the Sam Laud are cussions with Frankovich, crew- lected pledge cards on the Reiss go as far as you can. The union, Gateman Randy Frank and Conveyorman John Frankovich, who helped members learn from someone Company ship. That fall, the through the school. [Seafarers organize several companies on the Lakes for the SIU in the '50s who has firsthand knowledge of crewmembers of that company Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship], provides a wonder­ conveyorman and the crew of the the beefs and struggles that built voted to join the SIU. After that, Frankovich ful opportunity for members to dO 635-foot self-unloader. John the SIU. In the mid-'50s, the engine retun^ed to sail with the Tomlin- whatever they want. There is ho Frankovich was on board as the department member got involved son fleet aboard the G.A. Tomlin- limit." ship left for another season of with the SIU in the movement to son until 1971. He spent the next Frankovich stated he has no transporting coal, iron and organize mariners sailing on the shipping season working on a plans to retire to his cattle farm in whatever else was needed along Lakes. "We got started in 1956 towboat, but returned to the Michigan's upper peninsula the shores of the Great Lakes, and 1957 and organized the Tom- bulkers for good in 1973 aboard anytime soon. ready to tell crewmembers of the linson fleet," Frankovich American Steamship Company The 43rd sailing season on the union's past, present and poten­ recalled. "Late in 1957, we voted vessels. Lakes began in late March for the tial for the future. Having sailed through the in­ the union in and had to go on strike the next year for five weeks fancy of the SIU on the Great Seafarers Help Ready Ships for Lakes Fitout Fitout on the Great Lakes is in full swing, with 36 ships in service as of April 1. Eighteen more vessels are scheduled to be operating by the end of the month. Seafarers got an early start this year, as the Crew of the American Republic reported for work in mid-February in the port of Toledo, Ohio. Also in Toledo, SIU members last month got the American Mariner and the H. Lee White under way. The Buffalo is scheduled to sail on April 14, while the Paul Thayer's deck department will report on April 5. No sailing date had been set for the Thayer as the Seafarers LOG went to press. The SlU-crewed Indiana Harbor and St. Clair already have sailed from the port of Duluth, Minn., while ih&JohnJ. Bolland will sail in mid-April. Three Inland Lakes Manage­ ment vessels have begun opera­ tions in the Algonac, Mich. area. Seafarers had the S.T. Crapo and the Alpena ready by midMarch, while the Paul H. Townsend sailed on March 29. The Walter J. McCarthey and the Sam Laud at press time were due to sail from Sturgeon Ready for his next assignment is Deckhand Adil Hussein leaves his Wiper Vilena MacRury sweeps up QMED John Gamache. fo'c'sle to go to work. in the engineroom. AB/Watchmen Brian Wagner and Bill Padgett are aboard the Indiana Harbor, which already has sailed from Duluth, Minn. Bay, Wis. In Milwaukee, the Medusa Challenger's forward end was to report on April 3, while the Presque Isle's deck department got started on March 29. In Erie, Pa., the deck gang of the Richard Reiss is scheduled to report on April 3. No sailing date has been set. QMED John Cull takes a break from welding aboard the Sam Laud. Elsewhere, the Charles E. Wilson is slated to sail on April 14 from Calcite, Mich, and the Kinsman Independent is due to leave Buffalo early this month. The Independent's deck depart­ ment reported on March 30. Several other SlU-crewed ships, including the William J. Roesch and the Kinsman Enterprise, will not begin operating on the Lakes until later this year. The Lakes region had rela­ tively mild weather this winter, although ice in Lake Huron delayed some ships. The Soo Locks opened on March 21 so that one million tons of iron ore could be moved. Ships were able to pass through The St. Lawrence Seaway No matter what is on the menu. Second Cook Ray Calo makes it the SOD Locks as of March 21. opened on March 30. special for the crew. Taking part in a shipboard meet­ ing is AB/Watchman Tom Chabot. Looking in the tool shed is ABA/Vheelsman Tim Bell. �.•, :: f APRIL 1993 • :^•;.;,7. SEAFARERS LOG .V •••••'; •' 9 Lundeberg School Team Outlines inland Training Needs •V i^S^S;, .'. -• ^•sa'--:. In an ongoing effort to deter­ mine the industry' s training needs and fine-tune the Lundeberg School's curriculum for Seafarers sailing on tugs and tows, repre­ sentatives from more than a halfdozen inland companies last month met with SIU officials at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The group, which also included Coast Guard representatives, is a subcommittee of the Inland Towboat Advisory Board. The focus of the two-day meeting was further development of the school's courses for boat­ men, whose time-off requirements are different from members in the deep sea division. The Lundeberg School already has provided tailormade training for Seafarers who work for Delta Queen Steamboat Co., Great Lakes Towing Co., Luedtke Dredge and Allied Towing Corp., among others. An expanded curriculum is being planned and is scheduled to be in place by the end of the year. Mark Rohn, director of fleet operations for Great Lakes Towing, said that based on his experiences with the school, he is optimistic about future training Ten SIU members who sail for Great Lakes Towing recentlj completed special cburses cover­ ing AB and engineroom skills ai the Paul Hall Center. The courses were developed for the compan by Lundeberg School instructors due to new tonnage regulations affecting tugboats. "What pleased me the most about the school was that they could develop a program to meet a specific company's needs as to when the men are off their ves Special Course Prevldes Reatmen The Skills for Allied Englnerooms Seafarers employed by Allied Towing Corp. recently completed a special course covering en­ gineroom skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The two-week utilityman course was designed by Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School engine department instructors specifical­ ly to meet the needs of inland division members who sail for Allied Towing. While the initial course was given in September, with students receiving both classroom and shop instruction, seven more students completed the more recent course, which ended in February. Classroom studies focused on diesel engine theory and opera­ tion, with emphasis on four dif­ ferent types of diesels. Shop work included welding, hydraulic sys­ tems, pumps, electrical safety and use of electrical test equipment. A utilityman works as an unlicensed assistant or chief engineer on Al­ lied Towing vessels. "The members all said they found the course helpful and infor­ mative," said Allied Towing Port Captain Jeff Parker. "I've been dealing with the school for 15 years, and they're always helpful." Parker pointed out that inland members often have very limited Successfully completing the special utilityman course at the Lun­ deberg School are (from left, front row) Wayne Woodland, Leonard Paul, (second row) Wayne Potter, Frank Ingellls Sr., Norman Peters, John H. Reber III and Louie Payne. Instructor Bill Foley Is at far right. time off their boats, so their train­ ing needs are unique. That is why the school and the company worked together to create a course which offers maximum in­ struction in a relatively short period. The course also will be offered for other Allied members. Seafarers who completed the class are Wayne Woodland, Leonard Paul, Wayne Potter, Frank Ingellls Sr., Norman From the left, Frank Ingellls Sr., Leonard Paul and Wayne Potter listen as Instructor Bill Foley (behind Ingellls) gives some pointers. Peters, John H. Reber III and Louie Payne. Lundeberg School Instructor Bill Foley taught the course. Variety of Work The power on Allied's seven tugboats ranges from 1,000 to 2,5^00 horsepower. While the company's opera­ tions are based in Norfolk, its equipment can be found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. One of the tugs is used for bunkering in the Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay areas. Another carries phenol, a chemi­ cal used in a variety of items from cough syrup to plastics, from Frankfort, Pa. to Hopewell, Va. The other five sail along the coastline with oil, sugar or chemi­ cals in their holds. sels," Rohn said. "They accom He added that the subcommit­ modated my personnel schedules, tee meeting "went very well. and I got a lot of positive feedback Everybody had theirown positive from the men who took the cour­ thing coming out of it." ses, some of whom initially \^en the advisory board met in weren't too excited about going late 1992, Lundeberg School in­ back to school. structors presented outlines of the "But they enjoyed it and courses already available to the in­ learned a lot, and the high rate of land industry. Vopational Director people passing the courses indi­ Bill Eglington also made sure that cates the quality of the programs the company reps knew the school being put forth." is willing to meet the unique-train­ Similarly, Captain Russell ing needs of each company. McVay of Moran Towing said his Lundeberg School Repre­ experience with the school makes sentative Bill Saul pointed out him very optimistic about upcom­ that the Coast Guard requires a ing courses. "That same week of minimum amount of hours for the meeting, we had 12 crew- teaching the courses for many members from Moran of Texas ratings, so the school "shortens taking a course at the school," some courses in terms of days, but McVay said. The course included not hours. It makes for longer a refresher on the simulator, up­ days, but nothing is omitted." dates on oil pollution prevention, The companies represented vessel response plans and com­ last month at the meeting were pany policy. "TTie cooperation Maritrans, Crowley, Express between our office and crew has Marine, Orgulf, Moran, Allied improved tremendously since we and Great L^es. Representatives started these programs," McVay from two other companies could said. "The members' reaction al­ not attend the meeting due to ways is very positive." severe weather. CWA Launches Organizing Drive Against Anti-Union Long Distance Co. Workers at one of the nation's long distance telephone services have called upon the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in an effort to hang up on Sprint's low-wage, low-benefit service. Among the items to which the workers object are that women workers earn typically $7,000 less than women workers at unionized telecommunications companies (like AT&T), operators have their schedules changed weekly so they are unable to make any advance plans with friends and feunily, and supervisors secretly monitor and tape conversations between operators and the public. Also Sprint telemarketers are required to be on the phone almost seven hours a day, make a sale every three-and-a-half minutes and take only 10 seconds betwcjen calls. Sprint has initiated a vicious anti-union campaign designed to keep members from signing up with the CWA. Supervisors have been given "Union-Free Management Guides" and tiy to keep pro-union workers from speaking at mandatory meetings. Meanwhile, the union is working on many fronts including a corporate campaign and public outreach. The CWA has created an organization called the Friends of Sprint Workers to let them know the public supports their right to unionize. The organization can be contacted by writing to Friends of Sprint Workers, Coirununications Workers of America, 501 Third Street NW, Washington, DC 20001-2797. 4, 4. 4. Food Lion Continues to Lose Its Roar Following News on Poor Working Conditions The bad news against anti-union Food Lion continues to come in after the public saw what has been taking place in the Charlotte, N.C.>ased grocery store chain last year. Following a November broadcast on ABC's PrimeTime Live that showed unsanitary practices and told of illegal activities. Food Lion las suffered one financial setback after anoUier. Its reported fourth quarter profits for 1992 were down 55 percent. The company was forced to cut its quarterly stock dividends by 20 jercent and scale back its plans to open new stores. At the end of ^arch, the long term debt rating of the chain was lowered because 'ood Lion is not expected to recover the sales and earnings momen­ tum it once had prior to the broadcast. The majority of Food Lion's stores are in right-to-work states. A story in the January 1993 Seafarers LOG noted thp chain, a subsidiary of a Belgian company, pushes its anti-union policy in its employee [landbook. Food Lion continues to block efforts by the United Food and Commercial Workers to unionize its workforce. ^ Elite Department Store Chain Settles OT Suit; Employees Will Receive More than $20 Million Nordstrom Inc. agreed to pay more than $20 million in back wages, legal fees and administrative costs to its present and past employees across the country to settle a suit filed in 1990 by -the Jnited Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The suit alleged Nordstrom, which has 71 stores in 11 states, required employees to work off the clock, write thank-you notes on During the course, John Reber III jersonal time and dp other jobs without pay. Members of the class use a hydraulic trainer to see the operation of learns the correct way to connect Each employee involved could receive as much as $2,000 in what valves and cylinders. From the left are Frank Ingellis Sr., Wayne a pressure gauge to a directional the UFCW called "the largest monetary settlement reached in a Woodland, Leonard Paul, Norman Peters, Louie Payne, John Reber control valve. private wage and hour lawsuit." III and Wayne Potter. J /• -J' �10 APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Gourmet' Galley Gamers Raves from Kestrel Crew •..I Thursday and Saturday even­ ings are special in Diego Garcia when the American Kestrel is at anchor in the harbor. On those nights. Chief Steward Chris Clanton and the rest of the galley gang on the LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) vessel prepare "excellent" din­ ners of "out of this world" prime rib and "very tender" steak, ac­ cording to Baltimore Port Agent Sal Aquia who recently visited the ship. "Military people come from ashore to eat with the crew on those nights," Bosun Carl Kick­ er noted in his report. "But the whole galley is like a gourmet restaurant for us at all times." Working with Clanton in the /.V V- •• f , • galley is Chief Cook Brenda Gail Cheatham who makes sure all meals are special for the crew. During his visit to the vessel, Aquia updated crewmembers on union activities as well as answered questions about the contract and welfare plan. He stated the crew was in good spirits, "especially thanks to the galley gang." The American Kestrel, which is operated by Osprey Manage­ ment, carries military goods from the atoll located southwest of India in the Indian Ocean to Returning to the /Ces/re/after being ashore are Chief Cook Brenda wherever it is needed. Barges are Gail Cheatham and OMU Allan Lejeune. carried aboard the vessel that can be used for loading and offload­ ing cargo when the Kestrel is un­ able to dock. Showing off another of his culi­ nary creations is Chief Steward Chris Clanton. Catching up on seafaring news is Ready for dinner to be served is AS George McClendon. AB Francis Sloan. Crewmembers gather in the Kestrel's messhall to attend a union meeting. ?^adTaMs°we'irstoSld.®"'® While AB^^hn Dumkoff (left) waite for lunch, Bosun ready to dig in. OMU Calvin Lawson relaxes in Checking on boiler operations is the crew lounge between shifts. OMU Charlie Ferryman. Seafarer Stamatelakys Owns Lakes' Oldest Tugboat Seafarer Greg Stamatelakys lists photography, fishing, bowl­ ing and restoring old boats as some of his hobbies. Based on his outlays of time and money, he definitely takes the last one more seriously than the others. Stamatelakys, a 38-year-old AB who works for Great Lakes Towing Co., owns what is believed to be the oldest tugboat operating on the Lakes. He bought the Islay, which first was launched in 1892, about 10 years ago. The tug had no engine and needed lots of other work, but Stamatelakys eagerly forged ahead. He researched the tug's history, changed its name from the Bayfield back to its original Islay and eventually found and purchased a Kahlenberg diesel engine for the 60-foot craft, which took several years to make seaworthy. "I'm working to get it on the National List of Historic Places," says Stamatelakys, a Milwaukee resident who joined the SIU last year. "But the Islay is in no shape to go to work, so I just run it as a pleasure boat. It redly is making a full cycle." Ind^, while the boat has had a remarkably varied career, it first was used as the private club boat of its builder, Alexander McDougall. But in 1899, financial troubles led McDougall to part with the boat. For the next 12 years, the Islay assisted ship traffic in Twin Ports harbor in Wisconsin. Duluth Marine Supply Co. bought the Islay in 1911, and for the next 30 years it was used as a grocery supply boat in Duluth, Minn. Another new owner came along during World War U and turned the tug into a floating repair shop. The 1950s and '60s brought more new owners, a name change and new uses. Renamed the Bayfield in 1949, the boat was a lumber-tower during the '50s. It became part of the construction industry in Port Huron, Mich, during the '60s. The boat made its last run in the 1970s, and in 1979 was recorded as abandoned in Mil­ waukee. Stamatelakys, looking for just such a project, bought the craft in 1983. He changed its name back to Islay, then started searching for a Kahlenberg diesel engine. He found a '36 Kahlenberg available from someone who was stripping an old commercial fishing boat. "The engine is a threecylinder, and a type known as a two-cycle, hot-bulb, semi- diesel," Stamatelakys explained. "It's 12 feet long, weighs five tons and has 90 horsepower at 375rpm." A longtime Milwaukee resi­ dent and former U.S. Navy boatswain's mate, Stamatelakys added that both the engine and the boat were built in Wisconsin. "I got the boat really cheap, and when I found out about its histoty, I decided to stick with it," he said. Seafarer Greg Stamatelakys restored the Islay and now uses the 101-year-old vessel as a pleasure boat on the Great Lakes. �•'. •\N"'.-.''.»"V.\ dr-~ '^y-:': fJLj^' V. APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG 11 '^•••;.V'-V"' • Snow lightly covers the Polish dock where the Liberty Sun is tied up. Winters in Poland can be cold and cruel. Just ask any crewmcmber who recently sailed to Gdansk in the middle of the season aboard the Liberty Sun and they will verify it. "It snowed the whole time we were over there," AB Arthur Machado told the Seafarers LOG shortly after the Liberty Maritime vessel completed a round trip at the end of February. "We were al­ ways breaking ice off the hatches and clearing the decks of snow," The bulker left New Orleans on January 2 loaded with 50,000 tons of coal and sailed for Polish port on the Baltic Sea. Machado, who sent the photographs on this page to the Seafarers LOG, reported the offloading took several days. The crew was invited to look around the town, but the weather was too rough for the Louisiana resident. On the way back, the crewmembers practiced fire, survival and hazardous materials drills as well as performed their regular duties in the deck, en­ gine and steward departments aboard the sevenyear-old ship, Machado added. From left, AB K. Gllson, QMED Douglas Felton and DEL) Darren Walker are part of the L/be/fy Sun's crew. 'V\v.ri% Cr • : Viewing the Polishlandscape was a real treatfor the Uberty Sun's crewmembers, even if just from tfie dock. Liberty Sunsailed through bad weather on the way home, ''-y^ �12 • .w APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Murmansk—'42: THE DIARY OF WYMOND D. HENDERSON Last month, the Seafarers LOG published part of a diary written by Wymond D. Henderson, a Seafarer who was part of the vital yet treacherous supply run in World War II to Russia known as the Murmansk Run. Henderson was killed in an automobile accident in 1959, but the family sailing tradition lives on. Two of his sons—Ben, 33, and George, 35—are SIU members. Part II of Brother Henderson's diary left off with the Yaka first in drydock arid then at anchorage as constant air raids broke the monotony of shipboard life. What follows is Part III of his narrative. • The concluding portion of the diary will appear in a future issue ofthehOG. Air raid at 7:05 p.m. One plane and intimate: "Come, let us go out crossed over us from the city, very and risk our lives unnecessarily, high. Considerable barrage. One for if they are worth anything at delayed-action shrapnell shell ex­ all, it is this, that they are worth ploded a few feet above the water nothing!" Out of the inlet through high 20 yards off our stem with a loud crack. No shrapnel on deck barren rocks at 8:00 p.m. into the cold, gray Barents Sea. High, though. square-topped cliffs run along the Air raid at 10:45 p.m. ning too. Some depth charges in distance. Floating mines passed on port side. July 2. We rejoined the convoy in thick fog soon after midnight. Two reconnaissance pl^es came into sight about 9:30 am. As there are patches of fog now and then, the planes might come down on us Part III June 23. Air raid at 11:50 a.m. Shooting over town. We could see a number of German bombers. Many Russians took to the air. Big fire set over town. Air raid at 1:05 p.m. One reconnaissance plane passed right over us. Looks bad! Firing from shore batteries. Warning lasted 'til 2:30 p.m. Large Russian ship came alongside and tied up to give us water at 2:45 p.m. Air raid at 4:00 p.m. Seven Germans circled over the city through tremendous barrage. Dived several thousand feet, and I suppose dropped bombs, then leveled off to tangle in dogfights with Russians. They soon moved beyond sight, but there were a large number of Russians after them. Airraid at 8:10p.m. Plane shot down over town. June 24. Air raids at 6:00 and 8:10 a.m. Barrage fired between us and town for 15 minutes. Air raid at 9:15 a.m. The warning flags bad just been pulled down on the other ships and I had started for­ ward to go to work when a barrage was suddenly thrown up by the shore batteries almost right over us. Five two-motored bombers were coming in quite low. They made a slow, halLcircle into the sun. Our machine guns opened up. They passed a bit beyond us and then peeled off into their dives. We all thought they'd come under at us again. Instead, they dropped bombs at the ship across the inlet. We couldn't see any hits from here, but plenty of water was flying. They continued up the inlet and the Russian fighters engaged them in the distance. Air raid at 9:30 a.m. Two more planes, apparently not bombers, passed over ships that had been bombed before at considerable al­ titude. A little fire was thrown up, but they didn't dive. The sky is cloudless and intensely blue. So clear, in fact, that it seems even harder to spot planes than on a cloudy day'. Air raids at 2:25 and 3:10 p.m. At 3:15 p.m. The shore batteries opened up on 14 or 15 Nazi bom­ bers. They came in from the north, medium high, crossed between us and the sun. For a minute it was a toss-up whether they'd come this way of not. They dived off over the town, however. A tremendous anti-aircraft barrage was thrown up around their course before they dived. Not until they were gone did the sound of this barrage reach us. Then it came in like diunder, rolling for a couple of minutes or so. Air raid at 5:45 p.m. At 6:05 p.m., five or peiliaps six enemy bombers (looked like singlemotored jobs) came in between us and the city, turned and crossed over the city through considerable barrage. Russian fighters pursued quickly. We could hear machinegun bursts as they receded beyond clouds and hills. sea not unlike Iceland or the Cape of Good Hope. Still overcast, but it looks as though it may be breaking away around the edge. Hope not! Anyhow, as Bennie used to say, "Here goes nothin.'" June 28. Still overcast at 2:00 p.m. Several depth charges went off at 1:30 p.m. The first "shoot­ ing." They must have been quite a way off, but the concussion in the ship was sharp. At 3:45 two merchant ships came in from starboard with several escorts. That's aU so far of the Arch­ angel convoy. 1 wondra* what be­ came of the rest? Maybe lost in the thick weather... liiaybe... 5:45 p.m. The Achangel con­ voy came in. Hooray! Air raid warning flags were hoisted at 8:05 p.m. Very thick,low cloud ceiling. Misty on the water. No planes ob­ served. June 29. Sky started to clear at noon. By 4:00 p.m. the sky was Clear with some strato-cumulus clouds. Sun bright. No planes yet, but they ought to be here any time now. Tomorrow evening we should be off North Cape. So tomorrow and Wednesday will probably see the worst of fire air attacks. Passed floating mine on port side this morning. June 30. Close, low clouds of­ fered some screen from aircraft' til noon when it became clearer. Sunshine most of afternoon. No aircraft yet (4:30 p.m.). We should The Long Voyage Home be off Bear Island sometime this 1 have always maintained that evening. adventure was a one-way ticket. Air raid alarm at 5:45 p.m. One That whenever you start^ back reconnaissance plane low on the adventure was over. And so horizon. 1 suppose we're in for it perhaps with this trip—though not now! Well, here goes nothin! in the full flavor of adventure, it is Thick weatho- closed in. Plane quite sure to be eventful,. But in left at 5:45 p.nL Heavy fog fol­ the fullest sense of life ever un­ lowed. Many seals and duclm and folding, ever progressing into the gulls on waterat midnight We must new, the deep, quiet, joy of adven­ have been close to Bear Island. ture is still there for those who are The convoy changed course in capable of it. evening to miss a large iceberg. As 1 look off over the gray, July 1. Wednesday. Aarm at lake-like inlet, bordered round by 5:50 p.m. when we came very now somber green hills beneath close to being ranuned in stem the dark melancholy sky where during thick fog. At noon all ships other ships are getting ponderous­ were still together. A wonder, conly underway, and as1feel the sub­ sidering thick weather. Still dued slow-ahead vibration of the cloudy. propeller beneath thestem,1recall Thick fog all afternoon. Chief the words of Baroness Blixen- Mate lost us again on his watch. Finicke to her sportsman friend Nearly rammed a boat this eve- The captain, the ensign and Sparks attended the convoy con­ ference today. Russian interpreter and aide came aboard also. It looks as though we may get out very soon. 1 expect it'll be pretty tough out there—but some of us are bound to make it! June 25. Air raid at 9:10 a.m. No developments. Air raid at 10:15 a.m. Seven bombers came across from south to north at 10:30 a.m. between us and town. Heavy barrage was put up. They dived through this over the town. We thought one of them was shot down, but it was hard to be sure as he might have recovered below the hills. Air raid at 11:40 a.m. Some shooting. Ar raid at 1:00 p.m. Lasted IV4 hours. Air raid at 6:00 p.m. No developments. A truly lovely summer day. Amost tropical in its penetrating, humid warmth. The low newgreen hills below the cumulus clouds and West Indian sky were not unlike the hills of Panama. June 26. Cloudy and dark all day. Much colder. No air raids. British naval officer came aboard this evening, apparently arranging for the leaving of the convoy. The Russian boatman told us by signs that we would soon leave. 1 think by noon tomorrow. June 27. Saturday. Watches set at noon. Cloudy and overcast. No air raids. Anchor aweigh at 4:15 p.m. 3r visibility. We are only 400 miles or so off Norway, so a determined plane attack is not im­ possible yet. Depth charges evety now and then. Planes left before noon. Suspicious looking surface craft reported in vicinity at noon by fog signal. We could see a little smoke on the starboard beam. Perhaps it's some of our own fleet scouting around, or perhaps Nazi raiders are waiting their change, or per­ haps we are passing a convoy going up. Fog banks all afternoon. Sky overcast at a high level even when fog clears. Ice forming on rigging now. July 3. Followed massive ice floe all aftemoon. Changed course around 3:30 p.m. to avoid mnning into it. Overcast. No planes. No depth charges. Convoy splitting up to Scotland and to Iceland soon. Broke through small ice floes be­ tween 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Fog, overcast, cold. July 4. Fourth of July—and no shooting! Strong following wind that blew fog wisps of vapor from the crest of the waves like smoke. Ship rolling and pitching. Temperature somewhat moderated, but air is often mistladen, always damp and penetrat­ ing. Thus we crossed the Arctic Circle around noon and ap­ proached the North Cape of Iceland, though we had not been able to get a bearing for several days. Apparently hidden and secure in the deep folds of dense weather, we were relaxed and thankful for a safe voyage to Iceland. Massmar Is Hit About 9:30 p.m. I was awakened by a hard sharp ex­ plosion and the violent trembling of the ship. I had no doubt we were hit Slipping on my life-preserver and grabbing my rain gear, 1 ran forward to the boat deck, arriving there among the first two or three. Explosions were shaking the air. Visibility was particularly bad, but1could see a half dozen of our ships about us. Looking ahead, I saw the -s' Massmar, whose position in the column was directly ahead of us. She was down by the stem with her after decks already awash. Men were working at her lifeboats. Explosions were coming from everywhere. 1 couldn't tell what they were. Somebody yelled mines! But 1 knew it was more than mines or torpedoes, for there were spouts of water between us and a following ship. It was far too thick for planes to operate, so 1 assumed it was a surface raider shelling us from somewhere out in the mist. But 1 could see nothing. The convoy was in confusion. We hauled left and passed the Massmar on our starboard "TSide. One boat was launched and pull­ ing away from her side loaded. She must have had 40 men in her. 1 saw another boat with just one man in it, grotesquely pulling on a lone oar. How he managed to get her away from the side alone 1 don't know. The bow was rising slowly. The after end was completely under up to the midships house. The lifeboats seemed to be having a hard time getting away still. They seemed to be driven back onto the ship by the sea and the wind. But still they were making some progress. 1 think 1 saw a raft aft on the port side, too. 1 saw at least two men bobbing about aft of the ship. They had evidently jumped over the stern immediatfely or been blown over. But forward they were having a lot of trouble getting onto the port life raft because the bow was rising steadily. Men were coming down a ladder which now was at least twenty feet short of reaching the water and dropping into the water near the raft. 1 think there was one man clinging to the ladder to the last, apparently afraid to jump. A corvette came up from astern and commenced picking men up out of the water. Presently the bow canted straight up rather rapidly. The stack and midships house went under in a cloud of steam. The ship stuck straight in the air down to about the bridge. Then, slowly, she began to slide straight down. The hatches blew out of #1, falling down over the mast and onto the submerging bridge-like matches. She sank slowly, ponderously, deliberately. 1 should judge it was five or 10 minutes from the begin­ ning 'til the fo'c's'le slipped quietly beneath the surging waves. Nearly all the crew must have been saved. All the while, shells were bursting around us on the water. 1 )ut the plugs in #3 and #4 ifeboats, then went down to the machine shop and got a monkey wrench to tighten diem with, as the threads were so rusted that they would only screw on about three-fourths of one turn. The ships of the convoy were turned in tdl different directions. Two or three ships after and to port of us were firing their four-inch guns rapidly to port, so they must have bc^n able to see the attacker. 1 saw machine gun, tracer bullets, flying either toward or away from us on the port beam. 1 warned those around me to get down in case they raked our decks. A freighter aft of us signalled for us to stand by t^ive assistance as she was hit. "Ine signalman answered that he would contact a naval vessel for them, but that we couldn't stop. The Exterminator, a Panamanian ship, was struck in #2 hold and the hatches flew in the air. A ship appeared to be hit on the bridge. Exterminator was able to continue. �i^ - . 1- • • v'^ ".' • •" •' • - ' • . ' ' • '.• . "' • '' }*: ' "' ' . ^•. • ' . • • '• ' • ' •-' ' V"'• •'- .' •" APRIL 1993 SEAFARBISUK .li'-.C-i.ffix-'.V:.r,. .•:>•:-..-^ -i ••iVtii.ViV.^ 13 'L.-..,-.v,';. '.• . <X i<Acd<iC4t<^, 6ut SM'SZ^ cele^^tatctt^ t^^eOi 25tA. CKte^idCtt^ Se^-^<x*td ^ectel/x^tex. 7^<ii*Hc<t*u^ <iuui ^ co^ <z(l (Ae ^a«*U<uta (Vie Here's another peek into the Seafarers LOG family album to see what some of our members and their families have been up to recently. We welcome your photographs and will publish them on a periodic basis. ' '. ' • TTeta d cete^^ieUoM. iicu^ SaM C*t "VCix^ile, T^Cctuied (^^uxftc 6e^) <vie ^ecextc{ced Steii^xd "Rodent Scott; dto cv^e, OUvettc; tdecx oldeot do*<., 1R.CcA<ixd (o.ta*tcU*tJ^), (tnd tdeOi otdex. do*t, ^odext ^x. ,r''/-/,;' "••' "KM Pod*i<uut dttcftded tdc cAce^ cooA u^uyutdi*tt^ co^tx<ie eit tde .du*uiedex^ Scdoot tdco, ^loiot ^ali <t*td cutntex. "^Co. tac^c, "^xCdtc, <tKcC ^oux-co-ee.4.-ot<i cUiufdtex, SitAoi,^otHCcC di*tc duxiH^ (de caeed o^ "^exe de ^looe^ c<Actd. tde "Icttleot Se.<x{<viex. " rR.idifi^ tde d*to«A c<Ad<tl€. (detf, duUt ut T^ctte^ ^ot*tt <vtc dt^KA^ixd elc^t.<x^ittfte*it u^x<xdeA^ t^4t) "TViMtex., ^iicA. 'pxecituxtt, *t/exoHiA<x ^<vicie*uto, 'TH'cUeito^ <xtui Itonttuut SxtcAoM. S^TfCSS/^den^/tfHo^ "S. 'TH'^fCxo- do*tetf*Hoo*io cottd dto UA^e, ^ewU^ex, i*t ^C*H41 (^deutcx, Td^eo-t /i^xic^. Idc <^e<i<U(C(^ tooA ^<tce "pedxtt^tx^ 7, t ^^92 UAttd.(^dce^Stet(Mtxd(^<tlvcK Pdaj^xxd <t<t deot ttuuc. Ide coic^tte xeocdeo CK S>etxoct, TTtccd. 'i �' " "' ' ' •; '•" '-• 1 !f® •H- *= C y '-A: fip Xft •;:• ^C: - f'9f^ ift 'iv'-vl' ("'•! ' • ': •;" ' •^••' ' r-. .'• •. "ft -ftV;,''' •':,,t',:' V';- • .v..''ft-. U:-:'r .-ftf " •;:-: ft 14 SEAFARERSLOG IS ft-ll|iig^^:Sa V- • ft:' •' • . ' SEAFAKRSUIG APRIL 1993 APR1L1993 -ft'" •ft'.'. - .* • •'^'^ r:' • ggr:^jg#ift5| j I all [ii •^-1"'; ; .v - "^1 % ; igAxae^ • ?'• K, • •• a' •'• g-^ 'ift fc'v* 'ft-*'al • '• -.^'ggSlga'^laggiai •' >- . 1 I 0i, at ' ISi < "J ' ^^ ' ' "" '•J - 1 i ftftft - •• WM ii. ft ft Crewmembers of the LNG Leo see the MV Richer listing in the South China Sea. The crew of the Panamanian bulker already has abandoned ship. The Leo stands ready to assist in case there are any problems, which eventually developed. mi • ' •.< • -• ft- Second Mate Thomas Dorr (hold­ ing ring) risks his Hfe and jumps into the boat to save the mariner. He then times the ocean swells, secures himself and lifts the mariner to Third Mate Michael Cummings who is waiting on the lower gangway platform. The mariner is passed to Third Assis­ tant Engineer Bruce Whichard who carries him to the deck. Meanwhile, Cummings pulls Dorr back aboard the Leo. Third Mate Michael Cummings (upper) and Second Mate Thomas Dorr throw a life ring and lines to the stranded mariner. However, the man is too weak to hold on to the lines to be pulled up to the gangway as the heavy seas continue to rock him and what is left of the boat. The LNGLeo locates the remains of the lifeboat and spots a crewmember still on it. The Leo moves in to save the stranded manner. The gangway is lowered with Third Assistant Engineer Bruce Whichard (upper) and Third Mate Michael Cummings securing it for a rescue attempt. ',>ft SlU-Crewed Leo Reacts To Listing Vessel's SOS - •., I w^.an^.'i =-^'S;T„^M:. '.'-4^.... •- •' . ....•• The Leo sails past the LNG Taurus, which was the first ship on the scene and took control of organizing the rescue. Because of rough seas . and the location of the Richerto the lifeboat containing all 22 crewmembers, the Taurus was not able to pick up the survivors on its original two passes. A smaller tanker named the Neverita attempted the rescue and secured 15 of the crew. However, seven others were swept Into the ocean. , The dramatic rescue of an In­ donesian seaman was captured on film by AB Angel Perez and other crewmembers aboard the LNG Leo. The seaman, along with the others aboard a Panamanian-flagged bulker, was forced to abandon ship in the South China Sea. The MV Richer was sailing from China to Brunei with a load of cement when water began leaking into the number two hold. The captain of the stricken vessel issued a distress signal that was monitored by the SlU-crewed Leo, the LNG Taurus (also SIU crewed) and two foreign-flag ves­ sels. The Richer's crew of 22 mariners abandoned ship in me same lifeboat. The Taurus was the first vessel on the scene; how­ ever, it was unable to get close enough to the raft because of the proximity of the sinking ship and rough seas. The tanker Neverita moved in to pick up the mariners, but seven up the bulker's captain. However, the other four mariners thrown from the raft had died. Also witnessing the rescue were members of the U.S. Coast Guard inspection team, who were conducting their annual vessel in­ spection of the Leo. Perez stated they were very impressed with the way the Leo and Taurus hand­ led their roles in the rescue. "LNG crewmembers are con­ stantly drilled," Perez stated. "Safety equipment is reviewed each week, so it wasn't strange to see everyone pull together. "However, it is unbelievable to see firsthand how the crew of the LNG Leo was able to come together at a time of need with the efforts of the LNG Taurus, MV Neptune Amber and Neverita to save the lives of some of our foreign brothers of the sea. This made me realize that the term •Brotherhood of the Sea' is a term whose meaning extends to all of Aose countries and persons who sail the vast oceans of our world!" of the Richer crew were swept into the water. All other vessels sailed in to assist in the search and rescue. The Leo found one live crewmember still within the remains of the raft. However, he was too weak to climb the gangway which had been lowered to help him. Second Mate Thomas Dorr jumped into the raft and lifted the mariner to Third Mate Michael Cummings to bring him to the deck of the Energy Transporta­ tion Company ship. According the Perez, the res­ cued mariner—Oiler Mochtar Muni—^was revived on deck but was badly malnourished. The AB said all the crew of the Panamanian bulker had toeat was rice. "He was on board with us for five days," added Perez, who joined the SIU in 1988. "He was happy to be with us—well-fed and clothed." The Taurus rescued the Richer's electrician, while the Neptune Amber was able to pick •ftft. -"ft. ft ' ' ••'' • •}'' •, -•v.-' i.' . "••"•ft •'t •- , •" ft;- ^ ft ft" E vft-rM •-- ftft- •' 'V">-.-'.^^ft-ft: •ftft::«;-ftSurvival efforts are under way on the deck of the LNGLeo. AB Angel Perez (left) takes the pulsb while Chief Mate Lionel Senes provides oxygen for Mochtar Muni. In the background. Steward Assistant Grea Howard prepares a stretcher to lift Muni into the hospital. The Indonesian mariner was not b^ly injured and recovered from the ordeal. He sailed with the Leo for five days until the vessel docked in Japan and thanked the crew for its efforts and fine food. -/7-/rI • V• ..'-'•ft • •• r.-,.it, .ft"" ft" ft V • ir.ft -'. /l '-vr...v. '•'•I ' '• - -.I . ft • ••'ft... ftV; ' • " .ftftftft 'a,- •..ft:;;';ftv| fe: ft'-^:'. • .• .'ft-' • •3^* �16 APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG J Wayward Sparrow by Daniel Idos Oh lost and weary sparrow. Exhausted from your flight. The winds have blown you seaward And out into the night. Come mom the sun is hiding, The rain and clouds take form. My wayward little sparrow Is lost within a storm. Behold, a merchant vessd, A shelter from the rains, A place to rest your body Until the seastorm wanes. In time the seastorm passes. The sea and winds are calm. The tired hungry sparrow Eats bread crmbs from my palm. Sea Power LOG-A-RHYTHMS by Robert J. Seaman The power of the sea Is way beyond reproach. Her massive arms surround us And reach from coast to coast. The poems on this page were written by Seafarers, pensioners and members of their families. In a different way, all of the poets reflect on the powerphysical, emotional or mystical—that the sea holds over them and so many others who make seafaring their career. Her majestic colors lure us. Rich reds, deep blues and greens. That's been a longtime basis For many sailors'dreams. To be cradled in her arms And feel her gentle breeze. To ride upon her waters Will set your soul at ease. The sea's not always gentle As many will profess That have been rocked and tattered And taken to its depths. For me I'll keep on steamin' Enroute to distant shores 'Til the ocean claims me and spreads me on her floors. This temporary dwelling Is nothing like his home. So with the breeze he rises Across the sea to roam. Fly on my wayward sparrow. Fly home where you belong. Fly on my wayward sparrow. Fly home to sing your song. (An SIU member since August 1991, Daniel Idos currently sails out of Piney Point as a cook/baker. He formerly sailed aboard the USNS Silas Bent.) A Sailor's Love byCJ.Hill I love to sail the ships Across the watery space. I love the feel of the.wind and spray Of a western gale against my face. I love to sail under northern lights And under the Southern Cross. And in my company I love to have The bird of good luck, the Albatross. I love the sun, moon, stars and sea Almost as much as family. But at night when I close my eyes, I see the cross on the hill at Calvary. And as to Him I make my plea. I know He died For you and me. (Retired member C.J. Hill joined the SIU in the port of Savannah in 1944, sailing from East Coast ports until 1950 when he got married and joined the Savannah Police Department. From 1954 until 1956 he returned to sea as a car deckman aboard Seatrain vessels. He presently resides with his wife in Pasadena, Texas.) When I Close My Eyes If I shall pass while landlocked My last request will be To take my humble ashes And spre^ them on the sea. by John Baker —I see you. I see you in the distance, you are alone, just as I am. When I close my eyes... I see the waves crashing around you. The pale silver moonlight enhances the white water as it rolls off of your skin. Oh, such beauty can capture the heart of any seafaring man! (This is Robert J. Seaman's first published poem. The chief steward has been a member of the SIU since 1983 and sails from the port of New York.) A Description You approach me now. As you come closer, my mind wanders to the things we can do together. I think about the sun rising above us, then falling beneath us as the darkness takes us in. I think about all of the beautiful places our love will carry us. Oh, so many places to go. by Timothy Eric Dumsha Riding the motions, Setting the pace. Cruising the oceans. Such a mystical place. Rising and falling. Rolling and rocking. The full moon's calling. The clock's tick-tocking. We are together now. I stand before you, admiring your structure, your beauty... You are indeed a lady. I reach for your hand. I pull myself to you. My heart beats furiously as I begin to climb. Alas! I am on top of you. I smile as I... as I... I open my eyes and you are gone. My eyes are open how, and I see nothing. You were a dream. (This is John Baker's first piece for the Seafarers LOG although he has been writing poetry for years. It was written while sitting in the Puerto Rico hall "hoping, praying for a ship to come in." In this poem, the threeyear SIU member decided to bring together the two things he cares for most—writing poetry and sailing.) The sounds are few. The views are many. The sky's rich blue. The water's plenty. Thedayisfiill Of memories and ideas. Under the captain's rule We serve the meals. Home has been missed. But lessons were learned. I hold my clenched fist Collecting respect that I've earned. (Timothy Eric Dumsha wrote this poem in 1991 following the Gulf war. He was a messman aboard the Cape Canaveral and now sails on the Nuevo San Juan.) One With the Sea by Sylvia M. Niemi Come away with me to the sea, it captures the soul and sets you free Free to wander exotic places, filled with new and curious faces Free to absorb nature's glory and grace, never alone in God's embrace Free to explore the inner you, touching upon what's pure and true Free to dream and grow with passion, creating a world of your own fashion. 1 /• .i. 'U Hi; So with the whispering winds, caress of the sun, and the moon and the stars... You become as one. (This poem by Sylvia Niemi "comes from my he^." The steward department member from Washington state wrote to the LOG that she is grateful to the SIU for the life it has opened up for her.) My Lady, My Love, the Sea byLisaCator Long ago in my childhood days I became curious to her mysterious ways. So elusive and out of reach, searching for treasures along the beach. When I grew to be a man, I heard her calling "come to me." That's when I took the mystery voyage with my Lady of the Sea. She ,took me to places so far away, from Nova Scotia to the Chesapeake ^ay. . Drifting on down to the southern-most state,^ through warm Gulf waters to the Golden Gate. At night she would sing me a soft lullaby, her colors at dawn would light up the sky. Tradewinds blowing gently as I lean upon the railing; I feel her power within me as I'm sailing. From Alaskan winds to Hawaiian breezes, my Lady goes just where she pleases. Across the Bering Strait to Hudson Bay, I'll stand beside her all the way. From pole to pole and shore to shore, she's in my blood forever more. My Lady, My Love, The Sea. (Lisa Cator is the wife of John Cator ffl, an SIU member since 1982, who sails as an assistant cook from the port of Baltimore.) .i �- -^. .•.••/>i. .-I Vf" ) •• '•/• ^ SEAFARBIS LOe APim.1993 PI, 17 • Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1993 •TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED Class A ClassB Class C Class A Class B Class C Reliefs May & June 1993 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, iniand Waters ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A ClassB Class C DECK DEPARTMENT Port 24 37 63 7 • 7 . 25 6 15 33 29 New York 3 9 2 0 1 7 8 0 2 Philadelphia 2 15 0 P-..' 5 2 9 4 1 5 14 Baltimore 17 25 21 2 5 11 10 5 16 .14 Norfolk 7 30 13 4 2 11 2Q 8 3 9 Mobile 10 25 .36 8 6 20 21 7 15 New Orleans 28 14 39 49 4 p. 14 . 10 15 Jacksonville 25 •;pP',3 13 50 53 3 12 15 / San Francisco 22 27 9 28 1 13 11 ife5 P.... 24 15 Wilmington 17 10 30 36 7 5 14 24 3 20 17 Seattle 5 10 23 0 1 1 1 3 1 Puerto Rico, 9 14 15 10 13 7 16 3 12 9 Honolulu 5 =:P.= 9 ^ • 57 21 42 • I 10 / 14 • •, 21 25 21 Houston 1 5 0 , , 1 . ••1a P.:-P.O.2 3 2 : • • 2 St. Louis 3 14 ip'2 •1 -.0 1 ,•,•••• ••• L • • • '5 ' Piney Point :1• 7 0 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 1 Algonac 0 153 378 391 69 45 176 147 62 225 212 Totals ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port 8 36 47 3 .^P,': • 6- ; 14 .. 13 19 ••vT. 16 New York .^.P-:'..';OP 5 . 5 2 0 , 3• :\-p4--:: 0 p^-p.pp. 1 3 Philadelphia 4 11 4 1 ••pP-.'"'5 1 5 L-;:Pw3 3 Baltimore 6 12 1 9 1 8 8 3 9 4 Norfolk 3 14 21 2 0 5 4 2 7 11 Mobile 10 23 20 4 2 13 6 6 13 New Orleans 8 . 18 30 ',:':P'3':3L.' 4 3 PP 9 11 8 16 Jacksonville 15 46 14 .•Pi::fp-':35'-' • , • 5 : 1 7 9 3 San Francisco 19 •Sl8^':• 15 7 10 v-Z'-r. 2 8 10 8 Wilmington WMi 6 24 18 4 3 9 10 1 17 9 Seattle 0 4 13 1 0 3 4 0 6 7 Puerto Rico 9 8 5 6 4 14 2 4 11 2 Honolulu 'J |'26.:' 23 2>l ••>.-13:P'^V.P-'9^. 5 •.V15 12 Houston 0 0 'n 0 u 0 2 1 0 St. Louis • 2 23 0 0 4 0 :rl:r 7 2 Piney Point 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Algonac 98 279 245 38 22 116 94 46 153 121 Totals STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port 29 10 6 10 2 6 13 New York ilftStl . 3 0 0 -2x. :L. 2 1 Philadelphia 0' • -••P:-4'?-: -.L.;'o'' -,2^: 4 5 Baltimore 5 10 7 6 2 3 4 2 6 5 Norfolk 2 • 108 1 0 0 5 1 3 3 Mobile 0 7 13 1 3 5 3 2 7 New Orleans 8 p^;:3... 12 20 4 0 6 1 Jacksonville 11 W-A'-'-: 29 80 10 0 18 13 1 San Francisco 36 1 6 18 4 .:L: 0 Wilmington •12P3I 5 1 4 32 2 3 4 11 3 • •• 1 17 Seattle 3 2 6 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 Puerto Rico 18 28 18 44 11 16 13 12 19 14 Honolulu 1 10 y4 18 2 3 0 11 Houston 0 0 0 0 0 0 3'::5 0 0 St. Louis 6 . 24 P^-''2 1 iWI»- 0 5 2 1 Piney Point • '6^"' 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Algonac 51 169 263 87 23 61 91 26 99 143 Totals ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port 50 85 18 13 ,8'.P''^ New York 5 "^PJ , 4 0 1 Philadelphia 0 9 3 0 , 1 ' Baltimore 17 24 5 5 J2 4 Norfolk 5 31 4 0 19 3 Mobile 22 40 13 10 21 New Orleans 9 19 39 6 22 lacksonville 40 59 47 • 22 ^^anFrancisco IS 14 14 t::74 I Wilmington 13 21 15 17 4 Seattle 7 13 13 5 8 Puerto Rico 108 52 8 39 7 Honolulu 11 T. Bouston 0 7 0 3 0 ISt. Louis 6 40 0 39 0 l^ney Point 0 4 2 0 Algonac 316 471 267 69 Totals .rr, • i_ ...P - , %m v-ipvpi-p Piney Point Monday: May 3, June 7 New York Tuesday: May 4, June 8 Philadelphia Wednesday: May 5, June 9 Baltimore Thursday: May 6, June 10 Norfolk Thursday: May 6, June 10 Jacksonville Thursday: May 6, June 10 Algonac Friday: May 7, June 11 Houston Monday: May 10, June 14 New Orleans Tuesday: May 11, June 15 Mobile Wednesday, May 12, June 16 San Francisco Thursday: May 13, June 17 Wilmington Monday: May 17, June 21 - Seattle Friday: May 21, June 25 San Juan Thursday: May 6, June 10 St Louis Friday: May 14, June 18 Honolulu Friday: May 14, June 18 Duluth Wednesday, May 12, June 16 Jersey City Wednesday: May 19, June 23 New Bedford Tuesday: May 18, June 22 Escbpaifsmeett^ri^ L |S , , Vv' /' iLislt. SjJ :te; •f ' J'v.'V 10:30 am. k m• ;• •: J-X'.- ^• "- V" ... 3:im- %W-,M Totals All 384 516 218 194 1,032 1310 BURTON HIRSH Please contact John Applegate at (609) 6525344. JOHN WAYNE NEWTON Anyone knowing the whereabouts of John Wayne Newton, please contact Linda Welch at (205)343-4114. ROBERT O'ROURKE Please contact Joyce Kolbaek at either (800) 235-5466 or (702) 322-9171 immediately because of a family emergency. RED CHAPMAN Please contact an old shipmate, Ray Nowak (Overseas Alice '81), at 465 Winslow Way East, #207, Bainbridge Is., WA 98110; or caU (206) 780-1917. Corrections Mike Paladino was elected to a four-year term as port agent of the constitutional port of Baltimore. In the March 1993 issue of the Seafarers LOG, he was incorrectly listed as being elected from Norfolk. We regret any confusion this error may have caused. 618 ^^T^S^R^i^tered" m^s thcmmhcv of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last monA ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the the end A total of 1312 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1^12 jobs s»"PP^» 384jote or about 29 percent were taken by "A" seniority members. The rest were Tdled »»y ^ F.br»..y 16U,_^h 15,m3 .toWrf Personals Robbynson Suy, not Robert Schwartz, was the bosun of the ZJVG Aries during a rescue operation reported in the November 1992 issue of the Seafarers LOG. We regret any confusion this error may have caused. ••Sw' l^ef Dronmm beean on April 1,1982, a total of 18,402 jobs have been shipped. ••..i ' /"'••>' -TT:* �18 Seafarers IntemationM Union Directory , v'r'-i ••'f.' • • • . :»••' • . . Vr i APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacc» Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Collective Bargaining George McCartn^ oast Vice President West Co Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Coigey Vice President Gulf Coast HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) §^99-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (313)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218)722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, PL 32206 (904)353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. JetSCTCih'.NJ 07302 (201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St New Bedford, MA 02740 (508)997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804)622-1892 PHILADELPHIA JfXH <5 4 Philadelphia," PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 2 West Dixie Highway Dania, PL 33004 (305) 921-5661 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave. Stop 161^ Santurce, PR 00907 (809)721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. Seattle, WA 98121 (206)441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310)549-4000 Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1993 CL—Company/Lakes L—Lakes NP— •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L QassNP Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 5 3 8 0 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Qass CL Class L Class NP ••REGISTEMD ON BEACH Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0. • 3 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 3 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT S-- . ' 0 2 0 9 8 0 3 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 Totals All Departments 0 24 11 0 9 0 0 121 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. 35 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15,1993 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland West Coast Totals 0 2 0 0 2 3 7 26 0 36 0 12 J:-3'. 4 19 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 3 0 1 0 48 52 7 0 15 22 1 0 0 1 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 50 13 37 5 105 2 6 0 0 8 0 13 3 13 29 a?: 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 2. 1 14 0 17 0 0 3 Q . 1 0 0 0 4 2^0. 0 0 o;-;'.,: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 3^ 0 0 3 0 0 1 •U 0 1 1 H . o 0 1 1 31 0 43 0 io izi 1 25 0 \ P 0 1 1 0 n u 2 2 11 1 1 0 12 Totals All Departments 60 3 26 54 2 23 173 11 * 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. 0 7 I' 48 SnBOUBMnMltD 9 SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM ANNOUNCES SPRING PROGRAM Many activities are scheduled at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York through the month of June. Tours of ships, galleries and the historic dis­ trict are held daily, as are harbor sails and demonstrations at the maritime crafts center, boat building shop and the museum's center for city archaelogy. Upcoming special events include "Spring Launchings" on Saturday, May 1. This is an annual volunteer day tohelp refurbish the ships and piers for the sum­ mer season. Call (212) 669-9400 for in­ formation. And on Saturday and Simday, June 19 and 20, the Fourth Annual Wooden Boat Festival will be held to showcase traditional wooden boats by profes­ sional and amateur builders, lliere is no charge for this event. The museum is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning May 29, it will remain open until 6 p.m. on weekends. ATTENTION; DESERT STORM SEAFARERS Video footage of Seafarers and SlUcontracted ships participating in ac­ tivities related to Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm or Desert Sortie is being sought by the SIU Communica­ tions Department. If any Seafarer has such footage taken with a home video camera, please contact the Seafarers LOG office. The union would like the footage to be sent in so that copies of the original videotape can be made. The union will return to each member all original footage submitted. For further information, contact the Seafarers LOG office at (301) 8990675, ext 4315. S % BOAT MODEL SHOW OPENS IN MAINE A unique exhibition of boat models and marine art will be on display at the Portland, Maine showroom of Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, 415 Cumberland Ave., from March 19 through April 17, coinciding with the Maine Boatbuilders Show. For additional information, call (207)774-3791. STEWARD DEPARTMENT: MEMBERS UPGRADE NOW Attention galley gang members: Here is your chance to use the new steward department training facility at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Train­ ing and Education. SIU members can practice and learn in the new state-ofthe-art facility as part of any steward department upgrading course. Check-in dates for the assistant cook, cook and baker, chief cook and chief steward courses all are open-ended. Contact the Lundeberg School admis­ sions office by writing to Lundeberg Upgrading Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 for starting dates. ft 39 UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS! If you recently moved or chwged your name, it is necessary to have your correct address on file with theSeafarers Vacation Plan. If you have not yet notified the union, go to your nearest union hall and fill out a change of address form or send your new address (along with your name, book nilmber and social security number) to: Address Control, Seafarers International Union 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. J .- •• V.r.r-'C'"'' •JJ: ' /7- :I �v'': '•; rv,; 'tii^t'i >- APRIL 1993 ^->#' f ^ "^hree members who graduated from recertified programs at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seaman­ ship are among the 25 members who are retiring as announced by the Seafarers Welfare Plan. Brothers William Tillman and Leo Paradise graduated from bosun recertification in 1974 and 1975 respectively, while Brother David Velandra successfully completed the steward recertifica­ tion program in 1984. A total of 22 members sign­ ing off sailed in the deep sea division while one member from each of the inland, Great Lakes and Atlantic fishermen divisions is retiring., Twelve of those signing off served in the military: five in the Army, three in the Air Force and two in the Navy. Brother Calvin Langley served in both the Army and Air Force. Brief biographical sketches of Brothers Langley, Paradise, Tillman and Velandra as well as the other new pensioners follow. DEEP SEA SEAFARERS LOG To Our New Pensioners ... Thanks for a Job Wei! Done Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently have become pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These men and women have served the maritime industry well, and the SIU and all their union brothers and sisters wish them happiness and health in the days ahead. ERNEST DOMINGUEZ, 65, joined the MCS in 1965 in the port of New York, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Dominguez sailed as a steward assistant. Bom in New York, he upgraded at Piney Point in 1982. Brother Dominguez lives in the Bronx, N.Y. ROLAND FRANCIS­ CO, 65, joined the union in 1957 in the portofWilrmngtoi^Calif^'Anative of New Orleans, he sailed as a chief cook. Brother Francisco retired to Sacramento, Calif. PETER JOHN BATAYIAS, HUDGINS, 69,joined 54, joined the Seafarers the Seafarers in 1972 in in 1969 in the port of his native Jacksonville, Norfolk, Va. Fla. A native He sailed in of Georgia, the steward he sailed as a chief steward. He department. Brother Hudgins calls Savannah, Ga. home. upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1977. He served in the DAVID U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. BOONE, 59, Brother Hudgins still calls Nor­ joined the folk home. SIU in 1967 in the port of ALI Seattle. Bom JABER,61, in Philadel­ joined the phia, he SIU in 1968 sailed as a in the port of steward/baker. Brother Boone San Francis­ upgraded at the Lundeberg co. Bom in School frequently. He still calls Yemen, Seattle home. Arabia, he sailed as a steward assistant. HARRY Brother Jaber retired to Seattle. BOURNE, 65, joined the CALVIN Marine Cooks LANGLEY, and Stewards 65, joined (MSQ in the union in 1945 in the 1969 in the port of San port of Francisco, Mobile, Ala. before that union merged with the A Mississip­ Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland pi native, he WatCTs District (AGLIWD). A Bal­ sailed as a chief electrician. timore native, he sailed in the Brother Langley upgraded at steward department Brother Piney Point frequently. He Bourne served in the U.S. Air served in the U.S. Air Force from Force fixrm 1950 to 1953. He 1949 to 1953 and the U.S. Army retired to Long Beach, Wash. from 1958 to 1965. Brother Langley resides in Mobile. SAL BUZALI, HUBBERT 65, joined the LEE, 49, Seafarers in joined the 1969 in the Seafarers in port of New 1968 in the York. Bom port of San in Argentina, Francisco. he sailed in Bom in Jen­ Brother the steward department. nings, La., he La. Buzali lives in Metairie, sailed as a QMED. Brother Lee upgraded at the Lundeberg JOSEPH CROWLEY, School frequently. He lives in 65, joined the New Orleans. SIU in 1957 GEORGE in his native NICHOL­ New York. SON, 65, He sailed in joined the the deck SIU in 1973 department in the port of Brother Crowley served in the Seattle. A U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. Washington He retired to Shelton, Wash. native, he sailed as a cook/baker. Brother Nicholson retired to Chicago. LEO PARADISE, 66,joined the union in 1947 in the port of New York. Bom in Fall River, Mass., he completed the bosun recertifica­ tion course at Piney Point in 1975. Brother Paradise resides in Moultonboro, N.H. RUFINO RAMIREZ, 68, joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of New York. A native of Puerto Rico, he sailed as a steward assistant. Brother Ramirez upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1981. He, retired to Bayamon, P.R. JACK RANKIN, 66, joined the SIU in 1968 in his native Mobile, Ala. Brother Rankin sailed as a chief cook. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. Brother Rankin still calls Mobile home. REYNALDO RODRI­ GUEZ, 66, joined the union in 1976 in the port of Yokohama, Japan. Bom in Manila, Philippines, he sailed in the steward department. Brother Rodriguez served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1949. He resides in San Francisco. ALFRED SEVERE, 61,joined the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of Baltimore. A Maryland na­ tive, he sailed as a steward/baker. Brother Severe served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1955. He lives in Baltimore. MURLE SHIRLEY, 65,joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of Hous­ ton. Bom in Louisiana, he sailed in the engine department. Brother Shir­ ley served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. He retired to Shreveport, La. EDWARD SLINTAK, 70, joined the union in 1942 in the port of Bal­ timore. A na­ tive of Czecho­ slovakia, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Slintak upgraded at Piney Point in 1981. He resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. WILLIAM TILLMAN, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of New Orleans. Bom in Pass Christian, Miss., he com­ pleted the recertified bosun course at the Lundeberg School 19 in 1974. Brother Tillman retired to ML Shasta, Calif. RAFAEL TORO JR., 51, joined the SIU in 1965 in the port of New York. A native of Puerto Rico, he sailed in the steward department. Brother Toro served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. DAVID VELANDRA, 63,joined the union in 1967 in the port of Bal­ timore, Bom in Michigan, he completed the steward recertification course at Piney Point in 1984. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959. Brother Velandra retired to Imlay City, Mich. INLAND JAMES LEE, 68, joined the SIU in 1972 in the port of Hous­ ton. A Florida native, he sailed in the deck department. Boatman Lee upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1973. He resides in Blountstown, Ra. GREAT LAKES NORBERT WERDA, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1950 in his native Alpena, Mich. Brother Werda sailed as a conveyorman. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947. Brother Werda still calls Alpena home. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN SAMUEL SCOLA, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1968 in his na­ tive Gloucester, Mass. He sailed as a cook. Brother Scola still calls Gloucester home. CORRECTION On page 19 of last month's Seafarers LOG, an error was made in the pension notice for Martin McHale. Brother McHale sailed in the steward department. �1^:- •II 20 n APRIL 1993 5i^ilil£il5IIN; Know Your Rights ^ ^;.V, ing to deprive him or her of any ports and contributes to political FINANCIAL REPORTS. halls. If members believe there lished policy has been reaffirmed constitutional right or obligation candidates for elective office. All The constitution pf the SIU Atlan­ have been violations of their ship­ by membership action at the Sep­ by any methods, such as dealing contributions are vblunta^. No tic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters ping or seniority rights as con tember 1960 meetings in all con- with charges, trials, etc., as well as contribution may be solicited or ports. The District makes specific provision tained in the contracts between the stitutional aU other details, the member so received because of force, job dis­ for safeguarding the membership's union and the employers, they responsibility for Seafarers LOG affected should immediately crimination, financial reprisal, or policy is vested in an editorial money and union finances. The should notify the Seafarers Ap­ threat of such conduct, or as a con­ notify headquarters. board which consists of the ex­ constitution requires a detailed peals Board by certified mail dition of membership in the union EQUAL RIGHTS. All mem­ ecutive board of the union. The audit by certified public account­ return receipt requested. The or of employment. If acontribution bers are guaranteed equal rights in executive board may delegate, ants every year, which is to be sub­ proper address for this is: is made by reason of the above employment and as members of from among its ranks, one in­ Augustin Tellez, Chairman mitted to the membership by the improper conduct, the member the SIU. These rights are clearly set dividual to carry out this respon­ Seafarers Appeals Board secretary-treasurer. A yearly finance should notify the Seafarers Inter­ forth in the SIU constitution and in sibility. 5201 Auth Way committee of rank-and-file mem­ national Union or SPAD by cer­ the contracts which the union has PAYMENT OF MONIES. No Camp Springs, Mb 20746 bers, elected by the membership, tified mail within 30 days of the negotiated with the employers. Full copies of contracts as monies are to be paid to anyone in each year examines the finances of contribution for investigation and Consequently, no member may be the union and reports fully their find­ referred to are available to members any official capacity in the SIU un­ ings and recommendations. Mem­ at all times, either by writing directly less an official union receipt is given discriminated against because of appropriate action and refund, if bers of this committee may make to the union or to the Seafarers Ap­ for same. Under no circumstances race, creed, color, sex, national or involuntary. A member should should any member pay any money geographic origin. If any member support SPAD to protect and fur­ dissenting reports, specific recom­ peals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all for any reason unless he is given such feels that he or she is denied the ther his or her economic, political mendations and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All trust SIU contracts are availablein all SIU receipt. In theevent anyone attempts equal rights to which he or she is and social interests, and funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, halls. These contracts specify the to require any such payment be made entitled, the member should notify American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels Lakes and Inland Waters District wages and conditions under which without supplying a receipt, or if a union headquarters. that any of the above rights have SEAFARERS POLITICAL are administered in accordance an SIU member works and lives member is required to make a pay­ been violated, or that he or she with the provisions of various tmst aboard a ship or boat. Members ment and is given an official receipt, ACTIVITY DONATION — has been denied the constitution­ fund agreements. All these agree­ should know their contract rights, as jut feels that he or she should not SPAD. SPAD is a separate al right of access to union ments specify that the trustees in well as their obligations, such as liave been required to make such segregated fund. Its proceeds are records or information, the charge of these funds shall equally filing for overtime (OT) on the payment, this should immediately be used to further its objects and pur­ member should immediately poses including, but not limited to, consist of union and management proper sheets and in the proper man­ reported to union headquarters. notify SIU President Michael CONSTITUTIONAL fiirthering the political, social and representatives and their alter­ ner. If, at any time, a member Sacco at headquarters by cer­ nates. All expenditures and disbur­ believes that an SIU patrolman or RIGHTS AND OBLIGA­ economic interests of maritime tified mail, return receipt re­ sements of trust funds are made other union official fails to protect TIONS. Copies of the SIU con­ workers, the preservation and fur­ quested. The address is: only upon approval by a majority their contraptual rights properly, he stitution are available in all union thering of the American merchant I of the trustees. All trust fiind finan­ or she should contact the nearest SIU laUs. All members should obtain marine with improved employ­ Michael Sacco, President cial records are available at the port agent. copies of this constitution so as to ment opportunities for seamen and headquarters of the various trust EDITORIAL POLICY — familiarize themselves with its con­ boatmen and the advancement of Seafarers International Union 5201 Auth Way funds. THE SEAFARERS LOG. The tents. Any time a member feels any trade union concepts. In connec­ Camp Springs, MD 20746. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A Seafarers LOG traditionally has other member or officer is attempt­ tion with such objects, SPAD sup­ member's shipping rights and refrained from publishing any ar­ seniority are protected exclusively ticle serving the political purposes by contracts between the union and of any individual in the union, of­ the employers. Members should ficer or member. It also has get to Imow their shipping rights. refrained from publishing articles and that was in June. It was over 180 degrees. Copies of these contracts are deemed harmful to the union or its Crew Aboard Harding On my next trip there, I was on the Liberty SS posted and available in all union collective membership. This estab- Is Happy and Weil Fed Stephen Vincent Benet. Joseph DiGiorgio [SIU Happy New Year! We, the members of the secretary-treasurer from 1972 to 1990] was our deck gang on the President Harding, would like BR. I made two more trips there on the Shickto go On record as being "Well Fed" on shinny. Christmas and New Years. The steward depart^ So you see, all the cargo we took to the Gulf ment really did an outstanding job in putting out This is a summary of the annual report for the SIU Pacific District went up to Russia. So don't you think we should the holiday fare. Pension Plan (Employer Identification No. 94-6061923, Plan No. GDI) get our medals, too? These men: Steward Ron Mathew, Chief for the year ended July 31,1992. The annual report has been filed with Cook Gerald Fig and GSU Timo, have consis­ Richard Heffley the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retire­ Cardifr,NJ tently put out a fine menu and we are all talking ment Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). of our neglected diets. When the food is as well Basic Financial Statement prepared as these union men put out, you have a J. Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust arrangement. Plan happy ship, and we're all happy to have them expenses were $14,483,715. These expenses included $1,150,516 in aboard. administrative expenses and $13,333,199in benefits paid to participants Hoping that all good things happen to you and beneficiaries. A total of 6,015 persons were participants in or Setting the Record Straight and yours during the New Year, we are distress­ beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, dthou^ not all of Regarding Liberty Ships ingly overweight. these persons had yet eamed the right to receive benefits. Being a sponsor and lifetime member of The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was Deck Gang Crewmembers $156,607,498 as of July 31,1992, compared to $146,139,338 as of July President Harding Project Liberty Ship, a Liberty Ship made into a 31,1991. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase in its museum iniBdtimore, Md., I wanted to clarify net assets of $10,468,160. This increase included unrealized apprecia­ an error i^^Jn a local story about Project J. tion or depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference Libert)^^l|5fi^ri^ story stated that the Liberty between thevalue of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the value Ship SS Pdul Hamilton sank at Anzio, Italy on of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired April 20,\lw4, losing all hands (504 Kudos Given to Three during the year. American tr^ps, 47 merchant crew and 29 Aboard LNG Aquarius The plan had total income of $24,951,875 including employer arra^ guards). Please be informed of the absolutely out­ contributions of $2,129,368, earnings from investments of $6,483,120, This actually happened off Algiers, North stock dividends of $885,884, net realized gain on sale or exchange of standing work of the Steward/Baker Franklin Africa, in convoy UGS #38. While aboard the assets of $13,831,196, unrealized appreciation of assets of $1,611,235 Rohertson and Chief Cook Martin E. Buck and other income of $11,072. Employes do not contribute to this plan. SIU Liberty Ship SS Josiah Bartlett, we were and SA Mark W. Kotojarvi, during the past attacked by dive bombers and torpedo planes. tour pf duty on the LNG Aquarius. Minimum Funding Standards Coming down our colunm was the German Our holiday meals have been just stupendous Our actuary's statement shows that enough money was contributed plane that hit and sank the SS Paul Hamilton. and service excellent. to the plan to keep it funded in accordance with the minimum funding Our ship made direct hits on the plane with Please be sure that a copy of this constandards of ERISA. assistance from a British gun boat running at our gramlatory letter gets into their pesonnel files. Your Rights to Additional information stem as we brought the plane down. That night. John J. Donahue You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any Axis Sally on radio claimed a great German Master, LNG Aquarius part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that victory—15 American ships sunk and no planes report: lost. The actual count was four ships and two 1. An accountant's report, " planes lost. 2. Assets held for investments, 3. Actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan. Any crewmember on the SS Josiah Bartlett To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write who is still with us will never forget that aboard or call theoffice of the Plan Administrator,SIU Pacific District Pension our ship (loaded with ammunition and with Helping the Russians Plan, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California 94105. Telephone drums of high octane gasoline on our deck), Before Murmansk Run number: (415) 495-6882. while under enemy fire, one of our crewmem­ This is old Rich Heffley, better known as Heff. You dso have the legally protected right to examine the annual bers known as "Brooklyn Charlie" was singing In 1943, when I first went to sea in Philly at report at the main office of the plan, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, the national anthem! 6th and Market, the only foreign ships we had California 94105 or toobtain acopy from the U.S. Department of Labor Yes—the greatest seamen of the century were the Persian Gulf runs. I made four or five upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department of Labor sailed on SIU ships. trips there. should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N5507, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Lalmr, 200 Con­ The first one was on an old Hog Islander, the Peter Salvo stitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. SS Kansan. We were at anchor for over a month. McKeesport, Pa. Letters to Editor f'f ' , Summary Annual Report SIU Pacific District Pension Plan • ^ -V.;,• ^ I'- .; •> t �vS;:.rr?..->.>v;\Vt;'.. • .:ot. :.. -• .^® ' •' ;•• ;^';-^V;" ._;, ;•• ;• V, •.••• _ APRIL 1993 SEAFARERSLOG The S^farers LOG attempts to print as many digests of onion ship­ board minutes as possibie. On occasion, l^ause of space iimitations, some wiii be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's conhact department Those issues requiring attention or resoiution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships minutes. The minutes are then for­ warded to the Seafarers LOG. UST PACIFIC (lOM), October 11—Chairman Raymond Brown, B< Secretary George Borronieo, Educational Director F. Durand, Deck Delegate Steve Foster, En­ gine Delegate Kenny Hansen. Chairman reported transfer of ship's funds and read letter in response to scholarships. Educa­ tional director encouraged mem­ bers to upgrade at Piney Point. Treasurer reports $100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed • OT reported. Chairman announced cur­ rent issues of Seafarers LOG avail­ able. Crew discussed way news is communicated. Crew also dis­ cussed sanitation duties and pur­ chase of new movies. Crew requested a patrolman to come on board next port. UST PACIFIC{lOM), November 29—Chairman Raymond Brown, Secret^ George Borronieo, Educational Director F. Durand, Deck Delegate Steve Foster, Enine Delegate Kenny Hansen, teward Delegate Faith Downs. Chairman announced job rotation during lifeboat drill to familiarize crew with all aspects. Educational director informed crew of safety personnel on ship for training. Treasurer reported $100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman announced scholarship opportunity notice sent. Crew requested public t(telephone be made available! Crew also raised questions about availability of satellite television, more movies and library books. Crew requested patrolman for clarification of shore leave and launch service. LNG GEMINI(ETC), December 20—Chairman R. Mohamed, Secretary Kris Hopkins, Educa­ tional Director R. Gosneli, Deck Delegate James Kash, Engine Delegate M. Hill, Steward Delegate R. Aubuchon. Secretary reported Chief Cook Ron Aubuchon will attend chief steward course at Lundeberg School and wished him luck from all. Secretary also thanked crew for pleasant voyage. Educational direc­ tor urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $712 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported: Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. Next port: Bontang, Indonesia. f v.. .-. re# OVERSEAS VALDEZ(Maritime Overseas), December 18—Chair­ man Frank Cottongin, Secretary is® Getting a Good View From the left, Pedro Marcial, Antonio Rodriguez and Luis Perez—all members of the Sea-Land shoregang in Puer­ to Rico—get to work. •f T. Laflitte, Educational Director Earl Macom. Chairman an­ nounced year-end payoff and Coast Guard inspection. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked Steward department for job well done. Crew requested lighting sys­ tem, sink and TV antenna be repaired. Crew asked contracts department to look into leave time. SEA-LAND EXPRESS (SeaLand Service), December 31— Chairman John Lundborg, Secretary G. Bryant, Educational Director A. Bell, Deck Delegate Brian Bassett, Engine Delegate Jean Couvillion, Steward Delegate Don Flunker. Chairman urged members to support union, guard rights and donate to SPAD. Educa­ tional director reminded members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Deck and engine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Crew asked contracts department to look into raising pension cost of living allowance. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for holiday meals. Next portTacoma, Wash. UST PACIFIC (lOM), December 27—Chairman Raymond Brown, Secret^ George Borronieo, Educational Director F. Durand, Deck Delegate Steve Foster, En­ gine Delegate Kenny Hansen, Steward Delegate Faith Downs. Educational director urged mem­ bers to go to Piney Point and upgrade skills. Treasurer reported $112 in ship's fund. Deck and steward delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine delegate. Crew requested patrolman to come aboard. Also asked contracts department to look into relief in Per­ sian Gulf and 20-year retirement period. Crew statra iraairs needed for dryer. Next port Galveston, Texas. AMERICAN CORMORANT (Pacific Gulf Marine), January 3— Chairman Vernon Huelett, Secretary Darryl Goggins, Educa­ tional Director L. Parker, Deck Delegate Charles Simmons, Eniine Delegate Lamar Parker, Iteward Delegate Mariano Moreira. Chairman announced layup of ship for six months. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported mail not being received. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department (Steward/Baker Dar^l Goggins, Chief Cook Mariano Moreira, As­ sistant Cook Robert Wright, SAs Bertrand Macary and Derek Fye) for job well done. Next port: Kenya. AMERICAN HERITAGE (Apex Marine), January 24—Chairman Carlos Soto, Secretary Pedro Rodriguez, Steward Delegate Ivan Sails. Chairman distributed Seafarers LOGs. CONSTELLATION (Maersk Lines), January 23—Chairman Salvatore Ciciulla, Secretary Donald Williams, Deck Delegate Thomas Atwell, Engine Delegate Lenny Strong. Chairman reminded crew to have shipping card when report­ ing to vessel. Ediiucational director announced Piney Point upgrading applications available. Treasurer reported $649.98 in ship's fund and reminded crew to sign out movies. Deck delegate reported diluted OT. No bSfs or disputed OT from engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked chief cook and galley gang for job well done. Next port: Sin­ gapore. CO(/f?/Ef? (Vulcan Carriers), January 17-^hairman Seymour Yaras, Secretary Richard Brumage, Educational Director Adrian Saavedra. Chairman asked crew to keep radio volume down. Educational director reminded crew to get benzene test. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. En­ gine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Crew reported mail not being received and TV and VCR need repair. GAL VESTON BA Y(Sea-Land Service), January 10—Ghairman Carlton Hall, Secretary R. Ascano. Steward Delegate D. Huf­ fman. No beefs or disputed OT reported. GflOTO/V (Sheridan Transporta­ tion), January 31—Chairman Neil Matthey, Secretary Marvin Deloatcn, Educational Director Richard Natoli, Deck Delegate Eric Perez, Engine Delegate Peter Murtaugh, Steward Delegate Sukirman Suraredjo. Chairman reported smooth sailing and payoff upon arrival. He also reminded crew to donate to SPAD. Secretary extended vote of thanks to crew for keeping messroom clean. Educa­ tional director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Next port: Stapleton, N.Y. CPL. LOUIS J. HAUGE JR. (Maersk Lines), January 30—• Chairman T. Grosskruth, Secretaiy William Justi, Educa­ tional Director Dave Nance. Educa­ tional director reminded crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer reported $150 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed restrictedto-shlp pay. ITS BALTIMORE (Sheridan Transportation), January 31— Chairman Jimmy Rogers, Secretary Andrew Hagan, Educa­ tional Director Paul Honeycutt, Steward Delegate John Padilla. Chairman repotted new couch for messhall received and VCR sent for repairs. He announced payoff in New York. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new ice machine. Crew thanked steward department for delicious fresh tuna from St. Croix. Next port: Stapleton, N.Y. ITB PHILADELPHIA (Sheridan Transportation), January 31— Chairman V.T, Nielsen, Secretary Marvin St. George, Educational Director Monte Beck, Steward Delegate Jack Hart. Secretaiy thanked crew for keeping messhall clean. Educational director urged crew to upgrade at Hney Point. No beefs or disputed OT repotted. JAMES ANDERSON JR. (MaerskLines), January 31— Chairman Thomas Anderson, Secretary William Bunch, Educa­ tional Director R. Baker, Deck Delegate James Hailstone, Engine Delegate Kim Brown, Steward Delegate Thomas McCurdy. Chairman thanked galley gang for excellent job performance during Operation Restore Hope. Educa­ tional director urged crew to take advantage of education and train­ ing facilities at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT repotted. Chairman reminded crew to keep dues current and the need for ben­ zene testing. Chairman announced iimiture in crew lounge sent to Sin­ gapore for repairs. Crew discussed need to provide Welfare Plan with marriage and birth certificates for dependents. Crew was thanked for ceeping tidy ship. Entire crew thanked galley gang for excellent service and meals. Next pott: VIogadishu, Somalia. L/BEHTT SEA (Liberty Maritime), January 24—Ghairman T.A. Burrell, Secretary W. Manuel Jr., Deck Delegate C.E. Bonilla, Engine Delegate A1 — —Delegate :Te Joseph Thomas, Steward trooks. Chairman thanked steward department for nice Christmas din­ ner. No beefs or disputed OT , reported. Next pott: Haifa, Israel. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime), January 24—Chairman Carlos Spina Jr., Secret^ H.G. Williams, Educational Director James Scanlon, Deck Delegate Randy Black, Engine Delegate Isaac Rowel, Steward Delegate Gerardo Lopez. No beefs or dis­ puted OT repotted. Crew asked contracts department to look into getting additional { medical care on ship. Galley gang thanked by entire crew and ndoffia officers for excellent job. Next pott: Alexandria, Egypt. LNG LIBRA (ETC), January 31— till Darley, TSecretary Chairman Bill Alexander R^er, Educational Director Otis Sessions, Deck Delegate George Kehlis, Engine Delegate Mark Glinka, Steward Delegate Henry Daniels. Chair­ man repotted all is well and TVs are in crew lounge. Additional Seafarers LOGs requested. Chair­ man announced posting of Piney Point classes ana reminded crew getting off to clean room and leave keys. Educational director urged crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Cen­ ter. Treasurer repotted $1,125 in 21 OMI SACRAMENTO (OMI), January 10—Chairman Ray Gorju, Secreta^ Nazareth Battle, Deck Delegate Francisco Orta, Engine Delegate Alex Resendez, Steward Delegate Earl Mathews. Chairman repotted new chairs needed for recreation room and urged crew to donate to movie fund. Crew discussed launch ser­ vice. Educational director en­ couraged crew to upgrade at Lundeberg "1. School. Crew Crev said trip was very pleasant. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew asked for clarification of retirement qualifica­ tions. Crew requested new bedspreads, sheets, TV and VCR head cleaner. Crew repotted enter­ tainment center and dishwasher need repairs. JNext pott: New Or­ leans. OMI WILLAMETTE (OMI), January 19—Chairman D. Ellette. Chairman announced payoff and repotted chief cook will be signing off. Educational director en­ couraged crew to upgrade at Paul Union Meeting Aboard ITB Mobile While at Stapleton Anchcorage in New York, Bosun Fred Jensen (left). Steward Pedro Sellan (center) and Chief Cook Theodore Quammic attend the union meeting atx)ard the ITB Mobile. ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. LOGs distributed. Crew voted for new microwave oven. Chairman asked crew to help locate TV remote. Steward depart­ ment thanked by crew for outstand­ ing job. Next pott: Arun, Indonesia. NEDLLOYD HOLLAND (SeaLand Service)—^January 24— Chairman P. Butterworth, Secretary Carroll Kenny, Steward Delegate Ronald Tarantino. Chairman announced payoff and reminded crew to pay union dues and put in for vacation pay. Educa­ tional director urged crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Steward delegate reported some dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT repotted by deck or engine delegates. Crew asked contracts department to look into emergency leave for members without loss job. Crew requested new coffee pot and better movies. The entire crew thanked steward department for ex­ cellent trip. NEDLLOYD HUDSON (SeaLand Service), January 17—Chair­ man John Bertolino, Secretary Edward Collins, Educational Director Kenneth Hart, Engine Delegate Roy Speer. Chairman an­ nounced payoff and urged mem­ bers to donate to SPAD. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer netted $68 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT repotted. Crew asked contracts department to look into emergency leave due to death or serious family illness. Crew thanked galley for job well done. Next pott: oston. OMI MISSOURI (Vulcan Car­ riers), January 10-—Chairman Michael Ventry, Secretary Clyde Kreiss, Deck Delegate Mark Wright, Engine Delegate Donald Wright, Steward Delegate Jorge lemardez. Chairman announced layoff in Portugal and reminded :rew to clean rooms and linen, iucational director reminded qualified members to upgrade at Piney Point. Disputed OT repotted by deck delegate. No beefs or dis­ rated OT repotted by engine or eg; steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Hall Center and donate to SPAD. Deck delegate reminded crew to wear respirators when hooking up hoses. Beefs reported by engine and steward delegates. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck del^ate. OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS (Maritime Overseas), January 3— Chairman J.L. Bass, Secretary C.S. Navarro, Deck Delegate Donald Gilbert, Engine Delegate John Rwp, Steward Delegate Cfuer Marco Guevara. Chairman ad­ vised crew to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School and use education as jab security. Secretary thanked crew for cooperation in keeping messhall and crew lounge clean. Educational director encouraged those with enough seatime to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT repotted. Crew repotted dryer needs repair. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent holiday meals. OVERSEAS VALDEZ(Maritime Overseas), January 17—Chairman Frank Cottongin, Secretary C. Miks, Educational Director Earl Macom, Deck Delegate Kenneth Moore, Engine Delegate Gene White, Steward Delegate T. Kreis. Chairman announced change of captains and payoff. He reminded crew to keep lower passage door closed at all times. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. RALEIGH BA Y (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 25—Chairman A. Mohsin, Secretary R. Malozi, Educational Director V. Carpi, Deck Delegate D. Davis, Engine Delegate J. Coombe, Steward Delegate G. Vorise Jr. Chairman discussed importance of donating to SPAD to help get jobs and en­ couraged crew to upgrade at Paul " " Center. Secretary repotted receiving fresh stores and sending linen ashore in Houston. He thanked crew for keeping messhalls clean at night and gave spe­ cial thanks to Chief Electrician V. Caipi. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney PoinL No beefs or disputed OT repotted. , Crew repotted new cushions and vacuum cleaner needed in/loimge. Next pott: Houston. Continued on page 22 . I •/ ' . �22 SEAFAKRSLOG Point. No beefs or disputed OT man discussed importance of reported. Crew requested VCR be SPAD forJob security and en­ hooked up in crew lounge. couraged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or dis­ SEA-LAND TACOMA (SeaContinued from page 21 puted OT reported. Land Service), January 17—Chair­ man R. Stuverud, Secretary M. SEA-LAND HA WAII(Sea-Land SAM HOUSTON(Waterman ny, iEducational Director Service), January 31—Chairman J. Meany, Steamship), January 10—Chair­ :l^i G. Carter, Secretaiy J. Jones, Educa­ Brett Landis, Deck Delegate man Jorge Osorio, Secreta^ tional Ehrector D. Gordius. Chair­ Poer, Engine Delegate M. Fer­ Ernie Hoitt, Educational Director guson, Steward Delegate G. Shir­ man reported a good trip to Hong repoi Donald Christian, Deck Delegate ley. Secretary reminded members ;ry (cold ''"weather Kong despite very Claude Lee HoUier, Engine of importance of donating to Crew thanked galley gang and Delegate Brian Monnerjahn, SPAD and helping passage of a deck department for jobs well Steward Delegate Ronald Moore. maritime bill. Educational director done. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. Secretary reported year-end encouraged members to upgrade vouchers will be delivered to ship SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE skills at Lundeberg School. No in Suez Canal. He discussed impor­ (Sea-Land Service), January 3beefs or disputed OT reported. tance of upgrading at Lundeberg Secretaiy A. Davis, Educational Crew asked contracts department idci School. Treasurer reported $280 in Director C.M. Devonish, Engine to look into retirement at any age ship's fund. Deck, engine and Delegate Saleh Ali, Steward for members who have 20 years steward delegates reported beefs. Delegate Cecil Gubisch. Crew seatime. No disputed OT reported. Crew re­ gave vote of thanks to Assistant quested three-way switch for TV. SEA-LAND VALUE (Sea-Land Vice President Tony Sacco for Entire crew thanked steward depart helping during payoff. Secretary Service), January 17—Chairman ment for good food during Domingo Leon Jr., Secretary A. and educational director reminded Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hassan, Educational Director members of importance of upgrad­ ing at Piney Point. No beefs or dis­ Steven Miller, Engine Delegate SEA-LAND A TLANTtC (SeaGerald Rogers, Steward Delegate Land Service), January 31—Chair­ puted OT reported. Crew said they Miguel Pabon. Crewmembers dis­ are glad to see Sea-Land Indeman Calvin James, Secretary F. cussed pension increases and enaence off European routes and Costango, Educational Director seatime. No beefs or disputed OT ack in United States. Next port: Miguel Rivera, Deck Delegate reported. Crew requested new Kobe, Japan. Mario Batiz, Engine Delegate recliners for lounge and stated they Paul Moran, Steward Delegate SEA-LAND NA VIGA TOR (Sea- are looking forward to entertain­ Eugene Perez Jr. Chairman Land Service), January 31—Chair­ ment system. Vote of thanks was reported crew lounge chairs are man Werner Becher, Secretary R. given to steward department for a going to be Exed or replaced and ^ingat. Educational Director J.B. well prepared Christmas and New TV and VCR need repair. Canaghaii, Deck Delegate Sean Year's dinners. Next port: Secretaiy reported new TV Jaherty, Engine Delegate Robert Elizabeth, N.J. promised but sent to wrong ship. Zurfluh, Steward Delegate No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (SeaRaymond Garcia. Chairman Crew thanked galley gang. Next Land Service), January 31—Chair­ thanked crew for cooperation and port: Boston man J.R. Colson, Secretary Scott togetherness that made shipyard Opsahl, Educational Director Wil­ stay pleasant. Educational director SEA-LAND CHALLENGER liam Hatchel, Engine Delegate O. urged members to upgrade at Lun­ (Sea-Land Service), January 10— Mortensen, Steward Delegate deberg School. No beefs or disChairman Roy Williams, juted OT reported. Crew requested Jose Maglalan^. Chairman an­ Secretary H.L. Scypes. Chairman nounced ship going into dry dock for new coffee machine. Crew gave reported new TV is being dis­ 14 days in^Kobe. Educational direcvote of thanks to galley gang for cussed and announced payoff. me food served and social thanks tor posted Piney Point schedule and Secretary stated more hnens are discussed importance of upgrading or excellent Christmas dinner. needed on ship. No beefs or dis­ at Paul Hall Center. No brefs or dis­ "Jext port: Tacoma, Wash. puted OT reported. Vote of thanks puted OT reported. Crew thanked given to steward department for SEA-LAND PATRIOT (Seagalley gang for holiday feast, espe­ deck cookouts. Next port: Land Service), January 20—Chair­ dally cially the the'barbecue. Elizabeth, N.J. man S. Evans, Deck Delegate jr.T. Milabo, Steward Delegate A. SEALIFT PACIFIC (mC), SEA-LAND DEFENDER (Sealussein. Educational director an­ Januai7 17—Chairman WilUam hand Service), January 31-^hairnounced upgrading schedule Sharp, Secretary Franchesca man John Stout, Deck Delegate Rose, Educational Director posted. No beefs or disputed OT R.E. Wagner, Engine Delegate reported. Crew thanked chief Raymond Frail, Deck Delegate Horst Beatjer, Steward Depart­ steward, chief cook and entire galWayne Ward, Engine Delegate ment James Harper. Chairman ey gang for variety of good food. Charlie Sandino, Steward thanked galley gang for Christmas Delegate Mansour Abdalla. Chair­ and New Year meeds and reminded Next port: Oakland, Cauf. man and crew thanked steward crew to leave rooms clean and keys SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE department for wonderful holiday behind when signing off. Educa­ ,Sea-Land Service), January 20— feast. He stated it was like being at tional director advised members to Chairman Richard Moss, a Hawaiian luau. The galley gang upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or Secretary Gary Griswold, Educa­ included Chief Steward Franchesca disputed OT retried. Crew dis­ tional Duector William C^eron, Rose, Chief Cook Mansour Abdal­ cussed time and work at sea. Steward Delegate Bert Winfield. la and SA Joshua Hollinger. He Chairman reported a great crew SEA-LAND DISCOVERY (Seasaid smooth sailing with happy Land Service), January 24—Chair­ and everything ran smoothly. He crew makes one big happy itamily. thanked steward department for man Carlos De Grucia, Secretaiy Secretary encouraged members to ] |ood meals. Secretary thanked crew J.R. Culls, Deck Delegate Joseph take advantage of educational pro­ or picking up after themselves in Leheuw, Engine Delegate J.Gotgram at Lundeberg School and ounge and messhall. Educational tschlich. Steward Delegate J. upgrade. Engine delegate reported director reminded members to Wadsworth. Chairman reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center new dryer ordered. Secretary OT reported by deck or steward reported new refrigerator for galley and become more professional. No delegates. Crew promised to work reefs or disputed OT reported. Crew together to keep union strong. Next ordered. No beefs or disputed OT asked contracts department to look reported. Crew thanked steward port: Jacksonville, Fla. nto an inarease in pension benefits. department for job well done. Next Next port Charleston, S.C. USNS POLLUX(Bay Tankers), port: Elizabeth, N.J. January 23—Chairman Michael SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea- SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaDavis, Secretaiy H. Ward, EducaLand Service), January 17—Chair­ Land Service), Jmuary 24—Chair­ tional Director orD. D. Jones, Deck man J. Edwards, Secretary J. Jim, Delegate Ronnie Lambert, Engine man Elex Gary Jr., Secretary E. Steward Delegate M. Abdulla. Michael Douroudous, Education­ Delegate Robert Stevenson, Chairman announced payoff. al Director Jim McBride, Deck Steward Delegate Martha Lion. Vocational director encouraged Delegate Walter Price, Engine Secretary reported very safe trip members to upgrade at Piney Delegate Charles Kichak. Chair­ with good crew. Crew requested new movies. Disputed OT reported by engine delegate. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. USNS PREVAIL (USMMI), January 28—Chairman Grant Shipley, Secretary A. Davidson, Educational Director Michael Hooper, Deck Delegate William Fielding, Engine Delegate Gary Hare, Steward Delegate Michelle Hopper. Secretary reported ballots from Naval Base in Rota, Spain were not received by members in time to vote in presidential elec­ tion. Local,voting was done. Educa­ tional director announced eight members received CPR certifica­ tion in Rota. He reported informa­ tion on upgrading, vacation and medical benefits available to all members. Crew asked contracts departipent to send copies of / SIUAJSMMI contract. Crew reported ship's books donated to Bosun Teddy Nielsen makes sure all lines are stowed during the local naval library and more books ITB Philadelphia's payoff at Stapieton Anchorage in New York. have been received from American Ships Digest Everything In Its Place AFRIL 1993 Alexander Reyer, Educational Merchant Marine Society. Director O.Sessions, Deck BROOKS RANGE (lOM), Delegate George Kehlis, Engine February 24—Chairman M.G. Delegate Mark Glinka, Steward Gutierrez, Secretary J.S. Smith, Delegate Henry Daniels. Chair­ Educational Director K. Miles, man announced room inspection Deck Delegate M.R. Hester, En­ for those signing off. Secretary gine Delegate J. Laguana. Chair­ man reminded crew to separate plastic from garbage in room trash. Crew requested new TV. No beefs or disputed OT reported. CAPE HENRY(OMl), February 12—Chairman T.S. Votsis. Secretary A. Holland, Educational Director Irwin Rousseau, Deck Delegate Benny Freeland, Engine Delegate Troy Fleming, Steward Delegate R.C. Catahan. Chairman reminded members to donate to SPAD and keep dues up-to-date. He announced payoff. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. COURIER (Vulcan Carriers), February 14—Chairman S. Yaras, Secretaiy A. Ross. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew reported efforts being made for ship's fiind. Chief Steward Franchesca GAL VESTON BA Y(Sea-Land Rose prepares the daily menii Service), February 14-—Chairman atx}ard the SeaMPac/Wc. Carlton Hall, Secretary R. Ascano. Steward Delegate Donald Huffman. No beefs or disputed reminded members to upgrade at OT reported. Crew thanked Piney Point. Educational director steward department for excellent announced SIU representative to variety of good food. Next port: visit ship in next port. Treasurer Port Everglades, Fla. reported $144 in members' fund and $1,397 in general fond. No GLOBAL SENTINEL (Trans­ beefs or disputed OT. Crew oceanic Cable), February 12— reported Seafarers LOGs received. Chairman J. Olson, Secretary D. Crew requested new movies and Collison, Deck Delegate J. current issues of magazines. Stringer, Engine Delegate C. ^cCoy, Steward Delegate David LNG VIRGO (ETC), February Nason. Chairman thanked galley 28—Chairman Monte Pereira, gang for cookout and reminded Secretary Robert Brown, Deck crew to keep lounge clean. Treasurer reported $1,400 in ship's Delegate John Batorski, Steward fund. No beefs or disputed OT Delegate Glenn Williams. Chair­ man reported SIU port agent Sal reported. Crew asked bosun to Aquia visited ship in Japan and check into transportation to and crew voted to use ship's fond for Tom ship in Astoria, Ore. Next port: Astoria. second subscription to Stars & Stripes. No beefs or disputed OT GROTON (Sheridan Transporta­ reported. Crew requested shore tion), February 28—Chairman N. gang for Indonesia. Crew thanked Hatthey, Secretary A. Banky, galley gang for fine meals. Next ^ucational Director R. Natobi, port: Osaka, Japan. mgine Delegate P. Murtach, Steward Delegate M. Hammock. NEWARK BA Y(Sea-Land Ser­ Chairman announced payoff and vice), February 14-—Secretary J. ayup of ship in May or June. He Educational Director thanked lanked stewar steward~ department for great Jordan, Richard Johnson, Deck Delegate larbecue. Educational director Robert Kirk, Engine Delegate reminded members of Lundeberg Philip Pardovich, Steward School scholarship deadline on April Delegate Willie Grant. Secretary 5 and urged them to upgrade. No announced payoff. Educational reefs or disputed OT reported. director reminded members of im­ Steward delegate thanked crew for portance of upgrading at Lun­ lelp and participation in cookouL deberg School. No beefs or Crew requested short-wave radio, a disputed OT. Crew thanked mixer and was told new sofa was OTsteward department for job well dered. Rqrairs needed to TV, radio done. Next port: Boston. antoinas and galley refrigerator. ITB PHILADELPHIA (Sheridan OVERSEAS ALASKA Transportation), February IP(Maritime Overseas), February Chairman T. Tierney, Deck 13—Chairman John Zepeda, delegate Joe Turocy, Engine Secretary D. DeCesare, Education­ delegate Leo Sullivan, Steward al Director C.K. Dunnavant, Deck Delegate J. Emidy. Crew reported Delegate B. Riddick, Engine dishwasher needs repair. Steward Delegate John Cooper, Steward del^ate reported disputed OT. No beel:fs or disputed OT reported by Delegate Malcolm Holmes. Chair­ deck or engine delegates. Crew re­ man read letter received from head­ quested new couch for lounge. quarters. Educational director Vlembers urged to use caution on urged members to take opportunity decks due to icing in cold weather. to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Crew discussed importance of Treasurer reported $50 in ship's educating public on merchant fond. Steward delegate reported marine and its function—not only disputed OT. No beefs or disputed in defense but commercial use. OT reported by deck or engine Crew suggested union commer­ delegates. Chief pumpman gave cials educating public. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward depart­ vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment for excellent food. Next port: ment for fine meals. Galley gang New Orleans. thanked crew for keeping messhall clean. Next port: New York. OVERSEAS MARILYN LIBERTY SUN (Liberty (Maritime Overseas), February Maritime), February 21-Chair­ 21—Chairman Peter Victor, man Willie Rice, Secretary F.L. Yashington, Educational Director Secretary Ray Fletcher, Deck V.Sj Delegate A. Sjaastad, Engine )ouglas Felton, Engine Delegate Delegate Hector Frederick, ). Walker. Chairman announced layoff. Secretary reminded crew to Steward Delegate Lucas Mar­ tinez. Chairman reported smooth itrip bunks, clean room and leave cey before signing off. Educational sailing and good crew. He asked crew signing off to clean rooms and director discussed importance of ipor leave "fresh " nn Hnens. " He announced upgrading at Paul Hall Center. Enpayoff. He noted this was greafcrew ; »ine delegate reported disputed and thanked everyone. Secretary OT. No b^fs or disputed OT thanked crew for cooperation in reported by deck or steward keeping tidy ship. No" beefs or dis­ delegates. pute OT repoi^. ( . Crew gave vote NG LIBRA (ETC), February 8of thanks to galley gang for job well Chairman Bill Darley, Secret^ done. Next port: New Orleans. What's for Lunch? v.. • :f s.^3! •.J ..-sl �r ••/V..- '•^\ • .1<«V APRIL 1993 •'>'< SEAFARERS LOG Final Departures DEEP SEA Navy from 1943 to 1946. He began receiving his pension in January 1974 WILLIAM ALLEN Pensioner Wil liam Allen, 84, died February 16. He joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MCS)inl949 in his native Seattle, before that union merged with the Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Brother Allen began receiving his pension in September 1976. LORENZO ALVARADO Pensioner Lorenzo Alvarado, 63, passed away February 24. Bom in Puer­ to Rico, he, joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of New York. Brother Alvarado sailed in the steward department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. Brother ^varado retired in October 1988. JAMES BOTANA i. 23 Pensioner James Botana, 70, died Febraary 11. The na­ tive of Cuba joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of New York. Brother Botana sailed in the steward department. He began receiving his pension in April 1988. LARRY BOUTTE Pensioner Larry Boutte, 69, passed away December 10,1992. Bom in Louisiana, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1945 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Boutte began receiving his pension in July 1973. HARVEY BURGE Pensioner Harvey Burge, 75, died Febmary 11. A native of Picayune, Miss., he joined the union in 1945 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Burge sailed in the deck dqrartmenL He retired in September 1983. YUNG K. CHOW Pensioner Yung K. Chow, 87, passed away December 28,1992. Bom in China, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1950 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Chow began receiving his pension in December 1969. SHIU L. CHOY Pensioner Shiu L. Choy, 75, died January 3. A China native, he _ oined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1946 in the port of San Francisco, before that union ma-ged with the AGLIWD. Brother Choy retired in August 1974. FEDELE DIGIOVANNI Pensioner Fedele DiGiovanni, 86, »assed away Febmary 10. He oined the SIU in 1951 in his na­ tive New Orleans. Brother Di­ Giovanni sailed in the steward department. He served in the U.S. •..y • GEORGE GREEN Pensioner George Green, 70, died Decem­ ber 2,1992. A native of Seattle, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1940 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Green retired in July 1977. JOSEPH GUIDICE JR. Joseph GuidiceJr., 34, died January 19. Bom in New York, he graduated from the Lundeberg School in 1979. Brother Guidice sailed in the deck department. DARWIN HAND Darwin Hand, 51, passed away Febmary 15. A native of Gary, Ind., he joined the Seafarers in 1982 in the port of Honolulu. Brother Hand sailed in the steward department. He upgraded at Piney Point in 1988. Brother Hand served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1968. PAUL HUGLI Pensioner Paul Hugh, 72, died December 30,1992. A Cdifomia native, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1941 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Hugh began receiving his pension in June 1964. JOSEPH LISI Pensioner Joseph Lisi, 74, passed away Febmary 8. He joined the SIU in 1960 in his native New York. Brother Lisi sailed in the en­ gine department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1982. Brother Lisi served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1941 to 1945. He retired in March 1984. RJ. LOWE R.J. Lowe, 63, died December 16, 1992. Bom in Mississippi, he joined the union in 1961 in the port of San Francis­ co. Brother Lowe completed the steward recertification class at Piney Point in 1983. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946. HARRY LUCKEY Pensioner Harry Luckey, 70, passed away Decem­ ber 19, 1992. A native of LaBelle, Ra., he joined the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Luckey sailed in the en­ gine department. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother Luckey began to receive his pension in January 1988. GREGORIO MADERA Gregorio Madera, 43, died January 12. Bom in Puerto Rico, he joined the SIU in 1978 in the port of New York. Brother Madera sailed in the en­ gine department. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School frequently. JESSIE MARTIN WILLIAM HUNTER Pensioner William Hunter, 74, passed away January 24. Bom in Warren, Ark., he joined the SIU in 1969 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. He sailed in the engine depart­ ment. Brother Hunter upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1978. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1935 to 1962. Brother Hunter retired in September 1983. Jessie Martin, 67, passed away January 6. A native of Alabama, he joined the union in 1975 in the port of San Francis­ co. Brother Martin sailed in the en­ gine department. ROBERT JOFFERN Pensioner Robert Joffem, 80, died anuary 5. Bom in Arizona, he oined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1945 in the port of San "rancisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Joffem began receiving his pension in October 1970. JUANMELENDEZ Pensioner Juan MelenI dez, 65, died Febmaiy 4. Bom in Puer­ to Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1966 in the |X)rt of New York. He sailed in the steward department. Brother Vlelendez upgraded at Piney Point in 1977. He retired in July 1992. JAMES JOHNSON Pensioner James Johnson, 74, passed away January 10. A native of Louisiana, he joined the union 1955 in the port of New Orleans, le sailed in the steward depart­ ment. Brother Johnson served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. EON KANE Pensioner Leon Kane, 66, died Febmary 19. A New York native, he joined the Seafarers in 1946 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Kane sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He retired in July 1969. WILLIAM MINES William Mines, 62, passed away Febmary 1. An Oklahoma native, he joined the SIU in 1959 in the port of 'ortland. Ore. Brother Mines sailed in the steward department. ROBERT MORRISON Pensioner Robert Morrison, 75, died Febmary 11. Bom in Iowa, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1940 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. MILTON PANG Milton Pang, 56, died September 12,1992. Bom in China, he joined the Seafarers in 1988 in the port of Honolulu. Brother Pang sailed in the steward department. AHMED MOUSSAIN Ahmed Moussain, 63, passed away January 18. A native of Yemen, Arabia, he joined the union in 1990 in the port of Honolulu. Brother Moussain sailed in the steward department. FRANK PENNING RUYK.NG Pensioner Ruy K. Ng died January 5. Bom in China, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1947 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Ng began receiving his pension in July 1976. JIMMIE NICHOLSON Jimmie Nicholson, 40, passed away Febmary 12. A native of Cheyaw, S.C., he graduated from the Lundeberg School in 1978. Brother Nicholson sailed in the engine department. He upgraded frequently at the Lun­ deberg School. Frank Pen­ nine, 42, passed away December 24, 1992. He joined the SIU in 1990 in his native New York. Brother Pennine sailed in the steward department. vr EMMANUEL RAPITIS Pensioner Em­ manuel Rapitis, 70, died Decem­ ber 23, 1992. Bom in Greece, he joined the union in 1965 in the port of New York. Brother Rapitis sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He began receiving his pen­ sion in December 1988. GERONIMO REFUERZO Pensioner Geronimo Refiierzo, 84, passed away January 18. A native Continued on page 25 S.N. 'Smitty' Smith Passes Away; Saiiedin Galleys for 50 Years Samuel N. "Smitty" Smith passed away February 7. The retired steward department mem­ ber—a fixture in the San Francis­ co hall—was 74. Brother Smith began sailing in 1938 with the Marine Cool« ailQ Stewards as a cook aboard an American President Lines ship. He decided to give it a try after listening to an uncle describe what life is like at sea. He con­ tinued sailing until his retirement from the SIU in 1989, when he signed off the President Taft. For most of his maritime career, he sailed aboard pas­ senger ships. But, during World War 11, he signed on to whatever ship needed his help in the galley. Smith, in an interview in 1990 Samuel N. Smith with a reporter for the Seafarers LOG, recalled the most memorable shipment aboard a In 1980, Smith came to the vessel on which he sailed during Seafarers Harry Lundeberg that period was "transporting School of Seamanship to work mules for the 97th Infantry." with SIU members preparing to crew the dining room staff of the Worked Passenger Ships SS Independence. He served as Following the war, the New chief steward when the first York native returned to sailing on American Hawaii Cruises vessel passenger ships. He worked his made its inaugural run, then way up the ladder from waiter to worked his way up to hotel maitre d'. Along the way, he manager. He also served as hotel picked up some tricks of the trade manager aboard the Indy's sister that made his voyages ship, the SS Constitution. memorable for the passengers. 44 Round Trips "One evening on the trips, we The galley gang member es­ featured a 'Nights of Arabia' theme. 1 helped make the cos- timated he made 44 trips around tumes for the event," he recalled. the world during his career on the "In fact, we tried to have cos­ various passenger ships. He stated tumes and decorations for all his favorite vessel was the Presi­ kinds of special parties. That's dent Roosevelt because of "the why so many people came back great crewmembers aboard." to my ships." Following his retirement. Smith volunteered his time in the San Francisco hall, making cof­ 6,000 Christmas Cards One of Smith's characteristics fee for members and helping with was making friends whenever he special events. At his request. Brother sailed. At &e time of his death, his Christmas card list was Smith's ashes were scattered at greater than 6,000. He mailed- sea outside the Golden Gate cards to each person on the list Bridge following a ceremony aboa^ the President Jackson. every year. • (r �...-T, 24 APRIL 1993 SEAFARERS LOG Cruise Director and Staff Members Put the Fun into Sailing Hawaii No cruise is complete without sunrise with aerobics, walking the people who provide the spe­ and jogging sessions. For those cial, personal touches—those passengers not going ashore on a who t^e away any of the possible given day, there are—among worry a passenger might have numerous other activities— while sailing around the ukelele and hula lessons, arts and crafts sessions, bingo games and Hawaiian islands. On board the SlU-crewed In­ children's programs. In the afternoon, the staff dependence and Constitution, might put on short plays or enter­ cruise directors like Robert tain tea-time passengers with a Tanaka and Greg Fucci oversee few trips down memoiy lane on almost all of the passenger ac­ tivities on the seven-day voyages. the piano. The ships' orchestras From organizing passenger talent entertain in the evenings before Ready to help travellers aboard the Constitution are (from left) Jr. Asst. shows or trivia conteste to limng late-night pajama and dance par­ Purser Deslree Dold, Chief Purser Lynn Santos and Jr. Asst. Purser "P magic shows or big band-style ties begin. However, when the American entertainment for listening and Eldie Bawden. dancing pleasure, the cruise Hawaii Cruises vessels are dock­ directors and their staffs keep ed and passengers seek to become tourists, another SlU-crewed things moving. "Our goal is make sure the pas­ department is there to help. A stop sengers are happy and involved," at the purser's office on the main Fucci noted. "We want to make deck of either of the "White sure there always is something on Ships" can make sure passengers board the ship for them to see or have no problems when they go ashore. do." Cruise directors and staff, all Chief pursers like Sally Jo of whom are Seafarers, start at Robinson and Lynn Santos •\ •^ work with other SIU members to sell tour tickets, offer information about on-shore attractions, line up ear rentals, cash travellers checks and do many other things for tourists seeking to enjoy the beauty of one of the islands. Their offices are open 24 hours and assist passengers on board with such after-hours items as providing an extra pillow for the cabin or locating a medical of­ ficer for someone who had too much sun during the day. The Constitution orchestra, composed of SIU members, plays for passengers after dinner in the Tropicaria Showplace. Cruise Director Greg Fucci orAssisting a passenger on the Independence is Jr. Asst. Purser Alex ganizes passenger activities Viemez. aboard the Constitution. A Taking a call from a passenger on the Constitution is Jr. Asst. Pur­ ser Shannon Perry. Sports Director Derrick Mizuguchi keeps track of a passenger's workout aboard the Independence. _ u • * I , Saxaphonist Sean Lyons finds a Working in the purser's office aboard the Independence are Chief secluded place to practice onPurser Sally Jo Robinson and Jr. Asst. Purser Steve Hinton. board the Independence. Members of the Independence orchestra are (from left) Tom Rastorfer, Eric Shifrin, Robin Miyashiro (band leader), Sean Lyons, Rich Rychel and Chris Sharkey. Taking a moment to plan the evening's activities are (from left) Musician Keoni Manuel, Attendant Roey Daugherty, Deck/Lounoe Steward Deidre Larkin, Stage Manager Greg frochill' Deck/Lounoe Steward Sonny Whiting and Asst. Stage Manager Rick Erickson. '/'r- ' , -- ; .'i > • �APRIL 1993 Final Departures Continued from page 23 of the Fliilippine Islands, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1941 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Refuerzo sailed as a ma-chant mariner during World War II. He retired in April 1970. LESTER SMITH Pensioner Lester Smith, 68, died January 25. Bom in Washington, N.C., he joined the SlU in 1946 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Smith completed the bosun recertification class at the Lundeberg School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945. WILLIAM SMITH Pensioner William Smith, 65, passed away January 17. He joined the Sharers in 1947 in his native • Philadelphia. Brother Smith sailed in the deck department. He began re­ ceiving his pension in January 1986. BOBBIE B. SPEARS Pensioner Bobbie Spears, 67, died February 8. A native of Okhurst, Okla., he joined the union in 1944 in the port of New York. Brother Spears sailed in the deck depart­ ment. He retired in January 1987. ORVILLESTICH Pensioner Orville Stich, 71, passed away February 9. Bom in Dahlgren, 111., he joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Stich sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He began receiving his pen­ sion in October 1981. GREGORY TAYLOR Gregory Taylor, 37, died Novem­ ber 21, 1992. A native of Jonesboro, Ark., he graduated from the Lun­ deberg School in 1974. Brother Taylor sailed in the steward depart­ ment. THOMAS WALKER Pensioner Thomas Walker, 57, passed away Febmary 18. A Los An­ geles native, he joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Walker completed the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. HENRVWU Pensioner Henry Wu, 84, died November 27, 1992. Bom in China, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1939 in the port of ms SEAFARERS LOG San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Wu began receiving his pension in January 1968. INLAND SIDNEY ASNER Sidney Asner, 58, passed away January 26. A New York native, he joined the SIU in 1979 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Asner sailed in the steward department. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1971. JAMES DILLON Pensioner James Dillon, 63, died Febmary 6. Bom in Easton, Md., he joined the Seafarers in 1976 in the port of Baltimore. Boatman Dil Ion sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He upgraded at Piney Point in 1982. Boatman Dillon served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948. He began receiving his pension in September 1991. STANLEY JAMES Stanley James, 55, passed away January 23. A native of Jackson, Miss., he joined the union in 1979 in the port of New Orleans. Boat­ man James sailed in the deck department. WILLIAM MALLARD Pensioner William Mal­ lard, 76, died January 17. A New Bern, N.C. native, he joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Mallard sailed in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1944. Boatman Mallard began receiving his pension in August 1978. began receiving his pension in January 1989. FRANCIS POTTER Pensioner Francis Pot- . ter, 82, died Febmary 6. Bom in Michigan, he joined the Seafarers in 1962 in the port of Detroit. Brother Potter sailed in the engine department. He retired in November 1975. " LEON STILLWELL Pensioner Leon Stillwell, 78, passed away Febmary 15. A native of Mackinaw City, Mich., he joined the union in 1961 in the port of Detroit. Brother Stillwell sailed in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in July 1981. Pensioner Wilfred Roux, 74, died Febmary 11. Bom in Louisiana, he joined the union in 1967 in the port of Seattle. Boatman Roux sailed in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in December 1981. GREAT LAKES HUSSEIN ALEIDAROOS Pensioner Hussein Aleidaroos, 58, passed away October 16, 1992. A native of Yeman, Arabia, he joined the SIU in 1966 in the port of Detroit. Brother Aleidaroos Morale Reported High On LNG Capricorn "Hard work is a pleasure among SIU members aboard the LNG Capricorn," reported Bosun A.L. *Tet^' Waters to the Seafarers LOG. The February 21 ship's minutes reported no beefs or disputed OT on the Energy Transporation Corp. vessel. The minutes were signed by Chairman Waters, Secretary J.L. Gibbons, Educational Director D. Busby, Deck Delegate Dirk Adams, Engine Delegate Thomas Harris and Steward Delegate George Taylor. The camaraderie among crewmembers is evident in everyday activities at sea. Bosun Waters added. The steward department prepares excellent meals, and he noted his pleasure in sailing with such an enjoyable and experienced crew. Chief Cook George Taylor and SA Donna Moore add smiles and laughter to each day with their happy approach to a long day's work aboard the Capricorn, he pointed out. The report noted Waters plans to retire this year after one more voyage. The crew stated they will miss him when he signs off for the last time. • -1 ATLANTIC FISHERMEN RAYMOND RICHARDS Pensioner Raymond Richards, 75, died January 30. Bom in Newburyport, Mass., he joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of Gloucester, Mass. Brother Richards served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired in November 1978. RAILROAD MARINE Members of the deck department take time out from a busy day to pose for a group photo. They are (from left) OS Kevin Young, Bosun A.L. "Pete" Waters, AB Dirk Adams, OS Jake Mayo and AB Jeff Fry. JOHNWEIDNER Pensioner JohnWeidner, 90, passed away January 25. Bom in Brooklyn, N.Y.,he joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department. He retired in January 1968. SA Darrell Weather- Cleaning air con- Wiper D. Bell stows spoon helps with gal­ ditioner screens is his cle^up materials ley washup. QMED Tom Harris, for the day. JAMES McTIGHE Pensioner ANTHONY MAXWELL James McPensioner An­ Tighe, 80, thony Max­ died January well, 72, 10. A native passed away of Paterson, Febmary 3. N.J.,he He joined the joined the Seafarers in SIU in 1963 1957 in his na­ in the port of New York. Brother tive New Or­ McTighe sailed in the deck depart­ leans. Boatman Maxwell sailed in ment. He began to receive his pen­ the deck department. He retired in sion in April 1970. Febmary 1988. WELFREDROUX 25 SA Donna Moore and Recer- Preparing each meal with a tified Steward John Gibbons smiie is Chief Cook George clean fresh red snapper. Taylor. Summary Annual Report SIU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. This is a summ^ of the annual report for the Your Rights to Additional InfoimaUon SIU PD Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. You have the right to receive a copy of the full (Employer Identification No. 94-1431246, Plan No. annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The 501) for the year ended July 31, 1992. The annual items list^ below are included in that report; report has b^n filed with the Internal Revenue 1. An accountant's report, Service, as required under the Employee Retire­ 2. Assets held for investments, ment Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). 3. Transactions in excess of five (5) percent of the fund assets. Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust arrangement. Plan expenses were $10,857,639. These expenses included $293,902 in administra­ tive expenses and $10,563,737 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 2,188 per­ sons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits. The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $3,052,472 as of July 31, 1992, compared to $3,934,296 as of the beginning of the plan year. During the plan year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $881,824. The plan had total income of $9,975,815 including employer contributions of $9,773,180, earnings from investments of $ 169,055, and other income of $33,580. Employees do not contribute to this plan. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the Plan Administrator, SIU PD Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc., 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California 94105. Telrohone Number. (415) 4956882. You also have the legally protected right to examine the atmual report at the main office of the plan, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, California 94105, and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of coping costs. Requests to the Department of Labor should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N5507, Pen­ sion and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. ... .... , �20 SOFARBRSLOG APRR. 1993 Lundeberg School Graduating Classes • • • . • -'f'- Trainee Lifeboat Class 508—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 508 are (from left, kneeling) William Sorenson, Dale Rice, Kimberly Clark, Micfiael Santiago, Gamal Fitatiey, (second row) Bryan Ellis, Terrence Carmody, Andrew Palmer, Duane Washington, Eric Graham, Ben Cusic (instructor), (third row) David Connole, Michael Moore, Everett Downey, Bruce Sewer, Charles Wright and Patrick Levens. Upgraders Lifeboat—Members of the February 8 graduating class receiving their lifeboat endorsements are (from left, front row Saleh Nagi Hussen, Gualberto Mirodor, (second row) Ben Cusic (instructor), Lee Toczylowski, Stephen Adams and Robert Habina Jr Welding—Members of the March 9 class in welding are (from left) Bill Foley (instructor), Robert Curtin, Radar—Renewing their radar endorsements on February 12 are Joshua/ Mayer, Marcos Hill, Olifidio Esquivel Jr., William Jarvi, Sergio Pasilong, Paul Peterson, Gilbert Tedder (from left) Bill Lupton, Milton Gomes, Gerard McGovem and Jake Jr., David Plumb, Jim Gibson and Larry Pittman. Karaczynski (instructor). Able Bodied Seaman—Completing the AB course on March 9 are (from left, kneeling) Scott Snodgrass, Dale Kaiser, James Ward, Darryl Smith, Sean Flaherty, Thomas Sneed, Mike Soulier, David Denizac, Rodney Irons, (second row) Phillip Jackson, Daniel Bryant, Michael Smith, Joseph Young, Mark Bleau, Sean Essex, Derek Law, Ahmed Naga, Cory Gardiner, (third row) Rick James, Phillip Evans, Michael Ethridge, Kevin Masefield, William Dize, Kenneth Cuffee, Alfred Tucker, Robert Stanback, (fourth row) Casey Taylor (instructor), Dodd Edington, Michael Conway and Clay Swidas. Marine Electronics Technician I—Graduating from this engine department course on February 23 are (from left, seated) Robert C. Adams, David Murphy, Henry Muller, (standing) Albert Schroeder, Floyd Tumer and Russ Levin (instructor). Celestial Navigation—Completing the three-week <»lestial navigation course on * • i ** • I February 8 are (from left, front row) Jake Karaczynski (instarctor), Donald Marini, Darren Marine blectncal Maintenance—Successfully completing the marine electriBates, George Uriaan III, (second row) Carl Kriensky, Stephen Tannish, Bemard De pf'f"3'"tenance course on March 10 are (from left) Mark Stewart, Jon Beard, Ed Ryn^rg Repentigny and William Robitzsch. Monseur, Jom Priscu, Michael Hall, William Mogg and Eric Malzkuhn (instructor).' ' '•••- • ^ - �' \ *PiaL 1993 ^Muteitsum loot iliM' Course Ompteflon BosunRecertification ^ 1777^ Steward Recertification .e , Novembers J«»e28 Augusta Comes Course ~~~~—-—- • • Course Check-In Date Able Seaman ^ n5i«i. Date Cook, OH* Completion Date E". Cherlr-fn Check-In ^*npletion ^^7^7""^^—----j^opCT-ended (contact admissHms mCook,ChiefStcw,rt """forstartingdatea) AM opCT-cnded (contact admfari.-. Office for Starting dates) M ®W®w'Swwfflw ftiBwep Sihiphandling June 21 August 23 September 27 Badar Observer-Unlimited Course juj 2 Septembers October 8 1 QMED-Any Rating Mjy" 7' • >"7 S«P«ember20 May24 July 19 CdeatialNavlgaUm. IWrtMate Mays August 30 J — V :• / May 21 Jul/|« Augnst20 September24 — October 8 June21 ugustlS AnguatSO •'"'7* MarineEhH^calMaintenancel Marine Electrical Maintenance II PfeMlEnjjneTecfanology JJfeboatman June 4 July 2 July 30 August 27 Sealift Operations & Maintenance May21 Joly23 September 17 J*f7M June 4 Jnl7S Angnstao JulySO July 30 Seplember24 September24 August27 Augustis •"™'21 June7 Augusts j^3g July 2 August 27 August 9 Sei Septembers Or Basic/Advanced Fire Fighting ?*f7ll ^713 September? Novembers Novembc •'""7* "«7lO Marine Electrpmcs Technician D Hydraulics O'JSpm Prevention ahd Containment Course Check-In Date Completion Date aSfttaST' l!^==Sr Engl.sh as a Second Language fRq v '^.-^onsolBce for starting July 30 September24 ABRADING APPUCA7WH Name_ Address (Last) -Date of Birth (First) -Telephone ^fiivjiic (Zip Code! Deep Sea Member• IfthefnI1n'iA,:^^:^j^^ Lake, M K n Lakes MemberD Seniority • ) (A^^dT" — lolaad Wa.„ Member • PscineD --" — memoerLj Pacific • . Social Security # _ ~~ ®™''= * U.S. Citicen: • ves O No Home Pott Endorsementts) or License(s) now held Department Maintenance ^yon a graduate of the SHLSS riaineeptogtam? if .yes,. which program; from —"j^vgioiii. irom_ T__. . _ to Last grade of- —av^v^x school cewiijpic^^ea completed n Have yon attended any SHI^S w .yyes, course(s) UU^^Cn taken Have yon taken any — *VV D Towboat Operator Inland LJ Celestial Navigation LJ SimulatorConrse Ifyes,. how many weeks have have yon ^.7 you eompjetedv completed-? Do VOll hnM TT o ^ _ n ENGINE U FOWT O QMED-Any Rating Primary language spoken " ~ L:—- \ ReWgeration Systems Maintenance & Operation U Diesel Engine Technology Assistant Engineer/Chief engineer Motor Vessel DECK" D AB/Sealift O 1st Class Pilot D "niirdMate S Observer Unlimited ^g^/^nspectedTowing - Spill Prevention & Containment -.FMuuiunent U Basic/Advanced Fine Fighting SStor^"'®"«'"'=^'Steam D RefrigeratedContaineis Advanced Maintenance LJ Electro-Hydraulic Systems ~ Automation D Hydraulics ^—' -v*Aiauiics • Marine Electronics rechmcian U U D Q LJ ,- STEWARD Assistant Cook Utility CookandBaker ChiefCook ChiefStewaid Towboat Inland Cook / ' ' the course. IfyoQ have letter oolv If von ^^EDUCATlOtr^ DEPARTMENT n ^^^'''P'nental Studies (DVS) LJ English as a Second Language (ESL) U ^E/ESL Lifeboat "Bpaiation COLLEGE PROGRAM LJ Associate in Alts Degree ' ' 4/93 .'•riiWfc. • •-,v:;;: .1-.' October22 Befrigeration Maint. ^Operations Marine Electronics Techmcian I May 24 June 21 July 19 August 16 27 P^mber27 Basic £lM:tronics August 13 DemnberlO Date . Finm^atertenderand oiler must take the Oil Spill Pr^ PumproomMalnt. & Operations June 18 August 13 Completion am ....^ 'tn. �SEAEiRERS SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTS SlU Pacific District Pension Plan — Page 20 SiUPacific District Supplemental Benefits Fund, inc. — Page 25 April 1993 Volume 55, Number 4 SS ConsBtuUen Saves Tvm ta NMA Resaie MS 'b;'' lis.'- Two Oahu Island residents owe their lives to the sharp ears oi Ordinary Seaman Jayson Agana who heard their cries for help as the SS Constitution sailed pas them early on the morning o March 14. Agana was standing watch on the port bridge wing more than 7C feet above water level when he heard the cries of "Help!"coming from Victor Bakke and Tom Holquin. After notifying the bridge, the deck department member tossed life rings and water lights to mark the location, approximately eight miles south of Koko Head on Oahu. In less than an hour, the pair was warm­ ing up and drying off aboard the American Hawaii Cruises vessel. Later that morning, a Coast Guard cutter returned them to land. Chief Officer Maik Darley spoke with Bakke a few days after the rescue to find out what had happened and how he and Holquin were doing. Darley provided the Seafarers LOG with following the rescue off Koko Head of the two pleasure boaters, the Constitutionemergency squad gathers on a copy of the interview as well as le ship's bow. From left to right are (front row) Chief Officer Maik Darley, AB Maintenance John Madsen, OS •^ire Patrol Emmanuel Bayani, OS Rre Patrol Sanytroy Whiting, Carpenter Pat Patterson, (second row) AB details of the rescue. dado ordered the ship to begin a Williamson turn to initiate rescue operations. Araiza arrived on the bridge. He ordered Bosun Louie Zizzo to call up the emergency squad and requested that medicd officers be awakened and spot­ lights turned on. Shortly after 2 a.m., Bakke anc Holquin were spotted when the Constitution made its return pass A lifeboat was lowered and emer­ gency squad members ABs John Madsen, Tobias Rose, Francis­ coSousa, Robert Corbett, Brett Van Drie and Albert Dela Alma OSs Emmanuel Bayani, .Sanyboy Whiting, Lawrence Delay and Robert Williams; anc Carpenter Pat Patterson worker together to pluck the pair from the sea. Within minutes, they were safely aboard the passenger ship. Both men were suffering mild cases of hypothermia and stayed in the ship's hospital until their temperatures rose. They were transferred to a Coast Guard cut­ ter around 4 a.m. 'Euphoric Air' Darley stated "a euphoric air Vatch Tobias Rose, Captain Ricardo Araiza, Bosun Louie Zizzo, OS Watch Jayson Agana, AB Watch Francisco of accomplishment was clearly Sousa, (back row) OS Watch Lawrence Delay, OS Rre Patrol Rotrert Williams, AB Watch Rolrert Corbett, AB On the afternoon of March 13, Vlaintenance Brett Van Drie and AB Maintenance Albert Dela Alma. evident" among the crew after the Initial Sailing the duo had been sailing a catamaran Bakke recently pur­ chased when the port hull went under, causing the craft to flip. They were approximately three miles ftom shore and could see the Kahala Hilton. On their seaward side, the duo saw small crafts and vessel traffic. The time was approximately 3:30 p.m. Within 45 minutes, the cur­ rents had taken the inverted craft and its two passengers past all the boats and through the shipping lanes. No one had spotted them, and attempts to remove the mast—which stayed intact when the catamaran flipped—were un­ successful. At 4:30, after a boat sailed past but did not spot them, Bakke and Holquin decided to get off the catamaran rather than risk being carried further into the Pacific CX:ean. The pair secured a bungee line around each other so they would not separate. Neither had a life jacket or vest Early in theirstay in the water, two shaiib swam near but did not bother the pair. Helicopter Misses Them After nightfall, the two saw a Coast Guard helicopter flying over the ocean, shining a spotlight and making parallel tracks be­ tween Diamond Head and Koko Head. The pair thought they were about to be saved, especially when the chopper was directly above and shone its light directly over them. However, Ae helicop­ ter flew on, making a few more passes, then returned to land. The time was close to 10 p.m. Later a tug and barge passed within 200 yards of Bakke and Holquin. But the vessel was too Help Find This Mining Child The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has asked the Seafarers Interna­ tional Union to assist them in locating Leonard Louis Romanelli, a 7-year-old boy from Beacon, N.Y. Missing since August 7, 1992, the boy was abducted by his non-custodial mother, Lisa Marie DeBiase. A felony war­ rant for custodial interference has been issued against De­ Biase. At the time of his disap­ pearance, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy was 4 feet tall Leonard Louis Romanelli and weighed 68 pounds. He has a 4 to 6 inch scar on his shin. Missing and Exploited Children Anyone having information at (800) 843-5678 or the Missing on the disappearance of Persons Unit of the Dutchess Leonard Roihanelli should con­ County (N.Y.) ShedfiPs Office at tact the National Center for (914)452-0400. noisy for anyone to hear their yells. The pair attempted to stay in the shipping lane as neither thought they had the strength to swim to land. Around midnight, the two spotted a cruise ship leaving Honolulu harbor and, as Bakke related, they started watching it. That vessel turned out to be the Constitution, which was depart­ ing more than three hours late be­ cause many flights—^thus cruise passengers—^were delayed by a strong winter storm affecting the southern and Atlantic regions of the United States. rescue. He noted the Coast Guard congratulated the Constitution on a job well done. While talking with the chief officer days after the rescue, Bakke said he and Holquin had not properly thanked the crew of the Constitution for spotting and Rescue Begins rescuing them. He said they both Once Agana notified the were very grateful and planned to bridge of the cries for help. et the crew know it when the Second Officer Raymond Bal- vessel returned to Honolulu. "Sweeter prose has never been written by the most gifted poets or learned writers. We guessed we had been spotted, then became alarmed when the ship turned away from us." Storms Cause Changes Although the "Connie," as it is known to the crew, was scheduled to sail west to Nawiliwili, a Pacific storm with gusts of up to 60 knots was ap­ proaching Oahu, and Captain Ricardo Araiza sailed east to circle the island and avoid the bad weather. This change in sailing direction had the vessel headed straight for Bakke and Holquin. Bakke noted, "The distant and interesting passenger vessel which had left Honolulu now began to look more and more like the World Trade Center bearing down on us. I do not know which way we attempted to swim, but we knew it was time to get out of the way as both running lights were visible." As the bow began to pass Bakke and Holquin, they counted to three, then starting yelling at the top of their lungs. TTiat is when Agana heard their cries, with several other crewmembers and a The suivivors thanked the crewmembere for their efforts when the pas­ passenger also picking up the yells. senger ship returned to Honolulu. Posing in front of the lifeboat used in the "Dien the best souni^g word I rescue are (left to right) Tom Holquin and Victor Bakke, who spent 10 hours have ever or will ever hear sounded in the Pacific after their catamaran flipped; OS Watch Jason Agana, who from the bow of the ship—'OVCT- heard their cries for help; Captain Ricardo Araiza and Second Officer Ray board!"' Bakke told Darley. Baldado, wfio was on duty on the bridge when the pair was spotted. t- jiil/Vtl. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1993 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES DOT HEAD SETS INDUSTRY MEETINGS TO DEVELOP NEW MARITIME PROPOSAL RANK-AND-FILE PANEL ISSUES FINANCE REPORT BENTLEY PUSHES CARGO PREFERENCE LOOPHOLE CLOSURE USCG REVIVES WORK TAX SCHEME SACCO CITES THE UNION HIRING HALL AS MARINE UNIONISM’S ‘HEART AND SOUL’ LIBERIAN-FLAG BULKER SINKS OFF NOVA SCOTIA SIU CREWMEMBERS DONATE FUNDS TO BUILD SUBIC BAY BUS SHELTER COAST GUARD ANNOUNCES FEEDS FOR DOCUMENTS WILL BEGIN THIS MONTH SIU TO CONGRESS: TIME TO END FOREIGN-FLAG DAY CRUISES IN U.S. COASTAL WATERS HOUSE MARINE PANEL URGES CLINTON TO AFFIRM CARGO PREFERENCE LAW CHARLES BROWN CREW ‘FLAWLESSLY’ HANDLES REPAIR EXERCISE COMMITTEE BEGINS WORK TO DETERMINE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS 12 STEWARDS ATTAIN SCHOOL’S TOP ENDORSEMENT CONVEYORMAN PROVIDES EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION TO CREW ON SAM LAUD LUNDBERG SCHOOL TEAM OUTLINES INLAND TRAINING NEEDS SPECIAL COURSES PROVIDE BOATMEN THE SKILLS FOR ALLIED ENGINEROOMS ‘GOURMET’ GALLEY GARNERS RAVES FROM KESTREL CREW SEAFARER STAMATELAKYS OWNS LAKES’ OLDEST TUGBOAT POLISH WINTER IS A BIT HARSHER THAN HOME FOR LOUISIANA SEAFARER MURMANSK-’42: THE DIARY OF WYMOND D. HENDERSON ANATOMY OF A RESCUE SIU-CREWED LEO REACTS TO LISTING VESSEL’S SOS CRUISE DIRECTOR AND STAFF MEMBERS PUT THE FUN INTO SAILING HAWAII SS CONSTITUTION SAVES TWO IN NIGHT RESCUE Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1993 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. 55, No. 4 1993 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/56d87ffb90e0bae62d099622e8191945.PDF 7cb9654c31e1a25ddbc2651014888ebf PDF Text Text .•'yj.yC .y ^51.: ': fl ' 'Wy J'M Crewmembers aboard Bisso tugboats, like the two shown above, voted to sign on with the Seafarers Big Chiil ices Lakes Fitoiit, Causes Deiays The harshest winter in recent memory forced many Great Lakes vessels to stay in port longer than originally scheduled because of ice blocking the shipping lanes. The winter conditions affected such SIUcrewed vessels as the St. Clair and tugboat Arkansas. Story on page 6. - ' •' ' '.rCM'- y'm ;• vfe| 2 �2 APRIL 1994 SEAFMERSLOG President's Report Health Care Fight Begins .if' ••-v'ii, .... i), ^4 >f' "• ' "l" The fight is on. After months of verbal salvoes fired by those entrenched and enriched by the present medical pro­ gram, Congress has started to hold hearings on legislation to reform America's health care system. During the election of 1992, the AFLCIO spoke in behalf of working people all across America who were concerned about the continuing need to give up pay raises and other benefits in order to maintain ade­ quate health care coverage for themselves and their families. Candidate Bill Clinton listened and made health care reform a Michael Sacco priority. The president set up a study group to look into every aspect of the problem and come back with suggestions, to the White House on what should be done. The committee met with average citizens and medical professionals all across the country to gather evidence on what has become a crisis in America. Tfie president introduced these ideas on September 22 during a nationally televised address. Yet, despite the fact that almost 39 million Americans in the latest count are uninsured, despite the fact that the national inflation rate averages around three percent while the medical inflation rate grows at 11 percent annually, despite the fact that the United States spends far more of its gross national product on health care than any of the other major industrial­ ized nations (which provide universal coverage for their citizens), there are still those who claim we do not have a health care crisis. No health care crisis? Try telling that to the head of a household who has been laid off and now has no protection for his or her family. Try telling that to a single parent who is trying to make ends meet at a low-paying job that does not provide any health care benefits. Try telling that to someone who has dealt with the skyrocketing prices of medicine when his or her budget has been knocked out of whack to fill a ^ prescription for an illness. The naysayers claim we don't have a health care crisis. But, another 2.3 million Americans joined the ranks of the uninsured in 1992, and that figure continues to increase. And who pays for those without insurance? For one, those of us in the trade union movement who have health care coverage. While union workers enjoy coverage that others don't, skyrocketing prices have put a strain on the health in­ surance plans of those who have coverage. That's because every time an uninsured person gets treated in an emergency room, the cost is passed along through higher prices to those who do enjoy coverage. However, those same naysayers who claim there is no health care crisis are offering their own legislation to "reform" health care. Their idea of so-called reform is not to bring all Americans to the standard of coverage enjoyed by workers covered by a union contract, but to lower the coverage of those with benefits to a substandard level. Then they would tax anyone who seeks to obtain a higher level of coverage. The SIU will oppose any such move in Congress to lower the standard of health care in this country. That is not reform; that is regression. The Seafarers will stand with the AFL-CIO in its support of a health care reform initiative, like the president's, that in­ cludes true reform of the system. Among those principles that must be part of any bill fixing the nation's health care system are universal coverage for all Americans —^ coverage that can­ not be taken away because of illness, lack of a job or any other cause; preservation of quality care and containment of the spiraling costs. As the Congress debates both the president's health care reform proposal and all the other pieces of legislation dealing with the same subject, the AFT-CIO will be working to ensure that any system adopted benefits working people and their families. The SIU certainly will do everything it can to assist in those efforts. Volume 56. Number 4 April 1994 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSC Ihince Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional maiUng offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Managing Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors, Jor­ dan Biscardo and Corrina Christensen; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower. SIU fishermen join with others from New England to protest the conditions of their industries during a sit-in at the New Bedford, Mass. federal building on March 11. Commene Dept Gtters Aid Package After New England Fbhermen Protest The remaining $12 million scalloping dredges. Implementa­ A month-long series of meet­ ings and protests led by SIU will come from the department's tion was set for March 1. A shortage of the new nets and fishermen from the port of New National Oceanic and Atmospheric rings, however, as well as com­ Bedford, Mass. culmihated in the Administration in loan guarantees plications in implementing the release late last month of $30 mil­ and direct grants for alternative plan forced the service to delay lion in economic aid by the U.S economic activities and a series of implementation of the program Fishery Assistance Centers, in­ Commerce Department. for one month. A second exten­ Commerce Secretary Ronalc cluding two mobile operations to sion until May 1 was granted for Brown announced the assistance help affected fishermen. the new nets and until June 1 for While welcoming the federal package while meeting in Boston rings. aid, both Kerry and Sen. Edward on March 21 with New England area fishermen and elected offi­ Kennedy (D-Mass.) called it only Limits Days at Sea a first step in the efforts to help the cials. Shortly after the fishermen The announcement of the aid New England fishing industry. came after a month in which New Brown noted the Clinton ad­ received their notification con­ Bedford Seafarers were joined by ministration would be seeking ad­ cerning the nets, another letter fellow fishermen from other ports ditional funds designed to help from the fisheries service was ar­ riving in their mailboxes. in Massachusetts and Maine in the industiy. The letters notified boat tying up their vessels in Boston Regs Decrease Yield Harbor for two weeks. The fisher­ owners how many days they The protests that brought the could sail during the upcoming men held meetings with state and federal elected officials to discuss problems of the New England year under two systems the ser­ the plight of their industry. fishing industry to Washington's vice was proposing. One, called Then, after returning to their attention began earlier this year the fleet system, was limited to home ports, the New Bedford when the federal government 190 days for the year. The other, fishermen conducted a peaceful began informing fishermen of called the individual boat system, sit-in on the steps of the town's new regulations that would was based on the average number federal building to call attention decrease the amount groundfish of days the boat sailed in the pre­ to the problems associated with and scallops they could catch. vious year and reduced by 10 per­ increasing federal regulations and (Groundfish is a general term for cent. decreasing stock in the Georges haddock, cod, various flounders The idea behind the program and other commercially impor­ was to reduce the amount of fish­ Bank fishery. The fishermen had been ur­ tant species of fish.) ing that occurs in the Georges ging the government to release For years, the National Marine Bank. However, as it has been economic aid funds authorized Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced, the program actually last year in the $7.6 billion been working on a plan to reduce hurts vessels which have been California earthquake relief the number of fish caught in the practicing conservation—like measure. Senator John Kerry (D- Georges Bank, located in the those sailing under an SIU con­ Mass.) had amended the bill to North Atlantic off the coast of tract—which requires four days authorize the commerce secretaty New England. Overfishing of the ashore for every 10 days at sea, to make available up to $550 mil­ grounds, caused in part by and rewards the non-union boats lion for the fishing industry in overament efforts to build up the that simply come into port to off­ disaster aid. commercial fleet, had greatly load fish, change crews and then reduced the amount of fish that return to sea. Concerns Remain could be harvested In order to monitor the days at Despite the announcement of Despite the fact that planning sea, the NMFS had ordered the the aid, fishermen are concerned for the regulations had been fishing boats to carry Vessel that it may not be enough to deal taking place for years, the fisher­ Tracking Systems, known as with the problems in their in­ men started receiving letters at black boxes." The cost for such he beginning of 1994 from the devices runs up to $5,000 plus dustry. Henri Francois, SIU port agent WFS that they would have to monthly usage fees. The SIU has in New Bedford, noted the fisher­ purchase larger mesh nets for men are wondering how the groundfish and larger rings for Continued on page 14 money will be distributed. "There is a concern that very little of the $30 million may ac­ tually reach the fishermen it is intended to help," Francois said. "Much of that will depend on the details that have not been final­ ized." According to a statement is­ sued Iw the Commerce Depart­ ment, $18 million of the aid will be targeted at entire communities affected by . new regulations and declining fish stocks. It will focus on the longterm recovery of the impacted towns and villages through community reinvestment Seafarer Tony Santos demonstrates to the press that fish which are considered undersized by the U.S. government are allowable in and diversification. Canada. The fish in tum are imported for sale in the United States. '} �• .'..A- • APRIL 1994 SEAFARERSLOG •,•;.••- -r-' - . 3 E.N. Bisso Crews Vote SlU By 2-1 ^1: February 22 aboard the Bisso tug lot of propaganda and they came Gladys B., which was in port in on the boats the week before the longtime non-union Gulf tugboat New Orleans and was secured by election and tried to tell us to vote no. company voted overwhelmingly officials from the National Labor "But it didn't make any dif­ last month to be represented by Relations Board (NLRB). Addi­ ference to me. You see the results the Seafarers International tional secret ballot voting also of the vote—evidently, we Union. took place on March 3 in Miami wanted to join the union, and By a count of 45 to 27, the aboard the Capt. Bud Bisso, the we're happy because we have the boatmen working for New Or­ one Bisso vessel that sails off­ union. Guys know they're going leans-based E.N. Bisso Co. sig­ shore. to have good benefits and wages nalled that they wanted union The NLRB counted the ballots and job security over the long representation, despite an intense and announced the results on haul." anti-union campaign waged by March 8. Dean Corgey, vice president the company. Since the election, the SIU has of the SIU's Gulf Coast Region, Voting was conducted by been preparing for contract talks said, "I have a tremendous "A union means you have a future," says AB Robert Neff Sr., who works aboard Bisso tugs like the one above. "I think this is terrific." secret ballot and took place with the company. However, amount of respect for the boat­ Bisso filed objections about the men in the Bisso fleet. They were election with the NLRB. The subjected to the most intimidating agency currently is investigating and vicious anti-union campaign that I've ever seen. But they hung Bisso's objections. together, showed a lot of guts and E.N. Bisso, which openly has they prevailed. resisted union organizing of its "We reach out to those 27 who employees for many years, didn't support the union to come operates a fleet of 15 boats — 14 on board. The more people who of which work in ship docking are with the union effort, the operations from the Gulf up the stronger we'll be at the bargain­ Mississippi River as far north as ing table and the better their con­ Baton Rouge, La. tract is going to be." "I voted yes because I believe Meanwhile, an ex-Bisso cap­ a union is the only sensible way a tain who requested anonymity working man can go," said Deck­ until his charges against the com­ hand Robert Neff Sr. "A union pany are processed said he means you have a future. I think believed the company fired him this is terrific." because he refused to cooperate In reference to Bisso's efforts in Bisso's aggressive anti-union to get crewmembers to vote campaign. against the union, Neff, 57, TTie captain also expressed the added, "What the company has general view of many of his ship­ done to us has been very in­ mates that the company was timidating, and I'm not the type trying to intimidate the crew from who's easily intimidated. They're exercising their right to free E.N. Bisso's 15 tugboats. Including the ones pictured here, are used for docking operations. very sarcastic,'they've put out a choice. BSrug^u""" "" n.em!' ""ctwrmbTrs' Fired Capt Returns to Work After MTD Protests Dismissal Nelson Flew Historic Flag to Support U.S. Mariners . • ,'Vi;.-'A n The captain of the President Four days later. Nelson, a the American flag to foreign-flag F.D. Roosevelt, who had been Vietnam veteran and commander registry. "We emphasize this point be­ fired for flying an historic. in the Naval Reserve who has Revolutionary War-era worked for APL for 17 years, was cause it is against this backdrop American flag as a peaceful show relieved of his command of the that the action of Captain Nelson of support for the U.S. merchant Pres. Roosevelt. On March 8, ... is easily understood." In the letter to Lillie, Sacco marine, was reinstated after a Nelson was fired by company of­ unified protest by maritime labor ficials in a meeting at APL's of­ called for reinstatement of Nelson was launched under the auspices fices in Oakland, Calif. The letter as master of the Pres. Roosevelt; of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades of dismissal given to the 48- for assurance that no attempts year-old Nelson cited "viola­ will be made to "in any way in­ Department (MTD). Captain Richard Nelson tion of APL Policies and hibit [the crew's] right to spe^ up on issues of concern to them and resumed command of the Pres. Procedures ..." A groundswell of protest im­ the American public"; and for Roosevelt on March 21, less than two weeks after his firing and mediately erupted over Nelson's disciplinary action against the of­ ficials from APL who were Crewmembers aboard the President Roosevelt display the historic I after resolving differences with firing. responsible for Nelson's firing. Revolutionary War-era flag which Captain Nelson raised on March 1 American President Lines, Ltd. MTD Presi­ He also pointed out the ap­ while the vessel was In port In Guam. Among those pictured are SIU (APL). dent Michael parently contradictory actions of members Joseph Tucker (chief cook, standing at far right) and Alvin Acting on behalf of the entire Sacco, who also APL receiving fedei^ subsidies Solomon (assistant cook, kneeling at right). crew—which includes members is president of the while proceeding with plans to of the SIU (steward department), SIU, called a reflag some of its vessels and scheduled to go to arbitration tive," the statement reads. "We in the SIUNA-affiliated Sailors' meeting while building new ships over­ before the settlement with APL will continue to work together to Union of the Pacific (deck) and Washington that seas. was reached. seek the survival of the U.S. mer­ Marine Firemen's Union (en­ included repreThe MTD's actions came on ? APL and the MM&P issued a chant marine." sentatives from Capt. Nelson gine), the Masters, Mates & Pilots the heels of a resolution passed by joint statement noting that In June 1993, APL and Sea(MM&P, deck officers) and Dis­ all of the unions its San Francisco Port Council Nelson's reinstatement with full involved in these incidents. (The Land Service Inc. filed applica­ trict 1-MEBA (engine officers) immediately after Nelson's dis­ Nelson on March 1 raised a flag MTD consists of 42 affiliated missal. In that resolution, the port back pay demonstrates the effec­ tions for approval from the U.S. aboard the Pres. Roosevelt bear­ unions which represent more than council proclaimed support of the tiveness of the collective bargain­ government to transfer 20 vessels ing process. ing the likeness of a snake on 13 8 million workers.) to foreign registry. The com­ captain and vowed to "take all Signed by Lillie and MM&P panies cited the lack of a new U.S. red and white stripes and the Afterward, in a communica­ appropriate action against thedis­ words "Don'tTread On Me." One tion sent to APL President and graceful punishment imposed by President Tim Brown, the state­ maritime program. ment describes the resolution of of the earliest flags in U.S. his­ CEO John Lillie on March 16, (APL) upon our brother " Later in the year, the House the situation as "amicable." tory, it was hoisted in place of the Sacco noted the "condition of un­ passed a maritime revitalization "The confidence established Receives Back Pay Stars and Stripes as a peaceful certainty and instability among bill. by our joint efforts in support of Nelson n^ived back pay and protest over /the^ demise of the thq company's crewmembers by The Clinton administration American merchant fleet, while virtue of [APL's] repeated threats lenefits. His union, the MM&P, maritime revitalization legisla­ presented its revitalization pro­ the ship was in port in Apra Har­ and intimations that it was prepar­ lad filed a grievance with the tion contributed to our ability to bor, Guam. ing to switch its operations from company, and the case was place this controversy in perspec­ gram to Congress last month. •'I• ' I •-•-rirrf'~irri if- -|-rf-|"rr-r JJL JI •" > �4 SBAFARERS LOG APHH. 1994 House Takes Up Waterways Safety Bill Merchant Marine Committee Chairman Studds Calls for Sweeping Changes ^ 'V ^ Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass,), said Studds following the intro­ where they operate, subject to towing vessel simulator. Under seamen (ABs). Third, all towing vessels, chairman of the House Merchant duction of the Tov ing Safety Act. Coast Guard inspection. The current law, an applicant for an regardless of size, would be uninspected towing vessel Marine and Fisheries Conlmittee, "Huck Finn could not drift down Coast Guard would inspect operated by a Coast Guard licensed operator's license only has to pass has introduced an inclusive bill the mighty Mississippi today towing vessels at least once every master. This would eliminate the a written test. An actual two years to ensure that they carry which addressees many aspects without getting run over. current "operators license" and re­ demonstration of ability to of towing safety, licensing, man­ "Those who use these waters appropriate safety and naviga­ quire towboats to be operated by operate a vessel or its equipment tional equipment and are in com for commercial purposes must ning, equipment and inspection licensed masters and, depending on is not , re­ pliance with applicable marine recognize that times have designed to improve the safety of their size, cany one, two or t&ee quired. safety laws. "It makes absolute! changed, they no longer have the the nation's inland waterways. licensed mates. This change would "To get The Towing Safety Act (H.R. rivers to themselves and they face no sense to vigorously inspect driver' bring the towing industry in line 4058) includes many safety a growing array of obstacles in barges but completely ignore the license you with the licensing system used by standards supported by the SIU the form of highway bridges, rail­ fact that these are inert objects have to de­ all other segments of the marine and the union's efforts over the road bridges and shoreline that only become ert when a towmonstrate transportation industry, Studds past few years to bolster the safety development. Safety must tri­ boat moves them. A barge, by proficiency by noted. conditions along America's umph over tradition. Licensing itself, is not going anywhere. If it "Many towboats are operated actually driv­ navigable waterways. and manning standards must be runs into a bridge, another vessel Rep. Studds ing a car. It in a safe and responsible manner H.R. 4058 includes the inland brought into the modem era," said or the bank, it is because a towonly makes and I expect that this legislation boat has pushed it, pulled it or set safety provisions endorsed by the chairman. sense to re­ would have a negligible impact Transportation Secretary According to a U.S. Coast it loose," said Studds. "These ves­ Federico Pena during a March 2 Guard report of December 6,1993, sels should be inspected and those quire an operator of a towing ves­ on the way they do business be­ hearing of the House Coast Guarc entitled "Review of Marine Safety entrusted with operating them sel to demonstrate proficiency at cause they are already doing the and Navigational-Subcommittee. Issues Related to Uninspected should be required to demonstrate driving a towboat," stated the right thing. Unfortunately, others are not so responsible, and it is chairman. The secretary called the effort to Towing Vessels," there were that they can do so safely." those operators that this bill tar­ Under current law, only improve waterways safety "one 12,971 marine casualties involving Limits on Exams gets," said Studds. of our highest priorities." uninspected towing vessels be­ towing vessels over 300 gross Finjilly, the bill requires that The bill also places a limit on tween 1980 and 1991^—1,080 acci­ tons that operate seaward of the Accidents Spotlight Need the number of times an applicant all marine casualties be reported dents per year or an average of shoreline are inspected. can take a license exam. (The to the Coast Guard as soon as The need for such legislation nearly three each and every day. Requires Navigational Aids pilot of the Mauvilla failed the practicable, but in no case later The Coast Guard's study found has been highlighted by two very H.R. 4058 would require that Coast Guard License exam seven than five days after the event. It serious accidents involving tugs that 59 percent of these accidents increases the penalty for not and barges in the past six months. were directly related to personnel all towing vessels carry radar, an times.) doing so from $1,000 to $25,000. On September 22, the tug Mauvil- errors and 16 percent were at­ electronic position-fixing device, The Studds bill would increase la, pushing six barges, struck a tributable to equipment failures. adequate communications equip­ the manning requirements of Bills Under Consideration bridge in Big Bayou Canot near "This is not a skety record to be ment, a sonic depth finder, a com­ uninspected towing vessels in No hearing date has been set Mobile, Ala., knocking the proud of," stated Studds. pass, adequate towing equipment severk ways. First, it requires "The legislation I am introduc­ and up-to-date navigational everyone involved with the for the Towing Safety Act, which structure's railroad track 41 in­ ches out of alignment. Amtrak's ing will impose requirements for charts. Licenses could also, for operation of a towing vessel to encompasses several safety Sunset Limited derailed because towing vessel inspection and the first time, cany a limitation on carry merchant mariner docu­ measures that are outlined in two of the misaligned track, and 47 tighten those for equipment, man­ the number of barges an operator ments (also known as z-cards). bills already under consideration ning and licensing, so that we could tow. people were killed. All employees on towing vcissels, by the House Coast Guard and On January 7, the barge Mor­ may reduce accidents and provide Studds noted that the tug )assenger vessels and offshore Navigation Subcommittee. ris J. Berman, adrift after its greater safety for commercial Mauvilla did not carry even the supply vessels will be required The Inland Documentation towline broke, struck a coral reef traffic on bur waterways and for most basic navigation equipment. to carry a z-card if they are in­ BilI (H.R. 1915) calls for all boat­ off the coast of San Juan, P.R. and the public traveling in and over The Coast Guard is authorized to volved in the safe operation of men sailing on inland waterways spilled 600,000 gallons of oil, these waterways." modify or add to this list of equip­ the vessel. vessels of more than five gross fouling pristine beaches and kill­ ment if the needs of a particular tons to hold Coast Guard-issued "While the requirements to Subject to inspection ing a variety of fish and wildlife. area dictate. obtain a document are minimal, it merchant mariner documents. "Traffic on our waterways, If enacted, the Towing Safety The Towing Safety Act would does provide the Coast Guard This bill was introduced by especially on crowded inland Act would make all towing ves­ require all towing vessels to be with a tool to remove incom­ Studds early last year. rivers, is increasing, and too sels that push or pull inspected operated by licensed masters and petent persons or those with sub­ The second piece of legisla­ many accidents are &e result," jarges, regardless of size or mates. These officers would have stance abuse problems from the tion before the subcommittee, the to demonstrate their proficiency industry by revoking their docu­ Towing Vessel Navigational in operating the newly required ment," noted Studds. Safety Act of 1993 (H.R. 3282), equipment. In addition, license Second, the proposed bill requires all inland waterway ves­ applicants will have to would require towing vessel sels to be equipped with marine demonstrate their shiphandling crews to consist of a minimum of charts, navigational publications, skills on a towing vessel or a 65 percent certified able bodied compass, radar and fathometer. Three months after a massive coming from the Oil Spill oil spill fouled the beaches of San Liability Trust Fund which was Rally Urges Senate Support for Striker Replacement Bill Juan, P.R., clean-up efforts still set up following the 1989 Exxon N are under way to restore the miles Vaidez oil spill in Alaska. The of affected shoreline. remaining $10 million comes Seafarers by land and sea were from the barge owner's in­ among the first to respond when surance. the non-union barge Morris J. The Coast Guard noted the Berman ran aground on a coral beach recovery effort probably reef during the pre-dawn hours of will continue into 1995. Each day January 7. The several holds on the jatrols scour up to 70 miles of barge ruptured, sending 662,000 jeachfront for tar balls and oil gallons of heavy number 6 bunker debris that have floated ashore oil in the surf toward the beaches from the reef as well as from the along San Juan's hotel row. bottom of the ocean and nearby More than 200 SIU members lagoons. Divers have been recovering working with Crowley Maritime laid containment booms around oil from these locations by using environmentally sensitive areas, vacuums. In some cases, they manned tugboats and skimmers have to physically place the oil in to capture oil before it reached the bags in order to remove it. So far, shore and helped in many other these efforts have reclaimed near­ ways. Other Seafarers aboard the ly 10,000 gallons of oil. oil spill response boat Caribbean Coast Guard officials noted Responder were called in by the their concern that warmer U.S. Coast Guard to augment the weather will loosen even more of the oil on the ocean's floor, caus­ Crowley crew. Because of the fast work by the ing it to drift ashore. No charges have been placed SIU members and others in­ volved, the Coast Guard es­ on any of the crew members timated that 336,000 gallons of aboard the Morris J. Berman or oil were captured and recovered the tugboat Emily S., which had Soafarer Durriel! Williams (in cap at right) joins other SIU members and fellow trade unionist at a before soiling the beaches. been towing the barge out of San Washington rally on March 16 calling on Congress to pass legislation to ban the practice of hiring So far, the cost of the clean-up Juan harbor. A Coast Guard in­ permanent replacements when workers stage a legitimate economic strike. The bill, known as 8.55, has neared the $70 million figure. vestigation into the accident is has passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting Senate consideration. President Clinton has Of that amount, $60 million is continuing. announced he would sign the bill when it clears Congress. Clean-up Efforts Continue Along San Juan Beaches •V flu ;• --•: �APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG Mmbilstntkm's MarHnw Plan Becomes BUI 5 •/ • Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena presented to Con­ gress legislation designed not only to revitalize the U.S.-flag merchant fleet but also supply the funding mechanism to do so. , The Maritime Security and Trade Act of 1994 (H.R. 4003) calls for a 10-year, $1 billion Maritime Security Program which would begin during Fiscal Year 1995. Pena originally had outlined the program in February at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting. He formally introduced the legislation at a press con­ ference on March 10. (See story below.) The new bill replaces H.R. 2151 as the legislation Congress By Fiscal Year 1998, the pay­ carried aboard tankers.' will consider in the debate for ments would be reduced to $2 To become part of the maritime revitalization. While million per ship per year until the Maritime Security Program, H.R. 2151 (which passed the program concludes at the end of companies would agree to make House of Representatives in a Fiscal Year 2004. The ad­ their ships available or provide 347-65 bipartisan show of sup­ ministration estimates 52 vessels, space on board the vessels for the port in November) outlined the each flying the U.S. flag and car­ Defense Department during na­ proposals for helping the U.S.- rying American crews, would be tional emergencies. The vessels flag merchant fleet, it contained involved in the program. have to remain active in foreign no funding mechanism. H.R. 4003 proposes to pay for commerce and can be no more In offering the bill to the the program through an increase than 15 years old. House Merchant Marine Sub­ in tonnagefees which would raise Legislation Schedule committee on March 17, Pena approximately $100 million a said, "This legislation is designed year. The duties for entering a The House subcommittee is to maintain a modem American U.S. port from a nearby Western expected to hold another hearing merchant fleet, ensure continuing Hemisphere foreign port would on H.R. 4003 before it goes to the American presence in the go from nine cents per registered full Merchant Marine and transportation of our intemationa tonnage to 24 cents. For those Fisheries Committee. Should it House Merchant Marine Subcom­ commerce and provide adequate sailing to America from outside be approved by the. committee, it mittee Chairman William Lipinski sealift for national emergencies." that region, the fee would go from would be debated and voted upon (D-lll.) states the bill demonstrates Subcommittee Chairman Wil­ 27 cents to 71 cents. The current by the full House of Repre­ the president's commitment to liam Lipinski (D-Ill.) added, "We practice of limiting collections to sentatives. maritime revitalization. Once the House approves the are encouraged by the Clinton the ship's first five visits to the Once passed by both bodies, administration's initiative to cre­ U.S. per year will be retained. bill, it will go before the Senate which will have the right to ate a reform proposal and to in­ The administration estimated Merchant Marine Subcommittee, clude the program in the that the tonnage fee increase then the Senate Commerce Com­ amend the original bill, and all president's budget. It is an impor­ would relate to an increase of 38 mittee, Science and Transporta­ amendments are agreed to, it tant step and a courageous move, cents per passenger for a cruise tion Committee before being would then go to the president for his signature. given the current fiscal climate, ticket and a penny per barrel of oil debated by the full Senate. and it deserves our gratitude and support." Gradual Implementation If passed by Congress and signed into law, funding for the program would begin October 1 No agreement was reached shipbuilding assistance program Korea and Taiwan also limit their and would be implemented on a among the shipbuilding nations and has been pushing the talks for domestic coastal trade to ships gradual basis. Those companies of the world in the latest round of the last five years, other OECD that fly their flags. In a resolution passed by the Transportation Secretary with ships included in the pro­ talks to eliminate that industry's nations claim America should gram during the first three years AFL-CIO Maritime Trades surrender the Jones Act before Federico Pena explains the Clin­ unfair government subsidies. ton maritime revitalization pro­ would receive $2.5 million per Department (MTD) at its annual The breakup means the United they will consider eliminating gram to the House Merchant vessel per year that they are part States will remain the only major their payments. The U.S. executive board meeting in Marine Subcommittee. of the program. shipbuilding nation that does not negotiators stood firm and February to provide an even keel provide assistance to its domestic refused to allow the nation's for shipbuilding around the cabotage law to be placed on the world, the body noted nations in­ industry. volved in the OECD talks have The Organization for table for discussion. (The Jones Act is the name not been trying to, reach a con­ Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) sponsored given to a 1920 law that limits the clusion, but "have used these the week-long talks in March at carriage of trade between U-S. negotiations to maintain their un­ Representatives from embraces the administration's its headquarters in Paris. Among ports to U.S.-crewed, U.S.- fair advantage." maritime labor, the chairmen of maritime security program as an the nations taking part were the owned and U.S.-built vessels.) (The MTD is made up of 28 the House and Senate merchant important step toward the United States, Japan, South However, many of the nations port councils and 42 affiliated marine committees and the head revitalization of the American Korea, members of the European who object to the Jones Act fail to unions representing eight million of the Maritime Administration merchant marine Union and the Nordic countries. include their own cabotage laws in workers.) "President Clinton's program (MarAd) expressed their support the negotiations about subsidies. Talking Since 1989 Loan Programs Vary for the Clinton administration's is a breakthrough. It represents A report released by the U.S. The OECD negotiations, Besides the cabotage laws, maritime revitalization legisla­ the first time in more than two which are held under the auspices Maritime Administration in Oc­ many of these same nations pro­ tion, which was introduced by decades that an administration is tober 1993 pointed out that Of the United Nations, began in vide a wide array of funding sour­ Transportation Secretary willing to follow through with a among the 57 nations surveyed, a 1989 as a means for governments ces to subsidizes their shipbuilding total of 44 have cabotage laws. Federico Pena at a March 10 press real program to stop the decline of to find a way to end shipbuilding activities. According to the report, the U.S.-flag fleet and to begin The nations include many on the conference in Washington. subsidies and place construction government runs a Japan's Pena noted that even the intro­ the process of developing federal European and Asian continents. for new vessels as well as repair development bank and credit cor­ For instance, the report stated duction of the Maritime Security maritime programs that will of older ships on a level playing poration which, with the nation's Germany reserves its coastal and Trade Act of 1994 (H.R. reinvigorate the domestic mer­ field. trade only to those vessels within Ministry of Transportation, assists 4003) would not have been pos­ chant marine." The United States eliminated Following Kirkland to the its national-flag fleet. Others in vessel construction and research. sible without the efforts of AFLfunding for its construction dif­ Meanwhile, Germany has Europe with cabotage laws in­ CIO President Lane Kirkland, podium was SIU President Sacco. ferential subsidy program in He thanked Pena for his efforts in agreed to the European Union direc­ clude Belgium, Finland, France, SIU President Michael Sacco, 1981. The program provided Italy, Spain and Sweden. offering the bill as well as the tive to limit shipyard assistance to U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds (Dfunds to help defray the costs of members of Congress present for nine percent for direct and indirect On the other side of the world, Mass), Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) the higher safety and work stand­ Japan excludes any foreign-flag aid. Yet, that nation received per­ their support in helping the U.S.and MarAd's Albert Herberger. ards required on American-built vessels from plying its domestic mission to grant up to a 36 percent He added that his office is count­ flag merchant fleet. House Merchant Marine and vessels. Since that Reagan ad­ trade. Crews must be all Japanese subsidy through 1993 for construc­ ing on them "to guide this legisla­ Fisheries Chairman Studds noted ministration move, more than and the ships involved in the trade tion contract^ to yards in the tion to the president's desk." 180,000 shipyard and related in­ The secretary called H.R. he could not imagine "the last dustry jobs have been lost in the must be Japanese owned. South former East Germany. 4003 "a comprehensive package remaining superpower on this country. Earth without ships flying its flag, of maritime revitalization that either to carry its trade in times of OECD Chairman Staffan will accomplish three goals: It Sohlman of Sweden had stated peace or its troops and personnel will strengthen U.S. presence in in joing into the negotiations that if of national emergency international commerce, it will andtimes no agreement was reached by the the capacity to build maintain a modem U.S. merchant thosewithout end of the week, no further talks vessels. fleet, [and] it will provide sealift would be held. However, news "That is quite simply and quite The Seafarers hiring hall in Brooklyn will be moving over the capability for national emergen­ literally reports after the meeting had unthinkable," he added. weekend of April 16-17 to its new location at 635 Fourth Avenue. cies. The chairman of the Senate ended noted Sohlman was con­ As written, the bill will pro­ Merchant Marine Subcommittee sidering calling yet another The new hall, which is one block from the present location vide $1 billion over a 10-year said he would try to find addition­ negotiating found in April or and on the same side of the street, used to house the American period for up to 52 U.S.-flag, al dollars for the program through Vlay. Maritime Officers (then called District 2-MEBA) welfare of­ American-crewed merchant ves­ the Pentagon budget. "Those reports stated some fices. It has a blue-and-white facade and is three stories tall. sels involved in foreign trade. It is "It is appropriate and proper, I jrogress had been made concemSIU members will be able to conduct aU routine businessscheduled to begin during Fiscal think, for the Department of ng the way Japan funds its shipshipping and registratidn as well as filing for vacations and Year 1995. Defense also to contribute to the )uilding programs. But another acquiring medical fom#—at 635 Fourth Avenue beginning 'Breakthrough' Initiative funding of that program," stated obstacle, that of dumping newly Monday, April 18. Although all union operations will be shifted In addressing the press con­ Sen. Breaux. "I think that effort l)uilt ships onto the world market to the new site, the phone number for the SIU in New York will ference, Kirkland (who sailed as will allow us to make this pro­ at prices lower than cost, still remain the same at (718) 499-6600. a mate during World War II), gram even bigger, better iand remained. Even though the U.S. ended its stated, "Labor as a whole stronger." Shipbuilding Talks Come Undone Europe, Asia Refuse to Halt Industry Subsidies •'vi®.';- Congress, Labor Voice Support For Revitalization Program Brookiyn Hiring Hail Move This MonUi 1 �• V •• -•. / 6 ••v-^v ^ _ v. \ \ ^.•7 •,/•. i^ i^;ilSil^Silfk My i ^rjisEWisrweFe® • ?"• p. :"' APRIL 1094 SEAFARERS LOG ^•''- # ^1? • •••^v^--;• Kl?!,' .. ;,® Photo by Jerry Bielicki The Mackinaw, the U.S. Coast Guard's largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes, received funding for another year. K-PSh Cmgress Funds hx Cutter For t^xrathms Uriwi^A Year The U.S. Coast Guard ice cutter Mackinaw, the largest icebreaker stationed on the Great Lakes, will continue to keep vessels moving into 1995. Seafarers on the Great Lakes are familiar with the Mackinaw's efforts to clear paths through ice that forms both early and late in the sailing season, so that vessels can deliver their cargoes safely. The Mackinaw, set for decommissioning this May, has been allocated funding by U.S. Representative Bob Carr (D-Mich.), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation which oversees funding for the U.S. Coast Guard. Carr proposed to fund the Mackinaw for another year. During that time, Carr, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and the Coast Guard will work together to figure out a viable, long-term alternative for the ice cutter. "We have just been through one of the coldest winters in recent memory. Lake Superior froze over for the first time since 1978. Only the Mackinaw is powerful enough to clear this year's ice," stated Carr when he announced the ice cutter would remain on the Lakes for another season. The opening of the 1994 shipping season on the Great Lakes found formations of sheet ice in some harbors of more than 40 inches thick, and "windrows" (slabs of broken ice piled atop one another by the wind) out in the Lakes will be between six to eight feet thick. "The Mackinaw is the only icebreaker on the Lakes that can open the shipping channels after a winter such as this," noted an official for the Lake Carriers' Association, which monitors the action of U.S.-flag shipping on the Lakes. Seafarers OK Contract For Philly-Gamden Ferry "%i-. 'I' The Riverbus crosses the Delaware River every day of the year to transport passengers to Camden, N.J. • Seafarers who crew the ferry which runs between Philadelphia and Camden, N.J. across the Delaware River have over­ whelmingly ratified a new 3-year contract which includes im­ proved medical benefits. The new pact for crewmembers aboard the Riverbus, nick­ named the "Delawhale," covers wages, medical benefits (includ­ ing new coverage for dependents) and work rules. The agreement went into effect April 1. Representatives for the SIU and Riverbus Inc. met at the Philadelphia union hall on March 11 and 12. Delegates to the talks included Captains Robert Papale and Mickey McGovern and Deckhands Lee Poczylowski and Tony Lopez. "I think that it is a fair contract that works for both the union and the company. We got what we wanted," Captain Mickey Mc­ Severe Ice Buiidiip Stalls Start of '94 Lakes Season The most brutal winter in 16 years has produced formidable ice fields diroughout the Great Lakes and resulted in a delay in 11tout plans for many Seafarers who sail on the region's vessels. In some areas around the Great Lakes, more than 40 inches of ice have been encountered, and windrows," slabs of broken ice piled on top of one another by the wind and melted together by oc­ casional sunshine, are up to eight feet thick. SlU-crewed cement carriers, traditionally the first vessels of the season to sail, already have by Jerry Bietlcki lost between 12 and 15 days of American Steamship's St. Clair has not establishedPhoto a fixed sailing sailing tirrie due to conditions on date because of problems with Icy conditions on the Lakes. the Lakes. Several have begun service but have encountered sail across Lake Superior, problems due to the severe ice. straight path through Whitefish Whitefish Bay and through the Bay in order for the vessels to The Alpena and J.A.W. Soo Locks to get to Detroit. Iglehart had smooth sailing from pass safely through the locks, Nekvasil told the Seafarers LOG Cargo Demand High their winter ports of Cleveland Despite the severe icing condi­ and Detroit, respectively, until in late March. "Right now most vessels are tions, there is a demand for vital entering Thunder Bay near Al­ not coming south on Lake Supe­ raw materials. A recent survey by pena, Mich, to pick up their car­ rior because it just is not possible the LCA indicates that steel­ goes when they became stuck in for them to make it through. makers and power companies more than 36 inches of ice. It took When they do start to make ef­ needed approximately 500,000 the cement carriers 43 hours to forts, that is when the trouble will net tons of iron ore and coal from travel eight miles into port. begin." The Paul H. Townsendhadnoi Lake Superior ports prior to April He added that, at the time, it 1. The American steel industry encountered problems on lower Lake Michigan on its route to was not clear if even the Mack­ has been operating at nearly 88 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. inaw, the largest and most power­ percent of capacity during the Joseph, Mich, to begin the ful ice- breaker on the Great winter, so low inventories and resupply of the constmction in- Lakes, would be able to cut a clear strong order books require that dustiy. The last SlU-crewed In­ path for the ships coming south resupply begin as soon as pos­ land Lakes Management cement through Lake Superior. Nekvasil noted that other than sible. carrier, the S.T. Crapo, was ex­ "Most of the Great Lakes ves­ pected to begin sailing early this Lake Superior, the most severe sels will not be able to immedi­ icing conditions were being month. ately meet the cargo demand. The The SlU-crewed Medusa reported in harbors and inlets. cement carriers, typically the first Seafarers were able to crew ChallengerwWl not sail from Mil­ out, already have lost a significant waukee until the first few weeks American Steamship Company's amount of time. This is that much of this month—-which is highly Buffalo on its original fitout date more cargo that we will have to unusual for the Cement Transit of March 21. The vessel loads move during the regular season," Company vessel. "We are usually iron ore in Lorain, Ohio and off­ stated Nekvasil. one of the first vessels out on the loads in Cleveland. Other He added that this type of Lakes. The ice is vety bad around American Steamship Company cargo demand would have put the Straits of Mackinaw and the vessels had preliminary sailing many of the U.S.-flag lakers, in­ Soo Locks. Our plant is in Char­ dates set but were not able to con­ cluding many of the 1,000 footlevoix, Mich, where there are firm them because of the condi­ long carriers, back in service reports of heavy icing, so we are tions. "We are using caution in fit­ before the beginning of this just waiting it out and hoping that the ice breaks up more around the ting out and will not sail in areas month. "We will have to stay on ports," said a company spokesman. where we have received reports top of everything to deliver the According to Glen Nekvasil of of severe ice conditions," stated a 108 to 110 million tons of cargo the Lake Carriers' Association company spokesperson. Accord­ to break even with last year." The Great Lakes Basin is the (LCA), an organization of U.S.- ing to the company, the areas to flag ship companies on the Lakes, avoid are the Soo Locks and heart of the American steel in­ the ice on Lake Superior, was so Whitefish Bay area, Escanaba, dustry, hosting more than 70 per­ bad that the Soo Locks in Sault Mich, and Bums Harbor, Mich. cent of the nation's steelmaWng Ste. Marie, Mich, opened on The William J. McCarthy Jr., capacity. The production of one March 25 but vessels could not also an SlU-crewed American ton of steel requires about 1.35 begin to transit through until the Steamship vessel, was scheduled tons of iron ore, plus some quan­ following weeks as the ice broke to deliver 60,000 tons of coal to tities of fluxstone and coal. As a up and made the transfer safer. Detroit Edison before April 1 but result, iron ore, coal and stone are "The Coast Guard cutter had not begun to sail as of press the three largest commodities Mackinaw will have to cut a time. The 1,000-foot carrier must moved on the Great Lakes. Govern told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. Voting by the SIU members took place in the unipn hall fol­ lowing the negotiation sessions. "Overall I am satisfied. It is a great company to work for and we have union support in everything we need. I love my job and think that it is a great operation," stated Lopez. The union began representing the feny crew in March 1992, shortly after the vessel went into service. The lOO-foot feny provides daily passenger ferry service be­ tween Penn's Landing, niiladelphia's waterfront park and Cooper's Feny in Camden. The feny service is scheduled to run every day of the year from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Sundays. Hours are expanded by Jeny Bielicki Seafarers chip ice from the decks of this Great Lakes ore carrier which remains frozen in port during the summo- months. •I }•• ^ y- •. �• ,i ' »riS=ES.'i:,. 1 -V - .:%J- APRIL 1994 ' SEAFARERS LOG 7 Liberty Ships Will Commemorate Invasion ^Last Convoy^ to Rendezvous in Normandy The World War II veteran Liberty ships Jeremiah O 'Brien and John W. Brown and the Victory ship Lane Vic­ tory — fully crewed — are scheduled to play a major role in the commemorative activities for the 50th anniversary of DDay (June 6). The vessels will rendezvous early next month in the port of New York, then will proceed in "The Last Convoy" to a British port and eventually across the English Channel to Normandy in time for the commemoration of the Allies' crossing to rescue Europe from the Nazis 50 years ago. More than 150 retired merchant mariners and Navy gunners were selected from several hundred applicants to voluntarily crew the ships for this his­ toric voyage, which has widespread sup­ port from the U.S. government and from the American maritime community, in-^ eluding the SIU. Volunteers have res­ tored the vessels to fully functional status and are preparing them for U.S. Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) inspections scheduled for this month. "The Coast Guard and the ABS have been working closely with us to help us meet the requirements," said Rick Bauman, a Chesapeake Bay pilot who will sail as third mate aboard the Brown. "Final inspection shouldn't be a prob­ lem. The riveted hull is the one big-tick­ et item — how many rivets we have to replace." Each vessel will have three separate crews, with an average age of about 70: one for the voyage overseas, one to main­ tain the ships while they are docked for commemorative activities, and one for the return trip. A physician will be present on each ship at all times. The ceremonies at Normandy will fea­ ture dignitaries from all the European Union and the U.S., including President Clinton. Some 50,000 American veterans also are expected to be on hand for the aerial displays, concerts and many other related activities. Seafarers at D-Day Thousands of SIU members played important roles in the invasion of Nor­ mandy, which opened the way for Western Europe to escape Nazi domina­ tion. They crewed merchant ships which carried troops and materiel to D-Day, and in the 109 days afterward, they helped land 2.5 million troops, 17 mil­ lion tons of ammunition and supplies and a half-million trucks and tanks. During the war. Seafarers crewed many of the more than 2,700 Liberty ships which were constructed during the early to mid-1940s. The vessels, each weighing approximately 7,200 tons and 441 feet in length, were vital to the war effort. They were relatively inexpensive to build (about $2 million apiece), and their uncomplicated design allowed for quick construction. A typical Liberty ship crew was com­ posed of 45 merchant mariners and.25 Navy Armed Guards. One ship could lift 10,000 tons of cargo; together, from 1942 to 1945, the vessels carried more than 100,000 million tons of cargo. Restored to its original wartime appearance, the Jeremiah O'Brien will join the John W. Brown and the Lane Victory to form the "Last Convoy" to Normandy. John W. Brown The Brown was one of the first Liber­ ty ships built, and it originally launched from Baltimore in September 1942. Capable of making 11 knots, the ship participated in the invasions of Norman­ dy and Salerno, as well as many other dangerous missions. After the war, it served as a nautical training device for the New York City school systemi. In 1986, the ship was transferred by the Maritime Administra­ tion (MarAd) to Project Liberty Ship, a non-profit organization based in Bal­ timore. It became home to the Museum of the Naval Armed Guard and numerous other displays, and more than 160,000 man-hours of volunteer labor were donated to refurbish the vessel. The Brown also was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. When the vessel heads for Norman­ dy, it will carry a cargo of teddy bears to be delivered to orphanages and to disad­ vantaged children in the United Kingdom, France and Russia. The fuzzy cargo "will warm the hearts of thousands of children over­ seas," said Brown Captain Brian Hope, who added that donations are welcome. "And it will demonstrate that the American merchant fleet can still be a force for world peace." made seven voyages during the war, operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. The ship was mothballed for more than 30 years after the war, but eventual­ ly was saved as a memorial. It was recon­ ditioned in '79 and declared a national historic landmark in 1980. Operated under the authority of MarAd and as­ sociated with the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, the O'­ Brien also required hundreds of thousands of man-hours for reconditioning. Lane Victory The Lane Victory operated not only during World War II, but also in Korea and Vietnam. Built in 1945 in San Pedro, Calif., the vessel was operated as a commercial cargo ship by American President Lines for many years, then by Pacific Coast Transport Co. In 1988, Congress donated the Lane Victory to the United States Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II. During the ensuing years, volunteers res­ tored the ship to steaming condition. Financing for The Last Convoy primarily came from federal support and private donations. The Merchant Marine Endowment Act was passed by Congress late last year; the bill called for the Brown, O'Brien and Lane Victory to receive proceeds from the sale (for scrap) of government-owned ships. That money was used for refurbishing, and donations are being put toward deferring operating costs. However, each ship still is short of operating funds. "We're about 85 per­ cent of the way to being completely funded, but we still need help," Bauman said of the Brown. The other vessels reportedly are in similar financial shape. If a person or organization wishes to make a contribution, they may contact The Last Convoy—Normandy '94 at (212) 363-4044. Teddy bears may be sent to the Brown at Project Liberty Ship, P.O. Box 25846, Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD 21224-0846. The O'Brien will depart from San Francisco on April 14 and later will join the other two ships in New York, some­ time in early May. Jeremiah O'Brien Built in the New England Shipbuild­ ing Corporation yards in South Portland, Maine, the O'Brien launched in 1943. It *Red' Recalls D-Day Scene ••'Ti •" '•-' • Retired SIU Vice President Angus "Red" Campbell was one of many Seafarers who took part in the historic invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. "It was better than any John Wayne movie," said Campbell. "I was on the Thomas Wolfe, a Liberty ship, and we left New York in April. We discharged cargo in Wales. Then we went to Scot­ land to take on some preparatory gear for the invasion, along with three British aircraft spotters. Eventually we loaded in Southampton, England, about a week before the invasion. Then we followed the mob." He described the scene at Norman­ dy as "remarkable. There were hundreds of airplanes, battleships, cruisers,... A week later, you were still getting shell fire from the 88 mil­ limeters, from the pillboxes on the beach, which were about 12 feet thick. 'There was no problem with the air, but the water was filled with acoustic mines, which are drawn by sound into the propeller. There were lots of bodies in the water: soldiers and sailors "We discharged the cargo at the beachhead for 90 cents an hour. ; • One of the first Liberty ships built, the John W. Brown now houses the Museum of the Maval Armed Guard and other displays in Baltimore, Md. Retired SIU Vice President Angus "Red" Campbell remembers the Normandy in­ vasion as "remarkable." Seamen also were required to assist the gun crews. So in addition to your fire and boat station, everybody on board had a gun assignment. There were 24hour-a-day lookout assignments, in­ cluding the crow's nest." Campbell added that there was a humorous side to the voyage. "Our engineroom crewmembers basically all came from Georgia and Florida. The people in the deck and steward depart­ ments were from New York, so the Civil War also raged for the full 12 months of our voyage." ^ he Lane Victory operated not only during World War II but also in Korea and Vietnam. She was restored to steaming condition by volunteers and will fly the Stars and Stripes at the commemorative activities taking place in Normandy on June 6. ; •; ft/::.;'^ •••' /ft ' W^'v. - / if 1 •M; �f ' . •p I -?'4% 8 SEAFMB8SL0G APRIL 1994 Newly issued Benzene Cards Clarify Renewal Dates Seafarers who sail aboard physical shape to wear protective tankers, barges or other vesse masks. where they are required to ho! While the benzene, clearance documents indicating clearance documents are not needed at the to work with and around the time of registration, they are re chemical benzene and produo quired at the time of claiming a containing benzene will be issued job on a tanker or related vessel. newly designed cards beginnin Seafarers can be tested at al this month. Seafarers Welfare Plan clinics The new benzene clearance Only Seafarers who wish to claim card indicates the exact expira­ jobs on tankers must take these tion date of both the benzene two tests; they are, however Complete Blood Count (CBC available to all members. test, which is good for one year, "Although members can get and the breathing test known as the testing done at any time, we the Pulmonary Function Tes would like to have the testing (PFT), which remains in effect for done at the time of his or her three years. aimual physical," noted Miller. According to Dr. Kenneth When in the union hall, mem­ Miller, medical director for the bers who plan to ship on tankers Seafarers Welfare Plan, the should schedule appointments to former benzene clearance cards take the benzene-related tests at created confusion about the date the nearest clinic. for Seafarers to be re-tested. "The Found In Petroleum old benzene cards stated in fine Benzene is found in many print that the member had been petroleum-based substances— tested in the last 12 months and crude oil, gasoline, jet fuel, the date the test was administered kerosene, petrochemicals—ant It did not, however, have an exaci date for renewal," Miller ex­ the chemical is used to manufac­ ture many products. Tankers and plained. "The blue clinic card had the tank barges often carry benzene PFT expiration date and that the or substances containing ben­ member was benzene-cleared but zene. Repeated exposure to benzene still did not indicate a date that the can pose health risks. But by clearance expired. It became monitoring a Seafarer's blood common mistake for Seafarers to count to ensure that exposure has assume that because the PFT had not caused any health problems, to be renewed every three years, and by checking his or her so did the benzene cards," he said. respiratory health in order to determine if he or she can wear a The new blue Seafarers clinic card (left) indicates the card's expiration date OFrtlTS"front. The reverse protective mask, these risks can shows that the member is cleared for working with and around the chemical benzene, but It does not pave a benzene expiration date. The yellow benzene clearance card will remain the same on the front, >e minimized. but an expiration date for benzene clearance and for the PFT test has been added to the back. The CBC test studies the make-up of an individual's blood. The blood test is required because rom the immediate and long- also are required to identify all Seafarers work on tankers meet penzene can affect and impair the ;erm health problems associated benzene areas through posted these Coast Guard regulations. The federal agency also has work of red blood cells which with benzene, which can be ab­ signs. sorbed into the human Additionally, the Coast Guard exposure limits that are cany oxygen; white blood cells bloodstream through respiration rules require mariners working monitored closely. The limit is set which fight infections; and and skin contact. with and around the substance to at one part of benzene per million platelets which help the blood to As part of these rules, tanker be tested to ensure that they can parts of air (1 ppm) averaged over clot. and tank vessel operators are reuse the protective masks and that an eight-hour period. The short In the PFT test, the piember blows through a tube into a uired to carry on board these they are not at risk for any of the term exposure limit, which can­ machine that registers breathing vessels protective equipment, in­ illnesses that repeated exposure not be repeated more than four capacity. This test determines the cluding breathing masks, to benzene can cause. The tests times a day, is 5 ppm averaged type of respirator a member has to which—when worn—minimize conducted by the SIU clinics and during a 15-minute period. An wear when handling or working the exposure to the chemical. The the shipping rule which requires hour wait must be taken between tanker and tank vessel operators that only benzene-cleared such exposures. Seafarers learn the proper way to around benzene. The federal regulations note use anti-benzene exposure equipment at the Lundeberg that minimizing contact with ben­ zene is important because shortSchool in Piney Point, Md. In order to clear up this erm exposure to the chemical has misunderstanding, the medical been found to cause light-headeddepartment has removed the PFT ness and irritation to the eyes, nose and respiratory tract. Longexpiration date from the blue term exposure to the chemical can A measure which would require that all U.S. The General Accounting Office (GAG) recently clinic cards and added it to the result in various blood disorders employers provide medical benefits to their testified before the House that there is "no evidence back of the yellow benzene card ranging from anemia (a low red employees (known as employer mandate) cleared a that the employer mandate resulted in large disrup­ along with an exact benzene ex­ cell count) to leukemia (a fatal House subcommittee last month in one of the first tions in Hawaii's small business sector," and that piration date. Although the clinic cancer of the blood cells). hurdles facing the Clinton administration's most small businesses in Hawaii considered their card will still state that a member proposed health care reform. health care costs to be manageable. That defies the Cards Provide Proof has benzene clearance, only the In a 6-5 vote on March 15, the House Ways and warnings from groups claiming to represent The Coast Guard is respon­ yellow benzene card will have an Means Health Subcommittee rejected an attempt to American small businesses which oppose the sible for inspecting tankers and expiration date. soften the employer mandate. The vote was taken employer mandate. The GAG's finding that "more tank barges to see that only ben­ Implemented In 1992 on an alternative reform plan introduced by Rep. than three-fourths of the small businesses surveyed zene-cleared personnel are work­ In 1992, the U.S. Coast Guard ing in benzene-restricted areas. Pete Stark (D-Calif.). reported that the mandate has had little or no effect The employer mandate strongly is supported by on employment levels, salaries or other benefits" implemented a hazardous The federal agency is authorized materials regulation that declared to issue fines if it discovers un­ the AFL-CIG and is a main provision in the reform also contradicts claims against the employer man­ seamen will not be dispatched to authorized individuals working plan proposed by President Clinton. Both the date. president's plan and the one introduced by Stark Compared with the rest of the states, Hawaii has tankers, barges or other affected with or around the chemical. meet the AI^-CIO's requirements that health care lower health insurance premiums, and those vessels unless they have been The benzene clearance cards benzene cleared jjer the regula­ issued by SIU clinics include in­ reform include comprehensive coverage for every premiums are increasing at a slower rate than those tion. formation indicating the member U.S. citizen, no taxation of benefits, quality as­ on the mainland. In addition, premiums for small The Coast Guard regulations is up-to-date on the benzene re- surance and a fairly financed employer mandate. businesses in Hawaii generally are not notably dif­ The full Ways and Means Committee is ferent from those for large businesses. require operators of such vessels c uirements and is able to satisfy scheduled to take up the issue following Congress' to provide protective equipment Coast Guard investigators. "It is Choice In Clinton Plan Easter recess, which began March 24 and lasts to any mariner handling benzene "or this reason that we would like Another key issue in the debate over health care or benzene-containing materials. 1 of our members—in every through April 11. reform is preserving a patient's ability to choose his Proof In Hawaii When Seafarers throw in for a department—to have this docu­ or her own doctor or health care provider. tanker job, they must present the ment in their possession when The labor movement and many others who sup­ Proponents of the president's Health Security dispatcher with documents in­ aboard such vessels," stated port the employer mandate point out that such a Act maintain that the legislation not only would system already is working efficiently in the U.S. ensure such choice, but also actually may expand a dicating they have met, the Coast Miller. A list of Coast Guard benzene Hawaii is^the/only state that requires employers to patient's options. As recently as 1988, almost 90 Guard-mandated physical criteria to work on vessels carrying ben­ exposure rules was first an­ provide health insurance, and it also has public percent of employers offered health plans under zene or benzene-containing nounced in 1991. The rules are programs to guarantee coverage for all residents which workers had their choice of any doctor. Last year, only 60 percent offered this option. products and that they are in desigined to protect mariners (including those who are not employed). House Panel Calls on Employers To Provide Health Care BeneHts �APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG 9 Bosun Retires After 50 Years at Sea After sailing for five decades, Recertified Bosun Robert Schwarz signed off the LNG Leo for the last time and headed for his native Alabama. Brother Schwarz joined the union in 1943 in Mobile, Ala. He first sailed on theJo/in F. Whitten with what was then known as a "trip card." The Union Sulfur Steamship Co. vessel took a cargo of bauxite (which is used to make aluminum) to Georgetown, Guyana and Trinidad. Following that initial trip, he was issued his first union book in Mobile. In 1974, he successfully completed the bosun recertification program at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Besides the Leo, Schwarz has sailed on other Energy Transportation Co. vessels such as the Aries, Gemini, Taurus mdi Aquarius."I have liked all of my SIU ships, but the LNG ships are a favorite of mine because they are good, clean ships that carry a clean cargo," Schwarz told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. "Piney Point is a wonderful exBosun Robert Schwarz signs off from the L/S/G Leo following 50 years at sea with the SIU. perience. If the young sailors didn't have it, many of them would not have a chance in this industry. I have seen a lot of changes in my time with this union, and I think that it will continue to progress a long way into the fu­ ture," Schwarz noted. "I always sailed with good crews," the bosun recalled. "I began sailing in World War II and never had a ship sunk out from under me. All in all, it went good. The 50 years went fast." Seafarers aboard the Leo bid Schwarz a formal union farewell with a cookout and pool party where the entire crew came together to decorate, eat and give their best wishes to the bosun. He received special gifts from the SIU crew as well as from the of­ ficers. 'This is one of the very best crews that I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I really can't say enough about how dedicated and professional they were," he said. OS Christopher Cobb sailed aboard the Leo on the bosun's final trip and noted, "He was really a great guy to work with." Since signing off the Leo, Schwarz it was the easiest type of farm for a Seafarer to maintain. He grows' the pines to sell to paper mills that turn the wood into various paper products. "I was only coming home for four months at a time, and pine trees can grow without constant attention. In those four months, I stayed busy doing everything I couldn't do while at sea. Now that I am no longer sailing and have more time on my hands, I need to lay out my work differently," Schwarz said. He added that he was bom across the street in a farm house that his sister now maintains. His father, the original owner of the farm, was a small crop farmer. His sister still farms the land and has various types of livestock. "I plan to sit back and enjoy it all now. I'm just going to take it easy and see how the wind blows. I never think of it as being 50 years at a job. I just enjoyed sailing," Schwarz concluded. ••.g: w il. �• / 10 v'v •,'•• ••.• - APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG Seafarers and Families Can Vacation at Piney Point P Electrician Joe Vazquez and family relax by pool at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point. Vazquez brings his family to Piney Point each summer for vacation. "We wouldn't miss it," he recently wrote. I .;«iS tfi |T >'''."'"C;;. 7 V'-i ^rSSS=SS?3^-=-"" 'v-' ,a„,a.adenethatou,schcoloKers. forward Below: Recertified Steward Becl^ Sleeper and family enjoy a dip in the spacious swim­ ming pool outside the training and recreation center. Piney Point also offers many other vacation attractions for Seafarers and their ifamilies. j^OI . >. ^ to mn in U.e sun. ^ V" icturesque and safe surroundings, tranquility, wide-ranging facilities and close proximity to the nation's capital are just a few of the things that make Piney Point, Md. so tempting as a vacation resort. , Seafarers and SIU pensioners won t want to miss out on the chance this year to utilize the Paul Hall Center as a vacation site for themselves and their families. All Seafarers have to do is complete the application below and mail it. Last month's issue of the Seafarers LOG provided an in-depth look at the many attrac­ tive features of Piney Point. This month, here's what a couple of members who have vacationed at the Paul Hall Center have to say: Electrician Joe Vazquez: "I've been an SIU member since 1970, and I enjoy bring­ ing the family to Piney Point for a week-ortwo-stay each summer. We relax and see some familiar union brothers, and oc­ casionally even attend meetings that affect the direction the industry is taking. I like for my family to see the camaraderie that our school offers. "The staff there does a great job, and I'm once again looking forward to fun in the sun, R&R and maybe even some crabbing this year." Bill Mitchell, Retired Captain: "Vacationing at Piney Point always is a pleasant experience. During the past t^ee years, my family, ^ong with other retired SIU members and their families, have taken advantage of staying at the beautiful facility located on the Chesapeake Bay. I like the fact that you can enjoy total peace and quiet, but also have available a variety of ac­ tivities such as boating, fishing, swimming, tennis, arts and crafts, and more. The rooms are very comfortable, the dining is fabulous and the staff is courteous. We look forward to returning to Piney Point." There you have it, in the members' own words. This year, write your own memory. Clip the coupon below and mail it to Piney Point as a first step to secure your reserva­ tion for this summer. Piney Point has something for everyone — and it's only available to Seafarers and their families. UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School Is limited to two weeks per family. •'•;• . .• < $40.40/day Member $ 9.45/day Spouse $ 9.45/day Child Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. Priceslisted inciude ail meals. . ••.f.'s::•:<•!."/• ^^4 SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information Retired Captain Bill Mitchell and family sit in the poolside shade. Name: Social Security number: Book number: Address:. ;\"7: "/ like the fact that you can enjoy total peace and quiet, but also have available a variety of activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, tennis, arts and crafts, and more." — Retired Cap/. Bill Mitchell Si 'i- Telephone niimber: Number in party / ages of children, if applicable: Date of arrival: 1st choice: Date of departure: 2nd choice: Sid choice: Stay Is limited to 2 weeks. ___ Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P. a. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. I®;,: I •' �tr""".' JU^m 1994 SEAFARERS LOG 11 Members of Newest RecerRRed Steward Class Seize Their Chance to Upgrade Culinary SIdlls standing with SlU President Michael Sacco (third from left) moments after graduation are (from left) Skip Polzin, David Bond, Carnavius Davalie, J.D. Hopkins, German Rios and Billy Gigante. When Billy Gigante accepted his certificate last month for com­ pleting the steward recertification course at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Educa­ tion, the New York native had flnished a long but worthwhile joumey. Gigante graduated from the Lundeberg School's trainee pro­ gram in 1979 (Class No. 289), and he is believed to be the first Seafarer to work his way up from steward assistant to recertified steward while primarily sailing for military-contracted vessels based at Diego Garcia. "If you put your heart and soul into the union, you can go anywhere," Gigante, who last sailed aboard a Maersk Lines ves­ sel, said at the March membership meeting at Piney Point. "I am very grateful and very honored to have completed this program." Gigante's five classmates echoed his sentiments about the opportunities for advancement provided by the Lundeberg School. David Bond, Carnavius Davalie, German Rios, J.D. Hopkins and Donald "Skip" Polzin joined him in completing the highest curriculum available to SIU members who sail in the steward department—and in ur­ ging the trainees at the meeting to wholeheartedly apply themselves to their maritime careers. Wide-Ranging Course The galley gang upgraders ac­ tively took part in the wide-ranging, comprehensive course, which lasted five weeks. They practiced baking applications and more in the school's state-of-theart lecture/demonstration galley; earned certification in first aid, CPR and firefighting procedures; studied communications prin­ ciples; did extensive computer training using DOS, WordPerfect and various spreadsheet applica­ tions (for menu planning, requisi­ tion logging and other functions); and engaged in friendly but earnest cooking competitions. The course also included detailed studies of American Heart Association guidelines for low-fat and low-sdt cooking; a field trip to the annual Washington Food Show (a culi­ nary competition); thorough ex­ amination of ship safety and sanitation; and review of other pertinent topics. In addition,the new recertified stewards met for question-andanswer sessions with repre­ sentatives from each of the union's departments. For ex­ ample, they spoke with officials from the union's collective bar­ gaining department, from its governmental affairs department, from the welfare, vacation, train­ ing and pension funds and from iht Seafarers LOG. They also traveled to SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. and to Washington, where they spoke with Maritime Trades Department Executive SecretaryTreasurer Frank Pecquex about key legislative issues which af­ fect the maritime industry. Davalie, who started sailing as a messman in 1967 and who has upgraded several times, com­ mended the Lundeberg School in­ structors—including Ed White, Kate Richardson, Byran Cummings and Don Yaney—and the entire staff at Piney Point for making his stay comfortable and facilitating good study habits. "The Lundeberg School is wonderful. It is the best place to learn about maritime," he said. "There is no union anywhere in the world that has what we have, especially a school like this." Davalie's home port is New Orleans. Even though the steward recertification course coincided with Mardi Gras, he said he would rather be in Piney Point: "I'd give up Mardi Gras any day to be here." Interacting with other upgraders, as well as with the trainees, was a highlight of being at Piney Point for Hopkins. "I think we all leam from each other, and that helps us do better at our jobs," he said. Hopkins, who sails from the port of Seattle, added that the safety and firefighting training At the graduation ceremony, David Bond noted the improvements made to the Paul Hall Center. will make him a better shipmate. Like Gigante, port-of-Seattle Seafarer Polzin emphasized the value of setting career goals and then being able to attain them. "I have reached my goal, and you can do the same," he said at the membership meeting. "The in­ structors here at Piney Point will help you accomplish your goals." Finally, Rios stated that all SIU members should seize the upgrading opportunities avail­ able at the Paul Hall Center. "I have learned so much here, and I'm grateful for the opportunity," said Rios, whose home port is San Juan. "Everyone should take ad­ vantage of it." M.: '• m.. it 'yy.''' I: Praise Facility .• Syy-^Y-.'f--'''''- • P'" . ' y} "This was a great opportunity, and we have a great school,' stated Bond, who sails from the port of Mobile, Ala. A graduate of the school in 1980, Bond noted the "remarkable" improvements in the Paul Hall Center since he last was there. At the graduation ceremony. Bond also stressed the impor­ German Rios keeps an eye on the At work in the school's galley tance of the Seafarers Political J.D. Hopkins (right) practices chest compressions as part of the CPR training faqility is Skip Polzin. Activities Donation. "Politics af­ curriculum taught by instmctor Byran Cummings (left). Observing is soup he is preparing. fects every one of us," he said. Skip Polzin. r-%m Paul Hall Center Stresses Healthy Menus •; - y0§ .,;.''-.V' Billy Gigante practices logging a mock requisition form on a computer. As more and more Americans adopt low-fat, low-salt diets, the Paul Hall Center continues teach­ ing steward department upgraders low to turn out healthier menus. For the past few years, Lun­ deberg School Instructor Ed White las taught Seafarers in the recer­ tified steward clasS about the American Heart Association's juidelines for low-fat and low-salt cooking. This part of the qoiirse includes detailed studies of the different types of fats (polyunsaturated, mono-unsaturated and saturated); various forms of sodium; the pos­ sible long-term effects of highfat, high-salt diets (including high blood pressure and arterio­ sclerosis); alternative ingredients and other steps to make healthier recipes (such as rinsing ground beef with water). "Once people are conscious of it, they'll woik with it," said White, who added that he strongly per­ ceives a growing dietaiy awareness in the sfij. "I'm seeing more and more that the younger a person is, the healthier he or she eats." "What he's teaching is how to live longer through better eating, and that doesn't mean boring menus," noted Don Yaney, ex­ ecutive chef at the Lundeberg School. "It means investijgating ways to make something tasty while minimizing sodium and fat." Donald "Skip" Polzin, who last month graduated from the steward recertification course, said that the studies of sodium and fat in diets were "very useful. More and more crewmembers are changing their eating habits, looking for low-fat foods like pasta. A lot of them eat less red meat and are switching tochicken and fish." A i". Jijy. mm "M �12 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1994 i. • Instructor Byran Cummings tosses a dummy Into the water for a Seafarer William Fretes (right) exits water as part of safety training. Instructor Byran Cummings is at left, surprise "man-overboard" drill. Paul Hall Center Augments Riverboat Safety Training yf '. • ••< -{' • ••- . • • • • 't'/ '- j' how do you evacuate up to 400 SIU members who sail aboard written tests. "This type of training is con­ passengers and 100-plus crew?" the overnight passenger boats Delta Queen and Mississippi tinuous," Cummings said. "And asked Cummings. "We taught Gween joined instructors from the we have to consider the possible how to load and unload pas­ Paul Hall Center for Maritime length of time until someone sengers, and used the life raft as a Training and Education in suc­ could be treated (by shoreside kind of waterbome taxi." cessfully completing another medical personnel). It could vary, In another new drill, crewseries of on-site safety courses depending on where the boat is. members used a modified breath­ Members also studied and ing apparatus to go underwater, late last year. Instructors John Smith practiced chemical safety, how to where they identified simulated (aboard the Delta Queen) and report and identify emergencies, damage to the hull. Byran Cummings (aboard the and how to care for someone until Other exercises included Mississippi Queen) each con­ the shipboard emergency squad making wooden patches which ducted three separate, week-long arrives. would cover ruptures in various Rob McLemore (right) assists Completingafiredrillonthe/WOare The second trip focused on parts of the boats' hulls. training sessions with the Greg Hawkins into a life raft. Marvin Joy (front) and Carl Koen. Seafarers, beginning in February firefighting and general safety. Cummings said he is optimis­ 1993 and ending in December. During this segment. Seafarers More safety training on the ves­ practiced using fire hoses and ex­ tic about continued success with sels is scheduled for this year. tinguishers and took part in drills the on-site safety training, not The '93 sessions "were the with a non-toxic smoke generator only aboard the Delta and Missis­ most advanced since we started which simulates conditions of a sippi Queens, but also aboard the American Queen, which is this training several years ago," shipboard fire. scheduled to begin operations said Cummings. "We expanded Valuable Tool sometime in 1995. "I've said on what's been done in previous "The smoke generator is one before that John and I and the years, and the members did an of the best devices that we've crews feel like family, and that outstanding job." The fact Aat there is little turn­ ever obtained," observed Cum­ certainly helps with the training," over in the deck and engine mings. "It's totally non-toxic, so Cununings noted. 'The engine departments facilitates the we can train on any area of any and deck personnel just don't change that much, so we can build instructors' goal of building on vessel." Cummings' cabin was used as on what we teach from year to the safety program from year to year, Cummings said. the site of Ae mock fire aboard year. "I definitely get the sense that This past year, infant, child the 382-foot vessel. Passengers all the crewmembers are proud of and adult CPR were added to the were alerted in advance, but the how safe these boats are. We do curriculum, along with advanced crew didn't know where the fire first aid procedures. Other new would take place. more than what s required by law. Passengers appreciate the safety consciousness of the crew. Dauud "This was done in port, and and the passengers appreciate our Yamini (left) practices the Heimlich maneuver for a choking infant segments included members while William Fretes learns the correct CPR procedure for an adult. learning how to identify and con­ some of the passengers went safety consciousness, too." tain hazardous materials; practic­ ashore," Cummings said. "But ing water survival and rescue; some stayed aboard to watch the touching on confined space safety drill. "The total time elapsed was and more. In all, several hundred six minutes, which is excellent. In Seafarers took part in the training. that time, the crew had to locate For the year, individual members the fire, get the safety gear, put it received a total of anywhere from on and get back to the site of the 15 to 120 hours of instruction, fire. I was pleased." The members also spent time including a multitude of practical work. (The emergency squads, ashore working with hose lines comprised of the master, two and other equipment. In previous years, the crews pilots, chief mate, third mate and deck crew„receive about 40 hours drew up ship plans identifying of training per week. The rest of fire mains, isolation valves,emer­ the hotel st^f receives about five gency escape areas, watertight doors and more. Those plans ex­ per week.) "The classes get better eveiy tensively were used during the year," remarked David Kish, vice most recent training. The final trip covered damage president of the Delta Queen control. Crewmembers practiced Steamboat Company. life rafts to shuttle other using On-SKe Training members (acting as passengers) The first sessions covered from the boats to shore. "We like CPR and first aid, and crewmem- to think that the vessels can al­ bers earned certification or recer- ways make it to shore in case of Learning how to constmct a wooden patch for the hull are (from left) Joseph Serpas, Mike Williams, tification by passing practical and an emergency, but if they can't. Johnny Speed, Gerald Henderson, Michael Ward and Willie Allen. \ 4 I 1 �T - ' y-er;^ '^ - . . ~-r *}• - : • ;• • " ; / V'-'' _,fi 'V'-v]--" APRIL 1994 SEAFARBISLOe 13 •--0. Seafarers Tout Empress H as Boon to Upgrading Classy Ten Seafarers in the advanced firefighting class last month be­ came the first upgraders to train aboard the Empress II, the new state-of-the-art barge which is moored at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Educa­ tion in Piney Point, Md. The upgraders took part in in­ terior firefighting and hazardous materials drills aboard the Empress II, which was launched in 1986 and formerly was used by the government for electromag­ netic testing. Lundeberg School instructors are planning a wide range of uses for the barge by deck and engine department upgraders. They have described the Empress II, which was acquired by the Lundeberg School earlier this year, as a valu­ able and versatile training tool, and the, firefighting students echoed those sentiments. "I thought it was very good because it has so many spaces, hatches and ways that someone might get lost in such a small area," commented Christian Werner, who often has sailed as a bosun aboard AT«S:T's cable ships. "We had to find the (mock) fire, isolate it and attack it. The smoke machine made the drill very realistic, not to mention very dark!" The smoke generator to which Werner referred emits non-toxic, thick smoke which simulates the conditions of a shipboard fire. David Rush Ingram, a chief electrician who sails aboard Waterman Steamship vessels, said that the Empress II "is an excellent tool. The spaces are just like what you deal with aboard ship: the engine room, the cargo holds, the bridge. There also are similar communications systems and alarms. "I've been to Piney Point Lundeberg School instructor Byran Cummings (right) preps students many times, and this barge ab­ for a simulated fire aboard the Paul Hall Center's new training barge. solutely is a Worthwhile addition.' Ingram added that the Empress 11's relatively plain ex­ terior belies the numerous, top­ flight equipment inside. "I think it's going to shock people, be­ cause when you first look at the outside, you may think there's not much to it. But once you get in­ side, the refrigeration system, the hydraulics, the winches, the bilge pumping ... all of those things can come into play, not just in firefighting but dso in other clas­ ses. Even the smaller systems, like the heating system is basical­ ly a small boiler system." Instructor John Smith stated that the training was successful. "I think the upgraders did just fine, and there's no doubt the barge will continue to be liseful. It's got a myriad of places to do Running a fire hose through one of the Empress ll's decks was part things, and it's got more than one Upgraders secure a door during a firefighting drill aboard Empress II. deck.' of the exercise. .•••"'J.- • Key Mariliiiie Issues Discussed At Unioii Meeting in Jacksonviiie Seafarers and their families last month turned out en masse for an informative, rousing meeting at the SIU hall in Jacksonville, Ha. During the two-hour gathering, members conferred with SIU Ex­ ecutive Vice President Joseph Sacco, Contracts Department Vice President Augie Tellez, Guif Coast Vice President Dean Corgey, Gulf Coast Assistant Vice President Dave Heindel and Port Agent Tony McQuay on a wide range of maritime issues. "Everybody was very enthused," said 59-year-old Recertified Steward Joe Miller, who joined the SIU in 1960in the portofNew York. "The membership was brought • •. ."'i! • "m • M:. —- — up-to-date on what the union's in photos above and below, Seafarers and their families pack the fighting for, and we appreciated Jacksonville SIU hall last month. M (the officials) being there." SIU Executive VP Joseph Sacco talks about maritime revitalization. ..t •f. Addressing the members in Jack- SIU Executive VP Joseph Sacco (center) shares a laugh with Bosun sonville is SIU VP Dean Corgey. Carlos Canales and his wife, Cook/Baker Antoinette Canales. m • -yu W and Gulf Coast VP Dean Corgey. �Vr. -y' ''.ii.. .;> 14 APIIU.1994 SEAFARBISLOB U.S. Government Releases $30 MHIien in Economic Aid idr Fishing indusby During the Boston tie-up, fishermen met with state govern­ spoken out against the use of such ment officials in order to have a fisheries disaster declared, which equipment. As these regulations were cas­ was needed to have economic aid cading upon them, the New Bed­ funds released. They also ex­ ford Seafarers, with others from pressed their concerns and sqgPutting out condiments for the afternoon ABs Stanley Williams, David Cutchins and the fishing industry, attended a gestions for the industry to U.S. lunch are SA Biyan Ellis (left) and Chief Ed Gerena enjoy a fine meal prepared by late January meeting held by U.S. Rep. Peter Torkildsen (R-Mass.) Cook Mario Martinez. the galley gang at the end of a long day. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and and Richard Roe, the fisheries John Bullard, head of the Com­ service regional director. Following a March 9 press merce Department Office of Susconference on the Massachusetts tainable Development and capitol grounds in Boston and a Intergovernmental Affairs. The march through New Bedford to crowd, estimated at around 300, stage a sit-in on the steps of that voiced the frustrations the fisher­ town's federal building two days men were feeling over the regula- later, the fishermen sailed their tions. They also offered boats home. Seafarers aboard the military prepositioning added, "The Obregon has a much more sophisti­ suggestions to help their industry. On March 16, Seafarers flew Ship PFC Eugene A. Obregon know that they cated electrical system than most ships and Chief Shortly after this meeting, to Washington to meet with Frank could be called out to any hot spot in the world at Electrician Charles "Buddy" Ciackley and other members of the engine department keep it running Frank, whose district includes and representatives from other a moment's notice. congressional offices. They superbly." The vessel, operated by Waterman Steamship New Bedford, interceded and got The vessel was named after Private First Class the Commerce Department agen­ finished their lobbying effort in a Co., is kept fully loaded with tanks, vehicles, food discussion with Rolland SchmitEugene A. Obregon of the U.S. Marine Corps who and waters fuel and other materiel to equip firstcy to postpone the requirement ten, the head of the National was killed in the line of duty on September 26, launch U.S. Marine units for 30 days. for the black boxes for six Marine Fisheries Service, at­ 1950 in Seoul, Korea. When activated, as during Operation Desert months. The representative also tended by members of the House Storm in 1990-1991, the Obregon promised the fishermen he would Merchant Marine and Fisheries can be ready to sail within 12 hours. seek funds to pay for the black Committee staff. Mobile Port Representative Ed boxes if the fisheries service During this same week. Kelly recently boarded the 821-foot decides to reinstate them. In the President Bill Clinton visited ship during a crew change at its interim, an SlU-favored call-in Boston where he promised to winter port of Panama City, Fla. system will be used to monitor the develop an assistance package "The crewmembers make a great days at sea program. for New England. Secretary team and are prepared to ship out Brown offered the package on whenever called," Kelly told a Sail to Boston Harbor March 21. reporter from the Seafarers LOG. "The deck department, headed by A month later, more than 50 The Fight Continues Bosun Henry Bouganim, works New Bedford-based boats, in­ While certain small victories veiy well together. The ship is al­ cluding many SlU-contracted have been achieved, the battle is ways in excellent condition," Kelly vessels, sailed into Boston Harbor far frorai over. SIU officials in td call more attention to their Washington are monitoring the stated. "Overall, this is an excellent problems. The fishermen arrived disbursement of aid money to see crew. The food prepared by Steward February 28 and soon were joined that most of it reaches the fisher­ Baker Patrick Helton and the galley by boats from the fishing ports of men, while seeking further Steward/Baker Patrick Helton (left) takes time out from gang is beyond compare. They really lunch preparations to say hello to Bosun Henry Bouganim Gloucester, Woods Hole and money and comprehensive agree­ work hard to serve a wide variety of and Chief Electrician Buddy Ciackley. Provincetown, Mass. and ments to make the management meals," noted Kelly. Portland, Maine. News reports process more responsive to the The Mobile port representative estimated the total number of industry. "We feel that our fishermen boats in the harbor at 275. More are responsible for lighting a fire than 100 other fishing boats tied under the politicians and up in their home ports during the bureaucrats," said SIU Executive two-week period. Vice President Joseph Sacco. "It At the height of the event, is important to use this momen­ more than 1,800 fishermen and tum to bring the industry together 6,000 workers in associated in­ and seek permanent solutions." dustries in New Bedford alone The SIU is coordinating meet­ were not working and were ings among fishermen up and demonstrating their support for down the New England coast to the protest. address their mutual concerns. Continued from page 2 Prepositioning Ship's Crew Ready at a Moment's Notice Posing for a picture in the galley are Steward/Baker James Tucker (left) and DEU Miguel Maistro. QMED Robert Rester (left) and AB George Dean read the Seafarers LOG before lunch is served. >' :'v ''if *-r Seafarers lead hundreds of fellow fishermen down the streets of New Bedford, Mass. to dramatize the problems of their industry. All cleaned up and ready for dinner are Bosun Bernard Hutcherson (left) and AB Kevin Hamilton. From the left are SA Comelius Watkins, DEU Norman Williams and Asst. Cook Utility Timothy Williams. -'-t; �'"•4 ^ Air.,.'—- 'Ji; .i.- • -r-'-'-'v' ••'V. • '• - J. •; A.- ; SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1994 Steady Work, Good Morale Characterize Brooks Range 15 :. •. -•-• . . -M !thi MM' ' The SlU-crewed tanker Brooks Range is characterized by steady work and good morale among the crew qn its" West Co Coast run, notes Bosun William Kleimola. In a recent communication with the Seafarers LOG, the bosun commends the crewmembers for being "good SIU brothers and co-workers." In addition, he notes that he has been fortunate over the last 10 years to catch jobs on vessels sailing primarily on the West Coast. This had allowed him to stay in touch with his family. During shipboard union meetings and in other conversations. Brooks Range crewmembers often focus on the importance of keeping the U.S. flag flying on the high seas, Kleimola reports. We know that maintaining a strong U.S.-flag merchant fleet is "We important for this country's economy and security." In a recent meeting with Wilmington, Calif. Patrolman Rob Scrivens, who provided the photos accompanying this article, ABs Donald Rothman, Paul McMahon and Edward O'Brien sajd that they appreciated the job security they have through the SIU. Meanwhile, QMED Carlito Episioco echoed their thankful­ ness and pride in the Seafarers when he stated, "The SIU is a , great union that looks out for its members, and the Brooks Range is a good, efficient ship! The vessel is operated by Interocean Management Corp. ; • ^ ..ii 'jrHS ^i w0yt ''••ft-' ••• ' mM WWM ,-' ' r Chief Steward John Hanrahan (right photo) is busy in the ship's galley, while (left to right in left photo) QMEDs Michael Merrell and Carlito Episioco pause | for a photo on the stern en route to the engine room. -3«S • . '• ' '"-ri 7 jr..; •as W '"3'•\ JJA mm 7 I» V-1 •' .%'• Above: ABs Edward O'Brien (left) and Paul McMahon review instruc­ tions aboard the tanker. 7; ; i 3-TK;?- : .--i-iivll 'ORomvi. sr/(^ •m Ml 1v.::^ T m :17 In crew lounge, checking off with Patrolman Scrivens (taking photo) are AB Ahmed Suwaileh and (standing, l-r) QMED S. Brooks, Wiper Mohamed Shaie and En­ gine/Steward Utility Albert Westbrook. Above: Bosun Kleimola gets off the launch from the Brooks Range and heads ashore in El Segundo, Calif. Meanwhile, ABs Lee Selico (left) and Donald Rothman (right) ride launch to the vessel. IKsfi:. -, • ,.:;y •' ^'v,' P if, #'85; -j3. JM -yy'y M • '' '. - M.y �16 SEAFARERS LOG Sea-Land Quality Is a Home Away From Home For Seafarers who sail aboard the Sea-Land Quality, the many familiar ports visited on a monthly basis become a welcome sight. The Quality leaves from Boston to sail for Elizabeth, N.J., Norfolk, Va., then to the European ports of Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Felixstowe, again to Rotterdam, Le Harvre and back to Boston. The 900-foot containership docks in the port of Elizabeth every 28 days where New York Patrolman Jack Sheehan services the crew and answers their union-related questions. "This is a huge ship with a large crew. The •* — Recertified ?r"w to^nle dinrar andSAdantesCame™. . , •T' "The galley gang headed by Chief Cook John TKoar aro nlu/nvs Padella is secondA to r,r,.na none. They are always preparing many different fine meals," stated Recertified Bosun Carmine "Butch" Bova in '' ' ' - - - -L - - -.r rri . recent ships minutes sent to the Seafarers LOG. Sheehan added that the deck department headed by Bosun Bova keeps the ship in top form in every port visited throughout the year: - .1. <>4 • ; The Sea-Land-Quality docks in Port Elizabeth, N.J. every 28 days. |v 'v VAjr- « 'v" / '» »« I • Francis Hammer Carries Chemical Cargoes All Over the World \ WmMm\ iiisS'-- Seafarers aboard the Francis Hammer dock in many ports around the world while offloading chemical and petroleum cargoes. New York Patrolman Jack Sheehan had a chance to board the integrated tug-barge when it recently docked at the GATX terminal in Cartaret, N.J. The vessel had just sailed from Israel to Rotterdam, then on to New Jersey. "The crew aboard the Hammer was excellent. Bosun Peter Tusa has a great deck gang that really works hard to ensure the cargo is delivered safely," Sheehan reported to the Seafarers LOG. He added that crewmembers enjoy traveling to the variety of ports on the ITB's itinerary. Sheehan noted that Steward/Baker Janet Price and the galley gang work hard to add a variety of tastes and flavors to the menu. The Hammer took 18 hours to offload its cargo before returning to sea. Sheehan noted that the vessel is an infrequent visitor to the New York/New Jersey area. The itinerary of the 1TB has it sailing to different ports around the world. mmm IL ftBS '•f \ ,. • i' ' i"" • n-.ii The integrated tug-barge Francis Hammer Ij carries chemical and petroleum cargoes all H over the world. - >= / • X- • ..-:4 AB Nick Nichols (left) and Engine Utility Jeffery Roddy relax in crew mess area after lunch aboard the Francis Hammer. AB Steven Mayer gives Steward Baker Janet Price ideas for special desserts to be served aboard the Francis Hammer. �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1994 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea May i June 1994 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, iniand Waters FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1994 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Glass A Class B Class C Port New York 26 Philadelphia 3 Baltimore 1 Norfolk 16 Mobile 11 New Orleans 24 Jacksonville 21 San Francisco 19 Wilmington 18 25 Seattle Puerto Rico 13 Honolulu 7 Houston 22 St. Louis 0 Piney Point 1 0 Algonac 207 Totals Port 19 New York 3 Philadelphia 3 Baltimore 5 Norfolk 6 Mobile New Orleans 12 Jacksonville 9 San Francisco 13 7 Wilmington 10 Seattle 9 Puerto Rico 4 Honolulu 12 Houston 0 St. Louis 2 Piney Point 0 Algonac 114 Totals Port 16 NevvYork 3 Philadelphia Baltimore 5 Norfolk 10 Mobile New Orleans 10 Jacksonville 15 San Francisco 36 Wilmington 14 14 Seattle 1 Puerto Rico 13 Honolulu 13 Houston 0 SL Louis 2 Piney Point 0 Algonac 156 Totals Port 11 New York 1 Philadelphia 1 Baltimore 4 Norfolk 2 Mobile New Orleans 12 2 Jacksonville San Francisco 10 6 Wilmington 7 Seattle 7 Puerto Rico 4 Honolulu Houston 0 St. Louis 0 Piney Point 0 Algonac 68 Totals Totals All Departments 545 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT ; 30 7 11 19 22 28 25 18 13 25 2 18 22 4 2 1 1 I 6 , 0 ' • •: 2 4 5 .2 10 •0 0 0 44 :• 9 b 251 15 19 5 1 6 11 8 9 10 4 15 11 13 19 1Z16 12 14 11 10 11 10 3 3 11 20 •,: 16 0 .1 0 . 1 0 0 139 146 : • 6 1 1 • 0 0 1 1 . V 1 1 1 0 2 2 8 2 . ; 1 4 2 6 •••„ 0 , 0 0 19 2 3 1 4 4 6 0 0 0 55 56 5 4 22 24 40 44 49 45 48 19 12 40 0 3 0 411 52 12 14 35 36 56 53 45 37 36 9 33 60 3 12 1 494 6 2 1 5 2 7 3 4 11 6 8 28 9 1 0 0 93 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 10 21 10 0 25 14 2 16 0 186 • '5 r\4 3 20 13 21 15 17 6 13 6 38 •• It 2 19 0 233 755 171 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 3 28 4 1 1 0 4 1 10 0 5 4 6 4 6 0 4 4 1 11 0 2 10 8 •i-Vv • • ••• 4 0 0 0 15 0 0 29 110 343 385 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 1 ' V 7 4 20 2 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 10 9 6 0 0 0 142 156 1,536 0 0 1 0 1 •" 6 1 / Wh M. ' i. • !$'• 1 ' .T. t: Personals SOLOMAN M. JOSEPH Please contact Haniff "Bob" Abdool at 97-19 120th St., Richmond Hill, NY 11419; or phone (718) 846-0889. ANTHONY NOBILE Please contact your daughter, Diane Nobile Serra, at 143 Columbia St., Apt. 3A, Brooklyn, NY 11231; telephone (718) 858-7704. t 28 4 3 11 1 13 13 11 8 9 8 139 6 0 0 0 256 1,511 426 '': •••t ' 3 .r„ " ..;V lotal Kegisterea means uic uuiuuci m lutii wiiu ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. A total of 954 jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 954 Jobs shipped, 343 jobs or about 36 percent were taken "A" seniority member^. The rest were filled by «B" taKen by oy "A wmumy mciuiA^ip. - and «C' ^ semonty _ . ^ to March 1- 15,1994, -flAAii ^ -ICiC trip relief jobs lAkc iVArA chiniiMl. Smce SinrA the the inn people From February 16 a total of 156 were shipped. tnp relief program began on April 1,1982, a total of 20,529 jobs have been shipped. .V;i> .'a- Each port's meeting iOarts at 10:30a.m. 1 12 2 0 6,; 40 29 46 *'^'25>::-: A : 30 26 18 106 28 3 20 5 498 •:-,r Piney Point Monday, May 2, June 6 New York Tuesday: May 3, June 7 Philadelphia Wednesday: May 4, June 8 Baltimore Thursday: May 5, June 9 Norfolk Thursday: May 5, June 9 Jacksonville Thursday: May 5, June 9 Algonac Friday: May 6, June 10 Houston Mond^: May 9, June 13 New Orleans Tuesday: May 10, June 14 Mobile Wednesday: May 11, June 15 San Francisco Thursday; May 12, June 16 Wilmington Monday: May 16, June 20 Seattle Friday: May 20, June 24 San Juan ^ • Thursday: May 5, June 9 St Louis :. . Friday: May 13, June 17 Honolulu Friday: May 13, June 17 Duluth 4®. Wednesday: May 11, Jime 15 • Jfcrscy City ' • Wednesday: May 18, June 22 WS0i New Bedford Tuesday: May 17, June 21 • 0 2 6 17 Correction A photograph that ran on page 4 of the February issue of the Seafarers LOG incorrectly identified Texas politician Jim Mattox who was visiting the Houston SIU Hall. He is a candidate for U.S. Senate from the Lone Star State. Letter to the Editor Remember the WWII Merchant Mariner I would like to remind everyone that Maritime Day (May 22)once again is approaching. On thatday, remember the shocking truth: More than 700 American merchant ships were lost from enemy action during World War n, 100 on the Murmansk Run alone. During the fust six months of U.S. involvement in the war, almost400American mochant vessels were sunk by German submarines. In all, one out of every 35 American men killed from enemy action was a merchant mariner. Thousands of merchant seamen went to their graves. We were the only all-volunteer service, yet our govemment waited 43 years to give us veterans' status—and then put a price list on every medal we won. Only the Russian govemment gave us a free bronze m^al, for Murmansk. Yes, the WWII merchant mariner was indeed a forgotten hero. But remember him on Maritime Day. Peter Salvo, Retired Oiler McKeesport, PA • rj;' • . • �•1 V. >1" '• APRIL1994 18 SEAFARERSLOG Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Collective Bargaining George McCartny Vice President West Co oast Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Sei^ices Jack CafFey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast V -' 'W I • • •" • • ;• HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (313)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218)722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY Jerse' MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504)529-7546 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15,1994 CL—Company/Lakes L—Lakes NP—^Non Priority •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 0 12 0 16 1 2 1 10 1 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups QassCL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 10 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 4 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 3 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 46 0 26 0 1.1 0 40 Totals All Departments 0 40 3 0 17 0 0 123 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. 2 - ^ '27; 10 17 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, JL994 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Region 6 Atlantic Coast" Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters M 16 0 West Coast 27 Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast 0 r Lakes & Inland Waters|^ West Coast 0 13 Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Watefs West Coast Totals 0 4 0 5 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 b 0 1 • 0 11 0 19 30 ' 2 0 5 0 5 0 0 5 2 0 0 ••• • 89 1 41 97 3 46 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 0 •: -.O,' 0 0 1 3 0 ,7-7.b 0 0 b 4 0 1 0 3 0 2 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 4 0 5 0 0 1 8 4 2 ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 4. 83 2 5 0 5 12 0 27 0 62 89 3 1, 39 0 43 1 J 0 0 2 5 : 0 0 5 5 ••.••44'"^ 2 2 12 2 18 , 0 2 0 0 2 16 113 105 55 144 Totals All Departments 45 40 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of nien registered at the port at the end of last month. Reminder: Z-Cards Musi Be Renewed All Seafarers are reminded that their z-cards have to be updated by 1998. The Coast Guard has outlined a plan, based on the issuance date of the documents obtained before 1991. The date of issuance is located on the back of the z-card to the right of the thumb prints. (Since 1991, z-cards have been issued with expiration dates posted on both the front and back of the docu­ ments.) The following chart shows the year that merchant mariner's documents, in order to remain active, must be renewed based on issuance dates. The exact date of expiration matches the month and day of issuarice. 4 sit -* • Philadelphia," PA 19148 (215)336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 2 West Dixie Highway Dania, FL 33004 (305) 921-5661 SANFRANCISCQ 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415)543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave. Stop 1616 Santurce, PR 00907 (809) 721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310)549-4000 Renewal Year 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Issuance Year 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1 1969 1970 1971 1972 1964 1965 1966 1967 1973 1968 1 1 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1 1937 1938 1 Source: Federal Register, September 16,1993 •• �SEAFARERS UK APRIL 1994 J oining the growing number of SIU pensioners this month are 18 additional Seafarers who have retired to the beach after many years of sailing the world's seaways. Thirteen of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division while four sailed the inland waterways and one the Great Lakes. Brothers Arthur Lawson Jr. and Robert McGonagle com­ pleted bosun recertification cour­ ses at Piney Point while Robert Outlaw graduated from the steward recertification course. Of the retiring Seafarers, 12 served in the U.S. military: six in the Army, three in the Air Force, two in the Navy and one in the Marine Corps. Of all the union brothers sign­ ing off this month, Daniel O'Rourke was with the SIU the longest—having received his union book in 1945 in the port of New York. Brief biographical sketches of Brothers Lawson, McGonagle, Outlaw and O'Rourke as well as the other new pensioners follow. DEEP SEA THOMAS COLBERT, 53, joined the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of New York. Bom in Jefferson Township, Pa,, he sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Brother Colbert resides in Violet, La. MARGARITO DEGOLLADO, 65, joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of Houston. A native of Gal­ veston, Texas, he sailed in the steward department. Brother Degollado served in the U.S. Air Force from 1946 to 1947. He retired to Houston. AMERICO FARIA,70, joined the SIU in 1959 in the port of San Francis­ co. Bom inNew Bedford, Mass., he To Our New Pensioners ... Thanks for a Job Well Done I- INLAND • -.ri"- M - -ft V.i.. •U • '• ;jS •••; •t-: SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE SIU PACIFIC DISTRICT PENSION PLAN JOHN KARONIS, 65, joined the union in 1971 in the port of New York. Bom in Greece, he sailed in the engine department. Brother Karonis upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School. He retired to Athens, Greece. A new round of general education college courses, taught at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, will begin May 9 and will mn through July 8. These evening classes for upgraders taking vocational training courses are designed to enhance the proficiency of SIU members in areas related to the maritime industry. Among the subjects that will be offered are General Physical Science II, Physics II, Composition and Rhetoric, Composition and Literature, College Mathematics I and Principles of Psychology. Also available during the session will be Development MathemaUcs, Developmental Writing and Developmental Reading. These courses are available during the free time for all Seafarers who are upgrading at the center. They provide members with the opportunity to gain college credits while improving their seafaring skills. The Lundeberg School at the center offers two Associate of Applied Science degrees: Nautical Science Technology for Seafarers sailing in the deck department and Marine Engineering Technology for engine department members. (SIU members from either department who have upgraded at the school already have eamed credit toward a degree.) For more information about these courses and the college program in general, contact the academic department at the Lundeberg School at (301)994-0010 or write Academic Department, Seafarers Harry Lun­ deberg School of Seamanship, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. •"•1i'.?v ... from 1950 to 1953. He calls San Francisco home. RAYMOND BAXTER, Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently have become 61, joined the pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These men and women have served Seafarers in the maritime i^ustry well, and the SIU and all their union brothers and sisters wish them 1973 in the happiness and health in the days ahead. port of Nor­ folk, Va. A native of ConROBERT ARTHUR sailed in the engine department. roe, Texas, he OUTLAW, Brother Faria served in the U.S. LAWSON sailed in the engine department. 63, joined the JR., 62, Army from 1944 to 1946. He calls Boatman Baxter retired to Seafarers in joined the Sacramento, Calif, home. Hampton, Va. 1971 in his na­ Seafarers in tive Bal­ 1967 in the WILBUR ULAS COFFMAN, 61, joined the timore. GEE, 61, port of New SIU in 1951 in the port of Galves­ Brother Out­ joined the York. A na­ law success­ ton, Texas. Bom in Elk Falls, Kan­ union in 1964 tive of Fall sas, he sailed in the deck fully completed the steward recer­ River, Mass., he completed the in the port of department. Boatman Coffman tification program in 1982. He bosun recertification program at New York. A served in the U.S. Army from 1951 served in the U.S. Air Force from Piney Point in 1989. Brother LawPort Arthur, 1953 to 1956. He lives in Houston. to 1953. He retired to Chesapeake, son resides in Clearwater, Fla. Texas native, Va. he sailed in WILBERT the engine department. Brother DEQUEANT, ROBERT HUBERTO Gee served in the U.S. Navy from 62, joined the McGONAGLE, VERA, 65, 1949 to 1953. He retired to Sabine union in 1964 62, joined the joined the Pass, Texas. in the port of SIU in 1956 SIU in 1957 Port Arthur, in his native in the port of JACOB Texas. A na­ Boston. New York. A GROBY, 65, tive of Ar­ Brother Mc­ Motul, joined the cadia, La., he Gonagle suc­ Mexico na­ Seafarers in most recently sailed as a captain. cessfully tive, he sailed 1974 in the Boatman Dequeant resides in completed the bosun recertification in the deck department. Brother port of Hous­ Elton, La. program at the Lundeberg School Vera upgraded at (he Lundeberg ton. A native in 1979. He served in the U.S. School in 1981. He served in the of Savannah, LOUIS SMITH H, 53, joined the Army from 1948 to 1954. He calls U.S. Army from 1952 to 1955. Ga., he sailed Seafarers in 1972 in the port of Ewa Beach, Hawaii home. Brother Vera resides in Jardines in the deck department. Brother Norfolk, Va. Bom in Oklahoma Medrida, Mexico. City, he sailed in the engine depart­ Groby served in the U.S. Marine DANIEL ment. Boatman Smith served in the Corps from 1946 to 1948. He lives O'ROURKE, HUGH U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960. He in Buna, Texas. 68, joined the WOOTEN, retired to Riverview, Fla. union in 1945 65, joined the WILLARD in the port of GREAT LAKES union in 1970 HUGGINS, New York. A of in the port ARNOLD PERRY, 65, joined the 66, joined the New Jersey San Francis­ SIU in 1956 in the port of Buffalo, SIU in 1962 native, he co. Bom in N.Y. A New Bedford, Mass. na­ in the port of sailed in the Utah, he tive, he sailed in the deck depart­ Mobile, Ala. deck department. Brother O'­ sailed in the ment. Brother Perry served in the The Virginia Rourke upgraded at Piney Point fre­ steward department. Brother U.S. Army from 1946 to 1953. He native sailed quently. He resides in Seattle. Wooten served in the U.S. Army still calls New Bedford home. in the engine department. Brother Huggins served in the U.S. Air Force from 1945 to 1947. He calls Mobile home. Hew Eveahv Cmrse Sesskm Be^ Far LmuUberg SOUHH Unnulwrs . 19 - > /. .. .U ft This is a summary of the annual report for the SIU Pacific District Pension Plan (Employer Identification No. 94-6061923, Plan No. 001) for the year ended July 31, 1993. The annual report has been filed with the Intemal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided bya trast arrangement. Plan expenses were $14,115,589. These expenses included $1,185,930 in administrative expenses and $12,929,659 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of5,887 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet eamed the right to receive benefits. The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $166,849,849 as of July 31, 1993, compared to $156,607,49,8 as of July 31,1992. During the plan year the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $10,242,351. This increase included unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value of plan assets; tl(at is, the difference between the value of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The plan had total income of $24,357,940 including employer contributions of $451,536, earnings from investments of $5,923,986, stock dividends of $437,114, net realized gain on sale or exchange of assets of $4,533,531, unrealized appreciation of assets of $12,854,269 and other income of $157,504. Employees do not contribute to this plan. r •, = Minimum Funding Standards Our actuary's statement shows that enough money was contributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance with the minimum funding standards of ERISA. Your Rights to Additional Information You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thoeof, on request The items listed below are included in that report: 1. An accountant's report; 2. Assets held for investments; 3. Actuarial information regarding the funding of the plan; 4. Transactions in excess of five (5) percent of plan assets;and 5. Fiduciary information, including transactions between the plan and parties-in-interest (th« is, persons who have certain relationships with the plan). To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the plan administrator, SIU Pacific District Pension Plan, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Telephone Number: (415) 495-6882. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements will be included as part of that report. You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department of Labor should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N4677, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20216. f �20 APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG .- v-v. Final Departures DEEP SEA SALEHALI JOHN CISIECKI Pensioner John Cisiecki, 63, passed away February 16. A native of Pennsyl­ vania, he joined the SIU in 1941 in the port of New York. Brother Cisiecki completed the bosun recertification program at Piney Point in 1974. He began receiv­ ing his pension in February 1987. r- ;t: .. if ;-::••• • -••I'-''-. ''••"•.? • ' • ^ •••" ;• y • ^'; :':v K k- IPlliiirV,. i:L- •' . Saleh Ali, 34, died Oc­ tober 10, 1988. Bom in Yemen, he joined the Seafarers in 1975 in the port of New York. Brother Ali sailed in the deck department. .^•: Hi:'-: V.;.'..: iSil Ijf;ff': I - • 'V- ; .joiVA/- • •• FRANK CONWAY Pensioner Frank Conway, 72, died February 28. He started sail­ ing with the union in 1969 in his native San Francisco. Brother Conway sailed in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1944. Brother Conway retired in August 1988. PEDRO GARCIA Pensioner ~ Pedro Gar­ cia, 81, passed away Febraary 18. Bom in Puer­ to Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Gar­ cia sailed in the steward depart­ ment. He began receiving his pension in March 1977. ANTHONY HANNA Pensioner Anthony Hanna, 72, died March 6. A Shenan­ doah, Pa. na­ tive, he joined the SIU in 1948 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Hanna sailed in the deck department. He retired in November 1982. BILLIE JENKINS ii- f/'i ";•. • •, r ! . :p. I^':| if- . S;, ' Pensioner Billie Jenkins, 67, passed away Febraary 23. Bom in Ash­ land, Ky., he joined Ae union in 1957 in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Jenkins sailed in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in January 1986. VICTOR PLACEY Pensioner Victor Placey, 69, died Febraary 14. A native of Pennsyl­ vania, he joined the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of New York. Brother Placey sailed in the deck department. He retired in Febraary 1989. Boatman Frederickson sailed in the engine department. He began receiving his pension in October 1987. ment. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army in World War II. Brother Hopkins retired in May 1985. RICHARD SMITH Pensioner Richard Smith, 76, passed away January 30. Bom in Florida, he joined the SIU in 1952 in the port of New York. Brother Smith sailed in the steward department. He served in the U.S. Navy during World W^r 11. Brother Smith began receiving his pension in April 1982. HARVEY DAVIS Harvey Davis, 58, passed away March 3. A Missouri native, he joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of St. Louis. Boatman Davis sailed in the engine department. LAWRENCE RODAL Pensioner Lawrence Rodal, 64, died Febraary 10. A Michigan native, he joined the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of Frankfort, Mich. He sailed in the engine department. BrothCT Rodal upgraded at Piney Point in 1979. He began receiving his pen­ sion in December 1986. ROBERT STAPLIN Pensioner Robert Staplin, 73, died January 26. A native of Attleboro, Mass., he joined the union in 1955 in the port of New York. Brother Staplin sailed in the engineroom. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Brother Staplin retired in August 1985. JOHNCOSSMAN Pensioner John Cossman, 67, passed away January 11. He joined the Seafarers in 1970 in his native Hous­ ton. Boatman Cossman last sailed as a tankerman. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1947. Boatman Cossman retired in January 1989. STEPHEN TAYLOR Pensioner Stephen Taylor, 66, died December 24. A native of Lawrence, Kan., he joined the SIU in 1958 in the port of Los Angeles. Boatman Taylor sailed in the steward department. He began receiving his pension in January 1992. OSMAN ZEN Pensioner Osman Zen, 75, passed away Febraary 21. A Philippine Island native, he joined the union in 1958 in the port of New York. Brother Zen sailed in the steward department. He began receiving his pension in November 1982. INLAND WILLIAM CARMEAN William Carmean, 69, died December 26. Bom in Mathews, Va., he joined the Seafarers in 1972 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Carmean sailed as a mate. He retired in January 1988. CHRISTIAN FREDERICKSON Pensioner Christian Frederickson, 68, died Febraary 26. He joined the union in 1961 in his native Philadelphia. George Quinones passed away October 4, 1993. The retired engine department member joined the union in New York as a charter member in 1939. He was 82. Quinones was involved in several of the union's early or­ ganizing drives. He sailed during World War II, the Korean conflict and the Viet­ nam War. A February 22 ceremony conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard to honor the former mer­ chant marine veteran was fol­ lowed by the scattering of Brother (^inones's ashes at sea in Corpus Christi, Texas, as he had requested. Houston SIU Repre­ sentative Mike Calhoun at­ tended the services and presented the family with a traditional flower wreath to toss into the water following the memorial ceremony. RAILROAD MARINE GREAT LAKES SEYMOUR WOLFSON JOHN HOPKINS Pensioner Pensioner Seymour John Hop­ Wolfson, 68, kins, 74, passed away passed away Febraary 14. Januaiy 31. He joined the Bom in Seafarers in Alabama, he 1957 in his joined the native Brook­ union in lyn. Brother 1960 in the Wolfson completed the bosun port of Detroit. Brother Hop­ recertification course at Piney kins sailed in the engine departPoint in 1982. He began receiv­ ing his pension in January 1990. WILSON YARBROUGH Pensioner Wilson Yarbrough, 78, died January l8. Bom in Texas, he joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of New York. Brother Yarbrough sailed in the steward department. He retired in Septem­ ber 1974. STANLEY STIGEN Pensioner Stanley Stigen, 72, rassed away February 19. Jom in Wis­ consin, he joined the SIU in 1960 in the port of Detroit. Brother Stigen sailed in the deck department. He retired in March 1987. Charter Member George Quinones Dead at 82 PAULBASSETT Pensioner Paul Bassett, 85, died Febraary 16. A Virginia native, he joined the union in 1959 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Bassett sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in January 1974. SIU Rep. Mike Calhoun (left) offers condolences to the Quinones family following the memorial ceremony in Corpus Christi, Texas. SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE SIU PD SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS FUND, INC. This is a summary of the annual report for the SIU PD Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. (Employer Identification No. 94-1431246, Plan No. 501) for the year ended July 31,1993, The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The SIU PD Supplemental Benefits Fund, Inc. has committed itself to pay benefit claims incurred under the terms of the plan. Basic Financial S^ement Benefits under the plan are provided by a trust arrangement. Plan exjrenses were $7,873,980. These expenses included $245,729 in administrative expenses and $7,628,251 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 1,945 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits. The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $2,965,498 as of July 31,1993, compared to $3,052,472 as of the beginning of the plan year. During the plan year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $86,974. The plan had total income of $7,787,006 including employer contributions of $7,560,449, earnings fix)m investments of $111,803, and other income of $114,754. Employees do not contribute to this plan. Your Bights to Additionai Information You have the right to receive a copy of the fully annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report: 1. An accountant's rqjort; 2. Assets held for investment; 3. Transactions in excess of five (5) percent of the fund assets; and 4. Fiduciary information, including transaction between the plan and parties-in-interest (that is, persons who have certain relationships with the plan). To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write or call the office of the plan administrator, SIU PDSupplemental Benefits Fund, Inc., 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Telephone Number; (415) 495-6882. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements will be included as part of that report. You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan, 522 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costSi Requests to the Department of Labor should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N4677, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. �APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOR 21 •.•if-i?;- • Appeals Board A/^^roves Sh^ipbig Rules Changes Updates Mandated by New Federal Regulations and Contract Revisions •f'-V-V '.. ••'•" T'i; I '.v " •• 1 The Seafarers Appeals Boarc has approved extensive changes in the shipping rules that govern how SIU members claim ant maintain deep sea jobs. Many of the rule changes are technical, mandated by recently implemented federal regulations like the Oil Pollution Act of 199 (CPA '90). All of thechanges thai appear in Action 372 have been incorporated and printed in the 1993 Standard Freightship Agreement and the 1993 Stand ard Tanker Agreement. "We have completed thorough review of the shippin rules in order to bring them up date," noted Augie Tellez, SIl vice president for contracts and collective bargaining. "Maa changes have occurred since the shipping rules were last printed The new contracts contain the up dated rules." The modifications within the shipping rules include those adopted with regard to benzene testing of members, claiming o jobs aboard cable ships and the conditions for requesting trip reliefs. Action 372 went into effect immediately after its was passec by the board, which is composed of representatives from both the SIU and its contracted com­ panies. The complete text of the action is printed below. or other accredited hospital. except as specifically provided qualifications, seniority, date oj Certificate." Change to read as follows: ". . for in (a) and (p) of Rule 2.G.21. registration, etc. Transportation New language added in 5, an accredited doctor or hospi­ and "(c) It is mandatory that in such cases shall be provided by Preferences and Priorities,12.(a) tal." crewmembers make arrange­ the Employer." and renumbered as new 13. to Change language in 2. Ship ments to attend the lifeboat pro New language in first para read as follows: "13. Trip ping Procedure 5(b)&(c) to reac gram conducted at the Seafarers graph of 5. Preferences and Reliefs, Permanent Ratings. as follows: "(b) Effective June Harry Lundeberg School Priorities, 2.(a) to read as fol­ Anything contained in these 16, 1993, no seaman shall be Seamanship within the first eight lows: "2. (a) If a laid up ship Rules to the contrary not­ shipped to a contracted vessel (8) months of employment." Re requires a crew to report for duty withstanding, the following without having passed the pre letter old (d) through (r) with new aboard a vessel within thirty (30, shall be applicable. hire drug test pursuant to U.S. (c) through (q) respectively. days following layup, the crew "(a) The following specified Coast Guard regulation (CO DChange language in 2. Ship members at the time of layup shah ratings enumerated in this sub­ 86-067) (46 GFR, 4, 5 and 16) ping Procedure, K (deleted last have priority for all such jobs, section (a),possessing Class "A" except those seamen who meet the paragraph and section that listed provided that such crewmembers seniority, upon attaining four (4) requirements of the USCG drug key personnel) to read asfollows: are registered at a Union hiring months of continuous employ­ test exemptions in effect at that "K. In recognition of the impor­ hall not later than 5 p.m. on the ment aboard a specific vessel, time," and "(c) Effective tance of developing effective third day following the date oj shall be designated as having December 1, 1992, no seaman American-flag passengership layup. If the third day following Permanent Status for such vessel shall be shipped to a contractec utilization and in an effort to en layup is a Sunday or a recognizee' and shall request a relief of no tanker, tank vessel or barge as courage the recruitment of per­ holiday in such port, the period in less than sixty (60) days or one (1) specified in the U.S. Coast Guard sonnel with the necessary skills which registration must be com round trip where the vessels' regulations, without first provid­ and personnel qualifications and pleted shall be extended through schedule of operations involves ing a Seafarers Welfare Plan further recognizing that the suc­ the next business day. If a laid up voyages in excess of sixty (60) Benzene Clearance on their clinic cess of such development with ship requires a crew to report days, upon the vessels' arrival at card and a current Seafarers beneficial and economic benefit within three (3) days or less fol­ a port in the Continental United Welfare Plan Benzene Certifi­ to the employer and employees in lowing the date of layup, the States or Puerto Rico or other cate." substantial amount is dependent crewmembers at the time of layup mutually agreed to port. The pur^ Delete the third paragraph Oj upon competent and efficient per­ may register up to and including pose of this provision is to provide 2. Shipping Procedure 7,C.3 sonnel, for such reason during the the date the ship is re-crewing. It as closely as the vessels' opera­ which reads: "Notwithstanding term of the agreement, the Com­ is the responsibility of the crew­ tional necessities permit, a four the foregoing and anything con pany shall have the absolute anc members wishing to reclaim their (4) months on and two (2) months tained in these Rules to the con final discretion to recruit, accept, jobs to maintain contact with the off work schedule for the Per­ trary notwithstanding and as long reject or promote the personnel Port Agent where registered manent ratings. as there remains in effect the assigned to the SS Constitution since such jobs are available to "All requests for reliefs shall Seafarers Harry Lundeberg and SS Independence hotel sec­ crewmembers employed at the be so designated when referred School of Seamanship entry tion by reason of their respon­ time of payoff for a limited period by the Company to the Manpower training program for Ordinary sibilities in the conduct of the of time, but not to exceed twenty- Pool Coordinator and shall be Seaman, Wiper and Steward furtherance of the Company's four (24) hours, if available." shipped pursuant to the rules Department adopted by Seafarers business and politics. With Add new language in 5. prescribed herein. Harry Lundeberg School o respect to all replacement of such Preferences and Priorities, 4.(d, "During the period of employ­ SAB Action #372 Seamanship and as it may be personnel, the Company shal to read as follows: "(d) Within ment, permanent ratings may re­ Whereas, during the term oj changed from time to time, per­ give prompt notice to the Union each class of seniority in the Deck quest an emergency relief for the SIU Standard Freightship and sons possessing seniority clas­ hiring hall of the availability oj Department, priority for the job thirty (30) days, but no less than Tanker Agreements which ex­ sification "B" shall be limited, such employment. The Union of "Cable A.B." shall be given to fifteen (15) days, as dictated by pired June 15, 1993, the however, to employment oppor­ hiring hall shall refer suitable those seamen who have satisfac­ the vessel's operational neces­ Seafarers Appeals Board enactec tunities aboard vessels owned or and competent available person­ torily completed the entry rating sities. The four (4) month employ­ numerous shipping rule changes, chartered by the U.S. military anc' nel to the Company, and the Com­ training program at the Seafarers ment period shall be reduced by and operated by contracted civilian pany shall give due consideration Harry Lundeberg School of the number of days taken for Whereas, during the negotia­ employers pursuant to being suc­ to such referrals consistent with Seamanship and have completed emergency relief. Transportation tions of the new Standard Collec­ cessful bidders in accordance the skills arid competence of those at least eight (8) months of expenses, if any, shall be borne by tive Bargaining Agreements that with Request for Proposals referred, all consistent, however, employment aboard a cable ship the seaman requesting relief arid expire June 16,1996, several rule RFPs) and limited solely to the with the practical time con­ and possess U.S. Coast Guard the seaman providing the relief. changes were negotiated, and extent that such vessels are so straints. certification as Able Seaman." Trip reliefs shall be provided orily Whereas, several changes in designated for such purposes 'All personnel, upon comple­ Change language in 5. if a relief is available. Seamen various Federal regulations were solely by the SAB by action in tion of their tour of duty, shall Preferences and Priorities, 5.(c) who leave a vessel without a implemented that directly affect writing from time to time and to register at the hiring hall in to read as follows: "(c) Within •rroper relief shall forfeit their the shipping rules, those passenger vessels ap­ Honolulu within forty-eight (48) each class of seniority rating in reclaim rights. All seamen Now therefore, be it resolved plicable solely to the Steward hours after leaving the vessel. the Engine Department, priority returning to their ship after the that the Seafarers Appeals Board, Department and again so desig­ They must reclaim their job from for the job of Marine Electronics emergency relief period must acting under and pursuant to the nated for such purposes solely by the hiring hall shipping board Technician shall be given to those notify the hiring hall of their authority granted in Article 9 of the SAB by action in writing from 'orty-eight (48) hours prior to seamen possessing a certificate of scheduled return. the SIU Shipping Rules, shall im­ time to time." 'Permanent ratings as rejoining their assigned vessel." satisfactory completion of the ad­ plement the following amend­ specified below shall have the Add "Cable AB" position to vanced course of training by the Change language in the first right to one emergency relief Seafarers Harry Lundeberg the bottom left column of 3. Deck ments: sentence of 2. Shipping Proce­ Delete 1. Seniority l.(b) dure, 9 to read as follows: "Ex­ Department, Group 1-Day School of Seamanship for the leriod in any twelve (12) month second half of paragraph that cept where specifically provided Markers. rating of Marine Electronics period Seamen shipped as emer­ reads: . . and as well as any 'or in these Rules..." Add the word "rating" in the Technician, in the event such gency relief shall be designated as 'Emergency Reliefs.'" unlicensed seaman possessing Add new language to 2. Ship­ second sentence part 4. Business course is being offered." Change language in 5. Add new language 5. Class "B". . ."to end of para­ ping Procedure, 19(c) to read as 1 lours and Job Calls, C, to read follows: "(c) However, Ordi­ as follows: "If the sixth (6th) job references and Priorities, 9. Preferences and Priorities, graph. Delete 1. Seniority 2.(d) that nary Seamen employed aboard call does not produce a qualified from "... a U.S.P.H.S. or other 3.(e), to read as follows: "(e) reads: "(d) Seamen, who after cable ships, who have satisfac­ seaman possessing either Class accredited hospital... "to new Every effort will be made by the having been employed in the hotel torily completed the Seafarers A" or Class "B" seniority 'anguage to read as follows: "... seamen rejoining the vessel to do section of passenger vessels for a larry Lundeberg School of rating, the said job shall be an accredited hospital arid who so at the same port where the relief was provided." period of ninety (90) days... "to Seamanship entry training pro­ awarded to the seaman possess­ Add new language 5. New language added in 5. end of paragraph. Re-letter old gram, shall be permitted to ing Class "C" seniority rating (e) and (f) to new (d) and (e) remain aboard a cable ship for a entitled to the same under these references and Priorities, 11., references and Priorities, 13.(f), third paragraph and new 12., to 'ast sentence should read as foltotal of two hundred and forty Rules." respectively. Add new language to 4. Busi­ read as follows: "11. All seamen 'ows: "In such cases, the seaman Add new language in 1. 240) days with a sixty (60) day Seniority 3., second paragraph to relief period afterfour (4) months ness Hours and Job Calls, D.2., having permanent status aboard 7eing relieved shall register at his read as follows: "All seamen who of continuous employment in first part of D now numbered i [.NG carriers shall not compete home port." Add new language 5. retired from the industry who order to obtain the necessary D.l.) to read as follows: "2. In br employment aboard any other subsequently decide to return to seatime required by the U.S. the event that personnel are re­ contracted vessel during their 'references and Priorities, 13.(i), . the industry shall possess Class Coast Guard to obtain Able quired by a cable ship to assist in relief period. Failure to comply beginning of first sentence the repair of a cable break, all with this provision will terminate changed to read as follows: "(i) "C" Seniority notwithstanding Seaman certification." .Except as specifically provided Delete language in 2. Shipping jobs requested by the Employer , oermanent status. the level of seniority possessed by "12. All seamen seeking br in these Shipping Rules,..." such seamen prior to retirement. 'Procedure, 21(a), (b) and move shall be referred by Manpower to Language changed 5. This provision shall be automat­ c) to the (b) position and replace the port nearest to where the employment aboard contract^ ically applied unless waived by aforementioned to read as fol- cable ship involved is located, for tankers, tank vessels, and/or bar­ references and Priorities, 13.(1) the Seafarers Appeals Board 'ows: "21. CREW ROTATION- one job call only. All jobs not ges as specified within the mean­ to read as follows: "(I) It is the when industry conditions so dic­ PASSENGER VESSELS, (a) filled on the initial referral shall ing of the United States Coast responsibility of the seaman Ime off for Employees shall be in then be made available by Man­ Guard Benzene Regulations, 5eing replaced to maintain con­ tate." Change language in 1. accordance with the contractual power to all ports simultaneously must possess a current Benzene tact with the Port Agent at the Seniority 3. F., end of first sen­ agreement in effect between the and offered to those seamen first clearance on their Seafarers Wel­ tence, old text reads: ". .. in the Jnion and the Employer," and responding, subject to standard fare Plan clinic card, and a valid Continued on page 25 continuing care of a U.S.P.H.S. (b) Time off will not be granted shipping procedures involving Seafarers Welfare Plan Benzene -• • /V.:- • ."jr'' '• •' '1 ' •. �22 - .'• •. •.' •' SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1994 Seafarers In Readiness ;W i-:. vCirs-^-i-:v. ^1' v; . ^ Firing 9mm pistols under the watchful eyes of a Marine colonel are Chief Mate Rich Malloy (left) and AB Scott Edington. C:\ SA Mac Browne and Chief Steward Bill Finhandler stand on deck and watch the Pearl Harbor shoreline disappear. Maintaining a steady pace for a floating repair shop for U.S. Marine Corps aircraft during a military training exercise in the Pacific was the job of Seafarers aboard the USNS Curtiss. The SlU-crewed vessel, operated by American Overseas Maritime Corp. (Amsea), was taken off reserve operating status and ac­ tivated to participate in a three-week drill called "Operation Determined Warrior" between Port Hueneme, Calif, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during February. Seafarers worked with Marines stationed on board the vessel to load 150 containers'in the port of Pearl Harbor. The boxes contained stores, spare parts and repair shops. Loading took three days. The actual exercise began with six to eight hours of flight operations on the vessel's return from Hawaii. Among the activities taking place on the Curtiss were helicopter landings on and takeoffs from the flight deck. During the five-day transit back to the States, the Marines utilized the ship's machine shops to repair fixed-wing (jets and propeller planes) and rotary (helicopter) aircraft parts. "We really enjoyed participating in the train­ ing exercises with the Marines," noted AB Scott Edington, who provided the Seafarers LOG with the photographs on this page. Edington added that all the Seafarers on board under the direction of Bosun Chnck Bowen worked hard to assist the Marines in whatever needed to be done. The Cwrrws, a former containership, was converted to an aircraft maintenance repair ves­ sel for the Marine Corps in 1986. During the conversion, the vessel was designed to include a flight deck. The actual aircraft that is being repaired is never brought on board, only the parts needing repair reached the Curtiss, explained a spokesman for Amsea. The Curtiss proved vital during Operation Desert Storm, serving as one of two floating repair stations for the military. ::• Crewmembers had a chance to learn from the military training exer­ cises. EU/FOWT Paul Telege (left), 1st Assistant Engineer Paul Cammaroto and DEL) Joe Schultz (holding the gun) are taught the proper way to fire a 50 caliber machine gun. Working on deck aboard the aircraft main­ tenance repair vessel is OS Curtis Phillips. OS Tyrone Johnson (left) handles^lhe lines while AB Ken Herzstein operates winch. 'Vil' ' Marines stand at attention as the Curtiss pulls out of Pearl Harbor. AB Billy Henderson (left) and AB Frank Hedge prepare for docking. V<' • Some of the crewmembers who participated in "Operation Oetermined,Warrior" include (from left) Chief Cook Fred Saffo, Chief Steward Bill Finhandler, ABs Billy Henderson and Ray Johnson, OSs Curtis Phillips, Reggie Pascua, Tyrone Johnson and Phil Wilson, and ABs Kenny Herzstein and Frank Hedge. Pictured on deck above is 2nd Assistant Engineer George Adams. '• �ji'.; W APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG heading from Panama to Baton Rouge, La. Educational director reminded crew to practice safety and all times. He urged members to donate to SPAD and upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or dis­ The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union ship­ puted OT reported. Crew reported board minutes as possible. On occasion, bi^use of space microwave oven and freezer or­ dered. Chairman advised crewmemiimitations, some will be omitted. bers to put normal size loads in Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's contract department. washer. Crew thanked galley gang Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the for good food. Next port: Chiriquf Grande, Panama. union upon rece/pf of the ships minutes. The minutes are then Digest of Ships Meetings forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication. AMERICAN CORMORANT (Ospey Shipping), January 9— Chairman Vernon Huelett, Secretary D.K. Goggins, Deck Delegate Calvin Patterson, En­ gine Delegate Robert McDonald, Steward Delegate Robert Wright. Educational director reminded members to upgrade skills at Liindeberg School. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew requested patrolman to meet ship in port. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang for great food and clean ship. COURIER (Vulcan Carriers), January 30—Chairman Michael Galbraith, Deck Delegate Robert Coleman, Engine Delegate Rod­ ney Lewis, Steward Delegate Diego Hatch. Chairman told crewmembers second washer and dryer has been requested. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegate. Crew gave thanks to steward department for job well doiie. GOLDEN MONARCH (Apex Marine), January 30^-Chairman Charles Parman, Secret^ Pernell Cook, Educational Director C. Boleware, Engine Delegate Jerome Dooms, Steward Delegate George Marano. Chairman reported captain extended thanks to entire crew for job well done. Secretary thanked crewmembers for upkeep of ship and stated he is looking forward to returning to ship after it is laid up in Korea. He urged members to donate to SPAD. Educational director advised niembers to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Disputed OT reported by deck and engine delegates. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by steward delegate. Chairman Parman stated crewmembers enjoyed "Scandal at Sea" video. Crew requested microwave oven. LNG TAURUS (ETC), January 30—Chairman Rohhynson Suy, Secret^ Francis Ostendarp, Educational Director Daniel Brass, Deck Delegate Larry Lehner. Chairman asked contracts depart­ ment for clarification of new man­ ning scales. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman reported "Scandal at Sea" video arrived on ship and encouraged entire crew to view it. Chairman announced new TV and microwave oven on order. Crew held a moment of silence in memory of departed members. SEA-LAND DEFENDER (SeaLand Service), January 23—Ghairman Robert Wagner, Secretary John Alamar, Educational Direc­ tor Balic Bazidar, Engine Delegate Donald Morrison, Steward Delegate Ignacio Fontelera. Chairman asked contracts department for copies of new con­ tract. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT noted by engine or steward delegates. Crew requested shuttle buses in all ports outside U.S. to and from vessel. Crew also asked for new selection of shipboard movies. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (SeaLand Service), January 30—Chair­ man Jack Kingsley, Secretary William Burdette, Educational Director G. Pollard, Deck Delegate Godofred Milaho, En­ gine Delegate Steven Byerley. Chairman announced payoff upon ar­ rival in Long Beach, Calif. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew dis­ cussed system of returning movies to library after use in crew lounge. SEA-LAND HA WAII (Sea-Und Services), January 30—Chairman W. Lough, Secretary Paul Guz­ man, Educational Director Jose Del Rio, Deck Delegate Allen Run nion. Engine Delegate Kenneth Harder, Steward Delegate Glenn Taan. Chairman stated dryer in crew laundry to be repaired. Educa­ tional director reminded crewmem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $165 in ship's fund. Some disputed OT reported in deck department. No beefs or disputed OT noted by en­ gine or steward delegates. Chair­ man announced "Scandal at Sea" video available for crew to view. He also noted good response to new repair list. Steward gave spe­ cial waste cans to collect plastics to bosun for distribution to crew. Crew voted galley gang best ever and gave them special thanks. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE (Sea-Land Services), January 10— Chairman John Stout, Secretary Nancy Heyden, Educational Direc­ tor Cardel Dunn, Deck Delegate Mitch Santana, Engine Delegate Saeed Muflahi, Steward Delegate Carlton Griffin. Chairman ex­ tended special vote of thanks to steward department for holiday meals and recent barbecue. He noted most of crew is signing off after voyage and reminded them to clean rooms and leave keys with steward or bosun. He asked crew­ members to keep laundry room clean and be sure to secure all tape lockers while in port. Education^ director reminded members to donate to SPAD and upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate thanked crewmembers for comply­ ing with new smoking rules and helping to keep mess hall and lounge clean. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND QUALITY (Sea Land Service), January 23—Chairman Carmine Bova, Secretary T.J. Smith, Educational Director Hans Schlueter, Deck Delegate Tom Nealon, Engine Delegate Anthony Rotunda, Stewards Delegate Stephan Osovitz. Chairman an­ nounced new Seafarers LOGs received. Educational director ad­ vised members to upgrade skills at 'iney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. Next port: Boston. SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Laijid Service), January 30—Chairman L.E. Watson, Secretary Jack Utz, iducational Director Jan Haidir. Chairman reminded members to eave room clean when signing off ship. Crew requested new TV and refrigerator. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked for Sea^and to provide mail service in all jorts of call and for contracts department to clarify day-off rules. Chairman said all crewmembers should have crew lounge key in their possession. Steward an­ nounced he will check linen condi­ tion. COVE ENDEA VOR (Cove Shipjing), February 6—Chairman C.C. »mith. Secretary Thomas Wyho, Educational Director Mark Grandahl. Deck Delegate T.J. Troupe, ingine Delegate V. Rewerts, Steward Delegate Mohamed Ahmed. Chairman announced ship LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liheny Maritime), February 6-^hairman R. Brown, Secretaiy N. Evans, Educational Director D. Swords, Deck Delegate B. Rohinson, En­ gine Delegate TJ. Mattews, Steward Delegate R. Gordon. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in New Orleans. He will dis­ cuss time off after foreign voyages with patrolman during payoff. Treasurer listed $120 in movie fund. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Chairman reminded members signing off in New Or­ leans to strip bunks and clean rooms. LONG LINES(Transoceanic Cable), February 11—Chairman Pete Amper, Secretary Michael Bonsignore, Educational Director Eric Frederickson, Deck Delegate Joseph Cosentino, Engine Delegate Mark Francois, Steward Delegate Eric Mauley. Crew stated two new washers and dryers received in Portland, Ore. Secret^ discussed "Scandal at Sea" video with crewmembers. Treasurer reported $625 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers requested exercise room be expanded and library in crew lounge be in­ creased. Next port: Honolulu. MA YAGUEZ(Puerto Rico Marine), February 9—Chairman A. Caulder, Secretary J. Reddick, Deck Delegate Matt Arnold, Steward Delegate Lawrence Winfield. Crew asked contracts depart­ ment to clarify day-off and watch standing policies. Crewmembers gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. OMI SACRAMENTO (OMI), February 6—Chairman Ray Gorju, Secretary Mathew Scott, Educational Director Robert Caldwell, Deck Delegate William Steele. Chairman announced ship going into Mobile, Ala. shipyard upon arrival. He noted new chairs for crew lounge arrived and urged members to clean rooms before signing off ship. Educational direc­ tor encouraged members to attend Paul Hall Center to upgrade skills. He reminded crew the facilities are second to none for merchant mariners. Treasurer announced $260 in ship's fiind. Deck and en­ gine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Bosun stated he will check with patrolman concerning renewal of clinic cards and drug testing during dry dock period. Crewmembers ;ave special recognition to mem>ers of galley gang for outstanding Christmas meal. Crew commended steward department members Steward/Baker Scott, Chief Cook Jack Freeman and SA Catherine Viamahon for having true holiday spirit and doing an excellent job. OVERSEAS HARRIETTE Maritime Overseas), February 6— Chairman Peter Victor, Secretary J. Quinn, Educational Director D. Harino, Deck Delegate Downey Shannon, Engine Delegate Ar­ mando Medina, Steward Delegate Rudolph Xatruch. Chairman reported smooth voyage and 10 days in Russia enjoyed by all. He noted ship may lay up in New Oreans for two weeks. Educational director urged members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmem­ bers requested copies of new con­ tract. Crew gave vote of^anks to steward department for job well done. Next port: Callao, Peru. OVERSEAS JUNEAU (Maritime Overseas), February 22—Chair­ man Jeffery Kass, Secretary Scott Opsahl, Educational Director C. Montoya, Deck Delegate Steven Marwin, Engine Delegate Jimmy Soto, Steward Delegate Ahmed Nasser. Chairman reported new furniture to arrive while vessel is in dry dock. He said he's awaiting response from contracts department concerning day-off policy and ad­ vised members to keep lounge neat and to clean rooms when signing off. Educational director urged , members to upgrade as often as possible and announced applica­ tions are available. He advised 23 iv Delegate William Murphy, En­ gine Delegate Earl Erhert. Chair­ man announced payoff upon arrival in port. Educational director urged members to read Seafarers LOG to keep informed and upgrade at Piney Point. Deck delegate asked contracts department for clarifica­ tion of rules regarading AB on wheel duty. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Entire crew extended vote of appreciation and thanks to galley gang. Next port: Los An­ geles. SEA-LAND HAWAII (Sea-Land Service), February 6—Chairman W. Lough, Secretary D. Spangler, Deck Delegate A. Runnion, Steward Delegate Glenri Taan. Chairman reported electrician .. 'i:, Galley Crew Delivers Delicious Tuna 'i- <: : During a stopover on the tropical island of Guam, crewmembers aboard the Sea-LandNavigator had the opportunity to purchase fresh fish. Above is a photo of the galley gang with their beautifully prepared tuna. From left are Chief Cook G. Salle, Chief Steward J. Smith and Steward Assistant I. Monasser. members to read Seafarers LOG. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended special vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. Next port: Cherry Point, Wash. OVERSEAS PHILADELPHIA (Maritime Overseas), February 7— Chairman Tim Olvany, Secretary D. Brown, Educational Director R. Kurpecski. Chairman noted ice machine in crew area needs repair. He announced payoff in Florida. Secretary encouraged members to read Seafarers LOG. Educational director advised crewmembers to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer reported $50 in ships fiind. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed asking company to install smoking ounge. Crew thanked steward department for job well done and extended special vote of thanks to GSU Pedro Alicea for making ship a clean home for crewmem­ bers. One moment of silence ob­ served for departed union brothers and sisters. Crew thanked contracts department for improvements in medical services for members and dependants. Next port: Corpus Cl^sti, Texas. RALEIGH BAY (Sea Land Ser­ vice), February 27—Chairman H. Knox, Secretary J. Speller, Educa­ tional Director David Dukehart. Chairman reminded members to donate to SPAD. Educational direc­ tor urged members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School. No >eefs or disputed OT reported. ?OVE/? (Vulcan Carriers), February 6—Chairman Ray Todd, Secretary H. Manning, Education­ al Director Charles Allen. Secretary advised members to fol­ low no smoking rule in mess hall and crew lounge. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew discussed use of washers in laundry room. SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), February 14Chairman T. Trehern, Secretary Ruehin Gallegulllos, Deck trying to repair crew dryer. He asked crewmembers to look out for one another. Treasurer reported $165 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Ciew an­ nounced video concerning runaway-flag ships viewed by all. Crew discussed building a picnic table. Next port: Honolulu. SEA-LAND KODIAK(Sea-Umd Service), February 14—Chairman Alan Lautermilch, Secretary M. Morgan, Engine Delegate BJionda Koski, Steward Delegate Ronald Dewitt Chairman advised crew to take care when walking from ship to gate during cargo operation. Crew requested different brand of coffee On ship. All delegates reported coffee tastes bad. No brofs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND LIBERA TOR (SeaLand Service), February 6—Chair­ man W. WhitsitL Secretary G. Thomas, Educational Director D. ' Dean. Educational director recom­ mended members take advantage of Lundeberg School courses. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward or engine delegates. Crewmembers extended vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. Crew requested second washer and dryer. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND PATRIOT(Sea-Land Service), February 26—Chairman R. Garcia, Secretary J. Russell, Deck Delegate Steve Kastel, En­ gine Delegate Joseph Vain, Steward Delegate Jacob Dusich. Chairman and crewmembers dis­ cussed "Scandal at Sea" video. Educational director noted schedule of classes at Piney Point posted. He urged members to donate to SPAD. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Chairman an­ nounced response to questions sent to contracts department posted. Steward delegate asked members to keep recreation room clean and not to put empty coffee pots on Continued on page 24 •. •. -•v/ */.;•.,-It • �24 Ships Digest Continued from page 23 burners. Crew requested clarifica­ tion of payoff rules from contracts department. They also gave vote of thanks to steward department and Chief Cook John Bennett for ex­ cellent meals. Next port; Long Beach, Calif. I • APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG SEA-LAND EMPRESS (Sea-. Land Service), Fehruaiy^ 12— Chairman Ray Ramirez, Secreiarj G. Bryant Jr., Educational Direc­ tor A. Bell, Deck Delegate Garx ^alker. Engine Delegate Hatchel, Steward Delegate Joel Crow. Chairman announced ship leaving Kobe, Japan. Deck and stewai^ delegates reported dis­ pute OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported hy engine delegate. Chmrman stated smooth sailing with job well done hy entire crew and good cooking hy galley gang. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. • SEA-LAND RELIANCE (SciLand Serviced February 1"— Chairman Kckert Secretary G. Sivlev. Educatjon^ Director Jar .AmiBft. IVck J. Casngay OusimiR arsraoooced pav'cjY in Tacomsia. Was& and asired crewsBfitsiess X'' cjem roccns "cax^ <^. Be dianked iircce cse« ?^ty."^^*ei£ done Deck at^TSed ais:•pmed OT. Vc iJeecs et OT dcu^acs. Osr* ncoid; S.'witntfrs I.iX'fe wc»?*<syi Osp* ihati.'ed stcwa.'d dena-Jmeic Mr gwa; meais SEA-LAND SPmiT':<isi^iJma Meeting Time Aboard the Bobo Taking part in a recent union meeting aboard the 2ndLt. John Paul Bobo in the port of Panama City, Fla. are (from left) QMED Wayne Gonsaives, bosun Red Wilson, QMED Joe Cipullo, Chief Electrician Charles Betz and Chief Steward Hans Schmuck. Service), February 14—Chairman Howard Gibbs. Steward Delegate A. Delaney, Educational Director Austin Horn, Deck Delegate Evan Bradley. Engine Delegate D. Locsin. Steward Delegate S. Hsien. Chainnan reported shower repairs complete. He stressed im­ portance of contributing to SPAD. Educational director urged mem­ bers u(>grade at Paul Hall Cen­ ter No beets *.>r disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND TACOMA (SeaLand Serv ice). Ed>ruajr> 2—Chair­ man Jwe^ .\rtis. Secretary H. Lively. Educational Director iieorge .Ackley. Engitw Delegate W. Weaver. Steward Delegate Ftaoik Martin. Chainnan noted 7ayv>d: upon arrival in Tacoma, Wash, He reported new watch systena now in effect. Secretary asked vMJteficts department to clarify use of gkwes in galley. Educational dKWtor ask)^ for donation to Seanun's Church in New York for books sent kv vessel. He reminded members to upgrade at Limdeberg School. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. "Ciew discussed starting movie libraiy and building book­ shelf for new books. Crewmembers gave vote of thanks to steward department. as usual. Chairman announced cap­ tain approved new VCR for ship. Many votes of thanks given to gal­ ley gang for great food preparation. Special thanks extended to OS Eddie Gofich for keeping un­ licensed areas super clean. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEALIFT CARIBBEAN (IMC), February 27—Chainnan Jerry Borucki, Secretary Dorothy Takahashi, Educational Director Ray Prin. Deck Delegate Eric Lund. Engine Delegate J. Kissanis, Stev?ard Delegate Beverly Harris. Secretary noted crew needs new dryer in crew laundry and new mattresses. He thanked deck department for Job well done. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew requested new no-skid pads in gal­ ley. Next port: Charleston, S.C. SEALIFT INDIAN OCEAN (IMC), February 6—Chairman Fred Collins, Secretary Franz Winiker, Engine Delegate A. Cook, Steward Delegate Gloria Gottschlich. Chairman announced microwave oven needs repair or re­ placement. He added very good work being done by entire crew aboard vessel. Educational director urged members to view education­ al films and to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported Seafarers LOGs received. Crew requested new belt for dryer. Next port: Sin­ gapore. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (SeaLand Service), February 23Chairman J. Lundborg, Secretary L. Ligbtfoot, Educational Director B. Landis, Engine Delegate T. Ab- STONEWALL JACKSON dulla. Steward Delegate D. (Waterman Steamship), February Flanker. Chairman thanked crew3—Chairman John McDonald, members for working hard during Secretary T. Hanson, Educational entire trip. Secretary informed Director Frank Quebedeaux, crew of new menu items. Educa­ Deck Delegate Robert Cbristentional director advised all crewsen. Engine Delegate W. Parrisb, members to upgrade at Piney Point Steward Delegate A. Bell. Chair­ and support union by donating to man announced payoff in New Or­ SPAD. Deck delegate reported dis­ leans. Secretary thanked crew for puted OT; No beefs or disputed OT job well done. Treasurer reported reported by engine or steward $480 in movie fund. No beefs or delegates. Crew stated Seafarers disputed OT reported. Crew stated LOGs not received in Yokohama Seafarers LOGs and "Scandal at Sea" video received. Crew re­ quested additional chairs in mess hall. Chairman urged members to remove clothing from washers and dryers promptly and to be careful when closing doors. WESTWARD VENTURE (InterOcean Management), February 1— Chairman T. M. Murphy, Secretary M. Gramer, ^ucational Director Lorance Pence, Deck Delegate Duffy Joyce, Steward Delegate H. Bubaker. Chairman discussed Seafarers LOG article ex­ plaining new maritime policy in Congress. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and donate to SPAD to maintain strong maritime industry. No beefs or disputed OT reported. (Chairman noted company plans to repair crew lounge furniture and rooms during shipyard stay. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. DSNS WILKES (Bay Ship Management), February 6-—Chair­ man James Souci, Secretary Vicki Holloway, Educational Director Eric Sutton, Deck Delegate Jonatbon Davis, Engine Delegate Jeffrey Willis, Steward Delegate Donald Mann. Chairman thai^ed crewmembers for separating trash properly. Education^ director advis^ members to upgrade skills at Piney Point and submit applications early. Treasurer reported $363 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew commended galley gang on great food and discussed haviiig TV on during meal hours. Bosun noted coasters to be put on bottom of chair legs in mess haU to prevent sliding during rough weather. Chairman announced com­ pany purchasing new washer and dryer for crew laundry. Crew re­ quested tile throughout vessel be replaced and new table in mess hall be purchased. Crewmembers ob­ served moment of silence in memoiy of departed union brothers and sisters. Know Your Rights i% ; -.V -^S-;::-, #?i® :t; v%i*' '«SSiH t;;;,i'Sf X- FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU At­ lantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguarding the membership's money and union finances. The constitution re­ quires a detailed audit by certified public accountants every year, which is to be submitted to the membership by the secretarytreasurer. A yearly finance com­ mittee of rank-and-file members, elected by the membership, each year examines the finances of the union and reports fiilly their find­ ings 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 oif various trust fund agreements. All these agreements specify that the trus­ tees 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 die 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 exclusive­ ly 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 be­ tween the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by cer­ tified mail, return receipt re­ quested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as rcfened to are available to mem­ bers 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 Mem­ bers should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in die 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 idiould contact the nearest SIU port agent EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any ar­ ticle serving the political pur­ poses of any individual in the union, officer or member. It also has refrained from publishing ar­ ticles deemed harmful to the union or its collective member­ ship. 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 con­ sists 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 cir­ cumstances should any member pay any money for any reason un­ less he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made wiffiout supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a pay­ ment 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. CONSTITl/TIONAL kiGHTS AND OBLIGA­ TIONS. Copies of the SIU con­ stitution are available in all union halls. AU members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its contents. Any time a member feels any other member or officer is attempting to deprive him or her of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods, such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, the member so affected should immediately notify head­ quarters. men and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connec­ tion 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 im­ proper conduct, the membeir should notify the Seafarers Inter­ national Union or SPAD by cer­ tified mail within 30 days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A mem­ ber should support SPAD to protect and further his or her economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. EQUAL RIGHTS. All mem­ bers are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clear­ ly set forth in the SIU constitu­ tion 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 en­ titled, the member should notify If at any time a member feels union headquarters. that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he or she SEAFARERS POLITICAL has been denied the constitution­ ACTIVITY DONATION — al right of access to union records SPAD. SPAD is a separate or information, the member segregated fund. Its proceeds are should immediately notify SIU used to further its objects and President Michael Sacco at head­ purposes including, but not quarters by certified mail, limited to, furthering the politi­ return receipt requested. The cal, social and economic inter­ address is: ests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of Michael Sacco, President the American merchant marine Seafarers International Union with improved employment op­ 5201 Auth Way portunities for seamen and boatCamp Springs, MD 20746. ma �••••ly APRIL 1994 SEAFARERS LOG 25 ^ t .'V -iC-S-t Umdebwg Si^wol Revises Rec^ tor Chlel CoiHcs The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education recently announced plans to im­ plement an all-new chief cook upgrading program, beginning with a pilot course April 18 through June 26. "After this pilot program, the entire course will be re-evaluated and then started again on a per­ manent basis," said Lundeberg School Culinary Director Don Nolan. "The course has been to­ tally revised in order to maximize the learning opportunity for each student. As part of that revision, the course no longer will be open- ended." Twelve Seafarers will take part in the pilot course, although future classes may have twice as many upgraders, Nolan said. (At press time, there were a few spaces available in the pilot course.) Galley gang members who want to apply for the pilot or later courses (dates to be announced) should complete and mail the coupon on page 27 of this issue of the Seafarers LOG, or they inay contact their port agent or ^ Lundeberg School for more infor­ mation. Upgraders in the chief cook course will alternate weekly be­ tween the Lundeberg School's new lecture/demonstration galley and the production galley. The lessons are designed so that each depends in part on the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous lesson. Some of the topics to be covered include basic cooking methods, seasoning and flavor­ ing, recipe and menu planning, stock, sauces and soups, meat and game, poultry, seafood, starches, vegetables, breakfast and dairy, salad, sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres. Practical testing and weekly quizzes also will be part of the curriculum. Other topics integrated during the entire 12-week period are sanitati i nutrition, safety, tools and e / ipment, food-service math, weights and measures, in­ ventory control and computer lab. Students are expected to bring their own knives. Recommended knives are: an 8-inch chefs knife, a 6-inch flexible boning knife, a 3-inch paring knife and a vegetable peeler. SAB Approves Shipping Rui^ Changes "During the specific period oj D.2. which reads: "Conditions in Continued from page 21 employment, their tours of dut' the industry shall be continuously port registered relative to his shall be approximately four (4, monitored, and six (6) months return to the vessel. He must months on and two(2) months off. after I. and 2. above are in­ return to the vessel at the comple­ Work schedules may be modified stituted, the Seafarers Appeals tion of his relief by re-claiming subject to the vessel's operationa Board shall determine whether his job from the hiring hall ship­ necessities, and as mutually the procedures shall continue or Upgraders in the new chief cook program will do extensive training in ping board no later tMn the day agreed to between the Union anc' be terminated." the Paul Hall Center's modern lecture/demonstration galley (above). prior to the vessel's arrival in the Company. Pursuant to in­ port. If the relief period ends and dustry practices, seamen covered the ship is at a port other than at by this subsection (q) leaving a the port where the seaman was vessel for medical reasons shaL relieved, he shall be cleared for not be qualified to return to the re-shipment at the port where vessel when declared "Fit for registered. When such jobs are Duty." 29 Die In Runaway-Flag the deaths of 47 people. reclaimed, the Dispatcher shal "Seamen receiving Main­ Collision In Istanbul In a 232-page report, an inter-agency task force provide the Port Agent where the tenance and Cure benefits during concluded there was no evidence suggesting that vessel is located and the Man­ their relief shall forfeit the right An explosive collision between two Greekpower Office with the following to return to the vessel under this owned, Cyprus-flagged vessels on March 14 in anyone consciously disregarded a substantial and information: Name, rating, social Trip Relief procedure. Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait resulted in the deaths of unjustifiable risk which caused a loss of human life. security number, registration 29 crewmembers and left oil slicks up to 25 miles The task force also found that no state law was "Except as specifically card number and seniority clas­ provided in this subsection (r), long which caused environmental and wildlife violated when the barges pushed by the Mauvilla rammed the bridge at the bayou minutes before the sification of the permanent the provisions applicable to the damage. train plunged into the muddy waters. rating. Neither ship had a pilot on board when the dry permanent ratings specified in The National Transportation Safety Board is "On vessels arriving on a Rule 12 (a) above shall also be cargo vessel Ship Broker and the tanker Nassia weekend, jobs must be reclaimed applicable to seamen specified in crashed at the Black Sea entrance to one of the continuing its investigation and will issue a by the permanent rating no later this subsection (r). world's busiest shipping lanes, according to pub­ separate report on the derailment this summer. than the Friday preceding the lished reports. "(s) It will be incumbent upon 4 4 ^ vessel's arrival in port. If Friday the Company, when ordering re­ The Nassia spilled an unspecified amount of the is a recognized holiday in the port placements, to notify the Man­ 98,500 tons of crude oil that it was transporting where registered, the job must be power Pool Coordinator when from Russia to Italy. The vessel, owned by Lemar SlU-Crewed Empire State reclaimed on the preceding seamen are leaving and rejoining Shipping, reportedly sustained major damage from Finishes Somalia Pullout Thursday. Seamen failing to com­ their vessels pursuant to Rule the massive fire which erupted upon impact. The SlU-crewed Empire State left the port of A much smaller fire broke out on the Ship Mogadishu on March 24, carrying American troops ply with the reship procedures 12." shall forfeit their right of reclaim Add new language 8. Dis­ Broker, which is owned by Seabase Shipping, Ltd and marking the end of 15 months of operation in Sixteen crewmembers (three Greeks and 13 Somalia by the U.S. Military Sealift Command and shall register pursuant to the cipline, B.2. to read as follows: provisions specified in Rule 2, '2. The hearing committee shall Filipinos) were rescued from the Nassia, while five (MSG). Shipping Procedures." From the start of relief efforts in the war-ravaged prepare a written specification of (three Maldivens and two Greeks) were saved from Add new language 5. charges and notice of hearing, the Ship Broker. African nation. Seafarers played an active and im­ This was the 40th shipping accident in the Bos­ portant role. SlU-crewed military prepositioning Preferences and Priorities, I3(n), which shall be sent to the subject to read as follows: "(n) Per­ seaman by certified mail, ad­ phorus area since 1960. vessels from Diego Garcia sailed across the Indian manent ratings leaving a vessel dressed to his last known Ocean to Somalia days before the first Marines si. sL for medical reasons shall be residence. Such notice shall pro­ landed on Dec. 9,1992. qualified under the Rules to vide at least two (2) weeks' time At the height of the intervention in December rejoin the same vessel after he has for the seaman to prepare his American Maritime Officers 1992,17 SlU-crewed vessels were involved in the acquired a "Fit for Duty Status, defense and shall give the seaman Withdraws from National MEBA relief effort. provided that he registers for up to one (I) week before the SlU-crewed ships delivered trucks, tractors, The American Maritime Officers (AMO) on employment within forty-eight hearing date to request a change March 20 formally withdrew from the National troops, ready-to-eat meals, medical supplies and (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, of date or location of such hear­ Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEB A). other materiel. They also provided food and am­ Sundays and Holidays, after ing. The hearing committee shall Such a withdrawal from National MEBA had munition for American troops. receiving his "Fit for Duty. initially locate the hearing at the been authorized by AMO members in a two-month, In all, nearly a million tons of military cargo Time off pursuant to this Union hiring hall closest to the unionwide secret ballot referendum that ended were deployed. provision shall not be less than subject seaman's last known February 15. The members voted almost unani­ fifteen (15) days nor exceed one residence. Pending the hearing, mously to permit AMO President Michael McKay *1. 4- *1. hundred twenty (120) days. The the seaman may register and ship and the union's executive board to sever ties with four (4) month employment in accord with these Rules and in National MEBA if the officials found such action Braer's Owners, Captain period shall be reduced by the his current seniority, except that necessary to protect AMO jobs, contracts and Will Not Be Prosecuted number of days of medical the charged seaman shall not be autonomy, the AMO said in a statement released Scottish authorities last month announced that relief." permitted to ship to the charging last month. the American owners and Greek captain of the The sixty (60) day relief period Company's vessels until the hear­ McKay later said that this action "will in no way Braer, the runaway-flag ship that ran aground on provided for in Rule 13 (a) may ings have been concluded. alter AMO's relationships with other unions at sea the Shetland Islands and spilled almost 85,000 tons be extended for medical reasons 'All efforts will be made by the or ashore or change AMO's essential mission of oil into the North Sea in January 1993, will not according to the above. Board for hearings conducted sustained opportunity for AMO members in foreign be prosecuted. Add new language 5. under this section to be completed and domestic trades." The reasoning for the decision, based on infor­ Preferences and Priorities, in an expeditious manner." mation supplied by authorities in the Shetland Is­ I3(r),(s), to read as follows: "(r) Add new language in 10. Spe­ 4. J. J. lands to the Crown Office in Edinburgh, was not All seamen employed aboard cial or Emergency Provisions, given. The final report on the investigation into the Tanker class vessels above the J.I., to read as follows: "D. 1. y|o Criminal Charges disaster will be released either this month or next entry level, excluding such Seamen who have retired from Found In Amtrak Disaster month. ratings as specified in subsection the industry shall be permitted to The Braer was owned by Bergvall & Hudner (a) (Aove, and who possess Class compete for employment aboard A six-month investigation by the state of and managed by B & H Shipmanagement Co., both "A" or "B" employment seniority, contracted vessels designated by Alabama into the September derailment of of Stamford, Conn. The Liberian-flagged vessel shall be permitted to remain the Seafarers Appeals Board, Amtrak's Sunset Limited has concli^d and found lad a Greek Captain (Alexandres Gelis) and Greek, aboard a specific vessel for a yrovided they can pass the physi­ no criminal wrongdoing by any of the tugboat crew­ Filipino and Pakistani crewmembers, none of members involved. The tug Mauvilh struck a period of time not to exceed six­ cal examination." whom was seriously injured. It was chartered by teen (16) months, subject to the Delete last paragraph in 10. jridge in Big Bayou Canot outside of Mobile, Ala., Canada Ultramar Ltd., a Canadian oil group. vessel's operational necessity. Special or Emergency Provisions, causing the derailment of the passenger train and ''IL: i, ; • • i',: >»• . \-ip' -r 'Jjyj il-'' Ijp. • • / "-'Vt;/;'',•• . fj •• • ..i. • •S. • • X..-- •-"S "'h/- �Upgraders Lifeboat—With Instmctor Jim Brown (left) are January 12 upgrading graduates of the lifeboat class (from left) William Wynn, To-Nu Wallace, David Gregory and Martin Josephson Jr. Trainee Lifeboat Class 520—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 520 are (from left, kneeling) Jonathan Owen, SImone Solomon, Kathryn Rivera, Sonia Felix, Brett Randall, Steven WItkowskI, Willie Jones Jr., Kurt Jacobsen, (standing) Daniel Rodriguez, John Bocchlchio, Labarron Johnson, Frank Adam Cook, Eddie Williams, Durrlell Williams, Ben Cusic (Instructor), Eric Martinez, Toderick McClary, Mark McKlnney, Joseph GrandlnettI, Marlon Tate, Christopher Coston and Eric Williams. / Marine Electronics Technician I—^The February 17 graduates of the marine electronics technician course are (from left, seated) Richard Buchanan, Marsha Dawson and Herman Manzer. Standing Is Instructor Russ Levin. Trainee Lifeboat Class 521—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 521 are (from left, kneeling) Brian Lu, William Concldlne, Andrea Bryant, James Kelly Jr., Ben CusIc (Instructor), (second row) William Limited License—Completing the limited license course on Mohica Jr., Theron Bowen, Javier Gonzalez, Roy Frett Jr., (third row) Steven Thomas, Bryan Powell, Thpmas February 24 are (from left) James R. GIbb, Joseph M. Kane, Harry Christopher Johnson, Michael McCluskey, Rolando Cortez Jr., Christopher Nix and DIonce Bright. McGahan, Albert Cropek and Ron RaykowskI (Instructor). -• ^i^.:-' . ^U^vv Able Bodied Seaman—Certificates of completion were received by the March 8 class of upgraders. They are (from left, kneeling) Adam TaluccI, Roderick Hall, Fred Valgneur John CIncotta, Abraham Dalf, Antonio Gonzales, (second row) Casey Taylor (Instructor)Robert Darley, William Soto Jr., Chris Cobb, Darin Eastridge, Scott Hobbs, Marls Sepeiis, Timothy Vota, (third row) Robert Grove, Andr§ Frazler, Mark Weaver, Kenneth Frederick, Kenneth Boone, Alan Day, Timothy Duggan, Chris Perrine and Joe Gustafson. Advanced Firefighting—Upgrading members completing the adanced flreflghtIng course are (from left, first row) Byran Cummlngs (Instructor), David Rush Ingram, Patrick Cross, Maria Photiou, William Jarvl, Mark Domlnlak, (second row) Harry McGahan, Christian Wemer, John Onr, Phillip McKenzle, Damlan Krowlckl and John Smith (Instructor). : V?;- /: /- ••/ - V Diesel Engine—Receiving certification In diesel engine technology are (from left, seated) Greg Samatelakys, Jos6 A. Quinones, Geoffrey P. Denesse, (second row) Ralph Gosnell, Bradley K. Twiford, William J. Cariln, Pompey B. Alegado, J.C. WIegrnan (Instruc­ tor), Cellna Butler and John Schneider. �•- ' h'. • • A SEAFARBKSIM LUKDEBERG SCHm. 1994 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE HecertiflcaCen Programs The following is the course schedule for classes beginning between May and September 1994 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. The course schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation's security. Course Check-In jPate Completion Date Able Seaman May 20 Jnly 15 September 9 Julyl August 26 October 21 Course Check-In Date Completion Date Bosun Recertification October 3 November 7 Steward Recertification July 5 August S Course Check-In Date Completion Date Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker All open-ended (contact admissions office for starting dates) Chief Cook, Chief Steward All open-ended (contact admissions office for starting dates) JL All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Bridge Management (Shiphandlifig) May 6 July 29 May20 August 12 Radar Certifi(»tion May 20 June 17 July 22 August 19 September 16 May 27 June 24 July 29 August 26 September 23 July 1 September 9 August 12 October 21 JJmited License, Part 1 June 20 September 26 July 1 October 7 Limited License, Part 2 Julys July 15 Ljhnited License, Part 3 May 9 July 18 May 20 July 29 •» : ' I'v'"- • •• Celestial Navigation 27 Engine Upgrading Course Course ' • Check-In Date Completion Date All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. QMED - Any Rating August 1 October 21 FiremanAVatertender and OUCr September 12 October 21 Diesel Engine Technology June 27 July 22 Refrigeration Maint. & Operations August! September Si- Piimproom Maint. & Operations September 5 October 14 Hydraulics June 20 July 15 Marine Electrical Maintenance July 5 August26 Crane Maintenance September 12 October 21 . •• : " • ^ 1994Mult aiucatlen Schedule The foUowing courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Please contact the admissions office for enrollment information. Safety Specialty Courses Course Check-In Date Completion Date Oil Spill Prevention and (Containment) June 17 Julyl August 26 Julys September^ Lifeboatman May 6 May 20 June 17 July 15 August 12 August 26 September 9 May 20 June 3 Julyl July 29 August 26 September 9 September 23 Basic/Advanced Fire Fighting Julys September 16 July 22 September 30 Sealift Operations & Maintenance May 9 July 11 September 5 June 3 August 5 September 30 "i" A, •A* . w June 24 (Middle) (RrM) (Last) Address. (Slreet) (Zip Code) (State) (City) Telephone _L Date of Birth. L (AieaCZode) (Month/Day/Year) Deep Sea Member [U Inland Waters Member• Lakes Member CI Check-In Date Completion Date GED Preparation 12 weeks - open-ended admission Adult Basic Education (ABE) 6 weeks - open-ended admission g; English as a Second Language (ESL) 6 weeks - open-ended admission Developmental Studies May 2 June 27 July 11 August 22 Septembers May 6 June 30 July 15 August 26 September 9 Session m September 12 November 4 Primary language spoken UPGRADING APPUCATWH Name Course VimiSm With this application, COPIES of your discharges must submitted showing suffi­ cient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your z-card as well as your Lundeberg Scltool identification card listing die course(s) you have taken and com­ pleted The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received END BEGIN DATE DATE COURSE ..-•I If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Book# Social Security#. . Department Seniority U.S. Citizen: •Yes • No Home Port. Rating:. LAST VESSEL: Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held Date On: Date Off:. :S • • .DATE. Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? • Ves DNO SIGNATURE. If yes, class# Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? • Ves DNO 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. If yes, course(s) taken. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? dVes CINO Firefighting: [H Yes Id No CPRrldYcs / CDNO / ' RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg Upgrading Center; P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. 4/94 / .i rk • k '--V > �SE4mMtEttS SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTS SlU Pacific District Pension Plan — Page 19 SlU Pacific District Supplemental Benefits Funds, Inc. April 1994 Volume 56, Number 4 — Page 20 Baseball and the Sea Swell in the Letter Family In the Leiter family, there are a phone call. I also try to listen to two very distinct and true loves— games on the radio depending on the sea and baseball. where the ship is sailing." John and Karl Leiter fol Karl, who is sailing as an oiler lowed their father, Alexander, to aboard the SS Independence, dis sea to become second generation covered through an interview for Seafarers and fourth generation this article that Mark had been merchantjnariners. A1 and Mark released by the Detroit Tigers anc Leiter, their brothers, picked up signed by the California Angels on their father's love of basebal "I knew that he had been released and will be pitching in the major but I had no idea that he was al leagues again this year. Another ready signed by another team, member of the clan, Kurt, sailed Karl said in a telephone conversa­ with the SIU during the Persian tion from Hawaii. "So you see Gulf war after his baseball career how I sometimes get the lates ended in the minor leagues. news." John and Karl have found uni­ Because he lives in Hawaii, he que ways at sea to keep up with noted newspapers are his primary their ball-playing brothers. source for information. "I try to sail on coastwise ves­ John recalled that his father, sels;" John told a reporter for the who passed away in 1988, was a Seafarers LOG. "That way, I'm devoted family man whose life on in a port every two to three days the beach revolved around his and can read a newspaper or make family and the game of baseball. "We had a batting cage on the property," said John, who began his engine department career in A photo from the November 12, 1965 Seafarers LOG shows Bosun Alexander Leiter (left) bringing his 1983 as a graduate of the sons John, Karl and Eric to the New York hall. John and Karl sail today in the engine department. Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. "All of us (including a his way up the hawsepipe and be­ sixth brother, Eric) went to came a mate in 1966, joining the )aseball camp. All of us played Masters, Mates and Pilots. After the war, he was on the varsity ball in high school. In fact, Karl was my catcher when I Coe Victory in Liverpool, England where he met his wife to pitched." According to a former ship^ )e, Maria. According to John, mate, Alexander Leiter was they fell in love and he brought k^nown as a pretty good ball ler back to the States. She already )layer. Angus "Red" Campbell, was used to dealing with men retired SIU vice president, sailed going to sea, as her father and with the elder Leiter on Bull grandfather sailed in the British ines vessels. "He always en- merchant marines. Although Alexander sailed in oyed baseball whether he was he deck department, he did not jlaying it, watching it or discuss­ encourage his children to do the ing it," Campbell said. same. Both John and Karl, who Alexander began his seafaring A rain delay in Philadelphia allows oined the SIU in 1989 after a stint Al and John to talk before a World career as a deckhand with the SIU in the Navy, followed his advice Series game. during World War II. He worked and went to work in the engine department. When dad did not have the sons practicing baseball, they were attending games in New York, Philadelphia and Boston, ohn revealed that despite the fact both Mark and Al wore Yankee pinstripes at one time, the family Jofin visits with his brother Mark prior to a game in Detroit. grew up as Mets fans. Last year, the Leiters got the thrill of seeing Al not only play in the World Series (major league baseball's championship), but The National Center for non-Custodial father, Harry also win one of the games for the Missing and Exploited Edwin Lewis, September 10, champion Toronto Blue Jays. Children has asked the 1993, Lacie Anne is now al­ "I didn't get to see him pitch Seafarers International Union most a year old. An FBI war­ Part of the Leiter clan gather for brother Al's wedding. From the left that game in person, but I did to assist them in locating Lacie rant has been issued in his are Kurt, Al, sister Alexia, John and Mark. watch it on television," John ad­ Anne Lewis. name for unlawful flight to Only six months of age avoid prosecution. mitted. "I did get to attend the when she was abducted by her series opener in Philadelphia At the time of her disap­ ;game 3), however." pearance from West Jordan, Utah, the brown-eyed, light This year, the Leiters will have brown-haired baby was 23 in­ to watch for scores from both ches tall and weighed 17 sides of the continent. Al is expounds. She has pierced ears, bected to be the fifth starter in and her brown eyes have blue "oronto's pitching rotation, around the edges. while Mark should be a relief Anyone having information bitcher and spot starter for on the whereabouts of Lacie California, which is based in Anne Lewis should contact the Anaheim. As John quickly National Center for Missing and bointed out, both are active mem­ Exploited Children at (800) 843bers of the baseball players union. 5678 or the Missing Persons Meanwhile, John is looking Unit of the West Jordan (Utah) brward to an addition to his team, Police Department at (801) 265During his time as an SIU patrolman, John (left) had a chance to see tie and his wife, Karen, are exLacie Anne Lewis 4056. his brother Karl aboard the Puerto Rico Marine vessel Humacao. becting a child later this year. Help Locate This Mis^ng Child rgit'^iiiWTWi ' • ' - I" Iffy,;: Ar •. '- rH',::'.-- •,}l - J' V ' V:.-;.!' � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1994 Description An account of the resource Headlines: COMMERCE DEPT. OFFERS AID PACKAGE AFTER NEW ENGLAND FISHERMEN PROTEST E.N. BISSO CREWS VOTE SIU BY 2-1 FIRED CAPT. RETURNS TO WORK AFTER MTD PROTESTS DISMISSAL HOUSE TAKES UP WATERWAYS SAFETY BILL CLEAN-UP EFFORTS CONTINUE ALONG SAN JUAN BEACHES ADMINISTRATION'S MARITIME PLAN BECOMES BILL SHIPBUILDING TALKS COME UNDONE CONGRESS, LABOR VOICE SUPPORT FOR REVITALIZATION SEVERE ICE BUILDUP STALLS START OF '94 LAKES SEASON CONGRESS FUNDS ICE CUTTER FOR OPERATIONS THROUGH YEAR 'LAST CONVOY' TO RENDEZVOUS IN NORMANDY 'RED' RECALLS D-DAY SCENE NEWLY ISSUED BENZENE CARDS CLARIFY RENEWAL DATES HOUSE PANEL CALLS ON EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS BOSUN RETIRES AFTER 50 YEARS AT SEA SEAFARERS AND FAMILIES CAN VACATAION AT PINEY POINT MEMBERS OF NEWEST RECERTIFIED STEWARD CLASS SEIZE THEIR CHANCE TO UPGRADE CULINARY SKILLS PAUL HALL CENTER STRESSES HEALTHY MENUS PAUL HALL CENTER AUGMENTS RIVERBOAT SAFETY TRAINING SEAFARERS TOUT EMPRESS II AS BOON TO UPGRADING CLASSES KEY MARITIME ISSUES DISCUSSED AT UNION MEETING JACKSONVILLE PREPOSITIONING SHIP'S CREW READY AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE STEADY WORK, GOOD MORALE CHARACTERIZE BROOKS RANGE SEA-LAND QUALITY IS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FRANCIS HAMMER CARRIES CHEMICAL CARGOES ALL OVER THE WORLD SEAFARERS AID MARINES IN READINESS DRILL ON THE USNS CURTISS LUNDEBERG SCHOOL REVISES RECIPE FOR CHIEF COOKS BASEBALL AND THE SEA SWELL IN THE LEITER FAMILY Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/1994 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. 56, No. 4 1994 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/0d6c26929b30b26884060f8a62fdc264.pdf e1e8510f23f4c3474ccf074f7c6a552c PDF Text Text House Panel, DOT Present U.S. Ship Bill Page3 Volume 57, Number 4 April 1995 MALTA BAHAMAS PANAMA CYPRUS I MARSHALL ISLA OS As shipowners abandon their own national flags, conditions for the world's seamen are deteriorating at a frightening pace. A runaway-flag inspected by ~ an SIU of Canada official illustrates the deplorable situations on these vessels. Pages 12-13. �2 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 President's Report Study Finds U.S. Gor11t Ship Programs Return More Dollars Than They Take I Time to Lift the Ban Last month, Congress began action that would end the restrictions on exporting Alaskan North Slope oil. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee overwhelmingly approved S. 395 and sent the bill to the whole Senate for its consideration. The SIU applauds this effort and urges the rest of Congress to follow the committee's example. In allowing the export of Alaskan oil, S. 395 stipulates that it will be carried to overseas ports on U.S.-flag vessels with American crews. This means business for the independent U.S.-flag tanker fleet and jobs for Michael Sacco Seafarers. Production of North Slope oil has been cut back because of an oil glut in the Pacific Coast marketplace. With the reduced production, there has not been as much oil for tankers to transport to refineries in California, Oregon and Washington. Congress prohibited export of the petroleum when, in 1973, it approved the construction and operation of the pipeline to move oil from Alaska's northern regions to port facilities in Valdez. The SIU supported such a restriction at that time because the United States was heavily dependent on importing foreign oil and was caught in the grip of the first Arab oil embargo. The embargo was generated by a cartel of mainly Middle Eastern nations who controlled the output and price of oil worldwide during the 1970s and 1980s. The oil pumped out of Alaska was carried on U.S.-flag tankers to refineries along the West Coast as well as to some on the Gulf Coast. Because of the embargo and other crises that followed, Americans learned to become more energy conscious. Cars are smaller and get better fuel mileage. Lights burn just as brightly, but use less wattage. Homes, offices and other buildings are better insulated to stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer with less energy expended. These factors and many more have helped make America more energy independent than it was in 1973. But times have changed. The cartel no longer exists. And Americans are using less energy than they had been expected to if efficiency measures had not gone into place. The SIU, along with several other maritime unions, announced last year it had changed its position and would allow the export of Alaskan oil as long as it was carried aboard U.S.-flag tankers. Such legislation was introduced in Congress. During the 1990s, many tankers have gone into layup because less crude oil has been pumped out of Alaska. Some of the ships have been sold for scrap. This situation has placed the United States in a dangerous position with regard to national security because the independent tanker fleet, and its crews of American mariners, would not be available in times of national emergency or war. During Operation Desert Stonn/Desert Shield, for example, some of the supplies for American troops had to be delivered by foreign-flag vessels because the United States simply did not have enough merchant ships. And, in several instances, the foreign crews refused to enter the war zone, thus delaying needed materiel for several days until it could be transferred to an American vessel which ultimately delivered the goods. S. 395 will get our independent tanker fleet operating again. Exporting Alaskan North Slope oil will open new markets and allow more oil to be pumped. With more crude oil flowing down the pipeline, more tankers will be needed to carry the petroleum. The need for more tankers means those in the yards can start sailing again with American seafarers at the helm, in the engineroom and in the galley. The Department of Energy has given its blessing to exporting Alaskan oil. In a report released last year, the agency said lifting the ban would produce thousands of American jobs in maritime, oil and other related industries. It also would help lower the nation's deficit. The SIU will continue to push Congress to implement S. 395. The time has come to lift the ban on the export of Alaskan oil as long as the cargo is transported aboard U.S.-flag tankers. Volume 57, Number 4 An 18-month study on the economic impact of cargo preference and operating differential subsidy programs for the U.S.-flag merchant marine reveals that for every dollar given in support of the fleet, $1.15 is returned to the government. Released March 10, the study entitled "Economic Analysis of Federal Support for the Private Merchant Marine" reports the contribution of the merchant marine to the U.S. economy in 1992 included approximately 107,000 jobs that are directly or indirectly tied to the fleet, as much as $4.5 billion in individual incomes, $738 million in federal personal and business income taxes, and $3.8 billion in foreign exchange. Nathan Associates, which conducted the study on behalf of the American Maritime Congress, a research organization re presenting U.S.-flag ship operators, reviewed the impact that cargo preference and the operating differential subsidy have on the merchant fleet as well as the nation's economy. The Washington, D.C.-based economic and management consulting firm found both programs return more money to the U.S. treasury than they take. . . . L1m1ted to Foreign Trade The research firm reviewed facts and figures supplied by the U.S. government and individual U.S.-flag operating companies for the period 1988 to 1992, the last year that complete data were available. Under the title of U.S.-flag merchant fleet, the study included privately owned, comrriercial vessels involved in U.S. foreign trade, intermodal ships sailing in foreign-toforeign trade and Military Sealift Command (MSC) chartered vessels. The study did not include any vessels involved in Jones Act trade or any government-owned ships. (The Jones Act, enacted in 1920, calls for cargo transported between two domestic ports to be carried by U.S.-flag and U.S.owned ships and crewed by American mariners.) Also left out were the operators of tankers, such as the SIU-crewedETC fleet of LNG tankers between Indonesia and Japan, whose vessels do not handle preference cargo. The study was being provided to members of Congress, the Clinton administration and U.S.- flag shipping operators. Nathan Associates came to the conclusion that the U.S.-flag "merchant marine would have ceased to exist without cargo preference. If forced to compete against foreign-flag vessels for U.S. government-impelled cargoes that are now set aside for the merchant marine, operators of merchant marine vessels would not be cost competitive." The• study notes the higher capital cost of building and maintaining U.S.-flag vessels as the major reason for such a statement. It goes on to say that crew costs aboard foreign-flag vessels average about 30 percent of what U.S.-flag operators have to pay. "Higher crew costs on U.S.-flag vessels reflect payroll taxes, pension contributions, health insurance benefits and other non-wage benefits that are importantpartsofcompensationpaidby [U .S.-flag] merchant marine operators. "These benefits are often either not provided to crews on foreignflag vessels or are funded out of the general taxrevenuesofthecountry of the foreign-flag operator. The additional cost burden borne by the [U.S.-flag] merchant marine is due to strict U.S. environmental, safety and labor regulations," Nathan Associates reported. Program Pays for Itself The study noted that without cargo preference laws, which require set percentages of Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Agriculture cargoes be carried on U.S.-flag vessels, all such goods would have been carried aboard foreign-flag ships in 1992. This would have had the ripple effect of U.S. mariners losing their jobs, U.S. tax revenues being decreased, U.S. shipping revenues going down and U.S.-produced goods and services for merchant ships being substituted with foreignproduced products. The study stated that cargo preference legislation had an economic impact on the United States during 1992 of 40,000 jobs, $2.2 billion in household inconie, $1.2 billion in foreign exchange and $354 million in federal tax revenues, which represents $1.26 being returned to the government for every dollar it spent on the program. As part of its review of the effect that cargo preference laws have on the fleet and economy, Nathan Associates looked into the methods used by the DoD to determine how much it spends on the program. .The research organization found discrepancies in the way DoD calculated costs. Among these were the inclusion of costs associated with Jones Act trade as well as overhead for MSC. In trying to come up with the cost of cargo preference to DoD, the department compared rate costs for foreign shipments of products not even transported for military use-such as logs and lumber. Also, DoD did not accurately reflect the percentage of cargo carried to determine the cost According to Nathan Associates, these acts drove up by millions of dollars the estimated cargo preference cost to the military. Finally, the cargo preference review quotes the vice commander of the MSC, Wallace T. Sansone, at a 1993 hearing before the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee as saying that, because of a 1904 law, DoD cannot be charged more for shipments than any private entity would be charged for shipping similar items. Aids Competitiveness With regard to operating differential subsidies (ODS), the Nathan Associates study found that in 1992 this program provided for 31,000 jobs, $1.6 billion in household income, $900 million in foreign exchange and $268 million in federal tax revenues--0r $1.24 returned for every dollar provided by the government. The study noted, "Without ODS payments to offset the higher cost of U.S. crews, the [U.S.-flag] merchant marine would have been less competitive." It added that U.S.-flag operators could recapture the ODS costs by reflagging their ships and using foreign crews. "Once reflagged, however, their vessels could not participate in cargo preference. Liner operators would have to weigh the loss of ODS against the combined loss of ODS and cargo preference. Without one or the other program, they might not survive as part of the [U.S.-flag] merchant marine. Without both, they might not survive as part of the fleet of U.S.owned, foreign-flag vessels," the study concluded. Caribbean Responder Crew Drills for Swiftness April 1995 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone(301) 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSC Prince Georges, MD 20790-9998 and at additional mailing offices. POS1MASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers WG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Managing Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors, Jordan Biscardo and Corrina Christensen Gutierrez; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A Hines; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Being able to quickly and efficiently respond to an oil spill is the job of the crew of the Caribbean Responder. To ensure proper training, the vessel holds mock oil spill drills once a week. Following one such drill, crewmembers return to port in San Juan. P.R. They are (from left) ABfTankerman Walter Radcliffe, OMU John Perez, 2nd Mate Paul Schwartz, Chief Mate Robert Johnson and AB Chris Wood. �APRIL 1995 SEAFARERS LOB 3 Ship Bill Hits House Panel DOT Introduces New Program Actions taken last month by government and congressional officials have prepared a 10-year, $1 billion maritime revitalization program for consideration by a Representative Herbert H. Bateman (A-Va.), chairman of the House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel, House of Representatives panel pledged that his congressional panel will move quickly on a bill that advances the security of a U.S.-flag this month. liner fleet. Similar sentiments were voiced by panel members Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), second from right, After administration officials and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), right. crafted a new bill calling for annual funding for approximately 50 U.S.flag containerships, Transportation ·n A 5enaI e Comm1 ee pproves L·1n·1ng Alaska 0·11 Export Ban The full Senate is expected to act soon on legislation that would allow the exportation of Alaskan North Slope oil aboard U.S.-flag tankers following passage of the bill by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on March 15. During a March 1 hearing on the measure, SIU President Michael Sacco testified that lifting the ban would help the U.S.flag independent tanker fleet and provide more jobs for American seafarers. By a 14-4 vote in a bipartisan show of support, the Alaska Power Administration Sale Act (S.395) was marked up and made ready for action by the Senate. No date for a floor debate has been set by the clerk of the Senate. However, the chairman of the House Resources Committee, Representative Don Young (RAlaska), has said his body is willing to consider the Senate legislation rather than take up a similar bill (H.R. 70) offered by Representative Bill Thomas (R-Calif.). S. 395, sponsored by Senator Frank Murkowski CR-Alaska), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, would end the 22-year ban to sell Alaskan North Slope oil to wrote Johnston, "I can state foreign countries. Congress ap- categorically that S. 395, as curproved the ban following the rently drafted, Arab oil embargo of 1973. does not No Trade Violations The vote took place after Senator J. Bennett Johnston (DLa.), the ranking minority party member on the committee, received a letlt<!i•~; ter from U.S • Trade Representative %Mickey Kan, tor that S. 395 as written did not present any legal Sen. Murkowski problems with recent intern at ion a 1 agreements on shipbuilding and world trade. During a March I hearing on the bill, Johnston had requested a clarification from the Clinton administration on whether the bill violated the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shipbuilding agreement as well as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GAIT). With regard to GAIT, Kantor presentaleg~ one considered by Congress in the last session in that the new program is to run 10 years and provide funding for approximately 50 U.S.-flag liner vessels. It calls for the vessels enrolled in the program to be less than 15 years old, or less than five if foreignbuilt, and to be made available to the Department of Defense during times of national emergency or war. The legislation would provide $2.5 million for up to 40 ships during each of the first three answered questions about the pro- years. It then would authorize $2 gram during a March 28 hearing on million for up to 50 vessels each the Maritime Administration of the remaining seven years. (MarAd) budget held by the House Funding Source Different Merchant Marine Oversight Panel. Finally, U.S. Representative The difference between what Herbert H. Bateman (R-Va.), was submitted in 1993 and what chairman of the panel, stated is being proposed this year is the during the hearing that his group means through which the act will begin the process of con- would be funded. As proposed by sidering the maritime revitaliza- Secretary Pena last month, tion legislation with a formal maritime revitalization would hearing on April 6. receive its money from an annual Bateman, whose district in- direct appropriation in the eludes the SIU hall in Norfolk, Va. Transportation Department and the Newport News-area budget. shipyards, is a longtime supporter In the bill, passed with overof the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. As whelming bipartisan support by he opened the hearing on MarAd's the House last year but killed by budget authorization package, the farm-state senators through a parchairman said he wants to see pas- liamentary maneuver, funding sage of a maritime revitalization was raised through increases in bill this year. tonnage fees paid by vessels entering U.S. ports. Included in Budget In offering the legislation, Pena In releasing during February stated, ''The American merchant its budget for operating the marine provides vital and cost-effederal government during Fiscal fective national security sealift and Year 1996, the Clinton ad- ensures a competitive presence in ministration included an annual our vast commercial trade." $100 million appropriation in the Critical to Security Department of Transportation During the March 28 meeting (DOT) account for maritime of the House Merchant Marine revitalization. ~~::,::eri~~ re~:iar:~~ ~~f~tr;?~rin;I't;e~an~eer~~; Pr 0 b 1em : (Created rn ~948, GATT is the world trad.e accord designed .to Sen. Johnston en_d . discnmrnatory trade . prac. tices and reduce trade ban:e~s. In the_ latest rm~nd of negotiations, wh1chended_m 1993, thep~ct was upd~ted to mclud~ . a vanety of services, but mantime w~s excluded. The agreement ts enforce~ b.Y the World _Trade Orgamzat10n, created dunng the last round of talks.) Kan tor's letter, dated March 9, then stated that it is his office's belief the bill does not violate the nation's obligations under the OECD pact. To become law, the bill must pass the Senate and the House of Representatives. The measure then must be signed by President Clinton, whose Department of As he outlined the bill, Energy secretary supports the Secretary Pefia said it is similar to legislation. Continued on page 10 SIU Fights Sea-Land1s Reflagging Maneuver The SIU has launched an aggressive counterattack to the recent move by Sea-Land Services, Inc. to transfer five U.S.flag ships to foreign registry. In order to combat the reflagging of the Sea-Land ships Freedom, Mariner, Pride, Value and Motivator from the U.S.-flag to that of the Marshall Islands, the SIU: • Has filed a strongly worded protest with the Maritime Administration (MarAd) regarding its approval of Sea-Land's reflagging request, and asked MarAd to conduct public hearings so that evidence on the impact of reflagging may be gathered and assessed; • Is investigating possible counteractions which may be taken through the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), whose members include most of the world's seafaring and longshoremen' s unions; and •Is continuing to work closely and vigorously with legislators to ensure that Congress enacts a program as soon as possible to bolster U.S. shipping (and thereby keep vessels such as those of Sea-Land under the American flag). Additionally, as the Seafarers LOG went to press, the union was negotiating with Sea-Land about the effects of the flag-transfers on SIU members. In order to keep Seafarers informed of these and other actions, SIU President Michael Sacco last month sent a communication to members on all SIU-crewed ships and to the union halls detailing the situation. Moreover, he and SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco in early March met with SIU crews aboard the Sea-Land Shining Star and the Sea-Land Performance in Elizabeth, N.J. to discuss the union's strategies to thwart the company's reflagging moves. tainerships to foreign flags. But MarAd delayed its response because Congress was considering maritime revitalization legislation that year and in '94. Then, last November, the company submitted a new peti- tion to MarAd requesting permission to reflag five of its ships (three SL-31 class vessels and two D9Js). MarAd approved the petition on February 14; Sea-Land then quickly began the reflagging operations, which are scheduled to be completed by April 12. In its protest to MarAd, the SIU charged that permitting the reflagging is damaging to the naContinued on page 10 2nd Reflagging Request On February 14, MarAd approved the removal of the five Sea-Land ships from U.S. registry. Sea-Land, a subsidiary of the Richmond, Va.-based CSX Corp., originally petitioned MarAd in June 1993 for approval to transfer 13 of its U.S.-flag con- Meeting with Seafarers aboard the Sea-Lanc;J Shini!1g St:i!ron March 4 in.Elizab~th, N.J. to discuss ~he union's actions regarding Sea-Land's reflagging of five ships are SIU President Michael Sacco (standing fifth from right) and SIU Executive VP Joseph Sacco (second from right). Crewmembers who took part m the discussions include (from left, kneeling) AB Tom Harding, Chief Cook Gary Lackey, AB P. Hare, EU Sammy Perez (standing, fourth from right), Bosun Eddy Stwaeard (far right) and others. �4 APRIL 1995 SEAFARERS LOG Maritime Briefs J JI Senate Whip Looks for Ways ~--~~~~~~~~~--~R~~CargoP~renoo I Matson Starts Program To Reduce Sea Pollution Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Co. recently began a program designed to halt the dumping of any solid wastes at sea by its vessels which sail between the West Coast and Hawaii. Known as Zero Solid Waste Discharge, the voluntary program has proven extremely successful, said Captain Lynn Korwatch, general manager of marine operations for Matson. "We carry all of our garbage for a two-week trip and then use an incinerator in Oahu to incinerate," she added. "We felt we had an obligation to make our environment as clean as possible. But the main thing is, this couldn't work without the participation of the crew. They're the ones who have made it successful." Korwatch noted that the Washington-based Center for Marine Conservation last year approached Matson to start a pilot program on one vessel. Since then, plans have been modified and extended throughout Matson' s fleet. Only food scraps now are thrown overboard from the ships. International law already prohibits vessels from dumping plastics into any waters. Report: Weak Door Lock Led to Estonia's Sinking A weak lock on the door to the Estonia's vehicle deck was one of the primary reasons the ferry sank last September in the Baltic Sea, according to investigators. The Associated Press last month reported that the joint investigation team of representatives from the governments of Sweden, Estonia and Finland have concluded one of the vessel's locks was not strong enough to hold against the 55-mph winds and 18-foot waves which led to the ferry's sinking and the loss of more than 800 lives. The Associated Press report was based on accounts in a Swedish newspaper which had obtained a leaked copy of the investigators' report. The Swedish publication (Dagens Nyheter) indicated the report alleges that in 1979 the German builder of the Estonia did not have accurate blueprints for the lock. The newspaper quoted the report as saying that the shipyard, Meyer-Weft, inaccurately calculated the level of strength needed for the door lock. But the report also states the main responsibility for the sinking lies with the Finnish maritime agency which first inspected and approved the Estonia's safety conditions. New Reg Would Allow CG To Check Driving Records The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed a rule implementing provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA '90) that would permit the agency to check information from the National Driver Register on an applicant prior to issuing or renewing a merchant mariner's document (also known as a z-card), license or certificate of registry. In explaining the rationale for such a regulation, the Coast Guard indicated that, although a person's motor vehicle record is not directly related to one's maritime career, a record of alcohol- or drug-related or other offenses cited in specific sections of the National Driver Register Act of 1982 (for example, reckless driving or traffic violations arising in connection with a fatal traffic accident) indicates that the individual may have a disregard for his or her own safety or the safety of others, and therefore may not be suitable for maritime employment. This information may be used as a basis for denying, suspending or revoking one's document, license or certificate of registry. The proposed rule also would permit a criminal record check of anyone applying for renewal of a z-card or an endorsement of a z-card with a new expiration date. A conviction of a violent criminal offense would be grounds for denying one's application. A Holiday, No Matter the Place Gathered 'round the Christmas tree aboard the Sea-Land Producer (photo below) are (from left, seated) SA Mohammed Omar, AB Don Morrison, Bosun Jack Edwards, Chief Steward Cassie Tourere, (standing) AB Terry McKee, AB Chris Taylor, Electrician Jim Smitko, Chief Cook Paula Kaleikini and BR Fidel Yamas. At left, other crewmembers join in the holiday festivities, which took place during the vessel's 28-day run from Long Beach, Calif. to Japan and back. They are OMU Ron Giannini, DEU Louie Diaz and AB Mohamed S. Ahmed. Efforts are under way on Capitol Hill to craft legislation that would leave in place the nation's cargo preference laws as Congress looks for ways to reduce the federal budget. U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, has stated in recent newspaper stories that he is working with fellow senators from agricultural states to revise the program so it would appeal to them as well as help the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. Lott, who also holds the second highest position in the Senate as its majority whip, originally announced his efforts to the executive board of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department during its meeting in February. At that time, the senator said he was aware of efforts in the body to kill cargo preference legislation, which requires that 100 percent of U.S. military cargoes, 75 percent of donated food aid and 50 percent of other U.S. government-generated cargoes be carried aboard U.S.-flag ships. He pledged to form a bipartisan coalition in the Senate to pass such bills. At the meeting, Lott said if maritime and agricultural interests work together, "we can carry their grain on our ships, built in America and crewed by Americans." Every five years, Congress reviews and revises the nation's agricultural policy. When this was last done in 1990, an effort to repeal cargo preference legislation was beaten back in both chambers. However, the new Republican majorities in the House and Senate have said they are looking at ways to cut the budget in order to reduce the nation's deficits. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has stated he is committed to reducing farm subsidies by $15 billion over the next five years. Looking for Cutbacks Also being mentioned as a place for cutbacks is the P.L. 480 program. Enacted in 1954 as the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act, the bill is made up of three parts. Title I provides grants to lesser developed nations so they can buy American-grown or produced goods. Under Title II, U.S. commodities are donated to developing countries and distributed through private relief groups. The final part, Title ill, offers funds to promote advances in agricultural systems to underdeveloped countries. The movement of food aid under P.L. 480 is covered by cargo preference legislation. Expected in Farm Bill An alliance of maritime organizations Cargo preference legislation is ex- (including the SIU), volunteer relief agenpected to be included in the debate in both cies and agricultural interests is working the Senate and the House of Repre- together to urge Congress to keep funding sentatives to implement a new farm bill. programs like P.L. 480. FMC, Shipping Act of 184 Continue Gaining Support The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and the Shipping Act of 1984 last month received bipartisan shows of support from two key lawmakers. Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said that recommended changes to the Shipping Act, as well as legislation to deregulate ocean shipping and eliminate the FMC, will be thoroughly examined by the committee before it takes any action. Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), Shuster said his committee intends to retain the main functions of the FMC and that it will not "rush to reform." Meanwhile, Rep. James Traficant (DOhio), ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, recommended that the FMC and the Shipping Act should be modified, but not eliminated. 'The functions of the FMC need to be maintained, particularly with regard to protecting our ocean carrier industry and shippers against unfair and anticompetitive trade practices of foreign governments and carriers," Traficant said in a prepared statement included in the Congressional Record. Via an exemption to U.S. antitrust laws, the Shipping Act of' 84 allows international shipping lines to jointly set transportation rates, as long as the rate-setting does not cause service cutbacks or unreasonably high costs. This practice helps ensure that everyone has access to the same rate information and was established to protect the interests of U.S. consumers, shippers and shipping operations. The FMC is an independent agency which was established in 1961. Its functions include enforcing provisions of the Shipping Act of '84 that call for fair rates and a nondiscriminatory regulatory process for the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the U.S.; fighting any other discrimination or prejudice in U.S. trade; and licensing ocean freight forwarders. Both the commission and the shipping law-which originated in 1916 and was amended in 1961 and 1984--face restructuring or possible elimination this year because of federal budget cuts. And with the atmosphere on Capitol Hill ripe for cutbacks, some shippers have stepped up their call for deregulation of ocean cargo transportation. Backers of the FMC and Shipping Act-including the SIU and many other U.S . maritime unions, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and U.S.-flag carrierswarn that elimination of the FMC and repeal of the legislation would dangerously drive up rates, cost thousands of maritime-related U.S. jobs and devastate America's sealift capability. Deadline Set Shuster has instructed carriers and shippers to reach a compromise by late April on altering the commission and the Shipping Act. (The committee postponed all votes on transportation bills until after the April recess.) FMC Chairman William Hathaway, also speaking at the meeting of the AAPA, said he believes carriers and shippers will reach an agreement this month. In any case, Shuster' s recognition of the importance of the FMC' s functions represented a change from earlier views expressed by the committee. Shuster acknowledged that many committee members initially sought a "clean and simple" elimination of the commission, but then "we had the minor problem of getting educated" about the FMC' s various important functions. Traficant, on the other hand, has steadily insisted that the "missions of the FMC are absolutely crucial to our trade and global competitive interests." But, he added, "Given the puPlic's general call for smaller and more efficient government, the commission should take steps to downsize and rightsize its operations, just as we expect all government agencies and departments to do." �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 5 PR Shipping Line Has New Owner Navieras de Puerto Rico, once owned by the Puerto Rican government, is under private management as of March 3. Now called Navieras NPR Inc., the liner company will continue to operate the Humacao, Nuevo San Juan, Carolina, Guayama and Mayaguez. The owner of Navieras is a newly formed company, NPR Inc., which also will serve as the ships' operating company. The responsibilities of Puerto Rico Marine Management Inc. (PRMMI), the former operating company, have been assumed by the Edison, N.J.-based NPR Inc. The sale of the vessels to private interests does not affect the current collective bargaining agreement in place for Seafarers who work aboard those ships. The standard freightship contract will remain in force. NPR Inc. simply will replace PRMMI as the company signator to the standard pact. In a communication to SIU President Michael Sacco, NPR Inc.' s General Manager Industrial Relations Victor M. Car- reras noted that the new company looks forward "to continuing the long, cordial and fruitful association" of the SIU and the Puerto Rican shipping entity. The assets of Navieras previously were held by the Puerto Rico Maritime Shipping Authority (PRMSA), a government agency. With the sale, the assets, including the vessels, have been transferred to NPR Inc., a finance group that includes Pyramid Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of BT Investment Partners and Berkshire Partners and Management. BT, in turn, is a subsidiary of Bankers Trust New York Corp. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had been attempting to sell its shipping line, operating under the trade name Navieras de Puerto Rico, for the past year and a half. Puerto Rico's governor, Pedro Rossell6, made the privatization of Navieras a top priority for his administration, issuing an executive order on June 16, 1993 authorizing the sale of Navieras. The sale of Navieras de Puerto Rico and the transfer of operations of the line's management company, PAMMI, does not impact on the collective bargaining agreement between the shipping group and the SIU. Seafarers like (from left) Electricians Miguel A. Alicea and Tony Mohammed, Bosun Tony Mercado and Electrician Orlando Flores will now work for NPR Inc., Navieras' new operating company. The Puerto Rican legislature had approved a sale of the shipping line in September 1994 if the transaction met criteria outlined by the senators and representatives. The sale to NPR Inc. meets the legislature's guidelines. To accomplish the deal, the Puerto Rican government agreed to assume $310 million of debt that Navieras had incurred. It sold the line's assets for $132.4 million. The president of NPR Inc. is Ronald M. Katims, who headed PRMMI in 1974 and for the last 15 years operated a container transport consulting company. In a March 7 press release, Katims announced that Navieras' schedule, including twice weekly service between Jacksonville, Fla. and Puerto Rico, will not change. Shipping Rules Amended to Recognize Upgrading For Shipboard Safety, SAB Also Institutes Seamen's English Proficiency Test The Seafarers Appeals Board certificate stating they have sue- members who have at least 36 (SAB) instituted four rulings in cessfully completed the advanced months seatime in the engine February that will assure Seafarers certified chief cook and certified department, including at least 12 who have upgraded their skills and cook and baker classes offered at months as an electrician, second attained high levels of proficiency the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg electrician or QMED/electrician. in their work are given priority at School of Seamanship. This ac- When proof of such time is subtheir ratings when throwing in for a ti on takes effect on February 13, mitted to the board, the member's shipboard job. 1996. identification will be stamped "cerAdditionally, the SAB, which Because of provisions created tified to sail as chiefelectrician." is made up of representatives of by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 With the changes in technolthe union and its contracted (OPA '90), action number 376 ogy and governmental regulaoperators, announced that effective deals with members from all tions as well as the continuing June 16, Seafarers must departments who have graduated need for safety on vessels, the demonstrate a command of the from the Lundeberg School's SAB approved action number English language in order to meet tanker operation/safety course. 377. Effective June 16, no memthe safety practices and procedures As of January 1, 1996, any mem- ber will be shipped until he or she inherent to a seaman's work. ber throwing in for a job aboard a can show a basic proficiency in The modifications were ad- tanker or tank vessel who has a reading, writing and undervanced by the union to keep the certificate of completion for the standing English. This action was shipping rules up to date with the course will be given priority. This necessitated by the need to have latest laws and technology affect- action will not affect those mem- all crewmembers able to effecing Seafarers, according to Augie bers with key ratings. They will tively communicate and underTellez, SIU vice president con- be given additional time in which stand any and all job-related tracts. to take the required course. matters. SIU hiring hall officials Action number 375 gives Action number 378 deals ex- will conduct proficiency tests. priority within each class of elusively with the engine depart- Those members who cannot pass seniority in the steward depart- ment. Beginning immediately, the test will be required to attend ment at the time of a job call to priority for shipping for chief and pass an English proficiency galley gang members who have a electrician will be given to those course at the Lundeberg School ------------------------~~foreilieywill~cl~ilile~ · h. BU erwo rth 'S B"rthd I ay presen t register to s tp. The four SAB actions are reprinted in their complete text below in the order in which they were taken up by the joint labor/management board. tt Action #375 Amend Rules by deleting 4th paragraph in Article IV, Shipping Rules Section 5 (6): :'Wit~ineachclassofseniority rating m. th~ Steward £!epartment, priority for the 1obs of S~eward and Third Cook shall be given to the seamen who possess a c~rtifie<!te of recertification in their rating from .the ~teward Depar~ment Recertification fro~ram .m the event such program Forthepleasureofmarkinghis70thbirthday,Recertified8osunPaul is being. offe~ed an~ that the Butterworth (right) participated in the U.S. Coast Guard's biannual Steward ts registered m group 1-S inspection of Crowley's Ambassador. But it wasn't all work on the Steward Department and the big day, February 22. Steward Milton Youmett encouraged a ThirdCookisregisteredinGroup /l, Steward Department, " and .._c_e1_e_b_ra_ti_o_n_b_Y_P_roc:t_u_c_in_g_a_cu_l_in_a_ry_d_e_1_ig_h_tt_o_m_a_rk_t_he_occa __s_io_n_._ replace with: "Within each class ofseniority in the Steward Department, priority for the job of Chief Cook and Cook and Baker shall be given to those seamen who possess a certificate of satisfactory completion of the advanced certified Chief Cook and certified Cook and Baker class offered at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, if such course is being offered." Action #376 Whereas, the Seafarers Appeals Board promulgated a change in the Shipping Rules as a result ofAgreementsreachedatthe l 993 negotiations with the AMA Standard Tanker negotiations, and Whereas, the Board promulgates rules that are intended to enhance and protect the job security of the membership, and Whereas, after further review, the Board has decided to amend the Shipping Rules as follows. Article IX, Shipping Rules, 5 Preferences and Priorities, will ~amm~d~a~inga~wl~ which shall read as follows. "£~1+. . J 1 1996 . ~1 ecllve. anuary , , priority for 1obs aboard tanker and tank vesse!s covered by these rulesshf!.llbegive.ntotlwsese'!men possessing a ce_rtificate ofsatisfactory completion of the Tanker Safety Course offered by the SeafarersHarryLundebergSclwol of Seamanship, in the event such training is being offered. Action #377 Whereas, new tec~nology, governmenta! regulations and reduced manning denuind that personnel employed aboard all contracted vessels. be pr?perly ~aW:d to perform their routme dutzes with the highest degree .of saf~ty! and .whereas, quality trammg and shipboar~ performance depend on the ability to read, speak and understand English, and Whereas, increasingly the safety and welfare of the crew, cargo and vessel depends on ef- fective communication aboard the vessel, Therefore, effective June 16, 1995, Rule 2 Shipping Procedure, Section B 1 shall be amended by adding the following provision to Rule 2, B 1, which shall read as follows: "No seaman shall be registered for employment who cannot reasonably read, speak and understand English; such proficiency shall be determined and established by the passing of a required English language exam which shall be administered at the SIU hiring halls. Seamen deficient in English shall be required to attend and complete the English proficiency program conducted at the SHLSS prior to being qualified to register." Action #378 Whereas,. new technology and automation have required modification of the various unlicensed ratings employed in the Engine Department, and Whell~emp~me~p~~ are acquired through employment . ;;;,,,. . lo d . he en specl.Ju.- ratmgs emp ye en t Engine Department, Therefore, Rule 5 Preferences andPriorities,SectionA-5(a)shall be amended to read as follows. "Within each class of seniority rating in the Engine Department, priority for the job of Chief El.ectrician shall be given to tlwse seamen wlw have actual seatime aboard vessels covered by these Rules of at least thirty-six (36) months seatime in the Engine Department, including at least twelve (12) months as Electrician, Second Electrician or QMED/Electrician. Upon the submission of proof to the Seafare rs Appeals Board verifying the seatime requirement specific herein, the seaman's seniority identification document shall be stamped "Certified To Sail As Chief Electrician." . February 13, 1995 �.... ---------------~---------------- - - - -- 6 -- SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 'Never Too Old To Learn,' Say 5 Top Stewards With 100 combined years of SIU service to back up their words, the most recent graduating class of recertified stewards had one common theme to pass along to their fellow merchant mariners: You are never too old to learn. "After sailing for 30 years, I didn't think there was much the school could teach me," recounted Travis Jefferson after he was recognized during the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. for successfully completing the five-week course, which is the highest curriculum for steward department members. "But, I learned a lot." Jefferson, who began his career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards and joined the SIU when the unions merged in 1978, stated the firefighting and first aid sessions helped him tremendously. He said they would be useful when he returned to sailing from his home port of Seattle. The Seafarers completing the steward recertification program received classroom and hands-on training not only in the galley but also in other areas like CPR, communications principles and computer skills. Adding to their repertoire of meals for fellow crewmembers, the stewards learned to prepare healthier menus and to vary base sauces and soups to create different tastes as well as acquiring new recipes. Another aspect of the course allowed the five galley gang members to meet with union representatives to find out more about contracts, government affairs, the Seafarers LOG and the welfare, training, vacation and pension funds. The importance of continuing one's education was the main theme at the March membership meeting in 'Don't Give Up' Piney Point as each of the recertified stewards was called up to the podium to say a few words and receive Theodore Quammie, a 17- his graduation certificate. With instructor Byran Cummings (left) are (from left) Ed Ombac, Raffaele year member from the port of Ascione, Travis Ray Jefferson, Theodore Quammie and Ronald E. Aubuchon. Jacksonville, Fla., backed Jefferson's comments that the whole course was valuable. "Members have to improve and we have to encourage them to upgrade," he told a reporter for the LOG. "Some people just want to reach a certain peak and stop. "But you have to keep going. You have to reach up," Quammie said. The new recertified steward continued this theme when he addressed the trainees attending the membership meeting, "Come back and upgrade. Remember one thing-don't give up!" Adding his feelings about the need for continuing the learning process was Ronald Aubuchon. I started as a trainee here," he told the membership at the Piney Point meeting. "I have proved that with the proper training and support, there is no limit to your future. "I encourage everyone to take advantage of the courses that are provided for them." Continuing the point made by his fellow recertified stewards, Ed Ombac of Seattle informed the audience, ''There is no limit in learning. This is the place where you can achieve your goal to become one of the best merchant mariners in the world!" Ombac was able to reinforce his words with the fact that he had upgraded at the Lundeberg Notes Many Changes School several times during his The St. Louis-based steward 10 years with the SIU. said the Lundeberg School had For Raffaele Ascione from changed considerably since he the port of New Orleans, the point first entered the union in 1980. "The changes have all been very good for the members," Aubuchon stated. With the assistance of instructor Byran Cummings (center), Ronald Aubuchon (left) and Travis Jefferson learn the proper techniques of CPR, part of the steward recertification curriculum. he most wanted to make to his fellow Seafarers was the need for upgrading. Future Is Important "It is very important for your future and the future of our union to upgrade and make yourself better," said Ascoine, who began sailing with the SIU in 1967. "This is a beautiful, wonderful school with great instructors. Everyone should take advantage of it." An Upgrading BonusReunion of Friends It is not unusual for seafaring friendships to span the years-sometimes crossing oceans and time zones to remain a treasured part of sailing life. So goes the tale of friends and steward department members Ron Aubuchon and Al Bartley. Their friendship stems back to 1981, when as members of trainee class #343 they met at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. While Bartley lives in Texas and Aubuchon resides in St Louis, the two Seafarers have managed to keep their friendship alive for 14 years through cards and visits during return trips to upgrade at Piney Point "We've just been friends from the very beginning," recalled Bartley. "There were a bunch of us who hung around when we first came here [Piney Point], but out of everyone, only Ron and I have remained in touch," he said. As trainees, Bartley noted that they "played pool, softball, went bowling and studied together." After graduation from the trainee program in August of 1981, both of the new SIU members sailed aboard different Energy Transportation Co. vessels which transport liquified natural gas between Indonesia and Japan. However, it was not until 1987 that the two friends were reunited. "I was sailing on the LNG Leo and Al was on the UVG Capricorn," noted Aubuchon. "We met up when the two ships docked and played softball against one another. It was like no time had passed. He was still the same," Aubuchon recalled. The pair worked out their schedules and Ron Aubuchon together returned to e e e! Piney Point in 1993 to upgrade their culinary skills. Aubuchon was upgrading to chief steward while Al Bartley Bartley was completing the chief cook course. The two Seafarers again returned to the Paul Hall Center this winter. Aubuchon graduated from the recertified steward course in March, while Bartley will complete the chief steward class this month. Together, Aubuchon and Bartley have seen the museums, monuments and historical landmarks of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas of Piney Point. "Each time we come to Piney Point we try to do or see something different," noted Bartley. 'This is our meeting place. We have seen a lot of changes here in our lives as well as within the gates of the school," said Aubuchon. ..We'll always be friends. We get along so well, just like we have from the beginning," said Bartley. �APRIL 1995 SEAFARERS LOG 7 Concerns Resolved On Independence In response to concerns raised by Seafarers working aboard the SS Independence, the cruise ship based in Hawaii, the union met with the ship's operating company's representatives and saw to it that a program was launched to rectify all problem areas. The troubles aboard the 682foot Independence stem from a three-month stint in a shipyard. After the vessel left the Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding yard last October, Seafarers became concerned with the living and working conditions for crewmembers aboard the ship, which is operated by American Hawaii Cruises (AHC). Shortly after the renovation work was done, the areas of the Independence for passengers were in good shape but concerns with crew accommodations, crew messhalls, necessary work gear and the organization of work designed by new managers remained in flux. In December, SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco boarded the Independence to meet with crewmembers and determine what action was needed to immediately rectify the problems. Joining _Sacco were SIU Vice President Contracts Augustin Tellez, SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney and SIU Honolulu Safety Director Tracy "Dino" Ornellas. After holding around-the- / ' " SIU .Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco, Vice President Contracts Augustin Tellez and Vice President West Coast George McCartney meet with Seafarers who work in passenger-oriented services aboard the Independence just before a lifeboat drill. SIU Seeks Action On Court Order to Refund Z-Card Fees The SIU has asked the U.S. Coast Guard to obey a federal judge's order and stop charging mariners and boatmen for background checks when they apply for merchant mariner's documents (z-cards). The $17 cost for the background check was included in the overall fees charged by the Coast Guard for z-cards and licenses beginning on April 19, 1993. The Sill, along with other maritime unions and five individual merchant mariners, had filed a lawsuit on April 15, 1993 seeking to prohibit the implementation of all such fees. In a letter dated March 14, the union, in behalf of itself and the other plaintiffs, reminded Rear Admiral John B. Shkor, the Coast Guard's chief counsel, that the $17 charged for each background check had been declared illegal by U.S. District Court Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer in his decision of November 23, 1994. Judge Oberdorfer agreed with the plaintiffs' contention that background checks conducted by the FBI are for "primarily maritime safety" and are not for the benefit of the mariners. (Besides the SIU, others serving as plaintiffs in the case are the District 4-National Maritime Union/MEBA, District No. 1Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, American Maritime Officers, International Association of Masters, Mates and Pilots, Sailors' Union of the Pacific, Marine Firemen's Union and five individual mariners.) The judge went on to say that the background checks do "not confer a private benefit on the plaintiffs"; therefore he determined the Coast Guard was not authorized to charge for the FBI checks. Update on Calculations In the same decision, Judge Oberdorfer ordered the Coast Guard to recalculate all fees, which range from $35 for the issuance of an entry level z-card to $250 for an upper-level license. Because the agency has not announced if it has already begun this effort, the SIU and other plaintiffs are seeking in the letter to Rear Admiral Shkor an update on the process. The letter notes, "The Coast Guard is obligated to comply with Judge Oberdorfer's order by taking the steps described above even though appeals are pending in this case." On January 19, the Coast Guard filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging Judge Oberdorfer' s rulings. No date for a hearing has been set. Prohibitions Lifted The Coast Guard began charging user fees for z-cards and licenses following passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 by Congress and its signing by President Bush. The bill was designed as a way to cut the federal deficit. In the act, Congress lifted a longstanding ban that prohibited the implementation of fees for merchant mariner's documents and licenses. The Coast Guard issued its proposed regulations to institute the user fees in 1991, allowing for a comments period. The SIU submitted a series of strong protests against the fees. On March 19, 1993, the federal agency announced its intention to begin collecting the fees on z-cards and licenses starting April 19, 1993. The SIU, along with the other plaintiffs, filed its suit to stop the action on April 15, 1993. Besides ruling against the Coast Guard on collecting fees for background checks and calling on theagencytorecalculateitscoststo issue the documents and licenses, Judge Oberdorfer also denied the union's contention that the user fees overall are illegal because they constitute a work tax. The judge backed the government's case that mariners benefit from being documented and licensed. The SIU has challenged this ruling and filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals on January 20. clock meetings with crewmemhers in all of the ship's departments, the SIU contacted the company to begin discussing the Seafarers' concerns. Working cooperatively, the problems have been addressed. Meanwhile, SIU Assistant Vice President Bob Hall is coordinating a program to ensure that Seafarers aboard the two "Great White Ships," as the Independence and her sister ship, the SS Constitution, are called, have daily access to union officials so that any situations that arise can be handled immediately. Working with Hall is SIU Representative Sal Aquia. The Independence was built in 1951 atBethlehemSteelinQuincy, Mass. In July 1994, the vessel went into the shipyard for renovation work, which is now the subject of a lawsuit between AHC and Newport News Shipbuilding. The Independence and Constitution provide cruise ship service around the Hawaiian islands of Hawaii, Kahai, Maui and Oahu. AHC is a subsidiary of American Classic Voyages, headquartered in Chicago. That company bought AHC in 1993 and last year placed many new managers in the Hawaii cruiseship operation. American Classic Voyages also is the parent company of SIU-contracted Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Clinton Order Forbids Use of Strike Scabs By Gov'I Contractors President Clinton on March 8 signed an executive order which forbids federal agencies from doing business with companies that use so-called permanent replacements for striking workers. The order "sets a strong moral tone for labor-management cooperation and for dignity for those who work," said AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland. "It places the moral authority and market power of the federal government against employers who resort to the discredited practice of permanently replacing workers with scabs." If it stands, the president's action means that companies doing more than $100,000 in business per year with the federal government could have their contracts voided or declared ineligible for renewal if they tried to break a strike by hiring scabs to replace workers who are engaged in a lawful strike. A week after Clinton signed the order, Senate Republicans narrowly fell short of passing legislation to overturn it. Senate GOP members said they will try again. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said the Republicans' attempts to override the executive order are reflective of a declaration of "war on working families" by the majority party. President Clinton has vowed to veto any measure that scuttles the order, but a two-thirds majority in Congress would be enough to repeal it. (It takes 67 votes in the Senate and 290 votes in the House to override a veto.) With that in mind, SIU members are encouraged to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to support the executive order banning firms that do business with the government from using permanent replacements. Strikes Are Rare Kirkland, the head of the national federation of trade unions, pointed out that the order only will affect the worst segment of the employer community, since approximately 99 percent of unionized companies with federal contracts reach collective bargaining agreements without striking. "This order sends a message to all Americans that quality products cannot be turned out by employers who make war on their employees," he added. Last year, the House passed legislation banning the use of permanent replacements for strikers. Despite majority support in the Senate, a Republican-led filibuster killed the bill. In a role reversal, last month it was Senate Democrats who successfully led a filibuster against an amendment to overturn President Clinton's executive order. The amendment garnered 58 votes, two shy of the number needed to stop a filibuster. The AFL-CIO reported that hundreds of state labor federations, central labor councils and local unions contacted senators whose votes were needed to perpetuate the order. �II l B SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Seafarers Break Out New ITB Penn Maritime Adding 2 Tug/Barges to Its Fleet Seafarers are sailing aboard the first of two new integrated tugbarges (ITBs) scheduled to join the Penn Maritime fleet this year. On March 3, the tug Eliza and barge Atlantic departed from a Mobile, Ala. shipyard where they were built to begin transporting petroleum products along the eastern coast of the U.S. "I'm ready to get underway," Tankerman Jim Boyce told Mobile Patrolman Ed Kelly, who met with the crew shortly before the ITB set sail. "We've worked hard to prepare for this maiden voyage," noted the second generation Seafarer who, with several others, had been aboard the ITB for several weeks to oversee construction. "Everything looks pretty good," Barge Captain Ernest Larsen added. An SIU boatman since 1965, Larsen will make a couple trips on the new ITB as a tankerman before returning to Mobile to guide construction on the Atlantic's sister barge, the Caribbean. The barge and tug Lucia are due out of the yard in June. Largest in Fleet The Eliza and Atlantic are the largest ITB in the Staten Island, N.Y.-based fleet. Penn Maritime already operates five tugboats and seven barges to move jet fuel, gasoline and other petroleum products. Joining the chorus of praise for the new vessel was William Lee Mathews Sr. The tankerman called the ITB "beautiful." He also spoke highly of the way both the tug and barge were built for safety, including the double-hull construction and emergency cabin on the barge. Sweeney, vice president for operations. The cabin, which holds two bunks and a desk, can be used by tankermen to oversee loading or unloading on the barge while working with Coast Guard officials or port personnel. The cabin also provides on-duty tankermen with short-term shelter should bad weather catch them off guard. Sweeney said the company's recent growth and projected operations allowed Penn Maritime to build the new tugs and barges. The new vessels are designed so the company can meet the stringent laws or regulations affecting the industry. . New Emergency Cabm The emergency cabin is a feature Penn Maritime is employing on its newer barges, noted Jim Clarke 'Drops Anchor' After 42 Years at Sea Tankerman William Lee Mathews Splicing a line aboard the new Releasing pressure from a valve Sr. greases flow valves. barge is Tankerman Jim Boyce. is Tankerman Ernest Larsen. Alton Belle Crewmembers Praised For Speedy River Rescue Attempt SIU members aboard the Alton Belle II riverboat recently were praised by local police and fire department officials in Alton, Ill. for their attempted rescue of a man who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge into the frigid Mississippi River, 70 feet below. Deckhands Brian Bollinger and Bill Jackson manned the Alton Belle's 16-foot rescue skiff and retrieved the body of local resident Dennis K. Rader, 4 7, within 10 minutes after Rader had jumped from the Clark Bridge on January 18. The Alton Belle was approximately 2 miles from the bridge when the Alton Police Department contacted the vessel and requested assistance. "We were asked to launch a rescue boat in an attempt to save the victim," Bollinger noted in a On the night of John M. Clarke's final voyage before retiring, his crewmates aboard the Overseas Valdez threw him a party he will not soon forget. Clarke, who sails as a steward assistant, was presented with an engraved wall clock, some sports t-shirts and a card signed by all the crewmembers. According to Clarke, the wall clock "was the best gift of my life," one which he says he will treasure forever. In a letter to the Sea/are rs LOG, sent with the photographs that accompany this article, Clarke stated that all the friends he made while sailing are very important to him and he will never forget them. The steward department member has been shipping with the Seafarers for 42 years, during which time he worked on all kinds of ships and called on ports all over the world. "My favorite runs were to North Europe and South America," he reminisced. For the past five years, Clarke has sailed primarily aboard Maritime Overseas ships. Brother Clarke said he has decided "to drop the anchor and relax." He hopes to enjoy his letter to the Seafarers LOG. "Captain John Mosele immediately ordered the ship's crew to launch the rescue boat, and we were quickly under way." The water temperature was in the low thirties, and the river's current pulled Rader' s body 300 yards down river. "The victim was face down and barely breaking the surface when we got to him, and he wasn't breathing," Jackson told a reporter from the LOG. "Falling 70 feet, he probably inhaled a gallon of river water. "But we put a lifejacket on him and transported him to shore." Alton firefighters then tried to revive the man- who left a suicide note in his car, which was parked on the bridge - before he was transported to Alton Memorial Hospital. There, Rader was pronounced dead. Although Rader's Jife could not be saved, crewmembers from the Alton Belle were commended for their quick response to the crisis. "They immediately put the rescue boat in the water, and that's not the first time they've helped us," Alton Police Lt. James Hesse] told The Telegraph, an Alton newspaper. "They've helped us every time we've asked." Fire Chief John Sowders said the Alton Belle personnel "did a great job. We really appreciate their efforts." Mosele, in addition to complimenting the crew's performance, noted that they practice man-overboard drills every week. The constant training is evident in how quickly the rescue attempt was executed, he said. Retiree John M. Clarke proudly displays the engraved wall clock he received from officers and crew on the Overseas Valdez. retirement years by continuing to travel-this time "around the country instead of on the seven seas." The Overseas Valdez carries different grades of gas, diesel and f jet fuel. The vessel usually loads ~ in Lake Charles, La. or Corpus ........_ ...Mt Christi, Texas and discharges its cargo in Tampa, Fla., with an oc- Complimented for their swift response to an Alton, Ill. Police Department request for assistance are (from left) Deckhand Bill Jackson, Captain John Mosele and Deckhand Brian Bollinger of the Alton Belle II. casional stopover in Boston. �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 9 Seafarers Give Top Marks to Tanker Safety Course Seafarers who on March 24 completed the new tanker operation/safety course at the Paul Hall Center's Lunde berg School in Piney Point, Md., said the class is a vital tool in ensuring that SIUcontracted tankers are operated at optimum safety levels. "I think it's imperative that we have this education about tankers," stated QMED Carmine Barbati, one of 30 students in the most recent class. ''Tanker companies have so much liability .... We don't want to see the industry go down the tubes. This course teaches people about the hazards that exist and how to avoid them." Others who took the fourweek course said its content is extremely useful for all Seafarers. "The class provides good training for people of all skill levels," said Recertified Bosun John Thompson, a 19-year SIU member who often sails on vessels that transport liquified natural gas (LNG). "The course content is very pertinent to the job skills that are in demand of the unlicensed mariner today. Personally, I have a tankennan's endorsement and have sailed on many tankers, but there still are new trends in the industry that I wasn't aware of" prior to taking the tanker operation/safety course. The curriculum was developed by the Lundeberg School, in consultation with SIU officials and representatives of SIU-contracted tanker companies, in response to regulations stemming from the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA '90). The class is required of all SIU members who sail on tankers and is open to all Seafarers. Establishment of the course, which includes handson training and classroom ins tru c ti on, was agreed upon during contract negotiations between the union and tanker operators. Flammability Traits Barbati, Thompson and their classmates reported the curriculum is abundant. They took part in practical training for confined-space safety and oil spill/hazmat prevention and recovery. They also studied tanker construction and general tanker safety, reviewed sections of OPA '90 and learned about the chemical and physical properties of petroleum products. Learning about the hazards that exist aboard tankers and how to avoid them is one objective of the Lundeberg School's tanker safety course. Completing the class on March 24 are (from left, kneeling) Michael Ingram, Hernando Bansuelo, Van Jones, John Cincotta, George Montgomery, Christopher Kavanagh, (second row) John Day, Mark Dumas, Jeffrey Sousa, Desiree Crockett, Carmine Barbati, Robert Bell, Charles Herrera, Jake Karaczynski (instructor), Miles Copeland, Jorge Ellis, Robert Oppel, Carmine Bova, Peter Hove and Roy Payne. In addition, the upgraders examined the flammability traits, toxicity/asphyxiation characteristics and health hazards associated with exposure to petroleum products. Other segments of the course covered monitoring tanks for oxygen deficiency and taking other meter readings with atmospheric monitoring equipment; creating shipboard safety plans; fit-tests using respirators and other equipment; and an introduction to fire chemistry, firefighting and fire/emergency duties. Oil-removal contingency plans, use of federal information guides designed to aid mariners, and rules for protecting the marine environment were among other subjects studied by the up graders. "The course exceeded my expectations," said Recertified Bosun Carmine Bova, who joined the union 24 years ago. "There was a lot of new information presented, especially about oil pollution, loading and discharging . . . . The (review of) safety rules for people on deck and everyone involved in cargo operations also was excellent." Members of the class also met with SIU President Michael Sacco and Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco, who brought the upgraders up-to-date on the union's current activities. "That was excellent," said AB Chris Kavanagh. "Union education really reminds everybody of our duties and responsibilities." Kavanagh also said he benefitted from learning how to use the Chemical Data Guide for Bulk Shipment by Water and the Emergency Response Guidebook, which are published by the Department of Transportation. "And I appreciated the explanation of why certain procedures must be followed on tankers," he noted. Chemical Exposure Kavanagh added that there was "a broad scale of people in the class. Some have never sailed on a tariker, others have sailed them for 10 years. So there was a good exchange of knowledge amongst the students." Learning about personal protection from hazardous materials was a course highlight for QMED/Pumpman George Montgomery, who most recently sailed aboard the Overseas Alaska. "Some of those chemicals can have a long-term effect, so it's important to know which safety equipment to wear and how to use it," he said. Montgomery (and others) also praised the four instructors who taught various sections of the course. "They were excellent," he said. AB Jeff Sousa headed for During last month's class, students practice donning protective equipment-the same kind they would use in a real shipboard emergency. Piney Point after recently signing off the LNG Libra. He said the course was "very detailed. The class teaches all aspects of protection from chemicals, operations that go on with different pumps, what to do in case of an emergency .... It just gives you a thorough know ledge of tankers." Student Feedback Although an initial course curriculum is established, Lundeberg School instructors actively are soliciting feedback from upgraders so that improvements may be made. Besides critiquing the course, students are given a questionnaire to use aboard tankers in order to rate the effectiveness and applicability of various course content. ''The input from the students has been terrific, and SIU-contracted companies also will review the course," said instructor Ben Cusic. "We need the feedback from the students, because they're the ones who do the Oil spill containment drills are part of the tanker safety/operation course. In photo above, upgraders from job." the most recent class string a boom over the water to help contain a simulated oil spill. Barbati, who graduated from the school io 1987, summed up the course when he said, "This class teaches and reminds us of the right way to do things. There can't be any guesswork aboard a ship. You have to know the law." Instructors Ask for Seafarers' Help In order to assist in keeping the Paul Hall Center's tanker operation/safety course as upto-date as possible, Lundeberg School instructors are requesting the assistance of Seafarers who sail on tankers. The instructors ask that, when possible, SIU members photograph and/or videotape the equipment with which they work, along with any other relevant operations. Seafarers then are requested to forward the photos and/or tapes to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Attn: Ben Cusic, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, Md 20674. "This will greatly help us keep the class as current as possible," said instructor Ben Cusic. �10 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Shortage ol Seamen Exposes Need lor American Mariners, Says MarAd Chief Aboard the Sea-Land Performance, Seafarers meet with SIU President Michael Sacco and SIU Executive VP Joseph Sacco last month in Elizabeth, N.J. to discuss the union's challenge of Sea-Land's maneuver to reflag five of its containerships to foreign registries. Pictured from left are AB Tan Ah Joan, SA H. Ali, DEU F. Ghaleb, Steward Gary Griswold, QMED Bobby Spencer, Michael Sacco, Bosun Richard Moss, Electrician Robert Torgeresen, Joseph Sacco and AB Jose Ross. Seafarers Attack Sea-Land1s Reflagging Move Continued from page 3 tional interest. "Transferring these vessels to a foreign ship registry . . . exports American seamen's jobs and inevitably diminishes the pool of skilled American maritime personnel available to crew commercial, sealift and Ready Reserve Force vessels in times of national emergency," the SIU said. Granted Prematurely The union also insisted that "MarAd was premature in granting approval to Sea-Land for the transfer of five vessels to Marshall Islands registry because the Clinton administration has included funding for a U.S. maritime revitalization program in its fiscal year 1996 budget." The SIU pointed out that a promaritime bill last year was overwhelmingly approved by the House and had majority support in the Senate. But a last-minute procedural gimmick by a few farm-state senators prevented the Senate from voting on the bill. This "should not be construed as a lessening of support for the U.S.-flag merchant marine," the SIU said in its objection. In fact, the union noted all indications show that bipartisan support for a U.S. shipping program remains constant, "and the 104th Congress is likely to take up the call for a revitalized American maritime industry. The union sincerely hopes that MarAd's precipitancy in approving Sea-Land's reflagging peti- House Considers Maritime Bill Continued from page 3 Panel, Bateman noted "how critical it is to our national security that we have a merchant marine, that we have a pool of maritime sailors who are prepared to meet the nation's need for the future. "This is a maritime nation and we have no power unless we remain a maritime power. It is a national security concern and we must be and remain very sensitive to it," the chairman said. His view was shared by others on the panel. Representative Neil Abercrombie CD-Hawaii) added, "I believe that an active commercial merchant marine fleet is in the national security interest of the United States." He ~h~n direct~d. his remarks to Mantime Admm!sti:ator Herberger, who was testifymg on behalf of the MarAd budget pro,?osal. . . After all 1s said and done, is~ 't. i_t a? question ~f deciding pno~bes . I_s not the ISsue under cons1derat10n here _today the equal of any other issue under · ' ?" Ab erde f ense appropnat10n. tion does not cast an irrevocable shadow on this support." Request for Hearings As its final point, the SIU reminded MarAd that U.S. seafaring labor organizations in mid1993 requeste.d hearings about the reflagging issue "so that all interested parties would have an opportunity to be heard and a record made on which the agency would base its decisions on this matter." Since the request was not granted, the SIU noted that MarAd' s reflagging rulings "may have been rendered without corroborative and supportive evidence." The union then made another petition to MarAd to conduct such hearings. crombie asked the head of MarAd. After Herberger agreed with the representative's questions, he went on to say, "The need to retain a viable maritime industry is critical to the country. you need a fleet in being, you're going to need a trained force in being, you're going to need to use the system that is out there in the commercial business every day. That is the most cost-effective way to be able to go quickly to support the huge combatant force." Senate consideration of the maritime revitalization program is expected to begin later this spring. Seafarers can put their purchasing dollars to work for themselves and their fellow trade unionists. That is because within the family of unions which make up the Seafarers International Union of North America (to which the Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District belongs), there are workers who produce a wide variety of goods and services. When Seafarers buy those products, they not only are getting the best-made American goods, they also are supporting union workers. The United Industrial Workers (UIW) is one of the autonomous affiliates of the SIUNA. Beginning with this issue, the Seafarers LOG regular1y will highlight various union-made products and services. Company: La Victoria UIW members at La Victoria: Produce, pack, label and inspect the products; also do warehouse work Facilities: Production plant in Rosemead, Calif.; 9 distribution centers throughout U.S. Products: Hot, mild and medium salsas; red and green taco sauces; marinated jalepenos and more Distribution: Nationwide That's a fact: La Victoria features the UIW logo on its labels The question of safety aboard timony below.) He noted that the foreign-flag ships with foreign schools for seamen operated by crews entering U.S. harbors was maritime unions and the federal raised by members of the House and state governments ensure that Merchant Marine Oversight Americans are the most qualified Panel during a March 28 hearing seamen in the world. on the Maritime Administration The chairman of the panel, (MarAd) budget. U.S. Representative Herbert H. Maritime Administrator Al- Bateman (R-Va.), asked Herbert Herberger brought the sub- berger to repeat the figure on how jecttothepanel'sattentionduring many licensed seamen were his testimony on the need for needed because he thought he training and educational funds for may have misunderstood it. maritime academies when he Herberger verified the 200,000 mentioned that the world present- number, then added the IMO ly faces a shortage of 200,000 predicts the "shortage could be as licensed mariners. He based the high as 400,000" by the year 2000. figure on a report by the Intema"This is not the time to be tional Maritime Organization looking at closing down or reduc(IMO), which was created by the ing the impact of our particular United Nations to develop inter- educational base," Herberger national standards, promote ship- noted. "We do have the best ping safety and prevent marine mariners in the world." pollution. Representative Neil AberFor part of the hearing, crombie (D-Hawaii) expressed Herberger' s remarks turned the concern that foreign crews who panel's attention to looking at the are not up to American standards need for qualified seafarers in the for safety and training are enterworld's shipping trades. (See tes- ing U.S. ports. ..---------------------------., Testimony from March 28 Hearing During the March 28 House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel hearing on the Maritime Administration budget, members of the panel became intrigued when Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger testified that the wortd faces a shortage of 200,000 licensed mariners. He stated now is not the time for the U.S. government to reduce or eliminate its support for maritime training programs. What follows is the transcript from the hearing that addressed maritime personnel, training and safety: Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger: "To ensure a pool of trained citizen mariners, Kings Point and the state maritime academies graduate the finest, best educated [mariners] and provide the safest and most efficient operation in the marine industry. We must maintain a base of highly skilled seafarers if we are going to be prepared to maintain a capability, not only in the government fleet which is getting larger year by year, but also the commercial fleet. "At a time when the world at large is concerned with the quality of mariners in general, when there has been a series-almost a continual series--0f marin_e accidents wherein in the investigation it has come back to the human factor, this is not the time to be looking at closing down or reducing the impact of our particular educational base. This applies not only to Kings Point and the state academies, but also to the very fine facilities that the maritime unions-the labor unions-provide. We do have the best mariners in the world. "Today, there is a shortage of 200,000 licensed mariners worldwide. There are predictions by IMO studies that there will be a shortage of 400,000 by the year 2000. This is not the time to be taking actions to reduce the capability that we have when we are on the point, if you will, to ensure that the rest of the world are coming up to the high standards of our shipping operations. 'We have a very serious obligation, I think, to ensure that we maintain this capability." U.S. Representative Herbert H. Bateman: "I want you to repeat, in case I misunderstood, that data that you shared with us. Did I hear a 200,000 requirement in terms of the international maritime community?" Herberger: "Today there is a shortage of 200-;ooo licensed mariners. The prediction because of the training rate - the worldwide training rate - that that shortage could be as high as 400,000. They would have to triple the current worldwide training rate to provide the sufficient mariners. "The concern is that in recent years there's been a source of sailors coming in mostly from the underdeveloped areas that are not fully trained and as well educated and there has been a series of maritime disasters. The survey or study that's completed comes back to the human element. We're losing in terms of the wortdwide capability of mariners. "The United States for so many years, since the mid '30s, when so much of our maritime training support started, is primarily driven by the fact that there was this critical shortage of highly qualified people. The Merchant Marine Act of '36, that was the centerpiece. The Morro Castle disaster, there were other maritime incidents. "We're having the same type of phenomena now worldwide. Just as serious. What are becoming catastrophic because of the size of the vessels, the impact it has on the environment as well as human lives. There's something like 300 mariners that have been lost at sea in the last five years. In this day and age, that's unconscionable. But it's due to the low quality. "The United States has been in the lead [for safety]. We've been at all the IMO conferences driving the standards up. And now would not be the time to give up being a flag nation, and just become a port nation." U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie: "I just want to make sure I understand. So, in other words, what we're facing right now is increasing competition from foreign sources with increasingly unqualified people on the sh!PS !r<;>m !hose foreign sources, as compared to the standards we are now mamtammg 1n the United States, is that correct?" Herberger: "Ninety-five percent of our commerce comes into the United States ports in foreign vessels. There's a significant percent of foreign vessels worldwide that are considered substandard. And there is a lot of activity in recent years to begin to take action. The International Maritime Organization, our Coast Guard and others are beginning to take significant action to try to weed out the sub~tandard vessels. I'm not saying that all of the foreign vessels that come in Abercrombie: "You're speaking about the crews." Herberger: "I'm talking about the crews, that's right. When we look at the series of maritime disasters in recent years worldwide, you'll find that 85 percent of the cases are not mechanical failures, it's human error." �APRIL 1995 SEAFARERS LOG 11 Day Trips: Part of the Fun of a Piney Point Vacation SEAFARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES once again have the opportunity to spend a best-ofboth-worlds vacation at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Located in peaceful, picturesque southern Maryland, the Paul Hall Center offers a remarkable array of leisure-time options. Quiet relaxation, athletic activities, rustic jaunts and the excitement of a metropolis all can be part of a vacation at Piney Point. Additionally, bargain rates for lodging and meals at the Paul Hall Center are available for SIU members and their families. The facility is situated on more than 60 acres of waterfront property on the banks of the St. George's Creek. Within the Paul Hall Center's meticulously landscaped grounds are comfortable hotel rooms; relaxing dining facilities; a picnic area; athletic facilities including tennis courts, an Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool, a modem health spa and more. Another part of the attraction to Piney Point is the myriad of exciting places located within a short driving distance from the Paul Hall Center. Washington, Baltimore, Alexandria, Va., Annapolis, Md. and historic areas in southern Maryland all are easily accessible from the Paul Hall Center. ~ WASHINGTON, D.C. NATION'S CAPITAL: Not to be missed is the nation's capital, one of the world's major tourist attractions. A drive from Piney Point to Washington typically lasts no longer than two hours, but the entertaining and educational sights in D.C. seem limitless. The Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and the Washington Monument provide educational opportunities for children and adults alike. The Capitol, White House and Supreme Court offer daily tours which detail both their past and present uses. Also popular are tours of FBI headquarters and the U.S. Treasury's printing facility. The famed Smithsonian Institution offers hundreds of exhibits, and among its museums are the National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History. Other attractions and activities in Washington include: The Washington National Zoo, where hundreds of rare animals live in natural-habitat compounds. The Kennedy Center and other theaters which host live stage performances. Specialized libraries where one may research any number of topics. Concert arenas which boast some of the world's most popular musicians. Plenty of restaurant options, from formal dining establishments to neighborhood cafes. Washington also is the site of dozens of special events each summer. The 1995 calendar includes Filmfest D.C., the D.C. World Jazz Festival, the Parade of the Americas and much more. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES: These are just some of the sites and activities available in Washington ... and they are only a fraction of what Seafarers and their families can see and do while vacationing at the Paul Hall Center! Other possibilities will be detailed in upcoming issues of the Seafarers LOG. It is not too soon for SIU members to fill out the registration form on this page to reserve a place at Piney Point. Doing so is the first step toward what is certain to be a memorable family vacation. SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School is limited to two weeks per family. Member $40.40/day Spouse $ 9.45/day Child $ 9.45/day Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed Name: ~-------------------------------Social Security number: _____________ Book number: _ _ _ __ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ above include all meals. Telephone n u m b e r : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Date of arrival: 1st choice:. _ __ 2nd choice: _ __ 3rd choice: _ __ (Stay Is limited to two weeks) Date of departure: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. - - ~9:..i �12 APRIL 1995 SEAFARERS LOG Runaways Foster P Cyprus-Registered Aghia Markel/a Most runaway ships switch names several times, a tactic useful for evading legal problems. So many cockroaches that they drop out of the overheads, living conditions so poor that crewmembers sleep two to a bed and have no toilets or heat, navigation equipment so defective there is no working radar or gyrocompass, engines so worn :he manufacturer cannot believe they are still running, seamen who cannot splice or identify a wrench and a classification society certificate issued six months ago that all was well with the ship. These are the conditions on board the Aghia Markella, a runaway-flag ship detained last November by the Canadian Coast Guard and inspected by SIU of Canada Representative Jim Given. The runaway-flag ship registry has been a device used by North American, European and Japanese shipowners in the last 40 years to duck the rigorous conditions called for by the governments and seamen's unions of their own nations. The end result of runaway shipping is evidenced by the state of the Aghia Markella, which spent a month in Port Alfred, Quebec during which time Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) authorities forced the shipowner, Lombard Shipping, to make essential repairs. Hide Behind Layers Runaway-flag shipowners, like the one associated with the Aghia Markella, seek to bypass the stringent safety and environmental regimes, tax obligations and higher seamen's wages of their own countries by registering their ships in nations that operate a vessel registry as a source of much-needed revenues. Among the countries operating such socalled flag-of-convenience registries are Panama, Liberia, Vanuatu, Bahamas, Marshall Islands, Cyprus and Malta. Runaway shipowners also use a series of services from various parts of the globe to make it more difficult to assert legal actions against their vessels. For example, the Cyprus-flag Aghia Markella is owned by an Athens, Greece-based company. It is crewed by four Greek officers. The remaining crewmembers are Filipino. The company's classification soci Kaiji Kyokai (N based firm. The bulk cargoes all o Relentless Pursui The Aghia Ma rying its bulk car Jamaican bauxite, Lawrence River o when the boardi covered the dilap the vessel and its 1 gear. He contacte In turn the C Guard solicited th Given, an inspecti national Trans Federation (ITF) which the worl unions belong, h chase runawayfrom the seas and, upgrade the subs tions of such vess Bare Bones Given said th tors were stunned tion of the vesse extent of the corr that the vessel had tained. Engineroom The ship's main exhaust is patched together with the shell of an The emergency fire dampers at the top of the oil drum. The mending does not work and exhaust pours into engineroom are so debased that the safety the engineroom and crew quarters. system is rendered useless. The deck of the 13-year-old Cyprus-flag ship is corroded beyond recognition. J The cylinder in the piston is measured by Canadian authorities and the ship's classification society representative to determine wear to the engine. They find it severely worn from its original condition. Forepeak aft, full oil drums are stowed in an area not designated for storage of hazardous materials. Not only is there no way to contain a fire in this area but also the barrels are blocking exits. The crew attempte of Canada Repres1 would have gone c ,- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- �r SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 arilous Conditions ?pitomizes Substandard Shipping :ty is Nippon K), a Tokyovessel carries er the world. of Runaways 'f(ella was caro, in this case up the Saint t November 4, ng pilot disdated state of .c k of working theCCG. .n adian Coast ~ assistance of r for the Interort Workers The ITF, to l's seamen's a campaign to lag shipping :hort of that, to andard condils. Canadian or a U.S. shipowner would operate a vessel. The maintenance would get done underway. This shipping company seemed to have the philosophy of doing as little as possible-just keep the ship floating," surmised Given. In the engineroom, Given and the CCG representatives found equipment had been damaged from fires. The main engine cylinders were found to have such extensive wear that the equipment's manufacturer later told the CCG he was surprised they were running. Given said the main engine exhaust had a crack that the crew had attempted to repair by cutting a 45-gallon drum in half and using it to patch the break. The juryrigging did not work, and carbon monoxide exhaust billowed into the engineroom and crew quarters, Given learned. tintenance CCG inspecIntolerable Living Conditions by the condiOn deck, the Given also inspected the 1sion indicated crew's quarters and talked with riot been main- the Filipino seamen aboard. He tot the way a learned that the crewmembers slept in "hot beds." While the crewmembers worked 12-hour shifts, a single bed would be available to one crewmember for half the day and to another for the other 12 hours. None of the fo'c's'les had toilets, Given observed. The only toilet aboard the ship was on the captain's deck. The seamen simply defecated in pails and tossed the contents overboard. They urinated over the side of the ship, Given said. The drinking water on the ship was contaminated and stores consisted of rice, potatoes and bread. "There was barely any food aboard," reported Given. "It was very rare for the crew to get any fresh vegetables, or even canned vegetables." What little stores were available were infested with cockroaches, Given said. The insects were everywhere--even the captain's deck was teeming with roaches. Inspecting the medical supplies, Given found the medicines' expiration dates had long since passed. "The medical supplies were so old that they probably would have killed whoever used accommodation also used a hot plate in the room. Given observed that seamen ran extension cords willy-nilly throughout the house making it impossible to seal watertight doors and fire doors. Drums of petroleum products and other materials were stored in rooms not certified for such use because Seamen Ill-Prepared they were without independent fire-extinguishing systems. AdIn addition to talking to the ditionally, the materials were crew about their conditions, stowed in such a way as to block Given witnessed a number of in- exits. cidents which testified to the ine x p e ri enc e of the seamen Crew Exploited working aboard the Aghia The ill-prepared seamen were Markel/a. He noted that broken ropes were knotted, rather than supplied to the ship's managespliced. Likewise, wire rope was ment company by a maiming not spliced but shackled. "What a agency in the Philippines. The hazard," Given commented. crewmembers told Given thatthe "The way they had repaired the manning agent had the seamen rope there were too many weak sign blank contracts before leavlinks. It makes for a very ing for the ship, where their tour dangerous situation if that rope of duty would be 12 months. It was not until a seaman was at sea snaps under pressure." Given also heard a CCG in- on the Aghia Markel/a that he spector ask one of the engine learned what he would be paid. department crewmembers to The salaries of the crew were bring a certain wrench. The below the ILO minimum wage seaman returned with the entire for seamen, Given discovered. toolbox because he could not dis- But the Filipino crew had not protested the violation because tinguish the requested tool. The crew had very little safety they were intimidated by the training. The way they were presence of five relatives of the living proved this, reported manning agent who were aboard Given. The messman smoked in the vessel as the radio operator his fo'c's'le where barrels con- and junior officers. Givenmovedtorectifytheiltaining oil were stored. An AB who kept paint and lumber in his legal pay. As a result of his interthem rather than making them better." The crew was not equipped for a Canadian winter. Not only did the seamen have no cold weather clothing, but the heat on the ship did not work. And the only space heater aboard was in the captain's quarters. 13 vention, Lombard Shipping raised the pay of the seamen to the ILO minimum. Originally making $440 per month for a 160-hour month and 120 hours of overtime, the crew's pay was raised to $774 a month. This represented payment for overtime as well as the minimum wage of $356 per month established for the world's seamen by the International Labor Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations. Hardly the Worst Given, who sailed for many years on Canadian-flag ships, said that many Canadian and American seamen could not imagine a ship as bad as the Aghia Marke/la. "For a Canadian seaman, going aboard a foreignflag ship like this is a real eyeopener. You just don't see conditions like this on one of our ships. Canadian seamen know how to splice rope. They know their wrenches." But as one Filipino crewmember pointed out to Given, the Aghia Markella is not the most offensive runaway-flag ship sailing on the high seas. "I've been on worse ships," the ship's cook told Given. The Aghia Markella looked like it had been through a war, concluded Given. "But actually it wasn't a war, it was just a shipowner's greed." House and Fo'c's'le The cupboard is bare on this runaway ship. The crew's diet consists of rice, potatoes and bread. The only meat on the ship was so rotten it filled the house with a permeating stench. hide the broken railing by painting over the separation. SIU ·ve Jim Given notes that anyone who leaned against the rail ard. The rec room is a "wrecked room," notes SIU of The messman of the Aghia None of the crewmembers have Canada Rep. Given, who inspected the Aghia Markel/a, a smoker, shares his toilets in their rooms. Seamen use a Markel/a as an ITF representative. room with gallons of oil. pail to collect their waste. - �14 SEAFARERS LOB APRIL 1995 Following their annual physicals, Gateman Jeff Johnson (left) and Wiper Mike Nelson fill out the necessary paperwork and prepare to ship out. AB/Watchman Robert Hedine stands at the winch as supplies are brought on board the St. Clair. Mild Weather, Strong Cargo Demand Shorten Winter Layup on Great Lakes Seafarers had to shorten their winter vacations and hustle back to their Great Lakes ships last month for what is anticipated to be a banner sailing season in ·- 1995. The seamen joined their vessels following the brief break between winter layup and the beginning of this year's shipping period. As QMED John Bonifas observed, ''This winter layup was somewhat shorter than we- are used to." AB/Watchman Jim Lawson, During fitout in the port of Duluth, Minn., QMED Ed who sails on the H.L. White, an Elder pumps ballast aboard the St. Clair. American Steamship Company (ASC) carrier, echoed those sentiments and added, "But we're looking forward to going back." The abbreviated break in service, in some cases as few as 30 days, occurred due to mild winter weather conditions and a high demand for the commodities transported by Great Lakes vessels. r I Limited Time/Lots of Work Because of the short time frame between shipping seasons, shipyard employees worked around-the-clock to prepare the Lakes vessels for sailing. Seafarers cleared their union halls and ""y:ri;~~ reported to work aboard their respective Lakers, putting gear in place and preparing the ships for their annual U.S. Coast Guard inspection. The carriers have been prepared QM ED Ali Madan checks the oil in the St. Clair's stem thruster before sailing from the ship's winter port. for a long 19<)5 sailing season, because Great Lakes shipping company executives believe that the high demand for Lakes transportation services will continue unabated into early next year. "I think it will be a great season with a lot of work," said the bosun of the H.L. White, William Mulcahy. "It looks like it will be a good season with work all the way up until next January," echoed Bosun Mark Fraley, who sails aboard the Indiana Harbor, another ASC ship. Fraley added, "We have been really busy getting all the supplies we need on board and preparing for the Coast Guard inspections." Annually, Coast Guard inspectors board each Laker and check to ensure that all safety equipment is in working order. Also, crewmembers must demonstrate proficiency in lifeboat operations and fire fighting. Tip Top Shape In addition to preparing for the government agency's inspection, Seafarers readied the Great Lakes vessels for sailing. "We had a lot to do before sailing," stated Bonifas. On his ship, the Walter J. McCarthy (ASC), Bonifas reported that the repairs were minor, such as fixing water lines and overhauling engines. Continued on page 18 Preparing the galley of the St. Clair for the 1995 sailing season is Porter George Harrison. OS Abdo Fotaih helps with After helping with some painting on chipping and painting on the the St. Clair, OS Mohamed Saadi is Walter J. McCarthy. ready for a new assignment. The opening of the Soo Locks, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., traditionally marks the beginning of the sailing season on the Great lakes. 0 SURNS HARBOR ABs Charles Neighbauer (left) ar1 Thomas Palmer stand ready on deck to help load the St. Clair's first cargo of the season. 0 SANDUSKY GREAT LAKES SIU-crewed Lakers transport iron ore, grain, coal, cement, limestone and gypsum on the five Great Lakes. �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1995 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals 31 1 3 10 11 15 19 25 11 18 5 2 25 0 1 0 177 38 7 4 15 15 17 16 15 20 18 2 3 2 2 5 1 2 5 5 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 24 3 27 4 3 1 7 0 3 7 9 3 0 11 7 8 26 10 18 21 10 5 11 5 2 1 7 3 17 4 15 5 20 12 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 208 43 150 150 18 21 0 2 0 3 2 4 3 4 1 I 9 5 0 0 1 39 Trip Reliefs **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 15 May & June 1995 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point Monday, May 8, June 5 New York 67 10 15 1 8 57 0 0 2 2 4 8 6 17 13 1 2 15 40 9 5 40 25 24 31 28 3 11 3 5 10 0 0 51 35 41 16 43 39 5 39 7 24 37 46 0 1 1 0 0 6 2 59 361 400 2 6 14 Tuesday: May 9, June 6 Philadelphia Wednesday: May 10, June 7 Baltimore Thursday: May 11, June 8 Norfolk Thursday: May 11, June 8 7 Jacksonville 7 3 Thursday: May 11, June 8 8 9 8 0 Friday: May 12, June 9 2 0 101 Algonac Houston Monday: May 15, June 12 New Orleans Tuesday: May 16, June 13 Mobile Wednesday: May 17,June 14 San Francisco Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals 20 12 1 0 3 3 6 1 5 6 14 10 13 2 7 8 19 9 1 6 0 5 3 8 13 13 0 2 1 2 2 0 6 15 10 11 1 9 17 0 1 0 114 2 0 9 1 1 0 132 32 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals 15 0 2 6 6 12 6 24 5 18 3 11 9 12 3 3. 7 5 6 9 5 5 5 0 7 3 0 0 3 0 2 0 72 120 0 2 0 3 0 1 1 6 I 1 1 4 5 16 7 5 4 12 2 2 5 5 8 1 2 5 0 19 1 4 1 2 10 15 16 28 2 0 4 1 1 5 8 11 22 2 0 5 6 0 20 26 24 7 1 0 1 1 7 13 1 16 22 7 22 20 6 16 20 6 Honolulu Friday: May 19, June 16 4 0 1 6 16 1 0 84 1 0 0 0 0 0 90 17 39 208 252 64 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 11 5 I 1 I 0 2 0 0 3 8 5 12 12 5 86 1 3 3 0 3 26 22 1 0 0 2 4 3 13 10 2 1 2 3 5 0 2 0 3 0 0 3 9 13 17 11 20 11 13 6 2 7 5 3 1 0 4 6 71 19 34 1 2 0 0 5 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 15 18 0 0 1 8 1 0 11 0 48 2 11 0 2 3 2 2 1 9 2 9 3 2 0 0 0 0 33 0 5 9 3 1 2 2 1 6 18 5 0 10 10 8 3 5 6 2 0 3 0 9 5 16 3 12 0 5 13 1 8 8 12 17 13 17 9 13 4 37 17 1 10 3 74 8 0 1 0 2 6 0 0 0 1 1 6 0 8 3 0 7 9 4 2 1 0 1 2 20 9 0 1 16 0 0 1 1 37 Duluth Wednesday: May 17,June 14 Jersey City Wednesday: May 24, June U ' New Bedford Tuesday: May 23, June 20 7 8 4 15 10 0 3 Personals 1 2 4 7 5 3 4 8 5 Anyone who knows the whereabouts of William Yale Ballou, please contact his sister, Lorraine Hopper, at 4561 Mars Drive, Manchester, MD 21102. Brother Ballou is last known to have shipped aboard an inland tug from the port of New Orleans around 1973-74. 0 0 0 4 1 31 258 136 46 0 0 0 15 71 3 3 16 35 35 30 30 32 1 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 9 St. Louis Friday: May 19, June 16 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. 8 1 San Juan 32 0 0 0 8 Seattle Friday: May 26, June 23 Thursday: May 11, June 8 0 3 2 Wilmington Monday: May 22, June 19 6 6 2 7 0 0 0 7 34 10 I 1 22 4 2 3 5 11 7 9 9 20 0 13 0 6 10 0 1 0 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac ENGINE DEPARTMENT 19 14 0 1 0 0 0 5 1 Thursday: May 18, June 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 7 1 22 9 10 7 0 0 0 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 92 26 33 13 69 35 1 10 28 3 29 22 24 23 16 11 137 12 0 32 3 2 2 357 434 0 129 34 153 196 44 Totals Totals All 919 lz222 129 104 417 354 250 608 DeEartments 455 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port. 5 568 WILLIAM YALE BALLOU WALTER ROGER JAMES Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Walter Roger James, please contact his daughter, Holly Marie James, at 40 Mansfield Street, Framingham, MA 01701; or call (508) 879-8311. Brother James is Jast known to have shipped from the port of Seattle in 1967. MARIO ANTHONY SANCHEZ Please contact your daughter, Lois A. Sanchez, at 64-A Gardenia Drive, Maple Shade, NJ 08052; or telephone (609) 667-4273. TONY TOMAS Please contact your daughter, Samantha Tomas. AN EXPRESSION OF THANKS FROM RONALD AUBUCHON Recertified Steward Ronald Aubuchon extends his sincere thanks and appreciation to the SlU port representatives in St. Louis for the memorial mass conducted for Ronald's father, Roy, who passed away January 27. Roy Aubuchon, 77, was a retired member of the Teamsters. He and his wife, Thelma, had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. "I just want the union to know how much my family and l appreciate their support," stated Ronald Aubuchon. - �16 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Union Directory FEBRUARY 16- MARCH 15, 1995 CL-Company/Lakes L-Lakes NP-Non Priority Michael Sacco President *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Contract') George McCartney Vice President West Coast Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 44 5 0 20 2 0 14 2 0 43 20 Totals All Departments 0 0 32 8 16 1 0 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port. 121 29 0 4 1 0 3 0 0 15 7 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 6 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 4 0 1 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 DeanCorgey Vice President Gulf Coast HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD :20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1995 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 PierceSt Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonvi1le, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 4 35-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 47&-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals NORFOLK Norfolk, VA 23510 (804) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 2067 4 (301) 994-0010 0 8 8 41 0 2 56 2 10 0 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 19 1 3 3 0 7 21 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 16 0 49 4 11 67 4 11 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 I 0 2 0 10 13 0 4 30 16 43 0 26 1 29 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 20 11 44 6 81 2 0 I 4 2 4 0 2 9 0 I 0 1 1 15 3 8 9 Totals All Departments 82 11 25 81 6 12 125 * "Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port. 21 56 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 3 0 1 0 Are You Missing Important Mail? (504) 529-7546 115 Third St. 0 DECK DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 0 0 630 Jac~on Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY I I 232 (718) 499-6600 3 10 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C In order to ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG each month-as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and welfare checks and bulletins or notices-a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please complete the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Department 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 207 46 r------------------------------------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM {PLEASE PRINT} 4195 PORT EVERGLADES 2 West Dixie Highway Dania, FL 33004 (305) 921-5661 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 Name SANTURCE - 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 161/2 Santurce, PR 00907 (809) 721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 441-1960 Social Security No. _ _ _ _ I ____ I _____ D D Active SIU Other D Pensioner ---~~-------------------~-~---------~ ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (Signed) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ (310) 549-4000 ------------------------------------------------------------~ �SEFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 he Seafarers Pension Plan T this month announced the retirements of 16 SIU members who have completed their careers as merchant mariners. Twelve of those signing off shipped in the deep sea division, three sailed the inland waterways and one worked in the Railroad Marine division. Among those joining the ranks of the retirees is Brother Nick G. Kratsas. who graduated from the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Seven of the retiring Seafarers served in the u.g. military- three in the Anny, two in the Air Force, and one each in the Navy and Coast Guard. On this page, the LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners. DEEP SEA MANSOR B.ABDULLAH,65. signed on with the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of New York. Brother Abdullah shipped in the deck department. Born in Malaysia, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Brother Abdullah makes his home in California. To Our New Pensioners • • • Thanks for a Job Well Done Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently have become pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These men and women have served the maritime industry well, and the SIU and all their union brothers and sisters wish them happiness and health in the days ahead. BARNEY JOHNSON, 66,began sailing with the union in 1968 from the port of Norfolk. Va. Born in South Carolina, Brother Johnson shipped in the steward department. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1966. Brother Johnson has retired to Alabama. NICKG. KRATSAS, 48, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1964 and joined the union in the port of New York. Sailing in the deck department, he upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School and completed the bosun recertification course there in 1979. He served the union as a patrolman in New Orleans from 1979 to 1983 and as port agent in Baltimore from 1990 to 1992. Brother Kratsas was born and raised in Maryland and continues to live there. JAMESS. MANNETTE JR., 58, ROBERT L. ELLIOTT, 67,began sailing with the SIU in 1969 from the port of Seattle. Born in Minnesota. Brother Elliott sailed in the engine department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1949. Brother Elliott has retired to Texas. MARTIN " A.FOX,49, joined the Seafarers in the port of New York after graduating L.._--'====--=-.:=-~fromthe Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1964. He sailed in the engine department and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Born and raised in Maryland, Brother Fox continues to make his home there. AL AHMED ISMAEL, 54, signed on with the SIU in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. He sailed as a member of the steward department. Born in Yemen, Brother Ismael became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He presently lives in California. began sailing with the Seafarers in 1958 from the port of New York. A native of Pennsylvania, Brother Mannette shipped in both the deck and engine departments and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1953 to 1957. Brother Mannette currently resides in Louisiana. VICTOR M. SANTOS, 63,joined the union in the port of New York following his graduation from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1960. Brother Santos shipped in the engine department. He has retired to his native Puerto Rico. JULES STANN.67, joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of New Orleans. Born in Louisiana, Brother Stann sailed as a member of the deck department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953. Brother Stann continues to reside in Louisiana. iiiiii~--i WILLIAM STEVENS, 55,joined the union in 1957 in the port of New York after .~ graduating L..__ ___.:::..:._...:::...::.::...::......:~fromthe Andrew Furuseth Training School. He sailed in the deck department. Born in New York, Brother Stevens now resides in New Jersey. ATHANASIOS K. VASSILIKOS, 53. signed on with the SIU in 1968 in the port of Houston. ·' ,A; He sailed in the deck department and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School. Born in Athens, Greece, Brother Vassilikos now lives in Maryland. OSCAR C. WILLIAMS, 65, began sailing with the union in 1970 from the port of San Francisco. Born in Arkansas, Brother Williams shipped in ~====== both the engine and steward departments and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He currently resides in California. INLAND BOBBY JOE BROGLEN, 62, signed on with the Seafarers in 1974 in the port of New York. Boatman Broglen shipped in the engine department. A native of Arkansas, Brother Broglen has retired to Alabama. WILLIAM L. HYNSON, 65, signed on with the union in 1968 in the port of Baltimore as 17 a licensed towboat operator. He sailed as mate and later as tug captain. The Maryland '----~-'------' native served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1952. Boatman Hynson continues to reside in Maryland. WILLIAM SHUBERT, 63,began sailing with the Seafarers in 1973 from the port of St. Louis. The North Carolina native shipped in the deck department. He started as a deckhand and worked his way up to mate. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951to1960. Boatman Shubert has retired to North Carolina. RAILROAD MARINE liiiiiiP'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil J 0 HN A. FORSYTHE, 65, signed on with the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of New York. L..__ _ __ ___, Born in New Jersey, Brother Forsythe continues to reside in his home state. Seamen Who Saw War Service May Still Apply for Bars, Medals U.S. merchant mariners who sailed in the convoy Merchant mariners who supported America's armed forces during World War II. Korea and Viet- runs to Murmansk during WWII should apply for that nam are eligible to receive medals to supplement medal directly from the Russian govenment-not from MarAd. Requests should be sent to the First Secretary war zone ribbon bars previously awarded them. and Consul, Russian Embassy Consular Division, Medals to Accompany Ribbon Bars 1825 Phelps Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008. The interested seaman must provide documentaAccording to the Maritime Administration tion of service in WWII and, specifically, evidence (MarAd) , more than 12,400 mariners were awarded of having sailed on vessels engaged in one or more the Merchant Marine Defense Bar for service be- convoys to Murmansk or Archangel. Include the tween September 8, 1939 and December 7. 1941. following information: full name and current mailThose mariners are eligible for the Merchant Marine ing address, full copy of merchant marine veterans Defense Medal. DD Form 214 ("Certificate of Release or Discharge Another 143,000 seamen received the Atlantic from Active Duty") and a list of the name(s) of the War Zone Bar for service during World War II vessel(s) sailed on during the convoys to Murmansk between December 7. 1941 and March 2, 1946, or Archangel. while 111,000 received the Pacific War Zone Bar for similar service. Those mariners are eligible for the Atlantic War Zone Medal and the Pacific War Zone Medal, respectively, An additional 94,000 bars for service in the Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945 were presented. Mariners who received those bars also may receive the corresponding medal. More than 2,000 mariners received the Korean Service Bar for sailing between June 30, 1950 and September 30, 1953 in waters adjacent to Korea. They are eligible for the Korean Service Medal. Five thousand seamen were given the Vietnam Service Bar for sailing between July 4, 1965 and August 15, 1973 in waters adjacent to Vietnam. They are eligible for the corresponding medal. All of the recipients of the war zone bars are eligible to obtain the corresponding medals. The immediate families of deceased mariners also are eligible to receive the medal in behalf of the seaman. Some mariners who sailed in these wars never applied for the war zone ribbon bars they had earned. They may still do so. Applicants must provide proper documentation to MarAd of their merchant marine service in order to be considered for the ribbon bars and medals. The documentation must include the mariner's full name, z-card number or book number and copies of voyage discharge certificates. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Maritime Labor & Training, Attention: Awards, The Mariner's Medal (above) is just one of a number Maritime Administration, Room 7302, 400 7th of medals being issued to merchant mariners who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. This particular Street SW, Washington, DC 20590. MarAd has entered into agreements with several medal was awarded to a seaman who, while servcompanies to supply the medals and decorations to ing on a ship from December 7, 1941 to July 25, eligible mariners at cost. Be sure to request a list of 1947, was wounded or suffered physical injury as a result of an act by an enemy of the U.S. the medal vendors. - - �18 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Registering at the Duluth hall for the new Great Lakes Conveyorman Daryl Overby assists in load- Working in the Indiana Harbor's bilge during fitout, QMED Michael La sailing season is Porter James Beaudry. ing supplies aboard the Indiana Harbor. Bar helps prepare the vessel for the 1995 sailing season. Lakers Are Ready For 1995 Season Marie, Mich. Traditionally, the opening of "The ship is just like a little the Soo Locks marks the official city. Everything has to be start of the annual Great Lakes functioning properly in order for sailing season. it to function as a whole," Bonifas Jumping the Gun said. "We had to be sure that the alarm systems on the four engines Some ships did not wait for the were in excellent condition and Soo Locks to open to begin their that everything that we took apart 1995 runs. Among those ships to get ready for the winter was put was the Seafarer-crewed Buffalo (ASC), which began shuttling back together." Bonifas noted that the Mc- iron ore between Cleveland and Carthy would sail on March 23 Lorain, Ohio on March 14. Two from its winter port of Superior, days later, Inland Lakes Wis. with a load of coal destined Management's Alpena departed for St. Clair, Essexville and Mon- Cleveland with a load of cement roe, Mich. The QMED said the bound for Alpena, Mich. ship would leave in time to reach With the Soo Locks open, the the Soo Locks, located at Sault St. Indiana Harbor was scheduled to Continutd from page 14 sail at the end of March, picking up a load of taconite, a low grade iron ore, in Taconite Harbor, Minn. and proceeding to Lorain. The White was due to load either iron ore, stone or coal, and deliver the commodity to ports on the lower lakes. The remaining U.S. -flag Great Lakes vessels will begin their voyages between the end of March and the first weeks of April, according to Glen Nekvasil of the Lake Carriers' Association. "Every ship that is able to sail, will be in service early this year," projected Nekvasil. Future Looks Rosy That contrasts with the 1994 sailing season, Nekvasil pointed out. Due to heavy ice formations Wiper Charles Holtrey checks a pump on board the Indiana Harbor. last year, Lakes vessels got a late start, missing opportunities to · carry available cargo. Nekvasil is optimistic about this year's shipping prospects for Lakes vessels. "Demand is still going strong for everything on the Great Lakes. We are picking up where we left off when the '94 season ended," he said. The 1994 ~eason, despite its late start, had a strong finish in late January 1995, transporting more than 115 million tons of cargo between Great Lakes ports. ~· • l II••••, Chains are hung in an orderly fashion aboard the Walter J. McCarthy by Wiper Mohamed Omer. In the Indiana Harbor's conveyor shop, Gateman Floyd Larson gathers the tools he will need for fitout. �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 clarification of overtime and rest periods. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union ship- delegates. Digest of Ships Meetings board 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. LEADER (Kirby Tankships), November 29--Chairman Patrick Rankin, Secretary Howard Williams, Educational Director Richard Gracey. Secretary noted everything running smoothly. Ship to pay off every month in port of New Orleans. Deck and engine delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Next port: New Orleans. SEA-LAND SP/RIT(Sea-Land Service), December 11--Chairman Howard Gibbs, Secretary Steve Apodaca, Educational Director Charles Henley, Deck Delegate M. Sorenson, Engine Delegate Donnie Hester, Steward Delegate Arthur Medieros. Secretary encouraged members to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Educational director stressed importance of donating to SPAD. Treasurer announced $73 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman reminded crew to secure exercise room after use. Next port: Honolulu. SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Land Service), December 4-Chairman Larry Watson, Secretary Ron Flunker, Educational Director Milton Sabin. Chairman thanked crew for good trip and announced payoff in Tacoma, Wash. He stressed importance of safety aboard ship and reminded crewmembers to check zcard expiration date. Bosun wished entire crew Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Secretary thanked deck and engine department for help in getting ship clean. He thanked galley gang for help in putting out a "blue plate" Thanksgiving dinner. Educational director advised members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEAL/FT ARCTIC (Sealift, Inc.), December 27-Chairman Warren Blankenship, Secretary Beverly Harris, Educational Director Neil Carter. Chairman reminded crewmembers of special smoking hours in crew lounge. Educational director discussed new tanker safety class being offered to crewmembers at Paul Hall Center. Chairman thanked all departments for jobs well done and gave special thanks to deck department for painting mess halls. 1ST LT. ALEX BONNYMAN (Maersk Lines), January 27Chairman John Russell, Secretary Billy Gigante, Educational Director Sean Hall, Deck Delegate Sean Flaherty, Engine Delegate James Hill, Steward Delegate Thomas Mccurdy. Crew morale good following long voyage from Diego Garcia to Jacksonville, Fla., chairman noted. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Piney Point. Crew discussed possible uses for ship's fund: VCR tape rewinder, weights for gym, universal remote control for TV and VCR and new videotapes. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. Chief cook thanked deck and engine departments for help and cooperation during long trip. Crew noted that after massive struggle reeling in a 17-foot hammerhead shark from the Diego Garcia Lagoon, AB Bill Hamilton said, "We don't have these in Cleveland!" LNG LIBRA (ETC), January 15Chairman Bert Gillis, Secretary M. Ruggiero, Educational Director Paul Peterson, Deck Delegate Norman Armstrong, Engine Delegate Endang Abidin, Steward Delegate Brian McEleney. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $2,403 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed President Michael Sacco's report in Seafarers LOG. Chairman reminded members to return all movies for inventory. Next port: Osaka, Japan. OM/ SACRAMENTO (Vulcan Carriers), January 29-Chairman Ray Gorju, Secretary Dante Slack, Educational Director Brian Monneljohn, Deck Delegate George Giraud, Steward Delegate Earl Matthews. Chairman noted mattresses ordered and expected to arrive this trip. He announced payoff in New Orleans and asked crew to leave keys with department heads. Bosun thanked everyone for good trip and urged eligible crewmembers to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND ATLANTIC (SeaLand Service), January !--Chairman William Stolty, Secretary Richard Hicks, Educational Director William Cameron. Chairman noted good trip so far and announced pay off upon arrival in Charleston, S.C. Educational director advised members to check December LOG for Paul Hall Center upgrading schedule for 1995. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested bus to provide service from ship to gate in Rotterdam during nighttime hours. Crew ex- HIGHLIGHTS Jst U. Alex Bonnyman-AB lands 17foot hammerhead shark from Diego ·Garcia lagoon dUring a break. Long Lines-Crew prepares for world's longest continuous cable laying operation. Sea-La.nd LiberatorSpends two days in Manilla, Philippinesa first for a D-9 vessel. OMI DynachemEducational director stresses need to donate toSPAD. tended special vote of thanks to steward department for job well done, and steward thanked crew for helping keep mess hall clean. SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), January 22-Chairman Tom Trehern, Secretary Ruebin Galleguillos, Deck Delegate E. Sparkes. Chairman asked contracts department for SEA·LAND INNOVATION (SeaLand Service), January 15--Chairman Nathaniel Leary, Deck Delegate Oliver Balico, Engine Delegate Juan Toro, Steward Delegate William Muniz. Chairman reported ship will tie up to sea buoys in Boston. He thanked galley gang for job well done and announced payoff in New Jersey. He encouraged members to upgrade at Piney Point at earliest convenience. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman reminded members to read Seafarers LOG, have all credentials available when going m union hall to throw in for jobs and renew seamen's documents. SEA·LAND INNOVATOR (SeaLand Service), January 7--Chairman John Stout, Secretary D. Clay, Educational Director David Bautista, Deck Delegate Charles Howell, Engine Delegate Steve Rollins, Steward Delegate M.F. Abuan. Crew requested new tiles for mess decks, fo'c's'le and crew passageways. Chairman reminded each member to clean room before signing off and leave key for next occupant. He noted repair list posted and reminded members to check z-cards for renewal dates. Educational director urged members to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked that canned juices be put in glass or plastic containers, labeled, dated and left out for daily consumption by crewmembers. When space permits, steward will comply with request. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND LIBERATOR (SeaLand Service), January 21-Chairman Joel Miller, Secretary James Harper. Chairman reported everything going well aboard ship. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Due to Christmas holiday, Liberator spent two days in Manilla, Philippines-the first time for a D-9 type vessel, said crew. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA·LAND PAC/F/C(Sea-Land Service), January 16--Chairman Lothar Reck, Secretary George Bronson, Educational Director Lorance Pence, Deck Delegate Thor Waagsbo, Engine Delegate Stephen Shafer, Steward Delegate Dien Short. Chairman informed members of importance of fire safety-knowing where fire stations are located, procedures to follow and use of emergency gear. He asked members to donate to SPAD and check with immigration and customs upon arrival in port. He also remjnded members to clean cabins and leave fresh linens for next occupants and to keep laundry room and crew lounge clean. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer announced $400 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended special vote of thanks to steward department for job well done and for fine holiday meals. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), January 22-Chairman K.C. McGregor, Secretary Donna Jean Clemons, Educational Director Jim Smitko, Deck Delegate John Emrich, Engine Delegate Louie Diaz, Steward Delegate Paula Kaleikini. Chairman reminded crew to return videotapes to video room after viewing. Deck delegate asked contracts departm.ent to clarify emergency leave. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew announced arrival of new Seafarers WGs and noted special holder for LOGs by electrician's room. Crew thanked galley gang for great food at Sunday barbecue. Next port: Oakland, Calif. STONEWALL JACKSON (Waterman Steamship Co.), January 29--Chairman Carl Lineberry, Secretary Ernest Hoitt, Educational Director Wayne McKeehan, Deck Delegate John Lewis, Engine Delegate Crescencio Suazo, Steward Delegate John Bennett. Chairman reported one last stop at Suez Canal before return voyage to United States. He added first port of call will be Newport News, Va., then New Orleans. Secretary stated union forms available on board for all crewmembers. Educational director urged members to upgrade and improve job opportunities at Piney Point. Treasurer announced $480 in ship's movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman noted Seafarers LOGs received in Singapore. Crew discussed value of rotary shipping and seatime requirements. Crew requested larger refrigerator. Vote of thanks extended to galley gang for 19 SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (Sea-Land Service), February 12Chairman Roy Williams, Secretary Herbert Scypes, Educational Director J.E. Williams, Steward Delegate Rios Osvaldo. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in Elizabeth, N.J. Crew requested new TV and VCR for lounge. Crew discussed holiday pay and overtime. Secretary noted garbage disposal still in need of repair. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), February 19Chairman Paulino Flores, Secretary Edgar Vazquez, Educational Director Sam Negron. Chairman noted everything going smoothly. Vessel due to go into shipyard but date and place still unknown. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Pulling Together \ When word came of the death of OS Jimmy S. Whiting's father-in-law last December, the crew of the cableship Long Lines took up a donation to help with burial costs. Presenting the gift to Whiting (left) are Bosun Pete Amper (center) and Chief Steward Mike Bonsignore. The photo was taken by Eddie G. Morre, splicerfjoiner aboard the vessel. excellent job preparing meals. Crew also thanked galley gang for midnight dinners over Christmas holidays. LNG AQUARIUS (ETC), February 4-Chairman John Thompson, Secretary Franklin Robertson, Educational Director Ralph Gosnell, Engine Delegate Bruce Smith, Steward Delegate Rafael Cardenas. Chairman noted quality of meats aboard ship being addressed by company. Bosun discussed end of tour and changeover of crew. He reminded members to pay attention to details and avoid accidents. He announced crew will be allowed to leave luggage on ship until travel time back to United States. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate asked contracts department to clarify overtime policies. Crew thanked contracts department for quick response to previous requests. No beefs or disputed OT reported. LNG LEO (ETC), February 5Chairman Philip Parisi, Secretary David Pappas, Educational Director Paul Pagano, Deck Delegate Mustari Lalong, Engine Delegate Richard Harris, Steward Delegate Glenn Williams. Chainnan and crew discussed letter from SIU members aboard LNG Taurus, sent by the contracts department, concerning working procedures in deck department. Decision made to hold shipboard meetings with all ABs to discuss current operating procedures of day watchstanding and work schedules. Treasurer announced $351.18 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers discussed using ship's fund to buy videotape rewinder, refrigerators, VCR head cleaner and board games. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed SIU brothers and sisters. SEA-LAND FREEDOM (SeaLand Service), February 17Cbainnan Steve Copeland, Secretary Ed Haber, Educational Director David Gordius, Deck Delegate R. Los, Steward Delegate M. Baker. Crew discussed reflagging of Sea-Land Freedom. Crew had some questions for contracts deparbnent regarding expiration of articles. Educational director stressed importance of continued education at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent chow and clean ship. Next port: Singapore. LONG LINES (Transoceanic Cable), February 23--Chairman Hilary Dombrowski, Secretary D. Collison, Educational Director Joe Algiere, Deck Delegate Eddie Morre, Engine Delegate Shawn Clark, Steward Delegate Kenneth Cabato. Chairman noted ship on stand-by status in Sand Island, Hawaii, waiting to sail to Japan to load cable for worJd' s longest continuous laying of cable. He thanked crewmembers for working hard to prepare ship for voyage and historic event. Educational director urged members to upgrade at fine facilities at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer announced $615 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new washers and dryers in laundry room. Crew discussed using ship's funds to buy new games and playing cards. Next port: Hitachi, Japan. OMI DYNACHEM (OMI), February 11-Chairman Larry Kunc, Secretary Matthew Scott, Engine Delegate Hassin Asumari, Steward Delegate Thomas Kreis. Chairman thanked crewmembers for job very well done. He announced payoff in Houston. Educational director reminded members to continue to upgrade at Piney Point and donate to SPAD. Treasurer announced $150 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. . �20 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Crowley's Ubiquitous Caribbean Seafarers , There is not a single maritime service that the Seafarers who work from Crowley's Puerto Rico base cannot do. Whether it is operating ship docking tugs, navigating ocean-going tugs and barges that sail between the eastern seaboard of the United States and Puerto Rico, lightering all around the Caribbean or handling oil spill response equipment, Seafarers get the job done. In addition to operating different types of marine equipment, Seafarers also maintain the vessels and their engines and gear. And, often, the San Juan-based Seafarers are dispatched throughout the Caribbean-to St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Kitts and nearby islands-to unload bunkers and perform other tasks. Because Crowley Marine Service Inc.'s unit in San Juan is the world's largest roll-on/roll-off barge operation, Seafarers work around-the-clock on tugs that guide 580-foot and 730-foot barges. Crowley Marine Service Inc.'s parent company, Crowley Maritime Corp., is based in San Francisco. !i--~;_ _ ..,.......,. It is the end of the work day for Seafarers at Crowley's Puerto Rico division, which has the largest fleet of marine equipment serving the Caribbean. At pier 10 are (left to right) Senior Captain Robert Candelario; Port Captain John Velez; Tankermen J. Diaz, P. Navarro, R. Diaz, P. Pizarro; and Cook A. Collazo. Crowley Seafarers deliver bunker fuel to vessels throughout the Caribbean. Taking a break during a St. Kitts-based fuel transfer are (from left) Lino Colon, a former SIU tanl<erman who now works as a supervisor, and tankerrnen Melvin D. Cardoza and William Viust. Working at Crowley is a Rodriguez family affair. Orlando Rodriguez (left) sails as a cook, while his brother, Miguel, works as a vessel mechanic aseaand ashore. Looking back on the times they shared at Crowley are QMED Tony Mohammed (left) and Captain Victor Rivera. Mohammed currently sails as a chief electrician. Rivera sails aboard Crowley tugs. 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 secretarytreasurer. 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 vio1ations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Au th Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIUcontractsareavailableinallSilJ hall s. These con trac ts specify th e wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard hi bo M hers h ldkn as Por at em s ou ow tr t 'ghts, 11 th th · eli~ atc~n ac nh ~we fi as err o g tons, sue as ng or overtime (O'D 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. b EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The members should obtain copies of men and the advancement of trade Seafarers LOG traditionally has this constitution so as to familiarize union concepts. In connection with refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or memher. It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaffinned by membership action at the September 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. 1be responsibility for Seafarers WG policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the executive board of the union. The executive board may delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are to be paid to anyone in any 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 oiven such o-- 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 memhers 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 feelsthatheorsheisdeniedtheequal rights to which he or she is entitled, the member should notify union headquarters. receipt In the event anyone attempts torequireanysuchpaymentbemade SEAFARERS POLITICAL without supplying a receipt, or if a ACTIVITY DONATION member is required to make a pay- SPAD. SPAD is a separate ment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he or she should not segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purhave been required to make such pay- poses including, but not limited to, ment, this should immediately be furthering the political, social and reported to union headquarters. economic interests of maritime C 0 NS TIT UT I 0 NA L worlc.ers, the preservation and furRIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. thering of the American merchant Copies of the SIU constitution are marine with improved employment available in all union halls. All opportunities for seamen and boat- 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 TIIE UNIONIf at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he or she has been denied the constitutional right of access to union records or information, the member should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is: Michael Sacco, President Seafarers International Union 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20046. �..--------------~-------- ----- -- - - - - -- SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 21 Final Departures DEEP SEA MARLOW C. BARTON Pensioner Marlow C. Barton, 68, passed away February 17. A native of Alabama, he began sailing with the '---==-=---.....l Seafarers in 1947 from the port of New Orleans. Brother Barton shipped in the deck department. He served in the U.S. Anny from 1950 to 1952. Brother Barton retired in April 1984. JAMES A. BROWNE Pensioner James A. Browne, 76, died January 22. Born in New York, he signed on with the SIU in the port of '-----"-'-""---"--...J Boston in 1953. Brother Browne shipped as a member of the deck department. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Anny from 1940 to 1943. Brother Browne began receiving his pension in August 1984. ARTHUR C. CAMPBELL Pensioner Arthur C. Campbell, 70 "~ passed away February 3. He joined the union in 1960 ' in the port of New Orleans. Brother Campbell sailed in the deck department and completed the bosun recertification course in 1975 at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Born in Nicaragua, he retired in April 1990. CHARLES A. CARR Pensioner Charles A. Carr, 88, died February 16. He began sailing with the SIU in 1947 from the port of New York. Brother Carr shipped in the steward department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Anny from 1942 to 1945. Born in Panama, Brother Carr began receiving his pension in January 1976. LA VERN COATS Pensioner Lavern Coats, 72, passed away February 7. A native of Mississippi, he signed on with the ~=-___!=~ Seafarers in 1953 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Coats shipped in the engine department. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Brother Coats retired in January 1983. JUAN A.G. CRUZ Pensioner Juan A.G. Cruz, 71, died February 3. Born in Puerto Rico, he began sailing with the union in 1948 from the port of New York. Brother Cruz sailed in the engine department and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School. He began receiving his pension in January 1984. JAMES M. EDMONDS Pensioner James M. Edmonds, 74, passed away February 11. Born in South Carolina, he signed on with the Seafarers ==::;::.=-== in 1951 in the port of Mobile, Ala. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Edmonds retired in March 1986. FLORIAN J. GLINSKI Pensioner Florian J. Glinski, 70, died January 13. A native of Wisconsin, he joined the SIU in 1944 in the port of -···-· New York. He shipped in the deck department. Brother Glinski began receiving his pension in August 1981. ISIDRO GONZALEZ R-:'::iiii•llllll~:-"-'l Pensioner Isidro Gonzalez, 84, passed away January 21. Brother Gonzalez began sailing with the Seafarers as a charter member in 1938 from the port of Philadelphia. He shipped in the steward department. Brother Gonzalez retired in December 1971. ALGERNON B. GRIFFITH Pensioner Algernon B. Griffith, 77, died February 19. He joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Baltimore and '----=::..=....:-_J sailed as a member of the steward department. Born in British Guiana, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He began receiving his pension in November 1982. DELOSS C. HARMAN c;;;--.iiiiiiiiiip;;;;;;;;;;;;;;~;;;oi Pensioner Deloss C. Harman, 72, passed away January 24. A native of Pennsylvania, he began his sailing career -==..=:---"---_J with the union in 1952 in the port of Mobile, Ala. He shipped in the engine department. Brother Hannan retired in November 1984. THOMAS N. JOHNSON Pensioner ThomasN. Johnson, 84, died February 6. Born in Virginia, he joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Johnson shipped in the deck department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Anny from 1941to1945. Brother Johnson began receiving his pension in May 1975. JAMES H. MOORE James H. Moore, 67, died December 27, 1994. Born in Washington state, he signed on with the SIU :......_.=== in 1956 in the port of Seattle. Brother Moore sailed in the deck department. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1943. WILLIAM J. MULLINS WilliamJ. .,,,, · Mullins, 40, ' passed away December 23, 1994. Anative of Texas, he joined the Seafarers in 1974 in Port ~~~......::._..=::!~=i Arthur, Texas. He also completed the Lundeberg School's training course for entry level seamen that year. Sailing in the deck department, Brother Mullins upgraded regularly at Piney Point. ALEXANDER R. NOBLE Pensioner Alexander R. Noble, 89, died October 20, 1994. A native of Australia, he began sailing with the ~----' Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1937, before that union merged with the SIU' s AGLIWD in 1978. He last sailed on the SS Monterey in 1962. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Brother Noble retired in February 1963. CARMELO RIVERA Pensioner Carmelo Rivera, . 77, passed ·· away January 17. Born in Puerto Rico, he joined the ,-~ Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of Wilmington, Calif., before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Rivera began receiving his pension in April 1982. JUAN RODRIGUEZ Pensioner Juan Rodriguez, 87, died Februaiy 23. He signed on with the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of Bal===--....==:!=..... timore. Brother Rodriguez shipped in the steward department. A native of Puerto Rico, he retired in July 1974. I ISOM SAULSBERRY SR Pensioner Isom Saulsberry Sr., 89, died December 23, 1994. He joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1944, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Born in Louisiana, Brother Saulsberry retired in December 1966. ROOSEVELT L. SILAS Pensioner Roosevelt L. Silas, 91, died December 18, 1994. A native of Texas, he began sailing with the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1951, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Silas retired in October 1977. J.P. SIMMONS \ Pensioner J.P. Simmons, 77, passed away December 5, 1994. He joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1957 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Anny from 1941 to 1945. Born in Texas, Brother Simmons began receiving his pension in July 1983. CHARLES S. SMITH Pensioner Charles S. Smith, 77, died February 14. Born in Louisiana, he began his sailing career with the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Smith shipped in the steward department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945. Brother Smith retired in May 1983. JUANM.SOTO Pensioner Juan M. Soto, 81, passed away February 11. A native of Puerto Rico, he signed on with the SIU in 1942 in the port of New York. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Soto began receiving his pension in March 1969. ROBERT STRONG Pensioner Robert Strong, 83, passed away June 24, 1994. Brother Strong joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1942, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. He began receiving his pension in November 1972. WILLARD J. TAYLOR Pensioner Willard J. Taylor, 68, passed away February 28. Born in Pennsylvania, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1947 from the port of Philadelphia, Pa. Brother Taylor shipped in the deck department. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. Brother Taylor began receiving his pension in July 1991. MARCUS THOMAS Marcus Thomas, 54, died February 8. A native of Illinois, he signed on with the SIU in 1966 in the port of New Orleans. He then completed the Lundeberg School's training course for entry level seamen. Brother Thomas shipped in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Thomas served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1958. TEODORO VALERIO Pensioner Teodoro Valerio, 58, died February ,, 12. He signed on with the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Valerio sailed in the deck department. Born in Honduras, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Brother Valerio began receiving his pension in September 1994. HOWARD M. WEBBER Pensioner HowardM. Webber, 67, passed away February?. The Ohio native began sailing with the SIU in -=~= 1946 from the port of New Yorlc. Brother Webber sailed in the deck department and upgraded regularly at the Lundeberg School, completing the bosun recertification program there in 1980. Brother Webber retired in 1990. INLAND ROBERT L. ARTIOLI ill Robert L. Artioli m, 41, died January 21. The Florida native signed on with the SIU in 1981 in the ' port of Jacksonville, Fla. Boatman Artioli sailed in the deck department as a mate and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1972 to 1974. < RICHARD H. DIX Pensioner Richard H. Dix, 65, passed away January 30. Born in Virginia, he " ' joined the ~. ,.~ Seafarers in ~~~~-""" :.~..t~~':...J 1962 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Dix shipped in both the engine and deck departments. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1958. Boatman Dix began receiving his pension in November 1991. BEVERLY SUE HARRIS Beverly Sue Harris, 46, passed away February 27. Born in Tennessee, she joined the Seafarers in 1980 in the port of Houston.A member of the steward department, Sister Harris last sailed as a chief cook. GREAT LAKES JAMES E. DONER James E. Doner, 46, died January 3. Born in Wisconsin, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1970 from the port of Algonac, Mich. Brother Doner sailed in both the steward and deck departments. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968. - �22 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1995 Lundeberg School Graduating Classes 1st Class Pilot- Inland members graduating from the 1st class pilot course on March 2 are (from left) David Sundling, Thomas Stropich, Jerry Stropich and Jim Brown (instructor). Marine Electrical Maintenance I- Upgrading SIU members completing the marine electrical maintenance I course on February 15 are (from left, kneeling) John Osburn Jr. , Dennis S. Riley, Sean Nolan, (second row) Robert Mayer, John P. Groom, Robert E. Warren, DiMarko L. Shoulders Sr., George E. Hoopes and Mark Jones (instructor). 200 Tons Master/Mate Class-Completing the 200 tons master/mate class on March 2 are (from left) James A. Hebert, Denis W. Abshire, Lionel J. Paul, Larry S. DeWim and Jim Brown (instructor). Power Plant Maintenance- Graduating from the new power plant maintenance course on February 15 are (from left, kneeling) Michael S. Novak, John R. Day, Jorge Bonelli, (standing) Dan Holden (instructor), Glenn Snow and Daniel Boutin. Upgraders Lifeboat- Isidro Palacios (left) 1s congratulated by his instructor, Troy Guber, after completing the upgraders lifeboat course on March 7. HARRY SEAFARERS LUNDEBERG SCH OO L LIFEBOAT CLA SS 534 T - Trainee Lifeboat Class 534- Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 534 are (from left, kneeling) Hector J. Ginel, Scott A. Miller, Oscar R. Torres, Norman Barbosa, Char1es W. Abell, Chad R. Fluharty, (second row) Kevin J. Williams, Jayson D. Miller, Troy D. Garcia, Brian Tessmer, Jason Smith, Cody Roy Lepretre and Bob Boyle (instructor). H£/,/)SfAO sute MA~e: co10~1ss, llEMEM •etl5. CO~f~Uf~ f01'H~ St~~~ Pc1Uf\CAL. )tfloN V6NA11t»J �--------------------------------~~~~---APRIL 1995 SEAFARERS LOG LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1995 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the course schedule for classes beginning between April and September 1995 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. The course schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and-in times of conflict-the nation's security. Please note that students should check in the Friday be/ore their course's start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. Steward Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Assistant Cook/Cook and Baker, Chief Cook, Chief Steward April 7 June 16 August25 June30 Septembers November17 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Com~letion QMED -Any Rating August14 November3 July3 April 17 June 19 June26 Mayl August 7 July 28 April 21 June23 June30 July 14 October20 Junes July7 June30 Septembers Course Start Date Date of Completion Diesel Engine Technology Refrigeration Technician Certification Able Seaman July 31 October20 Fireman/Watertender & Oiler Bridge Management (Shiphandling) April24 July 17 Mays July 28 Deck Upgrading Courses Hydraulics Marine Electrical Maintenance I Lifeboatman July 17 July 28 Limited License/License Peep. July 3 September 25 August 11 November3 Radar Observer/Unlimited April 17 April21 May26 July 14 May22 July 10 August 14 September 25 Third Mate August 18 October29 December 15 August28 Power Plant Mailltenance May22 July 31 April 24 July 17 Pumproom Maintenance Refrigeration Systems & Maint. September 11 August28 Refrigerated Containers Welding Basic Electronics Marine Electronics Aprif 24 April24 May8 Junes June2 August25 Septem~22 October6 May19 May19 June2 June30 All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. Inland Courses Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Advanced Firefighting September 11 September 22 Oil Spill Safety Recertification April27 May25 June22 July 20 September 21 April 27 May25 June22 July 20 September 21 Oil Spill Prevention & Containment August7 Augustll S~Jift Qp~rati~~ ?Jl~ .Maintenance Junes June .30 . April 24 May22 June 19 July 17 May19 June 16 July 14 September l l August14 September8 October6 Course Start Date Date of Completion Bosun Recertification Steward Recertification Mayl Junes July 3 August 7 an er Operations 23 Course Start Date Date of Com~letion Deck Inland May29 August 14 April 10 July 24 April 10 June9 August2S April 21 August4 April21 May12 Designated Duty Engineer/ Limited License/License Prep. Engineroom Familiarization Radar Observer/Inland Welding Electronics May8 May22 July 17 June2 July28 AddHlonal cilurses Augustll Course Start Date Date of Completion GED Preparation Mayl July 21 August22 April 3 NovemberlO May26 Junes July 28 Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language {ESL) Deck and Engine Department College Courses Course Session II Session III Start Date June S Date of Completion July 28 October27 September S ··~·········------------------------------···········-----------------------·-·:·········------------------·-····-············-··--------------------··- UPGRADING APPLICATION Pnmary language spoken (Street) (City) Telephone_..._ __..__ _ _ _ __ With this application, COPIES ofyour discha.rges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourselffor the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page ofyour union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your z-card as well as your Lundeberg School identification card listing the course(s) you ha.ve taken and completed The admissions office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received (Month!Day/Y ear) (ArcaCode) Deep Sea Member D (Zip Code) (State) Dare of Birth _ _ _ _ _-,--_ __ Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member 0 .· COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE If the following infonnation is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security # Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ __ S e n i o r i t y - - - - - - - - - - - - - Department - - - - - - U.S. Citizen: D Yes D No Home Port - - - - - - - - - - Endorsement(s) or License(s) now h e l d - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LAST VESSEL: - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating: _ _ _ __ Date On: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Date Off: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ·, Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? DYes DNo If yes, class# - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? DYes DNo If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? DYes DNo Firefighting:DYes DNo CPR:DYes DNo 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 ha.ve any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETEDAPPUCATIONTO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 4195 �PLANNING A SUMMER VACATION? »: '" ;i. "'" .,.,. .,:;, ' ( y !< v , ~ "'" ' :.:>:.':':~ """ The Lundeberg School can provide you and your family with the makings of a memorable summer vacation. For additional information and rates, see page 11. :% •%:;~~fl*,~ ·fiV@fitota . Volume 57, Number 4 April 1995 Seaman/Poet/Writer/DJ Cushman on Seafaring: 'The Freedoni to Live a Dreani' ... "If I were asked to describe my life as a Seafarer in only one word," AB Michael Cushman told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG, "I would say that word is freedomfreedom to see the world and to live the life of other people's dreams,'' Living life to the hilt comes easily to the multi-talented AB. In addition to using his career as a seaman to visit faraway places, Cushman, a 1980 Lundeberg School graduate, writes prose and poetry, is a parttime disc jockey and bicycles his way around different ports on the Great Lakes. . All his endeavors are possible, he believes, because of the independence being a Seafarer gives him. "Being a sailor is kind of the last job where you can have true adventures," said Cushman, whose first ship, coincidentally, was the Sea-Land Adventurer. "When you sail on a ship, you can go to different places, far away from where you live and have never been before. You can meet different people and fill your life with things that those who have the same routine day in and day out only wish they had the freedom to do," added the AB. "And the beauty of it all is that I get paid." In the last 15 years, the Michigan native has sailed to 18 different countries, as well as to numerous U.S. ports, aboard SIUcrewed tankers, bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off vessels, containerships and tugs. And now, following in the footsteps of his step-father, Cushman sails aboard a cement carrier, the when he met up with the other crewmembers at the Seaman's Club, he enjoyed a camel burger. "It was so good that I had two!" exclaimed the AB. Cushman currently is working on two new books and hopes they will be published. The first is a novel based on the life of a seaman who gives up sailing to become "a type of modern-day Daniel Boone" by moving into the woods and "living the simple life." The second is a manual of money-saving tips designed to be useful for everyone. Poetic Soul Cushman has an extensive collection of poetry he also has written over the years; many of his poems have appeared in the Seafarers LOG. Below is an excerpt from one of Michael Cushman's book manuscripts. The AB writes on many topics that concern seamen. A storm is a fact that all of us as sailors have to deal with in our own way, '!'?stly by ·ust not thinking about it. But when. i~ s ~ouglifi J ut and the ship is in a good roll, it s kind o ~ d not to think about it. Some of the tf:ughts a sailor has in a storm are, what will I do if she breaks up? What about m~ fi ·z ? You think about your life and what it :::;b~~n and what it will be like in the future, if there is a future. When the storm has passed by, you simply thank God and keep on sailing. In addition to his SIU career, which spans deep sea and Great Lakes' sailing assignments and includes experience in all three shipboard departments, Cushman finds time for other pursuits. Those sailing experiences provide the material for much of the seaman 1 s prose. Riding the Air Waves When he signs off a Great Lakes' vessel to enjoy a little down time, the SIU member becomes "Michael J," the 90.l WLSO-FM radio disc jockey who entertains radio listeners in the Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. area with his humorous discussions and musical selections. Known as "Radio Clash," Cushman's show airs out of Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie and combines alternative rock and classic blues. "I began the show to develop my skills as a disc jockey so that I would always have an alternative career if I someday I could not sail," Cushman said. "It also helps pass the time while on the ship and fill the time between sailing seasons," he added. Cushman's audience is relatively small and is made up of college students and local residents, he noted. "I pick the music based on my own tastes and it turns out that it is the same stuff my audience enjoys," he said. Cushman encourages " audience participation" during his radio show through call-in discussions, request lines and by urging local artists to send in samples of their writing and music to be aired. The AB added that such a practice encourages local writers and bands to have their work advertised during radio time which he notes is "free advertising and which is enjoyed by everyone." A Bike in Every Port Recording the Memories - After nine months of construction, the vessel Alexander Kane Cushman was ready to be launched with many hopes and dreams that this vessel will always sail calm seas, yet when stormy, sail brave and strong to the dawn of a clear new day. As this vessel sets to the sea, the sea of life, it's my wish to you that each voyage be filled with happiness ----------------------~--.....-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Medusa Challenger. Cushman has written a series of manuscripts (currently under review by a publishing house) that describe different aspects of shipboard life. When Seafarers are not hard at work aboard ship, there is a lot of time spent alone, miles out to sea, away from any form of civilization, the seaman notes. "I choose to fill that time by writing. It not only passes the time but also helps me get things out and on paper. I write about whatever is on my mind, · but when I write about sailing, my thoughts and words are geared toward the sailors of the world, because we all have a lot in common," he said. Cushman has written a year-long diary of his life as a deckhand. He also has written about his travels and adventures, work on freighters, general maritime information and sailing terms. In one of his manuscripts, Cushman describes a trip through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea and the ship's stopover in several Saudi Arabian ports. In another account, he recalls a time when he and several crewmembers rode in a cattle trailer into the town of Dubai. The seaman even recalls a time when he hitchhiked across the desert to another small town in Saudi Arabia. "It was the first time I had ever been to Saudi Arabia, and after all the work was done on the ship, we had a bit of free time," recalled Cushman. While most of his crewmembers headed for the Seaman's Club, the AB decided he would talce the opportunity to seek adventure. "All I really knew was that the town was somewhere off to the left [of the ship], so I took off into the desert and hitched a ride into town," said Cushman. The manuscript goes on to describe that Through his poetry, the Seafarer often and joy and each adventure describes people and ships as one and the profitable. same. He also writes about events closer to home. A poem entitled "Alexander Kane Cushman's poetry reflects his love of the sea, Cushman" was written for, and about, his his compassion for sailors of the world, and young son and was published in the LOG last the effect sailing has had on his own life. year. It reads: Seafaring DJ rocks Great Lakes with Radio Clash Alexander Kane Cushman (right) frequently visits the Great Lakes vessels with his father AB Michael Cushman. In addition to being a writer and disc jockey, Cushman is known around the ports of Ferrysburg, Detroit and Grand Haven, Mich. for his bike riding. While sailing to different ports on the Great Lakes, Cushman keeps ..a bike in every port" to facilitate his trips between the dock and the town. When the ship is in port and all work has been done, the AB gets on his bike and rides into town to enjoy a few hours of free time before the ship sails again. True Brotherhood of the Sea aywa~. 1t11eadsol1 pally_,.,. lbd1cnntof1f~1Jl 1bc: "Mal<c my doy, plllk" dl>Outy IUny ~ .., ,.. Id loltll<~ ......... - •Budd...allllllltM>piod. . -ByAIMT. . - Y "Michael J" is how AB Michael Cushman is known by radio listeners in the Sault St. Marie area. He has become fairly popular among his audience, as this Charlevoix, Mich. newspaper notes. Dwarfed by the Medusa Challenger's propeller, while the vessel was in the shipyard for routine work, is AB Michael Cushman. While Cushman has many interests, his first love is the sea. "There is a true brotherhood of the sea from ship to ship and across the waters. All mariners look out for one another, just like members of a family do," said Cushman. In fact, just two days after his son was born, Cushman and his new baby, Alexander, visited the crew aboard the Medusa Challenger. 'The guys all love him. We are all like a big family and now Alexander is the newest member. I bring him down to the docks to visit all the time," stated Cushman. Cushman noted that it is this same family-like feeling that he enjoys most about the SIU. "IfI didn't have the SIU, I wouldn't have had the travel, friends or adventures that I have experienced during my sailing years," Cushman continued. He added that he has no plans to stop sailing. "Even if one of my books or a radio show is a big hit, I will never give up my career as a Seafarer. It is a job unlike any other. As a Seafarer you have the power to make of yourself whatever you want to be, and I have made it a job that I love and myself into someone I can be proud of," concluded the seaman/poet/writer/DJ. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1995 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES STUDY FINDS U.S. GOV’T SHIP PROGRAMS RETURN MORE DOLLARS THAN THEY TAKE SHIP BILL HITS HOUSE PANEL SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES LIFTING ALAKSA OIL EXPORT BAN SIU FIGHTS SEA-LAND’S REFLAGGING MANEUVER SENATE WHIP LOOKS FOR WAYS TO RETAIN CARGO PREFERENCE FMC, SHIPPING ACT OF ’84 CONTINUE GAINING SUPPORT PR SHIPPING LINE HAS NEW OWNER SHIPPING RULES AMENDED TO RECOGNIZE UPGRADING ‘NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN’ SAY 5 TOP STEWARDS CONCERNS RESOLVED ON INDEPENDENCE CLINTON ORDER FORBIDS USE OF STRIKE SCABS BY GOV’T CONTRACTORS SIU SEEKS ACTION ON COURT ORDER TO REFUND Z-CARD FEES SEAFARERS BREAK OUT NEW ITB CLARKE ‘DROPS ANCHOR’ AFTER 42 YEARS AT SEA ALTON BELLE CREWMEMBERS PRAISED FOR SPEEDY RIVER RESCUE ATTEMPT SEAFARERS GIVE TOP MARKS TO TANKER SAFETY COURSE SHORTAGE OF SEAMEN EXPOSES NEED FOR AMERICAN MARINERS SAY MARAD CHIEF RUNAWAYS FOSTER PERILOUS CONDITIONS MILD WEATHER, STRONG CARGO DEMAND SHORTEN WINTER LAYUP ON GREAT LAKES THE FREEDOM TO LIVE A DREAM Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1995 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. 57, No. 4 1995 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/a3e93ace86aa6e685ab9f8e905c2328b.pdf 4d3775d289ae52093083e38fa95721cd PDF Text Text Volume 58, Number 4 April 1996 MarAd Head Rebuts Attack on Ship Bill SIU Members Crew First Converted RO/RO Page3 Page3 Proving that being retired does not mean staying home, pensioner Bill Drew heads up the gangway of the Stonewall Jackson to deliver Seafarers LOGsto SIU members when the vessel recently docked in Morehead City, N.C. Besides supplying LOGS, the retired QMED voluntarily provides members with trips to town to acquire personal items or takes them to visit with doctors during the short time ships are docked near his home. ---~ -- · ~ ~-- ----.-- - --.-... .. ... - .... - ~ _.. .- ~~- _,__.._ --- �2 APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG President's Report Lockheed Martin Crews Ratify Jones Act Impact Periodically, forces seek to eliminate the Jones Act- one of America's great assets from an economic and national security aspect. These opponents of the nation's freight cabotage law are generally motivated by their own self interests. The present effort against the measure is being led by someone who has been involved with foreign-flag interests who would benefit tremendously if the Jones Act were altered. Seafarers must understand what the Jones Act is, what it is intended to do as well as how imporMichael Sacco tant it is to the nation and to the membership. First, Seafarers should know the tugs, barges and ships covered by the Jones Act provide the U.S. economy with approximately $15 billion annually in revenues. This figure includes such items as stores, supplies, equipment and fuel used by the vessels and their crews. These are goods that are purchased from American companies by other Americans for use on U.S.-flag vessels. Within that $15 billion figure is the estimated amount of federal income taxes paid by the Americans working on vessels covered by the Jones Act or in shoreside jobs directly related to the 1920 cabotage law. These working men and women provide nearly $1.1 billion each year in federal income taxes. As Congress continues seeking ways to balance the budget, $1.1 billion in government revenues is no small amount - especially when it is noted that the Jones Act does not require one penny of funding from the U.S. Treasury. Over and above the $1.1. billion that goes to the federal government, an additional $272 million in state income taxes are generated annually by these working Americans. As at the federal level, these are much needed dollars to help state governments across the country provide the services required by the citizens of their respective jurisdictions. Another way of looking at the impact of the Jones Act is to realize that nearly 124,000 Americans are employed in jobs that are directly related to the measure. The most obvious of these are the mariners who crew the many . vessels that move cargo between domestic ports. For Seafarers, this includes the Orgulf boatmen pushing loads of grain and coal along the Mississippi River, Great Lakes members moving ore on American Steamship Company bulkers, Higman Towing boatmen transporting petroleum goods along the Texas Intracoastal Waterway, Moran tugboatmen providing harbor services in the Chesapeake Bay, deep sea members working on a Navieras NPR, Inc. containership or union members bringing Alaskan oil aboard a Maritime Overseas tanker to various West Coast ports and others. There are many more people working in shoreside jobs related to the Jones Act fleet. Among them are the workers who repair and maintain U.S.-flag vessels and barges in domestic shipyards, the suppliers who make sure the yards have necessary materials, the chandlers who provide stores and equipment for the vessels, and many more. Another impact of the Jones Act is how it bolsters America's security. The law was created immediately following World War I to ensure America would have a strong shipbuilding infrastructure and merchant fleet to make sure it would not have to depend on other nations to build the ships or to move the goods produced by this country. The Jones Act provides that the United States, and no other government, controls the domestic waterways transportation infrastructure in times of peace and war. It specifies that vessels covered by the measure must be built in American shipyards. The law also makes sure that there are trained American mariners to crew the U.S.-flag vessels activated in times of national emergency, as demonstrated during the Persian Gulf War and, more recently, the peace mission in Bosnia. Environmental safety is another way the Jones Act impacts all Americans. U.S.-flag vessels sailing along America's coastlines, waterways and Great Lakes must meet stringent requirements established by federal, state and local governments. These laws are among the strongest in the world- by far, much stronger than the rules thought up by runaway-flag ship registries. Why is all of this so important? There are forces trying to convince Congress, state legislative bodies and the American public that the Jones Act is no longer needed. These forces are trying to say that foreign crews aboard foreign-flag vessels can do the jobs for less money that are now being performed by U.S.-flag, American-crewed boats and ships. But what these forces fail to say is what the total impact of weakening or killing the Jones Act would be. They fail to say that foreign crews will not pay federal, state and local taxes. They fail to say what will happen to the thousands of Americans removed from their jobs, replaced by exploited foreign crewmembers. They fail to say that, in some instances, foreign crews during the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars refused to deliver needed supplies to American troops. They fail to say that the foreign-flag vessels would not have to meet America's high environmental and safety standards, creating the increased likelihood of accidents and oil spills. They fail to say that foreign-flag vessels cannot provide the same level of quality and efficient service offered by today's U.S.flag fleet. The Jones Act today remains a viable, effective law. That is why the! union will continue its fight together with others in the maritime industry to make sure the Jones Act remains the same strong, important measure it has been since its enactment in 1920. First SIU-Negotiated Contract When the mariners who work aboard Lockheed Martin vessels and in shoreside capacities for the company in Fajardo, P.R. voted to join the SIU, they listed job security and workplace safety as two of their primary concerns. Those issues were targeted by the union's bargaining committee when it tackled contract negotiations with the company. Recently, the bargaining committee -made up of rank-and-file boatmen as well as union officialsan nounced its goal had been reached in a two-year contract unanimously approved by the members. The pact is the first collective bargairung agreement between the boatmen and Lockheed Martin. "It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it," stated Second Mate Rick Rinehart, who served on the bargaining committee along with fellow Seafarers Bill Puhle, Peter Torrens, Samuel Pagan, Osvaldo Cordero, Car1os Figueroa and Roger Figueroa, SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Jack Caffey, Santurce Port Agent Steve Ruiz and Santurce Patrolman Mike Rivera. Ruiz noted that negotiations were lengthy. "It was difficult, but the committee did an outstanding job. They gave up many nights and weekends, time they would have spent with their families," Ruiz observed. "But Among the Seafarers employed at Lockheed Martin in Puerto Rico who unanimously approved their first contract with the company are (front row, from left) Harry Wessel, Samuel Pagan, SIU Port Agent Steve Ruiz, Jose Valentin, Bill Puhle, SIU Representative Mike Rivera, (back row) Carlos Figueroa, Faustino Hernandez and Peter Torrens. the result was job security, a right to voice their complamts and other benefits they didn't have before they got a contract." The agreement calls for monthly safety meetings between the SIU crews and management. It also clarifies job descriptions and establishes a seniority system as well as a grievance procedure. The contract further spells out that the company will provide uniforms (including safety boots) for the crewmembers. The new pact also establishes a break time for the employees and maintains medical and pension benefits. Ruiz observed that the Seafarers "did an excellent job of soliciting input from their fellow members regarding what they wanted in the contract. They all were very com- mitted and professional, and this helped allow everyone to make an informed decision." The crews are employed at the Marine Ocean Engineering Department (MOE) of Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. in Fajardo. The MOE workers maintain and operate several types of vessels which are used to support the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility at the U.S. Naval Station at Roosevelt Roads. Among the ratings that are included in the bargaining unit are chief officer, second officer, second mate, chief engineer, certain classes of marine technicians, basic repairer and repair technician. Also included are facility monitors, who work on shore. Rank-and-Filers Review Union Financial Records The union's financial records for 1995 are in order, according to seven rank-and-file members who reviewed the documents as specified by the SIU constitution. The seven were elected at the March Piney Point membership meeting. They conducted their review at the union's headquarters during the week of March 4. Posing with SIU Secretary-Treasurer John Fay are (from the left) OS John McCain (who served as chairman), QMED Mike Coyle, QMED Dustin Niemoeller, Fay, Electrician John Hoskins, Chief Cook John Bukowsky, Electrician Rich Williams and Chief Steward Alexander Reyer. New Pact Approved at Luedtke in Frankfort. Members of the union negotiating team included Deckhand Dale Leonard, Crane Operator Rich Arnold, Foreman Kevin Hollenbeck, Diver/Welder Randy Johnson, Tugboat Captain Jim FISCher and Tugboat Captain Kenneth Glaser. SIU Vice President Great Lakes Byron Kelley, Algonac Patrolman Tim Kelley and union representative Ken Horner also participated in the contract discussions. Volume 58, Number 4 April 1996 "This was an excellent negotiating team, and we were The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published pleased that we were able to bring monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, back such a good contract to the Gulf,LakesandinlandWatersDistrict;AFL-CI0;5201 members. They voted overAuth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) whelmingly to ratify the pact," 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at Southern noted Vice President Kelley. Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. Luedtke Seafarers covered by ~" POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers the agreement include service LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. truck drivers, firemen, linemen, oilers, welders, divers, rangemen, Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing tankemlen, deckhands, lead deckEditor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, hands, scowmen, engineers, capDeborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Corrina Christensen tains, mates, cranemen, pipelayers, Gutierrez; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, piledrivers, laborers and operators .___ _ _ _ _li_ean_n_e_Ti_ex_r_or._.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' of all types of equipment. More than 50 Seafarers who work for Luedtke Engineering Company of Frankfort, Mich. overwhelmin~ly ratified a new contract that improves wages as weil as medical and fringe benefits into 1998. The pact, which began January 1, included medical care for the spouses and dependents of members who work aboard the company's tugboats, launches, dredges, derrickboats and other types of self-propelled vessels and floating equipment. The SIU members will receive annual wage increases throughout the life of the contract. Also covered in the new agreement were improvements in various working conditions. A series of negotiations took place at the SIU Algonac, Mich. hall and at Luedtke headquarters �APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG MarAd Head Refutes NY Times Editorial Against U.S. Ship Bill As the Senate prepares to talce action on the Maritime Security Act, U.S. Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger strongly rebutted a March 12 New York Times editorial that dubbed the legislation "Unjustified Shipping Subsidies." In a letter dated March 14, Herberger said the bill "is the most cost-efficient and reliable sealift available to the United States for sustainment of cargo carried to our troops abroad." The retired vice admiral, who graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and sailed on U.S.-flag merchant ships prior to joining the U.S. Navy, charged that the New York Times editorial had several inaccuracies, starting with a comment that full hearings were not held. "Your implication that somehow Congress does not have the information it needs to determine tional defense by calling it "quite Since January, SIU members have been training in San Diego that the American merchant simply false. The U.S.-flag meraboard the USNS Shughart, an Army prepositioning vessel very marine is worth saving is contrary chant marine played a crucial role similar to the one shown in the artist's conception above. to the fact that Congress has held in the sustainment of our troops three years of hearings, debated during Operations Desert Shield the bill on the floor of the House and Desert Storm, just as they of Representatives three times have in every conflict we've ever and has received voluminous been engaged in." documents from opponents and Herberger pointed out that proponents of a U.S.-flag fleet several national leaders during supported by the United States the Persian Gulf War-including government," Herberger wrote. General Norman Schwarzkopf, ''This administration and the who led the Allied forces in the previous administration, this war; General Colin Powell, who The first of five SIU-crewed roll-on/roll-off U.S. Army Congress and previous Congres-_ was the head of the Joint Chiefs of prepositioning vessels being converted to U.S. standards foroperases, all have had the opportunity Staff at the time; and President tion by Bay Ship Management is scheduled for delivery this month to examine these issues in depth. George Bush-"praised the impor- following final sea trials. Critics' voices have been echoed tant sealift support provided by the The USNS Shughart, an Army support ship operated by the U.S. in the halls of Congress and their American fleet." He added their Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), will have four Navy arguments have been generously statements "conflict sharply with admirals and 100 Navy inspectors aboard when it undergoes reported in the press." the biased impressions offered by acceptance trials April 16-17. The drills will test the ship's He challenged the notion opponents of the U.S.-flag fleet" maneuverability, the capability of the main propu1sion and In response to the Times' com- auxiliary systems, and the navigation systems, among other funcproposed by the newspaper that the U.S. armed forces no longer ment that the Defense Depart- tions. Delivery is slated for April 30. need the U.S.-flag fleet for na- ment has its own fleet to carry Seafarers in the deck and engine departments as well as memsupplies for U.S. forces, Her- bers of the American Maritime Officers (AMO), who serve in berger informed the newspaper licensed capacities, have been working aboard the Shughart at the The U.S. Ship Bill: that these ships are crewed by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASCO) shipyard in Subject of Many Hearings San Diego since January. The crewmembers have undergone U.S. merchant mariners. The New York Times editorial of March 12 referred to in the article "Without a U.S.-flag merchant extensive training (provided by the Navy) relative to operating the above stated the Senate should have the opportunity to hold fleet, this irreplaceable base of vessel, which is greater than 900 feet in length. hearings on the U.S. ship bill. Foes of U.S. shipping have called Meanwhile, shipyard workers have been converting the former U.S.-citizen seafarers would disfor hearings as well, claiming the version of the legislation before Danish-flag Maersk containership, including fitting it with cranes The cost of full-time appear. the Senate has not been subjected to the hearing process. In his military crews for these ships and RO/RO decks. Similar conversions are being done to two other response to the paper, Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger would far surpass the compara- vessels at NASCO (the USNS Yano and USNS Soderman) and two noted the measure has been the subject of hearings in both the more at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia (the USNS Gortively modest public investment don and USNS Gilliland). House and Senate since 1992. The following is a chronology of action taken by Congress, the Bush administration and the proposed for the Maritime The four converted vessels, as well as the Shughart, will be Clinton White House to secure passage of a U.S. ship bill. Security Program," stated the crewed by SIU members. Last year, MSC awarded a three-year former deputy commander-in- operation and maintenance contract for the vessels to Bay Ship June 1992 Transportation Secretary Andrew Card presents the of the U.S. Transportation Management. Tentative delivery dates for the other ships range chief Bush administration's maritime proposal for a Command, which oversees logis- from Au~ust of this year to April 1997. seven-year, $1.1 billion program to Congress. Senate Merchant Marine SubcommJttee holds hearing. tics for the U.S. military. Captam Cornelius "Mickey" Spillane of the Shughart noted that (Congress adjourns without further action.) Because the U.S.-flag fleethas the Seafarers and AMO members aboard the ship have "made the March 1993 Transportation Secretary Federico Pena meets with been the worldwide innovator of most" of their training. He said the crew actively and intently has representatives from maritime labor, U.S.-flag shipinten.n odal freight movement, participated in both practical training and classroom instruction. ping companies and sh~pbuilders to discuss a poscargo tracking and identification "Training aboard the ship is a luxury we don't normally have in sible Clinton administration maritime program. technology, Herberger argued the merchant marine. Usually, you get the job and go straight to A 10-year maritime revitalization program is introMay 1993 that the military has benefitted work on the ship," the captain observed. duced and becomes H.R. 2151. House Merchant He added that the Shughart's immense size ("it's as big as an and continues to profit from using Marine and Fisheries Committee holds hearing. aircraft carrier") necessitated the schooling. "For instance, the most U.S.-flag merchant vessels. House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee August 1993 clears H.R. 2151 for full House debate and vote. If the U.S. government had to fire stations I'd ever seen on a ship was 32. This one has 118." During their vocational instruction, crewmembers have learned pay to replace what the U.S. comNovember 1993 House passes H.R. 2151 (347-65). During ffoor all aspects of the ship, which will be stationed in the Western debate, House also rejected by 309-109 margin an mercial fleet now provides, "the Pacific. This includes operating the 50-ton cranes, testing the attack on cargo preference laws. Bill sent to Senate cost to the U.S. taxpayer for veswithout funding mechanism. portable ramp (which attaches to the ship for RO/RO operations), sels alone would be at least $450 using various pumps, and operating and repairing the heating, air March 1994 Pena unveils funding mechanism for maritime million per year and could ap- conditioning and ventilation systems. Crewmembers also have revitalization. H.A. 4003 calls for tonnage duties to proach $800 million once the cost utilized the shipboard computer system, from which they can be raised to fund 10-year, $1 billion effort to help fund up to 52 U.S.-flag liner vessels. House Merof providing a total intermodal (among other options) open and close watertight doors, open chant Marine Subcommittee holds hearings. capability is factored in." valves and perform ballasting. April 1994 Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation He added that the Maritime Committee holds hearings on marttlme Security Act being considered by revitalization funding program. the Senate would cost less than House Merchant Marine and F1Sheries Committee May 1994 half of the present program that passes H.R. 4003as10-year, $1.7 bilflon pr~ram to expires in 1997, restrict business help the U.S.-flag merchant fleet and U.S. shipbuilding_ Bill goes to House Ways and Means Committee. less and encourage greater competitiveness. Ways and Means removes shipbuilding component July 1994 Resident Commissioner Car- (H.R. 3020) to drop the island's from H.R. 4003 and sends bill to full House as a The Maritime Security Act out10-year, $1.05billion program designed to aid U.S.lines a 10-year, $1 billion program los Romero-Barcelo (D-P.R.) an- coverage by the Jones Act, the flag vessels. that would help fund approximate- nounced he will not support a 1920 law that states cargo moved August1994 House passes HR. 4003 (294-122) after amending ly 50 U.S.-flag, militarily useful measure introduced in Congress between two U.S. ports must be bill to include shipbuilding funds. Senate Comcontainerships. In return for receiv- last month to exempt the Jones carried aboard U.S.-built, U.S.merce, Science and Transportation Committee holds hearings on 10-year, $1.35 billion legislaing the money, the U.S.-flag ship- Act from trade between Puerto crewed and U.S.-owned vessels. tion. (Congress adjourns without any further action.) ping companies would malce their Rico and the U.S. The Jones Act: Good for America March 1995 House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel begins vessels and facilities available to Romero-Barcelo is elected by See pages 10-11. hearings on 10-year, $1 billion maritime the military in times of national the citizens of Puerto Rico to rep- - - - - - - - - - - - revitalization bill, H.R. 1350. resent their interests in the House emergency or war_ In introducing H.R. 3020, the H.R. 1350 clears House Merchant Marine Oversight May 1995 of Representatives. While he is elected officials said they were filing The House of Representatives Panel, then House National Security Committee. Bill not able to cast any votes for passed the legislation with a is sent to full House for consideration. the bill on behalf of the Puerto Rico strong showing of bipartisan sup- legislation being debated on the legislature which had passed a Senate Merchant Marine Subcommittee holds July 1995 port in December. The Senate is House floor, he is allowed to vote resolution asking this be done. hearings on its version of maritime revitalization legislation, S. 1139. expected to consider the ship bill on measures brought before the H.R. 3020 has been assigned August1995 when its members return to committees on which he serves. to the House National Security Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee clears S. 1139. Bill is sent to full Senate Washington in mid-April followU.S. Representatives Luis Committee. No date for hearings for consideration. ing a break to work in their home Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Jose Serrano has been set. By voice vote, the House of Representatives passes December 1995 The SIU opposes any legislastates. President Clinton has (D-N.Y.) and Nydia Velazquez H.R. 1350 and sends the measure to the Senate, tion, like H.R. 3020, which would (D-N.Y.) offered the bill known stated he will sign the measure which replaces S. 1139 with the House bill. as the Puerto Rico Fair Trade Act amend the Jones Act. when it is passed by Congress. Seafarers Prepare Conrterled RO/RO For Trials, Delivery. .._~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--- PR Delegate Not in Favor 01 Jones Act Exemption 3 �4 APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG Nosac Ranger Crew Protests Distortion In Time Magazine Time magazine featured this photograph of the Nosac Rangertoleadthejournal'sstoryonsubsidiesinitsMarch 25 i.ssue. The ship's op~ratin~ comp~ny, Pacific-Gulf Manne, wrote the magazine to inform 1t that the vessel does not receive federal funds. LEFT: QMED Paul Patterson, working on a valve, says the crew works hard to represent America when overseas. BELOW: AB Mario Cooper operates the deck elevator during the loading of fami equipment to be sent from Baltimore to Europe. PubJ•1cat•ion L•Illk s V esseJ t 0 Su b SI•d•1es When Ship Receives No Gov't Furids When the Seafarers aboard the Nosac Ranger returned to the United States in late March from their regular voyage to Europe, they were greeted with copies of the March 25 issue of Time magazine with a photograph of the vessel, implying it would benefit from the maritime revitalization bill being considered in the Senate. "We don't know why they chose us," noted Steward Gus Carter while the vessel was loading Americanmade farm equipment in Baltimore for delivery to Kazakhstan in the former Soviet Union. ''This ship does not receive any subsidy money." That statement was backed up in a letter to Time by Daniel D. Smith, marine department manager for Pacific-Gulf Marine, which operates the Nosac Ranger as well as the Faust and Fidelio. ''This vessel was neither constructed with subsidy money, nor have its owners ever received one penny of subsidy money from the U.S. government since the vessel entered U.S.-flag service in 1988," Smith wrote. "The Nosac Ranger is crewed by hardworking, taxpaying U.S. citizens who take umbrage with the inference that either they or the vessel owners have been the recipient of U.S. government 'corporate welfare."' In the article, Time used a fullcolor half-page photo beneath a headline of "Why Subsidies Survive." The Great Lakes Seafarers Start '96 Sailing Season Seafarers aboard the Buffalo were the first Great Lakes members to kick off the 1996 sailing season when the 635-foot-long self-unloader sailed from a storage dock on the Cuyahoga River to load iron ore for delivery to a steel mill in Cleveland, Ohio on March 4. The sailing of the American Steamship Co. (ASC) vessel marked the end of the briefest winter layup in the history of Great Lakes shipping, with the last laker coming in for the winter only 17 days before the Buffalo sailed out of its winter port. The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., located between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, opened at midnight on March 25, signifying the traditional begin- ning to the sailing season on the five lakes. However, lingering winter conditions contributed to a difficult beginning to the season. Cold temperatures and large ice fields caused minor delays, but a high demand for steel products on the Great Lakes kept ships steaming. To facilitate the resumption of the season, the U.S. Coast Guard sent the Mackinaw, the largest and most powerful icebreaker stationed on the Great Lakes, through the Soo Locks in advance of the first lakers. The Soo Locks connect the iron ore, coal and grain loading ports of Lake Superior to the lower Lakes. Prior to sailing from their respective winter ports, Seafarers reflected on the traditional open- photo caption read, "Shipbuilders get government support to construct vessels that the merchant fleet may not need." The maritime revitalization bill, known as the Maritime Security Act, would provide $1 billion over a 10year period to help fund approximately 50 U.S.-flag, militarily useful containerships. The companies receiving these dollars would make the ships available to the U.S. armed forces in times of war or national emergency. The bill is being considered by the Senate. "We work hard on this vessel and do our best to represent our country," noted QMED Paul Patterson, who started sailing with the union four years ago after retiring from the U.S. Navy with 25 years of service. SA Will Brown, an 18-year Seafarer from the port of Baltimore, added, "The U.S. merchant marine needs to be supported by the American public. We stand ready to serve our country at any time." The Nosac Ranger is a roll-on/rolloff vessel that transports commercial and military cargo between the U.S. and western Europe. Among its regular ports of call in the U.S. are New York, Jacksonville, Fla., Charleston, S.C. and Baltimore. Across the Atlantic, the vessel makes stops in Antwerp, Belgium, Le Havre, France; Southampton, England and Bremerhaven, Germany. ing of tQ.e sailing season and predicted that the winter weather would cause some delays. ''There is no doubt that we will have a tough time getting out and delivering the first cargoes of the year," noted Coveyorman John Norick, who was preparing for fitout aboard the H. Lee White. "There are a lot of icebreakers out right now and the smaller ones are having a hard time maneuvering through the ice. It is going to take a whole lot of ice breaking. It is hard for any kind of lake vessel at this time of year," said the member, who sails from the port of Algonac, Mich. "Lake Superior is completely frozen over for the second time in 16years but we have a lot of cargo to deliver and I'm sure the Coast Guard will be out in full force," added Norick. According to Glen Nekvasil, communications director for the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), which monitors the action ofU.S.-flag shipping on the Great Lakes, the Coast Guard has been working around-the-clock since the beginning of March to break up ice on lakes Superior, Huron, · ~···J lJ Offering· freshly baked eclairs to a crewmember is Chief Steward Gus Carter. Michigan, Erie and Ontario. "The Coast Guard has been working non-stop to clear the region of ice so that shipping successfully could resume. They have been doing an excellent job of track maintenance and widening the channels. Everyone should be up and running by midmonth. "We have had some problems but we have had daily meetings with officials from the Coast Guard to decide what order the ships will be going through the locks and lakes. We will still need ice breaking assistance into the beginning weeks of April," Nekvasil stated. Second Cook Doris Sabin is ready to begin another busy sailing season on the Lakes. "It has been a very cold winter but I am ready to go. I think that it is going to be a good year because we have a lot of orders to fill," said the galley gang member who sails aboard ASC vessels. , Vernon Gimpel, who has been busy breaking up ice in the Duluth, MinnJSuperior, Wis. harbor aboard his Great Lakes Towing vessel, checks in at the Duluth hall. �~------------------------------------------~~~~· ~ -- APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG 5 SIU Ferry Crew Honored for Nighttime Rescue in NY SIU members John Willette and Teddy Terzakos recently were honored for their roles in the nighttime rescue of five yacht passengers whose vessel overturned in New York's East River. The Seafarers, who sail aboard the NY Waterway commuter ferry Manhattan, were the first to arrive on the scene when the 50foot motor yacht Other Office capsized on July 13. Captain Willette and AB Terzakos sent a mayday on tbe region's emergency radio frequency as they maneuvered the ferry toward the stranded passengers. They subsequently rescued five of the 38 people before the U.S. Coast Guard and harbor-police rescue boats arrived and rescued the others. There were no serious injuries reported. For their efforts, Terzakos and Willette on February 22 received the Admiral of the Ocean Seas (AOTOS) award, an honor given to only a few people annually. During a ceremony at the Jamestown ferry slip in Weehawken, NJ., the Seafarers also received American flags from Rep. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor on February 12. Besides the congressman, others taking part in the ceremony were SIU Representative Ed Pulver; Arthur Imperatore, owner of NY Waterway; and his son, Arthur Jr., president of the company. "It is said there are no heroes anymore in America, that people will not take responsibility for others," said Torricelli. "Here today is testimony that that is very much not the case." Pulver added, "These men showed outstanding seamanship skills in executing the rescue. They are true examples of the fine men and women who belong to the SIU." Willette and Terzakos (along with personnel from the Coast Guard, fire department and police department) also were honored last year at City Hall by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for their part in the rescue. Terzakos recalled that the rescue began around 9:20 p.m. and received extensive coverage on local television news. "Thank God, my wife slept through the reports, because the initial reports said the ferry had capsized," the AB said. "My mother and nephew also live nearby, and they ran down to the pier to see what was happening." Just six days after the Other • Seafarers Teddy Terzakos (left) and John Willette (not pictured), who crew the NY Waterway passenger ferry Manhattan, are honored for their roles in a rescue during a ceremony February 22 in Weehawken, N.J. Presenting an award for both SIU members to Terzakos is Rep. Robert Toricelli (D-N.J.). Also pictured are Arthur Imperatore, Jr. (second from left), president of NY Waterway; Arthur Imperatore Sr. (fourth from left), owner of the company; and SIU Representative Ed Pulver. Office incident, the two Seafarers saved a local man who attempted suicide by jumping off the Pulaski Bridge and into the East River, some 70 feet below. (He changed his mind after hitting the water. Full accounts of both rescues can be found in the September 1995 issue of the Seafarers LOG.) The Manhattan is one of 13 SIU-crewed NY Waterway passenger ferries. Altogether, they transport approximately 20,000 passengers each day between lower and midtown Manhattan, the Colgate Center in New Jersey and the towns of Weehawken and Hoboken, N.J. Each boat has a capacity of about 400 passengers, travels at an average speed of between 15 and 18 mph and is roughly 100 feet long. Plans for a new, bigger terminal for the ferries recently were announced. Funded through public and private sources, the $27 million project is expected to be completed in approximately three years. Appeals Board Reaffirms 240-Day, 180-Day Trip Action Designates PR, VI for Extended Run, Takes Up Clinic Card Invalidation, Clarifies 1995 Chief Cook Job Rule The Seafarers Appeals Board (SAB) has issued a series of actions and one amendment to a previous action affecting the length of time a member can sail on a ship as well as setting ground rules for invalidating a clinic card and determining job priority for certain steward department positions. The first three actions deal with the length of time a Seafarer is able to sail aboard a vessel. All of the actions and the amendment to a previous action went into effect ifillllediately. Action number 381 alters the shipping rules to state Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are an area outside the continental United States. Any Seafarer who has sailed a U.S.-foreign run aboard an SIU-contracted vessel for the maximum number of days as determined by his or her seniority will not be required to sign off in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. He or she can wait until the ship docks in the first continental U.S. port. To illustrate what the new action means, an "A" seniority crewmember sailing on a containership returning from Europe reaches the 240-day limit when the vessel docks in San Juan, P.R., before continuing to Jacksonville, Fla. Action number 381 allows the crewmember to continue working aboard the ship until it docks in Jacksonville where he or she has to sign off the vessel. Under the change to the shipping rules found in action number 382, a Seafarer whose seniority increases because he or she meets all the elements for a higher seniority while he or she is at sea (and has the higher seniority verified by the SAB) will be entitled to the maximum days at sea as determined by the higher rating. As an example, a crewmember "B" . . . d . b c1aime a JO as a semonty member. ThisSeafarerisatseaon this samh~job when he or she'~Aa~ enoug ttme to move up to an seniority. Because ofaction number 382, the crewmember may stay aboard ship and retain the position for the length of time he or she would have received had he or she shipped out originally with an "A" seniority. Action number 383 reaffirms the provisions found in earlier acf tr . th . wn~ ou0 ;n~ng ~ tmaxm:,um num e! ays a mem ers may sail aboard a contracted vesF "A" · · b se1· or~ semonty mem er, the maximum number of da.ys remains 240 or one roundtnp, whichever is longer. For those holding a "B" seniority, the figure stah~shat 180.d~ys or one roundtrip, w IC e~e! IS onge~. . f . ~ovlSlo~s for mvalida mg a clime card issued f: d. . .by a Seafarers W ~lfare Pl an c1true are ioun m action number 384· A clinic card may be ruled invalid if a Seafarer provided false information in order to obtain a clinic card, if full ~edical.disclosure was not provided dunng a medicalex~atio~ori!~member possessmg a vahd chmc card is found unfit for duty for seven or more days. The amendment to action number 375 (which originally appeared in the April 1995 issue of the Seafarers WG) gives priority in each class of seniority for Chief Cook and Cook and Baker jobs to tho se steward department Seafarers who have graduated from advanced classes on those subjects offered by the Seafarers Harry Lunde berg School of Seamanship. In the event no one with such certification is avail- able to claim the job, priority in each seniority is given to a galley gang member who possesses a certificate in the Chief Cook or Cook and Baker ratings from the school. In both cases, the Seafarer has to be registered in Group I, Steward Department. The SAB is composed of representatives from the union and h its contracted operators. T e complete text of each of the actions and the amendment to an action is printed below. Action #381 Wh th . t t if th . ~reas, ~ m en <! . e provisions 0 f Article IX Shipping Rules, Section 2 Rule 2 · G. l ., 2.G.19. and 2.H. was to ensure equitable rotation of employment according to seniority, and Wh th · t t if th ereas, e men o e Shipping Rules was while offeringequitableemploymenttolimit the adverse impact of such rules on the industry and on the membe rs by providing exemptions as specified in Rule 2.1., Now therefore, the Seafarers Appeals Board hereby declares . IX, thatforthepurposesofArticle Section 2, Rule 2.1. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands shall be considered a separate area, and therefore seamen whose time is up in those ports will not be requiredtoleavethevesselifsaid vessel is scheduled to return to the original area of engagement as provided for in Rule 2.1. Action #382 Amend Rule 1 Seniority, Subsection B 3, by adding the following provision: "If during the period of employment aboard a contracted vessel, a seaman acquires sufficientseatimetoqualifyforahigher seniority classification such as Class "C" to Class "B" or from Class "B" to Class "A," he shall be entitled to the applicable employment provisions specified in Rule 2.G." Action #383 The Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and the various Contracted Employers, hereby takes the following action. Wh b A t. A _ . ereas, . Y c ion 327 .· ' c tion 331 •.Action 361, Action 367, anddActu!n 371 where promulifgate to increase t e amount o time Class "A" seamen could remain aboard their assigned vessels for two hundred forty (240) days or one round trip whichever was longer and Class "B" seamen could remain aboard their assigned vessel for one hundred eighty (180) days or one round trip whichever was longer, and, Whereas, available employment conti·nues at the same hi.gh level, Therefore, the pro~isions pro'!1ulgated by ~AB Action 3 ~ 7• Action 331, ~ction 361, Action 3.67, a_nd Action 371 shall contmue m ~ll force and effect f.or another six (6) months, ~ffec~ive February 12, 1996.at w_h~ch ti"!e emp l oymen t avai la b l l itY w_i l l again be evaluated to dete:n!me whet.her c:r not the. provisions specified m SAB Action 32 7, Action 331, Action ~ 61 • and Action 3~1 should continue or be termmated. Action #384 . . Whereas, the Shipping Rules Cf!rre'!tly provide for the submission, m Ports whe:e .a ~eafar~rs W~lfare Pla.n cl!n.ic is maintame~, a valid clmic card as a requirement for employment, and Where as, the re may be occasion when a clinic card may need to be invalidated by reason of information obtained after the issuance of a clinic card, and/or a subsequent determination of Unfit For Duty status. Now Therefore, effective im- mediately the Rules shall provide for th~ ~nvalidat~on ?f a c~inic card, if information is obtained that false statements were mad~ by the seaman, and or full medical. disclosure. was not. ma_de dunng the medical examination or if the seaman in possession of a clinic card is found to be Unfit For Duty for seven ( 7) days or more. Amendment to Action #375 . Amend Rul~s by .deleting t~e 4~hparagraph '':"Article IX, Shipping Ru_le~ ~ection Preferences an~tr!o~itzes, A 6 · . . Within each class ofseniority in. th.e Stewa~d Depa~tment, priority for the 1ob of Chief Cook or Cook & Baker shall be given to h h t. ose seamen w. o po_sses~ acertificate of certification m such ratingsfrom·theSeafarersHarry Lunde berg School ofSeamanship in the event such program is being offered and that the seaman is registered in Group I, Steward Department.,, and replace with: "Withineachclassofseniority in the Steward Department, priority for the job of Chief Cook or Cook & Baker shall be given to those seamen who possess an advanced certificate of certification in such ratings from the Seafarers Harry Lunde berg School of Seamanship in the event such program is being offered and that the seaman zs registered in Group I Steward Department." ' If no one with an advanced certificate is available, then priority for the job of Chief Cook or Cook & Baker shall be given to those seamen wlw possess a certificate of certification in such ratings from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School ofSeamanship in the event such program is being offered and that the seaman is registered in Group I, Steward Department." ! 1 �6 APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG ABs, Pumpmen Need STCW Certificate by Oct. 1 Other Watchstanding Ratings Have Until Feb. 1997 The U.S. Coast Guard has finalized its rules and announced that all tankermen assistants, ABs, chief pumpmen and second pumpmen who sail in international waters must have a Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificate for a rating forming part of a navigational watch by October 1, 1996. This certificate, for which there is no fee, simply is an identification that supplements a mariner's z-card. It may be secured through the Coast Guard's Regional Exammation Centers (RECs), either in person or through the mail (see addresses below). Other unlicensed personnel-specifically, engine department members with watchstanding ratings-will not need the STCW certificate until February 1997. TheCoastGuardhasnotbegunissuingthe STCW certificates for those engine department personnel. However, the agency will do so in the near future, giving mariners time to meet the deadline. According to Bill Eglinton, director of vocational education at the Paul Hall Center and a regular participant in international meetings leading to last year's amendments to the STCW treaty, it is very important that engine department ~rsonnel who sail as r.umpmen-even 1f they do not have 'pumpman" listed on their z-card-inform the REC that they do in fact sail as pumpmen and therefore need to secure the STCW cer- Discharges or Letter Needed To Qualify as Tankerman-Asst. As of April 1, all ABs and pumpmen who sail aboard tankers must meet the U.S. Coast Guard's grandfather provisions enabling them to sail as tankermen assistants (see chart), as reported in previous issues of the Seafarers LOG. In order to be considered a tankerman tificate before October 1. All Seafarers applying for the STCW certificate by mail should include photocopies of their z-cards, certificates reflecting successful completion of a firefighting course, and discharges or letters proving 90 days'. seatime aboard t~e~s. ~e sure to md1cate t~at the application is for the STCW certificate. Also, ~eep a photocopy of what has been mailed, for personal. ~ecords. ~eafarers m.ay want .to send their mf?rmat10n by certified mail to ensure receipt by the Coast Guard. Due to the workload at the RECs, it is recommended that applications be sent in well before the deadline to ensure you have the certificate by October 1, 1996. If SIU members have any problems in these matters that are not being addressed at the RECs, they may contact Eglinton at (301) 994-0010, extension 5270. Seafarers should note that the STCW form automatically will be issued to mariners who renew their z-cards or test for an upgrade in their rating before October 1. But a mariner who renews a document or license strictly for continuity purposes will not be issued the STCW form until he or she shows proof of being ready to sail. The STCW certificate 1s a letter-size piece of paper listing a mariner's ratings and any applicable limitations including medical waivers. It utilizes terminology to create a universal form of identification as specified by the STCW convention, but it provides the same information found on a z-card. Notice assistant under the grandfather clause, ABs and purnpmen, while aboard ship, must possess discharges or a letter proving at least 30 days' seatime aboard tankers during the last five years. There is no need to go to a Coast Guard Regional Exam Center. Due to a recent change in policy of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Feoruary 1996 Seafarers LOG article on STCW certificates for U.S. seamen is out of date. The February LOG contamed an article stating that all deep-sea mariners who hold a lifeboat ticket must possess an STCW certificate by October 1. Now, according to the latest policy, only active deep-sea members who sail as ABs, pumpmen and tankerman assistants must possess the STCW certificate by October 1. Additionally, engine department members with watchstanding ratings must possess the certificate by February 1997-however, the U.S. Coast Guard has not begun issuing the STCW certificates for those engine department personnel. The Coast Guard modified who is required to hold the certificate by October 1, in order to fully comply with the STCW agreement. Securing an STCW Certificate and Being 'Grandfathered' as a Tankerman Assistant If You Are Then You Need Here's How to Get It An AB sailing any deep-sea An STCW certificate (1denbf1catton) for a rating ship other than a tanker (ex- forming part of a navigational watch by October f, ample: containership) 1996. Go to an REC and show your z-card tnd1cating you possess an AB rating and a lifeboat ticket. Or, you may do this by mail (see listing below). An AB sailing tankers While aboard ship, keep in your possession discharges or a letter proving at least 30 days' seatime aboard tanl<ers during the last five years. You will be considered "grandfathered" for the endorsement.lhe endorsement may be added to the z-card wnen renewed. You do not need to go to an REC. A tankerman assistant endorsement as of March 31, 1996. AND A chief pumpman or second pumpman An STCW certificate by October 1, 1996. The certificate will indicate (Ci) that you hold a rating forming part of a navigational watch, and (b) you possess the rating of lankerman assjstant. Go to an REC and show your z-card plus discharges or a letter indicating at least 90 days' seatime aboard tankers, plus a certificate reflecting successful completion of a firefighting course.* Or, you may do this by mail. A tankerman assistant endorsement as of March AND While aboard ship, keep in your possession discharges or a letter proving at least 30 days' seatime aboard tanl<ers during the last five years. You wilt be considered "grandfathered" for the endorsement, which may be adoed to the z-card when renewed. You do not need to go to an REC. An STCW certificate by October 1, 1996. The certificate will indicate that you possess the rating of tankerman assistant. Go to an REC and show your z-card plus discharges or a letter indicating at least 90 days' seatime aboard tankers, plus a certificate reflecting successful completion of a firefighting course.• Or, you may do this by mail. 31, 1996. • If a member has lost his or her copy of the firefighting course certificate, he or she may call the admissions office at Piney Point, (301) 994-0010, and request a copy. Certificates issued prior to 1989 may not be available. Hall Center Instructors Bring 'Hazwoper' Training To Jacksonville and San Juan More than 100 Seafarers who work for Crowley Maritime in San Juan, P.R. and Jacksonville, Fla. recently completed an on-site health and safety course covering hazardous waste and emergency response (hazwoper). Seafarers who graduated from the course, offered at the SIU halls in San Juan and Jacksonville between January 17 and 25, received U.S. Coast Guard-approved hazwoper certificates. "Our primary goal for the training was to ensure that SIU members are properly informed about the hazardous materials they work around, and with, daily," said Lundeberg School instructor Mark Jones, who along with fellow instructor John Wiegman conducted the sessions. In Jacksonville, SIU members completed an 8-hour hazwoper health and safety/first responder course which primarily covered identification of hazardous materials, use of protective gear and procedures for contacting emergency response personnel. San Juan-area members also were offered the 8-hour course as well as an additional 24-hour hazwoper training session. Those Seafarers who completed the ad- U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers [Address correspondence to: "Commanding Officer (REC), U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Safety Office," followed by the address] 51 0 L. Street Suite 100 Anchorage, AK 99501-1946 (907) 271-6733 or 6735 Customhouse Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 (410) 962-5132 Claude Pepper Building 6th Floor 51 S.W. First Avenue Miami, FL 33130-1608 (305) 536-6548 1440 Canal Street Eighth Floor New Orleans, LA 701122711 (504) 589-6183 455 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109-1045 (617) 223-3040 Battery Park Building 196 Tradd Street Charleston, SC 29401-1899 New York, NY 10004- 1466 (212) 668-6395 (803) 724-7693 Reviewing manuals used during the Crowley hazwoper course at the SIU hall in Jacksonville, Fla. are (from left) AB Randolph Wansley, AB Wade Wansley, Captain Dan Morris and AB Rick O'Keefe. vanced training are considered "hazmat technicians" and are able to handle the initial responses to a hazmat spill. "The more advanced session teaches them how to handle a hazardous materials spill in a safe, professional and efficient manner, whether on board the vessel or shoreside," Jones added. In January 1994, Seafarers in Puerto Rico had to call on such skills when a massive oil spill occurred in the San Juan area after the non-union barge Morris J. Berman broke loose from its line to a tugboat, drifted onto a coral reef and spilled more than 650,000 gallons of oil. More than 200 Seafarers (many of them Continued on page 8 433 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm 1 6767 N. Basin Avenue Portland, OR 97217-3992 Honolulu, HI 96813-4909 (808) 522-8258 (503) 240-9346 1222 Spruce Street 8876 Gulf Freeway Suite 211 Suite 210 St. Louis, MO 63103-2835 Houston, TX 77017-6595 (314) 539-2657 (713) 947-0044 Building 14 2760 Sherwood Lane Coast Guard Island Suite 2A Alameda, CA 94501-5100 Juneau, AK 99801-5845 (510) 437-3092 or 3093 (907) 463-2450 . 1519 Alaskan Way S. 165 N. Pico Avenue Building 1 Long Beach, CA 90802- Seattle WA 98134-1192 1096 ' (310) 980-4483 or 4485 (20 6) 217-6115 200 Jefferson Avenue Suite 1301 Memphis, TN 38103-2300 (901) 544-3297 Federal Building, Room 501 234 Summit Street Toledo, OH 43604-1590 (419) 259-6394 or 6395 ...._~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ �APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG 7 Stewards Espouse Many Benefits of Upgrading Paul Hall Center Courses Enhance Seafarers' Work Speaking from experience, six newly recertified stewards last month advised fellow SIU members that upgrading at the Paul Hall Center is vitally important- not only as a vehicle for individual advancement, but also as a means of helping ensure long-range job opportunities for future Seafarers. Ruben Casin, Jr., Brandon Maeda, Bruce Mesger, Catherine Scott, Stephanie Sizemore and Richard Worobey made their remarks at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. as they accepted certificates documenting successful completion of the five-week class. The course is the highest curriculum available at the Paul Hall Center for Seafarers who sail in the steward department. "I'd like to thank those who have spent lifetimes sustaining this industry, making it possible for me to be here." stated Sizemore, who joined the union nine years ago in Honolulu. "To those of you who are beginning your careers and/or upgrading - whether in the steward, deck or engine department - be assured your goals are attainable through this facility. Our industry deserves our continued efforts to keep it strong and afloat for those who follow." Sizemore also asked her fellow SIU members to consider giving to the Seafarers Political Action Donation, "because contributions to SPAD are essential to keep this industry alive." Echoing those sentiments was Scott, who urged Seafarers "to always remain the best-trained merchant mariners in the world. In order to do that, we must work even harder and change with the times. Upgrading at Piney Point means we can grow with the industry; as you can see, the classes offered here are changing to meet our needs." Scott, whose husband, Matthew, graduated from a recertified steward class last year, encouraged the trainees and upgraders in the audience to participate in the union's political activities. "There are bills that regularly come up in Congress that can dramatically affect our livelihoods," she pointed out. "We have dedicated union officials who do an excellent job keeping track of things in this area, but they can't do it without us. We are the union! Our actions help the officials to help us. Donating to SPAD, writing letters to our senators and representatives, volunteering to help in campaigns for politicians who will work in behalf of our interests these are some of the most important things we can do." 'Set High Standards' A Seafarer since 1981, Maeda reminded the audience that fu11y applying oneself to a course at the Paul Hall Center A frequent upgrader at the Lundeberg School, Bruce Mesger says he is "very proud to be a member of the SIU." will yield the most benefits. ''To realize the greatest potential of each upgrading class, we must take useful advantage of all the school's facilities and tap- into the wealth of knowledge each instructor brings. Each upgrading class i's what you make of it. That is one reason why I encourage all of you to set high standards for yourselves. In the end, it is you who are held accountable for your culinary skills," he said. Maeda, who joined the SIU in Honolulu, also offered special thanks to SIU President Michael Sacco "for reminding me, through your positive thinking and your proven leadership, that there is no giving up, no giving in and no running away." Additionally, he commended Betty Smith, who works in the port agent's office in Piney Point, "for helping me and many others like me, by addressing our special questions with unending patience and a helpful generosity that is sorely lacking in Graduating last month from the Paul Hall Center's recertified steward program are (front many parts of our society today." row, from left) Catherine Scott, Stephanie Sizemore, Ruben Casin, Jr. (back row) Byran Knowledgeable Instructors For Mesger, the Lundeberg School is familiar territory. He graduated in 1978 from the trainee program for entry-level mariners. Mesger stated he believes the school "is really headed in the right direction and open to new ideas. I'm very proud to be a member of the SIU." Of the recertification program, he remarked, "It's a good course with very good teachers. I'm impressed with how knowledgeable and thorough they are." Cummings (instructor), Brandon Maeda, Richard Worobey and Bruce Mesger. Similarly, Casio said he "learned a lot" during the class and that the knowledge will help him do a better job aboard ship. "It's a tremendous school, and the class was exciting. Leaming more about computers, food sanitation, firefighting and CPR were some of the more valuable parts," said Casin, who joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in New York in 1971, seven years before that union merged with the SIU' s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. Ruben Casin Jr. (seated, facing camera) and his classmates practice using computers to order stores. Standing is Karen Kesseru, a Lundeberg School Instructor. Worobey, who joined the SIU in New York in 1976, seemed surprised at how much he learned during the course. "There were so many things in steward recertification that I didn't know," said Worobey, a frequent upgrader. "The whole class was a good experience. This proves once again that when you've got the experience and education from the Paul Hall Center, you're going to do a good job." Many Topics The stewards covered numerous subjects during their studies. They learned new recipes and practiced the most modem cooking techniques via a mix of practical training and classroom instruction. The Seafarers paid particular attention to developing healthy, low-fat menus for fellow crewmembers, as well as exercising the safest food-sanitation practices (see related story). Mainly to assist them when ordering stores, the students received training in the school's computer center. Since many SIU-contracted companies track their stores by utilizing computer programs, stewards normally place orders through the electronic machines (rather than writing them by hand). The SIU' s emphasis on shipboard safety was evident as the stewards took refresher courses in CPR, first aid and firefighting. They also studied and practiced effective communications skills. Another part of the curriculum was <;onti.nued on page 8 Food Sanitation Segment Stands Out Answers varied when the latest graduates of the Paul Hall Center's steward recertification program were asked to cite some of the course highlights. Computer training, thoroughness in covering all subjects, and the excellent condition and usefulness of the school's lecture/demonstration galley were among the responses. But the one topic identified by each of the six stewards as particularly valuable was food sanitation. The Seafarers observed that, because food sanitation is a constant concern, this segment of the class proved quite worthwhile. Executive Chef Allan Sherwin, director of culinary education at the Paul Hall Center, noted the stewards successfully completed a comprehensive test covering food sanitation and prevention of food-borne illness. As a result, they each received a certificate in food sanitation from the National Restaurant Association, as well as one from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. "This is a very intensive part of the course, and the students always are very responsive. We cover food preparation, storage, meat and poultry inspection, danger factors (such as storing and cooking food at appropriate temperatures) and a number of other relevant subjects," said Sherwin. "We try to focus on contemporary issues, which isn't difficult, because there are items in the news about food poisoning almost daily. The students eventually become so in-tune with this issue that they start bringing clips from the news. A recent example was a petting zoo. Kids were petting the animals, then eating (without first washing their hands), then getting sick." How important is food sanitation? Sherwin pointed out that there are more than 20,000 reported deaths from food poisoning in the United States each year. There also are many less severe cases - often misidentified by the sufferer as a 24- or 48-hour bug. Through practical training, discussions and classroom instruction includ- ing videotapes and journal articles, the stewards honed their skills for proper storage, preparation and disposal of foods, Sherwin added. They also received telephone numbers of government agencies that may be contacted with questions or comments concerning food sanitation, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Among the key facts the stewards reviewed is: 90 percent of occurrences of food-borne illness is related to personal cleanliness (such as hand-washing or removing one's apron prior to using a restroom). They also were reminded that the organisms that cause food poisoning are tasteless and colorless; therefore, they primarily are identifiable through the scent of their waste. "Everyone who takes the recertification class wants to protect themselves and protect the rest of the crew," Sherwin concluded. "If they don't, then the results can be disastrous." �8 SEAFARERS LOS APRIL 1996 Burned Filipino Mariner's Ordeal SpoUights Inhumane Conditions Aboard Runaway-Flag Vessels ITF Inspector Steps in to Secure Care The inhumane conditions aboard runaway-flag vessels were evident in a recent grim case of a badly burned Filipino seaman who was denied speedy shoreside medical attention when it was requested. But intervention last month by an International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) inspector may have saved the life of the Filipino mariner, who was hurt in a shipboard accident. Spiro V arras, an SIU representative as well as an ITF inspector, secured much-needed medical attention for motorman Roberto Umali. The mariner had contacted Varras after the vessel on which Umali was sailing, the runaway-flag Nosac Tai Shan, arrived in Elizabeth, N .J. on March 1. The captain initially resisted permitting Umali to sign off the ship, but V arras demanded that the wounded man be let go. Umali sustained bums on his face, neck, chest and arms as a result of an accident last year in the port of Miami aboard the Nosac Tai Shan's sister ship, the Nosac Takayama. (Both ships are Norwegian-owned, Liberianflagged roll-on/roll-off vessels operated by the same company.) He subsequently was treated for two weeks in a Miami hospital before being tr an sferred to a hospital in the Philippines. Umali then underwent several months of physical therapy. But the bums were so severe, they did not properly heal. When Varras met Umali on the Nosac Tai Shan, "I saw that some of his wounds still appeared raw. His arms looked infected," Varras noted. Despite the time elapsed since the accident, the infections (later confirmed by doctors) could have resulted in fatal blood poisoning - specifically, a condition known as septicemia. Anxious to support his wife and their three children, Umali had signed on the runaway-flag ship in spite of his injuries. However, he soon realized that his wounds continued rendering him unfit for duty, so he called V arras. But when Varras brought this matter to the captain's attention, the captain balked at relinquish- ing Umali. "The captain refused because he said the seaman never asked the officers to see a doctor, and he never complained," recalled Varras. Approximately two hours later, at Varras' insistence, the captain agreed to let Umali sign off. The ship agent then transported Umali to a local hospital, where doctors confirmed that the bums were infected. Additionally, physicians there recommended that Umali undergo plastic surgery. Varras later visited the hospital to monitor Umali's progress, but the mariner had been released. He reportedly left with relatives and planned to seek further medical attention elsewhere in the United States, closer to his relatives in California. The original accident took place on the Takayama when the second engineer instructed Umali to light a fire in the boiler. Umali was told to remove the burner, "then he gave me a flashlight to check if there was fuel spilled in the fire case," Umali said in a written report of the accident. "Upon checking, fire shot out of the boiler and burned me." This Roberto Umali's burns were so severe, doctors recommended plastic surgery. He received treatment after Spiro Varras, an SIU ITF inspector, intervened and got Umali off the ship on which he was sailing. took place while the vessel was maneuvering to dock in Miami. The ITF is a London-based federation of more than 400 transportation unions from around the world, including the SIU. Among other activities, it has been fighting to end substandard working and safety conditions found on runaway-flag vessels. ITF Secures Thousands in Back Pay For Crew on Runaway-Flag Ship ras of their respective grievances. Both men wanted to sign off the vessel, but the captain would not let them do so - even though, according to the ITF contract, it was their right. The value of an International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) contract once again was evident when crewmembers aboard a runaway-flag ship recently received thousands of do11ars in back pay as well as repatriation expenses. SIU Representative Spiro Varras, an ITF inspector, met with the crew of the Greek-owned, Cyprus-flag Malvina in New York. "I informed the entire crew (consisting of Greek and Syrian officers and Indonesian unlicensed personnel) about the contracts that were in force. These inc1uded an ITF contract as well as a contract reached through the Greek seafarers' union. Two of the officers then stood up for their rights," recalled Varras. Second Engineer Anastasios Bakaukas and Radio Officer Thanks to ITF intervention, crewmembers aboard the runaway-flag Mohammad Yasin informed Var- Malvina received back wages and repatriation expenses. The second engineer, in addition to performing his duties, had been forced to also do the work of the third engineer. Bakaukas also had not been paid for 92 hours of overtime. Meanwhile, during his eightmonth stint on the Malvina, the radio officer consistently had been paid less than the amount called for by both contracts. The captain initially refused to rectify these situations. When V arras prepared documents to arrest the ship, the captain put him in direct contact with the shipowner. The owner then agreed that Bakaukas and Yasin could sign off the ship. He further consented to pay the second engineer all back wages, including overtime, plus repatriation expenses-a total of approximately $5,000. Similarly, the radio officer received back wages totalling $9 ,464, along with repatriation expenses. "The money arrived from Greece the next day," Varras stated. "Both of the officers received their balance of wages in front of me, and on their request I remained with them until they were picked up for customs and immigration. Many crewmembers thanked the I1F for this success." Seafarers Receive On-Site Hazwoper Training Continued from page 6 working for Crowley) took part in a swift cleanup operation which recovered much of the oil and allowed San Juan Harbor to stay open. Topics covered in the training at the SIU halls in Jacksonville and San Juan (both in the 8- and 24-hour courses) included legal overviews of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and U.S. Coast Guard regulations; basic chemistry of hazardous materials; use and care of different safety and breathing equipment; emergency first aid; sampling techniques; emergency response plans; decontamination; and many other subjects. (As of February 19, 1993, any vessel handling, storing, transporting or lightering oil in U.S. navigable waters must submit a response plan to the Coast Guard. The plan must address notification procedures, spill mitigation procedures, shorebased response activities and a list of contacts, among other things. As of August 19, 1993, any such vessel not operating under a plan may not transport or handle oil in U.S. waters.) Seafarers who have completed the courses should be able to identify the hazardous material, monitor the danger level, select and use the appropriate safety gear (such as boots, gloves, protective suits, etc.), contain the spill (whether the hazardous material is only on board the vessel or also is in the water), and identify the solution needed for decontamination of the equipment. According to Jones, the hazardous material may be any one or more of thousands. "We cover how to handle just about any dangerous material there iseverything from cleaning solutions to highly flammable gasses," the instructor noted. Jones pointed out that the information presented to the SIU members in both locations should be useful to them on a daily basis. San Juan Port Agent Steve Ruiz noted that the training "was outstanding and the participation incredible." No Overtime Pay Benefits of ITF Contract The ITF is a London-based organization of the world's transportation unions, of which the SIU is a member. Its contract establishes wage rates that meet international standards and helps ensure that crewmembers are paid in a timely manner. It also provides for overtime and holiday pay and manning according to ITF policy. The contract further includes a cJause for free medical attention, sick pay, a death benefit, disability insurance and other benefits. Stewards Emphasize Upgrading Continued from page 7 question-and-answer sessions between the students and representatives of the Sill's contracts, communications, government affairs and welfare, training, vacation and pension fund departments. These sessions are designed to enhance Seafarers' understanding of their union's operations; they also provide upgraders with the latest information from each department so it may be relayed to crewmembers aboard ships. Additionally, during a visit to SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md., the stewards met with SIU President Michael Sacco and SIU Executive Vice President Joseph Sacco to review matters of importance to the union and the maritime industry. Scott summarized the importance of upgrading when she said that the purpose of such courses is to enhance Seafarers' performances on ships. "It's important that we apply what we learn at the school, because [mariners on U.S.-flag ships] are constantly scrutinized. We need to prove ourselves every day in order to keep the jobs and wages we have, as well as to give us the power to gain more ships and more jobs," she said. �APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOB Come to Piney Point and Experience The Wonders of Southern Maryland waterfront village and harbor that Monastery. Two of the seven This is the land where as history books explain, General colonists sent by the second Lord has numerous restaurants and uni- original buildings belonged to the Smallwood was such an inBaltimore in 1634 established the que shops. first convent of religious women dividual. fourth permanent settlement in Guests to the island can visit in the original 13 colonies. While Southern Maryland British North America. the renowned Calvert Marine In White Plains, Seafarers can may capture the hearts of many Today the site is an 800-acre Museum, where the maritime his- take their children to visit the Pis- Seafarers and their families when living history museum complete tories of the Patuxent River and cataway Indian Museum where ex- enjoying a Piney Point vacation, with authentically costumed inter- the Chesapeake Bay are revealed. hibits, displays and a trading post there are still many more sights to preters who make the past come While traveling on through preserve the American Indian cul- behold outside of the historic alive in a reconstructed 17th-cen- Calvert County, vacationing ture. region. here black-eyed tury village. In Marbury, families can pay a Seafarers can stop at the Jefferson Baltimore and Annapolis, both Susans can be While activities of the historic Patterson Park and Museum lovisit to the former plantation of large and fascinating Maryland found growing in city are continuous from March cated in St. Leonard. William Smallwood, a Maryland cities, have many more interesting abundance along through November, notable fesSituated on 512 acres of land patriot leader during the era of landmarks and summer festivals picturesque tivities are conducted during the on the Patuxent River and St. the Revolutionary War. and fairs. Also, the nation's capicountry roads and where history summer months. Leonard Creek, the park is an en- "Smallwood's Retreat," the name tal of Washington is only a 90has been preserved so that Charter Days: June 15-16. vironmental preserve with more of the plantation house, is the minute drive from the center. modem-clay explorers can step Vacationers can partake in the an- than 70 archaeological sites highlight of the park. The entire However, it will take more than a back into colonial times, this is documenting many years of nual celebration of Maryland's weekend--and even more than estate reflects the lifestyle of a where Seafarers will find a vacafirst constitution complete with Maryland's rural history. Families Southern Maryland "gentleman" one week- to take in all the tion land that will provide enjoyperiod dress, drink, food and are bound to find the museum ex- and planter of the late colonial sights and happenings surroundment for the entire family at the entertainment. hibits, archaeology, nature trails and early national period because, ing the Paul Hall Center. Paul Hall Center for Maritime Tidewater Archaeology Dig: and wagon tours exciting. Training in Piney Point, Md. July 27-28. Visitors can exWith no point in the county Located in historic St. Mary's perience hands-on archaeological being more than five miles from County in Southern Maryland, opportunities at the site of navigable water, Seafarers can try Seafarers vacationing at the Paul Maryland's first capital. charter boat fishing and venture Hall Center need only step outSt. Mary's Governor's Cup onto the Chesapeake Bay in side of the facility's gates to disYacht Race: August 2-3. Located search of a big catch. cover the beauty and splendor on the St. Mary's College Or, just south of Prince that the region has to offer. waterfront in St. Mary's City, Frederick, the county seat of CalFishing, swimming, sunning, Seafarers and their families can vert County, families can visit Batboating, picnicking and exercising witness the largest overnight tle Creek Cypress Swamp are just a few of the fun.filled ac- yacht race on the East Coast. Sanctuary where sabertooth tigers tivities available for Seafarers stayand mammoths roamed the While St. Mary's City may be ing at the Paul Hall Center, fascinating, it is only one of many Maryland swamps of 100,000 which is nestled on the hanks of places Seafarers and their families years ago. The 100-acre sanctuary St. George's Creek. protected by Maryland Nature can visit in St. Mary's County. Offering affordable accomConservancy contains one of the In one of Maryland's first inmodations and satisfying meals, northernmost significant stands of dustrial districts, Great Mills, the maritime center is an ideal esSeafarers can discover Cecil's Old bald cypress tress in North cape from everyday life. America. Mill. While there is little need to While Seafarers may be fasBuilt in 1900, the mill now is journey outside of the peaceful 60cinated by the happenings and acre waterfront site that the Paul home to more than 60 local artisans and craftsmen who display sites available in St. Mary's and Hall Center calls its own, there Calvert Counties, the spectacular and sell their exceptional work. are numerous recreational and mix of beauty and history conAt Point Lookout State Park sightseeing opportunities for histinues when one ventures a bit in Scotland, Md. Seafarers and tory lovers to relish. further and crosses the county their families can visit the With the Potomac River to line into Charles County. museum exhibits depicting Point the west, the Chesapeake Bay to Lookout's role in the Civil War. the east and the Wicomico and Charles County Two monuments at Point Patuxent rivers splitting it in the Charles County prides itself Lookout Confederate Cemetery middle, Southern Maryland was with four state and five county show where Confederate borne of and is still ruled by a life parks. If fishing is a passion, naprisoners are buried. Also part of and love of the water. tives relate that the county has the state park are the remains of The counties of the area, St. the best bass fishing in the world. Fort Lincoln which was built by Mary's, Charles and Calvert, Among the area's highlights, of war Confederate prisoners boast many summer festivals, Charles County claims the circaunder Union supervision. celebrations and wondrous sites 1650 village of Port Tobacco. The not to be missed by vacationing Calvert County preserved village is one of the Seafarers and their families. oldest communities on the East Adjoining St. Mary's County St. Mary's County Coast and existed as the first Inacross the Thomas Johnson In walking distance of the cen· Bridge over the Patuxent River is dian settlement of Potopaco, a major seaport in the 17th-century. ter, Seafarers can enjoy a picnic at Calvert County. Once over the bridge, Not far from the historic vilthe tables surrounding the Piney Seafarers can stop and enjoy lage, in La Plata, vacationers can Point Lighthouse. Solomons Island, a quiet visit the 1790 Mt. Carmel Dating back to 1836, the unique tower-design lighthouse was the first permanent lighthouse r 4196 built on the Potomac River. It is Vacation Reservation Information the only remaining accessible lighthouse in its original location in Southern Maryland. Seafarers need only drive a Social Security number: _____________ Book number: _______________~ few more minutes down the country roads of St. Mary's CounAddress: _________________________________________ ty to retrace the footsteps of the first settlers in Maryland's earliest seat of government: St. Mary's City. W --.. SEAFARERS-TRAINING &RECREATION CENTER- Telephone number: _____________________________________ UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School is limited to two weeks per family. Member $40.40/day $ 9.45/day Spouse $ 9.45/day Child Note: There Is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed above include all meals. Numberinpa~/ages~children,~appl~ab~:-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date of arrival: 1st choice: _ __ 2nd choice:. _ __ Date of departure: ___________ 3rd choice:. _ __ (Stay is limited to two weeks) Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. L---------- ____ _ __ _ _ _J g �10 APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG The Jones Act: Cabotage Law Works for All Americans Each day in the United Senator Wesley Jones (for States an average of nearly 2.7 whom the Jones Actis named) mill ion tons of cargo is moved of Washington told his fellow on U.S.-flag vessels covered senators, "Nations are not free by the 1920 cabotage law, bet- that depend on foreign fleets ter known as the Jones Act. to carry their products and The importance of the bring them their supplies." Jones Act can be seen when A strong supporter of a lookingatamapoftheUnited U.S.-flag merchant fleet, States. A total of 23 states Jones was recalling what haphave a shoreline along the At- pened to America only a few !antic Ocean, Pacific Ocean or years earlier. Gulf of Mexico. Eight states At the tum of the century, are located on the banks of the American producers and Great Lakes. More than half of storekeepers depended heavithe 50 states have rivers, lakes ly on the British merchant and harbors that make up the fleet to move their goods. nation's 25,777 miles of However,theAmericanswere navigable waterways. forced to pay higher rates to Found in Section 27 of the transport their wares when the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, British fleet was called into the Jones Act states that cargo service to assist that nation's destined from one domestic troops during the Boer War in port to another must be moved South Africa in 1899, then aboard a U.S.-crewed, U.S.- again to support the forces built and U.S.-owned vessel. fighting in Europe during . - - - - - - - - - - - W o r l d War I (1914-1918). Jones foresaw a future Did you know... where privately owned That 87 percent of all ship- American steamship lines board employment oppor- wouldinstituteregularservice tunities for U.S. merchant to move American goods. mariners comes aboard ves"Our shipowners and ship operators must be placed as sels covered by the Jones Act? nearly as possible on an equity in operating costs and operating conditions with their competitors," Jones stated during Did you know ... the debate on the 1920 That 97 percent of all U.S.- measure. "Unless proper steps flag waterborne commerce are taken to do these things, it will be but a short time until comes from vessels covered our fleet will be dissipated and by the Jones Act? our flag driven from the sea, and we will again be in the same dependent and humiliating position we were before Did you know ... the war." That the Jones Act applies National Security Aspects to maritime commerce beToday, the Jones Act contween the U.S. mainland and tinues to provide for the naPuerto Rico, the U.S. mainland tional security in a variety of and Hawaii and Guam, and ways. Besides confirming the domestic ports on the Great fact that all vessels plying the Lakes as well as river traffic nation's waterways are and harbor tugs within the bor- American owned, it answers the call issued by Senator ders of the U.S.? .....___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___.Jones in 1920tocreateastable For more than 75 years, the investment climate for Jones Act has guaranteed that American shipbuilders and American crews operated the ship operators. FromtheranksoftheJones vessels on the nation's waterways, ensuring that the boats, Act fleet come trained ships and barges met the high American mariners to crew safety and environmental the nation's Ready Reserve standards set by the U.S. Force (RRF) vessels. These government. The law also has ships are docked in various provided the U.S. armed for- ports around the country and ces with the security that are activated in times of war or trained American merchant national emergency. RRF mariners would be available ships recently were called to to crew U.S.-flag ships in action during the Persian Gulf times of national emergencies War as well as during the military efforts in Haiti, or war. Somalia and Bosnia. Build Up U.S. Fleet To show how much things When the Jones Act was have changed since the beginenacted, the United States had ning of the 20th century, U.S.just finished its involvement flag vessels were used in in World War I. The Merchant December 1995 to move Marine Act of 1920 sought to British troops and supplies to Bosnia because the United address some of the problems dealing with the U.S.-flag Kingdom did not have the merchant fleet during the war available ships in its dwindling fleet. A recent investigayears. tion by the British parliament, One of the problems was that America's merchant fleet which has repealed much of was woefully unprepared for that nation's cabotage laws, war in Europe. The nation em- revealed its merchant fleet barked on a major shipbuild- was not capable of supporting a military operation. ing program. With regard to shipbuildDuring the debate on the ing, the domestic fleet covered Merchant Marine Act of 1920, U.S. Oabotage Routes by the Jones Act is expected to create 70 percent of the future construction opportunities within U.S. shipyards. This will ensure that skilled labor and technology stay in the U.S. and can be called upon in times of crisis. All States, Territories Impacted Because the Jones Act stipulates that U.S.-flag vessels ply the nation's waterways, the towns and villages along the oceans, lakes and rivers are assured that the vessels and marine equipment operating near their communities meet stringent U.S. safety and environmental laws. Safety and environmental laws are not the only way the 1920 law affects every state as well as the U.S. offshore territories. Besides covering the waterborne commerce on America's inland waterways, the Jones Act also covers the movement of goods along the nation's Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coastlines. Goods transported between the continental United States and Hawaii and Alaska fall under the measure's jurisdiction as does trade between the U.S. and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and Guam in the Pacific. But how can the Jones Act play an active role in the economies of such landlocked states as Nebraska or Montana? First, American mariners come from all over the United States. The income they draw from working on U.S.-flag vessels allows them to buy groceries, clothing and other staples from local merchants, keep money in a local bank, and pay state and local taxes which support schools, highway construction and other needed projects. However; each state benefits in another way. Jones Act vessels, along with surface transportation modes, carry goods that originate from all states and take finished products back. These products include such items as coal, petroleum goods, lumber, grain, iron ore and much, much more. Cabotage Found Worldwide Cabotage laws are not unique to the United States. A survey conducted by the Maritime Administration (MarAd) of 57 maritime nations revealed 47 countries had laws on their books restricting foreign access to their domestic trades. Among the nations who responded to MarAd that they have cabotage restrictions, crewing. requir~~ents and ow~ersh1p restnct10ns were Chma, Fmland, Greece and Japan. . . Other nat10ns-bke Germany, South Korea and Sweden-:state~ t~ey l~mited cargo earned w1thm.theu bo.rder~ to vessels registered m their country. () Q I HAWAlr I GUAM & Jones Act Was Created to Ens While the Jones Act is not the only law governing the movement of goods between U.S. ports, it is probably the best known. The Jones Act is the common name for Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. It has been dubbed the Jones Act because it was sponsored by Senator Wesley R. Jones, a Republican from the state of Washington. (The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 called for the promotion and maintenance of the American merchant marine. It also sought to create a strong shipbuilding industry within the country.) After World War I, Jones, who served as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, sought to make America free from dependence on rapacious foreign shipping by having a U.S.-flag merchant fleet play a major role in world trade. The senator saw this period as "a splendid time to unshackle ourselves ... to promote our welfare in the world's readjustment." In proposing and supporting Section 27, Jones took up the suggestion ofW.S. Benson, chairman of the U.S. Shipping Board, the forerunner of today's Maritime Administration. In a letter dated April 19, 1920, Benson advised Jones, "Unless our coasting fleet be wholly and unequivocally owned by loyal United States citizens, it cannot be rated a dependable unit in time of national emergency. Suchdependabilitymustalways be insured, and this can only be ac percent bona fide Americ our coasting trade." When Jones proposed t 1920MerchantMarineAc criticism from abroad. Jones responded by n and the government had t attack: "We are entering no br seeking our part of the wo and foul will be used to d be made upon us from eve the cheek will win. We m to maintain ourselves, and be used to advance." The amendment was ac overall measure. The Jones Act was a cabotage bills enacted by in 1789. In fact, nine oft Congress in its initial ye What follows is a brief affecting the U.S. coastal the United States: 1789 - Duties are re imported aboard U.S.-flag 1791- U.S.-flag vess �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 Cabotage Laws from Around the World and Waterways Country Algeria Argentina x x x Canada Chile x Belgium China Colombia x x Denmark Greece x x x x x x Honduras x Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x India x x x Indonesia x x Italy x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Ivory Coast Japan Malaysia Malta omplished by making 100 U.S. citizens in American shipyards and commanded by ownership the only key to an American. 1793 - All vessels in the domestic coastal trades are cabotageamendmenttothe required to be U.S.-flag, U.S.-owned vessels. 1793 - Foreign-flag fishing vessels are prohibited the measure received strong from landing any part of their catch in U.S. ports. 1817 - Goods carried from one U.S . port to another ting the maritime industry stand together to repel the by a foreign vessel are subject to forfeiture. 1866 - Foreign vessels are prohibited from taking herly love Sunday School in cargo from one U.S. port to a foreign port, then having it d carrying trade. Fair means shipped to another U.S. port by amending the 1817 law. 1874- Foreign-built fishing vessels are prohibited feat us. Fierce assaults will angle. No meek turning of in domestic fishing. 1886 - Foreign vessels are prohibited from carrying st fight back and fight hard very honorable means must passengers from one U.S. port to another. 1892 - Foreign vessels are allowed to register epted and became part of the under U.S. flag only if owners build an equal amount of tonnage in U.S. shipyards. Formerly foreign-owned culmination of a series of vessels are prohibited from trading in U.S. domestic e Congress since it first met commerce. 27 laws passed by the first 1893 - Reinforced 1866 amendment against split dealt with maritime issues. voyages after the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the ·story of the various laws act. 1898 - All vessels engaged in domestic trade must ades since the beginning of be built in U.S. shipyards to American specifications. uced 10 percent on goods Owners must be Americans. 1920 - Movement of domestic cargo is limited to essels. s are required to be built by U.S.-owned, U.S.-crewed, U.S.-flag vessels. x Ownership Restrictions x x x x Hungary e Dependable Merchant Fleet x x x x Bahamas Bulgaria RIGO x x x x Brazil PUERTO Crewing Requirements x x Australia UN lTED STATES Cabotage Restrictions Mexico x x x x Netherlands New Zealand x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Nigeria Norway Peru Philippines Poland Romania Saudi Arabia South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand United Kingdom Uruguay USSR Venezuela Yugoslavia x x x x Source: U.S. Department of Transportation x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 11 �12 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or _Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members who recently ~retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days ahead. A 50-year veteran of the engine department is among the 14 Seafarers who are announcing their retirements this month. George Elot Jr. began sailing with the SIU in 1945 from the port of Norfolk, Va. He is one of five pensioners retiring this month who sailed the deep seas. Of the others. three each navigated the inland waterways or sailed the Great Lakes or worked in the railroad marine division. Calif. Brother Capito sailed in both the deck and engine departments. Born in the Philippine Islands, he makes his home in California. RAMON DeLaPAZ, 65, started sailing with the SIU in 1957 in the port of New York. Born in Puerto Rico, he sailed as a member of the steward department. Brother DeLaPaz has retired to New York. GEORGE ELOT JR., 69.joined Among this month's the retirees, Abdul R. Hassan comSeafarers in 1945 in the pleted the steward recertificaport of Nortion course at the Lundeberg folk, Va. School. This course offers the ~----~ The Illinois highest level of training for native sailed in the engine steward department members at department and upgraded to the Piney Point, Md. facility. QMED at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Seven of the retiring Brother Elot resides in New Seafarers served in the U.S. military - six in the Army and York. one in the Navy. EMMANOUIL HALKIAS. On this page, the Seafarers 61, began sailing with the SIU LOG presents brief biographiin 1962 from the port of New York. Brother Halkias shipped cal accounts of this month's in the deck department and pensioners. upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Born in Greece, he has DEEP SEA retired to his native country. PATRICIO CAPITO, ABDULR. 65,began HASSAN, his career 65. started with the sailing with Seafarers in the 1974 in the Seafarers in port of Wil1966from mington, the port of New York. A member of the steward department, Brother Hassan upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School and completed the steward recertification course there in 1982. Born in Malaysia. he now makes his home in Florida. INLAND JACKA. COOLEY, 62,joined the SIU in 1968 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Missis._____ _ _ ___, sippi native worked as a crane operator primarily for Dravo Basic Materials, formerly known as Radcliff Materials. Boatman Cooley has retired to Alabama. WILFRED POPOUR, 62, started his career with the Seafarers in 1977 in the port of Jackson ville. Fla. after serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy. A member of the deck department, Boatman Popour upgraded at the Lundeberg School. He was licensed as a towboat operator and last sailed as a captain. Born in Michigan. Boatman Popour resides in Florida. HARRY E. SPRINGFIELD SR., 66, began his SIU career Fresh Coat for Overseas Washington While receiving instructions before beginning the day's work aboard the Overseas Washington, deck department crewmembers pose on the Maritime Overseas tanker. From the left are 3rd Mate William Kelly, Bosun Cesar Gutierrez (who provided the Seafarers LOG with this photograph), AB Dennis Goodwin and AB Ishmael Bryan. At the time the photograph was taken, the vessel was on a run in the Gulf of Mexico. in 1967 in the port of New York. Boatman Springfield sailed on deep sea vessels and ~----~ later transferred to the inland division. The New Jersey native sailed in the steward department and upgraded to chief cook at the Lundeberg School. Boatman Springfield lives in New Jersey. GREAT LAKES WILLIAM F. COYER, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Buffalo, N.Y. Sailing in the deck department, the New York native upgraded at the Lundeberg School. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Coyer still calls New York home. JOSEPH WILLARD, 62, joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of Toledo, Ohio. The Ohio native sailed as a member of the deck department. From 1952 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Willard lives in Ohio. DANIEL J. DALY, 61, started his career with the SIU in 1963 in the port of Chicago. Sailing in the deck department. Brother Daly began shipping in the in- land division and later transferred to Great Lakes vessels. From 1954 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Army. Born in New York, Brother Daly has retired to Florida. RAILROAD MARINE JOSEPH BAK0,65, joined the Seafarers in 1983 in the port of New York. He sailed as a ~----~ member of the deck department. Born in Italy, Brother Bako lives in New York. LEONARD A. DOWNS SR., 67, started his career with the SIU in 1968 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Sailing in the deck department, the Virginia native upgraded at the Lundeberg School. From 1948 to 1952. he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Downs still calls Virginia home. CHARLES GWALTNEY 65, began his career with the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia native sailed in the deck department. From 1951to1953, Brother Gwaltney served in the U.S. Army. He has retired to Virginia. Retired Bosun Renews Acquaintance with Shipmate Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.)(center), who briefly sailed with the SIU in the mid-1960s, chats with SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney (left) and retired Recertified Bosun Tony Palino during a recent dinner honoring Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). McCartney recalled that in 1964, while he was a dispatcher at the SIU hall in New York, he shipped Dodd (then a college student occasionally sailing as an OS) to the SS Transglobe of Hudson Waterways. "Tony Palino was the bosun on that ship," McCartney recently told the Seafarers LOG. "This dinner was the first time that he and Senator Dodd met since they sailed together in 1964." �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 -MARCH 15, 1996 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A CJass B Class C Port New York 24 5 Philadelphia 8 Baltimore Norfolk 9 Mobile 8 New Orleans 19 Jacksonville 31 San Francisco 15 16 Wilmington 27 Seattle 7 Puerto Rico 8 Honolulu 26 Houston 2 St. Louis Piney Point 2 Algonac 1 208 Totals Port New York 20 0 Philadelphia Baltimore 5 3 Norfolk 6 Mobile 8 New Orleans Jacksonville 9 San Francisco 14 Wilmington 4 18 Seattle 3 Puerto Rico 3 Honolulu 17 Houston 0 St. Louis 2 Piney Point 2 Algonac 114 Totals Port New York 17 1 Philadelphia Baltimore 3 Norfolk 7 Mobile 8 New Orleans 8 8 Jacksonville San Francisco 31 Wilmington 12 Seattle 16 Puerto Rico 2 Honolulu 17 7 Houston St. Louis 1 Piney Point 3 Algonac 0 141 Totals Port 4 New York Philadelphia 1 2 Baltimore 2 Norfolk 2 Mobile 2 New Orleans 2 Jacksonville San Francisco 10 Wilmington 9 8 Seattle 2 Puerto Rico 7 Honolulu 0 Houston 0 St. Louis 0 Piney Point Algonac 0 51 Totals Totals All De~artments 514 16 4 11 12 11 15 21 21 9 16 4 8 22 0 4 3 177 16 3 2 1 0 3 0 1 2 1 2 0 4 4 3 0 1 0 24 1 1 TOTAL SlllPPED All Groups CJass A Class B Cl~ C DECK DEPARTMENT . 19 1 9 0 2 1 0 10 1 3 8 8 7 0 11 1 11 17 2 16 13 0 16 8 1 11 9 0 23 9 0 2 8 2 8 5 22 12 3 0 1 0 0 3 1 3 167 107 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 13 8 1 0 1 1 2 5 4 5 0 0 2 1 2 12 5 7 0 5 0 8 13 1 4 6 0 6 13 2 7 0 1 1 9 7 1 11 7 11 7 10 15 11 10 4 4 10 8 2 3 0 3 0 0 2 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 125 16 77 86 9 2 3 10 3 5 5 8 2 4 0 7 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 3 1 0 2 0 4 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 1 64 21 31 2 2 0 6 16 6 4 8 8 11 16 7 15 4 33 17 1 5 9 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 4 4 0 3 2 11 18 8 12 3 13 7 1 1 4 6 2 0 1 44 96 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 2 4 2 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 3 7 6 10 6 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 180 87 546 148 3 7 9 0 25 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 56 9 43 6 17 21 14 44 32 0 7 17 15 38 62 35 35 52 15 13 44 2 5 0 74 405 7 3 1 3 3 4 11 5 3 12 1 9 12 0 0 8 2 0 Algonac Friday: May 10, June 7 Houston Monday: May 13, June 10 0 1 New Orleans Tuesday: May 14, June 11 3 1 351 53 Mobile Wednesday: May 15, June 12 41 0 6 Norfolk Thursday: May 9, June 6 San Francisco Thursday: May 16, June 13 7 2 1 0 0 5 2 6 4 15 1 3 8 0 0 31 4 7 10 12 19 18 17 13 27 23 15 3 18 25 4 4 23 l 3 15 14 11 18 26 20 17 2 I Wilmington Monday: May 20, June 17 1 3 0 3 0 0 Seattle Friday: May 24, June 21 5 1 2 9 6 0 0 0 0 4 2 3 9 0 54 192 224 33 4 0 28 17 2 0 2 0 1 1 10 16 17 16 55 21 37 5 14 11 14 0 1 1 2 8 10 3 9 16 10 0 2 1 1 16 3 0 7 8 0 6 0 55 245 131 35 0 14 1 56 14 0 0 6 2 3 12 11 1 17 2 0 0 0 2 4 2 6 17 2 15 17 0 0 4 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 9 5 0 22 0 25 0 2 42 0 0 0 35 13 56 22 5 8 86 1 0 0 10 11 8 7 1 0 I 0 2 27 27 18 23 28 38 6 9 2 1 I 1 3 0 28 6 0 109 53 0 97 377 193 368 346 84 183 939 1083 314 2 Philadelphia Wednesday: May 8, June 5 1 5 5 5 44 8 10 0 0 0 0 9 New York Tuesday: May 7, June 4 Jacksonville Thursday: May 9, June 6 26 12 3 0 Piney Point Monday: May 6, June 3 4 5 36 0 0 0 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Baltimore Thursday: May 9, June 6 0 3 0 5 May & June 1996 8 1 2 5 4 2 11 8 0 1 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 13 3 2 0 0 4 0 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 13 7 0 7 1 6 1 0 4 51 0 0 13 Trip Reliefs 13 * "Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. ** "Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. San Juan Thursday: May 9, June 6 St. Louis Friday: May 17, June 14 Honolulu Friday: May 17, June 14 Duluth Wednesday: May 15, June 12 Jersey City Wednesday: May 22, June 19 New Bedford Tuesday: May 21, June 18 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals STEVE LE'ITERMAN Tugboat captain in Houston area, please contact Mitch Pitts at 302 52nd Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, or telephone (804) 425-3000. EUGENE ''DICK" STANG Please contact your sister Betty Stang at (210) 5467349. MICHAELANTHONYJOHNSON Please contact J.J. at 318.· East Petain Street, Pritchard, AL 36610, or telephone (334) 457-0732. STEVE MITCHELL Tugboat captain in Jacksonville area, please contact Melissa Hubbard at (714) 355-3808. �14 SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes ·Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Contracts George McCartney Vice President West Coast Roy A. ••Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters DeanCorgey Vice President Gulf Coast HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. r.Jobile,AL 36605 (334) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804) 622-1892 PHILADELPIUA 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O.Box75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (30 l) 994-00 I 0 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop I 6112 Santurce, PR 00907 (809) 721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 Fust Ave. Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 441-1960 ST.LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1996 L-Lakes NP-Non Priority CL-Company/Lakes *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT Algonac 0 31 0 4 Port 3 0 0 44 7 0 12 3 0 11 2 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Algonac 0 12 0 3 Port 0 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 11 2 Algonac 0 13 10 0 0 0 0 43 18 Totals All Departments 0 67 19 0 11 0 0 110 30 Algonac Port * ''Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. ** "Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1996 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED AU Groups Class A ClassB Class C Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast 4 1 51 4 0 3 0 2 0 Totals Region 60 5 15 3 0 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 5 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 9 21 3 35 2 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 13 2 3 21 10 3 0 4 22 47 9 39 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 7 0 0 3 2 0 0 16 11 0 19 81 5 35 39 3 65 10 9 * ''Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 59 Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region 8 0 7 Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Waters West Coast 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 Totals 6 0 20 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 0 7 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 3 4 0 Totals All Departments ~CIU BULLE"l IN ~ (i MEMBERSHIP MEETING SET FOR APRIL 24 IN PORT ARTHUR A general informational Seafarers membership meeting will beheld at 1 p.m. on Wedn~y. April 24. It will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 545 Savannah Ave. in Port Arthur, Texas. For more information about the meeting, contact the Houston SIU hall. ~ ~ ~ BOARD R ~ PUBLIC HEAL TH 'iP RECORDS AVAILABLE Members who were treated at United States Public Health Service Hospitals may obtain their medical records by writing to PHS Health Data Center, GWL Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, LA 70721. To make sure a request is answered quickly, be sure to include the name, date of birth, social security number, facility where treatment was received and the approximate dates of treatment for the individual in question. ' SEAFARERS MUST RENEW Z-CARDS BY 1999 - Issuance Year Merchant seamen must renew their z-cards every five years, according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations. In order to keep their merchant mariner's documents up to date, Seafarers can use the chart on the right. Renewal dates are determined by the issuance date on the z-cards. The exact date of expiration matches the month and date when the document was issued. Renewal 'fear 0 17 0 0 c{J UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS In order to ensure that SIU members and pensioners receive a copy of the Seafarers LOG each month-as well as other important mail-a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently and have not yet notified the union, go to your nearest SIU hall and fill out a change of address form or send your new address (along with your name, book number and social security number) to: Address Control, Seafarers International Union, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. -- 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1985 1980 1975 1970 1965 1960 1955 1950 1945 1940 1986 1981 1976 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1941 1987 1982 1977 1972 1967 1962 1957 1952 1947 1942 1937 1988 1983 1978 1973 1968 1963 1958 1953 1948 1943 1938 1989 1984 1979 1974 1969 1964 1959 1954 1949 1944 1939 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Source: Federal Register, September 27, 1994 �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 15 Final Departures HANS E. HANSEN DEEP SEA WARREN D. ALDERMAN Pensioner Warren D. Alderman, 85, passed away February 7. A native of Florida, he joined the '-----"----""':::;;;;_;,,;;;;.__ __, Seafarers as a charter member in 1939 in the port of Miami. Sailing in the deck department, Brother Alderman first sailed on the Joseph R. Parrot operated by Eastern Steamship Co. Prior to his retirement in May 1963, he last sailed aboard the Del Sud. ALFRED D. ALLEN Pensioner Alfred D. Allen, 85, died January 18. Born in the Philippines, he began sailing with the SIU .___;;;'-...::::;_;;--'=-~inl961from the port of Seattle. Brother Allen sailed as a member of the steward department and began receiving his pension in July 1987. IRA 0. BEADLING Ira 0. Beadling, 67, passed away February 24. Brother Beadling started his career with the Marine Cooks = =-== & Stewards (MC&S) in the late 1950s in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU' s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGUWD). He upgraded at the MC&S training facility in Santa Rosa, Calif. in 1966. The Pennsylvania native last sailed in 1989 aboard the Independence operated by American Hawaii Cruises. From 1951to1953, he served in the U.S. Army. HARRY BOURNE Pensioner Harry Bourne, 68, died February 13. He joined theMC&S before that union merged with the l ' - - - - = = - - _ _ J SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Bourne last sailed as a chief steward in June 1992 aboard the Sea-land Express. From 1950 to 1953, he served in the U.S. Air Force. A resident of Oregon, Brother Bourne began receiving his pension in March 1993. U.L. GOFF GRADY Pensioner U.L. Goff Grady, 67, passed away December 23, 1995. The Arkansas native began his career with ' - - - - - - - - - - ' the MC&S in 1965 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Grady retired to California in October 1992. Pensioner Hans E. Hansen, 83, died January 17. A native of Florida, he started his career with the Seafarers L--=~--=--___1 in 1940 in the port of Miami. Brother Hansen sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. He last sailed as a bosun. A resident of Georgia, Brother Hansen started receiving his pension in December 1979. ALBERTO E. HARLAND Pensioner Alberto E. Harland, 74, passed away January 11. Born in Hawaii, he joined the MC&Sin '-"-----------' 1961 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. military from 1941 to 1945. Brother Harland lived in California and retired in November 1983. WILLIS A. HARPER Pensioner Willis A. Harper, 79, died January 16. Brother Harper joined the Seafarers as a charter member in 1938 in ·' the port of Norfolk, Va. The North Carolina native sailed in the deck department. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. A resident of Virginia, Brother Harper began receiving his pension in July 1974. ALBERT A. HA TT . Pensioner Albert A. Hatt, 77, passed away February 5. He began his career with the SIU in 1944 in the port of New York. Sailing in the engine department, Brother Hatt upgraded at the Lundeberg School. During his career, he was active in several union organizing drives and beefs. Born in the British West Indies, he became a U.S. citizen and retired in December 1980. DONALD E. HINES r--:-:;;;;iiipa;:----i Pensioner Donald E. Hines, 69, died January 11. A native of Washington state, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1968 from the port of Seattle. Brother Hines shipped in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. From 1947 to 1963, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Hines lived in Washington and began receiving his pension in June 1993. WALTER L. SCHROEDER INLAND JOHN H. HICKMAN John H. Hickman, 56, died October 30, 1995. Born in Delaware, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Hickman sailed in the engine department. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Army. THEODORE J. JAMES TheodoreJ. James, 30, passed away January 21. He graduated from the Lundeberg School's inland training program for entry level seamen in 1989 and joined the SIU in the port of Piney Point, Md. Boatman James sailed as a member of the deck department. JOHN H. JONES Pensioner John H. Jones, 68, died December 11, 1995. Boatman Jones began sailing with the Seafarers in 1955 from the port of Philadelphia. The Maryland native sailed in the deck department. From 1945 to 1947, he served in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Jones retired in November 1989. JAMES H. KELLY ' Pensioner James H. Kelly, 78, passed away November 21, 1995. Anative of Pennsylvania, he started his career with the SIU in 1940 in the port of Philadelphia. A member of the deck department, he last sailed as a tugboat captain. Boatman Kelly was a resident of Florida and began receiving his pension in February 1979. ROBERT ODOM Pensioner Robert Odom, 71, died December 25, 1995. He joined the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Alabama native sailed in both the deck and steward departments. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the U.S. Army. Boatman Odom retired to Alabama in June 1987. I TED H. PEADEN Pensioner TedH. Peaden, 75, passed away March 3. Born in Alabama, Boatman ~ Peaden started his career with the SIU in 1957 in the port of New Orleans. A member of the deck department, he last sailed as a captain. Boatman Peaden sailed primarily with Dixie Carriers. He began receiving his pension in January 1985. ·· Pensioner Walter L. Schroeder, 70, died November 29, 1995. Boatman Schroeder began sailing =~---..:!!!!!...:!~~ with the SIU in 1961 from the port of Philadelphia. As a member of the deck department, he advanced from deckhand to pilot. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1948. Boatman Schroeder retired in December 1987. THOMAS W. SIMS Pensioner Thomas W. Sims, 75, passed away October 13, 1995. A native of Louisiana, he joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of Port Arthur, Texas. Boatman Sims sailed as a member of the steward department. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1947. Boatman Sims began receiving his pension in March 1991. Pensioner PaulP. Greco, 69, died December 15, 1995. A native of Minnesota, he joined the SIU in 1961 i.== =_;;_;::-=== in the port of Duluth, Minn. Brother Greco sailed as a member of the deck department. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. Brother Greco retired in August 1988. ALLEN H. HANNAN JOSEPH B. THOMAS Joseph B. Thomas, 54, died January 19. Boatman Thomas started his career with the SIU in 1975 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia native sailed as a member of the steward department. THERIN D. WILSON Pensioner Therin D . Wilson, 68, passed away January 5. Born in Arkansas, he began sailing with the =;:__--..:~= Seafarers in 1962 from the port of Houston. As a member of the deck department, Boatman Wilson advanced from deckhand to captain. From 1944 to 1953, he served in the U.S . Navy. He retired in October 1989. GREAT LAKES SYLVESTER J. BRZOZOWSKI Pensioner Sylvester J. Brzozowski, 83, passed away January 15. He joined the SIU as a charter member in 1939 in the port of New York. The New York native sailed in the deck department as a wheelsman. Brother Brzozowski began receiving his pension in June 1975. DALE J. GRANGER r--~==--~ DaleJ. Granger, 35, died December 27, 1995. Brother Granger started his career with the Seafarers in 1993 in the port of Duluth, Minn. Sailing in the deck department, he shipped primarily aboard Kinsman Lines vessels. WILLIAMS. GRAY Pensioner William S. Gray, 61, passed away January 23. Brother Allen H. Hannan, 37, passed away January 1. Born in Michigan, he started his career with the Seafarers ~""--'~-==-.! in 1991 in the port of Detroit. He last sailed in June 1995 aboard the Paul Townsend operated by Cement Transit Co. GEORGE E. PALM Pensioner George E. Palm, 87, died November 2, 1995. Brother Palm joined the Seafarers in '--------'---= 1953 in the port of Frankfort, Mich. The Michigan native sailed in the deck department and began receiving his pension in October 1969. FRED PIOTROWSKI Pensioner Fred Piotrowski, 72, passed awayNovember3, 1995. Born in Michigan, he '-======~ started his career with the SIU in 1960 in the port of Detroit. Brother Piotrowski sailed in both the engine and deck departments. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. Brother Piotrowski resided in Florida and retired in July 1988. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN WILLIAM "ZEKE" ENOS Pensioner William "Zeke" Enos, 76, passed away January 16. A native of I Massachusetts, he joined the J Atlantic :..__::==~ Fishermen's Union in 1946 in the port of Gloucester, Mass. Brother Enos sailed as a mate and a twineman. He retired to California in January 1982. �16 APRIL 1996 SEAFARERS LOG Letters to the Editor (Editor's Note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer's intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners and their families and will publish them on a timely basis.) Chapters Work for All Merchant Seamen The American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV) is a non-profit organization established in 1983 to gain recognition for all mariners who served in the American merchant marine in times of war and peace. Today, we number more than 60 chapters from coast to coast. I am sure that you are aware of the sacrifices made by merchant seamen during World War II, when more than 250,000 served in the merchant marine. It is estimated that 6,835 were killed, more than 11,000 wounded and 604 taken as prisoners of war. Sixty-one died in POW camps. In 1988, the United States government awarded an honorable discharge to those mariners who served from December 7, 1941 to August 15, 1945. However, for many, this was too little too late. The main goals of the AMMV are (1) to gain recognition and benefits for American merchant seamen who served so loyally during periods of peace and conflict and (2) to urge our nation to rebuild and maintain a strong American-flag merchant fleet in keeping with the reality that the United States is a maritime nation. Presently, the AMMV is working to secure passage of maritime revitalization legislation and to keep the Jones Act secure. TheAMMVis a veterans' organization which deals exclusively with merchant mariners' rights and benefits. The AMMV is open to past and present mariners, both male and female. The organization includes members of the Army Transportation Service, students and graduates of the U.S. and state maritime academies, staff of the U.S. Public Health Service who treated seamen, members of the armed forces who hold honorable discharges and widows of merchant marine veterans who obtained a DD-214 discharge. The AMMV may be contacted by writing 4720 Southeast 15th A venue, Cape Coral, FL 33904-9600orcalling(941)5491010. Gloria Flora Nicolich Vice President Edwin J. O'Hara Chapter, AMMV Brooklyn, N.Y. J, J, J, Keep U.S.-Flag Ships Sailing Being a retired merchant seaman from 1986, I receive the Seafarers LOG informing me of the latest news in the maritime world. The news is rewarding as it informs me of all the advances the union has made to better the life of today's mariners. As encouraging as the news is, at times I am angry and amazed to read of the reflagging of U.S.-flag ships to foreign nations. Every industry is like a game of dominoes-if one business succeeds, more people will be working in a11 the fields related to that business. When more Americans are working, more money is spent in the United States where the dollars help the economy. The "Forgotten Service," the American merchant marine, contributes a great deal when employed, by providing incomes used for buymg goods from local merchants and paying taxes. The more ships under the U.S.-flag, the more Americans are employed. But the reflagging of ships to a foreign nation has the effect of one domino falling backwards which causes others to fall, resulting in unemployment for American merchant mariners and hardships for them and their families. The United States government is supposedly a champion for better living conditions in the world. Yet, it allows the reflaggi ng of American ships to foreign nations which employ Third World people to crew the ships at the lowest wages possible with the poorest safety and living conditions possible. By stopping the reflagging, we will retain employment for thousands of American merchant mariners. By building more U.S.-flag ships, we will provide jobs for many more Americans. Walter Karlak Woodside Queens, N.Y. J, J, J, Captain Praises Crew Of Sea-Land Developer I am honored to take this opportunity to thank you for the outstanding preparation of the Sea-LandDeveloper'sinaugural call to Laem Chabang, Thailand. Both the quantity and quality of work that was accomplished to help make this celebration a success was phenomenal. These efforts will assist SeaLand greatly in turning this new run and the Thailand call into a profitable endeavor. As per the message we received from the Thailand country manager, he stated "the Developer looked like she was a new build in to be christened rather than a 16-yearold vessel." This superb effort is something that the team Developer can be very proud of. Most importantly, every one of you had to feel a great sense of accomplishment both as part of the team and as an individual, once you had enough time to look at your accomplishment. You have helped make it really easy for me to be proud to say that I am captain of the Sea-Land Developer. Steven J. Garvan Master, Sea-Land Developer J, J, J, Sea-Land Defender Crew Receives Thanks I would like to extend notice and appreciation for the diligent and skillful efforts of all deck department personnel of the SeaLa nd Defender, especially Bosun Bill Dean, concerning all of the work preparing for, enduring through and recovering from our shipyard voyage (158-160). The appearance and condition of the ship stand well. Steward Ray Garcia and Chief Cook Manny Basas also deserve thanks for serving up great victuals consistently. George A. Werdann Jr. Chief Mate, Sea-Land Defender J, J, J, SIU Welfare Plan Receives Kudos I would like to thank the Seafarers Welfare Plan for everything they have done for my husband all these years, and especially these last two years. We were so happy we belonged to the Seafarers International Union and the Seafarers Welfare Plan. All the hospital and medical bills were paid and the insurance money I received was such a big help-it paid for the funeral bill. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Mrs. Antonio L. Dos Santos Finksburg, Md. J, J, J, Bunker: Kind Words From WWII Mariners Thanks for the great review of "Heroes in Dungarees." It will enable many SIU war veterans to learn about the book. I have had letters and phone calls from former seamen saying how glad they are that there is finally a story of the role of merchant seamen in World War II. John Bunker West Palm Beach, Fla. J, J, J, Visit to Union Hall Stirs Many Memories Recently, I stopped off at the San Francisco union hall after working a six-hour shift as a volunteer on the Liberty Ship Jeremiah O'Brien. A young man at the counter took a note I left for a member I worked with in San Francisco. Next thing I knew, Vice President West Coast George McCartney comes out of his office. Like old sailors, we start exchanging names of mutual friends and shipmates-Bob "Sailor" Hall whom I worked for with Waterman from 1967 to 1971, Chuck Allen, Jim Pulliam, Ralph Smith, Leo Gilliken, Harry "Swede" Larson, Frank White, Mike Iwaski, Chung Ping King, Blackie Goose, Don Bartlett and Floyd Loyde Selik. It was great fun. We go way back to John "Whitey" Hawk, J.P. "Jake" Shuler, Paul Hall who was a good union leader who had our welfare at heart, and Frank Drozak who took up the mantel after Paul's death. Then on to Michael Sacco whom I met at Piney Point in 1968 and Joey Sacco who was the port agent in San Francisco in the early 1970s. Good men all! It was a warm dialogue with George that said something about Seafarers. I have been retired since 1972, but the guys had time for me. We are not only "Old Salts," but as human beings, we are. the salt of the earth. It was a neat afternoon for this old Seafarer. Francis ''Mac" McCall San Francisco, Calif. J, J, J, Writing to Elected Officials is Worthwhile As an SIU pensioner, I feel that I AM still an important part of this union. Writing a letter was the least I could do. I won'tlisten to naysayers who suggest that it is a waste of time. Don't believe it. Anyone in public office who is flooded with letters from labor organizations or civic groups will take notice. There is a future to think about. There is also an organization that prides itself in being an innovator in labor training with the finest and most up-to-date facility in the country, maybe the world. The effort to educate, give direction, build character as well as teach basic skills to youth in the workforce is real. It is time to reward these accomplishments with something positive. Anthony Notturno Villas, N.J. 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 secretarytreasmer. 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 amajorityofthetrustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member's shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the union and the employers. Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, 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 isgivenanofficialreceipt,butfeels that he or she should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to union headquarters. C 0 N S T I TU T I 0 NA L 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 ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are return receipt requested. The used to further its objects and purproper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman poses including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way workers, the preservation and furCamp Springs, MD 20746 thering of the American merchant Full copies of contracts as marine with improved employreferred to are available to members ment opportunities for seamen and at all times, either by writing directly boatmen and the advancement of to the union or to the Seafarers Ap- trade union concepts. In connection peals Board. with such objects, SPAD supports CONTRACTS. Copies of all and contributes to political canSIU contracts are available in all didates for elective office. All conSIU halls. These contracts specify tributions are voluntary. No the wages and conditions under contributipn may be solicited or which an SIU member works and received because of force, job dislives aboard a ship or boat Mem- crimination, financial reprisal, or bers should know their contract threat of such conduct, or as a conrights, as well as their obligations, dition of membership in the union such as filing for overtime (OT) on or of employment. If a contribution the proper sheets and in the is made by reason of the above proper manner. If, at any time, a improper conduct, the member member believes that an SIU should notify the Seafarers Intemapatrolman or other union official tional Union or SPAD by certified fails to protect their contractual mail within 30 days of the contriburights properly, he or she should tion for investigation and apcontact the nearest SIU port propriate action and refund, if agent. involuntary. A member should supEDITORIAL POLICY - portSPADtoprotectandfurtherhis THE SEAFARERS LOG. The or her economic, political and social Seafarers WG traditionally has interests, and American trade union refrained from publishing any article concepts. ~~g the p:>litical P.urposes of any NOTIFYJNG THE UNIONmdivtdual m the umon, .officer or If at any time a member feels that me~~· It ~ has refrained from any of the above rights have been publis~g ~des deel!led harmful violated, or that he or she has been to~~onon~collecti~emember- denied the constitutional right of ship. Thisestablishedpoli~y~been access to union records or inforreaffirmed by membershiJ? acti?n at mation, the member should imthe S<?J>te!Ilber 1960 meetmgs mall mediately notify SIU President co~~t:J.tutlonal ports. The re~p<n~- Michael Sacco at headquarters sibility for SeafGfe~s WG polic~ is by certified mail, return receipt vesa:ct m an editon~ board which requested. The address is: consists of the executive board of the Michael Sacco, President union. The executive board may delegate, from among its ranks, one Seafarers International Union 5201 Auth Way individual to carry out this responCamp Springs, MD 20746. sibility. �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's contract department Those Issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the u~IC)n upon receipt of the ships' minutes. The minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication. /TB BALTIMORE (Sheridan Transportation), January 21Chairman Joseph Caruso, Secretary Joseph Miller, Educational Director Christopher Herring, Deck Delegate Anthony Heinoldt, Engine Delegate Robert Brown, Steward Delegate G. Hyman. Chairman reminded crewmembers not to slam doors and noted ship newspaper posted in lounge. Secretary added everything running smoothly. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun thanked all departments for jobs well done. Next port: St Croix, U.S.V.I. OM/ DYNA CHEM (OMI), January 21-Chairman Lawrence Kunc, Secretary Leticia Perales, Educational Director Jason Etnoyer, Deck Delegate Amante Gumiran, Steward Delegate Ernest Dumont. Chairman advised crewmembers to wear safety shoes at all times on ship. Crew asked contracts department if tanker operation/safety course is necessary for crewmembers with five or more years of tanker experience. Educational director advised crew to go to Paul Hall Centerand urged all crewemembers to enroll in tanker operation!safety course. Deck delegate reminded crewmembers signing off to clean rooms and put all trash in garbage room. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed upcoming standard tanker agreement negotiations. Chairman thanked all departments for jobs well done. Next port: Port Everglades, Fla. OVERSEAS PHILADELPHIA (Maritime Overseas), January 21Chairman Timothy Olvany, Secretary Mark Flores, Educational Director Donal Swanner, Engine Delegate Spencer Smith. Secretary stressed importance of upgrading skills at Lundeberg School. Educational director advised members to read Seafarers LOG. Treasurer reported $250 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested contracts department look into reducing required seatime for vacation and retirement. Bosun asked crew- members to separate plastic from regular refuse. Crew observed minute of silence for departed SIU brothers and sisters. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang. Steward delegate asked crewmembers to clean up all areas. SEA·LAND CONSUMER (SeaLand Service), January 6-Chairman Francis Adams, Educational Director Irwin Rousseau, Deck Delegate R. Rivera. Chairman asked crewmembers to keep donating to SPAD and writing members of Congress seeking support for the Maritime Security Act. He thanked all departments for jobs well done. Secretary advised crew to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point. Educational director reminded members to read Seafarers WG. Deck delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward or engine delegates. Crew extended special vote of thanks to galley gang for great meals. WESTWARD VENTURE (IUM), January 28-Chairman J.H. Lewis, Secretary Thurman Johnson, Educational Director R. Ohler. Chairman announced payoff in port of Tacoma, Wash. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Captain read letter from company advising AB watchstanders to prepare for severe weather on the Alaskan run. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. USNS POTOMAC (Bay Ship Management), January 14--Chairman David Zurek, Secretary E. Cordova, Educational Director James T. McParland, Deck Delegate Wayne Powers, Steward Delegate Brad Stephenson. Bosun noted Paul Hall Center schedule for tanker operation/safety course and 1996 union meeting dates posted on crew bulletin board. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $100 in ship's fund. Crew discussed purchase of new videos for ship. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read letter from contracts department answering crewmember' s questions concerning agreement. Crew thanked galley gang for job very well done. Warmer Days Ahead SIU members aboard the Global Link were among those affected by the Blizzard of '96. Chief Steward Brandon Maeda sent this photo of the ice-bound cable ship in Baltimore to the Seafarers LOG. FRANCES HAMMER (Ocean Shipholding), February 11-Chairman Richard Wilson, Secretary Larry Ewing, Educational Director Major Smith, Steward Delegate Dadang Rashidi. Bosun discussed proper fitting of benzene masks. Educational director reminded members to take the tanker operation/safety course at Piney Point. Treasurer reported $872 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested new ice machine and washer and dryer. Chairman noted ship to pay off in New Jersey. Crew gave special vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done and observed moment of silence for departed union brothers and sisters. GALVESTON BAY (Sea-Land Service), February 4--Chairman Walter Petty, Secretary Jerome Jordan, Educational Director Miguel Rivera, Deck Delegate Joseph White, Engine Delegate Robert Gaglioti, Steward Delegate Angel Correa. Secretary encouraged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School and pay attention to union news in Seafarers LOG. Educational director advised members to upgrade skills at Piney Point. Deck and engine delegates reported beefs. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. LIBERTY STAR(Liberty Maritime), February 12-Chairman Richard Nicholas, Secretary Henry Jones, Deck Delegate Paul Lucky, Engine Delegate Eddie Major, Steward Delegate Norman Jackson. Secretary thanked crew for good voyage. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew requested VCR for crew lounge. Next port: Galveston, Texas. LIBERTY SUN (Liberty Maritime), February 18-Chairman Hugo Dermody, Secretary Blair Humes, Educational Director Rogers Bankston, Deck Delegate Charles McPherson, Engine Delegate Michael N. Carubba, Steward Delegate Jessie Jones. Chairman advised members to continue to donate to SPAD. He reminded crew to keep plastics separate from regular garbage. Bosun thanked Seafarers WG for fine job keeping members informed on breaking maritime issues. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested repairs to freezer. Crew extended deep appreciation to galley gang members for job well done. LNG CAPRICORN (ETC), February 11-Chairman Charles Kahl, Secretary D. Paradise, Educational Director David Dinan, Deck Delegate Richard Lewis, Engine Delegate Otis Sessions. Captain informed crew of shipyard schedule. Bosun reminded crew to be careful while ashore in ports. Chairman commended crew for excellent job and asked them to keep all areas of ship clean. Secretary announced vacation and medical forms available for any crewmember signing off. Educational director informed crew of 1996 Lundeberg School upgrading schedule posted in lounge. He added that members applying to Paul Hall Center need to have letter from captain noting seatime on ship. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended special vote of thanks to QMED David Dinan for special efforts while in shipyard. Chief Steward commended SAs Dave Wakeman, Anthony Palumbo and Christian Guglielmi for all-around excellent job. Entire crew thanked galley gang for good chow. Next port: Osaka, Japan. 17 Scrumptious Thanksgiving at Sea Seafare~s. aboard the Crowley Ambassador were treated to a Thanksgiving feast, thanks to the efforts of Chief Cook Ivan A. Salis (left) and Steward/Baker Demont Edwards. The menu featured roast turkey, baked ham, prime rib, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes, corn, c~anberry s~uce, tossed salad, stuffed celery, deviled eggs, pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and more. OM/ DYNA CHEM (OMI), February 4--Chairman Larry Kunc, Secretary Leticia Perales, Educational Director Jason Etnoyer, Deck Delegate Amante Gumiran, Engine Delegate Earl Adams. Crew asked contracts department for information on new contract. Chairman announced tanker operation/safety course required for all crewmembers who wish to continue sailing aboard tankers. Bosun noted ship just left Port Everglades, Fla. bound for 1.acksonville, Fla. to discharge portJ.on of cargo. He added ship will sail for Houston on February 10. Crewmembers reported new Seafarers LOGs received and distributed. Bosun reminded crew that as of a January 1, 1996 change in the shipping rules, a person with certificate of completion from the tanker operation/safety class has priority over another member who has not taken the course, all other things being equal. Educational director stressed importance of Lundeberg School for SIU members. Treasurer reported $263 in movie fund. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew discussed turning on heating system at night. Next port: Jacksonville. OVERSEAS JOYCE (Maritime Overseas), February 17-Chairman Larry Evans, Secretary Michael Gramer, Educational Director C. Miles, Engine Delegate Leon Fountain. Bosun thanked crew for job well done. Educational director reminded members to upgrade at Piney Point and take tanker operation/safety course. He also encouraged members to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent meals. Crewmembers requested coffee machine in crew mess area. Next port El Segundo, Calif. SEA-LAND HA WAI/ (Sea-Land Service), February 18-Chairman Barry Carrano, Secretary Don Spangler, Educational Director Clive Steward, Deck Delegate Greg Jenkins, Engine Delegate Ronald Williams. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew requested extra dryer in laundry room, washing machine repairs and table for folding clothes. Bosun discussed importance of all SIU members being registered to vote. He reminded crew that President Bill Clinton signed bill allowing Alaskan North Slope oil to be exported on U.S.-crewed, built and flagged tankers. Next port: Elizabeth, NJ. SEA·LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), February 12Chairman J.Edwards, Secretary D. Cunningham, Educational Director W. Thomas, Deck Delegate D. Pickering, Engine Delegate R. Giannini, Steward Delegate Lonnie Bettis. Chairman announced arrival in port will be later than expected due to boiler problems. He noted money from ship's fund will be used to purchase nine small refrigerators in port of Jacksonville, Fla. He added that four were already purchased and installed into rooms. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and read Seafarers LOG regularly to keep up-to-date on new course offerings. He also urged crewmembers to continue writing members of Congress asking them to support maritime revitalization legislation. Treasurer noted $1,800 in ship's fund, part of which will be used for purchase of refrigerators. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew said it was awaiting reply on letter sent to contracts department. Crew extended special vote of thanks to steward department for outstanding job on "Top-Your-Own-Pizza Night," shipboard barbecues and Mardi Gras party. AB Larry Reiner announced he still has copies of his book "Minute of Silence" on board and encouraged shipmates to check it out. Next port: Elizabeth, N .J. SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Land Service), February 11-Chairman L.E. Watson, Secretary Kevin Dougherty, Educational Director Milt Sabin, Deck Delegate Russ Caruthers, Engine Delegate Tom Evans, Steward Delegate Thomas White. Treasurer reported $500 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed using ship's fund to purchase new movies and extra washer for crew members' dirty, greasy work clothes. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. USNS POTOMAC (Bay Ship Management), February 18-Chairman David Zurek, Secretary E. Cordova, Educational Director James McParland, Deck Delegate Wayne Powers, Steward Delegate Brad Stephenson. Bosun noted crew still waiting for response from union headquarters concerning the purchase of movies for the crew by company. Chairman advised crew to check z-card renewal dates and 1996 Lundeberg School upgrading schedule in January Seafarers LOG. Secretary thanked entire crew for smooth sailing with everyone doing a fine job and keeping ship in good condition. No beefs or disputed OT reported. �18 SEAFARERS LOS APRIL 1996 : I - Lundeberg School Graduating Classes SEAFARERS HARRY LUNDEBERG SCHOOL LIFEBOAT CLASS 546 r~;~~~~~~~;~~~~~ Trainee Lifeboat Class 546--Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 546 are (kneeling, from left) Jason Furtah, Bridgett Manning, George Murphy, Dorian Gillespie, Otto P. Schlicht, (standing) Donley Johnson, Michael Jones, Ernie Gay, Jimmie Laffitte, Jr., Brad Hughes, Bernard Domes and Troy Gruber (instructor). Inland AB- Completing the inland AB course on February 27 are (kneeling, from left) Tom Gilliland (instructor), John King, Robert Jewell, (standing) Dave Andrews Sr., Mike McEachem, Jim Davison and Richard Whitlock. Radar 0 bserver-Upgrading graduates of the February 23 radar observer class are (from left, front row) Robert Hamilton, Peter Fulcher, Jay Norman, Dale Leonard, Steve Reed, Tony Kaplan (back row) Len Scott, Steve Cornwell, Alan Higgins and Jim Brown Upgrader Lifeboat-SIU members completing the upgrader lifeboat class on February 6 are (kneeling, from left) Derold Garbutt, James Dunne, Jaime Castillo, Domingo Barroga, Dominico Dacua, (standing) Ramon Clatter, Jose Bermudez, Terrance Epps, Don Rouse, Joey Gallo and Troy Gruber (instructor). Advanced Firefighting-completing the advanced firefighting class on February 21 are (kneeling, first row, from left) Jim Gibb, Brian Bowman, Steve Tepper, John Dacuag, Barry McNeal, Tim Johnston (kneeling, second row) Robert Ott, Jeff Yegge, Jeffrey Englehart, Stephen Foster, Warren Burke, Jerry Mercer, Barney Fitzpatrick (standing) Tom Culpeper, Franz Eder, Joe Braun, Daniel Malcolm, Raphael D'Ambrosio, Steve Werda, Mark Christiansen, Michael Presser, Lambert A. Soniat DuFossat, D. Presley, Wade Cocek and Sonny Wilson. Tanker Operation/Safetv-Joining the ranks of Seafarers who have comp1eted the tanker operation/safety class are the following members, who finished the course on February 13: Grant Shipley, Dimitrios Papandreou, Charles J. Brockhaus, Sindy Davis, Steven Sun, James Jowers, Rubin Mitchell, Mario Batiz, Moses Mickens, Craig Croft, David Bautista, Melvin A. Santos, Angelo Wilcox, Tommy Cyrus, David St. Onge, Julio Arzu, Antonio Pizzuto, Dorothy Pizzuto, Carmelita Henry, Simone Solomon, Jamie Hernandez, Shawn Fujiwara, Robert Zepeda, James Harper, J. Abagat, Tyler Laffitte, Ronnie Norwood, Malcolm C. Holmes, Henry Manning, Kevin McCagh, John Leiter, Robert Fulk, G.R. Ososrios, Brian Schmear, Leon Grant, Ron Drew, George Keblis, Darren Collins, Steven A. Smith, Jimmy Cordova, Jerry Miller, Rich Williams, Greg Gorenflo, Greg Hamilton, Milton lslael II, Paul Marra, Jim Habberg, Steve Herring and Robert Jackson. �SEAFARERS LOG APRIL 1996 , . . ;l.flNDEBERS SCHOOL 1996 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule for classes beginning between May and October 1?96 .at the.Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the Paul HallCenter for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the· American 19 Steward Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of C~mpletion Assistant Cook/Cook and Baker, Chief Cook, Chief Steward June3 August 12 August23 November 1 mru:jtime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, them.1ll'itime industry and-in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday be/ore their course's start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Tanker Operation/Safety May27 June24 July 22 August19 September 16 October 14 June21 July 19 August 16 September 13 October 11 November8 Tankerman Recertification August 19 September 16 October 14 August30 September 27 October25 Advanced Firefighting September 30 October 11 Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Com~letion Able Seaman October 14 December 13 Bridge Management May6 August 19 May17 August30 Limited License Julyl August9 Radar June24 August12 September 16 June28 August 16 September 20 Lifeboatman September9 September 20 Third Mate August26 December13 Celestial Navigation September 30 Novembers Inland Courses Course Start Date Radar Observer/Inland (see radar courses listed under deck department) Date of Completion Recertlticatlon Programs Engine Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Com~letion Course Date of Completion September6 August2 · l)a,te of Completion ft!.~~ fr2~~;i~~~~ October12 ? ·.·.... ...: . "'' A:awt Basic Education (ABE) Ma.fine Electronics Technician II Augusts Octoberl4 September 13 November22 English as a Second Language (ESL) September 2 Octoberll September6 Refrigerated Containers June 10 Welding July 15 August9 Lifeboat Preparation August26 Pumproom Maintenance August19 Augost30 Introduction to Computers to be announced Power Plant Maintenance May20 September9 June28 October 18 Developmental Math· 098 June3 July I July 26 August3 September 23 December 13 Developmental Math - 099 Julyl August3 Third Assistant Engineer ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPGRADING APPLICATION (Last) (Middle) Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _(First) ___________ _ __ (Street) (City) (Zip Code) (State) Dare of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Telephone__.__ ___.__ _ _ _ __ (Month/DayN car) (Area Code) Lakes Member D Deep Sea Member D With this application, COPIES of your discharges mu.st be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourselffor the course(s) requested You also mu.st submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page ofyour union book indicating yqur department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your z-card as well as your Lundeberg School identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and completed The admissions office WILL NOT schedule you witil all of the above are received. COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE Inland Warers Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Book# - - - - - - - Social Security # Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: DYes D No Home Port ----------~ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? DYes DNo If yes, class# - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? DYes DNo If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes Date O n : - - - - - - - - - - Dare O f f : - - - - - - - - - - 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. Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes LAST VESSEL: - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating: _ _ _ __ DNo Primary language spoken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 4196 �SPRING IS HERE Volume 58, Number 4 April 1996 Now is the time to start thinking about a summer vacation. The Lundeberg School can provide you and your family with all the ingredients for a memorable summer holiday. For additional information and rates, see page 9. Crew Camaraderie Permeates SL Producer AB Reiner Relates Experiences on Containership From extraordinary crew cookouts to unforgettable holidays at sea, Seafarers aboard the Sea-Land Producer agree that their ship is one of the best in the fleet. "As Seafarers aboard the Sea-Land Producer, we experience many changes. There are changes in scenery, ports of call and crewmembers. However, one thing remains the same .... the unique spirit of the Producer which makes her a special ship to sail upon," wrote AB Larry Remer in a recent letter to the Seafarers LOG. "All ships with SIU members are good ships but the Sea-Land Producer is by far one of the best vessels that I have ever sailed upon," wrote the AB. He noted the extraordinary feeling of camaraderie everyone experien- ning. He even makes the crust ces when part of the crew. from scratch!" proclaimed In his letter, Reiner detailed Reiner. the ship's recent activities and "What a sight on pizza night ~o~en~~d crewmembers who, to see as many as 30 pizzas all m _his ~p.1ru~n. help make the over the galley waiting to be ship distmctive. served," the AB said. "We still "They say that an army can't figure out how he travels on its stomach and the manages it. These pizzas are same could be said about a ship. sure better than any that you can Fortunately, the Producer has a buy ashore. Actually, many of steward department that will go us freeze portions of our pizza the extra mile in order to ensure and eat it over the course of a that crewmembers are happy few days," recalled Reiner. and enjoy what they are eating," The night before a recent arthe AB stated. rival in the port of New OrReiner wrote that Chief leans, Producer crewmembers Steward Dave Cunningham dressed in costume and enjoyed loves to ~ake, .cook and watch ~ Mardi Gras party on their off others enJOY his efforts. He time that also was organized by makes fresh pastries in the the chief steward. Crewmembers morning and bakes a variety of had a chance to unwind while lishomemade cookies on a daily tening to music and nibbling on b~sis. In fact, Reiner not~d, Cun- food prepared by the galley gang, mngham puts fresh cookies for according to the AB. crewmembers to enjoy each day The party is held on the in "cookie boxes" which are "veranda" which is located outplaced throughout the ship. side the after house. Reiner ex''Homemade desserts for lunch plained that it is an area of the and supper are not exceptions but ship renowned for its large are ~gular fare. The variety and Hawaiian mural painted by AB quality of our meals are not often Ray Vicari, who is also an artist. seen by many," he added. Reiner noted that all Outside the entrance to the Seafarers aboard the Producer are familiar with the expansive Pro_duce(s galley hangs a sign des1gnatmg the area as the mural created by Vicari. "Oceanside Pizza Parlor." (Vicari's painting was featured According to Reiner, once in the August 1993 issue of the during each trip there is a pizza Seafarers LOG.) night where crewmembers can "Another of the Producer's SJ?Ccial order a pizza from Cun- talented seamen is Bosun Jack mngham who creates and bakes Edwards. The man can make each individual pie. anything out of nothing," stated . "Dave puts out slips that list Reiner. items such as pepperoni, In addition to routine chipsa~sage, anchovies, shrimp, ping, _painting, greasing and olives, tomatoes and a dozen clearung to keep the Producer other combination of things. in tip-top condition, Edwards "You circle the items you has built shelving, tables, park want, sign your name and tum benches, signs and much more in the slip to the galley. This is for crewmembers and the ship's how you get your own inaccommodation spaces. dividual large pizza from the "We all believe that Jack's steward on the following evework will someday be nautical AB Larry Reiner called the SeaLand Producer one of the best vessels on which he has sailed. l Dressed to the nines for the shipboard Mardi Gras party is OMU Ron Giannini. Posi.ng fo~ a photo .d~ring a sho~ break on the stern of the Sea-Land Producer while docked in the port of Rio Hama, Dominican Republic are (from left) Chief Electrician Bruce Zenon Bosun Jack Edwards AB Amin Hussein, AB Brandy Carter, AB Dennis Pickering and DEU Saleh Ali. ' ' Chief Steward Dave Cunningham lines up six pizzas at a time and then tops each one with items that have been requested by his fellow crewmembers on pizza night aboard the Sea-Land Producer. collector items - they are that good," the AB added. Reiner stated that in addition to Cunningham and Edwards' superior work and attitudes, Chief Electrician Jim Smitko always goes out of his way to make shipboard life more pleasant for fellow crewmembers. "Besides tending reefers, winches, and the many other things that fill his days, Jim always finds time to keep our living spaces well-lighted and properly air conditioned," Reiner concluded. While SIU members make for an excellent shipboard group, Reiner added that the officers and mates also contribute to the overall pleasant atmosphere of the Producer. Captains Peter Smith and Don Cocozza and Chief Engineers Jon Jewett and Ed Meeting for a cup of coffee in the crew mess room aboard the Sea-Land Producer are AB John Rawley (left), Bosun Jack Edwards (middle), and AB Mike Silva Sampaia. Robinson are all ve~ "crew oriented and crew friendly," said Reiner. "They really work hard at providin~ the many extras that make livmg aboard the Producer a unique experience," the AB stated. According to Reiner, Smith, Cocozza, Jewett, Robinson and Radio Operator Art Holub regularly shop in the different ports the Producer visits to keep a continuous supply of fresh fish, candy, pretzels, gourmet coffees and special baking goods for the steward department on hand which are not available through the company. Another example of the friendship that exists between the licensed and unlicensed crew aboard the Producer is the spirit in which Christmas 1995 was celebrated. "Christmas at sea is both a joyous and sad time as men and women celebrate the holiday away from their homes and loved ones," wrote Reiner to the WG. "On the Producer this Christmas Eve, the captain and chief engineer played Santa Claus by leaving each crewmember a Christmas card, candy and a beautiful holiday mug outside our doors while we slept. The card contained the simple but meaningful message of 'thanks for all of your good work.' "How much this kind of recognition and treatment means to Seafarers away from home every day and especially during the holidays," concluded Reiner. ~ Standing by the mural he painted on the "veranda" of the Producer is AB Ray Vicari. Reporting for another busy day in the engineroom is OMU Kassam Abdullah. OMU Jim Thomas checks gauges in engineroom prior to sailing out of Santo Domingo. Enjoying their work during a shipboard barbecue are galley gang members (from left) SA Robert Gillian, Chief Cook Ernie Polk, Chief Steward Dave Cunningham and Steward As- Crewmembers dig in at an outdoor barbecue sistant Ali Musaid. aboard the Sea-Land Producer. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1996 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES LOCKHEED MARTIN CREWS RATIFY FIRST SIU-NEGOTIATED CONTRACT NEW PACT APPROVED AT LUEDTKE MARAD HEAD REFUTES NY TIMES EDITORIAL AGAINST U.S. SHIP BILL SEAFARERS PREPARE CONVERTED RO/RO FOR TRIALS, DELIVERY PR DELEGATE NOT IN FAVOR OF JONES ACT EXEMPTION NOSAC RANGER CREW PROTESTS DISTORTION IN TIME MAGAZINE GREAT LAKES SEAFARERS START ’96 SAILING SEASON SIU FERRY CREW HONORED FOR NIGHTTIME RESCUE IN NY APPEALS BOARD REAFFIRMS 240-DAY, 180-DAY TRIP ACTION ABS, PUMPMEN NEED STCW CERTIFICATE BY OCT. 1 HALL CENTER INSTRUCTORS BRING ‘HAZWOPER’ TRAINING TO JACKSONVILLE AND SAN JUAN STEWARDS ESPOUSE MANY BENEFITS OF UPGRADING FOOD SANITATION SEGMENT STANDS OUT BURNED FILIPINO MARINER’S ORDEAL SPOTLIGHTS INHUMANE CONDITIONS ABOARD RUNAWAY-FLAG VESSELS ITF SECURES THOUSANDS OF BACK PAY FOR CREW ON RUNAWAY-FLAG SHIP COME TO PINEY POINT AND EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND THE JONES ACT: CABOTAGE LAW WORKS FOR ALL AMERICANS CREW CAMARADERIE PERMEATES SL PRODUCER Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1996 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. 58, No. 4 1996 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/3bb0ca67cecdb09210364fe889cf62fd.pdf 1907923443b9f980fbe156d7c37cc9ab PDF Text Text ... aers • IA Union Cn~ Another Page3 The Maersk Tennessee sails from Port Everglades, Fla. fully crewed with Seafarers in the unlicensed departments after joining the U.S.-flag fleet last month. Like her sister ships-the Maersk Texas, which set sail in late February, and the Maersk California and Maersk Colorado, which will be crewed and reflagged this month-the Maersk Tennessee represents new jobs for Seafarers now and in the future. Formerly a Danish-flag ship, the Maersk Texas (left and above) recently ref lagged under the Stars and Stripes, with an SIU crew. Crewmembers applaud the reflagging and renaming of the Maersk Tennessee (left and above) last month while the ship was docked in Port Everglades, Fla. �President's Report New Jobs in 1997 Little fanfare accompanied the recent reflagging of two Maersk ships into the United States registry. But for Seafarers, the hoisting of the Stars --- and Stripes aboard the newly renamed Maersk Tennessee and Maersk Texas represents something very important. The transfer of these modern vessels, along with two more such transfers scheduled for this month, marks another step forward in the SIU's ongoing quest to secure Michael Sacco and maintain good jobs for the membership. All four of the Maersk ships-the Texas, Tennessee, California and Colorado-will sail with an SIU contract. And all four will be enrolled in the Maritime Security Program, a 10-year plan passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton last year which, as its name implies, is designed to protect America's national and economic well-being by having U.S.-flag ships available to the armed forces at a moment's notice. This is a prime example of what the SIU means when we use the phrase "jobs and job security." Three of the Maersk ships were built in 1994, the other in 1992, so they have great potential for longevity. Plus, they are enrolled in the IO-year program. In short, they present new, long-term employment opportunities for Seafarers. Such long-term opportunities were endorsed recently by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army General John M. Shalikashvili. In a speech last month at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the top officer in the U.S. armed forces declared the U.S.-flag fleet to be "every bit as important and every bit as vital" to the nation's economy and security as ever. The reflagging of the four ships also illustrates a continuation of a solid string of new jobs for SIU members. In the past yearand-a-half, Seafarers have taken advantage of these fresh opportunities by sailing aboard tankers broken out of layup to transport Alaskan North Slope oil and by crewing newly converted rollon/roll-off vessels operated by the U.S. Military Sealift Command. New jobs are on the horizon, too, with the first of five SIUcrewed, double-hulled tankers due out of the Newport News (Va.) shipyard in 1998. So. although the welcoming of the new Maersk ships will not include elaborate ceremonies, these are meaningful occasionsnot just for Seafarers, but also for others who support the U.S. merchant marine. The reflagging should vividly remind us that it indeed is possible to revitalize the American-flag fleet. Although it is rare these days for a company to switch from a foreign registry to that of the U.S., these ships represent a starting point. They also clearly signify the union's commitment to stand up for the jobs and job security of the membership. New Steward Curriculum One key reason the SIU has gained new jobs and protected those we already have is that the union, through its Paul Hall Center. turns out the best-trained merchant mariners in the world. In order to continue meeting that high standard, the curriculum offered at the Paul Hall Center and its Lundeberg School of Seamanship cannot be stagnant. As technology changes and waves of new federal and international regulations fall into place, we must stay a step ahead of our industry's needs. With that in mind, the school is offering a significantly improved upgrading program for Seafarers who sail in the steward department, including a thorough galley curriculum for students in the unlicensed apprentice program. You can read about it on page 7 of this i&sue of the Seafarers LOG. As the saying goes, now, more than ever, is the time for Seafarers in the steward department to upgrade their skills and, consequently, their earning power! Volume 59, Number 4 April 1997 I The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers WG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Corrina Christensen Gutierrez; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor: Copyright © 1997 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG New Report Finds Domestic Fleet Growing and More Productive A new report issued by the Maritime Cabotage Task Force shows the U.S.-flag Jones Act fleet to be larger and far more productive than it was 30 years ago. Entitled "Full Steam Ahead," the report was released March 11 at a Capitol Hill press conference attended by members of Congress and the media. The document states that growth has occurred in the inland, Great Lakes and ocean-going domestic trades. "The domestic fleet is carrying more cargo today than ever before in the history of the American maritime industry," Phil Grill announced. Grill is the chairman of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, which is comprised of more than 400 maritime and transportation-related groups including the SIU. "Statements that the domestic fleet is in decline are absolutely wrong," added Grill, who also serves as a representative with SIU-contracted Matson Navigation Co. Growth In All Sectors The report points out that the Jones Act fleet has twice as many vessels today as in 1965. These vessels "are larger, faster and more productive thanks to revolutionary changes in vessel design and marine transportation and significant increases in crew productivity." In reaching this conclusion, the report states, • ''A single modem containership as used in the offshore trades today can deliver as much cargo in a year as 10 vessels common to those trades in the 1950s or as four first generation containerships from the 1960s; • "A single large tanker in today's domestic trades can carry as much cargo in a single voyage as four to eight tankers from the 1960s; • "A single modem 1,000-foot self-unloading Great Lakes bulk vessel can deliver four times the cargo in a sailing season on the Great Lakes as the largest vessel on the Lakes in 1965; and • "A typical modern towboat with greatly improved power can safely move barges, with tow sizes increasing by as much as 20 percent in the last five years, while barges themselves have become more diverse in design and cargo carrying capability." Grill noted the Jones Act has "a broad spectrum of support" in the Congress, which was evident immediately after the report was released. U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), a longtime supporter of the U.S.-flag fleet, called the report "very gratifying. It demonstrates the value of the Jones Act and the very important aspect of the domestic marine fleet and its contribution to the United States' economy." Reed, who served on the now-defunct House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee before his election to the Senate, added, "We have to support our domestic fleet because it is a vital part of our economy and a vital part of our trade links." Also commenting favorably on the report was the ,-~--~~,-~ Maritime Cabotage Task Force Chairman Phil Grill (right) meets with Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) (left) and Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) during the press conference introducing a report showing the Jones Act fleet to be growing and more productive. ranking member of the House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel. U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie (DHawaii) said the report backs his claim, as well as those made by others, that the Jones Act fleet supports the nation's security. He reminded the audience of the December accident on the Mississippi River in New Orleans where a Liberian-flagged, Chinese-crewed bulker lost power and struck a crowded shoreside shopping complex. "In the rest of the world, workers are not protected the way they are in the United States of America as a result of the Jones Act. You do not have the labor standards. You do not have the health standards. You do not have the environmental and safety standards that exist [here]. "We have the most prosperous, the most efficient, the most progressive shipping industry in the history of the planet and this provides for the national security," Abercrombie noted. "Our domestic trade is part and parcel of what it takes for this nation to be able to say it is securenot just domestically, but internationally." The Hawaii representative added, "Any nation which purports to be a leader in the world scene today that does not command the seas, does not command its own destiny!" Abercrombie also responded to a question from a reporter asking who is trying to subvert the Jones Act and the U.S.-flag fleet. He replied it is multinational corporations which own their own vessels, registered in non-maritime foreign countries, that are not subject to U.S. taxes or labor, safety, health and environmental standards. "The idea that somehow we could have reliable shipping, with reliable pricing, under circumstances in which people could make a dignified living, be able to take care of their families, pay their taxes and have stability in the [maritime] industry would be wiped out. 1996 Financial Records Are 'In Good Shape'; Rank-and-File Committee Releases Its Report The union's finances were found to be in good order, according to a committee of rank-andfile Seafarers who reviewed the SIU's records last month. The financial review committee will submit its report to fellow Seafarers during this month's membership meetings across the country. Such action is required by the SIU constitution under Article X, Section 15: "The Annual Financial Committee shall make an examination for each annual period of the finances of the Union and shall report fully on their findings and recommendations." "We found everything to be in good shape," noted DEU John McLain, who served as the committee's chairman. "We were able to go right to work and had no problems in conducting the review. "The committee members knew the job we had before us and we were able to complete our work in a week's time," the Philadelphiabased member added. The seven members of the committee were elected by SIU members during the March membership meeting at Piney Point, Md. Along with McLain, others serving on the panel included Steward Recertified William Bunch, Mechanic Tim Bums, QMED Michael J. Coyle, AB Ken Frankiewicz, Mate Jake Joyce and Recertified Steward Sal Torneo. Chairman John McLain, right, prepares to sign his name to the financial review committee's final report. Below, from left, Mate Jake JoY.ce, Mechanic Tim Burns, Recertified Stewards William Bunch and Sal Torneo, AB Ken Frankiewicz and QMED Michael J. Coyle review the union's financial records. April 1997 �------ .... .........~------------ - - - Seafarers Crew 2 Ref lagged Ships Tennessee, Texas Join American-Flag Fleet SIU members are sailing aboard two newly reflagged containerships-the Maersk Texas and the Maersk Tennessee-that are enrolled in the United States Maritime Security Program (MSP). The Texas lowered the Danish flag and replaced it with the American flag in late February, while the Tennessee replaced the Danish ensign with the Stars and Stripes last month. The vessels, built in 1994, were reflagged and crewed by Seafarers in Port Everglades, Fla. Two other Maersk ships that have been registered in Denmark are scheduled to become U.S.flag vessels this month. As with the Texas and Tennessee, the Maersk California (built in 1994) and Maersk Colorado (1992) will be crewed by Seafarers in the unlicensed ranks and members of the American Maritime Officers for officer positions. "With the passage of the Maritime Security Act last year and the addition of these ships to the U.S. fleet, the SIU continues its effort to ensure our nation will have a strong, viable merchant marine in the next century," noted SIU President Michael Sacco. "And with these ships sailing under the SIU banner, we reaffirm our commitment of providing jobs for Seafarers." "Obviously, it's gratifying to see the American flag being raised on these ships," stated SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez, who attended the reflagContinued on page 5 Bosun Andre Bennett (left) and AB Roberto Zepeda see that the Maersk Texas' bridge features state-of-the-art equipment. Posing with SIU members aboard the Maersk Tennessee in Port Everglades, Fla. are U.S. Maritime Administrator Albert Herberger (fourth from left) and SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez (second from right). John Fay Appointed SIU Executive VP; David Heindel Is Secretary-Treasurer The union's executive board recently approved SIU President Michael Sacco's recommendations that John Fay become the executive vice president of the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD) and that David Heindel serve as secretary-treasurer. These appointments were made in accordance with Article X of the union's constitution. Fay had served as secretarytreasurer of the AGLIWD since October 1990. He was reelected to that position in balloting which took place from November through December 1996. He succeeds the late Joseph Sacco as executive vice president. Brother Sacco passed away last October. (Brother Sacco ran unopposed in last year's election for the position of executive vice president. In accordance with Article XIII of the SIU constitution, he was considered reelected to that post when the nominations period closed in September.) Also in last year's election, Heindel was voted in as assistant vice president of the SIU's Gulf Coast region. He had been based in the port of Philadelphia. "I am 100 percent confident that John and Dave will continue to do their best on behalf of the SIU membership and their families,'' said President Sacco. Fay, 65, has held a number of positions ~ince joining the Seafarers in 1949. He began his career sailing aboard both deep sea vessels and inland tugboats before coming ashore to work as a patrolman in Baltimore. Among other jobs he has held April 1997 with the union are port agent at SIU halls in both Boston and Philadelphia, headquarters representative, assistant to the union president and vice president of the Lakes and Inland Waters District. Since 1975, the Boston native has served as a representative of the union's international interests. He has tracked programs in the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization-agencies of the United Nations-and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the worldwide coalition of more than 450 trade unions (including the SIU) dealing in transportation-related jobs. In December 1995, Fay became chairman of the ITF's Seafarers Section. He previously had served as the section's vice chairman. Heindel graduated from the Lundeberg School's program for entry-level mariners in 1973 as a member of class No. 137. He primarily sailed aboard deep sea ships until 1980, when he became a patrolman in his native New Orleans. He subsequently served as a patrolman in Baltimore and Philadelphia before becoming the Philadelphia port agent. In addition to his job with the SIU, Heindel, 39, is a vice president of both the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO and the Philadelphia Central Labor Council. He also serves as secretary-treasurer of the Delaware Valley and Vicinity Maritime Port Council. Heindel's father, Charles Corrente, sailed with the SIU for more than 40 years prior to retiring in 1990. His son, David Heindel Jr., is an active Seafarer who also graduated from the Lundeberg School's entry-level program. David Heindel In late February, officers lower the Danish flag (left photo) and then hoist the Stars and Stripes (above) aboard the Maersk Texas in Port Everglades, Fla. Joint Chiefs' Chairman Declares U.S. Merchant Fleet 'Important' The highest ranking officer in America's military force declared the U.S.-flag merchant fleet as important to the country's defense as it was when the nation was formed. U.S. Army General John M. Shalikashvili also praised the efforts of America's merchant mariners for supplying U.S. forces during the nation's most recent conflicts during his address at the U.S . Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. Shalikashvili serves as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which oversees the operation of the U.S. armed forces worldwide. Speaking at the 1997 Battle Standard Dinner on February 21, the general said, ''Today, after two centuries, our merchant marine is every bit as important and every bit as vital to the commerce and defense of our nation as it ever has been. "In addition to America's commercial interests which included the movement of more than 900 million long tons last year, the United States military depends on sealift to move 95 percent of the material required for a major regional contingency," Shalikashvili noted. The chairman reminded the audience of the major role played by the U.S.-flag fleet in supporting American forces during both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf conflicts. "We simply cannot overstate the vital contributions of our U.S. merchant marine," Shalikashvili stated. "Our national security depends on its vitality." Seafarers LOG 3 �Coast Guard Okays Training Record Books Seafare rs Start Applying for Document The U.S. Coast Guard last month formally gave its consent for the use of the training record books (TRB) developed recently by the SIU and the Paul Hall Center for issuance to all deep sea, Great Lakes and inland Seafarers. The books are scheduled to be printed this month and will be distributed by the Paul Hall Center's admissions office in the near future. They will bear the words "U.S. Coast Guard accepted" on the cover. In a letter verifying the agency's acceptance of the TRB, the Coast Guard pointed out that an interim final rule is due this month that will require the use of such credentials. "I am impressed that you have not let the rulemaking process discourage you from working with the companies which have contracts with the SIU to develop a TRB which will not only meet STCW requirements but will be useful for other purposes," wrote Coast Guard Captain R.L. Skewes in the letter of acceptance to the center. Designed to help Seafarers efficiently comply with existing impending regulations and demanding proof of individual mariners' training and qualifications, the TRBs will help standardize proof of documentation for port state control under both Safety the International Management Code (ISM) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners (STCW). As reported in the March issue of the Seafarers LOG, at this time there is not a fixed date by which SIU members must carry a TRB in order to sign on a ship. However, the school hopes to equip every Seafarer who sails deep sea, inland or Great Lakes with a TRB by the end of the year, and members are urged to apply for the books as soon as possible. (Seafarers may use the application on this page.) The TRBs will be prepared at the Paul Hall Center and will contain personal identification as well as list all relevant training, drills and exercises completed by individual Seafarers during their entire maritime careers. They wilJ be the members' personal property and will be carried by Seafarers to their respective ships. The SIU is providing these books so members will not have to carry individual documents and certificates when they report to their vessels. Original TRBs will be issued at no charge to members, although Seafarers applying for the booklets must send two color, passport-size photos with their applications. (There will be a $25 charge for replacement books if lost.) TRBs will be distributed via SIU halls and the Paul Hall Center, to whichever port is designated by an individual Seafarer as his or her home port. Members will sign a receipt indicating they have received the booklet. Section 1 of the TRBs will be used to document tramrng records. Sections 2 and 3 consist of tables indicating demonstration of job-related competencies. .-------------------------------------, Training Record Book Application Last Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Street City 4 Seafarers LOG Zip Code State Height (inches) _ __ Weight _ _ __ Hair Color _ _ __ D Yes D No Have you ever attended any SH LSS Upgrading Courses? D Yes D No Are you a graduate of the SH LSS entry level program? Book Number Eye Color _ _ __ Department Home Port (where you want book sent to) Along with your completed application, please send the following information: 1 . Copy of USM MD (Z-card) front and back 2. Two (2) passport size photos 3. Copy of your STCW certificate (if applicable) 4. Copy of your SH LSS school card (if applicable) 5. Proof of any training received other than at SHLSS (certificates, cards, DD-214, etc.) (if applicable) S i g n a t u r e : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Send application to: SHLSS - ADMISSIONS Attn: TRB P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 - . or give completed application to port agent If the above application is not filled out completely and the requested information sent, the application will be considered invalid and void. This blank form may be copied. L-------------------------------------~ Training will be verified by certified instructors and assessors for the school, while practical demonstration of skills will be validated by the appropriate shipboard personnel. Any false information entered in the TRB will be considered falsification of a document. Initially, the TRBs will be distributed to those members sailing in international waters. After that, distribution will be done alphabetically. Shipping Reform Bill Introduced in Senate The Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee last month conducted a hearing on S. 414, the Shipping Reform Act of 1997. The bilJ, which would change federal regulation of the ocean shipping industry, is expected to be marked up sometime this month. Introduced by Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the legislation calls for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to merge with the Surface Transportation Board., thereby creating a new intermodal transport board. It also would permit confidential contracts between carriers and shippers while continuing public filing requirements for joint ocean carrier contracts and would eliminate tariff filing with the government. The functions of the FMC, an independent agency established in 1961, include enforcing provisions of the Shipping Act of 1984 that call for fair rates and a nondiscriminatory regulatory process for the common carriage of goods by water in the foreign commerce of the U.S. The c·ommission also is responsible for fighting other discrimination or prejudice in U.S. trade and licensing ocean freight forwarders. (The Shipping Act of 1984, through an exemption to U.S. antitrust laws, a1lows international shipping lines to jointly set transportation rates.) Although the bill has bipartisan support, it is unclear whether or not the final version will impel an FMC-Surface Transportation Board consolidation. At least one cosponsor, Senator John Breaux (DLa.), who backs the legislation's other elements, wants the FMC preserved as a separate and independent agency. (The Shipping Reform Act would put two FMC commissioners on the Surface Transportation Board.) Senate Majority LeaderTrent Lott (R-Miss.), also a cosponsor of the bill, stated that the Shipping Reform Act "makes great strides for ensuring that ocean transportation is fair and efficient in erasing many of the barriers for our nation's foreign trade." He emphasized that while S. 414 would dismantle the FMC, it would foster continuation of the commission's investigating unfair foreign shipping practices, within the revamped Surface Transportation Middle First Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ SSN~~~~~~~~~~~Home Phone Number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Board. "The recent FMC enforcement actions taken against unfair port practices in Japan is an illustration of an essentiaJ FMC mission not performed by other federal agencies. This mission will continue and I will support it wholeheartedJy," he said. In a joint statement issued at last month's hearing, Sea-Land Service, Inc., Crowley Maritime Corp. and American President Lines described the biJI as "an excelJent beginning." However, the liner operators urged retention of the FMC as an independent agency. "We believe the Federal Maritime Commission has done a superb job. We would not be abJe to conduct business the way we do in parts of the world today without the assistance of the FMC in removing non-tariff trade barriers," explained the statement. "In the present fiscal climate, we understand that it may be necessary to change the organizational structure through which the U.S. Government oversees international shipping to achieve greater economy and to reduce the size and cost of the federal government. "Our strong preference would be to preserve the agency's structure as an independent agency. To ensure its continued ability to intervene effectively on behalf of American carriers and shippers in international disputes, the U.S. Government must maintain its present level of expertise in this highly complex area. We must avoid merging oversight of unfair foreign shipping laws and practices into any broader organization in which the interests of the shipping industry could be traded away in favor of other U.S. trade or policy interests." Meanwhile, the nation's longshore unions told the subcommittee that they are concerned that the present legislation would adversely affect America's small and mid-sized ports. The unions claim such action could eliminate hundreds of American shoreside jobs. The SIU is working with the longshore unions in an effort to assist them in making sure the final legislation addresses these concerns. Bill Could Spur NAFTA Pullout Legislation Sets Measurement Standards Legislation introduced last month in the House of Representatives calls for the United States to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFfA) if the treaty continues its adverse impact on the U.S. The bill, which has bipartisan support, "sets clear and measurable perform~nce standards by which the United States can assess the impact of NAFIA," according to a statement by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), who introduced the measure March 5 along with Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). Those evaluations primarily would focus on the U.S. economy and environment as well as labor standards in the U.S., Mexico and Canada (the nations signatory to the three-year-old pact). Kaptur noted that H.R. 978, known as the NAFfA Accountability Act, requires President Clinton either to certify that the agreement is working as promised or provide for renegotiation of the terms so it operates in U.S. interests. Until that happens, the legislation forbids NAFfA expansion. And, if those conditions remain unmet, the U.S. could pull out of the trade covenant. NAFrA narrowly passed through Congress in late 1993 and went into effect in January 1994 despite vigorous objections from U.S. trade unions and many other groups. At that time, proponents of the so-called free trade agreement claimed it would lead to domestic job growth and bolster the economy. Cosponsors of the NAFfA Accountability Act, which has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, point out that the original pact has failed miserably. "We now have a one-way street with Mexico," said Hunter. "There are a lot of very conservative Republicans who believe the NAFfA is a bad deal." "The reality is the NAFfA is not meeting the expectations for free trade in North America," agreed Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). Kaptur pointed out the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico and Canada has ballooned by more than 400 percent (to approximately $39 billion last year) since NAFfA took effect. "For the majority of Americans, NAFfA is just one giant broken promise," Kaptur said. "NAFrA's boosters promised hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Instead, more than 700,000 of our citizens have been thrown out of work. And in Mexico, the tragic plight of millions of citizens has worsened." The Ohio legislator further described NAFfA's environmental side agreement as "pitifully inadequate" and the labor side agreement as "non-functional. And now Mexico is pressuring us to open our borders further to its trucks, despite unanswered doubts about safety regulations, driver training, and drug-smuggling that is out of control." The bill includes provisions that require the president to report back to Congress on the impact of NAFTA on the U.S. economy, suspend its expansion to other nations, and provide for the renegotiation of NAFfA unless certain conditions are met. It also directs the president to renegotiate NAFfA if the U.S. trade balance with any of the other parties to the agreement is excessive, as well as to renegotiate NAFfA to mitigate adverse effects of unexpected or substantial changes in currency exchange rates of the parties to NA.FfA. April 1997 �Congress Announces Subcommittees Dealing wifll U.S.-Flag Fleet Both the House of Representatives and Senate have completed their organizational efforts with recent announcements listing the elected officials who will serve on the various committees, subcommittees and panels. Neither house of Congress enacted any major changes in its committee structures. As announced earlier by the Seafarers LOG, the subcommittees and panel that had oversight on legislation dealing with the U.S.-tlag merchant fleet remain intact. Returning to head the House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel is Rep. Herbert Bateman (R-Va.). The panel is part of the House National Security Committee, which again will be chaired by Rep. Floyd Spence (R-S.C.). The House Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Subcommittee will have a new chairman as Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (RMd.) takes the helm from Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.). Coble will remain a subcommittee member, but stepped down as chairman after being appointed to head a different House subcommittee. The Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Subcommittee is one of six subcommittees within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.). On the other side of Capitol Hill, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) resumes her role as the chair of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, which is overseen by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) replaces Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) as the head of the full committee. (Pressler was defeated for reelection in the November elections.) Listed at right is the complete membership of each of the subcommittees and panel dealing with the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel Republicans Democrats Herbert Batema~(Va.} Joe Scarborough (Fla.) Duncan Hunter (Calif.) Curt Weldon {Pa.) Jim Saxton (N.J.) TiHie Fowler (Fla.) Neit Abercrombie {Hawaii) Gene Taylor (Miss.) Jane Harman (Cafif.) Patrick Kennedy (Mass.) Thomas Allen (Maine) Adam Smith (Wash.) House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Wayne Gilchrest (Md.) Bob Clement (Tenn.) Ftank LoBiondo (N.J.) Jay Johnson (Wis.) Don Young (Ataska) Howard Coble (N.C.) .• The address to contact members of the House of Representatives is The Honorable (Member's Name)J U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee Republicans Democrats Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) Ted Stevens (Alaska) Daniel Inouye (Hawaii) John Breaux (La.) Byron Dorgan (N.D.) Richard Bryan (Nev.) Ron Wyden (Ore.) Conrad 6urns (M<:mt.) Olympia Snowe (Maine) Bill Frist (Tenn.) Spencer Abraham (Mich.) John Ashcroft (Mo.) The address to write members of the Senate is The Honorable (Member's Name), U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510. SIU Crews Ref lagged Ships Continued from page 3 ging of the Tennessee. Tellez stated that in talking with crewmembers, "something that really stood out is their determination and teamwork. They know they have a job to do, and they're committed to proving that Maersk made a good decision by bringing these vessels under the U.S. flag." All four ships will be utilized in commercial trade between U.S. ports, the Mediterranean and/or South America. In accordance with terms of the MSP, they also will be available for use by the U .S . armed forces to provide sealift in times of war or national emergency, as well as to transport military cargo in times of peace. On the U.S.-Mediterranean runs, the vessels will call on the ports of Houston, Miami, Port Everglades and Charleston, S.C. in the United States. Their foreign ports of call will include Algeciras and Valencia in Spain and Genoa in Italy. The company also may add service to Egypt, Greece, Israel and Turkey. In announcing this service, Maersk President Tommy Thomsen pointed out that the company already operates eight American-flag ships for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (also crewed by SIU members). "We are now proud to expand our U.S.-flag presence into the commercial fleet," he said. President Clinton signed the MSP last October, days after the Senate voted in its favor by 88-10. The 10-year, $1 billion program includes roll-on/roll-offs, car carriers and LASH (lighter aboard ship) vessels as well as containerships. (Editor's note: The photos QMED Electrician Michael Rubino (right) provides a few technical pointers on reefers to GVA David Davis, Jr. aboard the Maersk Texas. accompanying this article, and those on the front page, were provided by SIU Port Agent Ambrose Cucinotta.) Aboard the Maersk Tennessee, Bosun Ben Born operates the crane controls. Members of the Maersk Texas deck crew paint over the letters spelling the ship's former name, the Tinglev _Maersk. Steward/Baker Hugh Wildermuth (left) and Chief Steward John Madsen check the stores aboard the Maersk Texas. Chief Cook Albert Falcon dices onions in the Maersk Texas' galley. April 1997 Gathered on the deck of the newly renamed Maersk Texas are Seafarers and members of the American Maritime Officers. Members of the deck gang on the Maersk Tennessee handle the stern winch. Pictured from left are ABs William Dize, Chris Conway, Ron Zurek and S. Seiler. Seafarers LOG 5 �Steward Recertification Is New "Beginning Point" Seven Recent Graduates Agree Class Is Start of New Careers For the seven graduates of the steward recertification program, completion of the five-week course last month marked not a point of fulfillment but rather a point of departure for the remainder of their seafaring careers. This was one of several themes expressed by the Seafarers as they received their diplomas at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. William Bunch, Gerald Figg, Lanette Lopez, Jeffrey · Smith, Salvatore Torneo and Dwight Wuerth (as well as Lucille Aguilar, who was unable to attend the graduation ceremonies) delivered their thoughts about the course and about the state of the maritime industry as they accepted certificates documenting their successful completion of the class-the highest curriculum availFollowing the graduation ceremony, which was held during the Ma~ch me~bership meeting in Piney able at the Paul Hall Center for Point, Md., the recertified stewards are congratulated by SIU President Mtcha~I Sacco (center) and Seafarers who sail in the steward Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez (right front). They are (from I~~) Gerald Figg, Salvatore Torneo, department. Dwight Wuerth, Sacco, Jeffrey Smith, Lanette Lopez, Tellez and Wilham Bunch. "I guess that I had a feeling that this was a point of completion," Bunch, 49, stated. "But now I see that it is a beginning point for the remainder of my career as a Seafarer." Bunch joined the SIU in 1990 in the port of San Francisco. Pride in the union was another issue expounded upon by the graduates. "We are very lucky to have the quality of training made available to us," added Bunch, who currently sails from the port of Piney Point, "and at no monetary cost to the individual. I do not know of any qther industry that would house, feed and educate their members." He also had some words of wisdom for the trainees: "You are entering into a great future of learning, travel and adventure. Take advantage of life's opportunites as they present themselves and make the most of them. Seafaring is a wonderful life." Lopez echoed Bunch's opinion that sailing is a great way to make a living. "Like most of you," she said, "I've been fortunate enough to have sailed around the world. If it wasn't for shipping, I would never have had Students take turns applying the first aid skills that opportunity." William Bunch, who believes that sailing is a they have learned. Here, Salvatore Torneo preThe 33-year-old member, who wonderful way to make a living, prepares crepes tends to be the victim while Dwight Wuerth ties sails from the port of Jacksonville, in the Lundeberg School's culinary lab. a knot in the sling. noted that the steward recertification course helped her recognize the full importance of the union. She joined the SIU in Honolulu in 1984 and knows the value of a Piney Point education, having previously attended five upgrading classes there. Lopez added that contributions to SPAD are a small price to pay for her job security. "When I get asked what it means to be a merchant mariner," she told those assembled at the membership meeting, "I say it's about traveling around the world and making good money, it's about fighting to keep the American shipping industry alive so I can continue to ship for years to come, it's about being a part of one of the best industries in America-an industry I'm proud to be a part of!" ''Today's shipping demands continuing your education and staying morally and physically fit," said Torneo, 60, who directed his remarks to the trainees in the audience. "You are the future of the SIU," said the Speaking before those assembled at the March membership in Piney Point, Jacksonville member. "In this highMd., Jeff Smith says he will take what tech society, you can no longer afford Gerald Figg's arm sling is meticulously put in place by he has learned in the course back to to be good at your trade, you must be Lucille Aguilar and Lanette Lopez during practice in the the best." his fellow crewmembers. refresher first aid class. 6 Seafarers LOG Smith, 48 and an SIU member for 15 years, has returned to Piney Point five times for upgrading. "Being chosen for steward recertification has been my highest honor," the Seattle member said. ''This time was far and away the most productive encounter with Piney Point to date. The improvements made for the steward department trai~ing are most impressive. The new lab is well designed and functional. But the greatest improvement of all is the addition of Chef Allan [Sherwin]. He has proven to me to be both professional and insightful." Smith said he will take what he has learned in the course back to his fellow steward department members. Figg, 45, agreed with Smith about the high quality of the lab and especially about Chef Allan. "I have never been taught by someone with as much knowledge as Chef Allan," he said. "This was a really good experience and one I would highly recommend." Figg joined the Seafarers in 1971 in the port of San Francisco, from which he continues to sail. To those SIU members thinking about upgrading their skills at the Piney Point facility, Figg emphatically stated, "Don't pass up this opportunity. It's there for you." In addition to the steward recertification curriculum, the seven upgraders visited the union's headquarters in Camp Springs, Md., where they met representatives of the SIU's contracts, communications, government affairs and welfare, training, vacation and pension fund departments. Smith found these sessions helped him better understand the "complexity and hard work being performed on our membership's behalf." In his remarks, Wuerth, 45, expressed his thanks to the union leaders and membership. "Competing against foreign seamen, shipping companies and brokers is no easy task," he stated. "It is therefore important for all of us to give the most support we can to retain the jobs we have available. By contributing to SPAD, we can help give our leadership a greater wedge against the intruding elements we face." To. the trainees, he remarked, ''The union is here so that each individual can reach his or her full potential. So be all you can be. I am proud to be a member of the SIU. It has given me a chance to see the world in a different light. Only another Seafarer can understand the freedom that we enjoy." Wuerth, who sails from the port of Honolulu, joined the SIU in San Francisco in 1978. During the five-week session, the stewards were introduced to the culinary lab where they were brought upto-date on modern cooking techniques, practiced developing new, healthful menus and learned the safest food-sanitation practices. They also received training in the school's computer center, which will assist them when ordering stores. Refresher courses in CPR. first aid and firefighting were required of the students in order to complete their program. With shipboard safety of paramount importance aboard SIU vessels, Smith noted, "I would recommend that all SIU members return to Piney Point every few years to brush up on these skills. I was surprised to learn how much I had forgotten." April 1997 �Hall Center Upgrades Steward Curriculum The Paul Hall Center last month completed a comprehensive upgrade of its steward department curriculum, including new, modular classes (meaning they contain distinctly separate and measured segments of instruction) and an emphasis on seatime requirements between courses. The improvements are designed to ensure that the SIU continues turning out galley personnel "who are qualified and able to do the best job possible," noted Allan Sherwin, director of culinary education at the center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The restructured cunjculum also should make it more convenient for Seafarers to attend courses at the school in Piney Point, Md., Sherwin added. (See sidebar for a list of courses.) "I'm excited about it," stated Chief Cook Gwendolyn Shin· holster, who began her sailing career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1976, two years before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. "It's important to upgrade at the school, but the mix of sailing and classes will be good." "I think it sounds excellent," agreed Chief Cook Judi Chester, a 12-year member of the Seafarers. "It will add a degree of professionalism in the shipping industry. We'll get (a greater number of) professional chefs through these changes, and the ships will benefit." At the Paul Hall Center 1. Unlicensed Apprentice Courses Includes a 20-hour shipboard sanitation class and a 20·hour galley familiarization class. After students complete 90 days' seatime in the apprentice program, those who choose to sail in 1he steward department will return to the school for a four-week galley operations class. Galley operations features a pair of twoweek modules. 2. Galley Operations II Chester and Shinholster last month completed the first certified chief cook class that utilized a modular structure. They and their fellow upgraders voiced strong approval of the revamping of not only that class, but the overall galley curriculum. "This will help members advance to the next level. I think it'll be a good program," observed Kevin Harris, who graduated from the Lundeberg School in 1981. Harris added that the continuity of steward courses will facilitate steady progression for Seafarers. Mark Dyer said that while the new arrangement features very challenging courses, "it will benefit the school and the union. In order to successfully complete this program, you have to really want to be in the merchant marine. "I think the school needed this kind of change," added Dyer, an eight-year member who sails from the port of New York. Members mus1have120 days' seatime to enroll after completing the unlicensed apprentice program. Non·graduates must have 365 days' seatime as an SA to enroll. The course consists of two, two·week modules (for a total of four weeks). Each module includes 35 hours, with additional time served in the schoors galley operations. number of prestigious culinary institutions. "Additionally, we have assembled a group of firstrate, professional instructorsincluding Tim Stephenson, the executive chef, and Eileen Hager, the lead instructor in the culinary lab-to provide quality education to the upgraders. "We're also really trying to instill a sense of professionalism in all the courses," he added. "The steward department interfaces with everyone on a ship, every day, so they have a big impact on morale. We're reminding upgraders that it's not just the food you're serving, it's how you do it." For more information about enrolling in Lundeberg School courses, see the application on page 23 in this LOG, ask a port agent or contact the admissions office at (301) 994-0010, extension 5202. 3. Certified Chief Cook Members must have 180 days' seatime after completing advanced galley operations to enroll. The course consists of six, two-week modu1es that are stand-alone -(for a total of 12 weeks). This s1ructure aUow~ eligible upgraders to enroH at the start of any mod· ute. 4. Advanced Galley Operations Members must have 180 aays' seatime after complet· ing certified chief cook to enroll. The course consists of four one-week modules (for a total of four weeks). 5. Chief Steward Chief Cook Course Members must have 180 days• seatime after completing advanced food preparation to enroll. This is a 12-week class. One important change is that the certified chief cook course is being offered in six, two-week modules, for a total of 12 weeks. Because none of the modules is a prerequisite to any other, effective immediately, eligible upgraders may enroll at the start of any of the six modules. Additionally, after completing at least three modules (a total of six weeks), upgraders who have an opportunity to ship out may do so. They then would have one year from their departure date to return to Piney Point and finish the other three modules. (Of course, students also may complete each of the modules in succession.) "The main idea is to make accessibility to the school more flexible," explained Sherwin, who has earned certifications from a Floyd Bishop (left) and Kevin Harris share a work station in the lecture/demonstration galley. Aprll 1997 ·New -Steward .~pt. Curriculum 6. Recertified Chief Steward This six-week class is the most advanced curriculum available to Seafarers sailing in the steward department. Seafarers must be futl·book members and must have seatime and/or training as list· ed on the application in order to apply tor enrollment. (A panel of three Seafarers from each year's final recertification course reviews the applications and selects the following year's class members.) Mark Dyer prepares his work surface before beginning a cooking exercise at the Paul Hall Center. Following instructions at the center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship is Donald Sneed. Frequent upgrader Judi Chester believes the new curriculum will benefit all Seafarers. Seafarers LOG 7 �The replacement bridge joint, lying on its side aboard the barge, waits for the Luedtke crews to put it into place. Luedtke Seafarers Difficult Repair Job SIU-crewed Luedtke Engineering Co. tugs, dredges and marine construction equipment can typically be spotted throughout the Great Lakes region hard at work, doing everything from installing marine breakwalJs to dredging harbors. Recently, however, these Great Lakes Seafarers performed a very different assignment. In January, they were called on to orchestrate an intricate railroad bridge repair in River Rouge, Mich. under extremely challenging conditions. Others Had Failed Welder Shannon Jensen carries a piece of support steel up a ladder to brace the bridge. The Norfolk Southern railroad bridge stretches across the River Rouge, located just outside Detroit. It is a lift bridge which raises entirely to one side to allow marine traffic to pass through. Late last year, one of the pins located in the joint (or arm) that lifts the bridge into the air broke. The SIU-contracted company was chosen after two construction companies. attempted the job, but abandoned it due to the complexity of the repair. After a detailed inspection of the bridge, Luedtke determined that the pin was severely deteriorated and could not be removed and replaced. The entire bridge joint had to be exchanged. In order for Seafarers to safely conduct the repair, the bridge was shut down for the first time since its construction in 1929. The closure of the bridge cut off all river traffic to the Ford Rouge Plant, two oil docks and a major steel factory located on the other side of the structure. According to the Frankfort, Mich. company, this was the first time that Luedtke SIU crews attempted a job of this magnitude. "I think we were successful members were on hand when the where others failed because we bridge reopened in February. approached the job from a marine Seafaren Commended standpoint," Luedtke Engineering Tom Zakovich, a Luedtke proPresident Kurt Luedtke told a ject manager, stated, "It felt really reporter for the Seafarers LOG. "All the work and equipment good to see the bridge raise on the could be accessed by the crews first try. "All the crews did an outstandfrom our barge which stood fully loaded and anchored next to the ing job. However, the night shift bridge. The other companies tried guys had it even rougher because to base everything on the shore. It of the extreme temperatures," was impossible for them," he Zakovich, who worked the night shift, said. added. "Our Seafarers came through Using a large crane, Seafarers lifted the bridge 40 feet into the once again," noted Luedtke. "It is air and used massive steel never easy to work around-thecolumns to support its 500-ton clock, but doing it outside in weight so they could exchange January is really tough. They did a great job. They are an excellent the parts. With the columns secured, crew and really put forth a team Seafarers removed the old joint effort to get the job done safely and replaced it with the newly and successfully," the company president added. constructed piece. Seafarers who worked the day Algonac SIU Representative Don Thornton, who provided the shift during the bridge repair job photos accompanying this article, included Leonard Valentine, Kevin said, "After visiting the members Hollenbeck, Randy Johnson, in the dead of winter and seeing Shannon Jensen and Todd the task at hand, I really got an Smeltzer. Joining Zakovich during appreciation of just how difficult the night work were Richard the job was. These are dedicated, Arnold, Fred Gunn, Jason Beyhard-working men and there was ette and R~ll Wygant SIU members crew the companever a doubt in my mind that they could finish a job that no one ny's tugboats, launches, dredges, -derricboats and other types of else on the Lakes could." After six weeks of laborious, self-prope11ed vessels and floataround-the-clock work, the SIU ing equipment. Difficult Circumstances Oredgeman Randy Johnson (left) and Captam/Dredgeman Kevin Hollenbeck put bolts in place on the new bridge joint. B Seafarers LOS Seafarers spent two weeks in Frankfort at the Luedtke yard building the replacement joint so it would be ready for immediate setup. In extremely cold temperatures with thick river ice and snow showers, Seafarers arrived in River Rouge on January 1 with Luedtke equipment. In order to get the job done in the quickest time, the SIU crews worked 24hours-a-day in two 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. Using the crane, Seafarers prepare to lift the bridge 40 feet into the air. Massive steel columns already in place will secure the weight of the bridge before Seafarers remove the broken piece. April 1997 �Detroit Newspaper Workers Continue to Fight for Jobs Even though Detroit newspaper workers have offered to return to work despite the lack of a contract, the bitter battle goes on as the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press continue their union-busting tactics by refusing to honor the offer and reinstate the more than 2,000 workers replaced by scabs 20 months ago. On February 14, the unions representing the striking newspaper workers extended an unconditional offer to the publishers to return to work while a new contract is negotiated. However, as the Sea/are rs LOG went to press, none of the strikers had been called back to their jobs at the papers. While the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press superficially accepted the return-towork offer, they stated they "would rehire the strikers as vacancies occur." The papers have refused to dismiss the scabs and rehire the workers who went out on strike on July 13, 1995. According to the unions, the refusal of the newspapers to honor the unrestricted return of all workers is equal to a lockout. "The strike [isn't] over," stated Detroit Newspaper Guild President Lou Mleczko. "We're going to escalate it." The unions have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Gannett and KnightRidder news chains for not immediately reinstating all strikers. (Gannett owns the afternoon Detroit News, while Knight-Ridder owns the morning Detroit Free Press.) The NLRB can order the companies to fire the scab workers and take back a11 strikers who wish to return. The two papers hired thousands of nonunion workers from other newspaper affi Ii ates across the country to replace the union members when the strike began. Additionally, if the companies continue delaying the rehiring of the workers in an unfair labor practice dispute, the NLRB can make the newspaper chains pay liabilities of up to $250,000 per day from the date the unconditional offer was made. Meanwhile, the NLRB also has yet to rule on the union members' initial unfair labor practice charge, which states that the companies forced the strike by failing to bargain in good faith. If the NLRB rules that the strike was due to an unfair labor practice, the publishers will be required to pay an estimated $80 million in back pay to the workers. Al Derey, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 372 (one of the unions involved in the strike) and chairman of the Metropolitan Council of Newspaper Unions, noted the significance of the Detroit strike is "more than just our jobs and families. We've been fighting for all American working fami- ~ril 1997 lies who are fed up with greedy corporations that destroy communities and good jobs in the name of profits." (The strikers are represented by the Metropolitan Council of Newspaper Unions. They include drivers, circulation employees, reporters, photographers, mailers, copy editors, artists, graphic workers, press operators, printers and engravers.) Pledge of Support At its winter meeting in Los Angeles, the AFL-CIO Executive Council (of which SIU President Michael Sacco is a vice president) pledged to support an escalated fight for a contract by the Detroit workers. As part of the effort, the executive council approved a plan for an international show of labor solidarity in Detroit on June 20 and 21. Thousands of trade union activists from throughout the U.S. are expected to attend Action! Motown '97, consisting of two days of rallies and mass demonstrations against the union-busting practices of the Detroit News and Free Press. Meanwhile, pressure on the Detroit publications continues through circulation and advertising boycotts, public campaigns and demonstrations. This heightened effort by the AFLCIO and striking unions to resolve the dispute aims to increase financial and boycott pressure in every city where Gannett or Knight-Ridder has a newspaper. Such pressure succeeded in February when Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, announced she would resign as a member of the Gannett board in May. According to the unions, the advertiser and subscriber boycott has already caused the papers to lose $250 million. Additionally, more than 700,000 readers and 1,300 advertisers have withdrawn their support of the two publications. The workers went on strike in 1995 after negotiations failed to formulate a new agreement. Management at the two papers were demanding an end to overtime pay; 200 job cuts; concessions on health care, sick leave and vacation; restrictions on grievance procedures; shifting of some full-time jobs to parttime without benefits; and the elimination of 1,600 news carriers' jobs. The Detroit Sunday Journal, produced by the striking union members and supported by numerous Detroit-area advertisers, continues gaining in circulation. SIU members can help the Detroit workers in their struggle against the Free Press and News and their corporate parents, Knight-Ridder and Gannett by not buying either of the scab papers or any other papers affiliated with the companies, like The Miami Herald and USA Today. The Methodist Hospital Institute for Preventive Medicine is located just minutes from the Houston union hall. AB Johnnie August, a graduate of the entry program at Piney Point, gets a checkup from nurse Gwen Turbinton at the new clinic in New Orleans. Welfare Plan Opens New Clinics For Members in New Orleans, Houston The Seafarers Welfare Plan (SWP) has designated two new occupational health clinics for SIU members in the New Orleans and Houston areas. The clinics, both associated with leading academic medical institutions, were chosen to improve members' access to high quality care and prompt, efficient service. Both medical clinics specialize in occupational health and preventive medicine. Clinic Moves from Hall On January 6, Tulane Occupational Health Clinic at the Tulane University Hospital and Medical Center took over as the Seafarers Welfare Plan-contracted clinic in New Orleans. It replaced the clinic located in the New Orleans union hall. The new facility, only five miles from the union hall, is located at 1415 Tulane Avenue on LaSalle (next to the hospital's emergency room). It is easily accessible to New Orleans-area Seafarers. "This new agreement [with the Tulane clinic] will allow members to receive their required clinical services in a single location," said Dr. Kenneth Miller, Seafarers Welfare Plans medical director. "The entire medical center with all of its resources will be available to the members and their dependents. This will greatly enhance the resolution of any medical problems that may arise," Dr. Miller stated. A group of occupational health and preventive medicine specialists, capable of handling the medical requirements of SIU members, is on staff at the clinic. Among the services that the Tulane clinic and medical center provide are pre-employment physicals, physicals required for U.S. Coast Guard licenses, annual examinations, diagnostic studies (including X-rays, MRI and CT scans), hearing tests, vision and glaucoma screenings, blood tests, drug screens, pulmonary function tests, cardiovascular studies (including stress testing and EKG), motor coordination tests and health risk assessments. Seafarers who have visited the new facility give it positive reviews. Chief Cook John Foster said he likes the friendly atmosphere of the new clinic. "I went in for my annual physical and drug test, and they took good care of me. The doctors and nurses are very polite and courteous," stated Foster, who recently signed off the Overseas Vivian. Darrell Jones, an AB who also went to the New Orleans clinic for his annual physical, said, "The medical service was fast and efficient. It is a very nice place and is a convenient location. I particularly liked the free parking garage located just across the street from the clinic. I was in and out very quickly," noted Jones, who just completed a tour aboard the Sulphur Enterprise. When visiting the Tulane facility, Seafarers will recognize the friendly face of nurse Gwen Turbinton, who worked at the clinic in the New Orleans union hall for nine years. "This location is better for serving the membership, and I am glad to be continuing my work with the SIU members. Some of the younger Seafarers became so much a part of my daily life that they became like my kids. It is great to hear that everyone is pleased with our new location," said Turbinton. The Tulane Occupational Health Clinic hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. New Site In Texas Beginning April 7, Seafarers in the Houston area may use the Methodist Hospital Institute for Preventive Medicine, an affiliate of Baylor College of Medicine and Occupational Health. The SWP-contracted clinic is located at 6565 Fannin Street, South Tower Suite #583, about three miles from the union hall. "The Institute for Preventive Medicine and the Occupational Health Program are uniquely positioned to provide high quality rapid evaluation, appropriate recommendations for follow-up, and immediate referral to a wide range of physicians and services," said Dr. Miller. The Baylor College of Medicine and the Methodist Hospital have an extensive history of collaboration in patient care, education and research. Seafarers and their families may use the various inpatient treatment programs as well as the hospital's other diagnostic and treatment services. The hospital is recognized by several prestigious medical journals as one of the best medical institutes in America. Additionally, it is among the largest non-profit health care providers in the U.S. The Methodist Hospital Institute includes dozens of skilled physicians who specialize in cardiovascular surgery, cancer and epilepsy treatment, obstetrics/gynecology, endoscopic surgery, otolaryngology, neurology, orthopedics, urology and more. The Methodist Hospital Institute for Preventive Medicine is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Welfare Plan determined that the Tulane University Occupational Health clinic and the Methodist Hospital Institute for Preventive Medicine clinic were best able to provide all the medical services required by Seafarers and their dependents. Additionally, both centers are very well respected within the medical community, according to Dr. Miller. In accordance with the usual procedure, Seafarers wishing to use the services of either clinic should first go to their respective union hall to receive the necessary medical authorization before proceeding to the clinic for their annual physical examinations and drug tests. For all other medical services, Seafarers and their families may utilize either medical center since both institutions will accept the Seafarers Welfare Plan medical insurance. Seafarers LOG 9 �Getting together with families and friends during the year, especially at holiday times, is often difficult for traveling Seafarers. These snapshots are reminders of the loved ones who sometimes are temporarily left behind-but never forgotten. As always, the LOG welcomes your photos and will publish them on a periodic basis. 10 Seafarers LOii April 1997 �1'.lariti111e Briefs Hall Center's Self-Certification Training Under Way Rep. Evans Sponsors House Version Of Merchant Mariners Fairness Act Rep. Lane Evans (D-111.) last month introduced a bill that would extend veterans' benefits to merchant mariners who sailed during the latter stages of World War II. The Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997 (H.R. 1126) has been referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for consideration. Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) introduced similar legislation, also known as the Merchant Mariners Fairness Act. That bill is awaiting action by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Both the House and Senate versions have bipartisan backing, and the SIU supports both pieces of legislation. At issue is the fact that World War II merchant mariners have a different cutoff date for veterans' status (August 15, 1945, the day the Japanese surrendered) than members of the U.S. military (December 31, 1946, when hostilities officially were declared ended by President Harry Truman). Merchant mariners who first shipped out after August 15, 1945 are not considered war veterans, even though military personnel who began serving after that date received war veterans' status. The discrepancy stems from a 1988 decision by the Defense Department. "My legislation simply would correct this discriminatory practice by making the service eligibility period for merchant mariners identical to that provided for other veterans," Rep. Evans said in a March 13 letter sent to the other members of the House. He further noted that between August 15, 1945 and December 31, 1946, "12 U.S.-flag merchant vessels were lost or damaged as a result of striking mines. Some of the merchant mariners serving on these vessels were killed or injured." During previous sessions of Congress, the SIU testified in support of bills similar to the Merchant Mariners Fairness Act of 1997. In those remarks, the union pointed out that there were 20,000 U.S. merchant seamen whose initial voyages barely were preceded by the Japanese surre.nder. Those crews were p:epar~ to sail into combat zones, and they stlll faced danger from float.mg mmes and from carrying explosives. Trial Expected to Occur in Taiwan For 6 Charged in Stowaway Murders Six Taiwanese officers accused by their shipmates of killing three Romanian stowaways apparently will face prosecution in their native country, according to press reports. The mariners last month were released from Canada, where they had been detained during an investigation of last year's incident in which they allegedly injured the stowaways and then forced them off the Maersk Dubai and into the North Atlantic. The ship subsequently arrived in Canada last May, where the Filipino crew fled the vessel and reported the alleged murders to Canadian authorities. Taiwan and Romania each wanted to try the seamen. Last month, a Canadian judge freed them after ruling that he did not have authority to order their extradition to Romania. But the officers remained in Canada pending an appeal; during that time, the Taiwanese government apparently convinced Canada that the men would face prosecution in Taipei. The mariners were expected to return to Taiwan to face murder charges, according to newspaper accounts. ITF Wins Record Back·Pay Total For Merchant Mariners in 1996 The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) last year secured an estimated $35 million in back pay owed to mariners on runaway-flag ships. This represents the largest annual total of such payments won by the London-based organization, and it more than doubles the amount secured in 1995. "We hope this overall improvement will ·prove to rogue shipowners that they cannot continue underpaying and cheating seafarers," stated ITF Assistant General Secretary Mark Dickinson. The ITF represents about 10 million transportation employees from more than 470 trade unions worldwide, including the SIU. The Seafarers Section of the ITF, which is chaired by SIU Executive Vice President John Fay, has inspectors throughout the world assisting crews of runaway-flag ships and working to ensure the shipowners are held accountable. Edd Morris and Spiro Varras are the SJU's ITF inspectors; last year, they helped secure back wages for a number of crews aboard runaway-flag ships. The ITF also assists as many crews as possible that need help, whether or not their vessels are runaway-flag ships. American Hawaii Cruises Starts Scholarship Program SIU-contracted American Hawaii Cruises (AHC) recently announced t~at ~t has establis~ed an $80,000 scholarship program for Hawaii public high ~ch~ol semors who plan to attend the University of Hawaii sys- tem (which mcludes community colleges) beginning this fall. All Hawaii public high school seniors ranking in the top 15 percent of their graduating classes are eligible to apply for the $2,000 scholarships, to be given to one student from each of the state's 40 public high schools. As a condition of accepting a scholarship, recipients must agree to participate in two community service activities during the year as arranged and coordinated by the University of Hawaii's office of student affairs. Additionally, all applicants must submit an essay detailing their insights into the value of good citizenship and service to the community. Scholarship winners will be chosen by committees of counselors, teachers and administrators from each school. The recipients and their parents will be hosted at an awards reception aboard the Independence in Honolulu on May 10. April 1997 The Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. late last year became one of the first maritime training facilities in the United States to receive U.S. Coast Guard approval for self-certification courses. Upgraders quickly took advanta~e of t~e three classes that received the self-certification designation, including lifeboatman/water survival (pictured above), tankerman asistant DL and LNG familiarization. Upon completing those courses, students will take a Coast Guard-approved Lundeberg School exam, rather than a test administered by the agency. This means students will not have to pay a testing fee for the self-certification courses. In this photo, Seafarers perform various drills involving a covered life raft. Kudos to Silas Bent Galley Crew SIU members sailing in the steward department aboard the USNS Silas Bent recently received a certificate of appreciation from their fe1low crewmembers and the U.S. Navy scientific detachment working aboard the oceanographic surveillance ship. Chief Cook Enrique "King" Garrido, Cooks Kevin Cushing and Israel Caldwell and General Vessel Assistants Ursula Canci, Mo Zaidan, Bridgette Manning and Tl"acy Smith were given the certificate, which reads, "For Excellence in Food Service in 1997." In the final report of two surveys conducted by the Silas Bent in January and February, the senior representative of the surveillance group, David B. Richardson, wrote, "The wide variety of food offered has been of high quality and extremely well-prepared. Room stewards have done a superior job of cleaning staterooms. The steward department as a whole has demonstrated a genuine dedication to their duties. Habitability as a whole has been excellent, and the relationship between the Naval Oceanographic Office Detachment and Dyn Marine [which operates the ship]/Silas Bent has been outstanding. ''I offer my personal thanks to the entire crew, who provided outstanding support in every phase of these operations." The Silas Bent is operated by Dyn Marine for the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Inquiring Seafarer Question: What was your most memorable trip as a Seafarer? (Asked of SIU members in the union hall in Wilmington, Calif.) John Stout, Recertified BosunThe Santa Maria in 1978. It was an old Delta Line ship. Twenty-six of us from New Orleans came out to sail her. It was a whole different operation from previous Delta ships. J.R. Wilson, Recertified Bosun-I was on the original crew of the Star of Texas. I sailed on • her for l 0 months. We went between Israel to Canada and Egypt to Canada. It was a new ship with a good crew. We were gone all the time. Ken McGregor, Recertified BosunThere's really only two good trips: the last one you made and the next one you'll take. Jerry Gianan1 Able Seaman-It was with the cable ship Long Lines. It was challenging and interesting. It is a different system with the cables. Amado Abaniel, Recertified BosunThe Delta Lines' Santa Juana going to South America. It was a boom ship and stayed in port a long time compared to today's ships. The South American people were very nice. Hank Henry, Able SeamanGoing up to Thule, Greenland in 1989 on the Lawrence Gianella. Just as I went on watch, we ran into an ice field and fog. I had first wheel; the other guy _was on the bow with a radio telling us where to head. By the time I was relieved, it was nice and clear. Richard Groening, QMED-A trip around the world aboard the Steel Traveler in the 1960s. I was just getting started in my career. I saw 35 ports in many countries. Ali Hassan, Steward/ BakerGoing to Alaska on my last trip. It was on the Overseas Juneau in the middle of winter. 1be water and weather were rough. Seafarers LOG 11 �During fitout, the Medusa Challenger was given a fresh coat of paint by Deckhand Dick Dewitte ( left) and AB Francis Read. Captain Richard Stropich is ready for another busy sailing season aboard the Joseph H. Thompson. SIU Members Begin the 1997 Sailing Season QMED Daniel Boutin attended upgrading courses at the Lundeberg School during winter layup. Above, resetting the electrical contacts aboard the Joseph H. Thompson is Engineer Gerald Demeuse. At left, Deckhand Jason Boyer reaches for a wrench on the hatch crane aboard the Joseph H. Thompson. Seafarers aboard the Joseph H. Thompson were the first Great Lakes members to kick off the 1997 sailing season when on March 9 the 620-foot tug/barge unit sailed from its winter berth in Escanaba, Mich. to the LTV Steel Mill in Indiana Harbor, Ind. Mild winter weather permitted a problem-free fitout for SIU members throughout the Lakes who early last month began reporting to their vessels to prepare for their work-packed schedules of 1997. The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., located between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, reopened at midnight on March 25. The opening of the locks traditionally signifies the beginning to the new sailing season. Because they did not have to wait for the Soo Locks to open to begin their 1997 runs, the Joseph H. Thompson and the SIU-crewed cement carriers Alpena, J.A. W. Iglehart and Medusa Challenger were the first four vessels of the season to set sail. Algonac, Mich. Port Representative Don Thornton, who provided the photos accompanying this story, met with Seafarers aboard the Joseph H. Thompson in Indiana Harbor and the Medusa Challenger in the port of Chicago. Fitout with a Smile "When I met the Joseph H. Thompson the sun was shining and it was about 55 degrees outside. Also, there was no ice on Lake Michigan which is pretty unusual for the Midwest at this time of year," Thornton recalled. He added that the crewmembers were in good spirits when they arrived in port, despite having sailed through a heavy snowstorm on Lake Michigan. "There was about two feet of snow on the deck when they docked in Chicago but it melted quickly in the sun. The crew was really happy to be working under cJear skies and sunshine, something that they are not used to during spring fitout," added the Algonac representative. ''The Joseph H. Thompson crewmembers are hard workers and they are geared up for another busy year of shuttling cargo throughout the Lakes," stated Thornton. Built in 1944, the Upper Lakes Towing tug and barge primarily transports iron ore, coal, stone and salt to ports like Detroit, Taconite Harbor, Minn., Cleveland and other ports along the Lakes. Weather Improves Morale Algonac Port Representative Don Thornton (standing) explains SIU medical benefits to crewmembers aboard the Joseph H. Thompson during a union meeting in the port of Indiana Harbor, Ind. 12 Seafarers LOG An emblem of the Greek mythological f ure Medusa is mounted on the stack the Medusa Challenger. It was "full steam ahead" for Seafarers aboard the Medusa Challenger when the Cement Transit vessel departed Chicago for Milwaukee on March 20. ''The boat was immaculate, freshly painted and looking better than ever," said Thornton, who held a union meeting with the Seafarers while in Mate Jerry Stropich makes sure the gate is clear aboard the Joseph H. Thompson. Engineer Wayne Stropich cleans the Joseph H. Thompson's fuel pump. the port of Chicago. "It was obvious they spent a lot of time preparing for fitout. The entire crew was very excited and ready to get back to sailing. It is amazing how much good weather can improv~ the morale of Seafarers here on the Great Lakes. It is very difficult to work in brutally cold weather." Seafarers aboard the Medusa Challenger agreed that the temperature during fitout helped give them a positive outlook of the busy season ahead. "It was a really mild and easy winter, and I'm looking forward to running the lakes," said the Medusa Challenger's Bosun Levi Sanford. "Good weather makes for a good fitout and ultimately, a good season," he added. Deckhand Dick Dewitte, who spent most of the winter layup relaxing in Mexico, said, "I thought I was returning to a regular Chicago winter with freezing winds, ice and snow. I was pleasantly surprised to find sunshine and temperatures above normal. It has been several years since we have had good weather for fitout. It is an indication of a successful sailing season," said Dewitte. One day prior to the departure of the Medusa Challenger from Chicago, the SIU-crewed J.A. W. Iglehart began the '97 season when it sailed · from Detroit to Alpena, Mich. On March 13, Seafarers aboard another Inland Lakes Management vessel, the Alpena, sailed out of Cleveland for Alpena. The cement boats are traditionally the first on the Great Lakes to set sail. In the last several years, however, ice, snow and sub-zero temperatures have caused fitout delays for t.he takers. The remaining SIU-crewed Great Lakes vessels began their voyages between the end of March and the first weeks of this month. April 1997 �The Joseph H. Thompson is a tug and barge unit built in 1944. Mounting a new fire extinguisher in a passageway aboard Conveyorman Ron Bojnovsky inspects a new auxiliary tne Medusa Challenger are Deckhand Michael Cushman room heater aboard the Medusa Challenger. (left) and Watchman Paul Bird. Medusa Challenger Bosun Levi Sanford says mild winter weather indicates good sailing on the Great Lakes. QMED/Deckhand Tom Courtney (left) ties up in the port of Chicago while, above, AB/Deckhand Grant Hult operates towing winch equipment aboard the Hannah D. Hannah. No Matter theWeather Conditions Hannah Tugs Never Slow on Great Lakes i-·- Deckhand Gary Dema Jr. (left) and QMED/Deckhand Wayne Hill take apart a pipe for a water feed line aboard the Hannah D. Hannah. April 1997 Helping QMED/Deckhand Tom Courtney (right) fill out medical forms is Algonac Port Representative Don Thornton. AB Chris Gabrielsen enjoys the sunshine during fitout. There are no breaks in the calendar for Hannah Marine tugboats and barges or their SIU crews, who operate year-round on the Great Lakes. As Seafarers on the Lakes began reporting back to their vessels last month, members aboard these workhorses had been sailing throughout the entire winter. During a union meeting aboard the tug and barge combination, Hannah D. Hannah last month, crewmembers told Algonac, Mich. Port Representative Don Thornton that while the ice, snow and cold temperatures typical of the Great Lakes region are difficu]t to work in, crewmembers are always very careful. "We are always concerned about the weather at this time of the year on Lake Michigan," stated AB/Deckhand Grant Hult. "But with modern technology and constant communication with the U.S. Coast Guard and one another, we are always one step ahead of the winter conditions to get our job done safely," he said. "The SIU members aboard the Hannah boats are extremely dedicated to their jobs," noted Thornton. "The weather on the Lakes in January, February, March and even early April can be brutal. These guys keep going to get the work done." The Hannah D. Hannah and her sister tug, the Mary Page Ha,nnah, spent the winter moving freight barges from South Chicago to Indiana Harbor and Burns Harbor, Indiana. The Margaret M. Hannah and the Daryl C. Hannah also continued operations during the winter months to fill the demand for petro]eum products throughout the Chicago harbor. The remarnmg SIU-crewed Hannah tug to work January through December, the Mary E. Hannah, moved an aspha1t barge from Indiana Harbor to Milwaukee. Seafarers LOG 13 �,J {avin7 a ish OU POSTCARDS from a PINEY POINT VACATION HZ.., We're ha11inJ b Ye1ter,ay we ~,.::e ~·,{!'W,/y_liJ.reat time. 1 5>0 minuteJ aw o a1 znJtonon'.)' at Jome of the m . ")':-to take a look ton Monument z1or '1zte1: the Wa1hi~J­ the Capitol 11 ,;,,0 ; 11.eo n Memorial an/' hoP.e .to Jot; the A!:th~rJ. Tomorrow we Baltzmore. The ii arzum zn {hark exhibit 1.!01.eJly ha11e a Jreat uo, we 'on 't k~ow ere J }Ult lo mucli to ~urtaccommo~atio:Sh:;~io 1;art1flr1t. en er are very , ,~ e r au "JI4 tt fjoo zl Jre11-t! CfJui'J'i{rtaffile, an' the /Jlace to I/en~ 4 ""'"t. 4 1 or 4 better M"}'be 11ext zo11.. See you in 4 f:~r{."u'tt j"in u1! 4 th Say hi to J'I. lo11 Dear Charlie k~d Su~lon at the Pau\ Hall Our two wee -s ~aca Point ore rapidly Center here in, Pin~he first week we pret· coming to a c ose. h I It's in a ty much stayed at t~e sceso~e art of J.'~~rwe~t b~ating on very peaceMfu\ southern ary an · k d Jim even the St. Ge~rge's Crth~e~nit back). I got caught a f 1sh_(b~ hoo\'s Olympic-size my e><~rc1se '\ t d ~hen tried out their swimming poo an We la ed a few sets modern.heal~h·~~f· enerall~ relaxed. The of tennis an J . some tourin of the rd ~~~~~~!!! =~ Join the many Seafarers and their families who have discovered the additional benefits of fun and recreation provided by the Paul Hall Center. Simply fill out and mail the application printed below, and you will have taken the first step toward a vacaDear Fellow Shipm~tesd Piney Point with I had al:vays asls~c::ver before thou~ht tion you and your family will talk about for years. upgrading. but a end my vacation about it as ay\ace ~a~p It has been really Crew of -------------~----~~--~~--, SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER with the family. looh w .do in the area W 1 Vacation Reservation Information fun. !here's so ~~~e family happy. We've clo Shi~ keep everyone I I ca\ fairs and craft I been w a coupe o \on the unspoiled San fra1 Name: shows. wand~red fcniZlunches with us. : Social Security number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book number: _ _ _ __ shoreline, taking P. ·...-·n/] the Maryland nioyed VISI vi ':::.I d hp ·d The k ' s e :.i. f the square-rigge s I I Address:------------------------Dove. a replica o . settlers from 1 that brought thMe fir~;nd shores. I really I England w the ~ry .........,oa;:;.t:;l..u:;·J.C..1...J·u....1.-1.~;...._------. I Telephone number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ think they're \earning so UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES : Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: process. LO A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School Check the latest is limited to two weeks per family. 3rd choice: _ __ 2nd choice: _ __ I Date of arrival: 1st choice: and start thinking Member $40.40/day (Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks) about your summer vac Spouse 9.45/day Child 9.45/day Date of departure: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ r-------- - Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed above include all meals. Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. L---------~-------~-------~---------~ 14 Seafarers LOG April 1997 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea May & Jane 1997 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1997 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 19 5 7 15 Mobile 12 ~ !lU~y.g~jnt Algonac Totals Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile 0 2 2 7 0 1 376 3 252 0 60 9 10 7 15 6 0 2 5 16 3 0 0 0 2 10 16 2 4 17 12 0 15 20 15 16 24 20 5 14 1 10 16 10 2 1 9 3 0 5 7 6 9 21 18 25 18 4 1 2 2 0 0 3 l 2 3 1 0 180 133 21 88 2 2 203 4 148 5 0 1 1 30 10 8 11 10 4 2 1 6 0 2 11 2 10 2 5 7 14 0 13 1 1 0 2 6 6 l 13 7 6 2 15 2 1 4 9 11 2 5 10 5 5 5 14 8 2 2 3 8 0 4 8 6 0 5 12 5 0 0 3 Honolulu 13 4 6 10 18 83 101 ·15 4 9 19 4 6 8 9 Puerto Rico 5 26 1 4 7 6 lJ 4 1 1 0 6 17 7 1 0 0 2 16 12 4 31 17 10 10 26 2 6 10 20 1 0 1 2 1 3 1.6 4 1 9 3 7 3 12 2 6 3 0 Baltimore Norfolk Mobile 4 2 5 0 1 0 3 ·:·S~n .~f<Jllt::i~f.9. 3 8 14 30 . ~lmU'lgton . 15 Seattle Puerto Rico New Orleans j~ckson~lie" Honolulu "'Ho1JSton i':$t•.:.l.i>uis :,?iney Point Algonac Totals Port · NewYork ,!>~iladelphia • Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco 0 17 1 0 2 20 23 4 4 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 9 8 9 9 8 4 11 2 3 9 2 .0 0 11 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 2 62 0 0 1 0 0 0 15 107 50 8 136 10 0 0 2 6 2 4 Honolulu St. Louis 6 1 O Piney Point 0 7 31 6 0 19 17 2 2 9 7 0 12 7 15 Jacksonville ..............Thursday: May 8, June 5 Algonac ....................Friday: May 9, June 6 Houston ....................Moriday: May 12, June 9 New Orleans ............Tuesday: May 13, June 10 Mobile ...................... Wednesday: May 14, June 11 San Francisco ...........Thursday: May 15, June 12 Tacoma ..................... Friday: May 23, June 20 San Juan .. ~ ................Thursday: May 8, June 5 St. Louis~ ................ ~.Friday:'May 16, June 13 Honolulu .................. Friday: May 16, June 13 Duluth ..................... .Wednesday: May 14, June 11 N~':.'1. Be<fford ....... :....Tuesday: May 20, June 17 6 4 5 8 0 0 8 0 0 2 7 3 0 1 1 0 98 21 0 0 69 247 l 0 0 16 l RED BOLTON Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Red Bolton, who sailed with the SIU in the 1960s and '70s, please contact his cousin, Tom Bolton, at 1524 Lloyd Court, Wheaton, IL 60187; or telephone (630) 668-7065. MICHAELANTHONYJOHNSON Please contact J. Craig at 1154 Basil Street, Mobile, AL 36603. 8 0 JOSEPH Z. PERONA Anyone with any information on Joseph Z. Perona, who sailed during the 1950s and 1960s, please contact his niece, Lucille Makela, at 3116 Tunnel Street, Calumet, MI 49913. Steering the Cleveland 30 2 3 19 7 3 15 20 11 20 2 36 13 2 4 6 1 0 8 3 11 3 4 1 6 50 3 0 0 4 3 52 2 19 2 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 2 4 11 6 11 17 2 3 2 20 10 23 9 4 11 23 22 8 9 1 15 34 6 3 6 4 8 7 15 3 23 0 2 4 44 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 18 23 6 1 6 8 7 49 9 43 0 5 2 0 3 11 0 ) 11 0 150 0 68 0 0 0 0 0 0 434 108 208 0 51 187 0 97 0 0 46 510 508 160 416 0 20 0 0 12 1 17 7 0 2 0 0 15 1 0 83 0 287 0 152 793 265 909 *''Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 1997 Norfolk .....................Thursday: May 8, June 5 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Puerto Rico Totals All Departments . ii 3 2 13 10 11 24 54 24 34 1 0 6 0 3 4 0 9 3 5 4 1 0 0 8 6 5 Algonac Totals j 0 :·«<· 2 · . ·· ...... '()' 3 7 2 5 9 3 4 Wilmington Seattle Houston 3 1 2 Baltimore .......•.........Thursday: May 8, June 5 Personal . New York 2 Philadelphia ............. Wednesday: May 7. June 4 Jersey City ............... Wednesday: May 21, June 18 Port Philadelphia New York .................Tuesday: May 6, June 3 Wilmington .............. Monday: May 19, June 16 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 11 9 8 3 Seattle 3 20 9 5 · Wilmington 39 0 4 1 1 New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco 12 4 7 13 10 22 25 20 30 32 5 24 28 l 0 Port New York 13 3 9 9 9 2 5 10 15 17 33 49 36 32 48 23 16 12 0 1 4 I I 11 7 13 .·st>LOu1s ·" 26 13 3 6 3 6 23 Puerto Rico Honolulu .~MBu~~~ 47 27 2 4 3 New Orleans · · · · ·· **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Piney Point ...............Monday: May 5, June 2 13 .Jac;~yille . San Frilncisco ·s~a1ti~' Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk 'WiJini~gt(Jil TOTAL SIDPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Deck department Seafarers aboard the Cleveland get hands-on experience steering the ship during meal relief. These photos, sent to the LOG by Bosun David Garoutte, show OS Dan Bonfanti (left) and DEU Ryan Neathery taking their turns at the wheel while the Victory Maritime vessel was en route to Ploce, Croatia. Seafarers LOG 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Onion Directory FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1997 Michael Sacco President CL-Company/Lakes John Fay Executive Vice President Vice President Contracts George McCartney Vice President West Coast Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron KeUey Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Co~ey Vice President Gulf Coast ... ~ HEADQUARTERS 520 I Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 5 0 36 0 15 0 11 4 0 28 IO Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP David Heindel Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez NP - L-Lakes **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 1 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT I 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 0 35 5 0 14 1 0 11 4 0 26 10 86 0 0 4 0 90 20 Totals All Depts 0 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, Ml 48001 20 (810) 794-4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore Sc. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1997 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C (218) 722-41 lO HONOLULU 606 Ka1ihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast (808) 845-5222 8 12 Lakes, Inland Waters 26 1 West Coast 47 Totals Region HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 33 l ~ Libeny St. Jackwnville, FL 32206 . i1.::;:',:,w~~~~1. · . Jccmy City~ Atlantic Coast 1 Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters 13 0 West Coast 16 Totals Region Atlantic Coast 1 Gulf Coast 0 Lakes, Inland Waters 5 West Coast 7 Totals NJ 07302 (2Q I) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Da~phin bland Plcwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford 1 MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 7013-0 (.504) .529-7546 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY I 1232 NORFOLX l 15 Third St. Norfolk, YA 235 l 0 2604S" 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (30 I) 994-00 I0 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 333 I 6 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 341 I South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG 0 1 .0 10 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 DECK DEPARTMENT 0 2. 2 .·. 4 0 1 2 4 1 ENGINE DEPARTMENT . 0 I 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 ..... 0 .0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 :. ' 2 0 1 22 10 0 1 22 54 4 44 0 ··'?,' 0 16 0 0 0 18 1 5 2 0 0 ,() .J) 3 6 0 3 3 0 9 12 2 10 61 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST (7 37) 622- I892 PHILADELPHIA Santurce, PR 00907 l 0 0 7 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 82 8 5 I 29 20 Totals All Depts 70 1 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. (7 t 8) 499-66QQ 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 2 0 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 16~ Harold E. Crane, a former _ __,,~r­ Seafarer from Opelousas, La., sent the LOG the photo which appears at right. It was taken onboard the SS Del Norte, a Delta Lines vessel, at a time when many of the crewmembers wrote articles for the ship's newspaper, the Navigator. Crane is able to identify all but four of the individuals in the snapshot. From the left (front row) are Maurice "Duke" Duet, Frank Russo and Thurston Lewis. In the back row (from left} are Max Fabricant, Al Brindley, "Tex" Meting, two unidentified seamen, Harold Crane, Felix Amoura, another unidentified seaman, Joe '~he Grinder," and at far right is the fourth unidentified mariner. If anyone knows when this photo was taken or the names of the unidentified mariners, they are welcome If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with the LOG to write Harold Crane at 253 readership, it should be sent to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Bonnie Road, Opelousas, Photographs will be returned, if so requested. LA 70570-0856. April 1997 �- 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. F rom the 19 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month are one recertified bosun and one recertified steward whose combined years of active union membership represent more than 60. Recertified Bosun Frank R. Cottongin and Recertified Steward Oscar D. Johnson began their SIU careers during hte 1960s and have been sailing aboard deep sea vessels since. Joining Cottongin and Johnson, 12 of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division, four navigated the inland waterways, one plied the Great Lakes, one shipped in the Atlantic Fishermen's division and one worked in the railroad marine section. The oldest retiring member this month is a 70-year-old deep sea member, Chief Electrician Sam Hacker. Ten of the retiring SIU members served in the U.S. militarysix in the Army, two in the Air Force, one in the Navy and one in the Marine Corps. This month's pensioners are scattered throughout the country: six on the West Coast, six in the Gulf Coast states, five on the East Coast ancl one each in the Midwest ana Pueno Rico. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. DEEP SEA ALFRED BERTRAND, 65, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1961 from the port of Houston aboard the Hercules Victory. He worked in all three departments and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point. Md. A native of Texas, he last sailed aboard the Overseas Chicago as an AB in the deck department. From 1948 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Bertrand makes his home in Pasadena, Texas. ROBERTE. BLACKWELL,65, began sailing with the SIU in 1967 aboard the Steel Vendor, operated by Isthmian Lines. Born in Idaho, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement, he signed off the Sea-1.And Patriot. Brother Blackwell resides in Yreka, Calif. FRANKR. COTTONGIN, 61, started his career with the Seafarers in 1962. His first ship was the Robin Kirk, operated by Moore-McCormack. Brother Cottongin sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he April 1997 graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1980. A native of Florida, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1957. Brother Cottongin last sailed aboard the OM/ Star. He makes his home in Kirbyville, Texas. WAYNEM. CRAVEY, 61, first saile.d with the SIU in 1959 from the port of Tampa, Fla. As a member of the deck department, he upgraded at the Lundeberg School and attended an educational conference there in 1971. The Florida native also sailed aboard inland vessels. From 1953 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Brother Cravey has retired to Keystone Heights, Fla. WILLIAMR. CURTS, 57, started his career with the Seafarers in 1967 in the pon of Norfolk, Va. aboard the Bowling Green, operated by Pan American Tankers. Brother Curts sailed as a member of the deck department and signed off the Sea-1.And Pacific last February. A native of Indiana, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1961. Brother Curts presently resides in Spokane, Wash. SAM HACKER, 70, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1957 from the port of New York. His first ship was the Oremar. Born in Kentucky, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945. Brother Hacker last sailed as a chief electrician aboard the Sea-Land Kodiak. He makes his home in Eugene, Ore. OSCAR D. JOHNSON, 56, first sailed with the SIU in 1968 aboard the Overseas Jason. The Alabama native worked in the steward department and upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School, where he completed the steward recertification course in 1985. He last sailed aboard the Mayaguez, operated by NPR, Inc. From 1957 to 1959, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Johnson has retired to New Orleans. VICTOR OJEA SR., 66, joined the SIU in 1971 in the port of New York, first sailing aboard the Bienville, a Sea-Land Service vessel. A native of Puerto Rico, he sailed in all three departments. Brother Ojea upgraded in both the steward and deck departments at the Lundeberg School. Brother Ojea, who sailed as a member of the deck department, signed off the Sea-1.And Producer and has retired to Brooklyn, N.Y. WALTERJ. LINDBERG, 65, started his career with the Seafarers in 1966. His first ship was the San Emilia, operated by Liberty Navigation Co. Brother Lindberg sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. A native of Minnesota, he served in the U.S. Anny from 1948 to 1950. He last sailed as a chief electrician in 1985 aboard the Independence, an American Hawaii Cruises vessel. Brother Lindberg makes his home in Clear Lake, Calif. · VICTORG. PETERS, 61, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1962 from the port of Seattle. The Titan was his first ship. The Washington native sailed in the deck department. His last ship was the Sea-Land Tacoma. From 1956 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Anny. Brother Peters makes his home in Seattle. TELESFORO SOTO, 65, started his career with the SIU in 1967 in the port of New York aboard the Robin Locksley, operated by MooreMcConnack. He sailed in all three departments and frequently upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. Brother Soto last sailed in 1995 as a steward department member aboard the dredge Long Island, operated by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. He resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. JAMES A. WADE,63, first sailed with the Seafarers aboard the George A. l.Awson in 1956 from the port of Wilmington, Calif. The Michigan native sailed in the deck department and signed off the Sea-Land Innovator in November 1996. From 1954 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Wade has retired to Pico Rivera, Calif. .----=~-... INLAND MIRAE. GNOINSKA, 62, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1981 from the port of New Orleans. Sister Gnoinska sailed in the steward department primarily aboard vessels operated by Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Born in Poland, she became a U.S. citizen and makes her home in Metairie~ La. · JUAN J. RAMOS, 62, started with the SIU in 1977 in Puerto Rico. Boatman Ramos sailed as a tugboat captain primarily on vessels operated by Crowley Towing and Transportation. A native of Puerto Rico, he lives in Catano, P.R. CHARLIE M. RUPERTI, 65, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1956. A native of Virginia, the licensed operator last sailed as a captain with McAllister Towing of Virginia. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Anny. Boatman Ruperti has retired to Virginia Beach, Va. SIDNEYE. THOMAS, 62, began sailing with the SIU in 1964 in the port of GREAT LAKES MASOOD M. ELGIRSH, 62, started his · career with the Seafarers in 1959 in the port of Detroit. Born in Yemen, he became a U.S. citizen in 1957. Brother Elgirsh sailed in the engine department. Prior to his retirement, he signed off the St. Clair, operated by American Steamship Co. He resides in _Dearborn, Mich. · ···~~----..,.--- An.Ame FISHERMEN AC CURS IO BALB0,64, joined the Atlantic Fishennen's Union in 1961 in the port of Gloucester, Mass., before it merged with the AGLIWD in 1981. He last sailed with the Gloucester Fishermen in November 1983. Brother Balboa resides in Gloucester, Mass. RAILROAD MARINE Port Arthur, Texas. Born in Louisiana, he sailed as a captain primarily on vessels operated by Higman Towing Co. Boatman Thomas makes his home in Orange, Texas. FRANK A. WILLIAMS, 62, began his career with the Seafarers in 1971. A native of Virginia, Brother Williams sailed in the deck department and worked primarily for the C&O Railroad Co. He makes his home in Hampton, Va. LaborlVe'W's Workers Memorial Day Set To Remember Those Who Died on the Job On April 28, the AFL-CIO will observe its annual Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job. Every year on this day, workers across the U.S. pay their respects to those who have died in workplace catastrophes, have been diseased by exposure to toxic substances or have been injured because of dangerous conditions. Workers Memorial Day askS workers around the nation to recommit themselves to preventing future workplace tragedies. The first Workers Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was designated because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the date of a similar worker remembrance in Canada. Workers in more than 100 cities hold rallies, conferences, memorial services, marches and work stoppages under the banner of "mourn for the dead, fight for the living." This Workers Memorial Day, the AFL-CIO is fighting for protections to prevent repetitive strain injuries and back injuries. Each year more than 700,000 workers suffer from these injuries, making them the nation's biggest job safety problem with virtually every industry and occupation affected. At the state level, employer groups are trying to change workers' compensation laws that cut benefits or eliminate coverage for repetitive strain injuries. Many state and local central labor councils across the nation will be holding Workers Memorial Day events. Unions Pitch In To Aid Spring Flooding Victims Residents of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana affected by the raging flood waters of the Ohio River and its tributaries are getting help from AFL-CIO union halls located along the river's banks. Working with the Red Cross, unions have provided money and manpower to help the 25,000 families displaced by the floods. About 3,500 of those affected are union families. Unions have supplied their halls for use as disaster centers, donated money and provided equipment for the storing, moving and tracking of relief supplies. Additionally, union volunteers have helped with food and toy drives and cleanup efforts throughout the region. Seafarers LOG 17 - �- Pinal Departures DEEP SEA ANTHONY M. "TONY" BRANCONI ANTONIO A. ALCANTARA Pensioner Anthony M. "Tony" Branconi, 84, died December 29, 1996. Brother Branconi first sailed with the MC&S aboard the James Lick in 1949 from the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU 's AGLIWD. He later came ashore and worked as a union representative from 1956 to 1963. The Ohio native went back to sea and retired in January 1968. Pensioner Antonio A. Alcantara, 91 , passed away January 17. Born in the Philippines, he began sailing with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1942, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Brother Alcantara first sailed aboard the John Norton, and prior to his retirement in September 1971, he signed off the Mariposa. KUNIJI ANAMI Pensioner Kuniji Anami, 80, died December 19, 1996. A native of Hawaii, he joined the MC&S in 1959 in the port of Wilmington, Calif., before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Anami began receiving his pension in December 1981. RAGNAR ANDERSEN ., l Pensioner Ragnar Andersen, 73, passed away December 30, 1996. Brother Andersen began sailing with the Seafarers in 1959 from the port of Baltimore. Born in Iceland, he sailed as a member of the engine department. Brother Andersen retired in November 1987. 1 BRUCE D. BARBEAU Bruce D. Barbeau, ~3, died Februury 11. He struied his career with the SIU in 1989 in the port of Seattle. A native of Missouri, he worked in.the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Brother Barbeau last sailed as a chief steward. From 1966 to 1969, he served in the U.S. Navy. JOHN E. BARRETT John E. Barrett, 61, passed away October 5, 1996. Born in Boston, he began his career with the Seafarers in 1979 in the port of Seattle. Brother Barrett was a deck department member and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. He last sailed in July 1986 aboard the American Cormorant, operated by Pacific Gulf Marine. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. JAMES R. BOSSLER James R. Bossler, 45, died February 16. Brother Bossler started his career with the Seafarers in 1974 in the port of Detroit sailing aboard Great Lakes vessels. The Michigan native later transferred to the deep sea division as a member of the deck department. JOSEPH L. CHARRETTE Pensioner Joseph L. Charrette, 83, passed away January I. A native of Maine, he joined the MC&S in 1953 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Charrette began receiving his pension in April 1973. f B Seafarers LOG DOUGLAS A. CLARK Pensioner Douglas A . Clark, 72, died January 30. He began sailing with the Seafarers in 1951 from the port of Norfolk, Va. The North Carolina native sailed as a member of the deck department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1948. Brother Clark retired in July 1986. BENJAMIN F. COOLEY Pensioner Benjamin F. Cooley, 65, passed away February t 2. Brother Cooley started his career with the SIU in 1951 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Alabama native last sailed in the engine department as a chief electrician. He began receiving his pension in December 1991. DONALD T. DAVIS Donald T. Davis, 48, died February 12. Born in Georgia, he began sailing with the Seafarers aboard the SS Gulf Banker in 1990 from the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Davis sailed in both the engine and deck departments. From 1967 to 1971, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. ADRIAN G. DONNELLY ,.---------.Pensioner Adrian G. Donnelly, 70, passed away February 26. Born in New Jersey, he first sailed with the SIU in 1951 - L - - - - l from the port of New York. The deck department member upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement in July 1988, Brother Donnelly signed off the San Pedro, operated by SeaLand Service. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. WALTER EDWARDS Pensioner Walter Edwards, 72, died December 16, 1996. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, he joined the MC&S before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Edwards began receiving his pension in May 1978. PAULS FRANKMANIS Pensioner Pauls Frankmanis, 77, passed away February 24. Brother Frankmanis started his career with the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of Norfolk, Va. A native of Latvia, he sailed in the engine department and was active in union organizing drives and strikes . He retired in August 1975. THOMAS HERRERA Thomas Herrera, 40, died February 2. A native of Honduras, he first sailed with the SIU in 1988 aboard the Constitution. He most recently shipped in 1994 aboard the Overseas Vivian. Brother Herrera worked in the engine department. GEORGE R. KOSCH Pensioner George R. Kosch, 69, passed away February 24. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1946 in the port l,l;,,_...;._-..:.1..~-..;..__J of New York. A native of Ohio, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Kosch began receiving his pension in February 1988. KING T. "TOMMY" LAU Pensioner King T. "Tommy" Lau, 75, died November 10, 1996. Born in China, he began sailing with the MC&S in 1961 from the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Lau retired in April 1984. RUDOLPH LEONG Pensioner Rudolph Leong, 83, passed away January 11. Brother Leong first sailed with the MC&S in 1943 aboard the Mormac Hawk, operated by Moore McCormack, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Prior to his retirement in December 1970, Brother Leong signed off the President Hayes, an American President Lines vessel. where he completed the bosun recertification course in 1991. JAMES W. NETTLES SR. Pensioner James W. Nettles Sr., 52, passed away February 25. He joined the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of Jacksonville, ..___ _ _ _ _...J Fla. Brother Nettles first sailed in the deck department aboard the Baylor Victory, operated by Victory Carriers. The Florida native retired in January 1987. EDWARD D. ODUM Pensioner Edward D. Odum, 81, died January 18. Brother Odum started his career with the SIU in 1942 in the port of New Orleans. A native of Georgia, he sailed in the steward department and was active in union organizing drives and beefs. Brother Odum began receiving his pension in August 1983. DONALD R. PASE Pensioner Donald R. Pase, 76, passed away February 14. A native of West Virginia, he first sailed with the Seafarers in 1965 from the port of New York aboard the City ofAlma, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Pase last sailed in the engine department as a chief electrician. He upgraded at the Lundeberg School and attended an educational conference there in 1970. From 1945 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Pase retired in 1anuary 1986. BING SUN LOUIS Pensioner Bing Sun Louis, 76, died January 17. He started his career with the MC&S in 1954 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A native of Hong Kong, his first ship was the Timber Hitch, operated by Transoceanic Steamship Line. Brother Louis last sailed as a chief steward. He began receiving his pension in November 1982. WILLIAM MATSOUKAS Pensioner William Matsoukas, 74, passed away February 14. Born in New York, he began sailing with the Seafarers aboard the Harry T in 1951 from the port of Houston. Brother Matsoukas worked in the steward department and retired in July 1987. ABDULLA A. MOHSIN Abdulla A. Mohsin, 54, died February 15. Brother Mohsin started sailing with the SIU in 1970 from the port of New York. Born in Yemen, he became a U.S. citizen. Sailing in the deck department, he upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School, RAYMOND RANDALL Pensioner Raymond Randall, 76, died January 23. Born in Georgia, he began his career with the MC&S in t 945, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. He first sailed aboard the Maunalei, operated by Matson Navigation. Prior to retiring in May 1972, Brother Randall signed off the Mariposa. PATRICK I. ROGERS Pensioner Patrick I. Rogers, 67, passed away February 23. Brother Rogers joined the Seafarers in 1947 in his native New York. He sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Rogers also sailed aboard inland vessels. He began receiving his pension in November 1985. PERCIVAL WICKS Pensioner Percival Wicks, 86, died January 26. Born in Jamaica, he started his career with the SIU in 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Wicks last sailed in the steward department as a chief cook. A resi- .._..~~~~--. dent of Oakland, Calif., he retired in December 1988. CLARENCE A. WUNG Pensioner Clarence A. Wung, 75, passed away September 27, 1996. He joined the MC&S in 1958 in the port of Portland, Ore. Born in Hawaii, Brother Wung resided in Seattle and began receiving his pension in December 1986. MOSA M. YAHYA Mosa M. Yahya, 58, passed away October 6, 1996. Brother Yahya began sailing with the Seafarers in 1992. Born in Yemen, the steward department member last sailed in 1995 aboard the Pvt. Harry Fisher, operated by Extender Transport. PAUL J. ZILKOW Paul J. Zilkow, , 68, died January i 19. He started his career with the SIU in 1973 in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Zilkow sailed on both inland and deep sea vessels. A native of New Jersey, he was a member of the steward department and attended two educational conferences held at the Lundeberg School. A resident of Morgantown, Pa., he last sailed on the American Falcon. From 1951 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. INLAND JOHN C. GOODWIN Pensioner John C. Goodwin, 68, passed away February 16. A native of Maryland, he joined the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of Baltimore. Boatman Goodwin sailed primarily on vessels operated by Curtis Bay Towing as a deckhand. During his union career, he was active in organizing drives and beefs. He attended an educational conference at the Lundeberg School in 1978. He began receiving his pension in December 1987. ALPHONSE H. JARVIS Alphonse H. Jarvis, 60, died November 29, 1996. Born in Georgia, he started his career with the SIU in 1992. He sailed in the deck department, primarily on vessels operated by Penn Maritime, Inc. Boatman Jarvis lived in Bryceville, Fla. EARL J. PRICE Pensioner Earl J. Price, 71, passed away February 22. A native of Louisiana, he began sailing with the .Seafarers in 1949 .___,...__...::LL__.._~_,.,,,,,-..a. from the port of New Orleans. Boatman Price sailed in the deck department and attended an educational conference at the Lundeberg School in 1978. He began receiving his pension in May 1987. GREAT LAKES ROBERT E. BRUCKMAN Pensioner Robert E. Bruckman, 74, died February 21. Brother Bruckman Continued on page 20 April 1997 �Dig~&t Qf SbJpbQard TJnion Meeting~ , The Seafarers L~G att~mpts, to prilJI as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. on occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes first a/'e reviewed by the union's contract department. Those Issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt ol the ships minutes. The minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication. JEB STUART (Watennan Steamship), November 24Chainnan Steve Ahrens, Secretary H.G. Williams, Educational Director W.F. Payne, Deck Delegate M. Thompson, Engine Delegate Brian Monnerjahn. Crewmembers requested 140pound sandbags be reduced to 50 pounds and non-skid pads be placed on ladders and gangway to ensure safety of crewmembers. Secretary commended both unlicensed and licensed crewmembers for working together to prepare ship for U.S. Coast Guard inspection. He noted ship passed with flying colors once again. Secretary announced ship scheduled for brief stay in shipyard following cargo exchange on West Coast. He added ship will return to Diego Garcia in May 1997. Educational director urged members to take advantage of upgrading opportunities at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed or reported. Crew inquired about ammo bonus in new contract. Crewmembers requested microwave oven in mess hall and new furniture for crew lounge. HMI Pt:TROCHEM (Hvide Marine), January 27--Chairman Michgel CD.lbrnith 1 Secretary Ivan Salis, Educational Director L. W. Philpot, De<>k Delegate Ronald Davis, Engine Delegate Victor Sapp. Chairman announced payoff in Houston. Secretary requested six copies of contract. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. Beefs also reported by engine and sceward delegates. Crew noted problems getting captain to request reliefs. Crew asked for new TV antenna, VCR and videotapes. Next port: Houston. USNS LITTLEHALES (Dyn Marine), January 12-Chairman Paul Adams, Secretary Charles Fincher, Educational Director Michael Gamble, Engine Delegate Joe Fabiano, Steward Delegate Jerry Chance. Crew requested information concerning Seafarers plans and copies of ship's meetings materials. Crew reported dangerous and unhealthy conditions in Greek shipyard while vessel docked there. Crew requested new movies and discussed joining Navy video program to receive videotapes. Crew commended galley gang for job well done, especially in difficult circumstances during shipyard stay. Crewmembers observed a moment of silence for departed SIU brothers and sisters. AMERICAN MERLIN (Osprey Shipping), February 22-Chairman James Keevan, Secretary Wayne Wilson, Educational Director Kevin McCagh, Steward Delegate Steve Dickson. Chairman and crew thanked SIU for resolving problem with payment of overtime for hydro-blasting. No beefs or disputed reported. Chairman reminded crew to close outside doors to house when in port. He also asked everyone to be quiet while watchstanders are April 1997 asleep. Steward asked crew to return cups and glasses to galley when finished. Entire crew gave special vote of thanks to Oiler Peter Rice for building new barbecue grill for ship. CLEVELAND (Victory Maritime), February 23-Chairman David Garoutte, Secretary Miguel Vinca, Deck Delegate Richard Thomas, Engine Delegate Davon McMillan, Steward Delegate Julian Mendoza. Chairman informed crew ship will sail into Houston, New Orleans or Lake Charles, La. He thanked deck department for good cleaning of cargo holds. Secretary reminded crew to separate plastics from regular trash and keep TV lounge clean. Treasurer announced $100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted microwave oven still in need of repair. Crew thanked galley gang for good food-and cookies-and commended GSU Mendoza for job well done keeping mess hall clean. Ship heading for Africa following its arrival in U.S. LEADER (Kirby Tankships), February 23-Chairman Patrick ping out and asked about a date when members have to have their recertification. Crewmembers thanked steward department for good food and service. Next ports: Tobata, Japan and Arun, Indonesia. LNG GEMINI (ETC), February 2-Chainnan Philip Parisi, Secretary John Gibbons, Educational Director John Schafer, Deck Delegate John Bellinger, Engine Delegate Thomas Flynn, Steward Delegate Patricia Ballance. Chainnan said he would work on getting TV sets and refrigerators for those crew cabins without. He informed crew ship is scheduled for shipyard in April. Educational director advised crewmembers to attend special LNG courses at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer announced $450 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Next port Tobata, Japan. OVERSEAS CHICAGO (Maritime Overseas), February 16-Chairman L.X. Zollner, Secretary G. Lynch, Engine Delegate Marvin Lamberth, Steward Delegate James Willey. Crewmembers discussed establishing a ship's gym. Chairman reminded crew to write members of Congress asking their support of U.S.-flag shipping. He thanked meinbers of deck crew for excellent cooperation during tie-up and let-go operation. Bosun also thanked members of the steward department for providing hot soup for crew during cold nights in port. He urged members to read Seafarers LOG. Educational director advised crew to upgrade at Piney Point and remember to take tanker operation/safety course before end of 1997. He reminded crew to donate to SPAD. Crew discussed success of ship's fund with purchase of new books and movies for libraries. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for good chow and demeanor. Next port: Ferndale, Wash. Ran~n. Secretary Henry Manning, Educational Director Richard Gracey, Deck Delegate Kenneth Spivey, Engine Delegate Duah Samuel, Steward Delegate Clifford Elliott. Chairman informed crew that problems with juice machine have been reported to chief engineer who stated it will either be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Crew discussed problem with ship running out of stores and commended steward department on job well done with available supplies. Secretary noted captain has announced ship will receive stores by barge if ship goes to anchor. If not, captain has reported he will send steward and chief cook to shore to purchase food. Educational director encouraged members to fill out applications to Lundeberg School upgrading classes and reminded them to attend tanker operation/safety course by 1998. No beefs or disputed OT reported. OVERSEAS JOYCE (OSG Car Carriers), February 2-Chairman Richard Bradford, Secretary Dennis Skretta, Deck Delegate Burlin Pinion, Engine Delegate William Jemison. Crew asked contracts department for copies of contract. Chairman announced ship due to arrive in port on Sunday with payoff next voyage. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for good food. Bosun advised all crewmembers to study contract of ship prior to signing on. Next port: Portland, Oregon. LNG CAPRICORN (ETC), February 2-Chainnan Charles Khal, Secretary Dana Paradise, Educational Director Thomas Harris, Deck Delegate William Rios, Steward Delegate Udjang Nurdjaja. Chairman welcomed new crewmembers aboard and extended well wishes to those signing off for vacation. He urged crew to help keep ship safe and clean and discussed new company policy of rewarding ships with safe tour records. Bosun urged members to donate to SPAD to help keep union strong. Secretary requested more ship's minutes forms from headquarters and informed crewmembers all other union materials available on ship. Treasurer announced $130 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked headquarters to clarify how Lundeberg School's LNG recertification certificate will affect members ship- SAMUEL L. COBB (Ocean Shipholding), February 9Chairman Harry Dowling, Secretary Tom Barrett, Educational Director Russell Kindred, Engine Delegate Brian Sengelaub, Steward Delegate C. Chang. Chairman thanked crew for good trip to Antarctica and reported ship will arrive in Fujairah on February 19 for crew change. He advised crewmembers the new contract raises vacation days for time sailed. Educational director stressed importance of attending tanker operation/safety course at Lundeberg School. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed or reported by deck or steward delegates. Crewmembers thanked steward department for great daily chow and special holiday meals. Crewmembers noted pictures from ship at South Pole sent to Seafarers LOG. SEA-LAND CONSUMER (SeaLand Service), February 10Chairman Francis Adams, Secretary Gregory Melvin, Educational Director Irwin Rousseau, Steward Delegate Audley Green. Chairman told members to remember, "Politics is Pork Chops!" He urged crewmembers to continue SPAD donations and extended vote of thanks to all shipboard departments for jobs very well done. Secretary noted smooth sailing and reported marlin fishing good in port of San Juan, P.R. Educational duties of DEU. Crew requested copies of new contracts and welfare plan booklets. Next port: Vancouver, B.C. SEA-LAND NAVIGATOR (SeaLand Service), February 23Chairman Robert Winder, Secretary Lynn McCluskey, Educational Director L. Holbert, Deck Delegate Rene Rafer, Engine Delegate Rebecca Gaytan, Steward Delegate Leroy Jenkins. Chainnan reported mattresses ordered during voyage #101 were Warm Sendoff from Titus Crew Crewmembers aboard the LTC Calvin P. Titus thank the departing Hugh "Bucky" Wildermuth for his outstanding work as chief steward on the vessel. They are (kneeling, from left) GUDE Carlos Dominguez, QMED Dave Patterson, (second row) SA Isabel Sabio, Chief Cook Julio Guity, Chief Steward Tom Mccurdy, SA Hayward Pettaway, (back row) AB Noel Lopez, Bosun Scott Heginbotham (who sent this photo to the LOG), AB Jim Fox and AB Bob Seaman. The Maersk vessel is presently stationed in Diego Garcia. director reminded crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed or reported. Crew thanked galley gang for "five-star" meals. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. SEA-LAND DEVELOPER (SeaLand Service), February 1Chairman Dana Cella. Secretary Hans Schmuck, Educational Director Michael Powell, Deck Delegate Tillman Churchman, Engine Delegate Chromer Jefferson, Steward Delegate Ronald Dewitt. Chairman reported disputed or from previous voyage settled. Chairman also reminded crew of importance of SPAD donations. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point and take advantage of the beautiful facility with a special family summer vacation. Treasurer announced $100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crewmembers observed a moment of silence in memory of recently deceased SIU Brother John Ross, who sailed many times aboard the Developer. Crewmembers noted he was a fine shipmate and friend who will be missed. Crew thanked steward department for jobs well done, especially the great barbecues en route to Thailand. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND EXPRESS (SeaLand Service), February 19Chairman Mark Lamar, Secretary Michael Meany, Educational Director Mohamed Alsinai, Steward Delegate Richard Manalo. Chairman commended crew for successful voyage. Secretary added that a good crew makes a long trip easier. Educational director advised members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Steward delegate reported beef. Engine delegate requested clarification of sanitary never received. Crew requested new radio and tile for lounge. Educational director discussed importance of upgrading at Harry Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew sought additional information on new Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), February 27Chainnan Jack Edwards, Secretary David Cunningham, Educational Director James Lloyd, Deck Delegate Paul Latorre, Engine Delegate Ronald Williams, Steward Delegate Michael Harris. Chairman announced estimated day of arrival and time. of payoff in port of Jacksonville, Fla. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Piney Point. Engine delegate reported disputed or. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Treasurer announced $300 in ship's fund. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang with special mention of Messman Luis Martinez for keeping mess halls clean and well stocked. Next ports: San Juan, P.R.; Rio Haina, Dominican Republic; and Jacksonville. SEA-LAND QUALITY (SeaLand Service), February 10Chairman Barry Carrano, Secretary Terry J. Smith, Educational Director Angel Hernandez, Deck Delegate Robert Rager, Engine Delegate Jack Singletary, Steward Delegate Jerry Gant. Crewmembers asked contracts department to respond to questions concerning new agreeement. Chairman noted Sea/are rs LOGs being received periodically. Secretary informed crew the minutes to previous meetings posted. Continued on page 20 Seafarers LOS 19 �In L.A. and Long Beach, American Workboats Crews Maintain Fast-Paced Agenda - SIU-crewed American Workboats vessels can be found throughout the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Providing both tug and launch services, the Seafarers who crew these boats constantly are moving from one job to another, according to Wilmington, Calif. Patrolman John Cox. "They are helping in the expansion of Terminal Island by moving workers and barges," Cox noted of the major construction program taldng place in the port of Los Angeles. "They move mariners from ships at anchor in the harbor to the shore. And they push bunkering barges." Besides those sailing and dispatching the vessels, other Seafarers handle repair work for the tugs and launch boats in the shops adjacent to the company's Terminal Island office. IT'S WHEEL OF FORTUNE'S AFL-CIO WEEK! AMERICA'S GAME SALUTES THE AMERICAN WORKING FAMILY (These special "Family Week" shows will be taped at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio on August 1, 1997 and will air Labor Day Week.) To celebrate the American working family, these shows will feature teams made up of two family members•. (Immediate family only, please!) One family member must be an active member of a union affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Special auditions for union members will be held in June in these cities only: CHICAGO BOSTON LOS ANGELES June 3, 1997 June 7, 1997 June 11, 1997 If you plan to be in or near one of these cities on the dates listed and would like to audition, submit your name for consideration by filling out the attached contestant application form. Send to: Wheel of Fortune P.O. Box 4386 Hollywood, CA 90078 BEFORE YOU TAKE A SPIN, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ... Last year, over a million people requested the chance to audition tor Wheel of Fortune. Fewer than six hundred people were selected to appear on the show. For this reason, Wheel of Fortune strongly discourages you from incurring any expenses whatsoever ... airfare, hotel, loss of wages, babysitter, car rentaL.in order to try out for the show. Please be aware that an appointment to audition does not guarantee you an appearance on the show. Remember that you are responsible for any expenses incurred for accommodations. travel to and from the audition site, and to and from the taping in Columbus, Ohio if you are chosen to appear on these special shows. Applications must be received by May 1 Notification if you are selected to audition by May 15 Yes! I want to offer my name to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune's special salute to American working families. With this application I certify that I am a paid-up, dues-paying member of a union affiliated with the AFL-CIO. I understand that Wheel of Fortune will not be responsible for travel costs and/or related expenses incurred traveling to and from the audition cities or to the final show taping in Columbus, Ohio. Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ State _ _ _ Zip _ _ _ _ __ Home Phone Number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Chief Engineer Andrija Stanojevich (left) reviews a medical claim form with Wilmington Patrolman John Cox. Receiving a call for another job by an American Workboats vessel is Deckhand/Dispatcher Art Martinez. _ _ Age (optional)-----My union is: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Local Number _ _ __ __ Address------------ City--- -- - - -- -- - State _ _ _ Zip _ __ _ __ My employer i s - - -- -- -- - -- --------- City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s t a t e - - - - - - My job i s - - - - - - - - -- -- - -- - - - - - -- Name of family member who will audition with y o u - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTICE Publication of ths notice is for informational purposes only. The Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD and its affiliates are not sponsors of this event. Accordingly, the SIU and its affiliates assume no obligation or responsiblllty (financial or otherwise) with your participation should you be selected to audition and/or on the show. appear Specifically, the SIU assumes no liability with regard to this event TMir age (optional)_ _ __ The relationship to you - - - --------------- "Both you and your family member mu:st be at lca$t 18 years old to play. ., Digest of Shiptioar<r Union Meetings Piloting the water taxi John J. to its fueling station is Boat Operator Ron Mason. Final Departures CQ11tinu€d from page 18 joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Ashta, bula, Ohio. The Ohio native sailed primarily on vessels operated by Great Lakes Towing. Brother Bruckman began receiving his pension in April 1984. 1960 in the port of New York. Brother Crooks sailed as a deckhand, primarily for Penn Central Railroad Co. A veteran of -~-.J World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from I 943 to I 946. Brother Crooks began receiving his pension in April 1994. EDMUND W. BUESING Pensioner Edward W. Buesing, 94, passed away January 28. He started his career with the SIU in 1960 in the port of Detroit A native of Iowa, he sailed in the engine department. Brother Buesing retired in January 1973. CORRECTION RAILROAD MARINE I WILBUR J. CROOKS Pensioner Wilbur J. Crooks, 74, died February 4. Born in New Jersey, he joined the Seafarers in 20 Seafarers LOG The March 1997 issue of the Seafarers LOG published incorrect biographical information in the final departure of <--~~~~~___. Boatman Eduardo Perez. He joined the union in 1977 in the port of Puerto Rico and sailed in the steward department, mainly aboard Crowley tugboats. He served in the U.S. Army from I 940 to 1954. The Tampa, Fla. native retired in August 1991. Brother Perez was 73 when he passed away on December 28, 1996. Continued from page 19 Educational director encouraged crew to upgrade at Paul Hall Center whenever possible. Crewmembers discussed establishing ship's fund. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into issuing hospital cards to members and dependents to make hospital admittance easier. Crew noted ship's menus will be taken up wich patrolman in next port. Bosun asked crew to rewind videotapes after using and help wiper and messman keep recreation room and mess hall clean. Crew requested a microwave oven for recreation room. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Port Everglades, Fla.; Houston; and Jacksonville, Fla. SEA-LAND RELIANCE (SeaLand Service), February 17- Chairman James Rader, Secretary Pablo Lopez, Educational Director Shawn Clark, Deck Delegate Walter Price, Engine Delegate Maurice Baptiste, Steward Delegate Charles Atkins. Chairman and crewmembers discussed importance of upgrading skills at Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanshipin Piney Point, Md. Educational director stressed need for tanker operation/safety endorsement from the Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND TACOMA (Sea-Land Services), February 27-Chairman Joseph Artis, Secretary Harry Lively, Educational Director George Ackley, Deck Delegate Stanley Gurney, Engine Delegate Ross Himebauch, Steward Delegate Joia DeLeon. Chairman announced payoff upon arrival in port of Tacoma, Wash. He reminded members to have book ready for boarding patrolman to check. Secretary advised crew union forms available for anyone who needs them. Educational director encouraged members to check Piney Point class schedule for upgrading opportunities. He reminded crew some Lundeberg School courses are available only once or twice a year. Treasurer announced $1,033 in ship's fund. Crewmembers discussed purchasing a punching bag for ship's gym. Engine delegate reported disputed ITT. No beefs or disputed ITT by deck or steward delegates. Steward delegate requested captain notify all crew when ship's course changes during rough weather. He also asked to be notified of night docking so night meals can be planned. Chairman informed crewmembers all communications are posted in recreation room for everyone to view. Crewmembers were informed new washing machine was ordered. Steward asked crew not to use washer or dryer in rough weather. Bosun reminded crew to clean mops out after using them and· keep slop sinks clean at all times. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash. and Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor, Alaska. USNS LITTLEHALES (Dyn Marine), February 16--Chairman Pau.l Adams, Secretary Charles Fincher, Educational Director Albert Yates, Deck Delegate Dave Hinson, Engine Delegate Joe Fabiano, Steward Delegate Jerry Chance. Chairman and crewmembers discussed health insurance benefits available to crewmembers. Crewmembers appointed new deck delegate and educational director. Crewmembers discussed need to install lock on one of crew mess doors to reduce noise and heavy traffic, especially during evening movies. Crew requested new TV and VCR. Treasurer announced $260 in ship's fund. Crewmembers scheduled a barbecue for March 4 on the pier in Souda Bay. Crew agreed the needed food and refreshments would be purchased with money from the ship's fund at the Souda Bay Naval base. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun and crewmembers discussed second level staterooms getting space heaters. Crewmembers commended steward department for job well done. A moment of silence was observed by crewmembers in memory of departed SIU brothers and sisters. April 1997 �Well-Fed Aboard LNG Taurus Letters to the Editor (Editor's Note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer's intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners and their families and will publish them on a timely basis.) .. So-keep 'em sailing and rolling under the American flag. Peter T. Katten Dayton, Ohio ... Pensioner Recognizes Rewards For Putting in Seatime In Praise Of Seafarers' Wives I was married to Olive R. Heffley from 1950 until this year. From the time I married her until I retired in 1984, she always met the · ship. She got to know all the old-timers in Phila... delphia. She would even · stay on the dock all nightand we had five kids! She passed away January 5, 1997. I think that we should Olive R. Heffley thank all of the wives who meet their husbands on the ships. Thank you for all you have done-and keep the ships sailing. Richard Heffiey Egg Harbor Tp., N.J. (Editor's note: Richard Heffiey joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of Philadelphia. He last sailed as a bosun on the SS Rose City (Westchester Marine) in 1984. Brother Heffiey was born in Philadelphia and is now a resident of Egg Harbor Tp., N.J.) Keeping tbe Americ an Flag Flying In o the 21st Century Reading in one of last year's issues of the LOG, it stated that for the year 1996, "there is a projected trade deficit of $170 billion." There are thousands of stories as to why this is. masting relating to the international balance of payment figures indicating a severe loss of manufacturing and seafaring jobs here in the States. For 28 straight years-since 1969-Uncle Sam suffered, somewhat, total trade deficits. And if you add up all the losses for those 28 years, you would get a whopping $3 trillion or so. President Clinton 1 s State of the Union speech on February 4, 1997 stated, .. We must structure America for the 21st century." I want to thank George McCartney for the time he gave me at a recent union meeting. I went out on a disability pension in 1981 and asked about my P.M.A. pension if American President Lines were to go foreign flag. He acknowledged my question and said that it was a good one. I was happy that he recognized a retired person. What I want to say to the B-permits is: Try to get your time in so you can get your full book. Don't be so choosy about the ship you want. Get on the payroll and get your time in for your full book in the union. Larry David Rust Wilmington, Calif. .. Welfare Plan Comes Through With Medical Payments I have shipped out of the Seattle hall since 1978. During that time, I have heard members complaining about the welfare plan, like not getting medical bills paid on time. I had cancer surgery Sepember 20, 1996 and radiation until late December. My medical bills were in the tens of thousands of dollars. The Seafarers Welfare Plan paid all my bills-and on time. I would like to say "thank you." I do not know what I would have done if it were not for the union. Richard Fleming Seattle, Wash. Union Benefits Help Pay Dependent's Doctors' Bills I know this might be strange getting a letter from a u nion member's wife. I was so happy to receive the benefits statement that I just had to write and say thank you for paying our son's medical bills. You have been the best! May God bless the men and women of the union and the men and women who make the Seafarers run so smoothly. Mrs. Terry R. Jones Fayetteville, N.C. The steward department aboard the LNG Taurus takes pride in keeping fellow crewmembers well fed. Pictured from the left on the Energy Transportation Corp. tanker are Chief Steward Zein Achmad, SAs Gary Boyd, Desmond Torres and John Fitzgerald and Chief Cook Ralph McKee. LOG-A-RHYTHMS 'Tis a Noble Life by Robert J. Seaman If there is a more noble life, it's yet to be found, from the South China Sea to the Long Island Sound. The feeling is special when we get underway, as the waves hit the bow to start a new day. When harbor lights fade and all land's out of sight, the moon and the stars illuminate the night. The majestic sky and the crystal clear air; some say we're crazy, but they've never been there! Although it sounds tranquil, it's not alway bliss, with forty-foot swells, we roll and we pitch. It's a bittersweet life that we live day to day, enroute to horizons, come as they may. We 're at home with our own, by trade we are bound, "Brotherhood of the Sea," it sounds so profound. Seamen are unique, they joke and they clown, if there is a more noble life, it's yet to be found. (Robert J. Seaman, a 13-year SIU member, last sailed as a chief steward aboard Sea-Land's OOCL Innovation.) Kno-w Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguaraing 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. SIDPPING RIGHTS. A member's shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts ' between the union and the employers. April 1997 · Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copies of these con· tracts are posted and available in all union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Au th Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights prop~ erly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS WG. 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 The responsibility for ports. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION - SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Seafarers LOB 21 �Lundeberg School Graduating Classes HARRY LUNDEBERG • .}fi~\._ LIFEBOAT CLASS ~~»! 561 Trainee Lifeboat Class 566-Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 560 are (from left, kneeling) Ben Cusic (instructor), Mark Gaffney, Joseph Riccio, Ryan Kitchen, (second row) Romeo Macaraeg Jr., Jeremy Thigpen, Jefferson Helstad, Harry Williams Jr. and Aaron Lutzky. SCHOOL Trainee Lifeboat Class 561-Completing the curriculum for trainee lifeboat class 561 are (from left, kneeling) Rachael Moore, Detricke Kelly, Eric Robinson, Alexander Benge, Taylor watson, (second row) Juan Jimenez, Anthony Tam Sing, James Snyder Jr., Jeffrey Pope, Steven Dean, Cedric Davis, Jeffrey Lagana and Ben Cusic (instructor). Inland Able Seaman-Inland Seafarers earning their able seaman endorsements on March 6 are (from left, kneeling) Keith Gebhard. Kirby Nelson Jr., John Doonan, Mohssan Masad, Darren Lahaie, Tom Gilliland (instructor), {second row) Richard Gauthier, Terence Him, Matthew Smith, David Kloss, Terrance Pyrlik and Leonard Thomas. Celestial Naviation- Rick James (left) is congratulated by his instructor, Lynn Merlin, for successfully completing the celestial navigation course in February. Tanker Assistant DL Graduating from the tanker assistant DL course (formerly called the tanker operation/safety course) on February 19 are (from left, kneeling) Bryan Maddox, Robert Wobil, Louis Wilton, Gary Loftin, Matias Garcia, Angel Roman, Pompey Alegado, Jim Shaffer (instructor), (second row) Vicki Habenicht, Jon Beard, David Zurek, Norman Duhe, Nogoc Allen, Michael Murphy, Roman Genetiano, Juan Arzu, (third row) John Grosskurth, Ursel Barber, Abdulla Baabbad, Bruce Korte, David Hamilton and Sandy Killian. Tanker Assistant DL Upgrading SIU members completing the tanker assistant DL course on March 13 are (from left, kneeling) Tony Sivola, Anthony Smith, Leonides Bacal, Liberato Viray, Salvador Villareal, Jim Shaffer (instructor), (second row) Maurice Hetrick, Ronald Davis, Kevin White, Kevin Regan, Jason Taylor, John Turner, Eva Myers, (third row) James McPharland, Robert Borchester. LeBarron West, Anthony Houston, (fourth row) Christopher Pompei, William Bunch and Mark Sawin 22 Seafarers LOG April 1997 �LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1997 UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE 1'he following is the schedule for classe,s beginning between May through September 1997 at the Seaf~re~§ Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship located at the Paul Hall Center for Mafitime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the Ar,ne~tcan maritime industry. Please n9~ that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership~ th~ ~~ri~i~e industry and-in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students)ttfonding ·any of these classes should check in the Saturday be/ore theircourse:rs start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the momin g. ·Qt t~e. ·St.art dates. Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Electronks June2 June 27 Marine Electrkal Maintenance I June 30 July24 Marine Electrical Maintenance II August 11 September 19 Marine Electronics Tech I June 30 July 24 Marine Electronics Tech Il' July 28 August22 Power Plant Maintenance Mays June 12 Welding June 16 September 22 July 10 October 17 Deck Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion September 22 November 14 . . June 16 June 27 Safety Specialty Courses Date of COlDpletion July 25 · May23 T~er Assistant DL May19 June 16 May30 June 27 July 25 Augost22 September 19 July 14 August 11 September8 Limited License/License Prep. July 28 September 19 Radar Obse,rver/Unlimited June2 June30 Augost4 June 13 July 10 AugtJStlS · ·iune 20 :July 18 September 12 August 10 LNG Familiarization June20 September 26 June2 Septe~ei-: 8 Tankerman'Barge P(e Mays Jone2 . Jone 30 August 25 ······· . M~y 16 June 13 July 10 September S Mayl Radar Recertification ·(one-day class) June.12 July 10 August 14 Start Date ' August·9 ·· May19 June 21 August 25 October 11 November 15 July 11 ·· ~ugust 22 October 10 Mays May16 June 13 July 11 Augusts September October 3 June6 Jone 30 July 28 August 25 September 22 Introduction to Computers }'.~~;.,::./\:::'..)~: .: .:" . ·:·: : : '.:,:.: .:.: :·:.~:. .:. .L.:. : :.:.: . :·:·:· :.: ~ ._··=:··~··~ ~. _.-·· - ~ ~~.~ ~.~· ~ _______ ~ _____ ~ ~ ·:. . __ ·~. - ~ ___ ~ __ :_ ~ ________ _ UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ---------~~--------------~ ---=--"'----------- Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Wirh rhis application, COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time 10 qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY of each of rhe following: the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your z-card as well as your Lundeberg School identification card listing the course( s) you have taken and completed. Tht! admissions office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. COURSE Telephone---------Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member Self-study · BEGIN DATE END DATE Date of Birth - - - - - - - - - D Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book#---------S e n i o r i t y - - - - - - - - - - - - Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ LAST V E S S E L : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating: _ _ __ Aie you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? 0 Yes D No If yes, c l a s s # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? D Yes Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Firefighting: Primary language spoken April 1997 D Yes D No CPR: S I G N A T U R E - - - - - - - - - - - - - DATE D No If yes, course(s) taken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D Yes D No -- Date O n : - - - - - - - - - - - Date Off: D Yes D No 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. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, 4/97 Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. Seafarers LOG 23 �Planning a Summer Vacation? The Lundeberg School can provide you and your family with the makings of a memorable summer vacation. For additional information and rates, see page 14. On the Delaware River, the Bart Turecamo and the Carly Turecamo help a Canadian-flag chemical vessel turn around and head out to sea. Chief Engineer Rick Cristofano adjusts the engine valves on the tug Defender. After a long voyage, Capt. Robet Eastwood takes a break in the Defender galley. While docked in Philadelphia, Navigator crewmembers gather for a union meeting. They are (from left) Capt. Mike Lydick, Chief Mate Kevin Foss and AB Lenny Tyson. Second Mate Todd Dodson ties up the Defender in the port ot t-'h1lade1pn1a. From ship docking tugboats to roll-on/roll off barges, whether operated by Moran, Crowley, Turecamo or others, the work is constant for Seafarers in the port of Philadelphia. Once a week. Seafarers aboard Crowley American Transport ocean-going tug/barges call on the port of Philadelphia. Tugs like the Navigator and Defender pull barges filled with trailers, automobiles and other roll-on/roll-off cargo from San Juan, P.R. and Jacksonville, Fla. Union members also load and offload Crowley barges that call on the Delaware River port. Docking and undocking tankers, containerships, general cargo and fruit vessels in the port of Philadelphia is everyday work for Seafarers aboard Turecamo tugboats. SIU crews aboard these tugs occasionally encounter challenging weather obstacles and use their experience and knowledge as inland boatmen to safely finish a job. In the winter, it is common for ship docking tugs like the Bart Turecamo and the Carly Turecamo to ply the port's icy waters to assist a ship in need. Additionally, in heavy winds and storms, the harbor tugs help secure vessels to keep them from being blown from their holds at the dock. Philadelphia-based Moran tugboats are responsible for general harbor work. Operating in the Chesapeake Bay as well as the Delaware River, the SIU-crewed tugboats use their 1,800 to 3,700horsepower engines to bring vessels in and out of their individual piers. Several Moran tugs, including the Patricia Moran, push waste barges down the Delaware River to treatment plants where the refuse is made into fertilizer. The union also represents the machinists in the Phi,ladelphia Moran shop. Other SIU-contracted inland companies that operate out of the port of Philadelphia include Maritrans, McAllister and Express Marine. Navigator Captain Mike Lydick communicates with tug dispatch before departing. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1997 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES NEW REPORT FINDS DOMESTIC FLEET GROWING AND MORE PRODUCTIVE 1996 FINANCIAL RECORDS ARE ‘IN GOOD SHAPE’; RANK-AND-FILE COMMITTEE RELEASES ITS REPORT SEAFARERS CREW 2 REFLAGGED SHIPS JOHN FAY APPOINTED SIU EXECUTIVE VP; DAVID HEINDEL IS SECRETARY-TREASURER JOINT CHIEFS’ CHAIRMAN DECLARES U.S. MERCHANT FLEET ‘IMPORTANT’ COAST GUARD OKAYS TRAINING RECORD BOOKS SHIPPING REFORM BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE BILL COULD SPUR NAFTA PULLOUT CONGRESS ANNOUNCES SUBCOMMITTEES DEALING WITH U.S.-FLAG FLEET STEWARD RECERTIFICATION IS NEW ‘BEGINNING POINT’ HALL CENTER UPGRADES STEWARD CURRICULUM LUEDTKE SEAFARERS BRIDGE DIFFICULT REPAIR JOB DETROIT NEWSPAPER WORKERS CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR JOBS WELFARE PLAN OPENS NEW CLINICS FOR MEMBERS IN NEW ORLEANS, HOUSTON KUDOS TO SILAS BENT GALLEY CREW SIU MEMBERS BEGIN THE 1997 SAILING SEASON SPRING HAS SPRUNG ON THE GREAT LAKES PHILLY FLOATING FLURRY SEAFARERS ALWAYS HARD AT WORK ABOARD INLAND TUGS, BARGES Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1997 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. 59, No. 4 1997 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/e09aacbbcf68213d317a0639a2f39e94.pdf ef22c4a5691780ba3d3f92a9e8af9769 PDF Text Text SIONA, NMU Talks Under Way to Broach Alf iliation NMU Holds Convention at Piney Point NMU San Francisco Port Agent Rusty de Rousset (right) thanks Paul Hall Center Safety Instructor Jim Hanson for his presentation when NMU convention delegates toured the facility last month. Looking on is Nick LaForge, who heads the NMU's training programs. Page 3. MTD Calls for Defeat Of Anti-Worker Measures Initiatives and Legislation Pose Major Threat To Unions' Political Action, Exec. Board Warns SIU President Michael Sacco (second from left) welcomes AFLCIO President John Sweeney to the meeting last month of the Maritime Trades Department Executive Board. Sweeney, who heads the national federation of trade unions, and Sacco, who also is president of the MTD, sounded critical warnings regarding anti-worker measures which threaten to cripple unions and remove rank-and-file workers from the political process. The board also addressed a number of other topics, including the need for a strong U.S. maritime industry. Pages 3, 7 and 8. MSC Okays Paul Hall Center's Damage Control Curriculum ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Page4 �President's Report An Historic Opportunity In this issue of the LOG, there is a very important, historic announcement-that talks are under way for the possible affiliation of the National Maritime Union with our union. This is not a matter to be taken lightly. Throughout the 60 years the SIU has been in existence, our primary rival for jobs and contracts has been the NMU. The members of our unions have fought each other on the docks, in the streets and in the conference rooms to gain an advantage and secure jobs. Now, after this long period of time, there is the Michael Sacco opportunity that all of the unlicensed mariners will be under one international banner. Our two unions are now closer to this goal than at any other time in our history. The talks between the SIU and NMU began several months ago. This is not the first time our two unions have sat down and looked into the possibility of becoming unified. Many of our members will recall reports from as far back as the 1960s with news that SIU and NMU officials were seeing if there was a chance for maritime unity. But these discussions never went very far. However, this new situation is showing signs of change. Last month, the NMU held its 1998 convention at the Paul Hall Center and I addressed the delegates. I reminded them of the rough times our unions had been through and what we could have done if we had been fighting the enemies of U.S.-flag shipping rather than each other. The delegates responded by passing a resolutio11 calling for maritime unity. Brothers and sisters, now that we have announced these talks are taking place, I can tell you what is being discussed. We are looking into bringing the NMU into the ranks of the Seafarers International Union of North America as an affiliate. The example we are attempting to follow is the one used by the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the 1950s. Like the MC&S, the NMU will remain an autonomous union. Just as it does now, the NMU will handle its day-to-day operations and elect its own officials. The only change would be the NMU would come under the protective banner of the SIUNA. And, as the MC&S did in I 978, the NMU would be extended the opportunity to merge if and when all involved believe the time is right. For those of us in the SIU and NMU, this is a remarkable time. It has been a goal many felt could never even get this far. Unfortunately, there are those who would not like to see this happen because they fear the possibilities of a unified unlicensed mariners' union. Such a union would allow us to link arms and fight together for more job security on new ships built in U.S. yards. It would help us move toward safer working conditions and better benefits-not just for American mariners, but for seamen all around the world. Instead of battling each other, our resources, manpower and dollars could be used to fight those who want to sink the U.S.-flag merchant fleet; to destroy our nation's cabotage laws and to scuttle America's security. The SIU is strong and secure for the future. As you have seen in the LOG, we consistently have been adding new jobs aboard new vessels for our membership. And it is with that strength and security that we are sitting down with the NMU and talking about affiliation. I will keep you updated on the progress of these talks. No matter what happens, the best interests of the SIU absolutely will remain my top priority. Listening to the Proceedings ' Among the many officials and guests attending the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting last month were three retired SIU members. Seated from the left are Lois Olson, who sailed in the galley gang; her husband, Recertified Bosun Fred Olson; and Joe Morrison, also a recertified bosun. 1 Volume 60, Number 4 .. April 1998 lbe SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN l 086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright© 1998 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Progress Continues in ITF Fight Against Runaway-Flag Shipping Cockroft: Publicity May Help Maritime Safety Safety at sea wi11 be improved by boosting the maritime industry's notoriety and establishing minimum standards for ship registers, said the highest ranking official of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). David Cockroft, ITF general secretary, declared the Londonbased alliance of more than 470 transport-related unions throughout the globe, including the SIU, will call attention to the industry by soon launching a British-flag merchant ship that will sail to numerous ports around the world. The ITF planned to acquire a vessel late last month, then send it on a one-year journey coinciding with the 50-year anniversary of the ITF's campaign against runaway-flag shipping. "It will be a floating exhibition of the life of seafarers. It's intended to raise the profile of the campaign, but also raise the profile of the entire industry," Cockroft stated at a March meeting of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Propeller Club. Publicizing merchant shipping is vital to improving safety, Cockroft said, because the industry currently suffers from a lack of public awareness. "No stone is left unturned to find out why an airplane crashes. We believe that when seafarers die, when ships disappear and people don't know why, that it should be dealt with in exactly the same way as when an aircraft crashes and people don't know why," he said. Illustrating the point, Cockroft cited the 1996 sinking of the Panamanian-registered cargo ship Cordigliera off the coast of South Africa and the loss of its crew of 29 mariners. For nearly two-anda-half years, the case was not investigated and no compensation was provided by the shipowner or insurer to the crew's dependents. The ITF recently initiated a joint survey with the South African Department of Transport to pinpoint why the vessel sank and spur remuneration to crew members' families. The I 0-day investigation yielded substantial evidence, and it is hoped the case will be solved and the surviving families compensated. "If governments won't do the job looking for those casualties and finding out why, then we're going to shame the governments into doing the job properly," declared Cockroft. He added that the Cordigliera is not an anomaly; the ITF has a caseload of more than 300 mariners who have been killed or seriously hurt but for whom compensation has not been paid or is drastically inadequate. Another focal point for the ITF is working with the International ITF General Secretary Maritime Organization (IMO) to David Cockroft establish rules governing the actions of ship registers. three years, as a starting point," "We don't believe that ship- Cockroft said. "I believe that's the ping registries should be busi- direction in which the IMO is nesses," Cockroft flatly stated. going, supported by the United "We don't believe it should be a States, the European Union, of making money. Canada, Japan, Australia and othway Registering a vessel, regulating a ers." vessel, determining the condiHe acknowledged that while tions and the environment of the the campaign "hasn't achieved its vessel-that is a job for govern- ultimate goal, progress has been ments. It's a regulatory job." made." For example, more than Backing his position, Cockroft 5,000 ships today are covered by described the Liberian registry as ITF contracts which spell out "demonstrating beautifully the minimum standards for wages ludicrousness of the system. This and working conditions. That repis a system where a non-existent resents better than a 150-percent government of a state in a six- increase in the last five years, as year civil war can be one of the fewer than 2,000 vessels were prime maritime nations in the covered in 1993. world-go to IMO meetings, et Moreover, the International cetera, and present their views in Safety Management Code and the context of national sovereignty of 1995 amendments to the InterLiberia. When everybody knows national Convention on Standards [the Liberian registry] is a corpo- of Training, Certification and ration based in Reston, Va. The Watchkeeping for mariners "are system is wrong!" steps in the right direction" The endeavor to implement toward bolstering maritime safety standards that would eliminate, or while penalizing those who break at least radically alter, registries the rules. such as Burma, Vanuatu, St. In addition, Cockroft emphaVincent and many others is only sized that although runaway-flag one part of the ITF's campaign shipping is a "fact of life today," against runaway-flag shipping, the ITF and its affiliates are deteralso known as flag-of-conve- mined to continue making nience (FOC) shipping. Other progress against the scam. elements include the use of more "We think the system stinks," than I 00 ITF inspectors world- Cockroft asserted. "Between the wide (including three SIU repre- nationally based ideal of 100 persentatives), political activity, cent (flag-state ownership, crewing enforcing minimum wages and and earnest regulation) and the working conditions at sea, and mess we've got today, I believe more. there has to be a middle way. There "In an ideal world, I'd like to m·ust be minimum standards and see all FOCs put out of business. everybody has to stick to them." But I'd settle for half being put Continued on page 10 out of business in the next two or Double Eagle Tanker Program Restructured SIU to Crew 4 New Vessels; Shipbuilder Will Exit Commercial Work Under a restructured agreement, Hvide Marine Inc. will acquire four double-hulled tankers constructed at Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding, instead of the originally planned five vessels, the company and the shipyard announced last month. Two of the four SIUcrewed "Double Eagle" tankers are scheduled for delivery later this year, while the other two are slated for 1999. Overall, Newport News Shipbuilding will construct six of the nine vessels initially called for in February 1996. (Four originally were earmarked for a Greek company.) When the last tanker is delivered, the yard is quitting the commercial shipbuilding business. It will continue military-contracted work, which currently accounts for a $2.9 billion backlog at the Virginia facility. "We're pleased to have the opportunity to crew four new tankers," said SIU President Michael Sacco. "Considering the entire program at one point appeared in jeopardy, the union's position is that four new ships are a lot better than none." The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) issued a statement noting that the shipyard's decision to exit commercial business due to cost overruns "does not affect the rest of the American shipbuilding industry, which remains interested in and fully capable of doing commercial work." MarAd pointed out that there are $2.3 billion in loan guarantees already approved for commercial ships and almost another $1 billion in pending applications. Meanwhile, Floridabased Hvide said that its four new tankers "will give us the preeminent fleet of new, double-hull petroleum product carriers which respond to the mandate of Congress to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products in U.S. coastal waters." (The doublehull requirement is a result of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.) The four ships will carry petroleum goods along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Each will be 620 feet long and 120 feet wide, with a speed of 16 knots. April 1998 �2nd Watson Ship Christened New job opportunities for Seafarers continued to arise as the fourth in a series of prepositioning ships being readied for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) was christened February 28 in San Diego. SIU members will crew the USNS Sisler later this year, when the Watson-class vessel joins MSC's Afloat Prepositioning Force. The 950-foot, roll-on/roll-off vessel (RO/RO) will bolster national security as part of a 19ship fleet designed to increase America's sealift capacity. Of those 19, SIU members wi11 crew four Watson-class ships being constructed at NASSCO in San Diego, including the USNS Sisler and the USNS George Watson, which was christened last fall; and four Bob Hope-class ships built at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, including the USNS Fisher and the USNS Bob Hope, both christened last year. Maersk Limited will operate those eight ships for MSC. Additionally, Seafarers are sailing in the unlicensed positions aboard five converted RO/ROs already in service which are part of the same prepositioning fleet. Those vessels are operated by Bay Ship Management. Meanwhile, charters have not been awarded for the remaining six new builds that are expected to round out the group by the year 2001-three more Watson ships designated for San Diego, and three Bob Hope vessels slated for New Orleans. Speaking at the USNS Sisler christening, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Jim Perkins, MSC comContinued on page 5 MTD Urges Members to Repel Attacks Against U.S. Workers Two-Day Board Meeting Deals with Broad Range Of Issues Affecting America's Working Families Calling the campaign being waged by anti-worker forces across the country on a variety of issues an effort "to silence the voice of working people," AFLCIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) President Michael Sacco called on the MTD executive board as well as the members of its 32 affiliated unions to fight on to victory "because there's no guarantee we'll get a rematch." Sacco, who also serves as SIU president, opened the annual winter meeting of the MTD executive board, held in Las Vegas on March 16 and 17. He told the board there is a group of lobbyists, businesses and others who "want to knock workers from the political process so they can take even more of the purse for themselves." The board also heard from legislators from both political parties, union representatives, a shipping official and others who provided insight on a variety of issues affecting the lives of working people. Nationwide Fight The MTD president pointed out more than half the states in the country are considering legislation or initiatives designed to limit how unions can participate in elections as well as lobby for their members. ''They're really being sneaky about it. They're calling their legislation 'payche.ck protection' or 'campaign finance reform' or 'giving union members a choice,"' Sacco told the board. ''Those names are a bunch of bull! When you cut through all the tricky titles and look at the facts, you're left with Big Gephardt added, "If the other side can take the voice of working people out of the political process, then they will run it lock, stock and barrel." The board later in the meeting unanimously supported a resolution calling on all union members to defeat such legislation at the local, state and national levels. MTD President Michael Sacco tells members of the MTD executive board that they must repel the anti-labor forces trying to implement laws designed to silence the voices of workers from the political process. - -----Business trying to put a muzzle on rank-and-file workers who are speaking up through their union." AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (DMo.) in separate speeches reminded the board that the recent successful effort to raise the national minimum wage while at the same time defeating measures designed to allow sham company unions and fast-track trade negotiations without labor and environmental concerns, had placed labor squarely in the sites of its enemies. "We have our work cut out for us because we know there are no truth-in-advertising laws when it comes to politics," noted Sweeney. "What we . must do is inform and educate our members and the public about the common characteristics of these initiatives if we are to defeat them." For additional MTD coverage. see pages 7, 8. Other BatUes Ahead But that was not the only issue dealing with working families addressed at the meeting. The executive board urged federal and state governments to consider the economic effect on employees as well as the general public when dealing with utility deregulation. It cited the need for stronger labor laws to protect workers' right to organize after reviewing the five-year battle at the Avondale (La.) Shipyard following the overwhelming support of the employees to unionize. It called on Congress to provide adequate funding for the nation's highways, ports, bridges and other infrastructure to keep America's transportation network in peak condition. Other resolutions adopted by the MTD executive board dealt with maritime safety, the sealift charter and build program, Medicare, workfare and the need to further raise the national minimum wage, the international battle to end runaway-flag shipping and the need to defeat the merger of telecommunications giants MCI and WorldCom. The 32-member unions of the MTD represent approximately 8 million working men and women in maritime-related jobs. With balloons and streamers flying, the USNS Sisler, the fourth in a series of prepositioning ships being readied for the U.S. Military Sealift Command, rolls off the dock into the water at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif. during christening ceremonies. SIU-contracted Maersk Limited will operate the vessel. SIONA, NMU Announce Initial Talks Under Way Aimed at Affiliation Maritime history was made last month on the grounds of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education when the presidents of the Seafarers International Union of North America (SIUNA) and the National Maritime Union (NMU) announced initial talks were under way to affiliate the NMU with the SIUNA. Since the founding of the NMU in 1937 and the SIUNA a year later, the statement marks the closest the two organizations have ever come to establishing their ultimate goal of one union representing all unlicensed mariners. It is an outgrowth of a resolution passed March 27 by NMU convention delegates calling for maritime unity. That one-page NMU document acknowledged previous calls over the years for unity among the seagoing workers and noted "some form of affiliation eventually leading to merger with another maritime union would be in the best interest of the membership." In his remarks before the NMU convention (which took place at the center in Piney Point, Md.), SIUNA President Michael Sacco reminded the officials and delegates how the SIUNA and NMU had been fighting each other for decades, while the enemies of the U.S.-flag fleet were taking apart the industry. "Imagine the resources we would have had to fight them if we had not been so busy going at each other," stated Sacco. NMU President Rene Lioeanjie informeq the SIUNA president and the delegates that the convention would include discussions about where the NMU and the U.S.-flag industry were headed in order to ensure a solid future. The convention announced its vision through the resolution entitled "Maritime Unity." After the resolution had been Continued on page 5 Sacco Reaffirms U.S. Ships Ready to Assist Troops When Needed During his opening remarks to the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department's (MTD) executive board meeting, MTD President Michael Sacco reaffirmed the organization's commitment to work with the U.S. armed forces whenever and wherever they are ca11ed to duty. "I want to state for the record that I support President Clinton's actions during the current crisis involving Iraq," Sacco, who also is SIU president, said on March 16. April 1998 "More importantly, the affiliates of the Maritime Trades Department are ready, willing and able to deliver the goods to our troops and provide whatever other help is needed, as soon as the word is given. "So, Mr. President, the message is: We're ready when you are!" As the Seafarers LOG went to press, the possibility of hostilities had quelled. However, Seafarerscrewed vessels around the world remained ready in case they were called to assist U.S. troops. SIUNA President Michael Sacco discusses the need for the Seafarers and National Maritime Union to work together to help the U.S.-flag fleet, during his remarks to the NMU convention. Listening is NMU President Rene Lioeanjie. Seafarers LOG 3 �MSC Approves Damage Control Curriculum at Paul Hall Center Kyrm Hickman (right), MSC's training administrator, takes a firsthand look at the Paul Hall Center's damage control training February 18 in Piney Point, Md. At Hickman's right is Bill Eglinton, the center's director of vocational education. Joining them is Mark Cates, instructor of the damage control class. Capt. Pr~ises B~~a. Cre~ Soderman Aids Prepositioning Ship Noteworthy seamanship and fortuitous timing helped two SIUcrewed Military Sealift Command (MSC) vessels make the best of a challenging situation. On November 5, 1997, the prepositioning ship 2nd Lt John P. Bobo ran aground off the coast of Spain after being hit by what MSC described as a sudden and "extremely strong storm." "In the days following the grounding, the deck department, engine department and steward department performed feats of seamanship and showed a dedication to duty that was beyond belief," noted Bobo Captain John F. Maytum, an SIU hawsepiper. He specifically cited the quick, safe · transfer of materiel ashore and to another ship chartered by MSC, plus a similarly well-done movement of ballast to refloat the Bobo. (See Captain Maytum's letter to the editor, page 21.) MSC pointed out that because the ship, which needed hull repairs, had been "working as an integral part of Maritime Prepositioning Squadron One carrying U.S. Marine Corps supplies and equipment, Bobo needed fast, readily available storage for its cargo." Once the Bobo 's ammunition had been moved to the chartered Univalle, a Dutch-flag cargo ship, and the rest of the materiel had been transferred ashore, the agency focused on finding a longer-term solution. Enter the USNS Soderman, a newly converted roll-on/roll-off vessel ready for full activation. "By sailing Soderman to Spain, the vessel would get a better shakedown as well as save the costs of leasing Univalle," MSC said in a news relea5e. "Due to security and readiness concerns, the operational commander in Europe preferred having (all ot) Bobo 's equipment stored aboard a ship. · "In addition, several of the upcoming large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships, or LMSRs, are coming on-line a few months ahead of schedule. The first group will be used to preposition U.S. Army equipment and supplies afloat. Thus, MSC saw a way of using Soderman to everyone's advantage and without interfering with the current Army load-out plans." ''We saved money, we did a much more intensive work-up period with Soderman and we ensured proper storage of U.S. military equipment aboard a U.S. ship," stated John Henry, MSC's Army Prepositioning Project officer. The Soderman sailed to Spain in January and by January 24 had taken on all of the Bobo's materiel. Meanwhile, the Bobo is expected to return to service by next month. The 2nd Lt John P. Bobo, an SIU-crewed Military Sealift Command vessel, is expected to return to service next month following hull repairs. 4 Seafarers LOG Following a thorough analysis, the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) formally has approved the damage control class offered by the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. This authorization will help enable Seafarers to meet the training requirements for sailing aboard military-contracted vessels. In a letter confirming the approval, MSC Director of Personnel Chuck Schoen told Paul Hall Center officials, "My representatives were most impressed by all the efforts the SIU is taking in regard to the training of your mariners." J.C. Wiegman, assistant director of vocational education at the center's Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, pointed out that MSC's approval is retroactive to the fall of 1997. Therefore, any Seafarers who have taken damage control at the Paul Hall Center since that time, either as part of the government vessels course or as a stand-alone module, meet the damage control certification requirement for mariners sailing aboard military-contracted ships. MSC officials inspected the school twice and also conducted The school's damage control curriculum includes plenty of handson training (photo above and at right), as demonstrated by Seafarers who took the course earlier this year. off-site meetings as part of the agency's review of the damage control program. The Lundeberg School's damage control training blends classroom instruction with hands-on exercises. Included in the curriculum are definitions and explanations of watertight integrity; identification of responsibilities and procedures for care of injured personnel; descriptions of the typical structure for a repair party; weighing the pros and cons of different sound-powered circuits; preventive maintenance of watertight components; vessel compartment identification; use of pumps and smoke-removing gear; patching and plugging; shoring, permanent and temporary pipe repairs, and more. Sealarers Start Lakes Season s c Fo 11 owmg . the most success- ful Great Lakes sailing campaign since the 1970s, Seafarers last month signed on a number of vessels as the 1998 season got under way. Fitout for some of the ships began in mid-March, near the end of a mild winter. Other SIUcrewed vessels operating on the Great Lakes tentatively were scheduled to begin crewing anywhere from early this month to early June. Seafarers who ply lakes Michigan, Superior, Erie and Ontario aboard lakers should contact the Algonac, Mich. union hall for fitout information. Last month, SIU members signed onto American Steamship Co.'s Walter J, McCarthy, American Mariner, H. Lee White, Buffalo, Charles E. . , n d.cana rrc 1son, t. 1acr, Harbor, American Republic, Sam wud and John J. Boland; Erie Sand's Richard Reiss; U.S. Steel's Presque Isle; and Inland Lakes Management's Alpena and Iglehart. Seafarers also signed on board Cement Transit's Medusa Challenger April 1. Traditionally, engine and steward department members are the first to climb the gangways as fitout begins. The engine crew carries out any needed repairs and refills pipes that were emptied during layup, while the steward department orders stores and handles other preparations. Deck department members usually sign on within a few days, and the vessels get under way two or three days later. 11,. Aii m . ct·1cat1ons . are that the new sailing season will see continued strong demand for commodities on the Great Lakes. Last year, vessels moved more than 125 million tons of cargo, representing an 8 million-ton increase from 1996. The total marked a 20-year high for the Great Lakes Jones Act trade. The highest-volume materials moved on the Lakes typically are coal, iron ore and stone, which are utilized in steel production. Almost 75 percent of the nation's steel is manufactured throughout the Great Lakes basin. During layup, several Seafarers upgraded at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. (see page 9). Avondale CEO Must Apologize to Workers NLRB Orders Shipyard to Pay $3 Million in Back Wages The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last month ordered the head of Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans to personally read a cease and desist order to 4, l 00 current and former shipyard employees, rehire 28 fired workers, rescind disciplinary measures taken against 15 others and pay more than $3 million in back wages. Received by the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department, the 700-page order covers hundreds of actions by Avondale since workers at the shipyard voted in June 1993 to be represented by unions. Subsequent to the election, Avondale has used stalling tactics and other maneuvers to deny representation to its employees, even though the prounion vote was 1,804 to 1,263. Besides what is covered in the recent NLRB ruling, the AFL-CIO (the national federation of trade unions, of which the SIU is a member) notes that many other charges of firings and various inappropriate disciplinary actions against union supporters are impending in the NLRB and in the U.S. Court of Appeals. Altogether, this is the largest case in NLRB history. The attorney handling the case for the Metal Trades Department, Bill Lurye, said the NLRB decision "affirms what we have alleged all along-that the company has violated the law in just about every conceivable fashion." John Meese, president of the department, said that although he is heartened by the NLRB ruling, further penalties are needed to provide justice for the shipyard workers. "If [Avondale CEO Albert Bossier] were held personally and financially liable for the damage he has done, we would probably see an end to this reprehensible behavior," Meese stated. "As long as Avondale gets away with spending government tax dollars to frustrate the organizing rights of its workers, Avondale is going to continue breaking the law with impunity." The department has urged Congress and the U.S. Navy to explore Avondale's alleged use of funds from Navy shipbuilding contracts to resist pro-union activities at the facility. According to published reports, Avondale has more than $10 billion in such contracts. In issuing the NLRB ruling last month, Judge David L. Evans cited Avondale's "egregious misconduct, demonstrating a general disregard for the employees' fundamental rights .... The quality and severity of unfair labor practices found herein, combined with [Avondale's] simultaneous refusal to bargain with the union ... requires special remedies." April 1998 �West Coast VP McCartney to Retire; Board Names Nick Marrone to Post George McCartney, the only West Coast vice president in SIU history, informed the union he will retire July 1. He will be succeeded by Nick Marrone, who has served the union in many capacities, the SIU executive board announced. "I wi11 remain available to help the SIU any way I possibly can, and will continue working with the California Labor Federation, the San Francisco Maritime Port Council, the American Merchant Marine Veterans, the San Francisco Labor Council and other associations," said McCartney, 67. A native of New York City, McCartney worked as a longshoreman before starting his SIU sailing career in 1948. He helped organize Cities Service and served as department delegate aboard most of the ships on which he sailed. McCartney sailed in all three departments, though most frequently in the engine department. His last ship was the SS Frances in 1960. Later that year, he came ashore as a patrolman in New York. Subsequently, he worked in a number of jobs for the SIU, including port agent in New York, Seattle and Wilmington, Calif. In 1980, he was elected as headquarters representative, and a year later became the union's first West Coast vice president. McCartney was appointed to that position by the late SIU President Frank Drozak; had the appointment approved by the SIU Executive Board; and has been reelected to the post a number of times. "George is 100 percent SIU. He is extremely dedicated to the membership, and I'm glad he will remain available to assist us, even in retirement," stated SIU President Michael Sacco. Like McCartney, Marrone has held a variety of The Military Sealift Command has imposed a mandatory requirement that all merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag military vessels deployed to the Persian Gulf must receive anthrax vaccinations. The vaccination is a series of six shots given over an 18-month period. Following announcements by the union's executive board, SIU President Michael Sacco (left) and Paul Hall Center Acting Vice President Nick Marrone (right) congratulate SIU Vice President West Coast George McCartney (center) on his upcoming retirement. Marrone will succeed McCartney this summer. positions within the union. Marrone graduated from the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. in 1975, then sailed in the deck department until the late 1970s. He became a Lundeberg School instructor, then served as a patrolman in St. Louis and as port agent in Paducah, Ky. and Piney Point. Later, Marrone headed the SIU's legislative affairs department. From 1990 through 1995, he worked as the administrator of the Seafarers Welfare, Pension and Vacation plans. He has spent approximately the last two years serving as the acting vice president of the Lundeberg Schoo], located at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Navigational Tax Hits Congressional Hazards Senate and House members have expressed concern during U.S. Coast Guard budget hearings last month about a proposed navigational assistance tax that would be placed on commercial vessels plying the domestic waterways. The SIU is part of a coalition of maritime unions, shipping companies, shippers, port authorities and others opposed to the tax, which is estimated to raise $750 million in its first five years. The coalition has pointed out several factors that could make its ATTENTION ALL SEAFARERS ABOARD SIU-CONTRACTED MILITARY VESSELS implementation illegal, including the Coast Guard does not have the authorization to propose the tax. During a March 5 hearing of the House Appropriations' Transportation Subcommittee, Chairman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) specifically questioned the agency's ability to impose t~e tax. Two other subcommittee membersReps. Sonny Callahan (R-Ala.) and David Obey (D-Wis.)-noted they would have trouble supporting the tax. The Coast Guard's proposal met similar resistance on the other side of Capitol Hill. Chairman Richard Shelby (RAla.) of the Senate's Appropriations' Transportation Subcommittee said during a March 20 hearing he "was not interested in enacting any new user fees," as the Coast Guard is calling the tax. A week earlier, Chairman Olympia Snowe CR-Maine) stated her worry for the proposal during a hearing before the Senate Oceans and Fisheries Subcommittee, claiming the tax would "raise the cost of maritime transportation." These shots will be administered by the OPP Medical Officer. A similar order regarding military personnel already is being implemented. Further details have been sent to ships' chairmen aboard SIU-contracted military vessels. USNS Sisler Christened Continued from page 3 mander, expressed confidence in the men and women who wi11 sail aboard the massive vessel. "The American merchant mariners who will crew the USNS Sisler will steam this aircraft-carriersized ship hard on every mission. They will take her into harm's way if need be, as our merchant mariners have done since the Revolutionary War. ... This ship will make a difference," stated Perkins. According to MSC, the newly christened vessel can exceed 24 knots, has a maximum beam of about 106 feet and possesses nearly 400,000 square feet of cargo space-an area greater than eight football fields. It can transport "an entire U.S. Army Armored Task Force, · including 58 tanks, 48 other tracked vehi- cles and more than 900 trucks and other wheeled vehicles," the agency reported. Estimated time needed both to load and unload the ship is 96 hours. As with the other 18 ships in or scheduled for the strategic sealift program, the USNS Sisler is named in tribute to a U.S. Anny Medal of Honor recipient. First Lt. George "Ken" Sisler in February 1967 was a platoon leader in Vietnam when the enemy attacked. He bravely aided two injured members of the platoon, at one point single-handedly thwarting a heavy attack by a superior enemy force. He continued moving about the field directing air strikes on enemy positions until he was mortally wounded. Lt. Sisler's widow, sister and granddaughter participated in the christening ceremonies. Initial Talks Under Way ta Affiliate SIUNA and NMU Continued from page 3 adopted and released, Sacco said officials from the two unions have been talking with each other about the NMU affiliating with the Seafarers International Union of North America. "What this would mean, if the NMU affiliates with the SIUNA, is the NMU would remain an autonomous union-running its daily operations and electing its own officials. They would come under the umbrella of the SIUNA," Sacco pointed out. During the three-day NMU convention which convened March 25, that union's officials and delegates stayed in the center's hotel, toured the facilities of the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship (which is located within the center) and talked with upgrading Seafarers. "For most of the delegates and officials, this was the first time they had seen the Paul Hall Center," Sacco noted. "They were very impressed with the facility, with the training that is offered and with the way our members conducted themselves both in and out of the cJassrooms." "These brothers and sisters from the NMU said it was better than anything they had heard," he added. As noted earlier, some form of talks to bring the SIUNA and NMU together have taken place at various times since the American NMU delegates and officials tour the SIU's manpower office located at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Headquarters Rep. Carl Peth (right) explains how the office works. April 1998 Federation of Labor (AFL) merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1955. Prior to 1935, a11 labor unions were affiliated with the AFL. However, John L. Lewis of the Mine Workers resigned from the federation when delegates to the AFL convention failed to adopt a resolution calling for the creation of industry-based rather than craft-based unions. Lewis formed the CIO with the support of about a dozen other unions. During this time, mariners were affiliated with an organization known as the International Seamen's Union (ISU), which at its height after World War I was headed by Andrew Furuseth. After having more than I 00,000 members within its ranks, the ISU had fallen to less than 3,000 in the 1930s. In 1937, the ISU disbanded. The National Maritime Union was created in its wake and affiliated with the CIO. The AFL formed a temporary seaman's union, which in 1938 was chartered under the leadership of Harry Lundeberg as the SIUNA. Through the decades, the two unions have battled on the waterfront to obtain jobs aboard U.S.flag vessels for their members. John Mason from ASTI welcomes NMU officials and delegates, including V.P. Kate Hunt (seated right), to the Paul Hall Center's firefighting and safety classroom. Many a confrontation was fought with fists, bricks and bats. But through it all, the SIU and NMU were able to work with each other on some issues, including the international effort to expose runaway-flag shipping which was taking American maritime jobs overseas. In the 1960s, '70s and '80s, under the tenure of Paul Hall and Frank Drozak, the SIUNA engaged in preliminary talks with NMU officials to bring the unions together. NMU Executive V.P.rrreasurer Nero Threat (left) and V.P. John Cameron look at some of the maritime records displayed in the Paul Hall Center's library. Seafarers LOG 5 �Recertif i~d Stewards Assume Leadership Roles 11 Recent Graduates Are Ready to Disseminate Knowledge at Sea With support from their families, friends and fellow Seafarers, 11 SIU members who successfully completed the five-week steward recertification program received their diplomas at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. Sailing from eight different ports across the country, the 11 stewards are now "the eyes, ears and voice of the union at sea," touted Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez, who presented the graduation certificates to Ngoc , r. I the port of Norfolk, is now looking forward to returning to a ship to show M!., ,- ·~· , what he has learned. 1 I" Ti U1 ' Edward Winne is certain that the skills and knowledge he has gained from the program will help him aboard ship in so many ways. The 58year-old was a member of the Marine Cooks & Stewards union in 1964, some I 4 years before that union merged with the SIU. He now sails . from the port of New York. "I would recommend this school to Allen, Michael L. Baker, Alan W. anyone who wishes to make shipping Bartley, Tommy Belvin, Sergio his or her career," Winne stated. "The Castellanos, Franklyn J. Cordero, days of wooden ships and iron men Angel B. Correa, Michael F. are gone. Today and in the future, we Hammock, John Holtschlag Jr., Meeting with SIU President Michael Sacco (fifth from right) on a visit to the headquarters building in will need double hulls and educated Kenneth Long and Edward C. Camp Springs, Md. are members of the recertified steward class who received their graduation certifi- men and women to crew the ships. cates at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. From the left are Michael F. Hammock, This school can give the education that Winne. "Every ship has a committee with a Edward C. Winne, Alan W. Bartley, Ngoc T. Allen, Franklyn J. Cordero, Tommy Belvin, Kenneth Long, is needed." In words of encouragechairman and delegates," Tellez con- Sacco, John Holtschlag Jr., Sergio Castellanos, Angel B. Correa and Michael L. Baker. ment to the unlicensed apprentices, tinued. "And what we try to do in this Winne said, "When you join the SIU, program is help the recertified stewards upgraded at the Lundeberg School. She has why Seafarers need to maintain the highest you join a family, a family that cares about learn how to become leaders aboard ship sailed from the port of Mobile since 1988, level of education offered to us here at the you." by promoting unity and exchanging ideas." and recommends returning to Piney Point Paul Hall Center-to ensure that our jobs During the five-week session, the I I Upon receiving their diplomas, each of to all those members who want to learn and continue to set an example to merchant recertified stewards received more than just seamen around the world of the highest new recipe ideas, sanitation methods and the students had an opportunity to say a achieve job security. standards of safety and job training." Michael Baker said he was very proud few words to the audience of fellow union modern cooking techniques. Refresher to reach this point in his career and also to Castellanos gave special recognition courses in CPR, first aid and firefighting members, upgraders and unlicensed apprentices. All expressed their utmost represent the port of San Francisco. "I have and thanks to his wife, Jioia de Leon, also were required of the students in order to thanks to the union and its officials, to the had the opportunity to be taught by a fine an SIU member, for her strong support. successfully complete the program. They school and its instructors and especially to instructor," the 36-year-old noted. "Chef Of great importance to Franklyn also received training in the school's comAllan [Sherwin] has been very motivating Cordero, 44, was the instruction he puter center, which will assist them in Chef Allan Sherwin for his guidance. Ngoc Allen, 47, believes that, with this and willing to share his knowledge. I hope received from Chef Allan in cooking preparing menus and ordering stores, and training, she will be able to do her job bet- I can take this experience with me and preparation and sanitation basics, but he visited the union's headquarters in Camp ter. She especially found the computer become a better Seafarer." also found the classes in social responsibil- Springs, Md., where they met with repreThis is the third time Baker has come to ity and union affairs to be very informative. sentatives of the SIU's contracts, commuclass helpful and knows it will be of great the school for upgrading since he joined This was the third time Cordero has nications, government affairs and welfare, use in preparing shipboard menus. This is not the first time Ngoc has the union in 1986. He says, "Piney Point upgraded at the school since joining the training, vacation and pension fund departhas given me the opportunity to further my SIU in 1972 in New York. ments. goals. Without upgrading, your choices It was a "job well done" for the I 1 new For Angel Correa, who joined the union and job security are limited." in Philadelphia in 1966 and now sails from shipboard leaders who graduated last Alan Bartley, who sails from the port of month from the bosun recertification proHouston, started his SIU career as a trainee the port of Jacksonville, the opportunity to gram-the highest curriculum available at upgrade to recertified steward was in 1981. This is the seventh time the 37extremely rewarding. "I always work hard the Paul Hall Center for Seafarers who sail year-old has been at the Lundeberg School and try to do the best job I can," the 54- in the steward department. These men and to upgrade his skills. "I would like to thank year-old stated, "because I like what I do." women are now better prepared for their all past and present staff members of the Correa found the refresher courses in jobs and more knowledgeable about their Harry Lundeberg School," he stated, "for CPR and first aid to be useful, and he is union, and are ready to pass on what they all I have learned here." Of special interest anxious to return to sea to show off some of have learned to their fellow shipmates. to Bartley this time was learning how the his new recipes and new ways of cooking union works and interacts with Congress. that he learned with Chef Allan. And he looks forward to returning to the Additionally, Correa urged the unlischool. censed apprentices and other SIU members Tommy Belvin, 47, expressed his deep to attend upgrading classes in Piney Point satisfaction at accomplishing a goal. "This is our day," he said to his fellow graduates. because "the better job we do on the ships, Belvin, who sails from the port of the more we keep what we have and the Tacoma, thanked the seven members of his more new jobs we get." Michael Hammock, 41, noted that his family who attended last month's ceremofive weeks of class was one of the best ny for their support and gave his best wishtimes he has had. "I learned a lot of differes to the unlicensed apprentices who will ent ways to cook," he said, "but the people soon follow in his footsteps. in my class made the real difference. They "The most important lessons I will take were great to learn with ... You're never too with me and which will have the greatest old to learn." impact when I return to work," stated 37This was the third upgrading course for year-old Sergio Castellanos, "are the new Hammock, who joined the SIU in 1973 in Ngoc Allen (above) evenly slices the mushtechniques, recipes and galley sanitation New York. rooms needed for her recipe, while Tommy guidance that we learned in Chef Allan's Belvin (below) uses the proper procedure to Refresher courses in CPR and first aid are John Holtschlag, 55, dedicated his class." filet a fish. part of the steward recertification curricudiploma from the steward recertification Castellanos, who joined the SIU in St. lum. Above, Michael Hammock practices class to his mother, who died last his resuscitation technique while being Louis and now sails from Tacoma, also November just as he received word that he prompted by instructor Stormie Combs. noted that the "STCW class helped explain had been admitted to the program. He joined in SIU in July 1983 in Honolulu and has returned to Piney Point twice before to attend upgrading classes. "This is one of the happiest days of my life," he told the audience upon receiving his diploma. "There have been a lot of changes since I was here 10 years ago," he said, specifically mentioning the computer center and culinary lab. To the trainees in attendance, he said, "For better jobs and job security, I would recommend returning to Piney Point the first chance you get." Kenneth Long, 39, thanked "the caring people" at the Lundeberg School for the opportunities he was afforded during the Training in the Lundeberg School's computer center will assist the recertified stewards in recertification class. Long, who sails from preparing menus and ordering stores while aboard ship. 6 Seafarers LOG . . , ,J . J' l . . April 1998 �MTD Speakers Hone Consistent Theme: Anti-Worker Campaign Measures Must Be Defeated Nationwide With more than half the states considering some type of legislation that could limit the ability of working people to participate in politics or government affairs, the executive board of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) called on its 32-member unions, through a resolution , to "stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and sisters in the labor movement in fighting all attempts by business groups to put a muzzle on the legitimate voice of American workers." MTD President Michael Sacco noted the seriousness of this issue when he devoted most of his opening remarks at the MTD's winter executive board meeting to the campaign being waged in Washington, D.C. and in various state capitals around the country to defeat measures that would place limits or restrictions on how union money could be used in the political process. "It boils down to this: Antiworker corporations, businesses and lobbyists have launched a vicious nationwide effort to silence the voice of unions in the political process," Sacco stated at the start of the two-day meeting in Las Vegas. "When you cut through all the tricky titles and look at the facts, you're le ft with Big Business try ing to put a muzzle on rank-andfile workers who are speaking up through their unions. These antiunion extremists want to gag the voice of working people, including those right here in Nevada and next door in California," he added, mentioning two of the 29 states where legislation has been filed or where ballot initiatives are being sought. By the end of March, forces friendly to working people had .., defeated anti-union measures in Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. Focus on California However, as several speakers noted during the board meeting, the prime battleground is California, where a statewide ballot initiative (Proposition 226) will be voted upon June 2. Attacking the 'innocent' sounding name of Proposition 226 (the Paycheck Protection Act), House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) mockingly asked, "Who's not for protecting paychecks? "But, if you read the fine print, you find out this is clearly designed by the other side to take you out of the process," stated the highest ranking Democrat in the U.S . House of Representatives. "This is a fight about who gets the money-a political fight. If the other side can take the voice of working people out of the political process, then they will run it lock, stock and barrel," Gephardt declared. Seek to Cripple Unions AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the filing of these measures was the way the antiunion corporations and lobbyists "thanked" working people for fighting to increase the national minimum wage and to defeat bills that would have allowed phony company unions to be recognized and permit fast-track trade negotiations without including provisions for workers and the environment. Sweeney noted the real focus of the many measures-no matter if they are called 'paycheck pro- ~ MTD President Michael Sacco (left) and House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt confer before the congressman urged the MTD executive board to defeat anti-worker campaign spending proposals. April 1998 Calling anti-worker legislation a "dishonest proposal," AFL-CIO Asst. to the President Gerald Shea tells the MTD executive board the labor federation is working across the country to stop these bills. tection,' 'campaign finance reform ' or 'choice for union members ' -is "to single out the unions and cripple our legitimate right to use union dues money for legislative and political action." The head of the national federation of trade unions went on to say, "For maritime unions, these proposals would deny us the clout we need to defend everything we cherish from the Jones Act to OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Administration), Medicare, Social Security and the list is long. They certainly would dilute our ability to muster votes for issues." Adding to Sweeney's remarks was Gerald Shea, who serves as the assistant to the AFL-CIO president for government affairs. "This is a dishonest proposal. It doesn't protect people's paychecks. It eliminates the only organization that consistently and with a loud, steady voice speaks for working families. "Only unions have the resources to do it on a consistent and persistent basis. And this would take our organizational ability to do that out," Shea stated. Workers 'Underestimated' U .S. Senator Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) urged the MTD executive board members to battle against these measures just as their predecessors had fought for workers' rights. He pointed out the voice of working people is needed to set the national priority of rebuilding America's infrastructure, such as AFL-CIO President John Sweeney notes maritime unions would be hard hit if measures like California's Proposition 226 pass. ports, roads, bridges and schools. Noting some early polls showing the anti-union measures are ahead in some states, Torricelli stated, "Working people have been underestimated so very many times. This country is ours." Former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh called on the executive board to rally its members into the 1998 political process. Bayh, who sailed with the SIU in 1976 aboard the Sea-Land Resource, reminded the audience that those proposing the legislation "want to roll back the clock on the rights of working men and women across the United States. That's one of the reasons this election is so vitally important because if we lose this one, our ability to fight for those things that we believe in for the men and women who count on us to represent them would be hamstrung for years and years to come." Utility Deregulation Needs to Include Concerns of Workers and Consumers The AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board called on state and federal legislators to carefully consider the consequences on workers as well as consumers when drafting and adopting measures to deregulate the utilities industries . The board, meeting March 16 and 17 in Las Vegas for its winter session, heard from James L . Dushaw, who serves as utility department director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), one of 32 unions within the MTD. Following his remarks, the board adopted a resolution urging trade unionists and utility consumers to be aware of what governmental bodies are considering for the industry and to defeat measures that will harm workers and consumers. Dushaw pointed out that since Congress allowed the states to look into deregulating the electric power industry in 1992, "industry has downsized to this date about 25 percent of the people involved in electricity operations ." If this trend continues, he said, consumers cannot expect the same high-quality service they have been used to receiving. The IBEW official stated the issue of utility deregulation is "an extremely complex subject." While all the details have not been worked out, he noted the utility industry is going to change. In the states where deregulation is taking place, Dushaw said energy companies are displaying their own studies that show it will save consumers money. However, . srritJJ..~ rrtffl. 61~ ~I> . ~~ p$tC1'Y, i!fJil AiiiCt JitlflW'ticfd , ~ M1lel'6 ftttlflrlel ~Ct Hct.d EiTy Holding a brochure that describes what could happen to America's electricity consumers should utility deregulation occur without regard to safety and access, IBEW Utility Dept. Director James Dushaw urges the MTD executive board to fight for legislation that will protect workers and those who depend on the power at home and in their businesses. he referred to an independent study-conducted by the Research Data Institute of Denver, which deals strictly with statistical information on utility and power supplies-that concluded prices for consumers will increase an average of 3 to 5 percent within five years of deregulation's implementation. (To date, that is the Ione independent study on this issue.) Dushaw declared the campaign being waged to convince those who use electricity to support deregulation because of its supposed cost savings will be "one of the biggest scams perpetrated on the American consumers and we need to do something about it." He thanked the MTD for already being involved in the Alliance to Protect Electricity Consumers-a national coalition of industry, labor and consumer organizations to ensure the positive resolution of consumer issues related to electric industry deregulation. In its resolution, the MTD executive board stated "any changes must be made slowly and with due consideration to safety, reliability, universal access and adequate staffing." The resolution further noted, "The preponderance of initiatives on the state and federal levels are being driven by greedy, self-serving interests. When primary investment considerations become profit driven, safety and reliability are bound to suffer." In closing his remarks, Dushaw added, "Reliability could be jeopardized without a we11trained and rewarded workforce." Seafarers LOG 7 �MarAd, Shipping, Elected Officials Pledge To Continue Fight for Strong U.S. Fleet The head of the U.S. Maritime Administration, the president of BP Oil Shipping Co., USA and the chairman of the House Resources Committee were among those who addressed the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board's winter meeting last month, pledging to continue the fight for a strong U.S.-flag merchant marine. While presenting different maritime concerns to the board, which is composed of officials from the MTD's 32 member trade unions (including the SIU) representing approximately 8 million workers, John Graykowski, Steve Marshall and Don Young (RAlaska) all said work must continue to keep the U.S.-flag commercial fleet strong and viable into the next century. ''There are a lot of people out there who believe as I do in the value of this industry and what we mean to the country," Graykowski, the acting Maritime Administrator, told the board. He blasted those who would "replace U.S. taxpaying-citizen jobs-skilled labor folks who have built their entire lives, and spent many generations in some cases, building businesses-with foreign crews and foreign companies competing on a totally different scale, subsidized by God knows how many tax breaks and labor breaks and every other break you can get. "They are gambling with the future and security of this country," Graykowski added. He charged the executive board to work with the Maritime Administration to carry the message to the country that the U.S.flag fleet is strong, vital and needed so that new maritime policies that will help the fleet can be proposed and enacted. Like Graykowski, BP's Marshall also spoke of a partnership that is helping the U.S.-flag fleet. He told the board how his company worked with the SIU and union-contracted Maritime Overseas Corporation to obtain passage of legislation allowing the export of Alaskan crude oil aboard U.S.-flag tankers, which brought back to life tankers that had been tied up. "We haven't stopped there," Marshall noted. "We've built on that success and today our partnership with the Seafarers is The enemies of the U.S. merchant fleet "are gambling with the future and security of this country," Maritime Administrator John Graykowski tells the MTD board. Steve Marshall, president of BP Oil Shipping Co., USA, praises the ability of the maritime businesses and labor to work together for the benefit of the industry. While showing the audience his speech will be short, Rep. Don Young's address was long on the value and need for a strong U.S.flag fleet. stronger than ever. To me, this is a very positive commentary on how far we've progressed together." In his remarks, Representative Young addressed how the maritime industry has moved forward by working with others to not only secure the Alaskan oil bill but also preserve the Jones Act and pass the Maritime Security Program. He asked the audience to imagine what would happen if the nation's cabotage laws were repealed and "a bunch of rustbuckets from China or Panamanian area" sailed into Alaska's waters and lost their cargo. "Who would they respond to?" the congressman queried. Young said the citizens of Alaska have benefited from maritime laws like the Jones Act, which ensures "having Americanmade ships, built by American people, with American crews sailing aboard those ships." The only licensed merchant mariner serving in Congress then noted the commercial fleet is an important part of America's infrastructure which needs to be rebuilt along with the ports, roads, bridges, schools and other facilities. "America was made great by the working sweat and blood of the men and women of this country. That's where our strength comes from. We must go forward in this society, not backwards,'' Young said. The urgency for dredging can be found in all major U.S. ports, according to Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.). MTD Vice President William Zenga reports dredging will begin soon in the port of New York and New Jersey. International Unity Brings Successes In ITF's Runaway-Flag Campaign While the battle to expose and eliminate runaway-flag shipping has been waged for 50 years, the general secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) told the AFLCIO Maritime Trades Department executive board during its winter meeting last month that some victories are being scored. David Cockroft, who heads the London-based organization which consists of more than 470 transportation-related unions (including the SIU) from approximately 120 countries, noted these triumphs against shippers from one nation who fly the flag of a non-traditional maritime country and use crew members from still other lands in order to avoid the tax, labor and safety laws of their home nation, could not have been obtained without international solidarity. · "Runaway-flag shipping was the world's first global industry," stated Cockroft. "We are trying to spread now the knowledge and experience that we've worked for 50 years of dealing with global employees in a global industry where a stroke of the pen can change the nationality of a ship and can change the nationality of a crew." He reminded the board of statements that the ITF campaign against runaway flags would be a waste of time. "In the last five years, we have moved from under 2,000 ships under ITF-approved collective agreements to over 5,000 ships. Even when we were told we couldn't do anything about raising the level of ITF minimum wages, we've gone from $1,000 a month for able seamen as the minimal benchmark for a seaman worldwide to $1,200 and in [the next] two years' time $1,400." During this same period, the ITF has shown its resolve to aid the world's mariners by more than doubling the number of ITF General Secretary David Cockroft urges the MTD executive board to continue its international solidarity to improve the lives of all mariners worldwide. Bringing greetings from the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union is its general secretary, Thomas Tay. B Seafarers LOG inspectors worldwide, including new ones in Russian and Romanian ports, to more than 100. "There are no safe ports for runaway, flag-of-convenience operators today. We have an effective network of inspectors doing their jobs," Cockroft announced. Through international solidarity, the ITF general secretary stated, the organization is launching a campaign to ensure the safety of mariners at sea. "We are determined to show that when a ship sinks and people don't know why, the governments are prepared to put as much effort and as much money into finding out the causes of these accidents as they're prepared to put into it when an aircraft crashes. Because seafarers are people, too, and they deserve the same kind of treatment as airline passengers." During his remarks on unions from around the world working together, Cockroft noted Thomas Tay, the general secretary of the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union, was sitting in the audience. Tay, a member of the ITF's executive board, was invited to attend the MTD executive board meeting by its president, Michael Sacco. Following Cockroft, Tay spoke to the board, praising the members as "fighters for a good cause; fighters to embrace the workers' social and economic status and the welfare of the workers and their families. "I must admire your leadership," Tay noted. "Your unity gives you strength. I am confident what you're fighting for will be successful because of your unity." Zenga Tells MTD Board Maritime Needs Dredging The need to rebuild the nation's infrastructure was a theme presented by several speakers before the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board during its winter meeting last month in Las Vegas. But it was the MTD's vice president who reminded the board of one particular need upon which all of maritime depends. William Zenga, who also serves as the business manager for Local 25 Marine Division of the International Union of Operating Engineers, recalled his more than five decades of work to promote the importance of dredging America's ports, which will allow the free movement of ever-larger cargo ships. "We are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel," Zenga informed the board. "There are new proposals for dredging and new technologies that are changing the nature of the dredging industry." Zenga updated the board on the agreement approved earlier this year to begin dredging the New York-New Jersey harbor. That program (see March 1998 Seafarers LOG, page 5) followed many years of work involving maritime labor, the shipping industries, the port authority and governors of the two states and eventually Vice President Al Gore. Work could begin as soon as this fall. The impact of dredging also was brought forward by Senator Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) during his remarks on America's infrastructure needs. He pointed out that "great ships coming into the port of New York offload their cargo onto barges because we didn't dredge it for a decade. We haven't done what our parents did in keeping the country modern and efficient." Torricelli said dredging is needed in all the major ports around the country in order to allow them to participate in international trade. April 1998 �Paul Hall Center and AB Course Commended by Lakes Seafarers Describing the experience as challenging but worthwhile, nine members of the SIU's Great Lakes division last month completed a special AB course at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. The course is tailored to suit the work schedules of Great Lakes Seafarers, who typically have a fairly brief time off between sailing seasons. It compresses all the studies from the school's regular six-week AB course into three weeks. Meeting the challenge of that full schedule were Richard De Witte, Paul Eich, Donald Gimpel, Daniel Grant, Gregory Kennedy, Matthew McNally, Mark Nicholson, Donald Olson and Scott VanEnkevort. "The union has gone out of its way to accommodate Great Lakes members with this class," stated DeWitte, who sails with Medusa Cement Co. "It's intense and there are many details, but it's geared for us because of our short winter season. If we had to take the [longer version of the] class, it would leave very little time for us to spend with family. "I think this school is the greatest educational opportunity in our industry. It's a first-rate facility and I look forward to coming back next year," he added. While DeWitte previously had upgraded at Piney Point-he completed the welding course in 1997-this marked the first time Grant attended the school. "The facility is more modern than I expected. It's like a college campus. I'm impressed with it," said Grant, who sails with American Steamship Co. Like his classmates, Grant said the three-week course "is great for guys on the Lakes, but you really have to be ready for it. The school sent water-survival manu- "This school is the greatest educational opportunity in our industry." - AB Richard DeWitte als to our homes before the class, and that helped. Plus it's good to not take time off the ships." Formerly a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Grant praised instructor Casey Taylor and added that the course highlight was "meeting Students in the three-week AB class join instructor Casey Taylor (left photo, standing) in examining how maritime regulations are proposed and published by the federal government. guys in the class and learning how they do things on the job. We have people here from different areas and different companies, so it's been educational to talk with them." VanEnkevort, who sails with Upper Lakes Barge Lines, expressed surprise upon reviewing samples of maritime regulations in the Federal Register along with the corresponding changes in the Code of Federal Regulations. He said the massiveness of the rules governing the industry heightens the need for Seafarers to upgrade their skills. "You learn a lot here at the school," VanEnkevort continued. "Everything I've learned here will be helpful when I get back to work." As in the six-week class, the three-week AB course covers deck seamanship, rules of the road, marlinespike seamanship, helmsmanship, cargo handling, safety, firefighting, emergency procedures, first aid, anchoring and mooring, and aids to navigation. On-Site Class for Crowley Boatmen Marks Continuation of Joint Efforts 'Chemical Warfare' in Galley Procedures Presented to Promote Primary Shipboard Goal: Safety Editor's note: The follow- ing article was written by Chef Allan Sherwin, director of culinary education at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. It is part of a series of columns intended to promote safety, efficiency and allaround good habits aboard ship. Newspapers and television programs regularly expose the dangers associated with chemical and biological warfare. These hazards received particular attention earlier this year, when the threat of armed conflict with Iraq seemed nearly certain. However, Seafarers should be aware that the threat of chemical poisoning is not only from an adversarial nation or some terrorist organization, but also is present in the chemicals we use each day aboard ship and at home. Cleaning solutions, polishes, detergents and all types of chemicals used in the galley and elsewhere on vessels are extremely poisonous and never should come in contact with food. Serious illness can be the result of accidental poisoning from foods contaminated with paint remover, oven cleaners and other chemicals used in the galley. In fact, the Center for Disease Control reports that thousands of people annually are poisoned from food contaminated by common chemicals. Lead poisoning from water pipes that are corroded and contact with lead-based paints are com- Upgrader Muthana Serves With a Smile The certified chief cook curriculum apparently agrees with Seafarer Billy Ahmed Muthana, who is all smiles while recently upgrading at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Here, Brother Muthana serves prime rib in the center's main dining room. April 1998 mon. Copper poisoning from corroded copper pipes on soft drink dispensers and improper storage of chemicals that have contacted with dry goods are frequent culprits in incidences of food-borne contamination. The following are procedures that are guidelines for safe chemical use: • Store all chemicals in a separate locker with a current list. Make sure that the locker is separate from all food production areas. • Insure that you have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical used. This must be kept on file where all crewmembers have access. • Train all galley personnel in proper use of each chemical, and be aware of the precautions listed on each product. For instance, some chemicals specifically list items like "do not mix with any other chemical." • Make sure that protective equipment is used. Gloves, goggles and wiping rags should be available. Proper disposal of the soiled rags is important. Along those lines, some chemicals are highly flammable, and placing them in dryers could result in shipboard fires. • Prevent possible chemical contamination by proper hand-washing after using chemicals or paints. Crew members should be alerted to possible contamination if they do not wash hands prior to entering the galley. Most food-borne contamination occurs due to improper personal sanitation. Handwashing is essential. Observing an exercise that involves use of splints and slings are SIU boatmen who took part in on-site training conducted last month at the union's Jacksonville, Fla. hall. Among those pictured are Joe Meuser, Chester Stephens, Willie Pettway, Steve Williams, Dominic LaSenna, Jerry Smith, John Gates, Michael Sanchez, Darrel Koonce, Phil Robinson, Don Smith and James Jackson. (Editor's note: Casey Taylor, instructor at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., wrote the following article and taught the on-site course described herein.) Last month, the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School hit the road for the fifth straight year, delivering environmental health and safety training in Jacksonville, Fla. for Seafarers who sail aboard Crowley Marine Services tugboats. Eighteen SIU boatmen participated in the four-day session, which covered hazardous-materials training, use of protective gear, first aid, emergency response plans and decontamination, general safety topics, government regulations applying to hazardous-materials handling, and more. The course took place at the SIU's Jacksonville hall. Completing the course were Seafarers·· John O'Neal, Philip Robinson, Chester Stephens, William Meuser, Michael Sanchez, Raymond Zacke, Walter Hansen, Donald Smith, Dominic LaSenna, Steven Williams, John Gates, Darrel Koonce, James Jackson, Willie Pettway, Jerry Smith, Eddie Williams, Doug Craft and Elijah Seals. Additional courses for Crowley Seafarers are scheduled for June 811, August 17-20 and November 9-12 at the Jacksonville hall. Last month's training was a continuation of a joint venture with SOS International of Sherman Oaks, Calif., a Crowley training provider and database maintainer. The first shared training effort between the Lundeberg School and SOS supported cleanup efforts following the Morris Berman spill in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1994. In the aftermath of the Berman spil1, more than 300 SIU members were trained in hazardous waste response (hazwoper) and spill response. Manuals were translated into Spanish, and bilingual classes were conducted. Crowley played a pivotal role as an oil spill response contractor in this major cleanup. The cooperative effort between the school, Crowley and SOS has continued with training in Jacksonville and San Juan. Additionally, the SIU and SOS are electronically formatting and transferring Crowley Seafarers' training records for the union's training record book (TRB). Crowley is the first SIU-contracted company to develop these formats and transfers, which are important to the quality control of documents under new international regulations such as the International Safety Management Code, ISO 9000 and the AWO Responsible Carriers Program. Mike Godbey, manager of training for Crowley, pointed out that the next step in the process involves verification of data. "Each CMS marine employee will receive a copy of their training history to review and update as the first step toward issuing the TRBs," he noted. Seafarers LOG 9 �NTSB's Hall Outlines Various Factors Leading ta Accidents Wllrld War 11-Merchant_Marine Posters·· Cites Bright Field as Recent Example Reflecting Several Problems The head of the independent federal agency that investigates major transportation accidents, such as the December 1996 Bright Field incident in New Orleans, told a Washington, D.C. audience that the cause of most accidents can be traced to one of several factors, or a combination of them. Speaking before the Washington, D.C. Propeller Club on March 11, James E. Hall , chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said his agency has discovered five basic reasons for a transportation mishap at sea. in the air or on land. "First is the belief that the absence of accidents is indicative of the presence of safety," stated Hall, who added this simply is not the case when a solid safety plan is not in place. The next item he listed is the belief that technology is infallible. He noted there must be an appreciation of the human role in a highly technical system. Another reason for problems Hall said his staff has discovered is "the lack of avenues for divergent opi~ions." He pointed out companies' representatives and employees must be able to communicate and express their point of view to ensure a safe work site. A fourth factor is "the arro- gance, many times, of management that believes in its inherent superiority to government regulations and sound operating practices." Hall noted such regulations are in place for a reason, generally because of past accidents, and they are designed to keep them from happening again. Finally. he listed the practice in some businesses of letting safety suffer for revenue's sake. The NTSB chairman told the gathering of maritime industry officials, labor representatives and government personnel that the investigation into the Bright Field accident revealed many of the above factors as being present before the Liberian-flag, Chinese -crewed bulker lost power going down river and slammed into a New Orleans riverfront shopping complex. (The February 1998 issue of the Seafarers LOG published a story of the NTSB and Coast Guard investigative reports.) "The severity of the accident was a result of a combination of failures, none of which should have been a surprise," Hall said. Included in the NTSB report as reasons for the incident were the failure of the ship's main engine and automation system , the lack of a port risk assessment within the port of New Orleans, the neglect of the pilot and crew Pictured here at the opening of his poster exhibit in 1995 in Piney Point, Md., Rendich Meola sailed as a member of the Seafarers during World War II. Former Seat arer Meola Passes Away at Age 82 James E. Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. explains to the Washington. D.C. Propeller Club how most accidents can be traced to one or more of several factors. to communicate during the emergency, and lack of emergency preparedness and evacuation plans for passengers aboard a nearby docked passenger casino vessel. Hall stated it is the intention of the NTSB not to point the finger of blame in its reports, but to find ways to keep a similar accident from happening again. "The board is the eyes and ears of the American people at major transportation accidents. It has played a major part in the development of the safest transportation system in the world," the chairman declared. Staying Informed Aboard HMI Astrachem According to ship's minutes and patrolmen's reports, smooth sailing has been the norm aboard the HM/ Astrachem, where crew members stay abreast of the latest news affecting their livelihoods. During shipboard meetings earlier this year, Seafarers on the Astrachem discussed upgrading at the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School, making certain their z-cards are renewed, keeping their training record books up-todate, understanding new international maritime regulations and more. Pictured here during a call in Mobile, Ala. are Chief Cook Luis Caballero (below left) and (in photo at right) OMU Kevin Samuels (left) and SA Kenneth Seals. ITF Continues Fight Against Runaway-Flag Shipping Continued from page 2 Cockroft also stated that although there are many facets of the ITF's campaign against runaway flags, the immediate goal boils down to "trying to raise the level of conditions in the industry. We believe seafarers deserve a good deal. We don't believe that shipowners should have the freedom to shop around the world, finding the cheapest labor they can possibly find, bringing it on board the ship, using it for a few months and then throwing it away when another nationality comes on the market that looks a little cheaper." 10 Seafarers LOG Similarly, the prevalence of runaway-flag ships threatens the national security of traditional maritime nations because it dwindles their respective fleets, Cockroft added. "National security is one reason, though not the only reason, to maintain a strong domestic fleet," he concluded. "You wouldn't accept (the runaway-flag scenario) if it were a bus operating in New York City. You wouldn't accept it if someone could hire Burmese to drive the buses, pay them what they were getting in Rangoon, let them drive around for eight months and then send them home." Rendich Meola, the former Seafarer who donated his collection of World War II merchant marine posters to the Paul Hall Memorial Library, passed away February 22 in his native Middletown, N.Y. He was 82. Meola sailed as a deck engineer with the SIU for three years during the war. He later went ashore and enjoyed a long, successful career in real estate. In fact, Meola worked until shortly before his passing. He began collecting war-era merchant marine posters in 1988, the year civilian mariners who sailed in World War II finally received veterans' status. Openly fervent about the posters, Meola in July 1995 donated 25 of them to the library in Piney Point, Md. A well-attended ceremony marked the exhibit's opening, with thenU.S. Maritime Administrator Al Herberger the featured speaker. A champion amateur tennis player, Meola later donated six other posters to the display. One month before he died, Meola contacted the SIU and told the union he had secured three more posters that were to complete the exhibit. Those posters will be added to the collection in the near future. The rest of the array currently is undergoing refurbishment that includes new frames, and is expected to be hung sometime this spring. Overall, the collection is believed to be the largest of its kind. Poster art was a popular means of communication in America during World War II, but only a tiny percentage of those produced by the Allies pertained to the merchant marine. During a visit to the library in fall 1996, Meola underscored his hope that students attending the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education would examine the poster collection, which includes explanatory text. "World War II is a major part of the history of the U.S. merchant marine. If a person is joining this industry, he or she should know about the heritage, those who went before them," he explained. "I also believe the posters serve to remind today's Seafarers that they may be called on in similar fashion." Survivor's include Meola's wife, Jeanette; his daughter and sonin-law, and two grandsons. San Francisco Labor Leader Jimmy Herman Dies at 73 A member of the San Francisco Port Commission and a former president of the International Longshoremen 's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU), Jimmy Herman died March 21 in San Francisco following a heart attack. He was 73. Protecting the rights of maritime workers was a driving force in Herman's life. Having dropped out of grammar school in his native Newark, N.J., he joined the merchant marine at 15 (lying about his age) and continued sailing through World War II. He then headed several local unions before succeeding Harry Bridges at the helm of the ILWU in 1977. In 1983, Sen . Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif\ who was mayor of San Francisco at the time, appointed him to the Port Commission, a position he held through 1994. He was later reappointed under Mayor Willie Brown in 1996. Following his retirement from the ILWU in 1991 , Her- man continued to work on behalf of the maritime industry. He was always on the lookout for ways to keep ports competitive and preserve maritime jobs in the Bay area. One of his most recent accomplishments was helping spur the port of Oakland to dredge deeper into the Bay, thus allowing larger ships with heavier cargo to enter the port rather than load and unload elsewhere. Known for his terrific sense of humor and great oratorical style, Herman devoted both in his fight for the rights of men and women. Brian McWilliams, ILWU's current president, noted that Herman had carried on the union's long battle for social justice. "He had energy and strength and kept people focusing on issues of workers' rights and civil rights." Herman, who . had lived in San Francisco since 1947, is survived by two brothers, Rodman C. Herman and Milton M. Herman Jr., both from Irvington, NJ. April 1998 �Local AAA ~ne Promotes Cruising Aboa.M Independence Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit the soth state knows how incrediby beautiful the Hawaiian Islands are. From lush vegetation, an erupting volcano and sandy beaches to misting waterfalls, majestic mountains and crystal clear blue waters, Hawaii has just about everything a vacationer could want And the best way to take in all that the Aloha State has to offer, according to an article by Jill M. Landsman in the March/April 1998 issue of Car & Travel, the official publication of the American Automobile Association's (AAA) Potomac region, is by boarding the SIU-crewed S.S. Independence for a weeklong island cruise. The Indy, as the American Hawaii Cruises' vessel is affec- The American Hawaii Cruises' S.S. Independence sails on week-long voyages to five ports of call on four of the Hawaiian Islands. Eighth Christmas at Sea tionately called, is the only U.S .flag cruise vessel presently in operation. The chief advantage to seeing the Hawaiian Islands by ship, according to the article, is that the passenger needs to unpack just once. Touring the islands by ship (more than 785 nautical miles on the Pacific Ocean) also maximizes what the visitor can see in just one week. "We offer one of the most unique sailing experiences available in Hawaii, a geologically and geographically beautiful place," states Linda Paavola, guest relations manager at American Hawaii Cruises. "When the week has passed, [our guests] do not want to go home." The article describes the many things to do while cruising aboard the 682-foot Independence. There is a little something for everyone. Each time the vessel docks in port, shore excursions are available-the USS Arizana memorial at Pearl Harbor, kayaking in Kauai and bicycling down Maui's Haleakala Crater, just to name a few. Or vacationers may choose to relax and soak up the sun on the ship's pool deck or take class- Crewed in all departments by members of the SIU, the S.S. Independence, shown above in Kahului, Maui, sails 785 nautical miles on its week-long cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. es in such things as lei-making, ukelele playing or hula dancing. Food choices also are bountiful, and vacationers "may indulge at all-you-can-eat buffets for breakfast or lunch and again at semi-formal dinner seatings." "Memories of Hawaii's captivating islands will anchor in your heart, leaving you wanting more," the article concludes. One thing the article does not mention, however-something Seafarers already know-is that the ship is in the best hands possible-those of the professional and highly trained members of the SIU. Merchant Marine Veteran Writes Book Chronicling World War ll Adventures From Edward P. Dunn, chief steward aboard the OOCL Innovation, come these festive Christmas Day menus (below). Above are his fellow galley gang members, who helped make the day a memorable one for all those aboard the vessel during the holiday, spent in the port of Rotterdam, Holland. From the left are Chief Cook Domingo Decosta, Dunn and Steward Assistant German Solar. This past Christmas was the eighth one at sea in a row for Dunn. "Each of us oldtimers has a favorite story ... or seven ... about our sailing adventures in the merchant marine during the war years," wrote 79-yearold Pete Peterson to the Seafarers LOG, "and we've probably all said that we'll write it up. But we never do." Peterson bucks that trend in a new 280-page book called "They Couldn't Have Won the War Without Us," featuring stories told by merchant mariners who sailed the ships during World War II. Peterson was in college when WWII broke out, and he joined the merchant marine, first sailing as an OS and then as an AB. He later went to an officers' training school in New London, Ct. and continued sailing, this time as a second and third mate. "They Couldn't Have Won the War Without Us" features the stories of 20 members of the Midwest Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans (19 former merchant seamen and one Naval Armed Guard sailor). Peterson spent hours with each of his fellow members, taking down oral accounts of their adventures aboard ship and ashore. They sailed from Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coast ports as wipers, chief engineers, messmen and captains. Even a King's Point deck cadet was included. Their experiences included all theaters of the war as well as the Murmansk run, Normandy invasion and voyages to China, India and Australia. More than a few were torpedoed, and two of the storytellers were drafted after the war. "It's a book that's long overdue," Peterson notes, "because it tells about the war from the individual seaman's point of view. It's a story that really needed to be told." One chapter in the book explains what the merchant marine is, why these men joined the merchant marine and what the various jobs are aboard a merchant ship. Peterson hopes that others who sailed during the war will compare their experiences with those of the men chronicled in the book. Perhaps some SIU members might have traveled in one of these men's convoys and visited the same ports and had the same scares during U-boat or plane attacks. Some of the former mariners may have been shipmates of SIU members. 'They Couldn't Have Won the War Without Us" is published by Lead Mine Press and may be ordered directly from the publisher for $14.95 plus $1.50 shipping and handling. For a copy, write to Pete Peterson, Lead Mine Press, 809 Spring Street, Galena, IL 61036; or telephone/fax (815) 777-4243. Harriette Delivers Farm Belt Corn to Far East With Pusan, South Korea in background, Recertified Bosun Cesar Gutierrez (photo below) helps ready the Overseas Harriette tor its return trip to the United States. Also eager to kick off the voyage stateside (left photo, pictured from left) are AB Fred Santorelli, Recertified Bosun Clyde Smith and AB Don Martin. The ~hip had delivered a load of corn in Korea. April 1998 Seafarers LOG 11 �One of the most precious rights we, as Americans, have is the right to vote. And our votes determine who our lawmakers will be. This November 3 is a general election in which the American people will elect all of the members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Also scheduled on the same dates in many stales will be elections for governors and legislatures. Jn order to vote, however, you must be registered. The chart below lists the dates of the primaries in each stale as well as the deadlines for registratWn for both the primaries and the general election. State Primary Date Primary Registration Deadline General Registration Deadline ALABAMA June 2 May22 October23 ALASKA August 25 July 26 October 4 ·ARIZONA September 8 August 10 October 5 ARKANSAS May 19 April 20 October 5 October 5 CALl~ORNJA June 2 May4 COLORADO August 11 July 13 October 5 CONNECTICUT September 15 September 10 October 20 DELAWARE September 12 August 22 October 13 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA September 15 August 17 (tentative deadlines) October 5 FLORIDA September 1 August 3 October 5 GEORGIA July 21 June 22 October 5 September 19 August 20 October 5 May26 May 1 (also at polls with ID) October 9 March 17 February 17 October 6 IN DIANA ILLINOIS Mays April 6 October 5 IOWA June 2 May23 October 24 KANSAS August 4 Jufy 20 October 19 KENTUCKY May 26 April 27 October 5 LOUISIANA October 3 September MAINE June 9 MARYLAND September 15 August17 October 5 October 5 a October 9 Election Day registration permitted MASSACHUSETTS September 15 August 26 MICHIGAN August 4 Jury6 October 5 MINNESOTA September 15 August 25 October 13 MISSISSIPPI June 2 May2 September 30 MISSOURI August 4 July 8 October 7 MONTANA June 2 May4 October 5 NEBRASKA May 12 May 1 October 23 NEVADA September 1 August 1 October 3 NEW HAMPSHIRE September 8 August 29 (also at polls) October 24 NEW JERSEY June 2 May4 October 5 NEW MEXICO June 2 May 5 October 6 NEW YORK September 15 August 21 (tentative deadlines} October 9 NORTH CAROLINA Mays April 10 October 9 NORTH DAKOTA June 9 No registration required OHIO May 5 April 6 October 5 OKLAHOMA August 25 July 31 October 9 OREGON May 19 April 28 October 13 PENNSYLVANIA May 19 April 20 October 5 RHODE ISLAND September 15 August 15 October 3 SOUTH CAROLINA June 9 May 11 October 5 SOUTH DAKOTA June 2 May 18 October 19 TENNESSEE August 6 July 7 October 2 TEXAS March 10 February 8 October 5 UTAH June 23 June 3 October 14 VERMONT September 8 August 29 October 24 VIRGINIA June 9 May 11 October 5 WASHINGTON September 15 August 29 October 20 WEST VIRGINIA October 5 May 12 April 13 WISCONSIN September 8 Election Day registration permitted WYOMING August 18 July 17 (also at polls) ---- October 2 Please note that while local election officials have confirmed the above deadlines, some states and counties set different dates for mail-in and walk-in voter registration deadlines. Additionally, some offer weekend and other registration opportunities. You may wish to check with your local voter registration office. SOURCE: International Labor Communications Association 12 Seafarers LOG . April 1998 �Tug Crew Credited for Aiding Shipmate Safety Training Helped Save Injured Deckhand's Life Five SIU boatmen recently were honored by the Long Beach, Calif. Fire Department for their roles in rescuing a fellow Seafarer. Captain Jimmy McNutt, Mate Gary Smith, Second Mate Ed Brooks, Deck Utility Milo Banicebic and Engine Utility Dave Walblon received certificates of recognition for aiding Deckhand Tony Amalfitano following a shipboard accident when all six were sailing aboard the Crowley tug Sea King in the Long Beach anchorage. "The fast and fitting actions of [Amalfitano's] crew mates surely saved his life," reads the certificate, presented during an awards luncheon February 17. Amalfitano, who had his leg amputated at the knee because of injuries sustained in the December 1996 accident, also attended the ceremony. "I just wanted to thank those guys for helping me," said the 13-year member of the SIU. "At least I'm alive. It's more or less a miracle that I'm even here." McNutt, who stated that the crew's safety training proved invaluable in responding to the emergency, emphasized he was very uncomfortable receiving recognition in light of Amalfitano's injury. "I hate to even think about the certificate, but at the same time, the entire crew really did an excellent job reacting to the situation. The Long Beach Fire Department a1so should be commended, because they arrived at the scene quickJy," he said. "We were all glad to see Tony at the luncheon," McNutt added. Meeting with Seafaren On West Coast Ships 8 0 0 Aboard the Beaver State are (from left) Bosun Glenn Ray Christianson, Chief Steward Darlene Cherry, QMED Robert Layko and DEU Moses Shaibi. Meeting with SIU Assistant Vice President Bob Hall (center) on the Overseas New York are Chief Steward Nancy Heyden and Recertified Bosun Carlos Loureiro. Three SIU hawsepipers work aboard the Green Mountain State, including Chief Engineer Dave Garrity (left) and 1st Engineer G. Fain, both graduates of the trainee program in Piney Point. A potential armed conflict against Iraq topped the list of subjects covered during recent meetings aboard three SIU-crewed vessels. On the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships Green Mountain State in Vancouver, Wash. and Beaver State in Portland, as well as aboard the tanker Overseas New York in Astoria, Ore., Seafarers in February met with Bob Hall, SIU assistant vice president. They discussed the situation concerning Iraq; various aspects of the Seafarers Welfare Plan and Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan; the training record books being issued through the Paul Ha11 Center for Maritime Training and Education, and more. 0 SA Calvin Williams, Green Mountain State; 0 Chief Pumman John Fleming, Overseas New York; © Chief Steward Eric Manley, Green Mountain State; April 1998 (:) Bosun John McMurtray, Green Mountain State; 0 Oiler Christopher Davis, Green Mountain State; and 0 3rd Engineer (and SIU hawsepiper) Pete Oram, Green Mountain State. Tony and brought him around. He was helping us, conscious and talking the whole time. We floated the basket underneath him, while the other guys pulled the lines and got him onto the main deck." 'I just wanted to thank those guys for helping me.' -Deckhand Tony Amalfitano There, the crew secured a splint on Amalfitano's leg and treated him for shock. Rescue units arrived shortly. While again stressing that the crew's overriding concern was for the well-being of Amalfitano, Brooks said their emergency-response training proved beneficial in this case. He and Smith have taken numerous upgrading courses at the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship, and all of the crew members regularly take part in shipboard safety drills. He also credited Crowley with being "very big 'on safety training. These things are discussed and practiced," Brooks noted. "We have weekly safety drills, we watch safety videos, we have training at the Seafarers' school. It comes down to familiarity and repetition, having a game plan. With Tony, we had a we11-coordinated rescue plan." Renowned Sculptor Honored by SIU • Also attending shipboard meetings with Asst. VP Hall are: Brooks, a frequent upgrader at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., echoed the thoughts of both Amalfitano and McNutt. "It was so unfortunate and yet it was a miracle (that Amalfitano survived)," he said. "It's amazing how Tony was able to help us .... His faith carried him through. I think most sailors can appreciate that." The accident occurred as the Sea King moved constructionzone buoys which are used as anchors for dredging operations and as markers. As noted on the certificates issued by the fire department, "These arc not ordinary buoys. They are about I 0 feet high and weigh thousands of pounds." Amalfitano became pinned between the Sea King and a buoy and then was knocked overboard. The severity of his leg injury meant that he could not climb back aboard the tugboat; and, although he wore a life vest, he remained at risk of being pinned again. Somehow, Amalfitano mustered the presence and strength to swim away from the buoy to the side of the boat. At the same time, McNutt contacted local authorities for help, Banicebic tossed a life ring to Amalfitano, and Walblon grabbed his fallen shipmate and held on. Brooks and Smith "rigged a ladder over the side and put a Stokes basket into the water," Brooks recalled. "I got behind The internationally acclaimed artist who crafted the sculpture located at the entrance to Seafarers Haven cemetery recently received an honorary SIU book, as approved by the membership. Mykola Holodyk (pictured above at right with SIU official Ed Pulver), who has produced art and architecture throughout the world, accepted the award earlier this year. "He was very appreciative and excited," stated Pulver. "Very few honorary books have been given over the years, so he recognizes that this isn't an everyday gesture on the union's part." Holodyk created the unnamed concrete and metal sculpture (pictured at left) at the cemetery, which overlooks the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Unveiled in September 1996, the piece represents a deep sea mariner standing at a ship's wheel. The 73-year-old native of the Ukraine has remained active since then, most recently decorating a church in Prague. Seafarers LOG 13 �I I I t UNION llEllBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School is limited to two weeks per family. Member $40.40/day Spouse 9.45/ day Child 9.45/ day Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed above indude all meals. ------------------------------------------,: SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information Social Security number: ____________ Book number: _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 1 I I I Address: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Telephone n u m b e r : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 3rd choice: _ _ __ Date of arrival: 1st choice: 2nd choice: _ _ __ (Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks) Date of departure: _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. 4/98 L----------------------------------------------------~ Seafarers LOG 14 For up to two weeks, Seafarers and their families may enjoy a vacation like something from a travel brochure. Comfortable accommodations, teruUs courts, health spa, olympicsize swimming pool and three fabulous meals each day are just a part of the full vacation package, as are fishing, swimming, sunning, boating, picnicking and just plain relaxing. As many SIU members already have discovered, the Paul Hall Center, located in historic St. Mary's County in Southern Maryland, encompasses 60 acres of waterfront property. With the Potomac River to the west, the Chesapeake Bay to the east and the Wicomico and Patuxent rivers splitting it in the middle, Southern Maryland is ruled by a life and love of the water. There is little need to journey outside the peaceful site, but that is an option. Numerous recreational and sightseeing opportunities exist withID dose proximity of the Paul Hall Center. One need only step outside the facility's gates to discover the beauty and splendor the region has to offer. The counties of the area, St. Mary's, Charles and Calvert, boast many summer festivals, celebrations and exhibits not to be missed by vacationing Seafarers and their families. While Southern Maryland may capture the hearts of Seafarers and their families when enjoying a vacation at Piney Point, there still are many more sights (both historic and current) to take in which may be reached in a short drive by car-Baltimore and Annapolis, Md., Arlington and Alexandria, Va. and, of course, the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Don't let your summer holiday be lost in dreams. Start planning now for a memorable vacation at Piney Point by mailing your completed reservation form at left. April 1998 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1998 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SlllPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT Port · NewYork Philadelphia 33 ' 4 5 ·. ·· 15 4 5 4 2 1 11 5 6 7 4 14 2 3 5 23 4 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C , . 53 3 9 2 I 1 7 6 23 15 4 9 6 6 3 8 21 14 4 17 11 1 6 28 ·:·:·:. :·:·:s an,Francisco 39 22 19 14 IO 1 17 10 6 I 17 26 6 7 1$ 4 6 5 3 6 10 7 78 40 :.:.:.: . '\Yilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 4 15 24 12 14 7 3 10 13 2 10 2 5 3 0 2 1 2 1 235 143 61 173 106 33 77 13 3 7 4 5 1 . t5 ' 2 0 7 12 11 8 2 4 0 3 14 14 6 San Francisco 11 5 0 Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 4 15 1 2 8 2 Houston 15 7 4 3 8 St. Louis 4 J. Piney Point Algonac Totals 3 0 3 2 8 0 2 6 121 0 83 0 34 8 9 10 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 3 5 7 0 2 1 0 2 0 4 3 1 3 8 8 4 9 5 10 10 3 6 0 1 4 l 5 16 16 14 14 4 11 '1 3 1 6 3 9 12 8 5 1 0 Q 0 3 8 5 13 14 22 14 18 1 9 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 ' ' "" 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 0 3 4 0 4 3 4 3 l 0 2 0 2 5 12 19 7 6 0 3 7 0 2 0 52 0 0 8 1 1 0 0 15 16 2 0 0 0 0 96 33 3 0 1 1 3 3 3 11 3 7 7 4 2 25 5 4 17 0 2 10 3 3 12 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 3 6 0 7 0 5 3 2 27 11 65 5 St Louis 0 0 Piney Point 1 126 2 5 8 0 4 8 28 6 6 0 4 6 Philadelphia ...... :'. ..... Wednesday: May 6, June 10 1 1 · 0 0 213 158 52 21 14 3 0 'l 0 0 1 9 3 1 3 0 1 4 4 4 14 9 16 4 3 15 7 2 8 22 4 5 3 0 10 0 13 50 8 1 24 38 4 6 23 4 5 3 7 5 21 12 0 0 0 49 1 7 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 12 1 1 0 259 90 23 0 6 46 19 0 0 I 6 0 6 18 12 22 4 28 2 8 6 0 13 2 20 12 12 12 4 5 1 3 4 3 7 IO 8 32 26 19 5 3 0 51 3 9 1 16 7 0 0 I 0 14 1 136 0 0 27 23 17 0 49 5 0 166 0 113 531 444 252 372 317 18 5 3 2 4 3 5 6 19 9 17 19 9 21 5 10 8 7 114 20 13 0 0 0 5 5 45 0 0 0 2 0 94 17 I 98 0 0 11 0 281 257 162 150 991 767 437 2 0 Totals All Departments *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 1998 St. Louis ................... Friday: May 15, June 19 Wilmington .............. Monday: May 18, June 22 Eaclf pod's meeting stans at 10:30 a.m. Personals BOSUN EDMUND (RICK) BRAND Bosun Randy Garay, who is currently aboard the Voyager, would like to hear from you. Write him at 521 W Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814; or telephone (208) 664-1308. MATT BUCARETTI Please get in touch with Miriam Duncan at (254) 699-2098 (Texas). WILLIAM (BILL) H. HAMBY Please call Hubert E. (Santa Claus) Jackson collect at (910) 594-0127. KARL HAROLDSONN Please call Mary at (860) 666-9874. 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 San Francisco ........... Thursday: May 14, June 18 0 4 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Totals Tacoma ..................... Friday: May 22, June 26 5 3 0' Norfolk ..................... Thursday: May 7, June 11 2 2 3 7 0 ""'}'()' "'"' New York ................. Tuesday: May 5, June 9 8 11 15 15 24 3 8 0 0 24 5 2 New Orleans ............Tuesday: May 12, June 16 San Juan ................... Thursday; May 7, June 11 5 26 0 2 Mobile .... :·................ .Wednesday: May 13, June 17 3 1 0 5 19 New Bedford ............Tuesday; May 19, June 23 Jacksonville ...... ,. ......Thursday: May 7, June 11 13 2 7 8 8 17 22 1 0 6 4 13 Houston .................... Monday: May 11, June 15 29 3 65 Jersey City ............... Wednesday: May 20, June 24 Honolulu .................. Friday: May 15, June 19 105 3 I 16 10 Duluth ......................Wednesday: May 13, June 17 238 5 76 27 21 4 Baltimore .................Thursday: May 7, June 11 425 8 2 0 New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston . . . o' 12 0 0 3 14 5 l 19 36 .0 .l . 1 0 0 28 6 10 17 7 21 11 4 ::" Algonac .................... Friday: May 8, June 12 7 4 0 9 1 8 15 43 8 1 26 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonvilte San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals 13 2 Port ewYork 5 2 : -: : ·"Piney .J?piiif··:t:·:·:·:': . ·..:. New York Philadelphia .Ba,ltim.9.rn Norfolk Mobile New Orleans . Jacksonville 43 60 2 . . sFLouis Totals 5 0 1 10 2 13 0 1 0 ·. Houston Algonac 25 8 0 5 15 May & June 199~ Membership Meetings · · Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Walen Piney Point... ............ Monday: May 4, June 8 2 4 2 Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans . :.: :.)~rikson.v..~lte · ' ti LOG-A-RHYTHMS by Marie Gray Joe is the name by which you are known. Over the earth you have often roamed Sailing as a Seafarers International Union man Enjoying the sights on sea and land. Parent of seven Husband who made earth Heaven. Loving Excelling Respectful Outgoing Youthful Generous as this earth you trod Ready to journey home to God Answering His call You are loved by us all. Twelve-thirty your time had come. Your work on earth was now done. You had a smile on your face, So I know you went to a better place. May God bless each and everyone, Who added to your life some fun. Gratefully, Your wife, Marie (This tribute was written by Marie Gray to her husband, Joseph L. Gray, whose obituary may be found on page 18.) Seafarers LOG 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes SeafaretS lntemalianal Union Dlrectorr . .. FEBRUARY 16 - Michael Sacco . MARCH 15, 1998 ······ ·PiesideriF ..... .· . CL - ·· John Fay .·.·.....· .•.... Ex.ecu4y~ Vic;e. Pre~i~n.t. *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac Port Algonac Port ........ · ""'"' .............. • '' Company/Lakes ... HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way "'"Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 0 29 3 0 7 2 L- Lakes NP - Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP 0 29 3 0 7 2 9 0 27 12 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Algonac 0 Port Algonac 0 9 0 0 0 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 17 0 Totals All Depts 72 0 0 0 0 72 *'Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. ' Algonac. Ml 4SOOI (810) 794·4988 17 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame Sf., #IC Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE FEBRUARY 16 - 1216 E. Baltimore SL Baltimore, MD 21202 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C (41()) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St Honolulu, HI 96819 (808} 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierre SL Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty si. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. JeJSey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Javkson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70 t 30 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 635 f011rtb Ave. Brooklyn, NY 1123'2 (718) 499-6600 _f Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast ; Lakes, lnJat)(i Water~ West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Jn~and Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals 0 0 2 ,29 2 3 9 0 2 0 5 33 5 14 0 MARCH 15, 1998 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 1 0 2 9 0 0 7 1 2 17 1 4 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 1 39 8 48 0 3 0 3 6 0 <r 1 0 0 0 0 17 0 15 32 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 20 0 20 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 7 t) 0 0 1 0 0 T; 0 8 0 0 7 0 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 10 0 0 1 0 1 8 0 10 o- 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 Totals All Depts 15 1 66 5 6 66 6 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 38 NORFOLK 115Third St Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PfilLADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont SL San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division {415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16V:t Samun:e, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST.LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG PIC-FROM-THE-PAST These photographs, sent to the Seafarers LOG by Ted Lewis of Severna Park, Md., were taken in 1947. That year, Lewis obtained a '1rip card" and signed on the S.S. Fort Donaldson, a WWI I T-2 oil tanker. He shipped as an OS from the SIU union hall in the port of New York, which was on Beaver Street. 'We first sailed to Aruba," Lewis stated in a note to the Seafarers LOG which accompanied the photos. "Then we filled up with bunkers and dropped them in Gibraltar. From there, we shuttled oil from Kuwait and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to Europe. "After a few trips through the Suez Canal, I was taken off because of jaundice and spent a few months in a 'hospital' in Port Said, Egypt. The photos show me on the fantail of the tanker lying off Port Said and also in front of a statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built the canal. A few years later, his statue was taken down by President Nasser and put in storage ... probably never to be seen again! "Although more than 50 years have passed, it almost seems like yesterday." April 1998 �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. 0 ne recertified bosun and one recertified steward are among the seven Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Representing more than 75 years of active union membership, Recertified Bosun Clarence E. Pryor and Recertified Steward German Rios are graduates of the highest level of training available to members in the deck and steward departments, respectively, at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Including the two recertified with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD) . He last sailed in 1993 as a ' - - -- =<---=---' chief cook aboard the Kainalu, operated by Matson Navigation. Born in Mexico. Brother Murillo makes his home in Paramount, Calif. upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification program '--------'---'in 1994. Prior to his retirement, he sailed aboard the Charleston, operated by Westchester Marine Corp. Brother Rios makes his home in CLARENCE Leviuown, P.R. E. PRYOR, ALFREDO C. VARONA, 62, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1955 from the port of Mobile, Ala. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1974. The Alabama native last sailed aboard the Humacao, an NPR, Inc. vessel. Brother Pryor has retired to Citronelle, Ala. graduates, four of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division; two navigated the inland waterways and one shipped aboard Great Lakes vessels. Five of the retiring Seafarers sailed in the deck department and two in the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners. DEEP SEA GERMAN RIOS, 58, started his career with the SIU in 1963 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Seatrain New York. A native of Puerto Rico, he sailed in the steward department and ALEJANDRO S. MURILLO, 65, graduated from the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) training school in 1965 and joined the MC&S, before that union merged pon of San Francisco, sailing aboard the Overseas Ulla . Born in the Philippines, he worked in the deck department and signed off the Sea-La,nd Innovator. Brother Varona calls San Francisco home. GREAT LAKES ALEXANDERF. McDONALD, 65, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1951 aboard the Huron. Born =====:;;J in Canada, he sailed in the deck department. Brother McDonald last sailed in 1976 aboard the Sam la,ud. He calls Tempe, Ariz. home. Chef Lupinacci Honored by Fellow Chefs INLAND JAMES C. SMITH, 62, first sailed with the SIU in 1966. The Ohio native sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. He last sailed aboard vessels operated by Crowley Marine FOOD & BEVERAGES CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES Table grapes that do not bear the UFW label on their carton or crate llJi. Farm Workers DIAMOND WALNUT CO. • MACON L. SQUIRES, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The deck department member last sailed as a captain, signing off the Valour, operated by Mari trans. From 1954 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army. Boatman Squires makes his home in Tampa, Fla. BOYCOTTS NATIONAL AFL·CIO 63, joined the Seafarers in 1978 in the Services. From 1953 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Army. Boatman Smith has retired to Daytona Beach, Fla. • Diamond brand canned and bagged walnuts and walnut pieces llJi. Teamsters FARMLAND DAIRY Milk sold under the Farmland Dairy label in stores in Connecticut. New Jersey and New York llJi. Teamsters Romeo Lupinacci (center), corporate executive chef at the Paul Hall Center, shows his most recent culinary award to SIU President Michael Sacco (left) and Nick Marrone, acting vice president of the Lundeberg School. Lupinacci went to San Francisco last October to receive the Antonin Careme medal, which is awarded annually by the Chefs Association of the Pacific Coast to a chef who "has made outstanding contributions to the culinary profession, education, the advancement of gastronomy and the culinary arts." He is only the ggs chef to be so honored. ''This is the ultimate," Lupinacci said, referring to his latest award. ''They don't come any higher than this." FURNITURE TELESCOPE CASUAL FURNITURE CO. MARCH / APRIL 1998 ................................. BUILDING MATERIALS & TOOLS Lawn, patio, other casual furniture. Brand name: Telescope llJi. Electronic Workers Showing Their Pride TRANSPORTATION & TRAVEL AL/TALIA AIRLINES BROWN & SHARPE MFG. CO. Measuring, cutting and machine tools and pumps ..,. Machinists Air transport for passengers and freight ...,. Machinists BEST WESTERN-GROSVENOR RESORT ROME CABLE CORP. Cables used in construction and mining ..,. Machinists Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; located at Disney Wor1d, but separately owned and operated ...,. Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees SOUTHWIRE CO. CROWN CENTRAL PETROLEUM Commercial and industrial wire and cable; DoltYourself brand homewire 11Ji. Electrical Workers Gasoline sold at Crown, Fast Fare and Zippy Mart stations and convenience stores ...,. Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON Hotel in Waterbury, Conn. llJi. Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees CLOTHING MASTER APPAREL Men's and boys' pants. Labels include Botany 500, and Hills and Archer ..,. Electronic Workers KAUAI RESORT Hotel in Kapaa, Hawaii Longshore & Warehouse Union 11Ji. MICHELIN ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION Michelin brand tires llJi. Steelworkers BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION NEW OTANI HOTEL & GARDEN BET cable television, Action pay-per-view, Bet on Jazz .,.. Electrical Workers Hotel in downtown Los Angeles ..,. Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees OGLEBAY PARK Wheeling, W.Va., park/resort/recreation complex ..,. Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees REGAL CINEMAS Chain of 250 movie theaters in 22 states: "Regal Cinemas" & "Cobb Theaters" ..,. Stage Employees & Moving Picture Technicians UNION April 1998 LABEL ANO SERVICE OTHERS R.J . REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. Cigarettes: Best Value, Camel, Century, Doral , Eclipse, Magna, Monarch, More, Now, Salem, Sterling, Vantage, and Winston; plus all Moonlight Tobacco products .,.. Bakery, Confectionery & Tobacco Workers TRADES DEPARTMENT , AFL · C I O Unlicensed apprentices from classes 572, 573 and 574 wanted the world to know what they think about the program offered at the Paul Hall Center that trains young men and women to become merchant mariners. Last month, the apprentices spent a week of their own time creating the above pictured sign as well as landscaping the grounds outside their dormitory. Three of the apprentices who helped in the project include (from left) John Millward (class 574) from Brookville, Fla., Latonia Jackson (class 572) from Jacksonville, Fla. and Phillip Troublefield (class 574) from Houston, Texas. Seafarers LOG 17 - �Final Departures DEEP SEA ARTHUR M. ALSOBROOKS Pensioner Arthur M. __ Alsobrooks, 76, passed away February 16. A native of Texas, he start· ··· ed his career with the Sea· '-------~ farers in 1945 in the port of Houston. Brother Alsobrooks sailed in the steward department. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945. He was a resident of Houston and LOUIS D. CHAPPETTA DAVID H. HURT INEZ N. WEBBER MELVIN F. TEASENFITZ Pensioner Louis D. Chappetta, 64, passed away December 19, 1997. He graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1962 and joined the SIU in the port of New Orleans. Starting out in the steward department, he later transferred to the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. His first ship was the Tra11shaueras and he last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Patriot. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Chappetta, a resident of San Francisco, retired in July 1996. .....--------..., Pensioner David H. Ikirt, 77, died February 17. Born in Ohio, he began sail· ing with the Seafarers in 1947 from the '--------~port of Phila· delphia. Brother Ikirt worked in the deck department and retired in August 1986. He was a resident of Dayton, Ohio. JOSEPH F. CRAGE FRANK KON Pensioner Inez N. Webber, 82, passed away January 5. Sister Webber joined the MC&S in 1958, before that union '-----=-----'merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. She signed on the Maisonia, operated by Matson Navigation and last sailed aboard the Monterey, a Pacific Far East Line vessel. She was a resident of Nevada, Mo. and retired in September 1974. Pensioner Melvin F. Teasenfitz, 76, passed away February 6. He joined the Seafarers in 1962 in the port of Philadelphia. ' - - - _ _ _ ; : ; : = ' - - - - - - - ' A native of New Jersey, he sailed in the steward department. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1943. Boatman Teasenfitz was a resident of Mays Landing, N.J. and started receiving his pension in July 1984. WALDO A.H. WU CHESTER VIKELL Pensioner Waldo A.H. Wu, 86, died January 19. Born in China. he began sailing with the MC&S in 1947 from the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. His first ship was the Marine Fox, operated by Isthmian Lines. Prior to his retirement in January l 97'J, he signed off the President Monroe, an American President Lines vessel. Brother Wu was a resident of San Francisco. Pensioner Chester Vikell, 70, died February 7. Boatman Vikell began sailing with the SIU in 1956 from the .___ _ _ _ _ _f_, port of Baltimore aboard vessels operated by Baker-Whiteley. The Maryland native sailed in the deck department as a mate. A resident of Baltimore, he retired in November 1984. began receiving his pension in December 1983. ROBERT W. ARLEQUE Pensioner Robert W. Arleque, 74, died February 4. Born in Massachusetts, he joined the SIU in 1944 in the port of "'-"'---""---'--"""-' Boston. Brother Arleque sailed in the deck department. A resident of Baltimore, he started receiving his pension in December 1981. WILLIAM E. BABBITT Pensioner William E. Babbitt, 69, passed away January 12. Brother Babbitt first sailed with the Seafarers in 1959. A native ==:::::;;.;...._____, of Indiana, he worked in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md., where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1979. From 1945 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Babbitt was a resident of Pocono Summit, Pa. and retired in March 1995. OTILLIO V. BELISARIO Pensioner Otillio V. Belisario, 85, passed away December 27, 1997. A native of the Philippine Islands, he began his ====.;..;____,career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1945 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Brother Belisario was a resident of San Francisco and retired in May 1975. Pensioner Frank Kon, 78, passed away January 27. A native of Massachusetts, he joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Pensioner Joseph F. Crage, 69, died September 23, 1997. Born in New York, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1955 in the port of Baltimore. Brother Crage sailed in the deck department. From 1946 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1952, he served in the U.S. Army. A resident of Seattle, he began receiving his pension in December 1992. ==:...____.;;::~'--==Boston. Brother Kon sailed as a member of the deck department. A resident of Reno, Nev., he began receiving his pension in June 1983. CALVIN K. LAKE Thomas W. Dodson, 45, passed away January 25. A native of Louisiana, he graduated from the Harry Lundeberg School's entry level training program in 1968 and joined the SIU in the port of New Orleans. His first ship was the Overseas Dinny. Starting out in the steward department, he later transferred to the engine department and upgraded ar the Lundeberg Schcvl. Brother Dodson was a resident of Amite, La. Pensioner Bak Fan Young, 79, passed away November 2, 1997. Brother Young joined the MC&S in 1951 in the port of San '------="'-=--~ Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Born in China, he was a resident of Daly City, Calif. and retired in July 1973. JOSEPH L. GRAY CHARLESJ.MITCHELL INLAND Pensioner Joseph L. Gray, 71, passed away January 22. He joined the SIU in 1966 in the port of Philadelphia, sailing aboard the Globe Progress. Born in Pennsyl· vania, he sailed in the steward department and upgraded to chief cook at the Lundeberg School. Brother Gray last sailed in I 982 aboard the Patriot, operated by Ocean Carriers. From 1943 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy. He was a resident of East Elmhurst, N.Y. and retired in August 199 l. r-~~~~,--, HENRY J. GROMEK .----===:,...----, Pensioner Pensioner Charles J. Mitchell, 87, passed away December 13, 1997. A charter member of the SIU, he joined the union in 1939 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The Alabama native worked in the steward department, last sailing as a chief steward. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives and beefs. Brother Mitchell was a resident of Spanish Fort, Ala. and began receiving his pension in July 1975. JOHN NOVAK li Pensioner John d Novak, 82, passed away December 27, 1997. He joined the SIU in 1942 in the port of New York. During ~~"---~~....!•=-_J his career, he sailed in the deck department and was active in union organizing drives and beefs. A resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brother Novak started receiving his pension in December 1983. Pensioner Guido Berdan, 92, died January 18. Born in Italy, he joined the MC&S in 1944, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLlWD. A resident of Van Nuys. Calif., he started receiving his pension in March 1974. Henry J. Gromek, 73, died January 20. Born in Maryland, he started his career with the Seafarers in ==::......:::::..:=.;=== 1950 in the port of New York. Brother Gromek sailed as a member of the steward department and began receiving his pension in January 1993. He was a resident of Baltimore. FREDERICK BOYNE STEVEN C. HAWKINS MICHAEL M. SPORICH Pensioner Frederick Boyne, 79, died January 4. A native of England, he joined the Seafarers in 1952 in the port of New York. Brother Boyne sailed in the deck department and began receiving his pension in February 1983. He was a resident of Liverpool, England. Steven C. Hawkins. 39, died September 14, 1997. Brother Hawkins first sailed with the Seafarers in 1990 from the port of Houston. Born in New Mexico, he worked in the engine department and upgraded to QMED at the Lundeberg School. He was a resident of Katy, Texas. .....----------, Pensioner Michael M. Sporich, 81, died January 3. A native of Missouri, he joined the SIU in 1943 in the port of New York. A member of the deck department, Brother Sporich began receiving his pension in May 1981. He was a resident of St. Louis. GUIDO HERDON 18 Seafarers LOG BAK FAN YOUNG Pensioner Calvin K. Lake, 72, died December 21, 1997. He began sailing with the Seafarers in 1955 from the port of Seattle. Born in South Dakota, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. Brother Lake was a resident of North Bend, Wash. and retired in October 1997. THOMAS W. DODSON JAMMIE M. DANIELS Pensioner Jammie M. Daniels, 77, died February 2. Born in North Carolina, he began sailing with the SIU in 1956 from the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Daniels last sailed as a tugboat captain. He was a resident of Belhaven, N.C. and retired in June 1983. EDWARD HOLT Pensioner Edward Holt, 80, passed away February 19. He joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of St. Louis. The Tennessee native sailed in the deck depart· ment. Boatman Holt lived in Tiptonville, Tenn. and began receiving his pension in November 1979. L...__ _ _ _ _ _ _ , ALBERT M. PIETROWSKI Pensioner Albert M. Pietrowski, 67, passed away January 22. A native of Pennsylvania, he first sailed with the Seal...---"'---'""'--""'--- farers in 1949 from the port of Philadelphia. Starting out in the deep sea division aboard the Fairland, he later transferred to inland vessels. Boatman Pietrowski sailed as a chief cook and began receiving his pension in August 1992. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Vienna, Va. GREAT LAKES SILVESTER BLAZIK Pensioner Silvester Blazik, 69, passed away January 16. Born in Pennsylvania, he joined the Seafarers in 1960 in the port of Detroit. Brother Blazik worked in the deck department, sailing primarily aboard vessels operated by Kinsman Lines. His last ship wa the WA. McGorgle. A resident of Kingston, Pa., he began receiving. his pension in February 1989. HASSAN N. MADRY Pensioner Hassan N. Madry, 73, died December 22, 1997. Brother Madry joined the SlU in 1965 in the port of Detroit. =::.=..---'::...=== Born in Yemen, he sailed in the deck depart· ment. He was a resident of Yemen and retired in February 1986. WALTER L. MERO JR. l~iiiiiii~I Pensioner Walter L. Mero Jr., 79, died December 7, 1997. He joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of Ashtabula, Ohio, ==-"-'-----"-.....::..;.:.....;..;.:;..= sailing as a member of the deck department. During World War II, the Ohio native served in the U.S. Army. A resident of Ashtabula, he retired in 1981. JOHN G. STIRTON Pensioner John G. Stirton, 80, died October 5, 1997. Brother Stirton started his career with the SIU in 1957 in the port of ===;;;;;.._______. Detroit. He worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the A.E. Cornell, operated by American Steamship Co. A resident of Ontario, Canada, he retired in December 1981. Aprll 1998 �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes 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 tor publication. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (SeaLand Service), July 7-Chairman Monte Grimes, Secretary Robert Castello, Educational Director Larry Holbert, Deck Delegate Frank Cannuso, Engine Delegate Ramona Gayton, Steward Delegate Nario Firne. Chairman reminded crew to separate plastic items from regular trash. Educational director emphasized need to attend tanker course at Piney Point in order to continue working aboard tankers. No beefs or disputed ar reported by department delegates. Steward department thanked for efforts in keeping ship clean and providing good food. Next port: Oakland, Calif. SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (SeaLand Service), December 21Chairman James Foley, Secretary William J. Bunch, Deck Delegate Earl F. Sparkes, Engine Delegate W.E. Ballard, Steward Delegate Julio Paminiano. Chairman reported job well done on sanitary inspection; rooms immaculate. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (Sea-Land Service), December 5Chairman Jim Scheck, Secretary Edward Collins. Chairman reported ship scheduled to pay off in Jacksonville, Fla. December 7. He urged crew members to donate to SPAD and to help movie fund. Educational director stressed importance of attending upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported by three department delegates. Vote of thanks given to steward department. HM/ ASTRACHEM (Hvide Marine), January 28-Chairman Tom P. Banks, Educational Director Ronald Phcneuf, Deck Delegate W.D. Brinsen, Engine Delegate Randell Porter, Steward Delegate Luis Catalleo. Secretary advised crew that 45 days' worth of stores will be ordered in next port. Educational director advised crew members to get training record books (TRBs) now and have Section 2 filled out aboard ship He noted Seafarers LOG contains articles about TRBs. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Crew requested new fans for several rooms, asked patrolman about 100 percent reimbursement for medical claims and suggested contracts department review pension plan so Seafarers can retire at any age after fulfilling seatime requirements. OVERSEAS JOYCE (Maritime Overseas), January 28-Chairman J.W. O'Ferrell, Secretary James E. Willey, Educational Director Willie Slan III, Deck Delegate Douglas C. Tuten, Steward Delegate Carmelo DeLaCruz. Chairman announced payoff scheduled for Jacksonville, Fla. Educational director urged crew members to attend upgrading classes at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported by department delegates. Question raised as to whether contract for Overseas Joyce covers Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. New movies requested by crew. Members also asked that slop chest sell postage stamps. April 1998 SEA-LAND DISCOVERY (SeaLand Service), January 19-Chairman Nelson Sala, Secretary Richard Riley, Engine Delegate Curtis Barnett, Steward Delegate Jimmy L. Williams. Secretary urged crew members to attend Piney Point classes to upgrade skills. Treasurer announced $145 in ship's fund. Disputed ar reported in deck department, and steward department raised questions concerning ITT. Next port: Honolulu. CPL LOUIS J. HAUGE JR., (Maersk Lines), February 8Chairman Andre Bennett, Secretary Victorino Vincecruz, Deck Delegate Keith Williams, Engine Delegate James Snyder, Steward Delegate James McLeod. Vessel headed for Persian Gulf. Crew members reminded to keep clean shaven in order for gas masks to fit properly. Chairman reminded crew to separate plastic items from regular trash. Educational director urged crew members to take advantage of educational opportunities at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer noted Martin Luther King's Day beach party was very successful. Department delegates reported no beefs or disputed ar. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food. Special vote of thanks given to SA Abdul Mutliki for being an outstanding messman. Steward department thanked rest of crew for help in loading stores aboard ship in rain during emergency deployment to Persian Gulf. Crew members also thanked for helping Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet Admiral Archie Clemins's visit go so smoothly aboard Hauge (see photo this page). Next port: Baghdad, Iraq. LNG CAPRICORN (ETC), February 22-Chairman S. Ibrahim, Secretary D. Cunningham, Educational Director G. Sheppard. Chairman announced vessel going into shipyard March 10 for two months. He thanked everyone for good work. Secretary has plenty of SIU forms available for those in need. He requested everyone leave staterooms clean. Educational director reminded crew to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Treasurer announced $260 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks given to steward department for good food, especially to Chief Cook Udjang Nurdjaja. Thanks also given to SA B. Miangolarra for keeping ship clean. Next port: Tobata, Japan. LTC CALVIN P. TITUS (Maersk Lines), February 15-Chairman Scott Heginbotham, Secretary Grant Armstead, Educational Director D. Hastings, Deck Delegate John Walsh, Engine Delegate Carlos Dominguez, Steward Delegate Julio Guity. Bosun reminded crew of possible cargo handling and additional duties while en route to Guam. Chairman noted phone calls can be made from ship's radio room, however, since all calls are monitored, everyone must speak English. Educational director suggested everyone upgrade at Piney Point. Deck delegate raised question about wage payments. Crew requested more books for ship's library. Fans are now available for every room. Transformers have been ordered. Steward department given round of thanks for job well done. Request made for slop chest to be resupplied with cigarettes and sodas. MAERSK CALIFORNIA (Maersk Lines), February 8- Chairman James T. Martin, Secretary Dien Short, Steward Delegate Edward Fuller. Educational director advised eligible Seafarers to attend upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer announced $80 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed ITT reported by department delegates. Crew asked contracts department to consider filing for vacation after completing rotation (crew rotation is presently 105 days, not enough to file). Crew asked for small ice box for ice cream. Also requested books for library and transformers for crew rooms. MAYAGUEZ (NPR, Inc.), February 12-Chairman Robert Hess, Steward Delegate Josue Iglesia Jr. Chairman informed crew members about upcoming payoff in Jacksonville, Fla. Secretary noted importance of donating to SPAD and backing union in all activities. He also gave vote of confidence to SIU President Michael Sacco and staff in new year. Educational director reminded crew to practice safety at all times, especially on deck. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Crew noted one washing machine not enough; requested second. Strong vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Steward thanked crew for helping keep messhalls clean in bad weather. Next port: San Juan, P.R. OVERSEAS VIVIAN (Maritime Overseas), February I-Chairman Stephen Herring, Secretary Matthew Scott, Educational Director Wayne Roberson, Deck Delegate Lawrence Zepeda, Engine Delegate L. Reynolds. Chairman reminded crew members to bring all business up to date since payoff scheduled for February 4 in Jacksonville, Fla. Secretary welcomed new mariners aboard and reminded them to turn in shipping cards to department delegates. Educational director suggested everyone upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Letter received from headquarters advising crew members that consideration being given to crew's concerns regarding vacation pay. Crew requested new furniture for crew lounge. SEA-LAND CONSUMER (SeaLand Service), February 24Chairman F.C. Adams, Secretary D.A. Brown, Educational Director R. Hamil, Deck Delegate Juan Ayala, Engine Delegate A. Gonzalez. Chairman gave vote of thanks to all departments for fine job and for helping secure ship during storms. Secretary has all union forms, including change of address. He stressed importance of contributing to SPAD for stronger union. Educational director reminded everyone to get TRBs and upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Vote of thanks given to steward department. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), February 26-Chairman Jack Edwards, Secretary David Cunningham, Educational Director Doug Greiner. Chairman reported payoff in port of Jacksonville, Fla. Educational director reminded all hands to upgrade whenever possible and get TRBs. Treasurer announced $100 in ship's fund . No beefs or disputed ITT reported by department delegates. Steward department thanked for great meals. Next ports: San Juan, P.R., Rio Haina, Dominican Republic and Jacksonville. SGT MATEJ KOCAK (Waterman Steamship Co.), February 15Chairman Anjelo Utri, Secretary Lonnie Gamble, Educational Director J. Graham, Engine Delegate Robert Hines Jr., Steward Delegate Clarance Robinson. Crew requested information on amount of time it takes for company to send seatime records to headquarters. SEA-LAND EXPRESS (Sea-Land Service), March 3-Chairman Mark Lamar, Secretary Franchesca Rose, Educational Director Herman Manzer, Deck Delegate Rod Clark, Engine Delegate E. Harkins Jr., Steward Delegate Ralph Morgan. Chairman stated new VCR received and new dryer on order. Secretary reminded crew members of necessity of obtaining TRBs and of taking upgrading classes at Paul Hall center. Educational director advised crew to Admiral Shows Appreciation on Hauge On January 28, Captain Paul Zubaly hosted a luncheon for Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet Admiral Archie Clemins, USN, aboard the CPL Louis J. Hauge, Jr. as part of his command briefing on strategic sealift. After a luncheon of beef wellington and lobster thermidor aboard the Maersk Lines ship, the admiral posed for a picture with members of the steward department as a show of appreciation for the outstanding meal. From the left are Chief Steward Victorino Vincecruz, Chief Cook James Mcleod, Admiral Clemins and Messman Jack Mohamed. Chairman announced ship heading to Persian Gulf. Will relay other information as it comes in. Educational director urged crew members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and get TRBs as soon as possible. Beef brought up in deck and steward departments as to dispensing of medicines. No beefs or disputed ITT reported in engine department. Reminder given not to put work shoes in washing machine. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good meals. HM/ PETRACHEM (Hvid~ Marine), March 8-Chairman Kenneth McLamb, Secretary Colleen Mast, Educational Director Tracy Hill, Steward Delegate H.M. Saleh. Everything looking good. Chairman said sailing board should be put up on regular basis. Educational director questioned paucity of movies. Treasurer said pilot pool to be put together to get funds for movies. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Crew members reminded to check z-cards and make sure they have STCW endorsement. Ship heading to Oregon. SAM HOUSTON (Waterman Steamship Co.), March 5-Chairman Eddy E. Stwaeard, Secretary R.K. Bright, Educational Director David Gordius, Deck Delegate B. Pinion, Engine Delegate Ryan Neathery, Steward Delegate Ralph Edmond. Chairman thanked crew members for working well together and making voyage enjoyable. He announced upcoming payoff in port of New Orleans. Secretary stressed importance of applying for TRBs and of upgrading at Lundeberg School. He also thanked galley gar:ig for job well done. Educational director echoed secretary 's sentiments about attending classes at Piney Point and gave vote of thanks to steward department. Treasurer announced $450 in movie fund . Some disputed ITT reported in deck department regarding duties of helmsman; no beefs or disputed ar noted in engine or steward departments. Crew members would like to see change in vacation requirements aboard Waterman ships. Chairman stated that no mail is to be opened by office~s or crew until received by him. check expiration dates on z-cards and, if necessary, get them renewed. Some disputed ITT and beef reported in steward department; none in deck or engine departments. Members of ship's crew wrote letters of thanks to Tacoma and Vancouver missions for their gifts and thoughtfulness at Christmas. All those getting off ship reminded to leave rooms clean for next crew members. Vote of thanks given for job well done to steward department. Thanks also given to deck department for their work throughout voyage. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND SPIRIT (Sea-Land Service), March I-Chairman Howard Gibbs, Secretary Ed Ombac, Educational Director Mohamed Alsinai, Deck Delegate Norman Taylor, Engine Delegate Richard E. Raulerson, Steward Delegate Bob Racklin. Chairman announced $300 in ship's fund. Suggestion made to buy cassette player for gym. Educational director reminded crew members to check Seafarers LOG for Lundeberg School course schedule and upgrading opportunities. No beefs or disputed ar reported. Thanks given to steward department for great food, including delicious salad bar and for keeping messroom and recreation area clean. WILLAMETTE (Kirby Tankships), March 8-Chairman Ronald Charles, Secretary Steven Wagner, Educational Director Major Smith, Deck Delegate Charles Foley, Engine Delegate Ed Krebs, Steward Delegate E. Batiz. Chairman explained ship is sold, effective March 9 or 10. Because of this, captain is checking about travel money at payoff. HM/ Defender will be new name. Information received regarding new pay scale and vacation days per month. Chairman reminded crew members to check z-cards for expiration date, explaining that without renewal up to one year after expiration date, all ratings are lost. He thanked deck department for job well done. Education director stressed importance of upgrading at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed ITT reported. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Next port: Lake Charles, La. Seafarers LOG 19 �Labor sners II II L;;;;;;;;;;;;AF=L-c-==1o=Lis=ts=ao=yco=tt=Aea=in=stR=eg=a1=cin=em=as====.1 Regal Cinemas, the third largest movie-theater chain in the U.S., has just been added to the AFL-CIO's "Do Not Buy!" list. The boycott was launched by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE) to counter Regal's attack on the jobs of its unionized projectionists. According to IATSE President Thomas C. Short, Regal forced projectionists in Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio to accept large pay cuts in order to save some of their jobs. The company is seeking "systematically ... to replace family-wage jobs that have provided health and retirement benefits with part-time, low-wage positions offering neither fringe benefits nor job security," Short said. Regal Cinemas, headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., operates more than 2,000 screens in approximately 250 locations in 22 states. It also goes under the name of Cobb Theaters. Child Labor Violations Revealed in U.S. Nearly 300,000 children were illegally employed in the United States last year, according to a recent story published by the Associated Press. Many farmers and factory owners feel free to exploit children because they know that existing child-labor laws are rarely enforced, the news service stated. Recent statistics released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reveal that 70 children were killed on the job last year, and another 200,000 suffered workplace injuries and related health problems. President Clinton alluded to the problem in his State of the Union Address, at which time he promised to introduce legislation to deal with this national disgrace. Labor Campaign Launched in Texas The latest television ad in the AFL-CIO's national campaign to improve the image of unions recently was launched at an elementary school in San Antonio Texas. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, who herself rose through union ranks in San Antonio before attaining national office, said of the ad campaign, "We just haven't bragged enough about the good that unions do. We need to bring the voice of unions to working people who haven't had the opportunity to join a union." Produced in both English and Spanish, the ad features Mary Huerta, a kindergarten teacher from San Antonio, who also is a member of the American Federation of Teachers. She is shown with her c]ass, explaining how belonging to a union encourages her to stand up for what she believes is right for children. Within the next couple years, the $40 million campaign is expected to expand to a dozen cities. Another TV ad features a nurse, construction worker, hote] food worker and Harley-Davidson plant worker, all explaining how union membership has helped them succeed in their careers. New Maritime Museum Dedicated to Great l,akes There are many maritime museums across the country, but the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum, located in downtown Sebewaing, Mich (along the shore of Saginaw Bay, which is part of Lake Huron), is the only one created and dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Great Lakes shipping industry. The museum was founded by Ed Brklacich who, as a boy, lived in the downriver area of Detroit. Besides a fascination with boats, he had little to do with them until later in life, following his retirement from the public school system. He then set up a frame shop in Sebewaing where, among other items, he stocked and sold maritime prints. His fascination with ships, lighthouses and maritime history soon developed into a personal collection of Lakes memorabilia. Brklacich was asked by the local arts council to help create a display of the history of those who spent their lives on the water. "After we did the art council displays, we also got into doing some nautical exhibitions," he said. "It was then I realized the enormity of it all." Brklacich began showing his exhibit to the public and then took it on the road to other port cities along Lake Huron. Eventually, he decided there was a need for a permanent place to store his growing collection of seafaring artifacts and memorabilia. In April 1995, the former Sebewaing Masonic Temple was up for sale. He purchased it and put a lot of work into its refurbishment. The 2,000 sq. ft. museum opened in July 1996. Much effort also went into Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? In order to ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month-as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices-a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Department 5201 Au th Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 r-------------------------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM 4;9s Ed Brklacich (at podium) officiates at the dedication of the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum on August 8, 1997. With him are (from left) Chuck Horn, Capt. Pat Owens and Ed Little, all retired from Great Lakes fleets. collecting the artifacts for the displays, and Brklacich traveled many miles, conducting interviews and asking for support. Boat captains, mates and other seafaring people have contributed to the vast collection. It includes personal effects, pictures, licenses, letters, personal stories and many other items either donated or on loan by various mariners. The emphasis, Brklacich noted, is on recognizing the men and women who have worked on Great Lakes ships. He added that the Great Lakes Lore museum is unique because it deals mainly with the people who sailed the Great Lakes, not just the boats. Great Lakes Lore (G.L.L.) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the lives, stories and memories of those individuals who worked aboard Great Lakes ships. Each year, a number of sailors are inducted into the G.L.L. The inductees have a pictorial/informational display containing a list of the ships on which they served, the years worked on the Lakes and some memorable events in their careers. There also is a video library in the museum and a reading and research room. A yearly luncheon is held for retired mariners to get together and share stories of their lives on the Lakes, and a quarterly newsletter is sent out to the membership. "I have such a deep respect for these men and women," Brklacich said of Great Lakes mariners, many of whom live in the immediate area. "I only hope once some of them see what what we are trying to do, they will join us." Brklacich added that the G.L.L. is always looking for people who have sailed on the Great Lakes. Those who would like to contact him may call (517) 883-9093. (Please Print) AFL-CIO Union Industries Show Name: I _ _ _ I _ __ Social Security No.: D Active SIU Book No.: D Pensioner D Other This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. This year's AFL-CJO Union Industries Show, featuring more than 300 unions and companies with union-represented employees, will be held at the convention center in New Orleans, April 7720. Those attending will enjoy free admission, samples, gifts, prizes, demonstrations, exhibits and much more. L-------------------------------------------------~ 20 Seafarers LOG April 1998 �Letters to the Editor (Editor's Note: the Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer's intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) Captain Proud to Serve With Bobo Seafarers In the middle of the night of November 5, 1997, the crew of the 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo was called out to assist in getting underway from Rota anchorage during a sudden and violent storm that eventually drove the vessel ashore. In the days following the grounding, the deck department, engine depart- ment and steward department performed feats of seamanship and showed a dedication to duty that was beyond belief. In the deck department, Bosun Bill Bratton and ABs Roy Conn, Brian Post, Bill Michael, Mike Conley, Darryl Atwood and Bill Kosonen, assisted by Chief Steward Rich Gray and the SAs on tag lines, managed to discharge two LCM-8s and six pieces of lighterage. This task is usually performed by about 60 military personnel. The QM/ pumpman, Victor Mull, also put in long hours transferring ballast to accomplish the refloating. All this was done with no complaints and a high degree of professionalism. The SIU can be proud to be Picking Up a Good Book able to supply men of this level of competence and their actions under adverse conditions were in keeping with the long tradition of seamen being able to accomplish any task, under any conditions. Other crew I have not mentioned also contributed to this effort. I am proud to have been able to serve with these men, and as a former SIU member of 13 years, I can honestly say they were equal, if not superior, to any of our brothers who served our profession in the past. The ship was finally refloated on the night of November 10, thanks in great part to their efforts. Capt. John F. Maytum Master, 2nd 11. John P. Bobo .. . Pension Bonus Is Greatly Appreciated I want to thank you and the pension plan for the $500.00 Christmas bonus this past year. You have no idea how that makes the new year seem brighter. I am one of the oldtimers on a $300.00 permonth pension. It gets harder all the time to make ends meet. I used to walk the Isthmian Steamship Co. picket lines. Hang in there! I know it gets harder all the time to hold it all together. I just had to sit down and twofinger this letter to you with my thanks. Richard J. McConnell Long Beach, Calif. Inland Seafarer Martha "Marty" Smith recently received her SIU book at the union hall in St. Louis. A cook who sails with Orgulf, Smith served on the negotiating committee which helped deliver the contract overwhelmingly approved by the boatmen late last year. Sister Smith enthusiastically described the experience of picking up her book as "cool." Se farer Do s As Movie Extra SIU member Tom Gingerich (left) joins actor Bill Paxton on the set of "A Bright Shining Lie," filmed In Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Gingerich-a long-time SIU member-with the actor Bill Paxton. Tom was an extra in a made-for-TV movie (HBO) entitled "A Bright Shining Lie," recently filmed in Kanchanaburi, Thailand (Gingerich played a soldier). Gingerich has been sailing as a chief cook since leaving the S.S. Independence in 1995. Don and Vicky Irvine Sparks, Nev. Retiree Thanks Union For All Efforts I would be less than grateful if I didn't thank the trustees of our welfare plan for their efforts on behalf of myself and my fellow retirees when circumstances permit. It seems we are all very much concerned about El Nino, and rightly so. I realize it's a threat to everybody who is faced with the bad weather caused by it, especially Seafarers. Enclosed is a recent photo- I only thank my lucky stars graph [at top of page] of Tom that it didn't happen when I was on active duty, which included World War II. Even then, we had enough to put up with. including air raids and sinkings of our cargo vessels by subs and bad weather, as well as the accidents while in port and burials at sea. Now that I look back on my time with the union, I'm very thankful for the cooperation I received from all hands in time of need. Clarence L. Cousins Butler, Pa. ... ... Pie-from-Past Elicits Recognition Regarding your "Pic-from-thePast" on page 16 in the June 1997 LOG-I was a member of the SIU from 1953 until 1961. When I joined the MEBA, I was on the S.S. Ines from June 8, 1953 until September9, 1953 as an oiler. The ship ran from the East Coast to San Juan, Mayaguez and Ponce. Hope this information helps. Daniel B. Stutzman Havertown, Pa. 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Au th Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times. either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and condi- April 1998 tions 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 sru 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 sru 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 ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political c~didates 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 inember 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Seafarers LOG 21 �Ir--- -~~-~-Lundeberg School Graduating Classes 1 HARRY SCHOOL j LIFEBO:~a CLASS ~~;--:'~, .. J~~- ;Yt~~~~ Trainee Lifeboat Class 573-Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 573 are (from left, kneeling) Al Seay II, Cory Moran, Marcus Ross, John Stusnick, Brian Kimbrough, (second row) Ben Cusic (instructor), Adam DesRosiers, Eldon Palmer, Jason Roberts, Jason Kennedy, Nigel Jefferson, Shane Clarke and Donald Ippolito. Inland AB-Upgrading graduates of the inland AB class on March 3 are (from left, kneeling) Casey Taylor (instructor), Richard DeWitte, Donald Olson, Matthew McNally, (second row) Daniel Grant, Donald Gimpel, Mohamed Said, Paul Eich, Gregory Kennedy, Scott VanEnkevort and Mark Nicholson. Upgraders Lifeboat-Certificates of training were received by the following SIU members, who gradwd@d from th@ upgraders lifeboat class on March 4. They are (from left. front row) Lauro Mangahas, Denis Co:;:;io, Bonnie Spivey. Said Abdullah, Ben Cusic (instructor). (second row) Porfirio Alvarez, Christopher Gibson, David Kuithe and Tom Komenda. Basic Firefighting-SIU members completing the basic firefighting class on February 25 are (from left, kneeling) James Grant, Larry Bosworth, Antonio Francalancia, Melvin Hite, Sirio Centino, Eddie Banks. (second row) Yahya Mohamed, Ali Mohamed, Allan Rogers II, Paul Sullivan, John Penrose, Robert Laidler, Jaime Velasquez, (third row)""RJ. Johnson, Jeff Lill, John Walsh, Jerry Smith and John Smith (instructor). Able Bodied SeamanSeafarers graduating from the able bodied seaman class on March 3 are (from left, kneeling) Shawn Tapp, Brian Talley, Marcos Rivera, Alton Glapion, Godofredo Milabo Ill, Tom Gilliland (instructor). (second row) Steven Thomas, James Orlanda, Ronald Johnson, Gene Butson, Ernest Gay, Jason Monroe, William Tripp, David Puher, (third row) Marvin Spears, Wesley Daggett and Woodrow Brown. 22 Seafarers LOG April 1998 �LUNDEBERG SCHOOL 1998 UPGRADING .COURSE SCHEDULE Safety Specialty Courses . . ......... The followingfa di~~HheduleJJi· G)is&es beg!rihihg in May, June and July at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School oLSpamansbip located at the Paul Han Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers ancLto promote the American maritime industry. Please note. !l}{tt this. ~ctiedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and..;;:.;;...in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course~s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. Course Date Date of Completion Tanker Familiarization/ May25 July 20 June 13 August 8 LNG Familiarization July6 July 10 Basic Firefighting May4 May18 June 1 June 15 July 20 May9 May23 June6 June 20 July 25 Assistant (DL) .· . Seafarers wJio have any questions regarding the upgracling courses offered at the Lundeberg S~hool may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Deck Upgrading Courses Start May18 May30 June22 July 27 July 3 August 8 Government Vessels May18 June 15 July 13 Junes July 2 July 31 Tankerman (PIC) Barge Mayll May 15 May18 · May30 July 25 Advanced Firefighting · ·course Date Date of Completion Able Seaman June 1 July 27 July 10 September 4 ·Radar Observer/Unlimited July 13 July 24 Celestial Navigation May 4 June 12 Bridge Management July 27 August 7 .7 Start Water Survival July 13 Recertification Programs Date of Completion Course Start Date Date of Completion LNG ·Recertification May 18 June5 : : :- :-:·: -·:. :· ·:·: : : : : ::-fif~~~~~-•· •~· · ~~~~s :9/1Jrl/icb#._ng)·•=2£ :. September8 J~.me August 3 29 English as a Second Language {ESL) June 15 or Adult Basic Education (ABE) July 24 Augusf7 June29 Start Dates Only ~all~y . Operations/Certifi<'.'1 Chief · COOk/Advanced Galley Opera• tions/Chief Steward . ... ~ ~ · ~.:-:~ ~ . ~ Introduction to Computers May 4, May 18, June 1, June 15, June 29, · July 13, July 27 . _- _. .=. . . Self-study In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses• ·~"· ~·"· :._·:· UPGRADING APPLICATION Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ With this application, COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY of each of the following : the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your z~card as well as your Lunde berg School identification card listing the course( s) you have taken and complet ed. The admissions office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. COURSE D Lakes Member END DATE Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Telephone---------....--Deep Sea Member BEGIN DATE D Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security#__________ Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes Endorsement(s~ D No D Home Port or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ LAST VESSEL:---~----------- Rating: _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? DYes Date On: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ DNo If yes, class# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? DYes Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? No Firefighting: Primary language spoken April 1998 D Yes D No CPR: SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ DATE DNo If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ D Yes D Date Off: D Yes DNo 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. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Admissions Office, PO. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 4/98 Seafarers LOG 23 �Vacation at Piney Point Now is the time to start thinking about a summer vacation. The Lundeberg School can provide you and your family with all the ingredients for a memorable summer holiday. For additional information and rates, see page 14. it.h Airtight Execution A layman probably would consider it an extraordinary feat to assemble a 106-foot, 15-ton defusing pipe and then install it in the ice-laden Detroit River in January. But to the Seafarers employed at Luedtke Engineering Co. who completed the job earlier this year, it qualified as a relatively brief and uncomplicated assignment. "It took nine days," recalled tugboat Captain Fran Bellant, one of four SIU members who participated in the task. "This was a very short job. Many others last for months or entire seasons." Still, it involved 10- to 14hour days in freezing temperatures, including many hours of underwater work by Divers Chad Mills and Scott Barnes. Bellant kept the tug and derrick barge steady agajnst ice floes and stayed in constant communica- For divers like Chad Mills, working underwater usually means zero visibility. tiOn with the <livers when they were down. All four Seafarers, including Welder Bud Cropek, helped assemble the massive pipe, which was lowered by crnnc into the river. "We dug the hole for the pipe, assembled the pipe and then attached it'' to an existing piece on shore at the Great Lakes Steel plant, located along the river just south of Detroit, noted Be11ant. The purpose of the job essentially involved aesthetics. Reddish material from the taconite used in making steel had been quite evident in that area of the river, causing consternation among local citizens and, eventually. the Environmental Protection Agency, even though the dye was harmless. ''That's a high-traffic area for pleasure boaters and fishermen. People thought the taconite material was toxic waste," explained Don Thornton, Algonac, Mich. SIU representative, who provided the photos accompanying this article. Seafarers successfu11y installed the pipe approximately 15 feet beneath the surface, and the new equipment diluted the taconite coloration as planned, so that none remains visible. Afterward, company officials praised the SIU members for their efficient work. "They did a terrific job, which is typical," said Project Manager Tom Zakovich. "All of our SIU guys are we11trained and good workers. That's a big reason why we're able to "You just work by feel," says Scott Barnes of his beneaththe-surface tasks. ··; ~ Captain Francis Bellant says there are two keys to withstanding winter on the Great Lakes: "dress appropriately and drink plenty of coffee!" do so many different types of jobs," stated Paul Luedtke, secretary-treasurer of the Frankfort, Mich.-based company. Indeed, Luedtke tackles a wide range of marine construction jobs throughout the Great Lakes region, including dredging harbors and installing breakwalls, among many other chores. "Anything in marine construction, they'll dig into it," observed Bellant, who joined the Seafarers in 1957. He cited the difficult and complicated bridge repair job completed a year ago by Luedtke Seafarers (see April 1997 Seafarers LOG, page 8) as a prime example of the crews' versatility. That assignment involved building and installing a replacement joint on the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge, just outside Detroit. SIU members literally worked around-the-clock for six weeks to get the job done. By comparison, the recent pipe installation was simplealthough it featured the added element of underwater work. "It's actually safer under water in some ways, because people are very mindful to take precautions and make sure everything is done right," said Barnes. "You get tired a lot quicker from moving in the water, but basically you use hand tools in the same way you would on the surface." While protective suits enable Seafarers to work in frigid underwater conditions for several hours at a time, one of the biggest challenges of such work is the characteristic lack of visibility. Divers in that region usually have zero visibility and almost never more than a foot or two_ "You just work by feel," explained Barnes, who has worked at depths of up to .150 feet. But no matter the job, the season or the location, Luedtke Seafarers keep the company's tugboats, launches, dredges, derricks and other floating equipment at the ready. "It's not like working on a production line, where your environment is controlled by heating or air conditioning and you basically stay in one place all the time," observed Reliant, who has upgraded at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. "But the members here are up the task." Using an angle iron to weld a lift support is Seafarer Bud Cropek. Based in Frankfort, Mich., Luedtke Engineering Co. handles all kinds of marine construction jobs. SIU boatmen maneuvered against ice ffoes (here and in lower Jeft photo) throughout the pipe instaUation assignment. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1998 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES PROGRESS CONTINUES IN ITF FIGHT AGAINST RUNAWAY-FLAG SHIPPING COCKROFT: PUBLICITY MAY HELP MARITIME SAFETY DOUBLE EAGLE TANKER PROGRAM RESTRUCTURED 2ND WATSON SHIP CHRISTENED MTD URGES MEMBERS TO REPEL ATTACKS AGAINST U.S. WORKERS SIUNA, NMU ANNOUNCE INITIAL TALKS UNDER WAY AIMED AT AFFILIATION SACCO REAFFIRMS U.S. SHIPS READY TO ASSIST TROOPS WHEN NEEDED MSC APPROVES DAMAGE CONTROL CURRICULUM AT PAUL HALL CENTER CAPT. PRAISES BOB CREW SEAFARERS START LAKES SEASON AVONDALE CEO MUST APOLOGIZE TO WORKERS WEST COAST VP MCCARTNEY TO RETIRE; BOARD NAMES NICK MARRONE TO POST NAVIGATIONAL TAX HITS CONGRESIONAL HAZARDS MTD SPEAKERS HONE CONSISTENT THEME: ANTI-WORKER CAMPAIGN MEASURES MUST BE DEFEATED NATIONWIDE UTILITY DEREGULATION NEEDS TO INCLUDE CONCERNS OF WORKERS AND CONSUMERS MARAD, SHIPPING, ELECTED OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE FIGHT FOR STRONG U.S. FLEET INTERNATIONAL UNITY BRINGS SUCCESSES IN ITF’S RUNAWAY-FLAG CAMPAIGN ZENGA TELLS MTD BOARD MARITIME NEEDS DREDGING PAUL HALL CENTER AND AB COURSE COMMENDED BY LAKES SEAFARERS NTSB’S HALL OUTLINES VARIOUS FACTORS LEADING TO ACCIDENTS FORMER SEAFARER MEOLA PASSED AWAY AT AGE 82 SAN FRANCISCO LABOR LEADER JIMMY HERMAN DIES AT 73 LOCAL AAA MAGAZINE PROMOTES CRUISING ABOARD INDEPENDENCE MERCHANT MARINE VETERAN WRITES BOOK CHRONICLING WORLD WAR II ADVENTURES TUG CREW CREDITED FOR AIDING SHIPMATE SAFETY TRAINING HELPED SAVE INJURED DECKHAND’S LIFE MEETING WITH SEAFARERS ON WEST COAST SHIPS LUEDTKE CREW PIPES UP WITH AIRTIGHT EXECUTION Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1998 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. 60, No. 4 1998 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/c2337c2c71d06f1ece1f3ee503c7e023.pdf a91005210846c8fd868dd8d1accf5d23 PDF Text Text Volume 61 vv Sea a To Come .. Number 4 s s• At Sea American Classic Voyages Chairman Philip Calian signs the agreement for construction of two new U.S. -flag cruise vessels. Standing directly behind him is Ingalls Shipbuilding President Jerry St. Pe', whose company will build the first new cruise ships in an American yard in more than 40 years. Witnessing this historic event last month in the Mansfield Room of the U.S. Capitol are (from left) Sen. Daniel Inouye, Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart and Sen. Thad Cochran. Contract Signed for Two New U.S.-Flag Passenger Vessels Great Lakes Towing in February christened three new "Z' tugs. Page 4. �President's Report I Excitement Builds Twenty years ago, excitement rippled through the SIU as we geared up for a task the union had never faced: the crewing of a U.S.-flag passenger ship. 'The Oceanic Independence was returning to the U.S. flag and the company doing it signed with the SIU to provide the manpower that ship needed. Every one of us involved in the project felt great anticipation and enthusiasm. For the Lundeberg School, this opportunity meant developing new classes and training methods to thoroughly prepare Seafarers for the many jobs they would tackle when they climbed her gangway. Needless to say, the SIU met the challenge and, in Michael Sacco June 1980, the Independence became the first passenger ship to sail under Old Glory in 10 years. Within two years, SIU members were crewing her sister ship, the Constitution, when it returned to service as a U.S.-flag vessel. Today, that excitement is building again. In this issue of the Seafarers LOG, we are getting our first glimpses of the next generation of U.S.-tlag passenger ships. Although there will be many differences between these new ships compared to the Independence and Constitution, one thing that remains the same is Seafarers will crew the vessels. They will be state-of-the-art cruise ships, incorporating the latest technology and advances. The drawings on display during last month's Capitol Hill signing ceremony showed how magnificent these ships will be. While media attention has focused on the passengers' appointments, the crew facilities have not been ignored. They, also, are being fitted to meet the needs of the next century. Like it did two decades ago, the staff at the Lundeberg School is preparing the facility to train Seafarers to crew this next generation of passenger vessels. Even the new Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School was designed with these ships in mind. This is a tremendous opportunity and the SIU will be ready. While all of us in the union look forward to these new ships, others also are proud of this latest confirmation that the U.S.-flag commercial fleet is, indeed, being revitalized. As I mentioned earlier, the signing ceremony between American Classic Voyages, which will operate the vessels, and Ingalls Shipbuilding, which will construct the bottoms, took place in the U.S. Capitol. Three senators, two representatives, the maritime administrator and the secretary of the Navy actively participated in the event. Brothers and sisters, we are not the only ones excited about the growth of the U.S. fleet. These new passenger ships are a continuation of the fight we have been waging throughout the 1990s to prepare the merchant fleet for the next century. Success happens to those who are determined, dedicated and driven. Many of you worked hard talking with and writing to your elected officials during the five-year battle to pass the Maritime Security Act, which was signed into law in 1996. This measure made sure the U.S.-flag containership fleet remained viable and strong into the first part of the next century. We have seen the construction and launching of a new fleet of U.S.built, double-hulled tankers. Seafarers now are working aboard the first four, with the fifth expected to come out later this year. Meanwhile, the military's review of the Persian Gulf War revealed the need for a larger fleet of military prepositioning vessels. Today, SIU members around the world crew the newly built Bob Hope and Watsonclass of ships as well as others that have been converted to sail at a moment's notice to supply American forces when they are called to duty. Several SIU-contracted companies have added to their fleets the new tractor tugboats as they see what will be required in the way of harbor work in the years to come. There also have been other developments in the U.S.-flag passenger trade this decade. In 1995, the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. added to its inland fleet the American Queen, which at that time was the largest overnight passenger vessel built in the United States in almost 40 years. Last year, American Classic announced plans for five coastal cruise ships, designed to look like those that sailed along the coastlines at the tum of the 20th century. The first of these new vessels is expected to be sailing sometime in 2001. Yes, there is a lot to be excited about. But we cannot rest on our laurels. There still is more work to be done for all of our members - no matter if they sail deep sea, inland or Great Lakes; no matter if they are aboard containerships, tankers, bulkers, dredges, cruise vessels or tugboats. The 21st century is rapidly approaching. We will continue to work to improve and modernize the U.S.-flag fleet. We will continue to provide new jobs for Seafarers. We do this because we plan to be part of this exciting new chapter in America's history for a long, long time. Volume 61, Number 4 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org April 1999 The Seafarers WG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFl.rCIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POS1MASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers WG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower, Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright © 1999 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Maritime Administrator Hart Visits SIU Hall in Honolulu U.S. Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart recently got a firsthand look at how a union h~!l operates, as he stopped by the SIU hall in Honolulu. In town to speak to the Hawaii chapter of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, Hart toured the SIU hall on February 5. He met several SIU members and congratulated GU Tessema Tefera, who that week had received his U.S. citizenship and his union membership book. Hart also examined the rotary shipping board and discussed the various documents and training now required for mariners. Additionally, he discussed with Seafarers and with SIU Port Agent Neil Dietz the expanding job opportunities with American Hawaii Cruises; the SIU's numerous training initiatives including the Paul Hall Center's unlicensed apprentice program; the Chapter VI (basic safety) requirements of the amended STCW convention; and the importance of the Jones Act (America's freight cabotage law). The maritime administrator is an outspoken supporter of the Jones Act, a law which provides jobs for U.S. citizens, boosts the country's economy and aids national security. In town for a speaking engagement, U.S. Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart (center) recently toured the SIU hall in Honolulu. There, he met a number of Seafarers, including GU Tessema Tefera (right). Explaining the rotary shipping system to U.S. Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart (right) is Neil Dietz, port agent at the SIU hall in Honolulu. Rank-and-File Financial Committee Approves 1998 Union Records Group Issues Annual Report To Members A committee of veteran rankand-file members, elected by their fellow Seafarers during last month's union meeting in Piney Point, Md., have reviewed the SIU's financial records for 1998 and found them to be in good order. Each department was represented on the committee. Elected from the deck department were Recertified Bosun Terry Cowans Sr., a 25-year member from Mobile, Ala., and AB Tom Moore, from Baltimore and with the SIU 10 years. The lone engine department member was QMED Joe Pomraning, who sails from Baltimore. Pomraning, a member for 18 years, also served as the committee chairman. Representing the galley gang were Recertified Stewards Lovell McElroy Sr. (a 24-year member from Mobile), Gerald Hyman ( 18 years, from Norfolk, Va.) and Gina Lightfoot (16 years, from Jacksonville, Fla.). The final member of the committee was Chief Cook Donald Mann, who has been with the union 18 years. He sails from Baltimore. ''This committee worked very hard and we found everything to be in order," Pomraning stated. Reviewing the union's 1998 financial records are (from left, going counter-clockwise around table) Gerald Hyman, Terry Cowans Sr., Lovell McElroy Sr., Donald Mann, Tom Moore, Gina Lightfoot and Joe Pomraning, who served as chairman. "Our brothers and sisters have entrusted us to do this very important job and we are performed our duties to the best of our abilities." The use of an annual financial review committee is required by Article X, Section 15 of the SIU Constitution. It reads: "The Annual Financial Committee shall make an examination for each annual period of the finances of the Union and shall report fully on their findings and recommendations." QMED Joe Pomraning, an 18year member of the SIU, signs off on the committee's report. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed on Monday, May 31, 1999 (unless an emergency arises) tor the observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours will resume the following workday. April 1999 �Contract Signed for Cruise Ships Work Starts Next Year on First U.S.-Flag, U.S.-Built Deep Sea Passenger Vessels Since 1958 Construction on the first large cruise ships to be built in an American yard in more than 40 years will begin shortly, following last month's Capitol Hill contract signing ceremony between SIUcontracted American Classic Voyages and unionized Ingalls Shipyard. Ingalls is expected to start work on the first of two 840-foot, 1,900-passenger vessels early next year. That vessel, which will hold a crew of 650 mariners, is scheduled to begin service for American Hawaii Cruises around Hawaii by 2003. "This announcement represents a continued resurgence of the U.S.-flag merchant marine and is a major boost for the U.S.flag cruise industry," SIU President Michael Sacco stated. 'The SIU has had a long partnership with American Classic and we are pleased that the company has undertaken this initiative to expand its operations." American Classic's subsidiary American Hawaii Cruises operates the SS Independence, which has been crewed by Seafarers since it returned to the American flag and began sailing around the Hawaiian Islands in 1980. SIU members also crewed its sister vessel, the SS Constitution, between 1982 and 1995 when it went out of service. Many Witnesses The historic signing, which took place March 9 in the U.S. Capitol, was witnessed by elected officials, Clinton administration members and the media. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) called the agreement between American Classic Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott calls the agreement to build the ships "a marriage made in heaven." and Ingalls "a marriage made in heaven." is Lott, whose home Pascagoula where Ingalls is located, added, "I think we have something that is going to be very important, very vital for shipbuilding as a whole and certainly for the cruise industry and for America. I can't wait to see these ships sail and provide cruise opportunities on American-built ships." The Mississippi senator praised his colleague Daniel Inouye (DHawaii) for garnering the support to pass the 1997 U.S.-Flag Cruise Ship Pilot Project, which paved the way for the signing. Sen. Inouye acknowledged Lott's remarks by saying, "A lot of things can happen if we do it in a bipartisan fashion." P nta n Su port Besides Inouye, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Reps. Bob Livingston (R-La.) and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) sponsored the 1997 bill in Congress. The measure is part of a larger project to convert American shipyards from Navy Sec'y Richard Danzig states the construction of the cruise vessels offers many lessons. More coverage appears · on pages 12-13 military to commercial constructions. Designs used in the cruise ships are expecte.d to be incorporated in future Navy vessels. "This program has much to be proud of," Inouye stated. "The Department of Defense supports this because we will revitalize the shipbuilding industry, which is very important, and thereby keep down the cost of shipbuilding by, I might say, hundreds of millions of dollars." His remarks were echoed by Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, who added, "We are delighted from a national defense standpoint with this arrangement. "It is good for ship workers. It is good for shipyards. But, above all in my view, it is good for national defense." Danzig noted the lessons learned from building the cruise ships would provide the Navy with tremendous money savings. National defense was not the Saluting all who made the contract for the vessels possible is Rep. Neil Abercrombie. only maritime issue discussed at the announcem.ent ceremony. Several speakers said the new construction shows the value of the nation's cabotage laws. itime industry for working together to make the vessels a reality. Rep. Abercrombie arrived immediately after an overnight flight from sunny Hawaii to snowy Washington, D.C. to witness the signing. "This is the start of a new revival of the cruise industry in the United States of America with American shipbuilders, American workers and American sailors. This industry will take off in the 21st century," added the Hawaiian legislator. In his comments, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) looked at the snow accumulating outside but said "the sun is shining brightly in the U.S. Capitol." He likewise praised all involved in making the cruise ships possible. Backing for Cabotag Create New Jobs Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), whose district includes the Ingalls Shipyard, stated the teamwork shown among the legislators, maritime industry, military and labor should be used to fight for the freight and passenger laws. "I hope we will continue to work together on the preservation of the Passenger Vessel Act and the Jones Act, that reserves coastwise commerce for American-made, American-owned, Americancrewed vessels that live by our rules," Taylor told the audience. Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart also renewed the administration's support for the two laws, then added he was "looking forward to the first two cruise ships and many others to come." He saluted the labor officials representing sailing and shipbuilding members and the mar- After saluting everyone involved, Philip Calian, American Classic Voyages chairman, noted the entire effort will create 5,000 jobs ashore and at sea. "This will maintain a large base of seafarers for times of national emergency," he added. "We are proud to be doing our part to expand the U.S.flag cruise industry." The president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, Jerry St. Pe', declared the agreement "puts the last piece of the puzzle together to make this happen. It is somewhat a return to the future. We built the last cruise ships [the SS Brasil and SS Argentina] built in this country." St. Pe' pointed out he was a young reporter covering the launching of those two vessels in 1958, while Sen. Lott was a member of the high school band performing at the event. 4th Double Eagle Tanker Begins Service ,• Seafarers are working aboard the fourth Double Eagle tanker operated by Interocean Ugland Management. The HM/ Ambrose Channel set sail earlier this year, joining the HM/ Diamond Shoals, HM/ Cape Lookout Shoals and HM/ Nantucket Shoals as the newest U.S.-built tankers. One more double-hulled vessel - the HMJ Breton Reef - is expected to come out of Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding later this year. It also will be crewed by SIU members. According to SIU Norfolk (Va.) Safety Director Pat Vandergrift, who met with the crew as the ship was preparing to sail in February, everyone was looking forward to working on the new vessel. "Everything was in great shape - all shiny and new. Bosun Robert Pagan told me all the crew members could not wait to get the ship to sea," Vandergrift said. All five tankers are owned by Hvide Marine, Inc. They were built with double hulls to comply with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Each is named after an old U.S. Coast Guard light ship. Each tanker is approximately 600 feet long with a beam of about 106 feet. April 1999 Sealarers Sailing El Morro In Puerto Rico Trade -ABOVE: With Old Glory waving behind them, ABs Bartow Bridges (left) and Mark Kerr (right) met with SIU Rep. Amancio Crespo when the newly built vessel docked recently in Puerto Rico. RIGHT: Chief Cook Kristin Krause prepares to return to the SIU-crewed HM/ Ambrose Channel in Ponce, P.R. The SIU-crewed El Morro is providing regular service between Florida and Puerto Rico, the second vessel in the Sea Star Line fleet to do so. SIU Port Agent Tony McQuay met with crew members during a payoff last month in Jacksonville, Fla. He reported everything was going smoothly on the vessel, which began operations earlier this year. "Bosun Steve Copeland and Steward Kris Hopkins told me this is a good-working crew," McQuay told the Seafarers LOG. "All the members are getting acquainted with the ship and find it in good shape." The El Morro 's sister ship, the El Yunque, began sailing late last year. The ships offer roll-on/roll-qff as well as lift-on/lift-off service on a weekly basis. They can handle containers and trailers from 20 feet to 53 feet as well as flat beds, heavy machinery, refrigerated cargo and vehicle transport. The vessels are operated by Interocean Ugland Management for Sea Star Line, which is a joint venture of Totem Resources Corp., Matson and Sea-Barge Line Inc. Seafarers LOG 3 �Seafarers Crew New 'Z' Tugs Boats Provide Harbor Towing Service in Pearl Harbor Seafarers are sailing aboard the three new "Z-class" tractor tugs christened earlier this year by Admiral Towing and Barge Company. The tugs - named Z-Three, ZFour and Z-Five - are operating under a U.S. Navy contract to provide harbor towing services at the Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Operations commenced early last month. SIU members and officials attended the christening ceremonies in mid-February at Seattle's MARCO Shipyard, where the boats were construct- ed. Each of the tugs is 95 feet long, 32 feet wide and has 4,000 horsepower with a bollard pull exceeding 110,000 lbs. Each operates at a top speed of 14 knots. "The Z-class design was developed to accommodate an entire range of towing services, including shiphandling duties, salvage, firefighting, oil recovery, tanker escort, and ocean and coastal towing of vessels and barges," noted Admiral Towing in announcing the christenings. ''The new tugs have been modified to meet the special needs of the Navy and include special above- and below-water fender systems to accommodate assistance to submarines." The Z-drive is an integrated unit that replaces conventional propellers and rudders. It performs propulsion as well as steering, thereby enabling the tug to push or pull in any direction. The design greatly improves maneuverability. SIU members also crew vessels operated by Admiral Towing's affiliate company, Great Lakes Towing, which currently is in its lOOth year. Both inside and out, the new tugboats feature the most modern design and equipment. Don Nolan Name P For Lundeberg School The trustees for the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship have named Don Nolan as the facility's new vice president. Nolan, 53, has been on the staff of the school since 1968 when he was hired as a chief cook shortly after the Piney Point, Md. facility opened. Since then, he has served in a variety of roles including steward department instructor and culinary director. During his tenure at the school, the Pennsylvania native also has been involved in numerous projects including recruitment and management. Nolan comes from a union background. His father was a member of the United Mine Workers. Other members of his family are Steelworkers. Don Nolan Prior to corning to the Lundeberg School, he served in the U.S. Navy. He holds a vocational teacher's certificate from the University of Maryland. TOP: The Z-Three is christened in Seattle. DIRECTLY ABOVE (from left): Among those attending the ceremony were Richard Berkowitz of the Transportation Institute, SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone and SIU Recertified Bosun Dana Cella. USNS Antares Sails to Balkans To Assist NATO Peacekeepers SIU members aboard the fast sealift ship USNS Antares recently helped in the NATO peacekeeping mission in the Balkans known as Operation Joint Guard. The February assignment marked the second time in the past seven months that the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), which operates the Antares, has been called to transport American military equipment and supplies to the volatile region - an area that includes Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia. The 946-foot cargo ship docked in Rijeka, Croatia along the Adriatic Sea in late February. Earlier, approximately 92,000 square feet of combat equipment from the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, had been loaded aboard the rollon/roll-off (RO/RO) vessel in and Beaumont, Texas, Wilmington, N.C. That military equipment came from six different U.S. military installations including Fort Hood and Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Riley, Kansas. According to MSC, more than 200 shipping containers and 25 Army helicopters were lifted aboard the Antares in Beaumont while 54 pieces of "rolling stock" were driven up the ship's side ramp to stowage positions inside the vessel. Following the Beaumont load-out, the Antares sailed to Wilmington where 15 more helicopters, 25 shipping containers, nine wheeled vehicles and other general cargo items were loaded. The ship then departed Wilmington February 9 for the 18-day transatlantic voyage. The Antares, capable of traveling at up to 30 knots, is believed to be only the second U.S. Navy ship to dock at the Balkan port. The SIU-crewed USNS Soderman, one of MSC's large, medium-speed RO/ROs. transported 1st Cavalry Division cargo to the region in August 1998. USNS liordon Rescues Fishermen in liulf The SIU-crewed USNS Gordon last month rescued two people in the Persian Gulf from a sinking fishing boat. The prepositioning vessel was at anchor around 6 a.m. when crew members spotted two citizens of the United Arab Emirates in distress. The fishermen were waving and clinging to their mostly submerged 12-foot boat. Reacting quickly, the Gordon launched its 16-foot rigid-hull inflatable boat to rescue the stranded pair. ''With high winds and choppy 4 Seafarers LOG seas jostling their orange rescue craf4 and English of little use, Gordon's rescue party relied largely on encouraging smiles and gestures, coaching the terrified survivors to release their grip on what was left of their rapidly sinking boat," noted the U.S. Military Sealift Command in an account of the rescue. The ordeal lasted only 28 minutes. It ended with the fishermen climbing aboard the 956foot military support ship, where crew members gave them dry clothes, breakfast and a movie to watch while waiting for the local coast guard to transport them ashore. Rear Admiral Gordon S. Holder, commander of MSC, described the rescue as "a perfect example of seamanship in the finest tradition." SIU members crew the Gordon as well as other prepositioning ships operated by MSC. Those vessels strategically place U.S. military equipment around the globe, where it remains readily available if needed by U.S. forces. Seafarers aboard the USNS Gordon helped rescue two fishermen. April 1999 �Legislators Ask IRS to Estimate Taxes Lost to Foreign-Flag Cruise Vessels Two lawmakers have asked the Internal Revenue Service to provide estimates of how much truces U.S.-based, but foreign-registered cruise companies would pay if they were not exempt from income tax and other liabilities. The representatives, Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), said in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti that this information is needed in case Congress takes up legislation that would cripple the Passenger Vessel Services Act by allowing foreign-flag cruise ships to carry passengers between different U.S. ports. (The Passenger Vessel Services Act is the cabotage law that states passengers moved between two domestic ports must be carried aboard U.S.-flag, U.S.crewed and U.S.-built vessels.) Several bills to modify the act were offered in the last session of Congress but got no further than a committee hearing. The SIU opposed each of the measures offered. In an interview with the New York Times, Defazio said the Clinton administration has estimated the cruise ship industry is avoiding billions of dollars in truces annually. The article, published March 12, noted the 17 U.S.-based cruise companies had annual revenues of $10 billion, but are registered in countries that do not have income truces. While U.S. elected officials are looking into the true laws governing the foreign-flag cruise industry, another article published March 29 by Fortune showed these same cruise lines are not providing much economic support to the Caribbean islands they visit. Allen Chastanet, the former Royal Caribbean Pleads Guilty to Dumping In a surprise move, Royal Caribbean Cruises pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles federal court to three charges of dumping oily bilge water earlier this decade. The March 22 admission by the world's second largest cruise line followed a three-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles in late February. The charges concerned covering up oily waste discharges with false records that were presented to the U.S. Coast Guard by the Nordic Prince crew during three separate ship inspections in Los Angeles between January and October 1994. The maximum fine for each count is $500,000. Additional charges are expected to be placed against the company later this year in New York and Alaska. The Seafarers LOG reported in February that Royal Caribbean already had paid a $9 million fine for dumping that occurred between 1990 and 1994. The company and U.S. government reached a plea bargain for that fine following separate indictments in Miami and San Juan regarding similar cover-up incidents aboard five vessels, including the Nordic Prince. The New York Times ran a front-page story in January describing how Royal Caribbean repeatedly had committed environmental crimes. Following the Los Angeles indictments, Royal Caribbean said it has admitted to the problem and taken measures to correct it. Meanwhile, a Miami television station reported one of Royal Caribbean's ships, the Enchantment of the Seas, suffered an engine room explosion and fire March 11, three hours after sailing from St. Thomas. No one was injured in the incident. However, passengers leaving the ship in Miami told the television station they were scared and did not believe they were receiving all the information necessary during the incident. SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez (right) talks maritime with Rep. Gene Taylor (left), one of two legislators asking the IRS for an estimate on how much money in tax revenues foreign-flag cruise companies based in the U.S. would pay if they were not tax exempt. director of the St. Lucia tourism board, told the magazine, "Sixty five percent of the cruise industry's profits come from the Caribbean. But only 7 percent of their employees come from the Caribbean and only 1 percent of the taxes they pay go to the region." The article noted local govern- USCG: Grain Company Violates Jones Act Agency Determines Tug Firms Are Under Japanese Control The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the operation of two tugboat companies sailing on the Mississippi River and its tributaries because the federal agency found the firms "did not meet the qualifications to engage in coastwise trade." Following a two-year investigation, the Coast Guard stated MV One, LLC of Covington, La. and Paragon Marine Services, Inc. of St. Louis operated under the control of Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. (CGB ), which is a Louisiana-based subsidiary of a Japanese federation of agriculture cooperatives known as Zen-Noh and a Japanese commodities trading company called Itochu Corp. (In the May 1993 Seafarers LOG, Zen-Noh was listed as one House Passes Coast Guard Budget Bill Includes Tighter Runaway-Flag Controls, Plus Permanent Ban On New User Fees With broad bipartisan support, the U.S. Coast Guard authorization for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 424-7. Passage is expected shortly in the Senate. The bill calls for $3.8 billion in spending for FY 2000, increasing to $4 billion in 2001 (excluding pension payments). Last year, an SIU-supported measure calling for a three-year moratorium on new user fees levied against mariners or the marine industry passed with overwhelming support. Under the Coast Guard authorization bill, this moratorium on new fees would be made permanent. Sentiment in Congress for this measure grew when legislators felt attempts were being made to skirt the ban and implement new fees which might disadvantage American maritime companies. Also included in the bill is a measure originally April 1999 ments are forced to deal with the garbage and heavy traffic created by the cruise ships and their passengers. An example of such discrepancies was the $14 million being spent by St. Lucia for a cruise terminal expansion and additional $14 million being spent to push tourism, yet the $6.50 per passenger tax levied on each vessel only brings $1.9 million to the economy. When 13 islands tried in 1993 to increase the per-head tax on the cruise ships, the companies countered by saying they would sail elsewhere. The effort fell apart within weeks. A St. Lucia survey conducted in the early 1990s found visitors who stayed overnight or longer on the island spent 30 times as much as those who disembarked from a cruise ship docking there. One hotel manager complained to the magazine that he has "to pay hotel occupancy true, income tax, social security - all those taxes," while the cruise ships do not. Even the U.S. Virgin Islands are feeling the pinch in terms of revenue. Their average number of overnight tourists has fallen 26 percent to 440,000 since 1988 while those who visit for part of. a day aboard cruise ships has risen by half to 1.6 million. As noted in an Associated Press story of February 21, cruise ship passengers make up 80 percent of the tourists in the Virgin Islands, but provide a mere 25 percent of the total tourism revenue. To the Virgin Island economy, this represents an annual income of $600 million from visitors, down 33 percent in the last five years. introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ron Wyden (DOre.) in response to the New Carissa disaster. This provision requires all vessels, foreign and domestic, to notify the Coast Guard at least 24 hours before entering U.S. territorial waters. The purpose is to give the Coast Guard sufficient time to check vessels' histories in order to bar substandard ships before they enter American waters. Among the items that would have to be reported are the port of destination, time of entry into the territorial waters, and whether a vessel is carrying dangerous cargo or if any hazardous conditions exist aboard the ship. It also gives the Coast Guard the authority to direct the movements of a vessel in U.S. waters. The provision, introduced in the House by Rep. Peter Defazio (D-Ore.), responded to the concerns that the New Carissa sailed too close to shore during a gale, "a practice local pilots shun," noted Sen. Wyden. of several international agribusinesses working within the North American Export Grain Association to scuttle U.S. cargo preference laws.) lmpennlsslble' Control 1 The agency found in a letter dated February 2 to th~ head of Paragon that "Consolidated has an impermissible controlling interest in Paragon," which owns one tugboat outright and operates 14 other vessels for MV One. The investigation, requested by the family-owned Mt. Vernon Barge and Fleeting Service of Indiana, was conducted jointly by the Coast Guard and U.S. Maritime Administration. It noted Consolidated at times had paid invoices from Mt. Vernon for services rendered to Paragon. It revealed 25 percent of the Paragon's stock is owned by Consolidated. The letter further stated, "Under a fleet operating agreement, Paragon is required to 'act at all times in the best interest of [Consolidated].' The fleeting agreement requires Paragon to help maintain good customer relations between Consolidated and its customers. It further requires to consult with Paragon Consolidated concerning the number, identity and qualifications of persons Paragon plans to assign to certain positions; and requires Paragon to seek Consolidated approval before making any addition or improvement to Consolidated-owned equipment costing $5,000 or more." 'Pervasive Presence' The Coast Guard concluded that "the pervasive presence of CGB, Consolidated and Zen-Noh Grain Corp. officers in the organizational structure of Paragon coupled with the strictures of the Consolidated/Paragon fleet operating agreement, including Consolidated's extraordinary control of hiring, spending and management decisions clearly demonstrate that Consolidated has an impermissible controlling interest in Paragon. That impermissible controlling interest requires a finding that Paragon does not meet the controlling interest criteria set forth in Section 2 for eligibility to operate vessels in the coastwise trade." The "Section 2" referred to in the letter signed by Thomas L. Willis, director of the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center, concerns the standards required in the Jones Act to be declared an American company. That provision finds "corporations wishing to document vessels in the coastwise trade must have 75 percent of its stock owned by U.S. citizens. Further, the president or CEO or its chairman of the board of directors must be U.S. citizens. However, even if these criteria are met, the corporation can still be found ineligible to document vessels if a controlling interest in the corporation is held by non-citizens. A non-citizen controlling interest determination can be made if it is found that citizens owning stock have a trust or fiduciary obligation in non-citizens, or if non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the corporation." (The Jones Act is the nation's freight cabotage law. Part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, it states cargo moved between two Continued on page 9 Seafarers LOG 5 �SIU's Alaskan Recruitment Program Wins National Award A unique joint initiative between the Seafarers International Union and Alaskan-area private industry councils won national recognition last month for its success in providing jobs for young people from the nation's northernmost state. The National Association of Private Industry Councils (NAPIC) honored the SIU and the Anchorage/Matanuska-Susitna Private Industry Council for their work in training, then employing, Alaskans aboard U.S.-flag commercial vessels. The presentation took place March 1 in Washington, D.C. at NAPIC's annual forum. Initiated in 1997 as a way to lower unemployment rates in Alaska, the program has attracted recruits from all over the state. It is strongly backed by Alaska's congressional delegation - Sens. Ted Stevens (R) and Frank Murkowski (R) and Rep. Don Young (R) - and its governor, Tony Knowles (D). The union and council were declared one of two distinguished honorees by the association. Only an Oregon-based training and employment venture ranked higher among the approximately 600 entries and took the top prize. 'This means a lot to all of us involved in the program," SIU Anchorage Representative Harold Holten said after receiving the Theodore E. Small Workforce Partnership Designated Honoree Award on behalf of the union. "Everyone involved has worked hard to promote this in Alaska and make it work. We could not have done it without the backing of the SIU, the shipping companies who sail into Alaska, the fine people at the private industry council and, of course, Senators Stevens and Murkowski, Congressman Young and Governor Knowles as well as their staff's." "It is hard to believe how far we have come in less than two years," noted Lynn Taylor, job partnership training program director for the city of Anchorage. "When Harold and (SIU Assistant Vice President) Bob Hall first presented this to us, we couldn't believe what was available. We had never heard of these opportunities in the merchant marine." Under the program, young men and women who meet the requirements to enter training at the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship are recruited by local government and job training officials. Holten works with these groups to screen the recruits and ensure they meet the qualifications required by the U.S. Coast Guard to hold a merchant mariner's document. Once approved, they begin learning the skills needed to sail aboard U.S.-flag commercial vessels through the Paul Hall Center's three-phase unlicensed apprentice program. The first phase takes place at the center, located in Piney Point, Md., where the students receive hands-on and classroom training to learn basic seamanship skills. This part takes 12-weeks. Under Phase II, the Alaskan recruits work aboard a U.S.-flag vessel whose itinerary includes Displaying the awards presented to the SIU and the Anchorage Private Industry Council for their work in recruiting young Alaskans to the U.S. merchant marine are SIU Representative Harold Holten (left) and Lynn Taylor from the city of Anchorage. ports in their home state. They sail for 90 days to learn about life at sea by working in all three unlicensed departments. Phase ill training returns to the Paul Hall Center where the students receive department-specific training. Upon graduation, they are shipped out to their first job aboard a U.S.-flag commercial vessel. The success of the Alaskan effort has spawned a similar project in Hawaii. Lundeberg School Vice President Don Nolan stated the facility is willing to work with other councils and groups around the country interested in finding good, dependable employment for their young people. However, the Alaskan recruit- ment initiative was not the only project noticed by NAPIC in its award. It commended the riding gang program for Alaskan residents implemented by the SIU and local Alaskan governments last year. Like the unlicensed apprentice recruitment effort, this also is an ongoing project that is training Last Frontier state residents to work aboard SIU-contracted vessels that dock in Alaska. This program has caught the attention of Rep. Young who addressed the first class of riding gang recruits on their graduation day last summer in Anchorage, where their training took place (see the July 1998 Seafarers LOG). Unlicensed apprentice Mary Bado meets with SIU President Michael Sacco following the February membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. 32-Hour Radar/ARPA Course Approved Sea-I.and Capt. Praises Upgraders are taking advantage of the Paul Hall Center's newly approved 32-hour automatic radar plotting aids (ARPA) class. The United States Coast Guard on March 1 certified that the course meets the applicable requisites of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as well as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners (STCW). In making that assessment, the agency evaluated both the course content and the school facilities. Deep sea masters and mates as well as limited license holders doing coastwise work will be required to successfully complete a 32-hour ARPA course. In addition to inland masters and mates, the school anticipates that bosuns and license candidates will be the main enrollees in its newly approved course. 'The approval is super news for the school and the member- Apprentice for Work A graduate of unlicensed apprentice class 576 continues to draw praise for her work aboard the Sea-Land Innovator during her second phase of training in the program. In a letter sent to the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School, Master Brian S. McNamara saluted Mary Bado for her hard work and dedication to learning during her 90-day stint aboard the containership. In his letter, McNamara said he recommended "Bado very highly to you in her desire to complete her studies at Piney Point and in getting her documents as an AB. "Mary has sailed with me aboard the Innovator as an apprentice. While she has grown in stature, knowledge and experience in each department she has worked, she has excelled in the deck department. I have found her sober, industrious, competent and dependable in the performance of all duties assigned her. She is pleasant to everyone and is a very good shipmate. ''Mary is liked and respected by officers and crew alike for her sense of humor, high degree of integrity and demonstrated sense of loyalty to her shipmates. I am convinced Mary would make a superlative AB, and I would very much want to see her return to the Innovator. Her enthusiasm and energy are her strong points with which she can and will go far." The Seafarers LOG published in its February 1999 issue a report from the Innovator's bosun, John E. Stout, on the progress Bado was making during her phase II training. (The unlicensed apprentice program is divided into three parts. Phase I, taken at the Paul Hall Center, provides the basic introduction into seafaring, including safety, water survival and first aid training. Phase II allows the student to experience life in all three departments aboard an SIU-contracted deep sea vessel. The final phase returns the apprentice to the center for specialized training in the department that he or she plans to enter.) Bado graduated from the unlicensed apprentice program earlier this year. She now sails as a GUDE aboard the Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips, operated by Maersk. 6 Seafarers LOii Several upgrading courses have been added to the Paul Hall Centers schedule. See page 23. ship," said J.C. Wiegman, assistant director of vocational education at the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship, located in Piney Point, Md. He added that the school is utilizing the most modern radar simulators. The 32-hour class specifically satisfies the following requirements: 46 CFR 10.301-304, IMO resolution A.482 (XII) and STCW Code Sections A-1112, B1112, A-11/1, and A-11/2. Last year, the school completed a major upgrade of its radar equipment for use in simulator training. Five new state-ofthe-art Furuno ARPA radars were installed in September. The modernization also utilizes the five Raytheon radars already housed at the facility. The Furunos are outfitted with automatic radar plotting aids and electronic chart display (ECDS). The ECDS allow the center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship to acquire and display images and conditions of any and all ports worldwide. Additionally, among other improvements, the new system adds real navigation aids including GPS and Loran-C along with features like precipitation clutter, search-and-rescue transponders (SARTS) and Racons. The center's Raytheon radars are integrated with the newer items as well as with new software. Seafarers upgrading at the school (in applicable courses) will have the chance to utilize a training vessel equipped with the newer radar, which has the same capabilities as those used in simulaJion. Students at the Paul Hall Center utilize the school's modern radar equipment (also shown in top photo) as part of the recently approved 32-hour ARPA course. April 1999 �Memories, Hope and Pride Beam from Newest Class of Recertified Stewards It was a time for families, a time for legacies, a time to remember the past and a time to look toward the future. It was March 8 - union meeting day in .Piney Point, Md. and graduation day for the latest class of recertified stewards. Fourteen galley gang members successfully completed the recertification course, the highest level of training offered by the Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School of Seamanship for steward department members. During their five weeks of learning, the upgraders received hands-on training at the school's culinary lab, picked up the latest in sanitation methods, participated in computer training, and took refresher lessons in firefighting, safety and first aid. They also met with SIU President Michael Sacco and representatives from the union's contracts, welfare, government affairs, training, communications and vacation and pension funds departments. Graduation day was the culmination of all that and more as each of the stewards described to their fellow Seafarers what it meant to them. Pride Obvious The pride felt by George Vorise was evident to all. He wore a tuxedo to the ceremony. The Jacksonville, Fla. member then told those attending how proud he was to be a Seafarer and what it meant in terms of security, both financial and professional. Sharing in the celebration of graduation day were the families of two members - Joseph Laureta and Dien Short. The Laureta family sat in the front row of the auditorium after flying to Maryland from Hawaii. The 16-year union member informed everyone he was delighted to have his wife Tenie, son Troy and daughter Cheesa with him for this special day. "These are the people I do it for," Laureta stated. "Our families are why we work hard and keep pushing so we can give them the best life possible." Short, who sails from the port of Tacoma, noted his wife Maria was with him for the event. He SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez congratulates Tom Barrett upon graduating from the recertified steward program last month. acknowledged how important upgrading has been in providing a better lifestyle for himself and his soon to be growing family. Rich Heritage Gina Lightfoot was introduced to the audience as "a legacy" by SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. Her father, Roan Lightfoot, served as an SIU official, including port agent in Paducah, Ky. Lightfoot reflected on what the union has meant to her throughout her life. She told the unlicensed apprentices attending the meeting that she got her start at the Lundeberg School, with this graduation "being the culmination of 16 years of hard work." She offered herself as proof that "you can accomplish great things with the SIU." Also recalling his beginning as a trainee in the Lundeberg School's old entry level program was James Harris. He addressed his remarks to the unlicensed apprentices urging them to work hard to learn a career. To show how far they could go if they put their minds to it, Harris acknowledged a fellow Lundeberg School trainee who was in the class just before his and last month sat at the dais as a union vice president: Kermett Mangram. Harris pointed out he had Families play an important role in the lives of Seafarers. Being recognized during the recertified steward graduation ceremony are (from the left) Cheesa, Troy and Tenie Laureta who came from Hawaii to be with Joseph and (on the right) Maria Short who traveled from Washington state with her husband Dien. April 1999 returned to the school four times for upgrading since 1978. "I always look forward to returning to Piney Point to upgrade my skills and see all the familiar faces." Another member who got his start from a union training school was Lovell McElroy Sr. Unlike Lightfoot and Harris, his first lessons came from the old Marine Cooks and Stewards facility in Santa Rosa, Calif. shortly before that union merged with the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. He told his fellow Seafarers about jobs that used to abound on passenger ships which provided young people with an entry point into the profession. He said he was happy to hear work was under way to build new U.S.-flag passenger ships that will offer many new jobs to SIU members. "I've learned that the SIU and its officers still continue as their primary focus to make sure Seafarers maintain the jobs they already have while providing new and better ones to take us into the next century,'' said the 24-year member who sails from Mobile. Looking Ahead With an eye to the past, other graduates spoke about the future. Colleen Mast talked about her start aboard the American Hawaii Cruise ships and how she wanted to move up the ladder. Like McElroy, she was excited to Through teamwork, all things are possible as Miguel Pabon (left) and Dana Zuls show off a fried rice dish they created during training. hear about the new ships and new jobs soon to be available to Seafarers. Mast called on the unlicensed apprentices to follow her lead to upgrade as often as possible to ensure these jobs are filled by the best trained mariners. "I recommend upgrading and getting endorsements every chance you get because it definitely improves your chances of shipping out," noted the Wilmington, Calif.based member. Her comments were echoed by another steward from the Southern California port, Tom Barrett. A graduate of Lundeberg School Class 307, Barrett added, "It is good to move up in your field, and you can always learn more." Daniel Maxie looked directly at the unlicensed apprentices and reminded them they are the future of the SIU. He urged them to learn all they could, work with their shipmates when at sea and upgrade as often as possible. Another member from Wilmington centered his remarks on the future of the union and his fellow Seafarers. Teamwork is what this lesson in the culinary lab is all about as Lovell McElroy (left) and Gina Lightfoot (right) work with Chef Allan Sherwin. Dana Zuls, who began sailing 23 years ago in St. Louis, called on those at the meeting to continue upgrading. Zuls noted he has sailed inland and Great Lakes .as well as deep sea and found his five trips to the Lundeberg School helped him in his career. "Upgrading will make you better informed and make being a crew member easier." Zuls found the sanitation and computer skills courses to be beneficial and he particularly praised Chef Romeo Lupinacci for his "guidance, friendship and delicious soups which he made and shared his recipes with me." Thanks to School Others in the group also spoke highly of their time at the school. Frank Martin, who sails from Jacksonville, stated his appreciation for the refresher classes in baking skills taught by Chef Allan Sherwin, director of culinary education. He said he saw many changes in the school since he first upgraded in 1987. "I feel the changes in the steward department program have improved a great deal in recent years in comparison with my first upgrading experience. As with any education process, an individual will gain from that course by only whatever amount of effort he is willing to put forth," Martin said. Attending the school for the first time was Philip Paquette from the port of Norfolk, Va. He pointed out the firefighting course and its instructors as highlights of his training. In particular, he singled out Anthony Hammett, who teaches the firefighting course. "The SIU should be proud to have such a Continued on page 8 Seafarers LOG 7 �Another 'Millennium Bug' In 30 Years? Common Fix for Y2K Glitch May Not Last It's called the millennium bug, but the dreaded Y2K computer glitch may resurface a lot sooner than 1.000 years from now. A recent article by the Associated Press cites numerous computer experts who assert that the method most widely used to combat Year 2000 failure only will work for about 30 years at most. ''The temporary fix, using a San Francisco's 'Tom Tom' Succumbs to Heart Attack Retired San Francisco Patrolman Kwong Jin Hom, known to almost all as "Tom Tom," suffered a fatal heart attack January 23. He was 75. After the native of China served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards. He worked primarily as a waiter and head waiter aboard American President Lines and Matson vessels before coming ashore in 1966 as a dispatcher in the San Francisco hall. Hom continued working behind the counter when the MC&S merged with the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District in 1978. His familiar face greeted members and their families until he retired in 1994. "Tom Tom was liked by everyone;' noted retired SIU Vice sophisticated twist of logic to fool computers, is highly controversial because it's intended to work for only a few decades," reported AP writer Ted Bridis in mid-March. "One expert describes computers already fixed with the technique as 'little ticking time bombs waiting to go off."' The technique is known as windowing, and it reportedly is being used in more than threefourths of "repaired" computers worldwide. It is a cheaper and faster - albeit less stable - fix than the permanent repair, known as expansion. Industry representatives from business and government who are quoted in the AP article scoffed at windowing, likening it to a BandAid, compromise or side-stepping of the problem. Some accused programmers and supervisors of settling for the relatively quick fix because, one way or another, they probably won't be around in their current jobs to face the eventual consequences. One private consultant told Bridis, ''We'll replace this in 20 years, but isn't that exactly the same thing we said back in the 1960s?" No matter how it is approached, the Y2K issue is costly. For example, the U.S. federal government is spending billions of dollars on the Y2K issue, with some agencies embracing the windowing technique while others eschew it. Meanwhile, a newly issued U.S. Senate report on Y2K warns of potential trade disruptions at the end of the year and tags the maritime industry as lagging in preparedness. Released last month, the 160-page report also notes the potential difficulties that loom when companies or governments try to share information after December 31, pointing out that non-compliant systems may corrupt compliant ones. Soderman Crew Passes with Flying Colors Kwong Jin Hom President West Coast George McCartney. "He was an institution in the San Francisco hall and will be missed by all." Hom's remains were cremated and scattered at sea. Film Maker Kubrick Dies Produced SIU Documentary in 1953 Film maker Stanley Kubrick passed away March 7. Although famous to many for his works "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Dr. Strangelove," and "A Clockwork Orange," one of Kubrick's first films was made for the SIU. Titled ''The Seafarers," the 1953 production was put together at the request of Paul Hall, who at that time was the head of the SIU. The union used the black-and-white documentary to show mariners who worked aboard non-union vessels what life in the SIU was like. The union was involved in many organizing drives in the early '50s. Some seamen had their lives threatened if they were seen entering a union hall or associating with someone representing organized labor. Hall thought a film could be run in meeting rooms and other places to show the value of belonging to the SIU. He hired Kubrick, who was just beginning his film career after being a photographer for Look magazine. The movie proved to be a highly successful organizing tool. ''The Seafarers" uses many of the film techniques and images associated with Kubrick in his feature movies. Copies of the ''The Seafarers" are available for viewing at the Paul Hall Library and Maritime Museum at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. Stewards Graduate The SIU-crewed USNS Soderman recently passed a mandatory audit that is part of the International Safety Management Code (ISM). Pictured above, commemorating the favorable review aboard the converted roll-on/roll-off vessel in Norfolk, Va. are (from left) AB Kevin Newsome, AB Freddie Viniegra, Captain Mike Burke, Chief Engineer Peter Sederquist, SA Lolita Bon, Chief Cook Tim Taylor, QMED Alan Nelson, AB Brock Booker, Bosun Klaus "Whitey" Tankersley, AB Martin Josephson, Wiper Al Greene and Wiper Oomiciano Nonato. Servicing a rigid inflatable boat are (left to right) Bosun Whitey Tankersley, QMEO Alan Nelson and Third Assistant Engineer Brendan Doherty. Working on deck during a brisk afternoon while the vessel is docked in Norfolk, Va. are ABs Kevin Newsome (left) and William Martin. SA Elida Miguel and Chief Cook Tim Taylor help ready lunch on the 907-foot ship. AB Freddie Viniegra helps keep the vessel, part of MSC's prepositioning fleet, looking good. Continued from page 7 quality instructor and person on its staff." Gerald Hyman, who has upgraded nine different times in his 18-year career, summed it up for all when he said, "Study hard and keep on trying." The other member of the graduating class, Miguel Pabon, had to ship out prior to being recognized at the meeting. B Seafarers LOii New Recertified Steward George Vorise shows what graduation meant to him by wearing his tuxedo to the ceremony. April 1999 �Sea-Land Crusader Earns Annual Safety Award Displaying the trophy earned by the Sea-Land Crusader crew for its outstanding safety record in 1998 are (from left) DEU Luis Perez, AB Angel Passapera, Bosun Roberto Diaz, Chief Steward Joe Emidy, Chief Cook Josue Iglesia and AB Roy Payne. SIU members sailing aboard the Sea-Land Crusader in 1998 did their part to help the vessel earn the company's prestigious "Best in Fleet Safety Award." The ship was notified of the award in February. Criteria for judging the winner included zero lost-time injuries; clear demonstration of what SeaLand describes as "a proactive and aggressive" safety program; full compliance with company policies, including participation in an International Safety Management Code (ISM) audit; an improved safety record from the previous year; and more. After finding out the Crusader had won, Captain Dan Murphy commended the entire crew for its efforts. "Although safety training has always been a priority on this vessel, increased time and effort was spent reinforcing safe work practices,'' he noted. "All hands pulled together to watch out for each other." Murphy also credited "strong shoreide support" from Sea-Land as a big factor in the vessel's excellent safety record. Pictured abord the Sea-Land ship during a voyage late last year are SA George Koulouris (left) and DEU Francisco Torres. Ruling Says Company Violated Jones Act Continued from page 5 domestic ports must be carried aboard U.S.-owned, U.S.-built and U.S.-crewed vessels.) Foreign Control Evidence ABs Angel Passapera (left) and Roy Payne share in the excitement as the vessel win's Sea-Land's annual safety award. Regarding the vessels owned by MV One and operated by Paragon, the Coast Guard (in a January 13 report and released publicly as part of a related court case) stated "evidence shows that foreign-owned companies exert control over the members of MY One." The basis for this statement came from a review of documents that two of the individuals who organized MV One had approved who could be owners of the company. Along with one other person, these two individuals are the managers of MY One. The records further revealed the two received no money from MV One but were paid by CGB Enterprises and Zen-Noh Grain. Additionally, 22 percent of MY One stock is owned by Paragon. The Coast Guard noted each manager is a U.S. citizen, as required by the Jones Act. Yet, it added that under the laws of Louisiana a company set up like MV One is "not to be treated like a corporation." The federal agency concluded "enough evidence has been obtained to show that it appears more likely than not that Paragon Marine Services is indirectly controlled by CGB Enterprises, Inc. a corporation that does not meet citizenship requirements for the purposes of obtaining coastwise endorsements. "Therefore, under 46 CPR 67 .31, Paragon fails to meet stock interest requirements because non-citizens, namely CGB Enterprises, Inc. and its parents, Z.en-Noh and Itochu Corp., exercise control over Paragon Marine Services, Inc. As a result, all members of MV One LLC are not citizens of the U.S. for the purpose of obtaining coastwise endorsements on the certificates of documentation of its vessels. "Therefore, vessels owned by MV One are ineligible for documentation with endorsements for the coastwise trade. Likewise, the vessel owned by Paragon is ineligible for documentation with a coastwise endorsement." MV One appealed the decision, but it was turned down by a panel of judges from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on March 5. The company's vessels then were tied up. This is not the first time Consolidated has come up against the Jones Act. Following purchase of the company by the Japanese concerns in the late 1980s, Consolidated sold its barge fleet in April 1990 after a litigation frpm a competitor who argued the company was violating the freight cabotage law. Crewing Cape Ships In Carolina Wilmington, N.C. is the home port for two SIU-crewed Ready Reserve Force vessels, the Robert Maiello and GUDE Tracy Maiello on the Cape Lobos, (middle photo) Bosun John Cape Lambert and Cape Lobos. Among the Seafarers forming part of the reduced operating Konetes, GUDE Ed English and QMED Christopher Benzenberg on the Cape Lambert, and status crews on the U.S. military support ships are (left photo, from left) Chief Steward (right) Bosun Thomas Grosskurth and QEE Thomas Stead aboard the Cape Lobos. Aprll 1999 SeafarelS LOB 9 �The SIU-crewed USNS Bob Hope is a two-year-old roll-on/roll-off ship built for U.S. military support missions. It was delivered to the U.S. Military Sealift Command last November, following sea trials. During a recent stop in Norfolk, Va., Seafarers welcomed aboard a photographer from the Seafarers LOG. With Seafarers Aboard the USNS Bob Hope SA Kevin Lynn Chief Steward Javier "Deli" Delosreyes OMU John Flavin DEU Louis Champa ' l L-:.- U.U' From left: SA Jarvis Bell, OS Louis Green 10 Seafarers LOG AB Stephen Martin From left: AB Anthony Pacely, OS Louis Green, OS Denetrica Brooks April 1999 �Red Circle Crews Approve Contract Seafarers who sail aboard offshore vessels operated by Red Circle recently approved, by unanimous vote, a new three-year contract. The agreement calls for wage increases, with corresponding increases in overtime and penalty rates. The pact also stipulates an increase in company contributions for medical benefits. Red Circle operates three offshore boats with numerous large barges that are covered by the contract. The tugs are the Gail B., Theresa F. and Allison C. The Gail B. primarily transports grain from Florida to Puerto Rico, while the other two usually carry phosphorous (used in fertilizer) from New Orleans to Tampa, Fla. Helping shift the barge Martha B. to a tank full of grain is AB David House in Catano, P.R. AB Roy Rhodes receives timely instructions via radio for shifting a Red Circle barge. Among those who will benefit from the new contract is AB/Cook Leon Lemoine. Chief Cook Walter Wise intently prepares a delicious A 15-year member of the SIU, AB John Gaylor stands by to operate the winch. lunch aboard the Red Circle tugboat Gail B. Great Holiday Meals on Yano Seafarers aboard the USNS Yano spent the holidays supporting U.S. troops engaged in Operation Desert Fox - the bombing and missile raids against Iraq. The way Recertified Steward Gualberto Mirador saw it, such a vital mission need not prevent Yano's military and civilian crew members from enjoying generous holiday menus on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. "I believe the meals help boost morale and help the overall atmosphere aboard the ship," said the longtime SIU member in a recent letter to the Seafarers LOG. Mirador and his fellow steward department members - including Chief Cook Mark Dyer and SAs Ernest Brinkley, Rodolfo Moreira and Amin Zain - put out delicious assortments on the holidays, though not at the expense of good nutrition. As pointed out by Mirador, who graduated from the Paul Hall Center's steward recertification program last August, healthful menus at sea nowadays are emphasized like never before, thanks to increased dietary education. Along those lines, the Yano's holiday meals included plenty of delightfully arranged fruits and vegetables, including celery sticks, carrots, radishes, beets, green beans, broccoli, corn on the cob, pineapples, pears and more. Also featured on the menus were shrimp cocktail, steamed rice, crab pasta salad, candied sweet potato, dinner rolls, roasted turkey, baked glazed ham, prime rib and other selections. For dessert, crew members chose among assorted cakes, pies and cookies. Mirador, who has sailed aboard numerous SIUcrewed military support vessels, reported that the Yano crew members "were very appreciative of the food. They're a great crew, and I must say this is the nicest ship I've ever been on." The Yano is a roll-on/roll-off ship nearly 900 feet long. From left, SA Ernest Brinkley, Recertified Steward Gualberto Mirador and Chief Cook Mark Dyer help keep the USNS Yano~ galley smoothly operating during Operation Desert Fox. April 1999 Chief Cook Mark Dyer serves dessert to ABs D. Roach and M. Ramos. Seafarers LOG 11 �THEATER 12 Seafarers LOG April 1999 �DECK PLAN Ready for the Next Generation """""'·'.,....-'UI While Seafarers continue to perform their jobs e~~~=~:!===:::::====l­ aboard the SS Independence, construction soon 1-----------'-t•~i~ will start on the next generation of U.S.-flag 1- - - - - - - - - . . , , . . - cruise ships. Artists' conceptions of what the new vessels will look like appear on these pages. American Classic Voyages, the parent company for SIU-contracted American Hawaii Cruises, plans to have the first ship in service in the Hawaiian Islands trade by the year 2003 . .The vessels will be 840 feet long with a 105foot beam. The draft will be just over 26 feet. The gross tonnage is expected to be 72,000. The top speed for the ships will be 22 knots. The estimated crew size for these bottoms is 650 people apiece. As designed, each vessel will have 950 cabins to accommodate approximately 1,900 passengers. Each will feature an 840-seat theater, a 590seat cabaret, a 1,060-seat dining room, a fourdeck atrium and 85,850 square feet of open deck space. Seafarers, like those pictured here aboard the Independence, continue to express how much they look forward to these ships joining the U.S.flag fleet. The Seafarers LOG will provide construction updates as the work progresses. April 1999 Seafarers LOG 13 - �• There are a number of milestones in every calendar year. We already have celebrated the beginning of 1999, watched as the two best football teams squared off in the Super Bowl, shown affection to our loved ones on Valentines Day and paid our taxes by the 15th of this month. The next step is thinking about where to spend our summer vacation. There are so many possibilities. Do I want to relax, go fishing, start an exercise program? Do I want to do something educational, sightsee, spend quality time with the kids or grandchildren? For many people, the decision on where to spend a few days or weeks of vacation can be problematic. But Seafarers are lucky. They have the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., which each summer, is made available for vacationing SIU members and their families. Just a short drive from Washington, D.C. and all that our nation's capital has to offer, the center is the perfect location from which to base a summer vacation. Everything a family with diverse interests could ask for is close by. Without even leaving the gates of the campus-located on 65 acres in Southern Maryland at the confluence of the Potomac River and St. George's Creek-there is so much to take advantage of at Piney Point. The facility provides a health spa, tennis courts, olympic-size swimming pool, sailboats and miles of beautiful landscape for peaceful walks or picnics. Comfortable accommodations and three meals a day are extra bonuses. Nearby, in historic southern Maryland, are many famous landmarks and other attractions where one may be entertained by seafood festivals, arts and crafts exhibits, antique shows, country auctions and acres of UNION MEMBER VACATION unspoiled parkland. RATES And for those who wish to venture even further, A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School is limited to two weeks per Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Alexandria, Va. are short disfamily. tances away, offering many historic and educational sights Member $40.00/day that every member of the family can enjoy. Spouse 10.00/day A vacation stay at the Lundeberg School is limited to two Child 10.00/day weeks per family. So think about it now, talk it over with Note: There is no charge for children your family and secure your reservation by clipping the 11 years of age or younger. The coupon below and mailing it to the Seafarers Training and prices listed above include all meals. Recreation Center at Piney Point. --------------------r--------------------------------------------------------------------------------, SEAFARERS TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information Name: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Social Security number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Telephone number: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Date of arrival: 1st choice: _ __ 2nd choice: _ _ __ 3rd choice: _ _ __ (Stay is limit(!d to a maximum of two weeks) Date of departure: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. 4199 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------~ 14 Seafarers LOG April 1999 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 1999 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL smPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Totals 18 Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Tacoma Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Totals All Departments 8 IO 4 2 3 7 1 5 4 2 1 17 4 2 16 12 5 5 8 2 10 3 11 10 10 8 15 10 14 2 9 10 2 5 22 29 22 22 6 5 1 7 11 0 10 0 8 2 l 0 11 2 2 2 6 6 I 4 130 70 191 0 79 6 6 6 4 11 4 9 17 4 14 15 8 2 2 4 9 2 5 1 2 4 3 4 4 2 3 0 3 2 3 4 3 0 7 8 5 3 2 3 1 0 0 46 70 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 11 8 2 4 22 23 18 4 16 1 2 0 210 95 26 23 11 3 I 17 17 23 5 2 1 3 26 1 0 1 0 0 11 IO 7 17 6 6 8 12 0 138 0 48 0 0 0 0 1 111 97 42 83 63 17 37 13 IO 14 3 3 11 10 8 6 18 26 18 21 2 10 8 1 2 0 2 8 2 6 4 5 5 0 4 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 2 4 7 0 0 l 0 6 0 243 11 1 0 0 0 85 35 34 8 58 4 3 25 15 12 19 3 14 5 0 6 0 3 2 0 8 5 2 3 13 0 9 6 3 6 0 5 2 2 4 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 1 42 19 109 3 44 16 0 2 2 2 16 8 8 2 0 8 2 0 3 2 0 3 9 3 0 5 0 2 0 4 2 56 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 11 8 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 6 3 11 10 9 35 8 0 0 4 0 4 11 9 0 0 0 7 24 2 IO 2 0 0 9 12 4 2 0 0 25 20 15 22 1 39 0 0 0 0 5 8 5 0 1 39 19 2 1 0 7 8 6 10 4 0 3 21 23 I 1 5 14 13 13 7 2 0 2 7 6 22 55 5 31 36 0 6 8 0 1 1 0 0 37 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 12 3 14 5 8 7 146 4 0 3 3 1 0 1 2 0 4 3 198 3 0 6 1 2 8 0 5 0 0 3 8 l 21 13 3 65 0 4 2 17 9 0 1 1 0 5 0 1 0 1 21 JO 0 15 17 0 0 2 13 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 44 187 145 25 94 88 0 81 282 1 241 549 469 276 408 278 160 163 946 715 419 7 2 0 Jacksonville ............ Thursday: May 6, June 10 Jersey City .............. Wednesday: May 19, June 23 Mobile .................... Wednesday: May 12, June 16 New Bedford ..........Tuesday: May 18, June 22 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: May 11, June 15 NewYork ................Tuesday: May 4, June 8 Norfolk ...................Thursday: May 6, June 10 San Francisco .........Thursday: May 13, June 17 St. Louis ................. Friday: May 14. June 18 Wilmington ............. Monday: May 17, June 21 Each port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals ALLAN GREENWOOD Please contact Edith Greenwood at (941) 4333069 or via email at meeshasma@webtv.net. WILLIAM JAWORSKI Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of William Jaworski, please contact his cousin Michele Le Van at (302) 836-3239. LOOKING FOR LIBERTY LIFEBOAT Retired SIU member George R. Canaday, currently the director of the U.S. Merchant Marine Museum in Anderson, Indiana is seeking a World War II Liberty ship steel hull lifeboat, manufactured by Globe American Corp. of Kokomo, Indiana. Anyone with useful information in this endeavor may reach Brother Canaday at 1230 Jackson St., Anderson, IN 46016, telephone (765) 643-6305,fax (765) 643-2301. JACK UTZ Jack Utz would like to hear from retired SIU members via email. He can be reached at Ariang@theramp.net. 17 4 3 10 Houston .................. Monday: May 10, June 14 5 9 2 4 8 3 Honolulu ................. Friday: May 14, June 18 Tacoma ...................Friday: May 21, June 25 5 I 1 3 0 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: May 12, June 16 1 6 2 1 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 13 6 0 9 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 6, June 10 San Juan ..................Thursday: May 6, June 10 3 1 7 Algonac .................. Friday: May 7, June 11 4 1 3 3 5 6 0 5 1 4 Piney Point ............. Monday: May 3, June 7 Philadelphia ............ Wednesday: May 5, June 9 6 3 7 l 5 5 0 3 9 1 6 3 0 3 8 9 3 17 2 5 2 3 0 424 11 2 2 0 13 20 3 2 16 3 3 43 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 1999 15 1 3 3 4 5 1 12 7 6 0 6 48 56 19 9 19 9 14 0 13 4 3 23 17 37 62 43 7 2 3 10 19 I 15 7 5 5 31 3 26 0 6 0 8 12 4 5 3 52 5 4 0 5 14 0 l Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Tacoma Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals 12 2 10 17 14 I 2 2 1 1 12 2 0 2 25 11 5 10 3 3 8 6 2 4 9 Port New York Philadelphia **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Oass A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT Port New York ·· 40 Philadelphia 3 Baltimore I 16 Norfolk Mobile 14 New Orleans 18 29 Jacksonville 30 San Francisco Wilmington 29 32 Tacoma Puerto Rico 10 Honolulu 5 15 Houston St. Louis 3 Piney Point 3 Algonac 0 Totals 248 Port NewYork Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Tacoma Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Trip Reliefs Nlay & June 1999 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters BBQ Helps Crew Celebrate Holiday 4 8 95 15 0 14 The Maj. Stephen W. Pless was in Malaga, Spain during a recent holiday. To celebrate, the captain and crew aboard the Waterman Steamship Line vessel held a cookout aboard ship and invited some of the local citizens. "A good time was had by all." Seafarers LOG 15 �I Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes . Seafamrs Dil'iclot, International Union . . .. · · ·· .. · · ·· ········ . :. FEBRUARY 13 - ::::::::::.· Michael Sacco President John Fay Executive Vtee President David Heindel Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez Vtce President Contracts Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters DeanCorgey Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone Vice President West Coast . Kennett Mangram Vice President Government Services ... HEADQUARTERS 5201 Autb Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 52-0 SL Clair River Dr. Algonac, MI 48001 {810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #lC Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 CL - *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houstont TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE l 640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478·Wl6 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529·1546 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (7 l8) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 0 30 4 0 15 2 0 7 3 0 18 19 L-Lakes NP- Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Cl~ L Class NP **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECK DEPARTMENT 0 l 1 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 5 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 1 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 2 0 29 3 0 10 1 0 6 3 0 18 17 Totals All Depts 28 7 63 70 4 0 0 0 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 24 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410)327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 Company/Lakes MARCH 12, 1999 FEBRUARY 16 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Cl~B Class C Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast 0 0 4 0 1 5 1 0 2 Lakes, Inland Waters 43 0 West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast 14es, Inland W!te~ West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals 1 45 0 2 0 I ~,6 0 0 0 ,o, 0 17 0 0 0 1 0 0 19 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 1 1 MARCH 15, 1999 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 9 11 1 5 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 1 0 ,0 0 0 1 1 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 41 9 52 0 0 3 0 0 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 3 81 2 7 13 1 6 86 Totals All Depts *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 0 17 0 17 34 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 4 42 PIG-FROM-THE-PAST PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4St. Philadelphia. PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave. Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16Y2 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 34t1 South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON .510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) .549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG This photo, sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner George A. Burke of Brooklyn, N. Y. was taken in early 1952 aboard the Bull Lines steamship Kathryn. The vessel had just made a special stop in Norfolk, Va. to pick up the governor of Puerto Rico, Don Luis Munoz Marin, (standing directly behind life ring on right) and his family after meeting with President Harry Truman and the U.S. Congress. Brother Burke is pictured in a white cap, standing behind the governor. Now 71, he joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York and graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1974. He retired January 1, 1993. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with the LOG readership, it should be sent to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. April 1999 �Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days ahead. A mong the 20 Seafarers joining the ranks of pensioners this month are three recertified bosuns and one recertified steward. Representing more than 125 years of active union membership, Recertified Bosuns Christos D. Florous, Stanley J. Jandora and Howard C. Knox and Recertified Steward Yen M. Huey graduated from the highest level of training in the deck and steward departments, respectively, at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Including the three recertified graduates, 11 of those signing off shipped in the deep sea division, six sailed the inland waterways, one plied the Great Lakes and two sailed in the Atlantic Fishermen's division. Eleven of the retirees sailed in the deck department, while five worked in the engine department and four were members of the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners. DEEP SEA NA SAR ALFAQIH, 65, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1967 from the port of San Francisco. '--------'=~-_, Born in Arabia, he sailed in the steward department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Prior to his retirement, he signed off the SeaLand Innovator. Brother Alfaqih makes his home in Wilmington, Calif. THOMAS E. CORRELL, 63, started his career with the SIU in 1953 in the port of New York, sailing aboard the Antinous, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. Brother Correll sailed as deck/engine/utility and signed off the Sea-Land Crusader. A native of New York, he calls Brooklyn home. CHRISTOS D. FLOROUS, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1968, sailing aboard the Transwestern, ===.:..... operated by Hudson Waterways. Born in Greece, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded frequently at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1981 . Prior to his retirement, Brother Florous signed off the Falcon Leader, operated by Seahawk Management. He has retired to Astoria, N. Y. April 1999 YENM. HUEY, 63, graduated from the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) training school in Santa Rosa Calif. in 1969 and joined the MC&S in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). The steward department member upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School and graduated from the steward recertification program in 1990. Brother Huey last sailed aboard the President Truman, operated by American Ship Management. Born in China, he calls San Francisco home. STANLEY J. JANDORA, 81, first sailed with the SIU in 1944 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Arthur L. Perry, operated by Calmar Steamship Corp. A native of New Jersey, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1973. Brother Jandora last sailed aboard the Wilson, operated by Wilson Shipping. During his career he was active in union organizing drives. From 1932 to 1936, he served in the U.S. Marine Corp. Brother Jandora makes his home in Colts Neck, NJ. HOWARDC. KNOX, 64, started his career with the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of New York, aboard the Northwestern Victory. Born in Jamaica, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1981. Brother Knox last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Consumer. He has retired to Mt. Vernon, N.Y. JOSEPH J. MOLL JR., 60, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in ===.::::=.:.:.:~===-i 1964and joined the SIU in the port of New Orleans. Brother Moll worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Robert E. Lee, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. A native of Florida, he makes his home in Destin. ARMANDO MONCADA 65, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1969 from the port of New Orleans. During his career, he sailed in all three departments: deck, engine and steward and upgraded his skills at the Lunde berg School. Born in Honduras, Brother Moncada makes his home in New Orleans. . THOMASJ. 'MURPHY, : 65, first sailed : with the SIU : in 1980 in the port of Honolulu. A native of Illinois, he sailed in the steward department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. Brother Murphy last sailed in 1995, aboard the Long Lines operated by Transoceanic Cable Ship Co. From 1955 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He makes his home in Pearl City, Hawaii. HOOKERG. PRICE, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in North Carolina, he worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard the Sam Houston, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. Brother Price has retired to Chesapeake, Va. CLEMENTE ROCHA JR., 62, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in "---'-===='----' 1963 and joined the SIU in the port of Houston. The Texas native sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement, he signed off the SeaLand Hawaii. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Rocha makes his home in San Antonio, Texas. INLAND GERARDH. FREBURGER, 61, started his career with the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of Baltimore. A native of Maryland, he worked in the engine department, last sailing as a chief engineer. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. From 1958 to 1962, he served in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Freburger last sailed aboard a McAllister Towing Co. vessel. He makes his home in Street, Md. transferred to the deck department. Boatman Greenway upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School and graduated from the towboat operator program in 1979. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S . Army. He last sailed in 1995 aboard the Sea Robin, operated by Crowley Towing and Transportation. He has retired to Oriental, N.C. DONALD J. GREGORY, 63, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1975 after a 20-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard. Born in Massachusetts, he worked in the engine department, last sailing in 1989 aboard a Moran Towing Co. vessel. Boatman Gregory makes his home in Forest Hill, Md. JULIANP. McALPIN, 62, started with the Seafarers in 1970. During his career, he worked in the ~----~ deck department, last sailing as a captain. The Tennessee native last sailed in 1993 aboard the Apollo, operated by Sabine Transportation Co. Boatman McAlpin calls Cortland, Miss. home. KIRBY K. NELSON JR., 61, began sailing with the SIU in 1980 after a 20-year career with the U.S. Army. The Georgia native started out in the steward department and later transferred to the deck department. During his career, he upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. Prior to his retirement, he signed off a Crowley Towing and Transportation vessel. Boatman Nelson makes his home in Savannah, Ga. JOSE A. NUNEZ,65, joined the Seafarers in 1986 in the port of San Francisco, sailing aboard the USNS Hess, operated by LSC Marine, Inc. Starting out in the deep sea division, he later transferred to inland vessels. Born in Uruguay, he worked in the steward department, last sailing aboard a Crowley Towing & Transportation vessel. Boatman Nunez has retired to Luquillo, P.R. GREAT LAKES PERRY E. WILLIS, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1973 in the port of Detroit. Born in West Virginia, he worked as a wheelsman, last sailing in 1989 aboard the Paul Thayer, operated by Pringle Transit Co. From 1951 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Willis makes his home in Rainelle, W.Va. ARANTIC FISHERMEN .--:====----· MICHAEL SPINOLA, 57, joined the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in 1967 in the port of Boston, before it merged with the AGLIWD in 1981. A native of Massachusetts, he worked as an engineer, last sailing aboard the St. Mary. From 1961to1964, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Spinola calls Gloucester, Mass. home. THOMAS J. SPINOLA, 61, started his career with the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in 1967 in the port of Boston, before it merged with the AGLIWD in 1981. During his career, he sailed in all three departments. Prior to his retirement, Brother Spinola last sailed aboard the St. Mary as a member of the engine department. A native of Massachusetts, he makes his home in Gloucester. JOHN W. GREENWAY, JR., 65, joined the SIU in 1976 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in North Carolina, he started out in the steward department and later Seafarers LOG 17 �DEEP SEA ALFRED J. AUSTIN Alfred J. Austin, 57, passed away January 21. Brother Austin started his SIU career in 1972 in the port of Detroit, sailing ======= aboard the car ferry Vi.king, operated by Ann Arbor Railroad Company. The New York native later transferred to deep sea vessels. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Brother Austin was a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y. - ROSCOE BATTLE Pensioner Roscoe Battle, 73, died December 18, 1998. A native of New York, he graduated from the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S) training school in 1963, before that union merged with the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District (AGLIWD). Brother Battle, a resident of Hayward, Calif., began receiving his pension in April 1984. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and again during the Korean Conflict, from 1942 to 1946 and from 1952 to 1953, respectively. EDMUND C. BURKE Pensioner Edmund C. Burke, 85 passed away January 29. He started his career with the MC&S in 1957 in the port of Seattle, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Burke retired in January 1976. ANDRES C. CASTELO Pensioner Andres C. Castelo, 80, passed away January 23. Born in the Philippines, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1948 from the port of New York. During his career, he sailed as a member of the engine department and was active in union organizing drives. A resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brother Castelo began receiving his pension in May 1980. FELIX COSME Pensioner Felix Cosme, 83, died January 16. Brother Cosme joined the MC&S in 1952 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A native of Puerto Rico and a resident of Oakland, Calif., he retired in February 1966. SAM GREGUREV Pensioner Sam Gregurev, 87, passed away December 15, 1998. He started his career with the MC&S in 1946 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Born in Yugoslavia, he began receiving his pension in August 1970. Brother Gregurev was a resident of San Francisco. EVALDKAMM r - - - - - - - - - - , Pensioner Evald Kamm, 87, died January 29. Born in Estonia, he joined the Seafarers in 1950 in the port of New York. Brother Kamm sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. A resident of Astoria, N. Y., he retired in December 1976. FRANK KEPROSKY Pensioner Frank Keprosky, 83, passed away January 19. A native of 18 Seafarers LOG Pennsylvania, he joined the MC&S in 1957, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. Brother Keprosky resided in Anaheim, Calif. and retired in October 1974. GERALD R. KIDD Pensioner Gerald R. Kidd, 60, died February 7. Born in Virginia, he graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1961 and joined the Seafarers in the port of Baltimore. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1976. Prior to his retirement in January 1999, he signed off the Guayama, operated by NPR, Inc. Brother Kidd was a resident of Baltimore. TOMMY T. KUTEI TommyT. Kutei, 60, passed away February 12. Brother Kutei began his SIU career in 1983 from the port of Honolulu, sailL---"----'-"'-'---'-~ ing aboard the SS Independence, operated by American Hawaii Cruises. Born in Palau in the Pacific Islands, he sailed in the steward department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. He was a resident of Honolulu. HENRY LYNCH Pensioner Henry Lynch, 81, died December 11, 1998. He joined the MC&S in 1956 in the port of Seattle, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. A native of Louisiana, Brother Lynch began receiving his pension in November 1973. CHARLES E. MICHAELS ,...,,..,..--====--::-::-,.,,-, Charles E. Michaels, 81, passed away November 11, 1998. Brother Michaels started his sailing career with the Seafarers ====:=...J in 1960 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. The Florida native sailed in the engine department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1938 to 1945. CLIFFORD L. NICKERSON Pensioner Clifford L. Nickerson, 95, died January 28. Born in Louisiana, he began his SIU career in 1947 from the port of .___ _ _ _ __..New Orleans. Brother Nickerson sailed in the steward department and began receiving his pension in February 1970. He was a resident of McComb, Miss. EDSEL W. SHOLAR Pensioner Edsel W. Sholar, 68, passed away December 16, 1998. A native of North Carolina, he began sailing with the SIU in ==---=-----' 1969 from the . the Seafarers in 1973 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in Virginia and a resident of Norfolk, he sailed as a member of the steward department. port of New York. Brother Sholar sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. From 1954 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Air Force. A resident of Asheboro, N.C., he started receiving his pension in March 1997. HENRY A. SIMMONS ..---___,..,==== Pensioner Henry A. Simmons, 71, died January 1. Brother Simmons joined the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of New York. A native of South Carolina, he sailed in the steward department as a chief cook and retired in August 1989. He was a resident of Pineville, S.C. CYRIL A. SPENCE Cyril A. Spence, 61, passed away July 13, 1998. He started his career with the SIU in 1977 in the port of New York. The New .___ _ _ _ ___.York native sailed in the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification program in 1989. Brother Spence was a resident of Bronx, N.Y. GABRIEL THOMPSON Pensioner Gabriel Thompson, 78, passed away January 22. Born in Massachusetts, he joined the MC&S in 1963 in the port of Seattle, before that union merged with the SIU's AGLIWD. The galley gang member upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School and retired in February 1991. Brother Thompson was a resident of Seattle. DARRELL TOUCHSTONE Pensioner Darrell Touchstone, 40, died December 30, 1998. A native of Florida, he graduated from the Lundeberg .__~;:,.;,.:.;.:."-'---~.;.____. School's entry level training program in 1977 and joined the Seafarers in the port of Piney Point, Md. He sailed in the steward department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the steward recertification program in 1991. A resident of Pensacola, Fla., he began receiving his pension in September 1997. PEDRO A. VIRUET Pensioner Pedro A. Viruet, 83, passed away November 6, 1998. He started his career with the SIU in 1943 in the port ==----~ of New York. A native of Puerto Rico, he sailed in the steward department. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. Brother Viruet retired in June 1970. He was a resident of Arecibo, P.R. ROBERT W. WALKER Robert W. Walker, 57, died on February 1. Brother Walker joined INLAND LEWIS J. ALBERTSON Pensioner Lewis J. Albertson, 77, passed away December 7, 1998. A native of North Carolina, he joined the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Albertson started out in the deck department and later transferred to the engine department. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945. A resident of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., he began receiving his pension in February 1988. GERALD W. ANSELL Pensioner Gerald W. Ansell, 67, died January IO. He began his career with the SIU in 1969 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in North ======= Carolina, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the towboat operator program in 1973. Boatman Ansell started receiving his pension in April 1994. From 1949 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. WILBUR N. AUSTIN Pensioner WilburN. Austin, 68, passed away January 21. Boatman Austin joined the Seafarers in 1970 in the port ""'-'-------' of Norfolk, Va., after a 20-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard. The Virginia native sailed in the deck department and attended two educational conferences at the Lundeberg School. A resident of Wanchese, N.C., he retired in April 1995. THOMAS M. BRESLIN Pensioner Thomas M. Breslin, 86, died December 11, 1998. Born in Ireland, he started his career with the SIU in 1963 in ===== the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Breslin sailed in the steward department and retired in March 1982. He was a resident of Douglassville, Pa. DOROTHY M. CRIPPS iiiiiiililiiii Pensioner Dorothy M. Cripps, 73, passed away February 11. Sister Cripps joined the Seafarers in 1976 in the port ==--.;.__;;.;;=-----•of St. Louis. A native of Missouri, she sailed in the steward department and began receiving her pension in November 1991. She made her home in Staunton, Ill. ULZA J. DUPREE Pensioner Ulza J. Dupree, 94, passed away December 27, 1998. He began his career with the Seafarers in Port Arthur, Texas. The Louisiana native sailed in the steward department, primarily aboard vessels operated by Sabine Towing & Transportation. A resident of Port Arthur, Boatman Dupree started receiving his pension in July 1969. DWAYNE EMBREY Dwayne Embrey, 61, died January 7. Boatman Embrey joined the SIU in 1974. During his career, he sailed in the deck and steward departments. In 1977, he attended an educational conference at the Lundeberg School. The Mississippi native served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1962. He was a resident of Belleville, Ill. BILLY B. HOLCOMBE Billy B. Holcombe, 60, passed away December 2, 1998. He began sailing with the Seafarers in 1955 from the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Holcombe worked in the engine department, sailing primarily aboard vessels operated by Penn Maritime, Inc. A native of Alabama, he was a resident of Stockton. EDWARD W. HULTZ Pensioner Edward W. Hultz, 65, died December 25, 1998. A native of New Jersey, he started his career with the SIU in 1955 in L . ; ; . ; ; . : . : = = - " - - - - - - ' the port of Philadelphia. The deck department member upgraded to first class pilot at the Lundeberg School and attended an educational conference there in 1978. Prior to his retirement in April 1995, Boatman Hultz signed off the Cape May, operated by Coleman's Launch Service. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Mickleton, NJ. BERNARD J. "BRUNO" IWANOWSKI Pensioner Bernard J. "Bruno" Iwanowski, 81, passed away January 26. Boatman Iwanowski began his SIU =====---_.. career in 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania native sailed as a member of the steward department and started receiving his pension in November 1979. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He was a resident of Stevens Point, Wisc. CALVIN C. LASSITER Pensioner Calvin C. Lassister, 70, passed away January 9. Born in Arkansas, he joined the Seafarers in 1957 in the port L...------~ of Houston. Boatman Lassister worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard a G&H Towing Co. vessel. A resident of Doucette, Texas, he began receiving his pension in April 1993. Continued on page 20 April 1999 �The SeBfarers LOG allempl8 to print 8$ many digests of union shlpboant minutes as possible. On occasion, because:ol1paceN ,- Jlmilations, 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 ta the Seafarers LOG for publication. HM/ DYNACHEM (IUM), November 27 - Chairman Paul Lucky, Secretary Ronald Tarantino, Engine Delegate Victor Quioto, Steward Delegate James Harris. Crew stated it has not received reply from union concerning vacation pay withholding tax. Chairman reported that new SIU-contracted vessels are being crewed. Secretary reviewed a tax guide received from IRS. He told members about SIU crewing RRF vessels for government exercise that went well. Crew discussed importance of upgrading at Paul Hall Center's Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to look into reducing seatime to qualify for vacation and pension. Crew stated SIU medical cards should list benefits covered, thereby facilitating the processing of paperwork by health-care providers. New exercise equipment has been purchased. Crew discussed shipboard training segment for unlicensed apprentices from Lundeberg School. GALVESTON BAY (Sea-Land Service), November 1 - Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary Andrew Hagan, Educational Director Miguel River a , Deck Delegate Howard Blanks, Engine Delegate Jamal Jabila, Steward Delegate Kenneth Bethea. Educational director encouraged crew to "better your skills and pay by upgrading in Piney Point." He urged members to donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew read letter from SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez, who was responding to earlier inquiry. Crew asked contracts department to consider reduction in required rotary seatime as well as time required to attain 'B' book. Crew discussed with patrolman an incident pertaining to removal of VCR from lounge. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department and to DEU A. Bruno for "excellent job" on sanitary duties. Crew donated $350 to Red Cross for disaster relief for Honduran and Nicaraguan victims of Hurricane Mitch. Next port: Boston. Together Again They had sailed together before and were happy to find themselves reunited aboard the Diamond Shoals. From the left are Second Mate Joseph Angelillo, Chief Mate Kimberly Borges and OMU Angel Figueroa. April 1999 GALVESTON BAY (Sea-Land Service), November 29 Chairman James E. Davis, Secretary Andrew Hagan, Educational Director Miguel Rivera, Deck Delegate Al Balactico. Crew discussed "Know Your Rights" section published in each issue of Seafarers LOG. Crew discussed department jurisdiction. Crew thanked steward department for "wonderful" Thanksgiving meal. GREAT LAND (TOTE), November 2 - Chairman Jack Edwards, Secretary Muhamad Sani, Educational Director Michael Phillips, Steward Delegate Jioia DeLeon. Crew discussed TRBs and which sections require sign-off. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew submitting request to contracts department regarding vacation checks. Crew discussed information received from U.S. Coast Guard concerning paperwork required for mariners' documents. SEA-LAND LIBERATOR (SeaLand Service), November 10Chairman Joel Miller, Secretary G. Thomas, Educational Director E. Ford. Crew asked contracts department for clarification regarding stand-by. Educational directoF reminded crew to renew documents on time and pay quarterly dues on time. Steward delegate discussed recent oil-spill containment drill. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (Sulphur Carriers), November 29 Chairman Marvin Zimbro, Secretary Nee Tran, Deck Delegate Efstratios Zoubantis, Engine Delegate Roman Hill, Steward Delegate J. Thacker. Chairman reminded crew to keep deck and gangway clean. He encouraged crew to read president's report in Seafarers LOG. Secretary reminded crew to clean rooms and leave clean linen for next crew. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew suggested that required time for vacation check be halved. Crew thanked steward department for Thanksgiving feast and overall job well done. ITS BALTIMORE (Sheridan Transportation), December 6 Chairman Patrick Ray, Secretary Richard Worobey. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on article in December LOG regarding dues vs. agency fees. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew expressed desire for greater flexibility in on-and-off schedules. Crew stated thicker coveralls are needed when working in colder climates. Crew identified need for improved communication between the union and company. OVERSEAS VIVIAN (OSG Ship Management), December 21Chairman Roberto Zepeda, Secretary F. T. Di Carlo Jr., Educational Director Milton L. Israel, Deck Delegate Timothy J. Jackson, Engine Delegate Charles S. Demourelle, Steward Delegate Cesar A. Avila. Department delegates reported no beefs or disputed OT this trip. Suggestion made to contracts department to improve medical coverage for spouses and dependents of Seafarers and to supply medical coverage identification cards. Steward department given vote of thanks for job well done. Next port: Texas City, Texas. MAJ. STEPHEN W. PLESS (Waterman Steamship), December 6-Chairman Robert E. Hagood, Secretary Douglas A. Hundshamer, Educational Director Adolfo E. Schultze, Deck Delegate William Kratsas, Engine Delegate R. Woods, Steward Delegate Nick Andrews. Chairman expressed need for all crew members to file for training record books (TRBs) and informed them of need for TRB to register to ship out. Vessel due to arrive in Palma de Mallorca, Spain on December 7. Payoff to take place two days later. Relief crew will be on 10:00 launch. Those persons being relieved will debark on 12:00 launch with bus waiting to take them to hotel. Educational director reminded everyone of various courses available at Lundeberg School in Piney Point and stated all should take advantage of them. No beefs or disputed OT reported. President's Report in Seafarers LOG read and discussed and crew gave vote of thanks to SIU President Mike Sacco for fine job he is doing. Question raised as to why crew does not get ammo bonus and officers do. Chairman explained memorandum of understanding voids it from standard contract. Memorial Day barbecue/cookout held in Malaga, Spain. Local residents invited aboard to help celebrate. Thanks given to steward department for good meals, cleanliness and sanitation, especially Chief Cook Nick Andrews, ACU Faith Downs, SNPantry Raford Nixon and SA/BR Tom Misko. PETERSBURG (Bay Ship Management), December 6 Chainnan Eddie Hall, Deck Delegate Daniel Ticer Jr., Engine Delegate Reginald Hunter. Vessel completed training exercise with U.S. Navy in South Korea and returned to Guam. Chairman reminded crew to have officers sign TRBs where appropriate. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department for clarification about midnight curfew instituted by chief mate. SEA FOX (Crowley), December 6 - Chairman Robert Richer, Secretary Norman Cox, Educational Director Philip Brew. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested copy of benefits available under SIU medical plan. SEA-LAND ATLANTIC (SeaLand Service), December 6 Chairman John Bertolino, Secretary Edward Porter, Educational Director Ralph Garner. Crew received chairs for mess hall and crew lounge. Chairman thanked crew for pleasant voyage and announced payoff. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done and commended them for Thanksgiving dinner. Next port: Boston. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (SeaLand Service), December 1Chairman Hayden W. Gifford, Deck Delegate Paul J. Limback, Engine Delegate Steve K. DuPre. Chairman discussed need for crew members to have TRBs signed before end of year. Most already have had books signed by chief mate. He noted crew very active in drills and safety meetings. Secretary stressed importance of upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center. Education director stated lots of ships crewing up, so everyone should be sure to have all documents up-to-date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on wiper standing by for bunkers and cleaning of fuel Cirafisi, Deck Delegate Douglas A. Hodges, Engine Delegate Jorge R. Bonelli. Chairman announced receipt of letters from union officials regarding vessel's organizational status. Educational director noted STCW course held aboard ship, supervised by Chief Engineer Richard Ouelette for benefit of crew and officers. He also reminded everyone that upgrading at Last Shot of the Year on the Diamond Shoals Following an end-of-the-year payoff in Houston, crew members aboard the Diamond Shoals gather for a group photo taken by OMU Angel Figueroa. They are (from left, front row) GVA Cecil Edwards, AB Cleveland West, OMU David Dehart, OMU William Young, (second row) CPU Alvin Burroughs, Recertified Steward Jose A. Rivera, Recertified Bosun Doyle Ellette, (third row) AB Tom Arriola, AB Matt Holley, Chief Cook Stephen Avallone, AB Ronald Davis and AB M.L. Jackson. strainers. Stewards given thanks for maintaining spotless mess and decks and for making ship "a feeder." Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND PRODUCER (SeaLand Service), December 13 Chairman Joel Lechel, Secretary David Cunningham, Educational Director C.M. Devonish. Ship headed to New Orleans then Mobile, Ala. for 35-day layup. Educational director reminded crew to acquire and utilize TRBs. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to negotiate increased vacation time. Ship still needs another ice machine. Crew thanked steward department for great food and homemade baked goods. Bosun thanked entire crew for maintaining clean ship. Next port: New Orleans. BLUE RIDGE (Crowley), January 2 - Chairman A. Alwaseem, Engine Delegate David Davis Jr., Steward Delegate Demont Edwards. Chairman announced upcoming payoff in Houston. No beefs or disputed Of reported. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on rest period. Crew thanked steward department for holiday efforts and thanked church for Christmas presents for ship. CLEVELAND (Sealift, Inc.), January 17 - Chairman David Garoutte, Secretary Miguel Vinca, Deck Delegate Abubakar Idris, Engine Delegate William Blankenship, Steward Delegate Romalies Jones. Chairman announced that upcoming voyage will include three ports in West Africa. He commended crew for good job cleaning cargo hold. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for good meals and also praised GSU Luis Rochez for keeping mess hall clean. Crew sent photos and article to Seafarers LOG. Next port: Lake Charles, La. EL YUNQUE (Sea Star), January 8-Chairman Charles 0. Herrera, Secretary Manny Basas, Educational Director Joseph R. Lundeberg School is one way of securing jobs for future. Secretary asked crew members to return movies after watching or within 24 hours. He thanked all hands for helping keep recreation room and messhall clean. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew waiting for microwave oven. Suggestion made to look into pension being increased to keep up with cost of living. Vote of thanks given to Chief Steward Basas and the steward department for the great meals, especially those to celebrate Christmas and New Year's. ROBERT E. LEE (Waterman), January 3 - Chairman Ronald Charles, Secretary Miguel Pabon, Educational Director F. Quebedeaux, Deck Delegate Donald Hood, Engine Delegate Lawrence Craig, Steward Delegate Marco Guevara. Chairman reminded crew to have officers sign TRBs where appropriate. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. New dryer needed for crew laundry room. Next port: Morehead City, N.C. NEDLLOYD HOLLAND (SeaLand Service), January 28 Chairman Paul Domes, Secretary Pablo Alvarez, Educational Director Craig Niedzielski. Chairman announced payoff scheduled for Jacksonville, Fla. Educational director reminded crew that he is available to discuss nutrition information. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. OVERSEAS JOYCE (OSG Ship Management ), January 3Chairman Richard Bradford, Secretary Paula Kaleikini, Educational Director Ernest Cox, Deck Delegate Joseph Allum, Steward Delegate Carmello De La Cruz. Chairman noted those crew members not being relieved in Portland will remain on articles and not be paid off until it is their time to be relieved, or captain is Continued on page 20 Seafarers LOG 19 �~ Ships' Digests Continued from page 19 relieved, whichever occurs first. Educational director stressed the importance of upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun stated good job done by unlicensed apprentice this voyage. Oiler Cox complimented steward department on great food and service. Next port: Portland, Ore. PETERSBURG (Bay Ship Management), January 17 Chairman Eddie Hall, Secretary Oscar Angeles, Educational Director John D'Alessandro, Deck Delegate Daniel Ticer, Steward Delegate Wendy Fearing. Educational director encouraged crew to stay current in all requirements and training. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed importance of keeping all shipboard areas in sanitary condition. /TB PHILADELPHIA (Sheridan Transportation), January 17 Chairman Edwin Rivera, Secretary Robert Wilcox, Educational Director Rashawn Richardson, Engine Delegate Teki Williams, Steward Delegate Mohamed Hussien. Chairman reported smooth sailing with good crew and productive working relationship with officers. He noted captain has helped keep TRB systern in order. Secretary echoed thanks regarding captain's willingness to work closely with SIU members in regard to TRBs. Secretary thanked crew for keeping common areas clean. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Elizabeth, N .J. Chairman said he feels privileged to work and sail with this crew. He reminded crew to assist unlicensed apprentices when they come aboard. He discussed affiliation of SIUNA and NMU. Educational director urged crew to take advantage of upgrading opportunities at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to explore possibility of adjusting pension. Crew thanked steward department for cookout. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (SeaLand Service), January 24 Chairman Norberto Prats, Secretary Edgar Vazquez, Educational Director Frank Berner. Chairman announced upcoming payoff in Elizabeth, N.J. and reported smooth sailing. Educational director advised crew members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted letter from SIU President Michael Sacco and VP Augie Tellez was posted concerning affiliation of SIUNA and NMU. Crew said they are happy the ship has resumed its regular schedule. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. SEA-LAND INTEGRITY (SeaLand Service), January 17 Chairman Calvain James, Secretary Stephanie Sizemore, Educational Director Chris Tsipliarels, Steward Delegate Thomas Milovich. Chairman said crew should be present at sanitary cabin inspections or search. Secretary thanked deck and engine departments for helping maintain ship's house in good order. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun reminded crew that donations to seamen's mission in Boston are being accepted. He thanked them for Christmas gifts. Next port: Boston. SEA-LAND HAWAII (Sea-Land Service), January 18 - Chairman Billy Hill, Secretary Ed Winne, Educational Director Rex Bolin. CALE DAR 14 Cs ...Q 0 April ~ i. B 4 i ~1'-! ~ ...)' Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968 while helping striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn. 12 Harlan Florence Reece, active in County, Ky. coal strikes and authol" of the famous labor song "Which Side Are You On," was born in 1900. In 1939, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath was published. The novel of social protest dramatized the story of "Okies"workers who migrated from Oklahoma's dust bowl to the groves of California-and experienced tremendous hardships and exploitation along the way. SEA-LAND RELIANCE (SeaLand Service), January 17 - despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, and the poor." 20 attacked In 1914, company gunmen atent colony of striking miners and theirfamilies in Colorado, setting it ablaze and killing 19 men, women and children in what is remembered as the Ludlow Massacre. 27 James Oppenheim's poem, "Bread and Roses," was pub1S A.can-American Philip Randolph, an Afrilished in Industrial Solidarity in and one of the most influential trade unionists in the U.S. labor movement, was born in 1889. The organizer and president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, an all-black union, Randolph said: "The essence of trade unionism is uplift. The labor movement traditionally has been the haven for the dispossessed, the 1946. "Our lives shall not be sweated/from birth until life closes/ hearts starve as well as bodies; give/ us bread, but give us roses," the poem reads. It was penned after Oppenheim saw a sign held by young mill girls picketing in the 1912 strike against woolen companies in Lawrence, Mass. Chairman Dennis Brown, Secretary G. Sivley, Educational Director Steve Bigelow, Steward Delegate Reynaldo Telmo. Chairman announced payoff in Tacoma, Wash. and thanked crew for smooth voyage. Educational director asked all crew members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew received response letter from SIU Contracts VP Augie Tellez. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Crew thanked B. Padaoan for going ashore in Kaohsiung to buy movies. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. LNG TAURUS (Pronav Ship Management), January 24 Chairman Daniel Marcus, final Departures Continued from page 18 JOHN W. MARSHALL =======i Pensioner John W. Marshall, 94, died October 18, 1998. He began sailing with the SIU in 1957 from the port of Baltimore. Boatman Marshall sailed as a captain and retired in March 1969. He was a resident of Cambridge, Md. In order to ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month-as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices-a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Department 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 r-------------------------------------------------, HOME ADDRESS FORM 4;99 (Please Print) Name: Social Security No.: _ _ _ I _ _ _ I _ __ D Active SIU Book No.: D Pensioner D Other This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union.file unless otherwise changed by me personally. L-------------------------------------------------~ 20 Seafarers LOG Island. A resident of Yulee, Fla., he began receiving his pension in November 1997. GREAT LAKES LEO R. DZIESINSKI Pensioner Leo R. Dziesinski, 88, died January 28. He started his career with the SIU in 1964 in the port of ==.;.;.;...;.;..;;;;._==~;;;...t Cleveland. A native of Michigan, he sailed in the deck department and retired in January 1978. Brother Dziesinski was a resident of Alpena, Mich. ALI B. FITAHEY JOSEPH J. ''PETE" PIETRAS ==------.Pensioner Joseph J. "Pete" Pietras, 75, passed away January 14. Boatman Pietras joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port '-""--"'------..... of Baltimore. A native of Pennsylvania, he sailed in the steward department and began receiving his pension in November 1985. A veteran of World War Il, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1941 to 1966. Boatman Pietras was a resident ofWanchese, N.C. CLARK PETIT Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? Secretary Glenn Williams, Educational Director Curtis Jackson, Deck Delegate John Ray, Engine Delegate Mark Freeman, Steward Delegate Brian McEleney. Chairman thanked crew for pleasant tour. He discussed latest developments in Pronav's reflagging efforts. He reminded everyone to continue working safely. Secretary thanked crew for keeping lounge clean. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer thanked AB Harry Massa for donation to ship's fund. No beefs or disputed ar reported. Crew read fax sent from union headquarters. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Clark Petit, 36, passed away October 17, 1998. A native of Minnesota, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1996 from the '--------~ port of Algonac, Mich. He sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Lundeberg School. Boatman Petit was a resident of Rockford, Ill. CLARENCE A.ROBISON Pensioner Clarence A. Robison, 70, died January 17. A native of Mississippi, he joined the SIU in 1973 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Boatman Robison sailed as a chief engineer and began receiving his pension in July 1993. From 1952 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Argyle, Fla. JAMES E. STEWART Pensioner James E. Stewart, 68, died January 14. Boatman Stewart started his career with . the SIU in 1979 in the port of =~..;.._---~ Jacksonville, Fla. Born in Maryland, he worked in the steward department, sailing primarily for NATCO. His first and last vessel, coincidentally, was the Sugar Pensioner Ali B. Fitahey, 72, passed away October 16, 1998. Br her Fitahey joine the Seafarers in 1965 in the port ~:=.....;.;;;......;.;.;.;,_;.:.;__;:=~ of Detroit. Born in Arabia, he became a U.S. citizen and sailed as a member of the deck department. He began receiving his pension in November 1995. HUNTER F. GRIMES Pensioner Hunter F. Grimes, 92, died December?, 1998. Born in Virginia, he started his career with the SIU in 1961 in the port =====---' of Buffalo, N.Y. Brother Grimes sailed in the deck department and started receiving his pension in July 1976. He made his ho~.e in Alexandria, N.Y. STEPHEN J. HERMAN Pensioner Stephen J. Herman, 79, passed away December4, 1998. A native Pennsylvanian, he began sailing with the '---'=====c..""""' Seafarers in 1959. Brother Herman sailed in the deck department and retired in November 1984. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. He was a resident of Miami Lakes, Fla. ATLANT1C FISHERMEN ENRICO V. STRESCINO Pensioner Enrico V. Strescino, 81, died February 5. A native of Massachusetts, he began his career with the Atlantic Fishermen's Union in 1940 in the port of Boston, before it merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Strescino sailed in the deck department and retired in December 1980. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He made his home in Gloucester, Mass. April 1999 �Letters:to"the Editor •. . I (Editor's note: the Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer's intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) in hydrogen sulfide content. One case study showed a depreciation to 85 percent of its initial starting concentration. Although corrosion does account for some consumption of the sulfide content, it is shown that the natural partitioning in the vessel and ventilation of the inert gas (IG anti-ignition blanket) acted as a means for the Recollections from a release of the hydrogen sulfide. Retired Captain These releases of the IG system In the August 1998 edition of have always been known to the LOG, I read about the passing depreciate the volatile organic of Adrian J. Janacek. I had the carbons, but until recently, it has pleasure of having this fine sailor not been researched as a carrier onboard the SIS Summit when we for other absorption gases. A United Kingdom company started the Aleutian Island Service and a Brazilian oil firm are develfor Sea-Land Service in 1972. He was a man you could oping an on-board processing always count on, and he had a lot plant to develop this discovery of of great stories, too! One that hydrogen sulfide content deprecistands out in my mind is when ation. Without major modification Sea-Land asked us to go into to existing crude carriers, they Balboa Bay, look around and take predict that the on-board process a few pictures, if possible, to can serve to reduce the hydrogen determine if they would meet a sulfide during sea transport. The fish processor there. I asked if removal of hydrogen sulfide anyone had a suitable camera. ("sweetening the crude") from the Adrian Janacek said that he did cargo can add a value of anywhere and would bring it to the bridge. I from $.50 to $2.00 per barrel. As seamen, we are interested thought that he would have more in this development: it concerns than a baby Brownie, but was not ready for what he showed up with. the future and future development Adrian came to the bridge with a of seaborne transportation for large aluminum suitcase full of petroleum products. Following is expensive, state-of-the-art ca ra a review of how it will work. By forcing circulation of the equipment. H some great pho s, sent them on to marine inert gas that is over the crude and operations, and they eventually circulating same to a regenerator, did use Balboa Bay for a meeting the scavenged hydrogen sulfide can be oxidized to sulfur. Since place with the processors. At this point, I would like to sulfur concentration is fractional say that we had a very good crew in crude oi concentrati a ha on that vessel. Seems that the no significant effect on product unusual nature of the service price, the sulfur can be returned to the cargo, thus eliminating any attracted very good people .... In closing, I will share a little by-product or waste. Ensuring a information about myself. Prior to closed system also will serve to obtaining my license in 1957, I control the volatile hydrocarbon sailed in the fo'c'sle as a permit loss that is inherent in the man in the SUP. Also put in some seaborne transport of petroleum time on a tuna clipper, the reason products. for joining the SIU Cannery Those brothers and sisters of Workers and Fishermen's Union of the SIU who are familiar with the Pacific. During this time, I tankers will attest that since the sailed on several SIU ships, among initiation of Inert Gas and Vapor them the Raphael Semmes, Ponce Recovery Systems, our contracted de Leon, and others that I can no ships are already equipped with longer recall the names of. It was closed systems. The addition of a during my time on SIU ships that I regenerator for hydrogen sulfide acquired a taste for grits, rebel pot removal would be only a slight roast and Waterman strawberries modification and, according to (stewed prunes). estimates, a three-week shuttle I do appreciate receiving the journey could generate a savings Seafarers LOG. of $412,000 at current oil prices. This research is for existing Raymond P. Karlsvik tankage and for surface ventilaRaymond, Wash. tion. If such a process were to be initiated from beneath the cargo, in essence "sparging" the product, Report on Oil Transport it would be even more effective. Developments This process can offer advantages Although I am no longer over traditional methods and actively sailing, I still maintain an pipeline transmission. We may see interest in the industry. Presently this and other developments as my occupation is as a contracted time progresses for there is a operator in Brazil. future in maritime commerce, perIt has recently been reported haps more than we can imagine. that in a shipment of crude oil by Kudos to the SIU for encourtanker, there is a slight reduction aging their members to continue . ... their education. To be prepared for the challenge that lies ahead, upgrading at Piney Point is sound advice. Albert T. Wheeler Morgan City, La. LOG Keeps Retiree Up to Date I would like to thank you very much for my continuing subscription to your monthly Seafarers LOG. I read your paper cover to cover, as I am still interested in all news that has to do with the Seafarers. I especially appreciate the news that you place in your paper regarding the merchant marine in World War II, since I sailed merchant ships starting in May 1941 on the Great Lakes. I began sailing in the deep sea division in 1942 until June 1946. Tony Dattalo Jensen Beach, Fla. ... ... Union Offers Opportunity I joined the SIU in 1966 and retired in 1993. To this day, I'm thankful for the opportunities I found through the union. I served the SIU well, and the SIU served me well. Some people will complain no matter what. But in all my years with the SIU, I had a chance to earn a good living. That's not something to be taken for granted. I just want to give credit where it's due. Johnny Reb Greenville, South Carolina (Editor's note: Brother Reb, a.k.a. Revels Poovey, would like to hear from Seafarers with whom he sailed. He can be contacted at 100 East Pelham Rd., Greenville, SC 29615. ... ... Good Help Found In San Francisco I would like to bring to your attention two gentlemen union brothers from the port of San Francisco. Vincent Coss and Romeo Lumanlan are two of the nicest people I've known. Both of these union men have been encouraging, polite, helpful and professional. Further, they always take time to help or assist a member in need. They are an asset to the members and the union, and I'm grateful for the encouragement and help they've given me. I'm proud to be an A-book seaman in the SIU, and to work with men like these. With more than 30 years of shipping, from ordinary to bosun, I feel I'm a good judge of character. These union men are two of the best. John Sokolik Reno, Nevada Attention Seafarers: Our flag at sea is good for America ... and important to you. April 1999 Contribute toSPAD 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. SIDPPING RIGHTS. A member's shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the union and the employers. Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditiona1ly 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 ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Seafarers LOG 21 �Lundeberg School Graduating Classes SEAFARERS HARRY LUNDEB ERG SC HOOL LIFEBOAT CLAS 7~~M<.., .t 58 6 ~ ~~:_ .. ~~J.11 l ... Welding-Marking their graduation from the welding course on March 19 are (left to right) Pati .Taototo, Allen Newgen, Nathan Hollander, Charley Sheen, Gonzie Knott, James Forby and Buzzy Andrews (instructor). ~}"~~~ Unlimited Radar Observer Upgraders successfully finishing the unlimited radar observer class on March 12 are (front row, from left) James McAtee, Chris Schleis, Robert Wobil, Daniel Crawford, Victor Frazier, Bernabe Pelington, (second row) Mike Mayo, Roman Kasparyan, Albert Austin Jr., Richard Dewitte, Stephen Swinton, Charley Darley, (third row) Mike Davis, Al Schmitt, Carlton Dorrance, Bill Bruce and Rhett Davis. Chief Cook-Recently completing the chief cook course are (from left) Kirk Bean, Doug _Flynn, Helen Mitchell, John Hetmanski (instructor), Jose Constantino and Richard Jones. Advanced Firefighting-Seafarers graduating March 5 from the advanced firefighting course are (from left, front row) Paul Heilnessey, James Moore, Jeff Petherbridge, Celina Ortega, (second row) Shelia Lewis, Lonnie Jones, Angel Perez, James Prado, John Smith (instructor), (third row) John Barnard, Alvin Smith, (fourth row) Earl Castan , Jason Monroe, Ernie Gay, Chuck Carson, (fifth row) Reginald Hunter, Reuben Fife and Rafael Franco. Great Lakes Conveyorman-SIU members completing the Great Lakes conveyorman class on March 19 included Andrew Nowak, George "Robert" Keeley, McNally, Jay Linx, Stever Habermehl, Michael Hayes, Guy Hemenger, Joel Markle and Norman Guild (instructor). Tankerman Assistant-Upgrading graduates of the March 5 tankerman assistant class are (from left, front row) Jim Shaffer (instructor), Michael Phillips, Martin Ramos, Mario Baja, Idris Abubakar, Terry Cowans Sr., Tom Higgins, Brian Shelburne, Chris Hays Jr., (back row) Moe Jeff, Collins Agyemang, Scott Lucerne, Zdravko Kerestes, Damon Parker, Bobby Brown, Joseph Merriweather, Chris Johnson and Jeromy Vaughan. \r T Inland AB-Graduating from the inland AB course on March 12 are (front row, left to right) Brian Murray, Alan Johnson, William Durham, Michael Bashore, Ray Blahnik, Tim Thompson, Tom Gilliland (instructor), (second row) Earl Douthtie, Mike Cushman, Dennis Fitzpatrick, David Ali, Bob Timmons, Salem Omar and Salin Yahya. 22 Seafarers LOG STCW Basic Safety-Receiving their certificates for completing the new STCW basic safety course on February 12 are (front row, from left) Rick Redmond (instructor) , Thomas Higgins, Bud Marshall, Julita Crodua , Paul Hennessey, Rudolph Christian, Russ Levin (instructor), (second row) James Furby, Larry Stanback, Alvin Smith, Jeremie Riehm, Roland Peters, (third row) Pati Taotodo, Keith Shamberger, Ambu Man (CPR dummy), Michael Presser, Bob Bell, Patrick Meagher, Douglas Edwards and Zdravko Kerestes. April 1999 �··· LUNDEBERGSCHOOL· 1999 ·UPBRADINB:COURSE SCHEDULE (;;"ertified Chief Cook/ Chief Steward . (Every other week, starting Jan. II) The following<is·die ·schedule for clas~es p(}ginni~g ·jn April an.d running · through July 199? . a~_, the Seafarers Harry Luil,(Jeb~rg School of Seamanship. located at the l'a.-yl:l'.I.ml Center for Maritifl.!~::.lf~~ll~ng and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership~ the marl.time industry and-in times of conflict-the nation~ s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Lundeberg School may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. April 5, 19 May 3, 17,31 June 14, 28 July 12, 26 . ~«.cet;tltlcatlon Programs Course Start Date Date of Completion LNG Recertification MaylO May27 1 Beck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman April 5 May 14 Radar Observer/Unlimited April 26 June7 May7 June 18 Radar Recertification (one da,y) May7 June 18 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) MaylO Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Departure Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL) April 12 MaytO Mayl May29 June 26 June7 Junes Advanced Firefighting April 19 May 10 Mayl May29 Government Vessels May17 May24 June4 Jone 11 Lifeboatman/Water Survival April 19 May18 June 14 Mayl May29 June 25 STCW Basic Safety (refresher) May24 June 21 May28 June2S Tankennan (PIC) Barge MaylO May14 May15 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date_of Compl~tion Fireman/Watertender & Oiler May~. June 11 QMED May3 July 23 May3 June 11 Power Plant Maintenance June 28 August6 Welding April 19 June 14 May14 July9 April 17 May7 MaylS April 12 May3 MaylO May31 Basic Firefighting Academic Department Courses Steward Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion May3 June 10 Course Start Date General Education Courses Galley Operations/ Advanced Galley Operations (Every week, starling Jan. 11) April 5, 12, 19, 26 May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 June 7, 14, 21, 28 July 5, 12, 19, 26 In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. --~-------------------------------------With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty UPGRADING APPLICATION Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ (I 20) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USM MD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All FOWT, AB and QMED applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $135 with their apolication. The pavment should be made with a monev order only, payable to LMSS. COURSE Telephone----------Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member END DATE BEGIN DATE Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ D Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ B o o k # - - - - - - - - - - S e n i o r i t y - - - - - - - - - - - - - Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LAST V E S S E L : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rating: _ _ __ Date O n : - - - - - - - - - - - - Date Off: Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? DYes 0No SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ DATE If yes, c l a s s # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? DYes DNo If yes, course(s) taken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes 0No Primarylanguagespoken - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 1999 NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you present original receipts and successfully complete the caurse. If you have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. 4199 The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and E.ducation is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified , of 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. Seafarers LOG 23 �Attention Seafarers: Looking for a fun, relaxing and affordable summer vacation spot? See page 14. 'Brotherhood of the Sea' Helps Stranded Foreign Mariners Gulf Seafarers Aid Delta Pride's Weary Crew Logistical challenges didn't stop Seafarers in Texas from helping with the collection and delivery of stores to the ill-fated Delta Pride. AB Sinclair Oubre, who heads the Apostleship of the SeaDiocese of Beaumont, Texas, and SIU Boatmen David Dorrell, Willy Mack Istre, Billy Bowers and Jim Prater all had a hand in providing relief to the famished crew of the abandoned Pakistaniflag cargo ship. "It's amazing how much a few people, using the means that are at hand, can do to help brothers of the sea in their time of need," stated Oubre, who also credited local pilots, marine companies and community members involved in the effort, including SIU-contracted Higman Towing. By now, thanks to nationwide media coverage, the harrowing plight of the Delta Pride is wellknown to many. The ship's crew of 23 went unpaid for two years and was abandoned in Tampico, Mexico in May 1998 after its owner went bankrupt. (The owner alternately has been identified in various press accounts as either Star Shipping Lines of Greece or Tristar Shipping Lines in Karachi, Pakistan.) From then until last November, the mariners suffered a torturous fate. Their stores ran out, so they drank rainwater and ate fish that they caught using makeshift lines. Power supplies were all but exhausted, leaving the 740-foot ship dark and without heat or air conditioning. Health problems predictably followed, and by November the mariners were threatening to commit mass suicide. "The people were dying ~n front of me," the vessel's captain told the Associated Press. Using torches to heat heavy fuels for the engines, plus other ingenuity, the crew somehow prodded the Delta Pride to limp the 300 miles to Brownsville, Texas. A voyage that normally would have taken no more than 24 hours instead lasted almost three full days; but, the vessel indeed made it to U.S. waters on November 24. Captain Eddie Max Stovall of the Brazos-Santiago Pilots Association may have been the first person in that area to discover the depth of the Delta Pride's condition. He took the initial call from the Delta Pride after it had dropped anchor approximately three miles from the Brownsville harbor. "They kept insisting that they needed launch service, for which they didn't have clearance," Stovall told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. "But their requests were very unorthodox ~ ·; -.e., .... .,.· .:. ~ lM~ After subsisting on rainwater and whatever fish they caught, the Delta Pride crew members gratefully accepted food and beverages donated by Texas residents (and transported part of the way by SIU members). Here, local pilot Eddie Max Stovall (wearing baseball cap) poses with the Pakistanis after a delivery. and vague. Finally, the captain broke down and said, 'My crew, they're dying. We have no food."' The pilot notified the U.S. Coast Guard and also contacted the local international seamen's center. That led to press coverage, which Oubre spotted while at the Beaumont diocese, some 350 miles north along the Texas Gulf Coast. Due to failed safety and mechanical inspections of the Delta Pride, the Coast Guard denied port entry. However, Stovall coordinated initial aid for the mariners. He and fellow pilots Jim Franceshi, who sailed with the SIU for about 10 years, and Robert Tullis delivered food and fresh water to the men. "They were so weak, they could only take three gallons of water at a time on a heaving line,'' Stovall recalled. Meanwhile, representatives from the Apostleship of the Sea helped build upon those earliest relief efforts. A group of citizens from the Port Arthur area who are involved with the diocese contact- ed local parishes and publicized the case. Area residents donated substantial amounts of canned goods and other relief items. "Then a new problem emerged," Oubre noted. "How would we get all the food collected to Brownsville? 1bis had begun as a small collection, but became enough to fill three pickup trucks." Enter Higman Towing, whose tugs and barges sail the length of the Intracoastal Waterway. Oubre worked with representatives from Higman, the U.S. Propeller Club of the Sabine, and R&R Marine Services of Port Arthur (a ship repair yard) to coordinate transportation of the food with minimal disruption to the parties' respective work schedules. As a result, the SIU-crewed Jesse Gunstream docked at R&R Marine Services on February 15. "R&R had placed shrink-wrap on the pallets of food to protect them from weather," Oubre observed. "As soon as the Jesse Gunstream arrived, the shore gang immediately lifted the pallets onto the deck of one of the barges, and m a few minutes, the crew me continued on to Rio Hondo (near Brownsville)." A week later, the stores arrived on board the elta Pride via a pilot boat. "The crew members whelmingly expressed appreciation," explained Stovall, who added that Brownsville-area residents made several other donations. "They were in a bad situation through no fault of their own, but they remained extremely courteous and dignified." Although the story probably cannot be labeled as having a happy ending, there were some positive developments last month. Eleven of the 23 crew members were repatriated, and the other 12 found hospitality at a Catholicrun refugee center while making travel arrangements. Also, the Delta Pride reportedly was auctioned for scrap for $300,000, with some of that money accounting for back pay, travel and other expenses. illE FREE WlCE-STAA. FREO£RltKSSUllG, 'Ill. Stranded seamen finally come ashore Bureaucratic ordeal lasted 10 months llfMAOfU Eiu.RO Asscallled P<HS WSQtJTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -The last 12 crew members stranded aboard a rusting cargo ship came ashore yesterday, end· lng a IO.month ordeal durlng which they staved oft' scurvy and suicidal thoughts and caugl1t rain water and fish to survive. "I'm very thank!Ul to God," Capt Maqsood Ahmed said. "We were prisoners at sea without At first, the malnourished Delta Pride crew only could accept very light loads, using a heaving line. As the months passed, the crew grew stronger and shipboard power partially was restored, enabling easier movement of donated stores such as those pictured here. commlttln1 a crime." These.uoenweretbelastofa23man crew &om Karachi, Pak· tslan, to leave the Delta Pride, a broken.down Crelahter that has been anchored about four miles off the aouth Texas coast since J11$l before Thanksgiving. Yesterday, the lmmigntjon and Naturalliatlon Service said the crev.'lllen could remain in the • 11 up t 30 days while with Mexican officials followed, leadinitO the seizure or the ship's documents and the crew's pass· J>OrU. SOS calls were liJ10red as llie al>Oard the shlJ> became more desperate by the da." With fuel ione, there was no 'l.11Y to run the air conditioner or lights, and the SO-year-old ship became dark and hoL The seamen eventually lived off whatever rain water and fish they could catch. With no clean waterforbathlng and washing clothes, rashes and early signs of scurvy were setting In. "The people were dying in front of me,» said Ahmed, who was on his first voyage as captain. By November, the men were threatening to commit mass Sul· clde. That's when Ahmed found a JlO bW in bis dresser drawer and was Inspired by the "In ns The horrific story drew lots of media coverage in the United States, including this piece. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 1999 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR HART VISITS SIU HALL IN HONOLULU RANK-AND-FILE FINANCIAL COMMITTEE APPROVES 1998 UNION RECORDS CONTRACTED SIGNED FOR CRUISE SHIPS 4TH DOUBLE EAGLE TANKER BEGINS SERVICE SEAFARERS CREW NEW ‘Z’ TUGS DON NOLAN NAMED VP FOR LUNDEBERG SCHOOL USNS ANTARES SAILS TO BALKANS TO ASSIST NATO PEACEKEEPERS USNS GORDON RESCUES FISHERMAN IN GULF LEGISLATORS ASK IRS TO ESTIMATE TAXES LOST TO FOREIGN-FLAG CRUISE VESSELS ROYAL CARIBBEAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DUMPING USCG: GRAIN COMPANY VIOLATES JONES ACT HOUSE PASSES COAST GUARD BUDGET SIU’S ALASKAN RECRUITMENT PROGRAM WINS NATIONAL AWARD SEA-LAND CAPT. PRAISES APPRENTICE FOR WORK 32-HOUR RADAR/ARPA COURSE APPROVED MEMORIES, HOPE AND PRIDE BEAM FROM NEWEST CLASS OF RECERTIFIED STEWARDS ANOTHER ‘MILLENIUM BUG’ IN 30 YEARS? SAN FRANSCISCO’S ‘TOM TOM’ SUCCUMBS TO HEART ATTACK FILM MAKER KUBRICK DIES SEA-LAND CRUSADER EARNS ANNUAL SAFETY AWARD RED CIRCLE CREWS APPROVE CONTRACT ‘DESERT FOX’ DOESN’T PRECLUDE GREAT HOLIDAY MEALS ON YANO GULF SEAFARERS AID DELTA PRIDE’S WEARY CREW Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/1999 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. 61, No. 4 1999 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/af402f7bbbaf32c8a989b0a12b440887.PDF 5afde319617a60ee792547f510e9bad5 PDF Text Text Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America VOL. X NEW YORK. N. Y.. FHTOAY. APRIL 2. 1948 No. 14 '.n THE NEW LOOK ON WALL STREET = Certification Of SIU In Cities Service RecommendedToNLRB t.-V- NEW YORK—Fighting' to the last ditch, but being beaten every step of the way, Cities Service Oil Company this week lost another round in the struggle to prevent the unlicensed personnel of the CS fleet from being represented by the union of their choice, the Seafarers International UiiioR. A "Report on Objections," submitted to the NatioHal Labor Relations Board by the Regional Direetcnr. of the Second Region, states that<t "It is the opinion of the under­ signed that the objections (filed by the company) do not raise substantial or material questions regarding the conduct affecting the results of the election," and recommends "that the objections be overruled and that the union be certified as the exclusive bar­ gaining agent for the unit found In the first strike on the New York Stoc c Exchange in its ISS-year history, close to by the Board to be appropriate." NEW YORK — The article nine hundred workers, members of the UFE. walked out of the Exchange and established about Captain Harry Manning, "From past experience," an­ picketlines around the building. They were joited by white-capped Seafarers, and the resulting nounced Director of Organization Skipper of the liper America, in picture is something that Wall Street will be a long lime forgetting—^if ever. the February 28 issue of the Lindsey "Williams, "we feel that Saturday Evening Post led the certification will be coming Masters, Mates and Pilots to sue through mighty soon. But the the Curtis Publishing Ccanpany, fight is not yet completely over David Dempsey • and Dan Herr, and men must remain on those authors of the article, and Cap­ tankere until after the next elec­ tain Manning himself. tion." The union is asking $508,86# This next election, to deter­ in damages from the four de­ mine whether or not a union fendants, and attorney Ben Ster­ NEW YORK—^The Wall Street fininciers, whose slogans are "The Public Be shop is to be established in the ling has filed its suit in the Su­ Damned," "Money Over Men," arid "Profit; Over Patriotism," this week have found fleet, isv one of the provisions of preme Court of New York the anti-labor Taft-Hartley law. County, New York. Serving ef that although they control a great portion of the nation s wealth, they can not con­ Any votes not cast in the elec­ the Gummonsos already has be­ trol or break the spirits of the men and wo nen who keep the wlieels turning in the tion will be counted against the gun. Stock and Curb Exchanges. These people, members of the United Financial Employes, Union. In making news of the law­ , Local 205, OEIU, AFL, are on strike, supported by the SIU and the SUP. Such sup­ The full text of the Report ap­ suit public. Captain Wilbam C. Ash, National Vice-President »f port was voted by the membership when it appeared that a strike in the Exchanges pears on page 14. •?the MM&P, declared: was imminent. "We have to find out once Aided and abetted by police and for all whether newspapers violence of such a brutal nature and periodicals are allowed to that hardened newspaper re­ print unsubstantiated stories porters who witnessed the fracas about labor organizations with . proVoked by the police in front impunity. Our suit, if and when of the Stock Exchange on Tuessuccessful, will establish the fact ' day morning were sickened, the WASHINGTON — The House antee that 50 per cent of • the of excess words, was "Get rid of that labor organizations are will­ Stock and Curb Exchange auing and able to fight for their •ftorities refuse fo bargain in of Representatives voted 165 to Marshall Plan cargoes be sent in them," and he's been doing his reputations." best to put his idea in practice good faith on the subject of 32 against transferring 200 U. S. ships flying the American flag. This question will have to be ever since, . Union security and- increased ships to the prospective Mai-shall DETAILED COMPLAINT settled by the joint action of the It is no secret that Douglas, wages, Plan nations. After identifying both the This refusal is in spite of the The thousands of Seafarers Senate and House and more of besides being Ambassador to the MM&P and the Curtis Publish­ the same kind of pres.sure may British, who would be the main fact that approximately 93 per­ who wrote letters and sent tele­ have to be brought. beneficiaries of the. transfens, is ing Company, publisher of the cent of the employes of both Ex­ grams to Washington can -claim The House Foreign Affairs one of the State Department's Saturday Evening Post, as legal­ changes voted for the union shop a huge share of the credit for Committee was bludgeoned into biggest wheels and main policy ly constituted corporations, the in National Labor Relations the House action which was detailed complaint identified Board elections held earlier this taken despite the Foreign Af-^ its origiijal position by open makers. Dempsey and Herr as the writ­ pressure from the State Depart­ Whether or not the State De­ year. fairs Committee's reconunenda- ment which holds a mysterious partment has abandoned its ef­ ers of the article and charged In a report on the police vio­ tion that the ship transfers be grudge again.st the U .S. Mer­ fort to scuttle the Merchant Ma­ that Manning himself had com­ lence, released by the American made. chant Marine. rine is not clear. ' At any rate, missioned them ^ "recompose, Civil Liberties Union, it was Since the Senate had pre­ The Department's chief hatchet Douglas has gone back to Lon­ edit and write the magazine ar­ chai'ged that, "little or hcT justifi­ viously voted against the trans­ man appears to have been U. S. don after three weeks in Wash­ ticle hereinafter referred to." cation can be found for the club fers, this part of the Mafshbll Ambassador • to London,- Lewis ington . The complaint then summar­ wielding tactics of the police. Plan legislation is as good ias on Douglas. Three years ago this Next week the L(X1 will print ized the history of the lAM&P The wild and reckless : use .of the books, unless the State De-: month, Douglas had an ah urticle the names of all Congressmen since 1887, showing how it had stick force to-.accomplish what partment tosses a new monkey in the Atlantic; Monthly entitled and . Senators who voted to sus­ improved the wages and condi-^ might vefy well have been done wrench into the machinery; "What Shall We Do with the tain seamen's interests so that tions of licensed seamen. It" had other measures been first However, the House has not Ships?" Seafarers will know whom to then charged that Manning "maadopted the Senate's semi^-guarHis .answer, stripped of a lot thank. (C&tttinued OH Pagff }) (Contitfked o» Poge 4) MM&P Sues Satevepost For Damages Seafarers Help Man Picketlines As UFCStrikes New York Exchanges Ban On Ship Transfers Is Voted By House; Fight Goes On For 50 Percent Shipping S' M • ••;»! i �PSpWf Page Two THE S E 10 :nir? • T. AprU 2, 1948 \ SEAFARERS LOG Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District AUiliated with the American Federation of Labor At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. HAnover 2-2784 PAUL HALL - Secretary-Treasurer 'Editorial Board J, p. SHULER : 15 •^'' LINDSEY WILLIAMS JOE ALGINA » • Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912, ' George K. Novick, Editor 267 " Whose Protectors? Last Tuesday's spectacle in front of the New York Stock Exchange, when New York police charged wildly into a group of men and women pickets indiscriminately beat all heads within swinging distance (two cops were beat by their own men) was a display of savagery that has brought forth a storm of indignation from all sec­ tions of the citizenry. Details of the nauseating incident and the protests that followed are covered elsewhere in the stories of the UFE strike. A situation which permits the so-called servants of the public to use unjustifiable brute force in beating down working men and women would naturally em­ barrass all decent-minded citizens, and raise in their minds the question as to whose "servants" the police actually are. ^ Good News Hospital Patients A h'xX. of welcome news for Seafarers came out of Washington this week. W>i It''--|r.,',\ On Tuesday, the House of Representatives,* in vot­ ing on the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan) overruled its Foreign Affairs Committee and tossed out of the Bill a provision permitting the charter of 200 U. S. merchant vessels to nations participating in the program. When entering the lio^ital notify the delegates by post­ card, giving your name and ihe number of your ward. Staten Isdand Hospital Uen Now h The Marine Hos^k You can contact your Kospital delegate at the Staten Island Hospital, at the follow* vn§ times: Tuesday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (on 5th and 6th floors.) Thursday 1:30 to 3:30 p.m, (on 3rd and 4th floors.) . Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (on 1st and 2nd floors.) On this particular provision, the House has thus followed the steps taken sesveral weeks ago by the Senate These are the Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals, iii form.ulating its version of the ERP bill. as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging heavily on their hands. Do what you can tb cheer them up by But the House failed to take one step which the Sen­ writing to them. I ate did, and one which is of especial significance insofar E. E. RICHIE HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND -a? American seamen and shipping are concerned. The L. McNEIL Senate's Bill calls for at least 50 per cent of the relief F. FONDULA L. C. BROWN E. BERWALD H. ALLEN cargoes to be carried in American bottoms. E. BOWERS L. ANDERSON H. MCDONALD A. JUZANG P. FRANKMANIS R. KING Committees from both legislative branches will now J.-T. MILLS R. J. GARDNER A. BONTI confer to shape up a bill to be presented fpr final vote S. HEIDUCKI J. P. LOMAX R. LORD on the floor of the House and Senate. O. J. GUILLOTTE E. OLSEN 4 4 4 G. W. HATCHETT J. McNEELY BALTIMORE MARINE HOSP. On the whole, then, the picture is far brighter than G. BISCHOFF 4 4 4. L. R. FISKE • i| it was at this time last week. The changeover is due to M. CASTRO .4' 4 I SAVANNAH MARINE HOSP. LUIS GOMZAEJ J. T. MOORE the sound pressure, a considerable portion of which was J. SHEMET C. B. VEKEW L. A. DEWITT exerted by the Seafarers International Union, in behalf P. LOPEZ H. G. BROWN J. L. SWINDLE F. NERING JAMES SHIPLEY of American seamen. F. LORENTSEN T. J. SCHUTZ JOE SHIMA J. L." WATERS The SIU made it crystal clear to the lawmakers that C. DESOUSA GEORGE D. OLIVE A. B. BRYAN E. JORMSTED the State Department, which alone was behind the move M. ROSENBERG E. WARREN (GL) R. FLOYD R. B. FULLER to charter the ships, was attempting to scuttle the Am­ J. PIETRZAK A. C. PARKER JAMES G. FOUTS erican merchant marine and precipitate wide unemploy­ J. .J. HANLEY E. VENSON (SUP) LEO J. STEPHENSON ment on the waterfront. A. J. BULLARD J. S. MINESES - V T. A. CARROLL "A. C. RODRIGUES C. NANGLE D. HERON XSSif The good news does not mean that the big job is R. J. STROM G. M. HAMMOCK H. BO(ME oyer, however. Committees now conferring on the com­ J. H. MURRAY ,' 4> -4 T. E. LEE J. DOWNIE . BRIGHTON MARINE HOSP. promise bill must include the Senate's provision for the W. W. DeHAVEN J...4WICHARTZ W. CAREY transportation of 50 per cent of the goods by American M. ELSAYED e. H. HAGA -4. 4. 3» '{LEIE shijps; I MOBILE HOSPITAL '4 "4 4 E. DELLAMANO . SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITAL • i'l R. HARRISON - , Otherwise, the lawmakers will be putting American, G. A; WILLIAMS IBRLING MELLE w. FEENEY,. . , seamen and shipping in a position wherein they cannot M. C. CORDOVA J; HC®0 H. FAZAKERLEY \ compete with foreign operators, whose working condi-i R. A. FAUBER H. WATSON R, CASAWNQUVO H. B. WILLIAMS tions and wages are 20 years behlrid the American stan­ T. J, LAYTON A.- A:BMiTa KLENOWICZ J ELM^R HALLMAN dard. T. RBtSON • L. E. McC • .xip. •; ' �Friday, April 2. 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three Seafarers, Clerks Ring Stock, Curb Marts Neither Swinging Clubs Nor Spring Showers Affect Enthusiasm Of Picketers A peaceful place was the entrance to the Stock Exchange when the above picture was taken, but police brutality turned the spot Into a virtual butcher-shop when heads and bodies of pickets were clubbed by police in their seal to protect the interests of the Wall Street money men. However, neither the sadism of the cops nor the near-record April showers could keep the financial workers and their SIU-SUP supporters off the picketlines. With the iron gates of historic THnity Church in the foreground, tlus picture shews the picketline in front of the Curb Exchange. Lines held firmly, and the pickets chanting "scab" , ^d little to help the feelings of the people who scurried through the picketlines. Word of addi­ tional reinforcements from other unions, on th3 line and financially, bolstered the spirit of the picketers—«ad left the^ scabs feeling kind of sick. Attempts by some irresponsible (Continued from Page I) newspapers to picture the action tried was vicious and uncalled as communist-inspired fell apart for." in the light of the anti-com­ EMPLOYERS' MAN munist record of the UFE and An interesting sidelight on the the SIU-SUP. Another news­ attitude of the police is that paper charged that the volimteer Police Commissioner Wallander pickets from the Seafarers were appointed an Inspector who is "hired goons" ~ who were being known to have anti-labor sym­ paid for picketing, but this libel pathies, and who has broken up was corrected after the Union picketlines by force in the past, demanded a retraction. to "investigate" the charges made On the picketlines, where UFE against the cops who took part and SIU-SUP brothers marched n the clubbing on the Stock Ex- side by side, morale continued nt ;hange picketline. AFL President William Green has complimented the SIU and the SUP on the militant support extended to the UFE. His tele­ 1. Wage increases of $9.00 gram approving Union action fol­ for all earning less than lows: $40d)0 per week, and $15dH) 'T commend you upon devoted for all those earning more. way in which you have extended 2. The union shop, which help and support to members of approximately 93 percent of office workers union employed in the employes of both Ex­ New York Stock Exchange who changes voted for. are on strike. No one can ade­ 3. A contract provi^on quately appraise value of service that will exempt Exchange you are rendering these workers employes from handling the who are on strike. I urge you business of any brokerage continue your efforts to help house where the employes them and to extend to them a are on strike fuU measure of support in heroic fight in which they are engaged." High point of the week was a high peak. Even the rain, reached on Friday, when many which poured from the skies on local AFL unions staged a mass Thursday, and the police, who demonstration in front of the harried the peaceful pickets, Stock Exchange. In addition, failed to mar the spirits of the these same unions, in company marchers. with many other labor organiza­ On the opening day of the tions and pro-labor groups, sent strike, Monday, March 29, picketmessages to the city authorities lines were established around protesting police violence. the Stock and Curb Exchanges. For this reason, the UFE These were extended, on Wed­ Strike Committee, on April 1 nesday, to include two large called upon the Securities Ex­ buildings housing many broker­ change Commission to close age firrhs which had been fur­ down the Stock and Curb Ex­ nishing scab labor to the struck changes. Exchanges. INTEREST MOUNTS Members of the UFE, heart­ Interest in the strike and the ened by the militant support of strikers mounted, especially after the SIU-SUP, are resolved to the "Storm Trooper" exhibition keep their lines, firm imtil they of the police on Tuesday. Many have the victory they know is unions offered help, in men, rightfully theirs. Mighty WaU money and food, and prominent Street, which has ridden rough­ civic leaders took 4he initiative shod over opposition in the past, in forming committees to aid the has at last met worthy and mili­ tant foes. cause of the strikers. Strike Issues Female UFE memben add a bit of cheese-cake to the picketline on one side of the Exchange. On aU lines the UFE. SIU. and SUP marched together in fraternal cooperation -'Si •'-'3 •I 1 �THE S E At A R tRSLO G TxUmj. llpdlX tiHS -'-v;:,vll mm ttHIIIK,, Htm m Si^ Dn AMclan fiim As Trade Grows Stimulated by an increase in the number of U, S. ships on, the African routes, trade be­ tween the U. S. and Africa has been growing mightily in recent QUESTION: What is your opinion of the revision of the port rule in Boston from two years. calls daily, as was formerly practiced, to shipping every hour on the liour starting at 10 In 1939 there were only 25 A.M.? (Question asked in the Boston Hall.) U.S. vessels hitting African t \. • ports regularly, but now there JOE CHARETT. Steward: JOHN RUBERY. Bosun: iiilliiiiiiiii are 45 and the number of sail­ In my opinion the change of ings actually has tripled. The system of shipping every liour on the hour, as passed by the shipping rules in the Pert Important'to SIU members is Ihe membership here at the last of Boston from two calls a day the fact that the Robin Line, op­ ineeting, is marked proof of the to shipping on the hour is for. erating from Atlantic Coast ports, ^owth of our Union. It shows a the best interest of the member the Mississippi Shipping Com­ definite awareness of problems ship. Here, more so than any pany, operating from the Gulf, which face the membership and place on the Etuit Coast, the play important roles in this a desire to eliminate any knots time of being shipped is Im­ African commerce. which develop. The change gives portant. I know by experimce Significant is the fact that the a man ample time to get his in the past that, due to the wide African trade is one in which the gear together before turning to, area this port covers, a late af­ volume of U.S. imports is and 'itliminates the shipping of ternoon call makes it impossible greater than exports. From nonxnen at 5 P.M. who could be for men to have a physical and industrial Africa come many shipped at an earlier hour. In collect pay for reporting- aboard ba'sic raw products vitally neces­ the final analysis, the present ship the same day. This move sary to American industry and system makes grabbing a ship means mere dough in the pockets every day living. much easier and means starting of the membership here in Bos­ From the Gold Coast comes the payment of the green stuff ton. lhat much sooner. cocoa. From §outh and East Africa come chrome, managaCALVIN NICKERSON. QM: LARRY WHITE. FOW: nese, wool, copper, tin and hides. Having never shipped from I was certainly surprised and From East African ports come pleased when I heard of the ac­ any other port than Boston since ' pyrethrum flowers, spices, corun­ tion changing the shipping rules joining ffie SIU. I am entirely dum, sisal, vanilla, clove oil, in the port of Boston. The for­ unaware of rules in other ports mica, graphite and other prod­ mer system was always a sore concerning shipping, but it has ucts. Prom West Africa, the spot in the structure of the ships bring back lumber, ivory, always been my opinion that the Union in this port. This revi­ rubber, gums, fibers and coconut present system would make for sion is in the interest of the products. more efficient dispatching. It membership and has my 100 eliminates the possibility of ships percent endorsement. As long as In return, a large variety of leaving shorthanded and assisfi the Union keeps its eyes open American industrial products the Union in the protection of and makes adjustments where finds the way to African coun­ the jobs. I am all foiv this set­ needed, it will make for greater tries. up and any other changes made strength in our ranks. Now a One problem of the African with the view to tightening up Seafarer can take a job any trade is the shortage Of pas­ SIU structure. 1 am sure of our time during the day. dnd will senger capacity. At present, Union's stability when 1 see the not have to worry about run­ there are only a few 12-passenger ' ease with which it drops out­ ning around like a mad man at freighters. However, the Amer­ moded practices and streamlines the last minute to get things ican Merchant Marine Institute its procedures. squared away. reports, without mentioning spe­ cific lines, that two C-3's are to be converted to 61-passenger capacity and placed on an Afri­ can run and that two 8,000-ton liners with a 300-passenger ca­ pacity are contemplated. Come and see for yourself, the United Financial Employes asked in a iele^am to Senator Taft who is the principal author By JOSEPH VOLPIAN of the Taft-Hartley Act and is supposed to know all the Special Service Representative answers to labor-management relations. On March 17, President Tru­ In the meantime, all hands UFE. Local 205, complying strictly with the Taft-H§rtley man appeared before a joint ses­ should remember that seamen Act. won smashiiig 9 to 1 victories in union shop election at sion of Congress and recom­ who who served aboard Amer­ the New York Stock and Curb Exchanges. That was in the (Continued from Page 1) mended passage of a bill setting ican vessels between May 1, winter. Since then the two exchanges have arrogantly refused liciously contrived, conspired up a military draft and universal 1940 and Jufy '25, 1947 for a to bargain on the union shop issue. and planned with the other de­ continuous period of at least one military training. The complete text of the UFE's telegram, signed by Presi­ fendants herein" to have the The following day, letters be­ year, 75 percent of which was article written and published for dent Keefe of Local 205, follows: seatime, are still eligbile for a gan coming into the Union with the purpose of "defaming" the Certificate of Substantial Con­ all sorts of questions as to the "Senator Robert A, Taft plantiff, namely the MM&P. status of seamen under the pro­ tinuous Service. "Senate Office Building Later the complaint said that posed draft. Samples of the This certificate may be used as the MM&P enjoyed a reputation "Washington, D. C. questions received are: evidence of service, and may for patriotism and democracy un­ Can they draft seamen? How come in handy if the proposed "The United Fixmncial Employes. Local 205, Office Em­ til the article on Manning ap­ about married men? What is draft law excludes merchant sea­ ployes International Union, AEL, in compliance with the peared. The complaint declared, the status of men who served in men who saw service in the provisions of the Ldwr-Monagement Relations Act (Taft- that the anti-labor material in the merchant marine in the last recent hostilities. the article was aimed "at plain­ war? What about men over 26 Hartley), entered into a union shop election in the New York tiff only and against no other HANDY TICKET years of age? Stock and Curb Exchanges. The Stoclc~~Exchange employes union." It also charged that the No draft law has been enacted. These certificates may be pro­ voted 92 per cent for a union shop, and the Curb Exdhange article accused the MM&P dt Secretary of Defense Forrestal cured by writing to: Seamen's Wartime Service, Benefits IJnit, employes voted for the union shop by en even greater holding its members in "econ­ called for conscription of unmar­ ried men between the ages of Marine Persoimel Section, U. S. margin, 94 per cent. Management of both exchanges have omic servitude" and of operat­ ing for "politically red," mean­ 19 and 25 who have not served Maritime Commission, Washing­ refused even to discuss this p^nt, which has been, so over­ ing communistic, purposes. previously in the armed forces, ton 25, D. C. whelmingly endor^ by the workers themselves. This has The complaint found the very it was pointed out that 348,000 You will then receive an ap­ forced our organisation into'a strike. title of the Saturday Evening : additional men are required to plication blank, which is to be Post article, "The Captain They bring the armed forces up to au­ filled out and returned with dis­ "What happens now? Couldn't Blow Down," highly of­ thorized peacetime standards. charges or other documentary^ fensive. "We suggest that you come to New York to see for your­ There are approximately 3,000,- proof by registered mail. Photo-; 000 men who are in the category stats are acceptable. All will be self what happens when an honest uxiion votes overwhehningly Have YOU Voted? -recommended for the draft pool. returned to you . for the union sbop and managmnent absolutely turns Niunibs If, and when, a draft law, we Men who are on the beach in down. Voting «n dhe four AftG personally guarantee that it will New York can get their certifiRoferendunu ends on April "M. David Keefe, for the Strike Committee, Local 205, be brought to everyone's atten­ eates of service at the Maritime' lOifa, Have YOU cast <your 11 tion. • You won't be able to es- Commission offices in 45 Broad-, OEIU, AFL." ;baUot lo make the ^Uitkin Tvay, room ?,?4, even huMTO strong and • No Army Draft Yet—But Get What Now? UFE Asks Taft Certificate From Last War dard. MM&P Sues Post For Oofafflation �April 2. I9M T RE S EAV A REES L O G Page Five ShifHiing Sliiws> In Port Mobile, Change Seen ^ Next Week By CAL. TANMEH ^ MOBILE* — Shipping ia tiie- ons in the next; seven days, plus port of Mobile for the. past week two ships in. transit ftom other was slow, with but four ships ports, which, wilt: teke a replace­ jpaying off and four signing on. ment or two. The records show but 62 book­ The Patrolmen contectedf three men and 47 permits put aboard ships- in transit last week and. ships— not quite what could be squared away a. few minor dis­ called a good week.* ." putes; They were the Yaka, . Some of them have been op- Defense Society in a letter to By JOE ALGDfA Fairport,. Waterman,, and Hie . The ships paying off here this 'erating along the lines, while President Truman—so stated the Steel: Scientist, Isthmian. week were the Governor Sparks NEW YORK — -What with aU others are doubling up on the article—calls for the transfer of and Antinoua of Waterman and AFTE& 'BM ALL the activity around the . New contacting, paying off and sign­ the merchant marine to the con­ the Alcoa Pointer. The fourth York Hall with the SIU support­ ing on of ships. The organr^g drive of the trol of the Navy as a defense was the Dolgado, an SUP Lib­ ing the UFE strike, it is a little Marine ADied Workers is going No one is being neglected due measure. erty, which is scheduled to lay­ difficult to sit down and bang ahead in good shape. They in­ to the strike so don't worry ' In the statement they said, over for awhile. tend to organize everything in iout a story of the happenings in . The payoffs were tmusually the harbor that floats or has the shipping end of things, but about a Patrolman, he'll make "The U.S. Government should-be your ship. in a position at all times to be clean on the ships. We had a anything to do with the marine here goes anyWay. little disputed overtime on the work — towboats, barges, shore During the past week business The men out of the. picketlines unhampered by union troubles or difficulties. The only way it Sparks, but it was all squared and shipping kept a good pace here have done a wonderful job can be accomplished with the away to the crew's satisfaction. during the past week and have ;with jobs in. good supply for merchant marine is to place it It seems that the Engineers Deck and Engine- men. Rated made all the stories of the SIU under the control of the Navy or wanted to wait a month or two men in the Black Gang have ability on the picketlines come the Secretai-y of- Defense." to check the overtime with the their choice as to ship and run. home to the moneyed boys of delegates, but after the disputes Pretty sentiments from people Stewards Department men and Wall Street. were settled in our favor they having only the nation's welfare unrated men in other depart­ ON PARADE came to understand th|it settling at heart. The fact that ship­ ments still find it necessary to up quickly is the wisest way. During our past actions we've builders wouldn't build ships for Wait a while for a ship. The Antinous of Waterman been hidden away down around the war without getting a big Reason for the better than came in, paid off clean and rethe piei's, but this time we're slice of profits, and the fact that average shipping is the good shipped for Italy, Greece and the operators wouldn't take the number of ships hitting port this Turkey. On the Pointer, the ships unless they had guaran­ week. We welcomed a lot of payoff was extra clean, in fact; tees that they would not lose ships in, and*; most of them the Skipper gave the crew'* a anything was not even considwound up. in quick, style with, letter stating it was a pleasure to •ered by these people so inter-clean payoffs. have sailed with such a good ested in national defense. crew. He even asked the whole Isthmians Steel Surveyor, They made no mention of crew to make another trip. gangs> shifting ciews, riggers, Bucyrus Victory, Steel Fabricator transferring the profits in ship^A GOOD ONE scalers, anything andi everything and Trinity Vietory hit port for ping from the hands of the ship­ clean payoffs, along with several wilt be organized. owners. Oh no! Just dump the The SUP ship was another others. Most of them had minor No unorganized ships have hit unions by putting all the men, good payoff, with PhiUip Munsbeefs which were cleaned up port in the last couple of woeks, into Naval uniforms and we're sen of the SUP coming over from but that doesn't: keep the mem­ at the payoff. all set for anything. New Orleans to handle her. The four signs-ons this week bership from maintaining a keen UBFED AGAIN The outfit itself, the American were the Pennant and Pilgrim, interest in the drive in Cities Defense "Society has a phony The Trinity had a beef where­ All men here are Alcoa, and the Gateway City and Service. odor. Just who is behind it and eagerly waiting for the time- they in a FWT had been demoted to right up front here in the finan­ why would be very interesting; Antinous, Waterman^ On the Pilgrim the biggest can sail these ships with an Wiper during the voyage. The cial center of the world for all to know. Chances are that it is reason was a petty one and the ;to see. beef was the sldpchest. Seems SlU contracts. one of these outfits through |maii was paid off with FWT pay. A lot of Lakes men here on the Skipper had about $1200 A little blurb iiT the paper the which the big boys in the gov­ worth of stuff^hat the Patrolmen the beach have reversed course The Patrolmen also had a other day which didn't get any ernment make their sentimentsfelt .were not fit for the crew. and) are headed for the Great couple of logs lifted, but a hand­ more than two inches of space, known without having to speak The gear had been bought in Lakes to aid in the organizing ful: of legitimate ones stuck. The told a very interesting story. in an official capacity. Patrolmen made no attempt to Most big stories start small like Canada, and, after the Patrolmen drive now going on. We've taken on a lot of phony They are badly needed there, battle for bum beefs where men this and then snowball to the talked to the company, they took outfits during the past, including the old stuff off and put some and have a big job' to do. The had taken time off and had been front page. This one, too, will SIU is working in all branches penalized for it. first class stuff aboard. , be front page news if and when the bureaucrats of the WSB— Shipping looks slow for the of maritime and it's through the these guys will get our attention, On the Trinity some of the it comes. hext week. We will probably cooperation of all. members that crewmen had taken food from too, if they want a tussle. An outfit called the American have four payoffs and two sign- we have been so successful. the ship for sale ashore. The crew threw the book at them and handed out king-sized fines for their chiseling. It was no joke to them that the guys had walked off with their stores, and they made the By WILLIAM (Curly) RENT2: guilty guys know it. A crew By WALTER SIEKMANN will usually forgive guys for get­ BALTIMORE — Shipping here farers' way of doing things. Goodi To get back to more serious ting gassed up and raising hell, BOSTON — It's still pretty luck to him. and less pleasant matters, that maybe even for taking off for a stayed tough again this week. quiet here so far as shipping About the biggest thing tpWe paid off and signed on a goes, but we had a touch of bill to smash the Hiring Hall is couple of hours, but there is no most of the boys here is the or­ still kicking around in the Mass- reason to expect sympathy from small assortment of Bull, Ore, ganizing drive. We're hitting spring. For a few days we achusetts legislature. Right now them when stores are removed Calmar, Robin and Isthmian ves­ those tankers, and we're' after didn't even have an. east wind to it is in a committee of the State from the ship.- These guys got sels—but things Avere slow, and those two Cuba Distilling Com­ cut us to the bone, and in Boston House of Representatives. only what they deserved. look as if they might continue pany ships, the SS CatahoulSi that means something. Now that the SIU here in New TOUGH BILL that way for the immediate fu­ and the SS Carrabulle. That's We did pay off the SS Hood The biU, No. 1745 in the legis­ York is supporting the UFE out tile outfit we had before the war River, Pacific Tankers, up in lature, has a long way to go be­ on the picketlines aroimd the ture. that we have to go get again. Portland, Maine, and squared fore being entered on the Massa­ two exchanges, the Patrolmen There weren't any beefs that Another thing the boys are what beefs there were. None of chusetts', books as the law of the are busier than ever. amounted to anything, although talking about is the four resolu­ them was serious. state, but labor is losing no time there were plenty of small beefs tions. From what we hear we A very pleasant occasion was in fighting for its defeat. that we settled right at the pa.y- think most of the boys ai-e in provided when the Simmons Vic­ If its backers get enough sig­ offs and sign-ons. ' Some of them favor of those two assessments tory touched jiere in transit. She natures on a paper asking for its concerned repair lists and these and those two changes' in the was named for Simmons College, passage, it can be placed on a No. SIU Crew is to pay off are being taken care of without Shipping Rules. The two 10-dola women's college here and when state-wide referendum ballot. any ship until the crew's any trouble. lar assessments will give us the she berthed the whole student About that time, the finky news­ quarters and equipment are strength to go up against the As usual these days, our big­ body—or most of them—came papers publishers will start beat­ as clean as any Seafarer likes powerful forces all labor is going down to see how their namesake ing the drum and the battle will to find a"^ ship when he first gest problem in this port is keep­ to face this year. ing the Isthmians squared aw.ay. looked. be on. When the fight comes goes aboard. Patrolmen have However, those ships are gradu­ The men in the Baltimore Hos-* Well, the Simmons Vic looked the SIU will be in the thick of been instructed that the ally shaping up. pital are getting along fine and good and the girls looked pretty. it, as usual. crew's quarters must be ab­ all of them hope to be out and In this connection, we'd like to Everybody made friends and had Some of the boys came back solutely clean before a pay­ Shipping soon. point out, the bang-up. job that a fine time. In fact, we're won­ home the other day. They off will be allowed. Please dering when the Union is- going were the ones we sent to crew cooperate with your offidals Dutchy Moore is doing on the SS In addition, the weather is get­ to crew up the Vassar Vic, the the SS Steel Apprentice a while in carrying out this member­ Steel Scientist. He is really get­ ting warmer here and some of ting the. men on that ship who the boys are breaking out in , Smith Vie, the Goucher Vic and ago. They paid off in New Or­ ship order. don't have-too much SIU experi­ spring clothes. Hope they're not the Bryn Mawr Vic. Bring 'em leans but the majority headed ence to. understand the Sea- rushing the season. |ri^ht back for Boston. • mt, the boysc 4y;: There's Plenty Of Spring Weather But Few Ms In Port Baltimore Boston Shipping On Bulet SIdo; Labor To Fght Hiring Rati Ban Notice To Crews J -.v.;. " .J Lii ..i'' • '4- .iiA �'#«••-;- THE SEAFARERS LOC Page Six FHdar. AprU 2, 1948 i; •P'- 'V:" SS STEEL CHEMIST FAR FROM HOME Grundy Men Find That Missing Ship Doesn't Pay wt By CHARLES STARLING X• ' •'r ,u m B -f t . : ^ '^- ' if if _ i p. HW a-ff'j-v \^ r • • Philadelphia Has Shortage Of Rated Men -K The SS Steel Chemist, Isthmian (above), discharges cargo in an un-named port in India. Crewmembers (below) with no work to do ani no place to go, take it easy. HOT WATJER By LLOYD GARDNER PHILADELPHIA — This has been a busy week for the Qua­ ker City port with three payoffs and several ships in transit keep­ ing us on the jump. This week's improved shipping has just about cleaned the Philly beach of ra­ ted men. Next week, we are pleased to announce, we expect a shortage of rated men, what with the Hawser Eye of Alcoa and two Waterman ships expected here. This is an invitation to rated men in nearby ports to come to Philly for a quick ship. • The jobs will be plentiful and the runs first rate. Two of this week's payoffs, the| By STEVE CARDULLO Casa Grande, Pacific Tankers; O'Neil, John B. Krewson and R. and the Capo Mohican, paid off L. Trumbull are a few of those SAN FRANCISCO — Among in good style, but we hit a snag who have served. the A&G ships to hit this port on the Montebello Hills, another One AB came in to complain on payoffs or in transit were Pacific Tankers ship. that he had been put off an the Minnott, the Bessemer Vic­ SUP ship in Seattle. He had tory, the Penmar, the BeaureTHE AXE FELL joined her in Baltimore and said XI!-• u x _x X, sard, the San Angelo Victory, the they pulled West Coast rules on When the ship hit Port the, Columbia Victory, The Rider Captam and Mate fired all of toe vj^,tory, the Massmar, the Colton ihim, since he hsfd been aboard 30 days. Delegates for union activity. That ^^e Fairland. This man and several "other started toe ball rolling. The Mate This list is not complete, a A&G men who were present and SMpper then called in the ^^ich gives you an idea agreed that lots of men didn't Coast Guard and slapped charges how shipping is on the Baragainst two of the men. We dis­ bary Coast. It bears out what want to take SUP-contracted posed of this In a hurry, how­ we've been saying for several ships out of East Coast ports be­ cause of these rules. ever. weeks, that rated men can al­ However, as we made clear, After a few hours in the Coast ways get out of this port. nobody has a real beef—at least Guard office we managed to Every crew that touches here have all chaiges thrown out for is urged to come in and vote. not right now. Shipping is good for rated men and the West lack of evidence. However they don't need too Coast headquarters is prepared The crew by this time felt much urging, once they discover to handle anything that comes they had taken enough abuse that they can vole on the West along. and refused to sail until the Coast. One extra smooth payoff was Mate was removed. To this the SQUARED BEEFS the Walter Colton, Waterman. company agreed and the Mate So far as the beefs we've had She had a good bunch below and was hauled off. are concerned, we've settled all topside. This was the first ship So, as things now stand, the of them satisfactorily. Some we to pay off on this coast under the ^p is here, the crew is wait- squared here and some we fixed new contract. ing for a new Mate, and the away as San Diego and Ship's Delegate C. S. Eldringsituation is well in hand. Next Seattle. hoff of the Columbia Victory trip, the crew tells me, i.\t go­ We have had good balloting came in to vote and attend an ing to be different. \ committees here. At various educational class for bookmen. That's the way things shape times D. W. .Coproy, ^rancis P. With him were J. - Mcljeod, L. np in Philly this week. anagan, Cilude J^U, Pete Bailey, J. Reilly; T.;. Dwyef, M. Rated Men Get Good Deal In San Frantisto i': IT 'V • i SAVANNAH—There is a story ; abou! the payoff of the SS Felix Grundy, South Atlantic, as we predicted last week there would be. The Grundy called at Jack­ sonville to drop off some of her cargo. As it was Friday, some of -the crew just boarded a bus and came over to Savannah. Their madcap idea was that they would meet the ship here. ' The Grundy did not reach Sa­ vannah until Monday morning, but when she arrived there was a bit of confusion as- anybody • could have guessed. In order to get a full Deck De-. paitment, the Grundy Skipper had to transfer a Wiper and pay him overtime for \t^orking on Deck. Howeverf the men who missed ' the ship had to pay $50 fines. The point is that everybody knows that performances like this only give the SIU a bad name. We're lucky that these things don't happen very often, and we're dead right when we crack down hard on men who have so little* regard for their Union responsibilities. J. Delaney, G. A. Wolf, R. B. Waters and R. F. Care. They all promised to held weekly classes for permits when they went out. We always have a goodly crowd of members spinning yarns to pass the time between shipping calls. Here's a gag which won a nickel cigar for the narrator: A man was complaining about his tight shoes. In fact, he com­ plained for several weeks run­ ning. Finally somebody asked why he wore shoes too small for him, why he didn't get some new ones that fitted his feet. "Look," the man said, "my wife went home to her mother, my daughter eloped with a bum, somebody stole my car which wasn't insured and I lost my business. The only fun I get out of life is when I get home at night—and take off my shoes." There have been quite a few of'' the boys around. Among them have been one-eye Pete Di Pietro and Rufus Breeden. Rufus is having the LOG sent to his wife in Austrlia. Pete hit town to meet his girl and get married. We had the SS Frank E. Spen­ cer in Charleston. We paid her off and signed her on, and she sailed—with a load of coal—all in a single day. We settled every beef aboard, her except one and that one is stUl outstanding as we write. It was a hot water beef. The crew claimed they had no hot water for five whole days, and then things got pretty mixed up be- cause the topside couldn't agree. The Chief Engineer insisted there was no time during which anybody was without hot water for 12 hours. The Skipper, however, had a different story. He said that on the day the complaint was called to his attention he tried his own shower and found that he had hot water, but that when he tried the crew's showers he found none at all. The First Assistant countered by claiming that two of the crew's showers had hot water, only the third being without. The Chief Engineer then chirned in with a statement that there was no way that one shower could have hot water unless every shower had it. APPRECIATION "Well, we are still talking with the company and when we square things we'll let every­ body know. Here's a note from one of • the Spencer crew who would like to see it in the LOG: "I, Charles W. Evans, entered the ship's hospital on March 13 and stayed there until March 22. Captain Andrew Grogard faith­ fully attended me all through my sickness, which was pneu­ monia. "To Captain Andy, because of his untiring , attention which re­ quired that he be up at all hours of the day and night, I owe my health and well-being. He showr ed great foresight by having an adequate supply of penicilin aboard." The rest of the boys put it this way: -^ "We the crew wish to express our appreciation to a godd Joe." �Friday, ApiU 2. 1948 -THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Seven Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings In Briefi SAN JUAN—Chairman; S. Colls, 21085; Recording Secretary, John Lincoln, 35046. (Special meeting). Purpose of meeting Was to dis­ cuss ILA beef which involves SIU ship SS Francis. Motion by J. Groener that we hear all sides of beef before discussion—car­ ried, Explanation that ILA was picketing ship to prevent loading of cargo by scabs. Motion by Rudy Kienast that SIU refuse to cross ILA picket line as long as scab labor is used—carried un­ animously. Motion by J. Lin­ coln that the ship's delegate in­ form the officers that SIU crew Will not sail with any officers responsible for the working of the scab cargo—carried. A&G Shipping From Marth 10 To Manh 24 PORT Boston New York ...^. Philadelphia Baltimwe Norfolk Savannah Tampa Mobile ...... New Orleans Galveston San Juan GRAND TOTAL REG. D£CK , 70 200 11 243 ....... 148 51 35 80 204 112 15 1,169 REG. ENG. 38 205 30 143 69 43 33 86 137 76 10 870 REG. STWDS. ^8 186 19 115 40 24 21 68 151 59 7 718 TOTAL REG. SHIPPED DECK 136 591 60 501 257 118 89 234 492 247 32 2,757 43 ^07 24 213 89 46 16 102 161 60 16 977 SHIPPED SHIPPED ENG. STWDS. 23 239 34 119 65 44 26 110 94 56 9 819 28 155 33 94 37 29 11 78 139 30 , 8 642 TOTAL SHIPPED 94 601 91 426 191 119 53 290 394 146 33 2,438 NOTE: -A&G men shipping on the West Coast are not included in this report. 4. a> t SAN JUAN—Chairman, S. CoUs, 21085; Recording Secretary, W. Fontan, 100842; Reading Clerk, R. J. Morgan, 10670. Minutes of previous meetings and those of other branches ex­ cept Galveston accepted. Discussiorx on Galveston recommenda­ tion that San Juan Hall be closed. Most of those who- spoke felt the Union needed represen­ tation for the 15 ships Which hit work is being performed by union help and that all expendi­ tures are being made in strict ac­ cordance with the Constitution. Brother Michelet reported on the progress of construction. 4 4> 4 GALVESTON — Chairman Keith Alsop, 7311; Recording Secre­ tary, Gordon Ellis, 1478 (SUP); Reading Clerk, C. M. Tannehill. Minutes of other branch meet­ ings read and accepted, except for vote to non-concur with part of Philadelphia proceedings • per­ taining to men registering in one rating and to non-concur with Puerto Rico's new business. Com­ munications received from Sena­ tors Sparkman and Stennis acknowledging wire urging sup­ port of Brewster amendment to Marshall Plan. Balloting com­ mittee announced that 66 votes have been cast in this port in the current referendum. •J4 4 4 MOBILE — Chairman Charles Kimball; Recording Secretary, James (Blackie) Carroll; Read­ ing Clerk, H. J. Fischer. Motions carried to non-concur with: 1) portion of Galveston minutes recommending closing of San Juan Hall; 2) Philadelphia motion recommending registering voted on individually. Conunit- of other branches read and ac­ accepted. Motion carried to tee's recommendations accepted. cepted with following exceptions: ask former Boston' Port Agent, Voted that no member be al­ To non-concur with motion in if he received pay during the lowed to retire during expected Boston minutes made by former 1946 General Strike, since he Boston Agent, accusing former made the statement that former UFE beef. Secretary-Tpeasurer of paying Secretary-Treasurer paid officials 4" it 3^ BOSTON — Chairman Jerry officials during 1946 General during that period, when the Lichtman; 3336 (SUP); Re­ Strike; and to non-concur with union salary payroll was sus­ cording Secretary Duke Liv­ Philadelphia motion in regard to pended. Under good and welfare ingston, I02Q52; Reading Clerk, members registering in all rat­ several members took the deck ings. Quarterly Finance Com­ and blew their tops regarding John Lane, 5714. Minutes of all branches read mittee's report read and ac­ the cleanliness of the hall. and accepted, with exception of cepted. Port Agent reported 4 t i TAMPA — Chairman C. Sim­ Galveston motion to close the mons, 368; Recording Secretary, San Juan Hall. The meeting re­ R. H. Hall. 26060; Reading ferred this to Headquarters Clerk. W. A. Driver, 147. Secretary-Treasurer for a survey Minutes of previous branch and full report on the situation meetings read and accepted. Un­ in Port San Juan for member­ ship. Secretary-Treasurer's bi- branch in good shape but few- der new business Agent was in­ the port and that the San Juan weelily report accepted in en­ payoffs, with shipping poor. structed to buy radio for use of Branch did not appear self-suffi­ tirety. Agent reported port busi­ Membership and CIO Shipyard membership in branch hall; also, cient became most men pay their ness running smoothly; he Workers are sending in telegrams 50 chairs to provide much-needed dues in U. S. ports. Balloting worked with membership com­ protesting Marshall Plan Ship additional seating facilities now and shipping in all ratings, and committee reported that 86 men mittee in winding up purchases transferral. Under new business that we are holding regular 3) former Boston Agent's state­ have voted in the referendum to of gear for hall.- Also visited motion carried instructing Agent meetings. Headquarters report ment in Boston meeting in which date. New business: Agent took Marine Hospital and found- SIU to send wreath to funeral of and Secretary-Treasurer's finan­ he alleged that officials had been floor and pointed out that one men there doing well. Shipping Brother Evan Fremstad, 42944, cial report read and accepted. paid by former Secretary-Treas­ Brother was eight months in ar­ has held steady and members' who died in MaiTne Hospital on Auditing committee's report ac­ urer during 1946 General Strike. cepted. Shipping appears to be Acting Agent Morrison reported rears in dues and wanted to pay. attention was again called to fact Mar. 23. on the upswing, the Dispatcher shipping not too good. Passage The man spoke in his behalf and that ships are sailing short% i tstated.. Balloting committee was of the Marshall Plan with pro­ NORFOLK — Chairman Jasper claimed he had gone through a handed because of only two calls elected and reported that one visions for cargoes to be car­ Brown, 44134: Recording Secre­ daily and many ships touch the dire financial crisis and was ried in American bottoms would tary,. Steely White ,56; Reading working ashore. Membership port in transit. In verbal report, be very helpful, he said. Or­ Clerk, Jhmes Bullock, 4747. decided that he should pay all Agent recommended that after ganizing activities are continuing Minutes of branch meetings his back dues and assessments and pledge cards have been re­ read and accepted, except for the and retire his book if he intends ceived from all men on the Radfollowing: to non-concur with to keep working ashore. One Philadelphia motion made by T. ballot had been voided of those cliffe Sand and Gravel Com­ minute of silence in memory of Healey; and motion made by cast. Practically all hands took pany's tugs. An election in this departed Brothers. Charges Adolph Ellis in Galveston min­ part in the discussion on the outfit is awaited. Brother Buzagainst P. C. Gandia for missing utes, regarding situation in San necessity of keeping our hall zell of the Restaurant workers initial call, jobs be shipped every the SS Carolyn at the Ihst min­ here spoke to the meeting and ute. Trial committee recom­ hour. The Nantasket Boat Line Juan. Motion carried calling up­ clean. the membership pledged him its 4 4 4 mended that charges be dropped is starting operations shortly; if on San Juan Agent to stop prac­ and Brother presented witnesses necessary manning scale negotia­ tices alleged in Galveston min­ NEW ORLEANS — Chairman support in his union's organizing Frenchy Michelet, 21184; Re­ activities. and evidence to show that ship tions will be opened in which utes. Agent and Patrolman re­ cording Secretary, Johnny ported that shipping and job 4 4 4 sailed two hours ahead of sched­ case rank and file members will Johnston, 53; Reading Clerk, SAN FRANCISCO — Chairman tui-n-over has slowed up consid­ be requested to attend. uled time. 69. A. S. Gardullo; - Recording erably due to: 1) proposed Con­ i 4. 4. i i; Minutes of previous branch Secretary, A1 Bernstein; Read­ gressional provisions on Marshall PHILADELPHIA — Chairman NEW YORK — Chairman J. P. ing Clerk, Emilio (Pete) DiShuler;'Recording Secretary E. Don Hall, 43372, Recording Plan ship transfers, and 2) the meeting read and accepted. Pietro. Parr; Reading Clerk, Jack _ Secretary Bill Luth, 50404; coal shortage and strike. A con­ Heard trial committee's report on Motion carried to accept as Reading Clerk, Robert C. siderable number of telegrams case of Todd Torrington, Secre­ Parker. have been sent by members to tary-Treasurer's report read and read minutes of each branch, Meloy, 886. Minutes of all branches ac­ Congress protesting the State accepted. Minutes of other with exception of Boston min­ cepted. Agent reported shipping Minutes of all branches read Department's ship transfer pro­ branches read. All accepted ex­ utes. Membership wanted to was fair with good payoffs. Ad­ and accepted. Motion cgrried posals. Voting has been brisk cept for motion of Galveston know why former Boston Agent vised aliens to grab any jobs that a trial committee investigate actions aboard ship of permit on the $10 building and strike minutes to close San Juan Hall. was not brought up on charges This was referred to the Secre­ for' slurring Union and why he brought up on charges. All ship's fund assessments. tary-Treasurer for investigation. did not take similar action when minutes are to be sent to the i ^ i SEAFARERS LOG. Findings of SAVANNAH — Chairman W. J. Acting Agent Buck Stephens retrial conunittee were accepted. Brantley, G-111; Recording portei^, that Brother Sheppard available. Warned emphatically There was considerable discus­ Secretary, E. B. Tilley, G-75; was , in New York serving on Heading Clerk, E. H. Searcy, passcngcr-ship negotiating com­ against, bum beefs. Pointed out sion under good and welfare. mittee and that report of pro­ 23619. that move to arm merchant ships One minute of silence was ob­ ceedings is expected soon. Busi­ he was Boston Agent, in view Other branch minutes read and was government plot to take served for departed brothers. The ness not too hot at present; 16 of his allegations. Membership accepted. Agent gave oral re­ meeting was well attended, with over disciplining of ships. Re­ ships scheduled to pay off here wanted to go on record con­ port on payoffs and sign ons. All 180 members present. commended voting for assessin next two weeks. No beefs demning him for slurring former brothers who miss their ships X It % •ments as countermove. Criticized pending in this port. New build­ Secretary-Treasurer. Under good will be fined as per resolution BALTIMORE — Chairman Wil­ some of Maritime Commission's ing coming along fine; member­ and welfare Max Byers, former adopted in New Orleans. The liam RenlK, 26445; Recording policies. Director of Organization ship should be proud of it as it Ship's Delegate of the Kelso reported proposed plans for help­ Secretary, G. A. Masterson, hall has been cleaned up and will be second to none. It was Victory explained beef in which brothers were requested to keep ing UFE. Membership approved 7-0297; Reading Clerk, J. Hatbrought out that membership crewmen were involved. Several it that way. Patrolman reported gimisios, 23434. plans unanimously. Reported ruling anent performers and gas- men protested 30-day shipping on the crewing up, in Jackson­ Motion carried to suspend certification on CS ships ex­ rule. Several men advocated a hounds will be. rigidly enforced. ville of the SS George Ogden, a regular order of business until pected. Secretary-Treasurer's fi­ "yes" vote on the four resolu­ A report from ^he rank and file John M. Carras, Inc., tanker. oath of obligation was adminis­ nancial report referred to audittions on which the membership committee who visited the build­ Secretary-Treasurer's report and tered to new members and a ing committee. Trial lommitis now voting. ing; was -^ead. It stated that all Headquarters financial repo^ trial committee elected. Minutes ch man • tee's report read and ee . y «2iii •tl J -m �.Page Eight 1 SHIPS' MINUTES AND NlEWS THE Seafarer Killed In FaU In Dutch Drydock; Was former Prizefighter SEAFARERS LOG Friday, AprU 2. 1948 CAPABLE CREWMEN IN CLIPPER'S STEWARD DEPARTMENT a 1?:^ Word has been received of the death of Seafarer Claude Douglas in Schiedam, Netherlands, late in Feb­ ruary. The SS Gateway City, aboard which Douglas was sailing BR, was in drydock in Schiedam. Douglas fell 50 feet from a gangplank to the"* lower deck of the dock and was killed instantly. DEATH TRAP Chai-les J. Hartman, Chief Ste­ ward of the Gateway, who along with G. M. Cain, Deck Delegate, Earl J. Sillin, Engine Delegate, and Arthur' Samora, Stewards Delegate, reported Douglas' death to the LOG, declared that the gangplank was a death trap. 'What made things worse was that the crew had to go ashore find toilet facilities since the plant was down. This meant that everybody had to cross the gang­ plank several times a day. Bi'other Douglas, who once was lightweight champion of Cuba, was a veteran Seafarer, having joined the Union in 1939. He first went to sea in 1927 when he gave up prize-fighting. 300 FIGHTS During his ring career he had approximately 300 fights and was well known around New Or­ leans as well as in Cuba. Douglas was buried in Schied­ am. The services, conducted by the Reverend Faber, were very impiossive, his shipmates report, and were attended by Waterman representatives and the crew. "the Gateway was in drydock to repair damage sustained when she struck a mine in the North Sea. Details of this accident are not yet available. I i'. - Keep 'Er Steady! Wacosta Men Ask Hospital Be Moved Up Spurred by the inaccessibility of the hospital aboard their ship, the crewmembers of the Wacosta, Waterman, adopted a resolution at a regular shipboard meeting recently requesting the SIU to have the company change the setup when the ship next goes into the shipyard. The resolution follows: "WFEREAS: The hospital is situate! in an inaccessible place l_r a sick person and, inasmuch £; the ship has an empty room midship and the Bosun and Deck Engineer have a very small room where only one man at a time can get up, and, "WHEREAS: previous attempts have been made to straighten out this matter to no avail, "THEREFORE, be it resolved: that the Union take the neces­ sary steps to contact the Water­ man Company so as to correct the situation the first time the ship hits the shipyard for re­ pairs." Chairing the meeting was Brother Melendez; Secretary was Thomas Williams. V; Keeping all hands well-fed aboard the Alcoa cruise ship comes easy to the Seafarers charged with that duty. Some of the fellows responsible ap­ pear in these two photos. Service with a smile is supplied by SIU men in photo above. Left to right: H. Schroer. Chief Steward: V. Miorana. Bellman; A. Tocho. Waiter; S. CampbeU. Waiter; J. Pisa, Waiter; K. Miller. Waiter; C. Dowlin, Waiter; W. Eckenbrecht, Waiter, and W. Handelsman, 2nd Steward. In galley, left to right, kneel­ ing: A. Hastings, 3rd Cook; C. Treitler, Baker; standing: A. Kothe, 2nd Cook; E. Miller, Baker: C. Travis, Crew Cook; E. Stough, Larder Cook; L. Fusilier, Ch. Cook; R. Bass, Ch. Pantryman; C. Perez, Night Pantryman and K. Ekholm, Asst. Pantryman. \ % 4. Storms Are Hell, Sure— But Here's How They Happen (Ed. Note: This is another in a series on the weather, how it happens and how it is predicted. Members are urged to send in accounts of the weather they've seen on the world's oceans. In addition, the LOG will do its best to answer ques­ tions about the weather.) LOW PRESSURE CENTTER AMD CREST OF FRONTAL WAVE Seafarer Harry Houghton came up to the LOG office the other A storm is a very complicated mixture of wind and , day with a nautical nugget worth moisture. Moreover, a storm is a mechanism that moves, passing along. Here's how Harry sometimes traveling half-way*^; :—T~T. —— r tells it: around the world from its point fu f ^ It was a busy afternoon in one of origin, crossing continents and revolves on its of the hostelries catering to sea­ oceans, venting its fury on ships „ , . men. The elevators were espe- cities and men. I between the air masses, ciaUy busy, w;ith all cars filled . X ,. , J . along the front,-is a trough of Front "catches" on mountains. Storm results. A mass of cold dense, dry mr low pressure which also is the to capacity. I stepped into a car just before slides south from the North Pole, result of mechanical forces too least enough for a storm to form. I The whole low-pressure center it commenced its upward flight At the same time, a mass of involved for description here. On When this happens, the warm is the storm and it may be with a full load of seamen, warm, moist air spreads north this front the bad weather oc- air gets the upper hand along hundreds of miles in diameter arnon^ them a sprinkling of from~say the Caribbean Sea. |curs, the front being what is a part of thd front. This warm over sea or land. Warm air is French and Norwegians. All When these two air masses sometimes called a "squall line." wet air rolls vigorously up over tossed rapidly aloft along the hands were loudly passing the meet, the thinner warm air rides Bad weather is apt to occur the cold -air and tends to push cold front and the result is a up over the cold dense air from anywhere along this front, but it back. This i> a "warm front." relatively narrow band of gusty, time of day. the pole. A line of cloud devel- more especially in the extra low Ifa the northern hemisphere, the squally Weather with, perhaps, At the fifth floor, there was up from the a few thunderstorms thrown in ops along the "front" between pressure centers that are formed warm air flows considerable confusion as the car south around the point where for good measure. (But thunderr the two masses because as the around waves that develop on stopped and opened its doors. the cold front is caught on the storms are a story in them­ warm, wet air is forced aloft it the front. These waves' are Some guys were yelling: "Up," cools and some of its moisture storms. mountain then twists toward the selves.) others were shouting "Down," Along the warm front, the I As long as the , cold air does west. while others quizzed, "What floor Meanwhile, the cold air blows moist air flows out in • a great The two air masses are "high all the pushing, the front acts are we at?" pressure' systems, and, in the as a "cold front." However, sup- down from the northwest and blanket . extending perhaps a One ,aimoyed character, who northern hemisphere, the winds pose this cold front in its south- the - classic "counter-clockwise" thousand miles ahead, and giving vtp to this point had been quietly blow around the high-pressure ward drift hits an obstruction, flow of a low pressure center is two-day rains and expanses of reeling in the comer of the car centers in the same direction To make it easy to see, suppose set in motion. fOg. The cold front gives the under a fidl load of his own, that the hands of a clock re- the cold front' bangs into a Where the warm front and the more violent weather, but the finally broke his silence: volve. The pressure and the di- mountain range. ' cold front are joined is the crest warm front fog can give a lot T'gawd sak6s, get this ele­ rection of the winds are are- The front will "catch" on the of, the • wave and the low of trouble to an airplgne or avator going sideways—^like me!" suit of involved mechanical in-mountains and be held uj), at pressure center.. steamship. • ; ^ iS ; . f 'I i- .. .%*?!,• vi �ji-'. Fridar. April 2. 1948 THE S'tl A PA R E R S $ LOG Page Nine SlU Ships' IVKnutes I ti Brief be che( ced. Men cautioned not to DEL MUNDO. Dec. 28—Chairsign Of until okay given. Book­ man Cliff Treuil; Secretary W. T. men jfoted to accept all tripHersfall. New Business: Motion cards,f by Trueil lliat Brother Sniith not be allowed to ship as acting AB 4 4 4 and tripcard be so identified. STIIEL WORKER. Jan. 31— Smith admitted to not being able Chairman K. Forster; Secretary to perform AB duties. Good and H. Nicholson. Crew elected Welfare: Suggestion that the Frenchy Ruf Ship's ^Delegate. iship's delegate contact the Voted to have Stewards' serve in Patrolman to have the deck White coats and for all men to workmen's office moved back aft be fully dressed for meals. De­ and the inside office be turned cided ask Captain to fill slopchest over to the Stewards Depart­ at last U.S. port, and not to sign ment for a linen locker. Back to foreign articles until he had done New Business: Motion by Bob 8^' a Union member. Education: so and the Ship's Delegate had] Roberts that a repair list from »ii * u i J Agreed that no work is tp be approved slopchest., Voted asked all departments be turned over , iv - * -.u 4., : [^one callmg for overtime with­ delegates to make up repair list. to the Patrolman and new crew- I out first having a direct order. Voted to study Isthmian con­ men. One minute of silence for One minute of silence for Bro- tract. Brothers lost ^t sea. pOfTT thers lost at sea. 4 4 4 4. it i, NOAH WEBSTER. Feb. 15— ALCOA CLIPPER. Jan. 15— MIRABEAU B. LAMAR. Dec. Chairman B. Adams; Secretary Chairman Slough; Secretary 9 — Chairman Tom Freeman: F. Stevens. Voted to accept re­ Eckholm. Ship's Delegate re­ Secretary Chad Gall New Busi­ pair list and give it to Patrol­ ported that there will be no ness: Motion carried to have man. Also voted to do exten­ blanket overtime in the Ste­ minutes and pictures mailed to sive painting, and for a fifty dol­ wards Department. Reported LOG . from Trieste. Good and lar draw. Gave a vote of thanks need for competent^ doctor Welfare: Complaints of too much to Steward Dan Ayers and Chief aboard. Gopd and Welfare: Sec­ noise at night. All hands re­ Cook Frank Kubak. One minute ond Steward reported that tripquested not to slam doors. One of silence for Brothers lost at card men are fouling up. They minute of silence for Brothers sea. were warned to behave . them­ lost ,at sea. selves or they will find it diffi­ 4. 4. 4 cult to get a book. Suggestion STEEL ARCHITECT. Feb. 6— that manning scale be enlarged Chairman Edward Bloom; Secre­ By HANK per provision • for such in the tary Rosalio Laya. Delegates re­ agreement. ported no beefs. New Business The New York SIU-SUP membership really opened up the agreed to see if Captain can stop eyes of all labor unions and the public by giving spirited, sensa­ allotment for overdraw. Steward tional all-out support to the AFL United Financial Employee's 4 4 4 agreed to issue double set of union's strike against the labor-hating Wall Street bosses. This EVANGELINE.' M a r c h 24— time there were plenty of scabs—The police, the scabs who .didn't linen to men sleeping and those on 12-4 watch. Good and Wel­ Chairman Skippy; Secretary L. join the union and the Wall Street bo.sses tried to break up these fare: Steward reported suffi­ Galuska. Voted that Ship's Dele­ legitimate picketlines by using rotten,'bloody tactics. The police AFOUNDRIA (Dale not given) cient stores for voyage. gate see Mate about time off. were really in their glory banging their clubs against the heads •—Chairman Alfred Zalewski: Also to check on working hours of our AFL pickets—even hurting some AFL women on the 4. 4 4. Secretary Byron Faanes. Good MONARCH OF THE SEAS. of day m^. One minute of sil­ picketlines. This showed how far the union-hating Wall Street and Welfare: Discussion over Dec. 12—Chairman F. Holcombe; ence for Brothers lost at sea. bosses will go in denying labor people in getting decent wages, friction in the saloon crew due to Secretary W. M. Douglas. New job security, etc., and in denying them the right of peaceful 4 4 4 division of work. After argu­ Business: Motion carried for re­ picketing the billion-dollar business of the Stock Exchange and SOUTH STAR. Feb. 7—Chair­ ment a compromise was agreed pair lists to be made up by each man Duke Livingston; Secretary the Curb Exchange. The police—by their bloody tactics—^have upon. Great deal of discussion delegate for his department. MoJ. R. Mullan. Meeting called by shown their cards and how easily they obey the savage-hearted concerning the agreement becarried that standby men be Ship's Delegate Brown. One beef bosses. When honest union people have to fight against the biggest ' tween the saloon messman and' instructed to tidy up messroom reported on overtime in .Stewards odds—the billion dollar bosses as well as the. police with their the captain for the serving of af^r each watch. Good and WelDepartment. Voted repair list, swinging clubs—it proves one thing: a/black day for labor unionism passengers with .coffee and tea fa^e: Talk on conduct not beand to see company for washing in our democracy. Labor unions will now fight so much harder to outside of meal hours. Question. coming to Union members and machine. Decided to bring Mess- win the right to exist. was whether it was proper un-1 measures Union was taking to man up before Patrolman for ion procedure or detriment to j stop performers, lack ' of Union responsibility. the Union. Point made that Voted to straighten out painting While the rest ' of the LQG carries photos and stories agreement provides for overtime situation. Education talk by about this strike, here are some peaceful items about the pay for all work outside regular chairman. A minute of silence membership... Steward Aussie Shrimpton. the Seafaring poet, hours and thus this is a viola­ for Brothers lost at sea. is in town right now after 19 trips aboard the Evangeline... tion. Final agreement: Brother Brother Clyde "Coffee-drinking" Morgan just came in aRer 4 4 4 will continue serving passengers three trips to Europe on the SS Frank Spencer. A swell WINTHROP MARVIN. Jan. 15 outside of hours until ship Captain aboard the ship he turned himself to in helping a —Chairman George Stone; Secre­ reaches Germany but that will SIU crewmember fight pneumonia for three weeks... Brother tary Roy Blainey. No beefs rebe the end: 4 4 4 Morgan mentioned that his shipmate. Henry Gillot. the baker, ported^rom departments. Voted STEEL MAKER. Feb. 4— 4 4 4 ' is in town, also... Steward Mike Gottschalk. Carpenter Einar that departmental delegates ask JULIETTE LOW. Dec. 14— Chairman Sam Jones: Secretary Hansen and Deck Engineer Fred Johnson—all .oldtimers—are Captain to serve new butter, use Chairman Henderson; Secretary John (Lucky) Gillis. Departin town—doing their share of strike duly... That Massachusetts old for cooking. Men discussed Rustad. New Business: Ques- > mental reports , accepted. No Seafarer. Brother "Blackie" Saliba. just came into town— laundry and recreation room, and tions raised over soap distribu- beefs. R. D. Sanders elected right in the middle of this big strike... It must be an honest the problem of keeping them tion, lockers needing repairs, new ship's delegate. Secretary " read job being a police officer. You can bang your club on some clean. Decided 4-8 watch should mirrors, mushroom vents and sections of Isthmian agreement. union man .on the picketline ^nd legally get away with it. benches for crew's quarters. One minute of silence for Bro­ have main responsibility for It's a lot of fun—especially when the union pickets don't recreation room, the OS and Good and Welfare: Request made thers lost at sea. have, and can't have, clubs to make it fair and square. Wiper for the laundiy. Voted to for person making coffee to re­ 4 4 4 hand in repair list. move bag immediately after ATLANTIC CITY. Jan. 1— brewing coffee. List of fines for Chairman D. Fuschillo; Secretary The weekly LOG will be traveling all over the nation to the various offenses drawn up and not- named. Deck Delegate R. following brothes: R. A. Eden, of Alabama; Arthur Hillary, of approved. Request, made that Gribben. Elngine Delegate H. L. Maryland; W. A. Brown, of Florida; Norman Ace Mendelson, of .Steward inspect the iceboxes Thomas and Stewards Delegate Georgia; Felix Serrano, of New York; John Rubery, of Massa­ reguarly. One minute of silence G. E. Murphy had no beefs to chusetts; Andrew Prounchick, of Pennsylvania; Lonnie Garden, for Brothers lost at sea. report. Elected a committee of of Peifhsylvania; Robert Bliss, of Ohio; Jessie Hill, of Alabama; 4 4 4 two to draw up and post trip Floyd Kelly, of Texas; Howard Lamm, of North Carolina; J. A! BLUE ISLAND VICTORY. rules. -Voted to press First Mate Wilkerson, of Texas; Stanley Proud, of Pennsylvania... The fol­ Jan. 28—Chairman Cy Kean: for thorough cleaning and paint­ Secretary Bob Park. Delegates lowing oldtimers are in town: M. J. Brown, William Philip, C. ( ing. had no beef to report, but Deck Doroba, H. Beckman, L. M. Mitchell, J. C. Mclntyre, F. Peralta,- J 4 4 4 Delegate said that Captain would A. Wateon, Gulfer A. Garcia, L. Martonesik, J. B. Gardner, J. S. MARQUETTE VICTORY. Feb. 4 4 4 EDWARD G. JANEWAY. Jan. 11—Chairman William Burkbart; put out a draw. Voted motion Hilton, S; Yodris, P. Falemeno, R. Barcelona, J. Bos, E. Danbach. /,; 4—Chairman Bill Sraven: Secre­ Secretary W. M. Stark. Voted to by Grantham, seconded by Mul4 4 4 tary Walter Mrozinsld. Dele­ see Patrolman about changing lins that Union be notified that Brother Jack Thomason, Jr„ of Florida. Wrote in that he's gates reported on number of quarters for watches. Discussed guns were being pulled on crewCarried motion by been out in the world since June 1947. Did you get those bookmen and permits in their repair list. Delegates reported members. LOGS. Brother Thomason?... Many Seafarers have headed ouf departments. Good and Welfare: that most of the repairs and new Powers that ship be forced to for long trips aboard tankers belonging to many of the brandDeck and passageways to be equipment had been ordered. carry three months stores and new tanker companies contracted to the SIU. We wish these jpainted. Anyone making UA: Deck Delegate Leon Malchzyk. motion that Steward Aeep close brothers smooth journeys and hope they can pick up copies hecessjary noise in the passage- Engine Delegate Rolf Sommer check on Chief Cook and that if of the LOGS in various ports of the world which, ways' may be brought up on and Stewards Delegate Ray latter did not improve he be LOG bundles every week. charges for conduct unbecorhihg Austria reported slopchest would brought up on charges. ^3^ 'WB'RB IVALKIV UP ,^ AmvomiASAMl li ) coo'^i? CUT and RUN M.i .i I J �Stfitofiiii III • Pag»Teii !(;• •.5-, I® I ' ^ ^ THE To the Editor: I, like many others, have encoantered practically everything Brother Wiley E. Parrott the be­ fuddled Electrician, mentioned in the LOG a few weeks back—^pos­ sibly a lot more. Some Mates run around with fuse pullers in their pockets and change light bulbs all over the ship. When called on it they say, "Hell, I was told to do it by the port engineer." Funny thing, during the war these same Mates , wouldn't change their own desk lamp. My last two Chiefs said that it's not going to be long before Waterman will not carry Elec­ tricians as it was only a war­ time job. Maybe so but anyway here are a few of my recent experiences: One Sunday, leaving dry dock in Staten Island, we went direct to Philadelphia and changed day dinner on it. I shut it down and reported the condition to the Chief who said, "Put it on hand control. We will not order any freon for it again as we do not need it." The tool problem is another gripe. A carpenter draws fool pay of seven dollars a month. He carries a hammer, saw, screw­ driver and a one inch wood chisel. All together they cost not over $15. An Electrician, if he wants to do the job right, shduld have a tool box with at least $100 worth of tools. I have more than that amount and used to take them with me. On two different ships I signed on in New York and paid off in the Gulf. Bach time I paid at least $10 to have my tools sent back to New York. Now I leave the box at home and travel light. As a result I find the ships do not have the proper tools to do the job correctly and I lose much time hunting for company tools scattered all about the ship. NO EQUIPMENT over, to ship's power with a shore Electrician aboard. They didn't call the ship's Electrician on the excuse that they didn't know r was aboard. However, if it ^d been a regular work day they would have made sure I was;turned to. ' MEANT OVERTIME If.;'- Friday, April 2. 1948 hO G VHC MEifBEBSHlP SPEASS Electrician Airs His Woes, Says Beefs Need Clearing l! % • SE AF ARERS Due to the loss of oil pressure in the main generator, three bearings had to be changed in Philadelphia. The Engineers in starting it up for a trial run after 5 P.M. didn't think it was necessary to call the Electrician. They started it up by cutting in on the main board, but she kicked out. They had forgotten thatjthe first had given orders to frain ^ the emergency. They did hot take off the automatic contfols so it took off without the® knowledge. Tlhs woke me up to the fact that/ some one was mussing aroimd. I checked up and founc that* the emergency diesel was so Hbt you could cook your Sun- My present ship has no ohm meter. The radio operator has one so if I need it I have to go up to the radio shaCk for it. If the operator is asleep I have to wait until he gets up. I approached the Chief about one and he said the Electrician is supposed to carry his own and one would not be ordered. I believe those are enough ex­ amples. I suggest, as does Bro­ ther Parrott, that a committee of Electricians should be ap­ pointed to draw up a proposed agreement for presentation to the companies. The present Electricians agree­ ment is not clear efiough to eliminate beefs aboard ships. These beefs come up time and time again and as a result we are losing our best electricians. These men have become tired of fighting and arguing all of the time to get what is right­ fully theirs. A change in the contract will eliminate the ma­ jority of Electricians' headaches. George S. Velie, Jr. FOUR TRAVELING TROUBADORS To the Editor: Rhythm rocked the SS Francis when these Seafarers got together on the down beat. From left to right, with their instruments, are: Brothers Tutina, J. Villafane, P. Agusto and W. Garcia. They paid off in New York on Feb. 20. Goodhue Seafarers Prove Good Crew Makes Good Ship To the Editor: Just a few lines to let you kno\y how the situation stands on the SS Bertram G. Goodhue. We signed on this scow Jan. 5. The ship was in terrible shape. The last Chief Mate left her without a line or tool on deck. All the gear was fouled up. However, we soon put things in shape, ordered all new gear and put out to sea. Before we sailed all books were checked and all those who were in arrears on dues paid up before signing on. SUGAR RUN We sailed for Cuba Jan. 9 to pick up a load of sugar for Ger­ many. At the- time of this writ­ ing, it looks like a new ship. The Captain and the Mate were so pleased, they gave the Bosun the run of the ship. The Skipper has nothing but compliments for the crew. We are holding a meeting every other week and so far these hasn't been a single beef. All hands are well satisfied and happy. That goes for the offi­ cers, too. The skipper has given the boys all their money asked for on the draws. In fact, he is trying to keep the boys broke so they will have to make another' trip with him. But I think everyone will sign on again. Everyone agrees this is an ideal crew. Well, that about winds up this tale. If anyone does sign off this ship, I would advise the mem­ bership to crawl aboard, as you will have fo go a long. way to find a better Captain or Mate. We expect to be back in the States around the last part of May, so watch for her, boys. Thomas Colburn Ship's Delegate I would like to bring to the attention of the membership the difficulty of attending Union meetings when your home is a considerable distance from the Union Hall. I live in Marion, Indiana, and my time at home is limited as I have to return regularly for the meetings. I would like to suggest that after a member makes a trip he be granted absence from one meeting vipon presentation at concrete evidence that he was home the day of the meeting. Say a letter to the Hall with the postmark for evidence. On another subject: I have been following the letters per­ taining to the Assistant Electri­ cian's job. I don't think the rat­ ing should be forced to put in three years sea time in the En­ gine Department because elec­ tricity is not similar to anything else in the engine room and the Assistant Electrician's rating is equal to that of a Wiper, at least that is what the Coast Guard told me when I received mine. George Johnson 4^ POINTER SKIPPER LAUDS SIU CREW To the Editor: The voyage is coming to an end and I take this opportunity to say that it has been a pleas­ ure to have been shipmates with a crew such as you have repre­ sented. All of my Officers join me in hoping that you will stay aboard as a body for another voyage and wishing to those who,cannot do so "Good luck and good sail­ ing." F. C. AssmuSr Master SS Alcoa Pointer Log'A'Rhythms NEVER CONTENTED By DON D. BROWN 'Mrm skkkkkkk why is it it's always the traveler , who is always wanting a home; 'And people who always stay put are always wanting to roam. Now if the stay-at-home could travel * and the traveler could stay home by the fire. In six months they would both be unhappy because they had had their desire. ^Hembership Rules Membership rules require every man entering the •> Union Halls to show his U^ion Book, Pro-Book, permit or whitecard to the door^n. This is for the mem­ bership's protection. Don't waste the Doorman's — or your own—time by arguing thb point. ObMrve the rules •S^':ttULkk' Midwest SIU Man Suggests Meeting Rule Be Eased Some people, ate never contented for things to stay as-they are, For the lot of some is a plot of ground and for others to follow a star. Some of Goodhue are game. Front Colbum# AB row: the crack crewmen ahoafrd the SS Bertram G. shown here splicing - grommets for shipboard row, left to right: George Jacobs, AB; Tom. (Ship's Delegate}, and Joe Pehm, AB. Rear Rice, FW-T.; - So if you're a traveler, be contented, and adjust yourself to your fate. And if you're a stay-at-home, yoil're you'd better not stray past your gate.'" ' tJh • •• -N'T-r, . '-I.;--; fl I « *t> �Friday, April 2, 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG ABOARD THE SS MATTHEW, BOUND FOR NORFOLK ; Asks Brothers To Avoid Ijs^ Of Log For Personal Beefs To the Editor: J ^ 5 i'.s- V.lJiSiivJiiV r-:S Page Eleven If a man is guilty of some­ thing that is contrary to Union beliefs or constitution,' have; him. attended to immediately through 'Union procedures instead of|getting at him by slamming a jSiece in the LOG. The SEAFARERS LOG was originated to give news to the seamen and for the seamen's benefit. The seamen have been using it for their beefs and jour­ neys and what-not foy the past EASY ON THE PEuf few years and have found that If he has not been guilty of without it in many instances an infraction don't do anytning, they would have been lost. In expressing our beefs, be­ much less try to smear his char­ liefs and such to the LOG we acter by personal attack. In photo above taken while enroute from Antwerp are, top row, left to right: R. Glenn, Purser; Ed Polchares. Stewards Delegate; Bob Polchares. Ship's Delegate and Fred Minco. In bottom row, left to right, are the Steward, Victor Bonet, and George Smith. It is my belief that everyone' should not use it for personal grudges, quarrels and debate, but in this Union owes it to hiiliself', should be used only if it helps to help uphold, in every v?ay,' everyday, his brother. V/e are the membership as a whole. a band of men that has too much' Stories of voyages, picturcs in common to adhere to any and beliefs, in my estimation, crackpot or sorehead attempting are always a joy to a brother, to degrade a brother who has but personal condemnation and not been proven guilty by a' perpetual griping should be left rank and file trial committee. out of the LOG. Let us uphold, educate and be­ Whenever you have something friend each other within the. personal against a member it pages of the LOG. The pages can is not the membership's problem, be used for' harmony inpur but your own. The brothers, M midst. Stories of nice voyages, am sure, do not want to hear pictures, contract's, organizing in­ griping but would rather see formation and such things are good news .and contracts. good for us. Let's not cluliar the pages with nonsense and trivia. Paul Parsons Steel Fabricator Saga Reveals Harmony, Except- Thinks Guy In LOG To the Editor: This is the saga of the Isthmian ship Steel Fabricator, which left New York in Novem­ ber for the Far East. Some of us had been aboard for the coast­ wise trip which, to put it mildly, was hectic. However, after having n hot fend heavy with the old man, we bested him with the help of Patrolmen in the various ports. We hoped we had squared him away, but pei-manently. In this we found we were mistaken. The trip out was harmonious enough except for the Mate in­ sisting upon w'orking on deck (for which we hope to collect overtime). Aside from this there were no beefs. Arriving in Singapore, how­ ever, our beloved skipper snap­ ped out of his lethargy and promptly proved himself the . From Singapore our next port same KO Bornson of old. This was Batavia, Java. It so hapcharacter is well known to those pens that the official rate of ex­ who have shipped Isthmian for change of two-to-one is very imany length of time. He is met favorable. To circumvent this but once and his ships avoided most skippers give their crews a draw in American money which as one would avoid the plague. has the value of twenty to one DOUBLE STANDARD ashore. In the "good old days,'! his What does our skipper do? own words, he was affectionately You guessed it—he puts a pad known as "Chicken a day Bom- lock on the slopchest and de­ son," because of the two-pot sys­ prives the smokers of their legiti­ mate quota of cigarettes. This, tem he sponsored. of course, was to protect us Well, getting back to our ar­ against the custom officials, so rival in Singapore. We were in­ he says. formed by the mate that the Batavia behind, a few of the master insisted upon a bell-tobell day despite the fact that boys had cause to see the Purser most ships in this part of the for medical treatment. Well, it world have a less rigorous day. so happened that this treatment This and the heat quickly required the Purser to give The knocked the morale out of the medications after hours. Purser, not receiving pay for his crew. duties as pharmacist, had been assured by the Captain when Photo Was Buddy; signing on that this would be Asks Him To Write compensated for by overtime. To fhe Editor: In the March 5 issue of the NOT NUFF. SUH LOG there appears a picture of The Purser, incidentally, had crewmembers of the SS tfohn served as Purser-Pharmacist on Gallup in Lisbon, Portugal, but several ships of the same com­ the names of the men were not pany previous to this, but this given. wasn't enough for K.O. Bornson. I believe one of them is my Our skipper then proved him­ old buddy . and shipmate, self a man of honor by attempt­ "Bourke" or Bob Zwerver, Hvhq ing to have the Purser collect served with me in the Navy his rightful overtime from the during the war. At that time he men. This Purser, not to be was a Watertender 3rd Class. brow-beaten, then informed the I have not seen or heard from Old Man that •they were bound him since being discharged in by a gen^eman's agreement and October, 1945, and 1 am most despite the fact that there was anxious to get in touch -witli but one gentleman in the room him as I have some news which he would collect overtime as per may be of great interest.. agreement. 1 would be very grateful if Well, the old rascal, recogniz­ you could print this in the LOG ing defeat, gave in—or rather, so that he may get in touch adhered to the original terms with me. He knows me well; and with reservations. has my address. 1 hope jthis We believe our time will come letter will do the trick. ; at the payoff. If we knock off John "Irish" Sullivan all our beefs then I'll understand 212 River Street i, the K.O. before the old man's Hoboken, N. J. There we hung on to the pin- name. The winnah and still (Ed. Note: Can't help you rail, dizzy, and spat in the scup­ champeen, the SlU. here as no names were en­ pers black spittle from the soot. Edward Mclnnis closed with photo.) The treatment to which the sailors were subjected was done to drive them to desert the ship in port and leave behind, in the commodore's hands, their hard earned pay. Change The Watch, Lads — And Thumbs Up To the Editor: When 1 was AB on the fullrigged ship Glenlui, there was. On that „ raw. Good Friday ^ , in Bristol, an Italian bark. Its morning, off Cape Horn when punished his "Nowe, the crew of the phip Westgate—refused to scrub, with sand passage from Nova Scotia. and canvas, the teak wood at the "Hell raising Jock" treated us break of the^ poop; ^ ., and , when , , . differently. In tropics, when in Captain Jock Davidson shook his fist at us and swore that If he had us twenty years ago he .down in the lower forepeak, to would have us hanging from the main yard, "hell raising Jock" did not mean that he would hang us by the neck till we were dead- -Jock had in mind a differ­ ent kind of punishment. He would have us, with our hands triced above head and made fast to gantline, sitting in a bowline, hanging below the main yard for the four hours of the watch. It was a common practice to punish sailors that way for re­ fusing to,comply with the com­ mands of the commodore captain in the company. Neediess to, chip rust with a duck light in say, when the sailor was lowered one hand and a chipping hammer down on deck after the four in the other. The duck light, hours of being strung up, swings with its open rope wick smoked ing on gantline aloft, he was so like a torch, of course, and would weak that he could not walk. drive us on deck for a breath . It was still practiced in 1909. NOT 'WORTH IT The Glenlui, for instance, car­ ried before the mast 16 ABs. All 16 of us deserted her in New­ castle,\Australia, in 1910. On the average, each sailor left behind in the ship about 6 month's pay. In 1912, I was AB in the brigantine William Dwyer, com­ manded by a captain whose name was Friend. He was so friendly that sailing coastwise he hadn't paid off a man in six months! Captain Friend, the brigand, owned the brigantine on promis­ sory notes to a bank and, conse­ quently, ran the old Dwyer on a shoe string in order to pay off the notes. That is why he did not believe in paying his crew. He usually made them riln away and leave behind their pay. He paid us, though. R. J. Peterson . URGES HALLS TO PROVIDE TEXTBOOK^S 1 think it would be a good idea if we secured a few techliicdl, books on engineering, electricity, etc. for the use of the menjber- j ship while waiting around the Halls for jobs. ^ / Also once we get the books some means should be devised for holding onto them. A good idea would be to have a cfos^ shelf where the books could be kept and the men, when bor?oV, / ing the books, could leave some sort of security' thereby assuring their return. Nicolo Zevenini Brother Zevenini's excellent suggestion has now been put : in effect in the New York Hall. Books are available on electronics, carpentry, and other technical subjects. Also avajl- ^ able are book; with questions and answers to tests for various ratings. As security memlters are requested to deposit th^ir ? union book^; / ' �T HE SEAPARERSLOG Pidmer Calk At GiteltaF, ^cUy, Almost Makes U^. 1^. ' • '. i^ 11 PI • ^• LiGwtEn mjHmT ON THE IAKES gi^ toward other goals back in Ihe Editor: Sailing out of the chilly Gulf England. of Venice aboard the SS Emery At the noon hoiur I went to Lewis Jr. and down the sunny the bridge and took a careful eoasi for two days we saw nbth:- shot of the Rock with my last ing t>ut the lake-like sea. The bit of film; trying to get in the small sights, all of Gibralter, the sun rset behind Mt. Etna, sur­ flVe-masted sailing ship in the rounding the'black peak in a bay, which is lost among a halo of orange. horde of dead Liberty ships an­ It reminded me of another chored there. Ship,, that took me to Augusta Just finished, when the Old Bay; our ship anchored at the Man came up behind me, leaned foot of this great mountain in over the rail of the flying bridge Sicily. Where every day God and let go with a bellowing or­ created a beautiful picture der, "Fore and Aft". I damned around this nature setting with, near dropped my camera. . ^lendid sunrise; gold gilded, My station was at the wheel ^ow capped Etna at noonday, where I stood by until all lines and silhouetted in a million dif­ were clear; then swung her hard ferent hues when day was done. left. The engines responded to Five days later, our speed the telegraph with a shudder timed to make a dawn arrival, I that shook the whole ship and saw the blinking of Gibralter sent the propeller blades, which light house and the giant hump were half out of the water, slap­ IM won't be long now« Scenes getting larger and larger. Then ping the foam with a thunderous the sunrise at just the right time. pounding. like thi& wilt shortly be reI said to myself, "Get the camera, . Full astern. "Wheel Amid­ enacted' on the Great Lakes Bub,; and get a shot of that one." ships," "Steady as you go." when the sun gets; higher in the skies. Taken during the If it took, it'll be the best one "How does she head?" "270", 1047 shipping season, the sand<yet, cause you'xe right up on "Fine, keep her so. Well she's sucker Emery is tied up at the her and can see in detail the big all yours, boy, think you can mouth of the St.. Clair River gun installations, radar screens, make it from here?" The pilot taking on-50-50 buckshot. building and low morning clouds then bids the_skipper, "Cherrio," and we drop him off. Then, full that drift swiftly by in multi­ colors reflected from the rising ahead, out of the Med and into, While at her home pier at sun cutting the big rock in half. the Atlantic. the foot of Third Street in —November 23, 1947 SS Lewis Detroit. Donald Morrow de­ One of the guys took the Emery Jr. proceeding toward cided it was just too hot words right out of my mouth, aboard ship and so lowered "Gee, the top looks like an island New York. —November 24, 1947 SS Lewis himself through the escape by itself floating on the clouds". hatch for a quick dip. Looks "Hard right" I told 'em as I Emery Jr. Mid-Atlantic. like he made it (below). Look­ —PROCEED TO BUENOS saw her stern swing around and ing on are Jack Swanson and throw her bow toward the har­ AIRES, ARGENTINA, FOR Seafarer Shields. bor entrance. Then someone re­ CARGO. POPE & TALBOT AGENCY N.Y.C. marked, "It's Spanish," "Hell no, Photos were submitted to that's a Limey" meaning the flag Mate to Quartermaster: ihe LOG by Chuck Bousquet. on that little speck that soon be­ "What's your course?" "270", "Make it 180, we're on our way came the pilot boat. OS. The Jacobs ladders out and the to a South American Christmas." old boy grunts his way up the Jerry Palmer ladder, weighted down with all that gold on his sleeve. Some one says, "the pilot's as bad as the Old Man, isn't he. They ought to hit it off swell." All of us are aware of the fact that our old square-head To the Editor: have the required seatime that Skipper was hit by the uniform has been suggested in the past. bug during the war and could I see by the LOG that the not get over it like the rest of Agents Conference referred the To give a man an examina­ the skippers are doing nowadays. rulings on qualifications of key tion would require a committee Uii goes "How," the pilot flag, men back to the committees in of men of that particular rating, which would be almost impos­ and ^ full ahead, she turns right the various branches. sible in most ports. Spmi^ more to share the harbor I think the main thing is not I think we should' give the chaimel with a brightly painted so much how to go about giv­ Liberty ship, that is steaming out ing a man an endorsement in his Agents the right to cancel: these to s'ea. On her stern as she book but how to cancel it out in endorsements if there is a beef passes close by I read: SS Lewis case he is no good. Most of the against the man in question and Pas<«ur, Naples. The oldtimer fellows that ship in these ratings if, in his opinion, the man's ability is not what it should be. at my side curses Lend Lease— anotlter American built ship giv­ WON'T WORK en away, which means fewer Liked Conference If it is left up to the crew to jobs'for American seaman. Reports; Says Keep bring Electricians and Reefers up Chief Mate Th^ks No one doubted his word, he'd on diarges for the purpose of seen^it after the last war. Yeah, Her Bietween Anchors canvassing their endorsements, it SHU For Crew, now^ I remembered where last To the Editor: just won't work, because if these 1 Hopes Theylt Stay I saw the SS Lewis Pasteur: an­ After reading the issue of the men don't do their work it chor^ in Oran, North Africa, in 1945'next to the Abraham Lin- LOG which carried the proceed­ doesn't inconvenience anyone of To Ihe Editor: col^ Liberty. Gee, she was a ings of the Agents Conference the crew. I wish to thank the SIU for This is a long step in the right the excellent seamen you sent and the various recommendations rust pot then. Out from behind the great and reports which were made by direction, and if it is done right aboard the SS Morton M. Mcrock of. Gibraltor, a big black our accredited elected commit­ will eliminate a .lot of deadwood Carver. I *have not been with a bomber came roaring out into tees and Agents, I want to say from the key positions. better gang since receiving my the dawn-filled sky—some sort of that material of this nature is ^ If we rely totally on the re­ license. patrol duty. It didn't seem so highly beneficial to the member­ quirements for obtaining en­ The SIU men have shown the dorsements, it won't do much proper union spirit throughout long ago that big British PBY ship as a whole. good as the characters that have in trying to better conditions and flyii^ boats flew constantly back It gives all of us an opportu­ gnd -forth, each going in the op­ nity to liecome acquainted with made the move necessary have still give an honest amount of posite direction meeting in the and familiarize ourselves, with been sailing in their ratings for work. The majority of the gang middle of that narrow neck of the manner in which our organi­ a long time. has made two trips and I am From my own experience, sea- hoping they stay aboard for an­ water that separates Spain from zation functions. time itself doesn't tend to make other voyage. Sl)anish Morocco. In conclusion, it makes clear you intelligent. Then one saw big battle that the dictates of the member­ Bosun W. Mason, Carpenter I think- there should be some­ L. Decker, and Delegate E. • wagons standing by to take over ship are final. thing put into this ruling to put Swanson, deserve special men­ if the depth charges of the fly­ Steady as she goes—right be­ the skids under these fellows tion as being credits to the Un­ ing boats missed their goal. They who can't do. the job after they ion and any ship they go aboard. completed their mission a long tween the anchors. have gotten an endorsement. J. Miver (ex-SUP) M (3butkl0) irAmbviMio (SUP) time ago, those men, most of Jerry Jensen Chief Mate whom are directing their ener"BWilWf--' Proffers Plan To Improve Efficiency 0/ Rated Men 1 m Fridajv Ai^rU 2, 1948 'EkrahleSMke, BaUdmg Fluids^ ^ys Seialarer To the'Editor: It seems apparent that'some or the Congressmen on, the na­ tional capital are going to be rather: sorry they, ever heard of Messrs. Taft and Hartley, when American labor including seamen go to the ballot, boxes this com­ ing. fall and rid both houses of anti-lahor politicians. The Coast Guard, too, should have wised up a bit or is it possible they have forgotten what happened to the Wage Stabilization Board once the SIU, had the decks cleared for action. That outfit may be all right in fighting the nation's enemies, but the way they go about doing ianything you'd believe the iAmercan seamen were number one on their enemy list,. DOUBLE FUNDS I woula'^ike to see the new strike and building fund doubled.. More and better buildings and more and better chow in the event of a strike in the future. We should aid our officials and in the rank and file membership eliminating labor-hurting per­ formers found, I regret to sayy on some of our contracted ves­ sels. The sooner we get rid of these guys the • better mor^ pleasant voyage we can antici­ pate. I wonder how you brothers feel about a $5.00 assessment de-f signed to aid solely qiH' SIU, brothers who have been so unr» fortunate to contract tubercu­ losis? I don't believe in shak-^ ing a tin can but all too often these^en have been overlooked and the $3.00 a week and a feiy small donations,, although helpful and appreciated, do not feed their families. PIGEON POLITICS Evidently the politicians have pigeon-holed the Seamen's Bill of Rights, the four-watch sys^f tem and the improved foc'sle cards. • If these guys would do something for seamen I guess most of us would reel over from the shock. Just because our negotiating committee has obtained new increases is no sign that the mem­ bership should take any back^ ward steps and let things slide, expecting our officials to do everything for us. We must-in the future, as we have in the past, give them our earnest cooperation as organizers, good seamen and good Union men, who believe in all that solidarity stands for. Thomas (Aussie) Dawes- Former Newsman Compliments LOG To the Editor: For some time you have been good enough to send me copies of the SEAFARERS LOG, which I have read with great interest. Since I have been transferred to the London Embassy, to which the LOG also comes; and since the copy which comes here is routed to me, you may, if you will, remove me from your maiN ing list. As a former newspaperman and seaman, I want to compliment you on the job you are doing. The LOG is well put together, well written and filled with the sort of personal items which a sailor likes to read. -Harvey Klemtner ' Shipping Attache , Londom England American Embassy' -M'tx- �--K'f h i" ISr 2? SEAFAR E R SLOG •. Apdl 2/1948 ATX ENBED WELL "Page Thixteea Newsman, Stooging For Owneii, Paints Hollywood View Of Sea Life To. the Editor: Three crewmen and their pup, who was the ship's mascot, aboard the Augustine Victory. Despite stories in West Coast newspapers of "muliny" the trip ended on a good note, with the skipper and clrew emphasizing their good relations. Seatrain Man Gave Weaver Square Deal During Illness To the Editor: this. He is R. C. Chapdelaine, personnel manager for the SeaI am Henry C. Weaver, the OS train Lines, Inc., of 39 Broadway, cm the Seatrain Havana, who New York City. was taken ill with pneumonia aboard this vessel the night of VISITED HIM Feb. 14. As soon as our ship arrived I saw the very nice write-up in port, he came aboard to see in the LOG about the Chief Ste- what my condition was. The wai^, Fred Shaia, who nursed first thing he did was send me me back to life, and the person down to Hudson and Jay Clinic to whom I will be always grate­ to see if I could be able to re­ ful. I am now back on board main on board. ship having just come out of the The doctor's report was that hospital. I should be hospitalized for at There is someone else who is least two weeks more. So he a grand guy , in my book. Other had me checked into the hospi­ people who have had dealings tal. But first he asked me if 1 with him will probably verify had any money. I said I had a little. He then took $20.00 from his own pocket and handed it to me. While I was in the hospital he checked regularly to see how I To the Editor: was coming along. I am willing to distribute 4ho SEAFARERS LOG to SETTLES CLAIM - rrews of SIU ships that call After I was discharged from at this port of Recife. Brazil. the -hospital, I called his office ' As far as I know there is no and then went over to see him, place in Recife where the when he again asked me how I ' men can obtain news of the was fixed for cash. He gave me Union. more money, stating that I could If you would he kind pay him back after the insurance enough to put me on your claim was settled . mailing list IH gladly see While waiting for tKe Seatrain that the men get the papers. Havana to return and also for Also, I am seeking infor­ -the insurance claim to go mation concerning advertisthrough, the claims man was ^ ing rates in your paper. taken sick, so Mr. Chapdelaine Jack Elgrahly himself handled my case for me. The Texas and The result was that the claim Union Bar was paid in two days instead of Recife, Brazil two weeks. Log In Recife 0 I (Ed. Note: Sorry, the LOG does not carry any advertis­ ing. We've p^ you on the mailing list and the LOGs shopld begin arriving short­ ly). That's about the story as best can explain it. T think Mr. Chapdelaine is a grand fellow and I hope you see fit to mention this in our LOG.^ . Renry C. Weaver '' ' • The meeting is not in a smelly foc'sle—not at all. It is. I'm enclosing a "burp strip" from the Boston Sunday in the crew's recreation room, Post of February 29 written by some overstuffed stooge of equipped with a library, radio, the shipowners, no doubt. It cries to heaven of fink. record player and easy chairs. There are no foc'sles in mod­ I joined the SIU dtufing the war and sailed approxi­ em American ships. mately 26 or 28 SIU ships. It bums me up every time one of IGNORES FACTS these landlubbing jerks thinks he can capture the sentiment of the American public and make the front page ahjead of Mr. Allen is obsessed with Joe Stalin. , three things, wages, overtime and I think this guy should have been named "Pester" in­ a personal belief that there i$ nothing hazardous about seafar­ stead of Lester Allen. It would suit him better. ing as a job. I'm retired at present nnd working in a power plant, but He completely ignores that I get the LOG every week and am sure glad when it gets here. studies, including several in<j[uirSee if you can't give this phony an answer. Give my ies made by doUar-a-copy For­ regards to the boys and tell everybody I'd like to hear the news. tune magazine, have demonkrated that seamen's pay come's to E. J. (Red) Duffy barely 10 to 15 per cent of an, Burkitt Street Extension Portsmouth, New Hampshire operator's co.sts. Compared td the cost of bunkering, loading and The article to which Brother Duffy refers is a wild unloading, the crew payroll just amount to much. blast at the maritime unions by a Boston newspaperman doesn't He also ignores study after named Lester Allen who has some mighty strange notions study showing seafaring to beof shipboard life. * ing ashore behind a grocery just about the most hazardous line of work a man can take up. PALACE LIVING counter. In fact, the number of mer­ The captain of a ship isn't chant marine accidents is fully Allen doesn't confine himself to the unions, however, at least captain of his ship anymore. 500 percent above the average of. not completely. He does a little He's a poor harassed individ­ all other industries combined, a blasting at a few other things. ual, caught between the own­ figure substantiated last year by But his main thesis is that un­ Rear Admiral Edward H. (Ice­ ion wages and union conditions ers and operators, and the un­ berg) Smith who reported - the are destroying the U.S. shipping ion stewards on his ship. He fact in no less a capacity than takes all the blame and earns Commandant of the Third Coast industry. every penny he is paid. Guard District. Trouble is, says Allen, that American seamen not only get There is plenty more of the But it is not unusual for the pretty good wages but they get- same, and Allen seems not to facts to be ignored in a strictly overtime and" live in seagoing have looked into the SIU con­ fink article in a publication like palaces. To hear him tell it, you tracts which state explicitly that the Boston Post which takes a would think that no seaman does the authority of the Master and strong anti-union position at a lick of work without collect­ other officers is in no way limi­ every opportunity and accord­ ing at the overtime rate. ted by the Union agreement and ingly misleads its Boston readers. Things, of course, are a lot that a lawful order must be better than they were, but Allen obeyed. Nevertheless, this "au­ can't have too much sea time thority" on maritime labor goes of his own to reach the conclu­ on to say: sions he reaches. An order isn'l an order any Here is a sample of the Allen more. If a capiain or chief en­ view. gineer issues an order the crew "Pity the poor sailor on a doesn't like, they call a union night like this." Don't waste meeting then and there to dis­ To the Editor: your pity. He is snugly draw­ cuss the grievance—even if a For the information of our ing overtime pay for doing hurricane is working up to brother Seafarers, this scow, the far less than he. would be do­ southward. Robert B. Forbes, AmericanHawaiian, is really tops from bridge to engine, stem to sfem. FROM A SIU ARTIST'S SKETCHBOOK We have a fine crew and a ^ood bunch topside. Our skipper is a good navi­ gator in addition to being a ^ood. egg. He rallied a storm 'for some six days after leaving Ham-' burg on our homeward trip. 'All' during the storm he was as TOOI as could -be. He's really tops, not like some of the others Yrho blow their tops during a stprm. The Steward, too, is a good shipmate. He gives us a well balanced menu and not one of those hospital types. Nothing escapes his eye. Last week was Sam the Oiler's birthday, so^ he told us the 2nd Cook to bake a birthday cake for dinner. It was I terrific and really appreciated' by Sam and all hands. UP TO SNUFF Everyone aboard lives by Jthte SIU slogan: an SIU ship ib a clean ship. We'll bring this seow in clean and with no beefs. There's plenty of overtime u you want it, so, brother, if you ever see this baby on the boaurd, throw in for it. ^ In closing a word about the passenger we picked up in Ham­ burg. Brother C. Y. "Vierira came aboard after leaving the Fairisle due to illness. He proved himself to be a good egg and a good shipmate. HatS; off Seafarer Homer Spurlock has beea making pencil por- to Brother Vieira! James Oliver j iraifs 4>f Jus Union brothers hi Puerto Rko, This is the way Deck Oolegaie he saw Sal Colls, Saa Juan Port Af(ent, Forbes Crewmen Like Ship; Grab It, They Urge ^ " • ^• • .^1 �Page Fourleen r-rP m i:' ^ : All Distriets Of Seafarers Approve Aid To UFE Strikers Savannah, Ga. Keep up good work at the Stock Exchange and Curb Exchange and you will help tha UFE win the beef. Pictures of women being dumped show what you're up against. Wish we could be there to help. Charles Starling. Agent ^ 4. 4. . 4Detroit, Mich. ' Newspaper accounts of the beatings admin•istered Wall Street workers and SIU men have ' made all SIU Brothers in this district sore as hell. SIU members here are with you in spirit and are positive storm trooper tactics of police will spur all Seafarers and financial workers 'forward to the successful completion of this beef. 1 Fred Farnen, Sec'y-Treas. t? Great Lakes District. SIU P' 4. • . 44. :<S Baltimore, Md. UFE beef in New York great job. All hands '^ere proud of SIU's trade union position. Hold ^ihat line and you can't lose, f A1 Stansbury. Patrolman 44. Boston, Mass. s-.. " Your being on the bricks with brother union- ists of UFE makes us wish we wer^'there. Keep plugging for them in their good beef. The SIU 'always wins. Ray Queen, Patrolman 4. 4. 4 San Juan, P. R. Nice going-on Wall Street. SIU is living up to its reputation of helping out good unions with legitimate beefs. Good to see militancy of the financial workers. A good job all around. Sal Colls, Agent _ 4 4 4 Galveston, Texas . Time white collar workers got a break. We're all for them 100 per cent. Glad SIU is in there with them. Best luck for sijccessful 'fight. Keiths^lsop. Agent 4 4 4 Philadelphia Seeing white caps on UFE Wall Street picketlines in newspapers here made us proud. Men in this port wish them best of luck. Wish we could be there. Membership of Phila, I THE SEAFARERS Friday. April 2. 1948 LO G Shipping in Nnrfoik Goes Bad As Goai Movements Are Stopped BF BEN REES at present. Everybody is up in the air on state political issues, and there will be some inter­ esting stuff tb- tell you when we get the time to straighten things out. There are quite a few men around the port. Among them are the following; James Hunsuck; A. L. McDowell, Lloyd Richardson, Carl Carlson, Wil­ liam Newby, John Hite, Harlin Pratt, Orvall Daniels, James Maistri, Albert Colditz, Jack Wooten, and Chester Sawyer. New Orleans, La. NORFOLK — Shipping went Wish Ave men down here were in New York bad here and there is no other to do our part in helping the Financial Employes word to describe it. The reason win their beef with 4he Stock and Curb Ex­ was that coal shipments just changes. You are doing a wonderful job and about stopped. you are carrying on the SIU tradition. Keep However, we did have 13 pay­ going and good luck. offs, which was pretty good, and C. J. Stephens, Acting Agent we squared a plentiful assort­ ment of beefs. However, there 4 4 4* Mobile, Ala. were no beefs which were im­ The SIU is just the right Union to help the portant enough to warrant the Stock and Cufh -Exchange workers win their space , to give you the details. strike and you are doing a wondeffhl job. Keep A good deal of the discussion those lines going and you'll get the Wall Street at the last branch meeting cen­ moneybags to head in. Wish we were there. tered aroimd Union education. Jefi Morrison, Patrolman In addition, we are conducting special classes in the responsi­ 4 4 4 Norfolk, Va. bilities and duties of permitmen. The SIU is on the march again. Trouble is Included in this program are we can't all bcyn New York to do our" part practice shipboard meetings held By KEITH ALSOP in wrapping up the Stock and Curb Exchanges. in the Hall to acquaint permits GALVESTON — Shipping is Tell the United Financial Employes that we are with meeting procedure, and to pretty slow right now and there show them how to elect ship and behind them to the man. aren't any very solid prospects Ben Rees, Agent depaitment delegates. of its picking up. The local scene is pretty quiet 4 4 4 We did pay off three ships, the Tampa, Fla. Lyman Abbott, a Pope & Talbot Your great work backing up the United Fin­ scow, the Richard Davis which ancial Employes is in the SIU tradition. If we belongs to Luckenbach and the could make it you know we would be there. Call James Jackson, Waterman. The on us if you need us. Davis and the Jackson erewed JAMES MILLICAN C. Simmons, Agent Your wife is in the hospital up against right away. 4 4 4 There was a small beef on the San Francisco„ Calif. and you are urged to get in Jackson but it was quickly dis­ touch with the Department of Congratulations on your wonderful effort in Welfare, Children's Bureau, 779 posed of. We just had to see behalf of the United Financial Employes and 8th Ave., New York City, re­ that an amply supplied slopchest their strike at the Stock and Curb Exchanges. was placed aboard. garding your children. Your magnificent stand is in line with the Sea­ We received a proposal for a 4 4 4 farers International Uhion'S traditional forth­ small raise for the men on the BILL HOLLADAY right and progressive policy of helping other G&H Towing Company tugs, but unions in their struggle for better wages and Please contact your family. we think we can do. a little better conditions. Out here our only regret is Dad is ill and worries about you. better than what the company is that we cannot be in New York to help. Keep Mrs. W. O. HoUaday, 508 So.' offering. These boys belong to 2nd, McAlester, Okla. her steady as she goes. the Marine Allied Workers, the Harry Lundeberg, Pres. SIU 4 4 4 SIU affiliate. CHARLES PIMENTAL Meanwhile, Warren Wyman is 4 4 4 Would you please write home still over in Lake Charles ham­ San Francisco, Calif. Wishing a speedy success for the UFE at the and let the family know where mering away at those unor-, Exchanges. Congratulations on job you're doing. you are. We haven't heard from ganized tankers. He hits every­ you since you left to sail. Love^ one that comes in. That's the Steady as she goes. Mother, 223 Metacom Ave., War-j way we'll get those ships eventuSteye Cardullo, aUy. West Coast Represeniaiive ren, R. I, fialveston Shipping Goes On Siow Beil PERSONALS Text Of Regional Director's Report To NLRB United States of America The undersigned recommends Before The that the company's said objec­ National Labor Relations Board tions be overruled for the yeaSecond Region sons stated below: CITIES SERVICE OIL COM­ OBJECTION No. 1. The Com­ PANY OF PENNSYLVANIA pany objected that thq counting • (Marine Division) of ballots was ultra vires, illegal Employer and void becaiise a motion to and stay the counting was then pend­ SEV^EARERS INTERNATIONAL ing before the Board. The Board . UNION OF NORTH AMER­ disposed of this objection in its ICA, AFL Order of February 12 and March Petitioner 5. 1948. Case No. 2-R-7244 OBJECTION No. 2. The ComREPORT ON OBJECTIONS pan objected that on February 9, On February 11, 1948, CITIES 1948 when the ballots were SERVICE OIL COMPANY OF counted the election had not PENNSYLVANIA, herein refer­ been completed, since (a) one red to as the Company, filed Ob­ vessel in the unit, the "Lone jections to the Conduct of Elec­ Jack" had not been voted and tion and to Conduct Affecting (b) subsequent to the issuance of The: Results of the Election held the Direction of Election the purs,uant to a Decision and Di­ Company had acquired other rection of Election issued by the vessels who personnel were in National Labor Relations Board, the unit. The Board disposed of hereinafter referred to as the tile objection with respect to the Board, on October 20, 1947, and "Lone Jack" in its Order dated amended November 19, 1947 and March 5, 1948, So far as the January 20, 1948, the results of I newly acquired vessels are con­ which were sent forth in a Tally cerned, their personnel werq ©f Ballots issued February 9, clearly ineligible under the terms 1948. The Tally of Ballots was of the Direction of Election, as foUows: OBJECTION No. 3 .The Com­ Approximate number of eli­ pany objected that the entire gible voters — „.240 crew of the "Lone Jack" and the Void ballots 6 majority of the crew of the Votes cast for Seafarers In­ "French-Creek" both owned and ternational Union, AFL operated by the Company at the (herein called the Union)..153 time of issuance, of the Decision Votes cast against the Union 30 and Direction of Election were Valid votes counted 183 precluded from voting, although Challenged ballots 1 eligible The Board in its Order Denying Motion, dated February Valid votes counted plus challenged ballqts .....U.....184 12, 1948, directed that the appro­ priate unit should be confined to clusive: The Company objects all tmlicensed personnel on the 7 that, due to its acquisition of- 8 vessels which had voted, as of additional vessels after the issu­ that date, thereby eliminating ance of the Decision and Direc­ the eligibility of the crew of the tion of Election herein and the "Lone Jack". With respect to facts stated with respect to the the "French Creek" the facts are "Lone Jack" and the 'Trench as follows: She arrived in port, Creek" only 12% of its present near Philadelphia, after the time personnel had an opportunity to for voting had expired. Applica­ vote and only 22% of the eligible tion to the Board for an exten­ voters are still employed. These sion of voting time was then Objections were disposed of in pending, and Board Agents at­ the Board's Order of March 5, tempted to vote the employees ' 1948. provisionally, their ballots to be OBJECTION No. 12: The Com­ coimted only if the extension pany objected to the voiding of was granted. The Company re­ four blank ballots, contending fused to permit the Board Agents that these ballots should have to go aboard the vessel for that been counted as "No" ballots. purpose and most of the crew This Objection is patently with­ were then paid off and dispersed. out merit. Moreover, these bal­ The extension of time was subse­ lots cannot possibly affect the re­ quently granted and the remain­ sults of the election. OBJECTION No. 13: The Com­ ing eligible crew members voted at the vessels next port of call, pany objected to the coxmting as Jacksonville, Florida. Moreover, a 'Yes" ballot, a ballot with the figure 240 in the TaUy of markings in both the "Yes" and Ballots indicating the number of "No" boxes. Examination of this eligible voters included the crew­ ballot clearly reveals that the men of the "Lone Jack" and the I voter, using a soft lead pencil "French Creek" and the Union had inscribed an "X" in the box received a majority of that figure. marked "Yes" and when the bal­ The votes of the cfew members lot was folded a, considerably of these two vessels therefore lighter imprint was made in the could not possibly affect the re­ "No" box. In any event, this ballot cannot affect the results of sults of the election. OBJECTIONS Nos. 4 to 7, in­ the election. OBJECTION No. 14: The Com­ clusive: These objections are in effect mere restatements or elab­ pany objected to the cqunting of orations of Objections 2 and 3 baUots on the ground that and the~ arguments offered in allegedly only 53 individuals who support thereof. They are thiis had cast ballots were in the Company's employ at the time of disposed of above. OBJECTIONS Nos. 8 to 11, in­ the counting and thus only 53 ballots could be counted. All baUots counted were cast by per­ sons eligible to vote at the time of voting. OBJECTION No. 15: The Com­ pany objected to the election, generally, because allegedly the union threatened, coerced and in­ timidated voters to cast ballots for the union. Although the company has been given an op­ portunity to do so, it has failed to submit evidence substantiating this allegation. The Company has sta^d that it will not submit any evidence to the examiner assigned to the investigation. It has further stated that if it sub­ mits "proof", it will not submit the names of witnesses. OBJECTION No. 16: The Com­ pany objected to the election, alleging that the examiner who conducted the investigation was arbitrary and biased. This allega­ tion is completely unfourftided in basis of fact. It is the opinion of the imdersigned that the objections do not raise substantial or material questions regarding the -conduct affecting the results of the elec­ tion, and it is recommended, therefore, that the objections be overruled and that the union be certified as the exclusive bar­ gaining agent for the unit found by the Board to be appropriate, /s/ Charles T. Douds CHARLES T. DOUDS Regional Director Second Region . Dated; March 26, 1948 * ;• New-York,-N.'Y,' �Page Fifteen 6^5 1 Seeno, Salvatore 249 I Segard, Cris P Rumberg, Hans 21.19. Segers, -Oscar A1 1 Rummey, Frank M. 84.79 L63 1 Sahon, Harrison Runchey, John A. 1-27 3.23 1 Sehorn, William Runsberg, Hans - 32.«« 7.52 A Sehreyer, John E Runtz, Joseph E 80 1.37 1 Seibel, Floyd Rupp, Wm. S. 1-37 5.43 J Seibert, Fred M Rusca, John ..V- • 24.80 8.80 1 Seidel, Aristid A Bush, Ben " 18.33 501 HIBERNIA BLDG., NEW ORLEANS, LA. 1.07 ^ J Seidenberg, Paul W Rushing, E 1-38 8.08 1 Berry H. P Rushing, Jim L. 10.51 The following is a list of undairoed ^es and F^eral Old Age Self, Self, Jack .. , 1.49 1 Russ, J •8'^ Benefit overHleductions now beiig pad by ^sissippi Steamship Com­ 20.99 1 Self, Mitchell G Russel, Howard G. — 1-39 6.44 I Selinskie, Alex pany covering the ^od up to Dec«nber 31, 1946. RusseU, C. A 20.96 .94 1 Seliste, Bruns, N Men due money should call or write the company office, 501 Hiber- Sellers, Benjamin F Russell, Delmar *^8 2.67 I Russel, Douglas S. 58.59 nia Bldg. New Orleans, La. All dlaims should be addr^sed to Mr. EUeJ" Sellers, Donald 15^02 \ Russell, E 9-39 .. '23,34 1 busch and include fuU name, Social Security number, Z number, rating, Selsvik, Marvin B Russell, E 5-92 -89 J Semerjian, Nassy M date and place of birth and the address to which the money is to be sent. Russell, James A. .....:. 14.69 Sempreviva, Rudolfo V. .. .. 1L61 J 7.91 Schumacher, Wm. J 1.00 Senak, Michael Russell, J. C 5.94 19.47 1 11.87 Saunders, Parker A. .. 4.22 Schupstick, J 2.23 Sendrowski, Edmund G. Russell, Joseph 28.42 Saari, John F Saunders, Raymond W. .71 1 20.38 1.91 Schutsky, Leo H 17.28 Senior, Paul J Russell, Joseph A. 46 Sabiitino, Florida .69 J Sauviac, James T. ...... : 3.22 10.40 Schwar, Frederick HeBry 16.15 Serio, Salbata Russell, Mirle L 1.94 Sabogo, Enrique 23.82 J Savastio, D. S. 60.00 j •yV 7.12 Schwall, J 33 Serna, F Russell, Raymond A 9.30 Sacco, James V .Jr .25 1 Saville, 4.32 Joseph Schwaner, Clinton W 37.09 Serna, Philip Russo, Orlando 3.26 Sache, Irwin L 5.94 1 31.82 Savoca, 22.01 Schwartz, .Henry 5.72 Serraco, F Ruth, L. A 20.52 Sachs, Erwin Sawin, Robert W. 23.86 1 2.75 2.18 Schwartz, John 23.10 Serrano, Mario Rutkoski, F 6.73 Sachuk, Nicholas j 1.00 Sawyer, Alfred R. 15.32 2.97 Sesta, John James .11 Schwartz, Karl H Rutkowski, Andrew T. .... 7.59 Sada, Luis F. 11.66 Saxon, Walter Sadler, P. D 5.46 Saxvik, Olaf F Schwartz, S 6.34 Rutkowski, Boleslaw 9.04 9.90 16.00 Seufert, Fred T 5.80 1-25 Sevinsky, Paul 6.94 Schwarz, Milton G Ruttala, Hgimo A 11.87 Saffron, Haskel 1.37 Saya, C. 4.76 7.38 Seyler, John Frank .01 Schwatka, Fred Ryall, Charles R. 3.96 Sagaria, Lodovico 5.60 Saye, Ross Sager, O. E 27;81 28.46 Seymour, Chester J Ryall, Horace S -33 Sayres, Harold 5.30 Schwed, Andre 8.14 ^ 1.58 Scaffidel, Charles . 7.92 Shack, Stephen 2.34 Schweikhardt, Casper K Ryan, James B 22.03 Saillard, Gaston 4.37 Sakter, Sarnie 1-87 Schweinefus, Joseph B 26.25 .71 Ryan, John P 3.70 1190 : Scales, Clifford R. Shadoy, Kenneth R 6.53 Scanlon, Stanley 13.71 14.65 Schweizer, Ernest' R. Ryan, Peter J 14.24 Saiak, Jerry E. Salatich, B. P 3.46 Schwell, L 2.00 Shaffer, George Scara, John AT 2.79 Ryan, Peter P 13 58 '3.12 Scirlpi, Itter M 5.35 Salberg, Alfred 5.64 Scarsborough, R. C. ..^ 12.90 Ryan, Donald F 2.23 2.86 Shaffer, Marion E ;. 1.24 Shaffer, Roy 2.40 Sceviour, Stephen J. 14.46 Sconza, Edgar J Ryan, Walter A 12.03 Sales, Anthony . 827 15.98 jshahan, Orville Smith .... 23.86 98.75 Schafer, Jack M 3.73 Scoper, Thomas A Rybak, Edw. Alfred 6.69 Saliba, James Score, Donald Lee 46 i Shakespeare, John C Salisbui-y, Kenneth L 1.50 Schafer, Marvin P 31.26 ... !l7.a6 Rydalch, Wm. J -89 Scott, Claude S 35.64 Salmon, Sidney 11.55 Schafre, William J 28.00 ... ! .99 Shamberg, H Byherd, Marvin L 59.68 i 6.93 Shannon, Donald W 15.93 Schaffer, Edison 12.28 Scott, Earl R i4.a0 Ryminger, G. P ; 2.34 Salter, Barney C 5.00 Shannon, G. R 17.72 Schaffer, Ray 6.52 Scott, Harold 9.74 Rynes, Lawson P. J 5.51 Saltis, Michael P. — Scott, Henry Lester 6.34 Shapico, Max Sama, Walter M 1-00 Schallenberger, E 3.26 .45 Ryniker, Loren Fred 3.44 Scott, James 2.23 Sharp, James C Samanen, Oiva B 61.60 Schank, Loree H. C. 1.37 1.22 : Ryninger, George Paul .... 4.20 Scott, John D 23.25 Sharps, Donald S Samford, Toxie 01 Schattel, Emil J 47.51 18.51 • Ryon, Oscar F. 22.03 Scott, John L 4.32 Sharpe. 'John Samstay, August J. ..., 4.69 Schatten, H. J. 61 .81 4 Ryopponen, Viekko A. .... 7.28 5.05 1 Shattuck, Roy 19.74 Schaultian, Melvin ...-. 3.96 Scott, P. P 1.44 Saar, Julius T 84 Sanborn, George B Scott, William C 12.68 Sanchez, Antonio J. 1-78 Scheel, Kenneth 26.27 .66 Shaughnessy, R Saar, Lembit 9.07 43.18 i Shaver, Neil S Sanchez, Frederico G 86.34 Scheib, Duane W." 24.73 Scott, Wm. R 6.27 5.92 Shaw, Charles D Sanchez, John 8.26 Schein, Bernard L 12.81 Scrimsher, Wm 2.56 27.45 'Shaw, Charles G Sanchez, Louis 4.00 Schelter, Charles F 16.65 Scruage, Clarence H 2.47 - Scully, Jos. E 15.50 Shaw, Charles H Sanchez, M. 20.72 Schenk, C. L 12.89 T •'? Sczepaniak, George H 40.53 Shaw, Dewey 14.93 Sanqhez, Thomas Diaz 2.04 Schenker, Arnold 5.00 SIU, A&G District 49 Shaw, Duraed . .01 : Sand, Eddy M 2.24 Scbenkman, Edwin Joseph 7.94 Seabridge, Albert 5.32 Shaw, Durard BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. Sande, Nils J 47.52 Seaell, S ... 3.00 21.33 Scherdin, Francis L Seago, Arthur A 7.20 William Rentz, Agont Calvert 4539 Sandefer, Daniel D 1-04 .71 •: 9.23 Scherffius, Robert [Shaw, Joseph H BOSTON 276 State S*. 28.65 jSha-w, R. J 5.49 Seamens, Harold L Scherrebeck, Kay 11.48 Sanden, Conrad G 1-78 waiter Siekmann, Agent SowdoiB 445S 1.40 Shaw, Truman W .59 Seano, Mariano '2.62 8.95 Sclierrer, Thomas H. G.ALVESTON 30«V!I—23rd SL Sjanc^eas, Alwyne S Searcy, R 5.12 iShea, J. E .69 .33 Keijh AUop. Agent Phone 2-8448 Sanders, Curtis E 10.23 Schesnel, Bi-uno 11.15 jShea, J. N MO01LE * South Lawrence St. Sanders, Douglas E 3.55 Sears, William N .. 1.09 61.63 Scheuffele, David G. Cal Tanner, Agent Phone 2-1754 2.23 Shea, J. P 4.66 Seay, Thomas E ... 2.80 8.50 Scheurman, Geo NEW ORLEANS 339 Chartres St. Sandiers, Eugene B. 35.74 Seabastian, George S. ... 7.94 .. W.52 Shea, James A 21.33 Schiavone, Guy Tom .. E. Sbeppard, Agent, Magnolia 6112-8113 Sanders, Forest E. 2.23 Shea, Mortimer ,5.76 Sebolewski, Frank J. ... 6.20 NEW YORK .51 Beavar St. Sanders, Gilbert W 12.80 Schierenbeck, John ..... 1.90 Shea, Terrence B 1.50 Seda, D Joe Algina, Agent HAnover 2-2784 Sanderson, George F. ........ > .94 €.9.3 Schindler, F 117.50 Shea, Thomas NOftFOLK ..127-129 Bank St. •LOO Sederholm, Jack R .. 4.78 ; 4.13 Schindler, F. J Ben Reoa, Agent Phone 4-1088 Sandprson, Luke C. .43 Shea, Wilfred R Sederquist, Howard A. .99 .. ^5.60 Schiudler, T 2.€7 PHILADELPHIA 614-16 N. Wth St. Sanderson, Ro.bei-t T. 11.20 Shearer, Leonard A Sedihu, John F 15.58 Schindler, Theodore ... '1.50 Lloyd Gardner. Agent PopKfr 5-1217 Sandgreen, G 35.34 .45 Shearer, Robert G Sedlack, Eugene 53.68 SAN FRANCISCO ICS Market St. is.is 3.46 Schleicher, James E. Sandlin, John Henry 41.02 Shearer, Robert W Steye Cardullo, Agent Douglas 2-5476 74.51 See, Lester D., Jr 13.60 .79 Schliefer, R. G SAN JUAN, P.R 252 Ponco da Leon Sands, Charles F. ,94 Shears, Lindsey Seebacker, Alfred .82 6.86 SchJin, Ole J. ;.... 103.71 Sal ColU. Agent San Juan 2-6996 Sands, Leroy E. 1.14 4.46 Seeg, Rachard , 48.18 Schlosser, Gerald L. Sheather, Jack D SAVANNAH 220 East Bay St. Sandy, Archie C. 8.62 .59 Seeger, Everetth , Charles Starling, Agent Phone 3-1728 13.07 1.10 Sheehan, Jeremiah Sanford, E. C 79 Schluep, Allen TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. 6.94 Dewey, Jr. Schmidt, 10.26 Cla^de Simmons, Agont Phone M-1323 SanfQi-d, Paul T 9.60 Sangiolo, Louis J. 5.23 Schmidt, Emile 4.66 George Sanner, John 11.59 Schmidt, SUP 3.09 Ralph H. . Schmidt, 4.76 HONOLULU 1® Merchant ,3t. Sanner, William H 2.23 John R. • The SEAFAKERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea­ Fhone 88777 Sansier, Geo. P H Schneider, 9.46 farers Icrternatiwial Union is available to all members who lyish L Schneider, PORTLAND I" W. Rucnsida St. Sansocis, Eugene -63 . 17.39 to hav;e it sent to their home free of charge for the enjoyment of ;' JSeacon 433®; 13,09^ Schnieie, Erwin Sanaqne, Dominick 12.87 their families and themselves when ashore. K you desire to have Schnitzer, E. W / RICHMOND, CalW. S®* 9*53.34 Phona 2699 Sania Maria, Eduardo ' 25.92; ,the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every E. S-Chnitzius, Harry 4.13; ;.. SAN FRANCISCO 5® 9*- S.antana, Joseph 4.82 iSSU branch fox this purpose. 3 70 ' Schill, David H Douglas 26475 Santiago, Antonio 15.83 However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU L. 4 98 ' Schommer, Edward SEATTLE ®® Seneca St. 1.17; haR, the LOG reproduces bdow the form used to request the LOG, Main 0290 Santiago, Fruttp J 5 77 Schop, Lloyd A 1.58; which you C9» fUl out, dutach and send to; SEAFARERS LOG, 51 WILMINGTON ......440 Avalon Blvd. Santon, E. C 530 I Schorl, William Adolph Terminal 4-313X Santos, Daniel A. ... Beaver Street, New York 4 ,N.y. Ig'gj ' Schott, Ernest L Santos, John S .46; .Schoultz, J PmASE, PRINT INFORMATION , ; Gt. Lakes District Santos, Jose - : j938 jSchouwaller. Warren D... 15.14; Santos, Walter M , 3.65' BUFFALO Exchanga St. ;24 ao Solirade> Melvin U Cleveland 7391 Saragosa, Felice 10.41; 7431Schrank, Charles'E. iV 'CHICAGO *4 W, Superior Ave. Sardieo, A 1 tbe SEAFARERS LOG mailed to ^the 3.48 73'44 IBchreiber, Arthur J. Superior BIT® Sarg, Alexander..... .. 3.00 I?' CLEVELAND .........2602 Carroll St. ^ 2.97; Main 0147 Sargent, Kermit .OT SR Schreiner, H. J Sari, Alex 110.53 ' DETROIT ''^r jschreyer, John E. CadUlac^®857 Sarokac, John 4.39: Name •45 EchrpedeT. Albertus .......... DULUTH ...831 W. Mic|' Sarri, John F. i4.«o; ^j'ftgiSchroeder, Date L. Melri 4iX0 Street Address Saska, E. TOLEDO Bl® Summit St. 37= Schroeder, Donald D- • " -"-i GarAeld 2112 Sasaer, Lawrence 4032 ISchroeder, R<^al G state Sasser, Molton B I.87' City —— j.Echroeter .August A. ...., 4 Canadian District Shsseville, —• •• 47.11 4914 ;jSol)rum., Hay JJ. Sasso, Burton Signed ..... 1.40 ^J';;'ilONTREAt ..........1440 Bleury St. 3 47 Sebultz, Cbet B. Saude^ F. , 7.60 VICTORIA, B.C ..w.®02 Boughton St. 158 Schultz, Oscar A ^ • Empire 4631 Saul, R .......................... 'Book No. II.56 2.13 Schulze, George E i VANCOUVER v..S®® HamUtoa St. Sauls, A. A. 9,59 ' Pacific 7824 ,43'.8 Schulze,; Wm,• -r* SaunderSi Albert- J* Unclaimed Wages Mississippi Steamship Company SlU HALLS HMM T« M StH llMbera , il te' i .• MM �r jsr E 5 E A F ALR E R S t Q f Page Sixteen Friday, April 2. 1948 k-- ROBERT MELOY. Oiler — CLAIRE JOHNSON. UFE — I am a member of the UFE and was supposed to join the line in front of the Stock Exchange where there were three other girls picketing. As I went to the line, a cop stood in front of me and wouldn't let me by. I moved to one side and so did he. Then he moved to the other side when t did. I tried to get around^ the cop but he bumped me. This went on several times and finally I was thrown against a pillar, and hit it hard. Then another cop got into the argument. He said, "Take her away." So they took me away, and I was at the station house when the cops slugged the pickets. Somehow I found myself in the middle of the surging bunch and tripped over a fall­ ing picket. Lying face down, 1 looked up once and got rap­ ped on the back of my head. No one said "Get up" or any­ thing. A cop started beating me on the head again, and he must have hit me 30 or 40 times. I had my arm around another fellow so the cop hit me on the elbow—it seems they like to hit on the bone. His blow took all the strength •from my arm. Four cops tried to lift me to the wagon. Fin­ ally one grabbed me by the hair and neck and dragged me. The hospital told me the "elbow. nerves . may be crushed. •V t I JOHN WARD, Fireman — When the first upsurge ended. I found myself lying on my stomach in the middle of the group. I was about four men from the door of the Exchange. In the noise and turmoil I couldn't he^ anyone yell at me, and I'm ^ure no attempt was mad^ to do so. The first fueling .of what was going on came when I felt someone boEding me about the back and legs. Some cop rapped a tattoo on my back and I felt a sharp st->b when his stick cracked against my ankle bone. I don't think I could have risen then if I'd wanted to. Finally four cops grabbed me and dragged me to the wagon. yft] Grim-faced policeman stands over the body of UFE mem­ ber Maggie Brady, while her sister union member Joan Cabella stands watching over her. Hovering around are niore of "New "York's finest." menacingly fingering their nightsticks. A moment later Joan burst into tears when she realized that her friend had been badly injured. Swinging their sticks savagely, the police unmercifully beat the prostrate and reported, that even plain clothes detectives in thia crowd were beafeit , • -.."bodies of picketers. So vicioue was the attack that the American Civil Liberties over the head by the police, ^wever^ it takes more than police clul^Union pointed it out as ''reckless md almost maniacal zeal of the police," discourage the VFE-$ttU-SUP picketers. -.•rM � 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 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 2, 1948 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 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. X, No. 14 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE RECOMMENDED TO NLRB MM&P SUES SATEVEPOST FOR DAMAGES SEAFARERS HELP MAN PICKETLINES AS UFE STRIKES NEW YOUK EXCHANGES BAN ON SHIP TRANSFER IS VOTED BY HOUSES FIGHT GOES ON FOR 50 PERCENT SHIPPING SEAFARERE, CLERKS RING STOCK, CURB MARTS MORE U.S SHIPS ON AFRICAN RUN AS TRADE GROWS NO ARMY DRAFT YET- BUT GET CERTIFICATE FROM LAST WAR MM&P SUES POST FIR DEFAMATION SHIPPING SLOWS IN PORT MOBILE, NO CHANGES SEEN FOR NEXT WEEK NEW YORK BRANCH KEEPS BUSY ON ALL FRONTS BOSTON SHIPPING ON QUIET SIDE; LABOR TO FIGHT HIRING HALL BAN THERE'S PLENTY OF SPRIMG WEATHER BUT FEW JOBS IN PORT BALTIMORE GRUNDY MEN FIND THAT MISSING SHIP DOESN'T PAY PHILADELPHIA HAS SHORTAGE OF RATED MEN RATED MEN GET GOOD DEAL IN SAN FRANCISCO SEAFARER KILLED IN FALL IN FALL IN DUTH DRYDOCK;WAS FORMER PRIZEFIGHTER ALL DISTRICTS OF SEAFARERS IN NORFOLK GOES BAD AS COAL MOVEMENTS ARE STOPPED GALVESTON SHIPPING GOES ON SLOW BELL TEXT OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT TO NLRB Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/02/1948 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1948 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/870b06adb6b4aa40175f8dd5e226daca.PDF 30182850a58645663e591bda66d98a48 PDF Text Text SEAFARERS LOG April 2 1954 ' • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF TH8 SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • / X-. SENATE TAKES UP TRANSFER DISPUTE -ril «; A -Story on Page 3 NLRB Orders New Dock Election Story on Page 2 '•'rV- ij -C- 'i'^A '•'i 1; !?$:. i# •V.V'"' Win, P/o«e, Or-? typify the state of Seafarer John Hal's hopes for a $140,000 jackpot in a lottery, as the mystery of what the New Orle­ ans seaman won—and on what—goes on. The only known facts are that he had a ticket on a lottery, was "reliably" informed he'd won, then discovered he'd lost the marker. He doesn't know on what lot­ tery nance he can't find the ticket. (Story on Page 6.) - ^\ \/§n TatAMfmAn# Seafarers aboard the SIXJ-manned Fairisle (Waterman), the first Ff f rCOf IllCfir# company vessel to use its new $6 million terminal at Port New­ ark, NJ, line the deck of the ship as a Hi-Lo driver jockeys the first sling-load of cargo off the ship ipto.positiQn.,Special ceremonies marked ojpening of vast terminal. (Story on Page 3.) �SEAFARERS LOG . Face Tw« AvrU 2. 1954 Three Seafarers, Others Seek SKI Scholarships li;v 1%^. 'i \m AFL-ILA longshoremen file into work on the docks during the course of the old ILA-sponsored strike along the New York waterfront. Pictured above are some of the hundreds of men who answered the call to work on the Brooklyn Army Base piers. NLRB Throws Out Dock Vote; Orders New Ballot With SIU scholarship awards to be made in June, three Seafarers are among 11 applicants who are anxiously await­ ing the final decision as to the winners of the four $1,500 annual awards. Seafarers Sey-"* mour Wallace, Ed Larkin and ard University, and Elwood KastWallace Simpson are the ner. New York University. All of three who have qualified along them are university administrators, with four seamen's daughters, and and- most of them, if not all, are expected to serve again this year. three sons of SIU men. Scholarship applicants have to Before a final decision is made by the trustees of the Welfare Plan submit proof of their, or their based on recommendations of a father's minimum three years' seaboard of prominent educators, four time on SIU ships. Official high of the applicants will have to take school record transcripts,^ a letter the qualifying college entrance of recommendation from the high exam on May 22. This is the last school principal and two other let­ exam that will be given before this ters from people who have known the applicant for a good many year's awards. years are also required. , StUl Time Left However, there is still time for additional applicants to qualify for the scholarships, provided they file immediately for the exam with the Seafarers Welfare Plan, and get all their qualifications in the rec­ ord including the necessary school transcripts, proof of sea time and letters of recommendation. Once the May 22 exam is com­ pleted, a group of prominent edu­ MOBILE—Harbor improvements cators will be selected to pass upon needed to promote greater ship­ the 'qualifications of applicants. "jsupWhile the grades on the examina­ ping through this pqffi tion are a big factor in the final de­ ported recently by 'a*^ delegMion cision, other matters are taken into from Mobile and Birmingham that consideration such as the appli­ appeared before a House Public cant's past record, participation in Works subcommittee in Wash-. extra-curricular activities, as well . . as recommendations of high school ington. The delegation urged that 's $5,principals and others who have 971,000 harbor improvement proj­ known the applicant. Last year's advisory committee ect for the Port of Mobile be in­ consisted of C. William Edwards, cluded in the Rivers and Harbors Princeton University; Bernard Ire­ Act of 1954. land, Columbia University; Miss Among the principal items rec­ Edna Newby, New Jersey College ommended to the subcommittee for Women; F. D. Wilkinson, How­ was deepening of the main ship channel from its present depth of 32 feet to 40 feet. The port -cur­ rently is losing business because many vessels cannot negotiate; the channel fully loaded, the Alabama delegates said. Ships with a draft Regular membership meet­ in excess of 28 feet cannot always ings in SIU headquarters and navigate the channel safely, al­ at all branches are held every though the "project depth" of the second Wednesday night at waterway is listed at 32 feet. 7 PM. The schedule for the SlU-manned Waterman ships next few meetings is as follows: were involved in 22 accidents in April 7, April 21, May 5, the Mobile channel between 1940 All Seafarers registered on and 1949 at a total cost to the the shipping list are required steamship operator of more than to attend the meetings. $208,000, the Mobile delegation testified. Mobile Asks Deepening Of Ship Channel The AFL-ILA won its biggest victory yet in its fight to establish a new union "for longshore­ men when the National Labor Relations Board upheld an examiner's report calling for a new election on the New York docks. The examiner recommended, and the Board agreed, that the December dock vote-* be set aside because of vio­ charge rests on refusal of steve­ court orders prohibiting a tie-up. A third action involved an NLRB lence and intimidation of dores to put longshoremen to work even when the AFL-ILA had men petition for an injunction against longshoremen by the old ILA. While no definite date has yet available. A second legal proceed­ tugboatmen refusing to handle been set for the new election, the ing involved contempt of court ships in the harbor, while the New Labor Board said it would make a charges against three old ILA lead­ York Shipping Association belat­ final decision sometime within the ers, Harold Bowers, Willie Ackili- edly got into the act after 24 days next 30 days on when the election tis, brother of the notoiious Albert of tie-up by filing unfair labor Ackilltis tff the old Arsenal Mob practice charges. The tugboatmen would be held. Further, the Labor Board warned and William Lynch as well as eight promptly went back to work when the old ILA that unless it stopped old ILA locals. The men are ac­ the injunction was issued. violating the various court orders cused of promoting the strike in To top off the old ILA's troubles, against it, it would be ruled off the New York in violation of several a meeting of that union's Atlantic election ballot. This means that the district broke up in disorder, with old ILA would have to call off the ieaders of locals in other cities re­ current political strike it is con­ fusing to go outxin strike In sup­ ducting in the port of New York. port of the New York walkout. The NLRB action came as AFLPorts like Boston, Philadelphia and ILA members made fresh headway Baltimoi-e are humming feverishly in their drive to reopen the port of in an attempt to handle traffic di­ New York. Approximately 5,000 verted from New York. Longshore­ longshoremen are working piers in men in those ports were busy un­ various parts of the harbor despite loading cargo that normally would attempts by roving gangs of en­ be handled by New _ York long­ forcers to keep them closed. Even With only 25 ships remaining to shoremen currently being kept the old ILA's official "adoption" of be voted, leaders of the Marine from their jobs by the old ILA. the four-week old "wildcat" strike Cooks and Stewards, AFL, are New developments in the Gulf failed to stem the longshoremen's looking forward to the final count district foreshadowed further set­ desire to get back on the job. in the West Coast stewards elec­ backs for the old ILA. It appeared Meanwhile headaches piled up tion, just five weeks off. iJnofficial that practically all ILA locals in for the old ILA in the legal arena. reports from the men on the ships Gulf ports would line up with the Federal attorney Edward Lumbard indicate a strong trend toward the new union, adding to the isolation opened a grand jury investigation SlU-affiliated union as opposed to (Continued on page 17> cf alleged collusion and conspiracy the National Union of Marine between stevedores and the old Cooks and Stewards and Harry ILA to keep the port tied up. The Bridges Local 100 which is calling for a "no union" vote. Meanwhile, a new West Coast April 2. 1954 Vol. XYI. No. 7 election for steamschooners is un­ As 1 See It Page 4 derway and MCS-AFL sources pre­ Committees In Action Pa ge 4 dict the union will take at least 30 Crossword Puzzle Page 12 out of 35 eligible votes in this Editorial Page 13 contest. Foc'sle Fotographer Page 19 Opposition Split Galley Gleanings Page 20 All indications are that a definite • Inquiring Seafarer Page 12 split in opposition votes between In The Wake Page 12 Bridges' "no union" and NUMC&S Labor Round-Up Page 13 is taking place. Bridges appealed Letters Pages 21, 22 for a "no union" vote after the Maritime Page 16 NLRB decided that Local lOO was Meet The Seafarer Page 12 not entitled to a place on the ballot. On The Job Page 16 As indication of the trend in the Personals Page 25 voting, MCS-AFL representatives Quiz Page 18 point to the following estimates of Seafarers In Action Page 16 the way the vote went on major Ships' Minutes Pages 24, 25 passenger ships: On the*Lurline an SIU History Cartoon Page 9 estimated 228 for MCS-AFL to 60 Sports Line Page 20 for the opposition; on the President Ten Years Ago Page 12 Cleveland, 148 to 32; on the Presi­ Top Of The News Page 7 dent Wilson, 110 to 70. All these, Wash. News Letter Page 6 of course, are rough estimates Welfare Benefits Pages 26, 27 based on interviews of crewWelfare Report Page 8 members. Your Constitution Page 5 While the Labor Board had esti­ Your Dollar's Worth Page 7 mated that 6,000 were eligible to Honoring the memory of Andrew Furuseth on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, Published bIWMlcly at tho headquarters members of seagoing unions and friends of the maritime Industry pose before his memorial in San of the Seafarers International Union. At­ vote, the final tally is expected to lantic « Quff District AFL. «7S Fourth fali far short of that because of Francisco, Cal. They are, left to right, John Hawk, Gunnar Hexum, Charles Abar, State Senator Avenue, Brooklyn 32, MY. Tel. HYacinth y-MOO. Entered as .second class matter the decline In shipping in the last Thomas Maloney, Harry Johnson, Sam Bennett, Captain J. A. Gannon, Marty Breithoff, SIU rep'reat the Post Office in Brooklyn, NY few monthik • under iho A<t of Aus|Mffr.2f" v ' Last 25 Ships To Ballot In Steward Vote Meeting Night Everg 2 Weeks Furuseth IVIemorial Services In San Francisco SEAFARERS LOG .1 1 .. 1. ' ' '• i ''ll �V If-J*; April t, 1954 t SEAFARERS •r*','?"- Page Thriee LOG Unions Lead Fight On Transfers As Hearings Begin ^ WASHINGTON—Carrying the ball for a strong American merchant marine, the SIU, and other maritime unions voiced strong opposition to further transfers of ships to foreign flags at the start of Senate hearings on the issue. A subcommit­ tee of the Senate Commerce Committee heard the unions voice the lone dissenting posi­ tion, while spokesmen for the shipowners clamored for transfer approvals, backed up foreign transfer of dry-cargo ships alone, 37 of which are Liberty-type ships. The MA chief called transfer to foreign flags "least of the evils" open to shipowners unable to find cargoes for their vessels, the otliers being scrapping or lay-up. Roths­ child noted that the vital consider­ ation, from the national defense standpoint, was having a ship in operation, even under foreign-flag. Union spokesmen countered with a demand that if the Government was so opposed to having private vessels under the US-flag remain inactive, then it should buy the ships rather than permit them to sail under the flag of another na­ tion. Shipping company represent­ atives generally followed the argu­ ments advanced by the M.\ official. the heels of demands by Sen. John G. Butler (R., Md.) for full airing of the question. Parallel inquiries by the House Merchant Marine Com­ mittee, under Rep. Thor C. Tollefson, acting chairman are also scheduled. Sale To Brazil by Maritime Administrator Louis S. Rothschild. A spokesman for the SIU and other sea unions in the Conference Meanwhile, another House sub­ Token load swings from a boom high above new Waterman Termiof American Maritime Unions de­ committee was looking into a bill .. nal in Port Newark as the instaliation gets into fuii swing. Water- . clared that maritime labor was to allow the Government to sell man is operating the terminai under iease from the New York unalterably dpposed to the "policy up to a dozen small coastal freight­ Port Authority. and practice" of transferring ers to Brazil. The ships involved American ships to foreign flags. in the proposed sale would be Gov­ "We destroy US shipping during ernment-owned vessels out of tho peacetime and only after we are (Continued on page 17) attacked by an enemy do we real­ ize the full importance of achiev­ ing and maintaining an adequate American merchant marine," he pointed out. * Opposition to the union view With both New York and New Jersey state representatives was In order to expedite tho led by the Maritime Adminis­ Eight Ships Switch on hand, the Waterman Steamship Company and the Port of tration matter of ships' repairs lists, as well as representatives New York Authority held official opening ceremonies for the of several shipowner organizations The relaxed transfer rules an­ ships' delegates and depart­ mental delegates on SIU ships brand-new $6 million terminal• seeking permission for additional nounced by the MA in February at Port Newark. The terminal the company plans to center all transfers. Maritime Administrator have already enabled eight Lib­ are urged to turn in repair lists a week before a vessel will be the center of all Water­ its New York port operations in Rothschild declared that there are erty-tankers to be transferred for­ arrives in port. In addition, over 40 applications pending for eign. In another development. East­ man shipping operations in the the new terminal. ern Steamship Company revealed headquarters recommends that Port of New York from now on.that it has received permission to delegates making up new re­ Heavy rainfall put a damper on switch the Evangeline as well as pair lists turn these in to the the opening ceremonies, but failed the Yarmouth to a foreign flag. proper department heads on to disrupt them as 1,000 guests Both vessels, operating as passen­ the ship at least a week be­ attended the speechmaking inside ger cruise ships, have been manned fore the ship is due to reach the warehouse and other cere­ by SIU crews for several years on port, so that the companies can monies which included a token dis­ summer trips between New Eng­ take appropriate action when charge of cargo from the Water­ land and Nova Scotia. Two other the ship arrives. Ear'y filing man ship Fairisle standing by SIU vessels, the molasses carriers of repair lists will facilitate during the proceedings. Actual the procurement of new items After running under the American flag between Boston Catahoula and Carrabulle (Na­ cargo handling at the terminal be­ tional Navigation), also have appli­ for the vessels and give suf­ and Nova Scotia for better than a quarter of a century (since gan the following day. cations pending for transfers ficient notice when repairmen Speakers at the opening included 1939 under SIU contract), the Eastern Steamship Lines pas­ foreign. are needed to board the ship Governor Robert Meyner of New senger ship Yarmouth re-+ The hearings by the Senate unit in port. Jersey, Newark Mayor Leo Carlln, cently got preliminary Mari­ hourly wage minimum. Fantastic? on the transfer issue followed on and Captain Norman Nicolson, time Administration approval Of course it is. Yet that is just ••f president of Waterman. to transfer to foreign registry. Re­ what maritime law permits East­ The new terminal, for which liable reports have it that the ves­ ern Steamship to do. Waterman holds a long-term lease, sel will be operated under LiberIf our imaginary trucking com­ is key to the company's efforts to ian registry on its regular run be­ expand and improve coastwise and tween Massachusetts and Nova pany even attempted that kind of caper it, would have the Internal intercoastal service. It contains Scotia. Revenue Bureau, the FBI, the La­ ample space for handling of both bor Department, the National La­ The Yarmouth's sister ship, the A request for a variety of books consisting of popular railroad and truck cargoes with bor Relations Board and a few fiction items and maritime subjects made by the Staten Is­ Evangeline had previously been greater ea.se than at other porttransferred in hush-hush fashion other enforcement agencies down land Public Health Service Hospital has been filled by the facilities in the harbor. There is plenty of room for wait­ last November, and the negotia­ its neck in short order. The person SIU. Acting with member--^ ^ (Continued on page 17) ing trucks without choking local tion for the Yarmouth were virtu­ • ship approval, the Union has donated a large number ally completed in a similar manner sheets. of titles which the hospital patients Originally, Waterman 'had in­ early in January. had been asking for. Although a number of Libertytended to make use of both its old Membership action came after pier facilities at Bush Terminal, tankers have been transferred in the social service department of Brooklyn, and the new Port New­ recent weeks and other freight the hospital got in touch with the ship operators have requested ark terminal. At present, however. Union asking if something couldn t transfers, this was the first in­ be done to help get the books in stance in recent times of a longquestion. The hospital explained term American-flag passenger ves­ that they had no funds for the pur­ sel going foreign under the owner­ chases and that several of the titles ship of an established Americaninvolved had been requested a flag operator. Further it is the first great number of times by the pa­ instance of such a ship remaining tients. Some of the books were MOBILE—A seven-cents-an-hour in the same service as it had been out of print volumes which wera wage increase was won for Water­ operating under the American flag. hard to obtain. man repair yard and Alcoa shore Suppose for the sake of compari­ Accordingly, the matter was put gang workers here in new contracts son, an American trucking com­ to the membership, which voted to just negotiated by the SlU-affill- pany which did business between purchase a selection of the books ated Marine Allied Workers. the US and Canada, decided in question and donate them to the Both shoreside installations op­ around March 15 that it didn't hospital. erate under MAW contract. like Uncle Sam's tax bills, ICC The books were rounded up and In addition to the wage in­ registry fees, its union contract delivered by the SIU hospital rep­ crease, Waterman workers were and wages payable to American resentative on March 29. and granted three additional paid holi­ drivers along with license charges. turned over to the grateful hospital days, bringing their total number Suppose this trucking outfit could librarian. of paid holidays equal to the six go to the nearest Panamanian or Subsequently, the librarian. Mrs. provided in SIU agreements. Liberlan consulate, and for a few Marie R. Jones, wrote the Union The Alcoa shore gang pact also dollars register under the flag of that "a gift such as this is of in­ named Mardi Gras Day as a paid one of those countries. Then sup­ Large selection of new books donated by SIU for USPHS hospital finite value as we. could not obtain holiday and granted a $20-a-year pose it fired all its union drivers at Staten Island is presented by SIU Welfare Services Representa­ anything like it, if it weren't for rain gear allowance for shore gang and hired aliens to jockey its rigs your generosity . . tive feiby Flynn to Mrs. Mi^e B. Jones, librarian. men. around at less than the 75 cent New Waterman Terminal Opens At Port Newark File Repair Lists Early Yarmouth l^ailsThrii Sea Law Loopholes SIU Donates Batch Of New Books To USPHS Hospital Gulf Shore Gangs Win Pay increase �Ifii Four SEAPAR^RS LOG Smoldering Ship Touches Bottom AprU F, 1954 As I See It • • • ; •W--!•; • JUDGING FROM ALL REPORTS THAT ABE COMING OUT OF Washington, this country is going to give the Communist armies in Indo China a little action by stepping up help in the coming year. It appears that'an effort will be made, possibly In cooperation with other nations, to give the French armies and the local people there enough of a hand so that they can lick the Communist forces. It's no secret that ever since fighting was wound up in Korea that the Communist rulers of China have been pouring a flood of supplies into Indo-China for use by the Communist rebels there. And the thinking in government circles ap­ parently is that if it was important for the western countries to stop the Communists in Korea, it's equally important, if not more so, to take steps to whip them in Indo-China. Of course, as any Seafarer who has been there can tell you, this country's Government has been The stern of the French freighter Cavelier De La Salle rests on the shallow bottom of the Henry Clay shipping quite a bit of munitions and other supplies batture in New Orleans, La., after tons of water were pumped into the holds by fire boats in an effort to such places as Saigon for some time now, and in to quell fire aboard vessel. Smoldering bales of cotton caused $200,000 damage to the cargo. view of the new policy decisions being made there is liable to be some more of that traffic forthcoming in the next few months. Since this could mean some more in the way of Government cargo to handle, it wouldn't surprise anybody around the waterfront to see of the tramp shipowners (who are raising the roof down in Wash­ Still in business despite exposure in past issues of the SEAFARERS LOG, tha Davenport some ington looking for a foreign fiag transfer) suddenly discover that maybe Seamen's Service is raking in the $2 bills from people who are looking for a job at sea. The their ships are good Americans after ali. $2 goes for a so-called Seamen's Employment Directory which contains a lot of advice for prospective seamen—ex--* ^ cept actual promise of a job. a woman in Philadelphia who chant seamen and a list of shipping ACCORDING TO CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AT HEADThe latest victim to call the wrote the LOG asking for a job companies and unions, something quarters, quite a few of the brothers have received the call from their gervice to the LOG'S attention was as a cook on a ship. She wrote that that could be gotten by consulting local draft boards and are now serving in various branches of the armed r =e she saw the name of the SIU in a telephone directory and the Coast forces. The drafting of seamen has stepped up considerably since the the directory as a place to go to Guard. fighting stopped in Korea, because the people in charge of these matters get jobs. Davenport is only one of several down in Washington feel that the seaman's job is no longer an essential Keep Draft "I am writing to you," the letter such guides in operation in re­ one. Both unlicensed men and officers are getting their notices accord­ Board Posted writer said, "as J found you in the cent-months, including Seaways in ingly, book I sent $2 to. So please an­ Baltimore and the Seamen's Serv­ SlU headquarters urges all While the fighting in Korea was'going on, your union was suc­ swer soon. Please tell me where I ice in Trucksville, Pa., all promis­ cessful in persuading the military authorities to ease up on drafting draft-eligible seamen to be can get papers from to join up ing prospective buyers how to get seamen because at the time the pinch was on for skilled crewmembers. sure they keep their, local Se­ now." lective Service boards posted a job in maritime. And as always, merchant shipping made the difference between a suc­ Ads In Magazines on all changes of address cessful military campaign in that fai-off country and a disastrous defeat. through the use of the post The Davenport Seamen's Serv­ Today though, many of the same Seafarers who were deferred in cards furnished at all* SlU ice, as described in the LOG of those years and made it possible for needed supplies to get to the other halls and aboard ships. Febi-uary 20, 1953, is run by Rod­ side of the Pacific are serving a hitch in the US Army and looking Failure to keep jour draft ney Davenport Turner. It places forward to the day when they can ship again. board Informed of your where­ ads regularly in about 60 assorted abouts can cause j'ou to be pulp magazines which paint mari­ listed as a delinquent and be time service in glowing terms. ALTHOUGH NONE OF US MAY HAVE HAD THE PAINFUL Ex­ drafted into the services with-, Then when the potential customer perience of losing out on $140,000 in sweepstakes winnings, it's easy to out a hearing. The Union in "bites" he is sent some more sales sympathize with the feelings of Seafarer John Hals. According to the such cases can do nothing to pitch describing the $2 booklet first reports, Hals held a winning sweeps ticket but lost his stub. The aid Seafarers who fail to com­ with a "set of application forms" In another attempt to secure New Orleans newspapers made quite a fuss about the story, and there ply. for jobs. The booklet merely out­ lines the qualifications for mer- financial aid for long-term patients. have been the usual fast-shuffle operators trying to get in on the act National Maritime Union members and annoying the Seafarer with deals for spending the money he never at the Manhattan Beach Public got. Health Service Hospital have sub­ Now it appears after later examination, that there was something mitted a resolution to the NMU faulty in the whole story and the SEAFARERS LOG is trying to check membership calling for steps to to see if Brother Hals actually won the money as reported. provide benefits for them. The However, even if it is established that the first reports on Brother resolution has been submitted to Hals' winnings were in error, it doesn't seem likely that it will make all ports of the NMU and has been him much happier than he is now. mailed to virtually all NMU ships sea. Three deck department men and recoi-ding secretary for that at Representatives the hospital­ READERS OF THE LOG PROBABLY NOTICED THE STORY IN were in charge of the Philadelphia port's last meeting. Howard, a na­ ized NMU seamen ofsaid they took the last issue on the large number of unions that Seafarers have given meeting of March 24 from top to tive of the Show Me State, came bottom. As elected by the member- into the SIU via the Port of New the step after all attempts to get a hand to in their beefis, a record which does every ghip in that port they were Burton Orleans on September 17, 1948. He relief from the national office had Seafarer proud. It ties, in with a communication re­ Hirsoh as chairman. Bob Garrod is 62 years old and sails in the failed. They said that since ceived just a few days ago from the Israeli Seamen's. as recording secretary and Ed steward department. Vamon, who Christmas, 1952, when they re­ Union to the effect that they have gotten themselves ceived a Christmas gift from the Johnston as reading clerk. comes from Georgia, also joined union, no further relief had been firmly established in that country's merchant marine Hirsch can call himself one of up in New Orleans almost 14 years after cleaning out the last remains of a pro-Commu­ the Union's old timers, since he got ago on April 20, 1940. Decatur, accoi'ded them. nist group that was trying to take over. Yolimtary Gifts his membership Georgia, is his home town. He's A couple of years back, the Communist elements That Christmas gift to the pa­ put up a show of strength on the ships of that coun­ book in the port 41 years old and also a member of tients came shortly after the SEA­ try, and the union there called on the SIU to give of Mobile back the galley crew. FARERS LOG highlighted com­ them a hand, which we were glad to do. As a result, on February 6, • » * plaints of neglect by the Manhat­ the Communist faction lost out there and aren't considered & threat 1939. Hirsch is 37 Out on the West Coast, Seafarer tan Beach NMU men. Then, as years of age and Alvah F. Burris was recording sec­ now, the men had to rely on lim­ to the union anymore. makes his home This instance is just another case in which your Union has been retary of the Wil­ across the river ited and irregular volimtary con­ mington, Califor­ from Philadel­ tributions from NMU ship's crews able to lend a hand in a good cause. And like injother instances, the nia, port meeting,, phia in Camden, in order to get pin money for ciga­ end result was beneficial to seamen everywhere because it meant that while Richard P. New Jersey. rettes, stamps and other bare the wbrld-wide Communist waterfront conspiracy had lost another Garrod battle for the control of seamen and their unions. M c B r i d e was Recording sec­ necessities. retary Bob Garrod Is another New reading clerk. Unlike the SIU Welfare Plan ti ilii , Jersey resident coming from the Burris comes which provides unlimited hospital A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, SEAFARERS WILL RECALL, THE shore resort town of Ventnor, originally from benefits for as long as they are SlU-manned Seacliff came into . the West Coast and created quite a North Carolina, along the Atlantic coast. He's been needed, the NMU plan covers thi. sensation in local newspapers, what with the Captain howling "mutiny" with the SIU since 1947, getting but now makes hospitalized seamen for 13 weeks. at the crew. When the facts of the case were revealed, it appeared that h is his book in New York on March 22 Baltimore Some time ago, the NMU news­ Burris the skipper, practically from the beginning of the voyage, was out to of that year. He's 26 years old. Ed home port. He paper announced plans for extend­ Johnston, the reading clerk, is a joined the Union there on March ing the benefit, but nothing came hard-time everybody and anybody in sight. The end result of the whole blow-up was that the ship got a new Pennsylvania native, 48 years of 24, 1945, and sails in the engine of.it. age, who joined the Union in the department. He recently celebrated In addition, the SIU set up a skipper and set but for the Far East for another voyage, from which port of Philadelphia. He still makes his 50th birthday. special list to take care of men it has just returned. This time, the crew reports, there was nothing his home in the port city. McBride, an Oklahoma native, who were in the hospital before but peace and quiet on board. As a matter of fact, one crewmember , * • * now lives in Bakersfield, Califor­ the Welfare Plan began and wlio wrote headquarters that it was one of the most enjoyable trips he Further down the coast, in Balti­ nia. He's 32 yeai s of age and joined would not be eligible for payments. ever had. more, Seafarers 'Jack Howard and the SIU in Tampa on August 22, There was no special list set up by It all goes to prove that given decent cooperation from topside, Siy Robert Vamon served ,a& chairman- 194ft. . ..... crewr cktt assuri smooth-rimnihg and harmonious voyage; Touts Sea Jobs At $2 A Head Patients Call On NMU For Hospital Aid I . I- �SEAFARERS Avrll t, 19Si Face Phre LOG Early Poll Peturns Back Ships' Libraries; Some Changes Sought >r i ' Seafarers voicing their opinion of the SILT ships' library program have indicated over­ whelming support for the idea, with only one lone vote of all those cast calling for a stop to the library distribution aboard SIU ships. A LOG poll on the question of continuing the libraries began two weeks program going for at least another mainder was split nearly evenly, ago. The poll is also intended to 47 percent voting for the program The idea behind the poll year. get-Seafarers' reaction to the types to continue as is, and 53 percent Robert Matthews, SIU assistant secretary-treasurer, left, takes time out to confer with Charles Logan of the Mississippi Shipping Com­ pany, center, and Dr. Martin Fair of Tulane University at the In­ stitute of Foreign Transportation and Fort Operations, sponsored by the college, in New Orleans, La. Prime mover behind the con­ ference was Tulane University School of Business Administration. stems from the necessity for the Union to make arrangements shortly for new stocks -of books to be put aboard SlU-contracted ships, as the program nears, its first birthday. New 50-book libraries are placed aboard all vessels every three months under the auspices of the LOG fund, through the coastwise facilities of the SIU Sea Chest. Once sufficient membership sentiment pro and con has been registered, the Union can assess the merit of keeping the library Conference Takes Up Maritime Ills NEW ORLEANS—^Although not completely in accord about how best to treat the patient, labor and management representatives agreed at an Institute on Foreign Transportation and Port Operations here, that the maritime industry is showing unmistakable signs of economic illness. All hands, agreed, however, registry, unfair rail rates and la­ problems." Daniel said. "We are that the most encouraging and bor costs were among factors cited up against an ossified national ad­ productive development in recent years is the present joint labormanagement effort to focus con­ gressional and public attention on the industry's plight. This program was described to the fifth annual institute session, sponsored by the Tulane University School of Business Administration, by Robert Matthews, SIU assistant secretary-treasurer, a member of the closing day's panel on mari­ time labor relations. The institute, directed by Tulane's Dr. Martin L. Fair, was at­ tended by executives of industrial organizations and rail, motor and maritime transportation agencies from throughout the nation. Chairman of the Maritime Labor Relations Panel was Charles H. Logan, industrial relations counsel for Mississippi Shipping Co. Be­ sides Matthews, other panel membees were Franz Daniel, Denver, CIO administrative assistant, and Hugh King, New York, Luckenback Steamship Co. executive. Competition created by transfer of American ships to foreign flag by King, who traced the decline of the American Merchant Marine since World Wkr II. He said that pi'ior to 1939, labor was only 44 percent of Luckenbach's total voy­ age costs while today it represents 70 percent. He credited union ne­ gotiations for raising wages and shipboard living standards. In re­ sponse to a question from the floor, he said he did not favor lowering maritime wages. He saw no rea­ son why US seamen should be de­ graded to sub-standard foreign flag conditions. It is unfortunate, said Daniel, that the American public, taken as a whole, does not consider the maritime problem as a part of the whole nation's economy which di­ rectly influences the economic well-being of the individual. He said he favored greater govern­ ment participation in the industry in the form of more and bigger maritime subsidies and legislation to curb unfair foreign flag com­ petition, if the result would be a stable economy and full employ­ ment. "In attempting to remedy these YOUancf iho MU From Article XIII, Section 6 "Before assuming office, ever/ officer, port agent, and patrol­ man shall take the following oath: 'I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of of the SIU, and I will, to the best of my ability, protect and preserve the Consti­ tution of this Union and the wel­ fare of the membership'." youfl: B<3Hin5 ANO AS SIU Mttsf ^ ARE OUAEANTEED BV YOUK cONsmunoN, ims EFArURE fS DESlONEb TO ACOUAB^T YOU WHH THESE RJOHTS. AMD ERlvaEGtS ministration devoted to the Hamiltonian theory of 'trickle down'—let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Every attitude of the Republican administration, he added, has been not to "uncomplicate governmental machinery with respect to collec­ tive bargaining and labor manager ment relations, but to complicate it further and to destroy entirely much of what has been built up through the efforts of the unions in the last 20 years." Questions from the floor regard­ ing the longshore labor picture prompted Matthews to remind the audience that the New York long­ shore strike was not a war between rival union factions, as some had attempted to portray it. It was the culminatmn of a series of developments that began with American Federation of Labor demands more than three years ago that the old International Longshoremen'-s Association (Ind.) clean its own house or face a com­ pulsory clean-up from outside forces. When the old ILA would not heed this warning, the AFL was left with no alternative but to expel the old ILA, its officials and its members, and charter a new longshoremen's union to provide a haven for the "vast majority of waterfront workers who need and who want a stable, democratic and productive union," Matthews said. Tie placed a largo share of the blame for the waterfront tie-up at the door of maritime employers who, he said, "have aided and abet­ ted the mob in its desperate at­ tempt to maintain its dictatorship over the New York docks." Mr. Logan replied he did not think It was fair to place too great a share of the responsibility for existing conditions on the em­ ployer. "A great many factors combined to bring about the pres­ ent deplorable situation," he said. Union Has Cable Address Every elected official upon ossum-, ing office must take this oath, which he is required to obey com­ pletely. Any violation of jhe oath would lead to immediate disci­ plinary action under the terms of the Union Constitution. Seafarers overseas who want to get in touch with headquar.ters in a hurry can do so by cabling the Union at its cable address, SEAFARERS NEW YORK. Use of this address will as­ sure speedy transmission on all messages and faster serv­ ice for the men Involved. and quality of the books supplied and to determine whether more or iess of certain kinds of titles should be included in future. 50-book seiections. Virtually Unanimous Completed opinion question­ naires arriving by mail and in per­ son at the LOG office in SIU head­ quarters showed virtually unani­ mous support for the library pro­ gram as a typical SIU service which helped fill the long-felt need for decent reading material abdard ship. "Typical reactions were register­ ed in a poll of 50 Seafarers at the New York hall on Monday, March 29, where the lone dissenting vote on the program was cast. The re- LOC Errs In Photo Mix-up Despite a report in the last is­ sue of the LOG to the contrary, Seafarer CI a r ence W. Cobb has not passed away. Affirming that the reports of his death are greati y exaggerated, Cobb, better known as "Red" among his ship­ mates, is a paJohn Cobb tient in the USPHS hospital in New Orleans, La., and expects to be released soon, in the best of health. Through an unfortunate error, "Red" Cobb's picture was pub­ lished in tjfe Is­ sue of March 19, 1954, along with an account of the death of the late Seafarer John L. Cobb. The LOG would like to of­ fer its apologies to the survivors and friends^ of C. W. Cobb the late Seafarer for any embarrassment it may have caused them by the publication pf the wrong picture, as well as offer­ ing apology to "Red" Cobb, who is still an active member of the SIU. of those recommending the con­ tinued distribution of the libraries with various changes. Of those urging changes in the variety of titles now included in each 50-book assortment, nearly half asked for more novels and non-fiction, especially "how-to-do­ it" books on practical subjects. A surprising trend developed on the question of Westerns, with the heavy demand registered in favor of less of these in each assortment. In contrast, the vote was for more mysteries and, to a lesser degree, more humorous books and books on sports. Other recommendations includ­ ed a request (considered inevitable) for some sea stories in each as­ sortment as a regular category, since otherwise it's a hit-or-miss proposition on finding some among the novels in any one library pack­ age. Some opposition was register­ ed to long novels and mysteries, with the recommendation that col­ lections of short detective and mys­ tery stories would be more desir­ able. Several Seafarers urged that some of the popular weekly maga­ zines, especially news magazines, be somehow worked into the li­ brary packages, to help keep the men abreast of news events throughout the world. A few also suggested the inclusion of comic books in order to keep things on the lighter side. An indication of the popularity of the program generally was the request that the libraries be changed more often than three months since seamen can do iiltle else but read aboard ship, aside from playing cards or writing let­ ters. One Seafarer noted, however, that it was a waste of time to put these libraries aboard "if they're not put under lock and key. Long­ shoremen, army personnel and others walk off with books as soon as they spot them so the crew is left with nothing anyway." The poll on the libraries is open through April 30, 1954, to give Seafarers time to bring in or mail their questionnaires to SIU headquarters. Ships' crews are urged to take part by discussing the subject at a ship's meeting and noting the results on a poll form. Official Form in SEAFARERS LOG Poll on SIU Libraries (Please put check or X-mark next to your choices.) Editor, SEAFARERS LOG 675 Fourth Avenue Brooklyn 32, New York -lere's my opinion on SIU libraries. (A) I want them continued as is. ( ) (B) I want them stopped. ( ) (C) I want them continued with the following changes: There should he more: Westerns ( ), mysteries ( ), novels ( ), non-fiction ( ), humor ( ), sports ( ). ), There should he less: Westerns ( ), mysteries ( novels ( ), non-fiction ( ), humor ( ), sports ( ). (Note: The present breakdown of titles in each 50-book library is as follows: 15 Westerns, 15 mysteries, 10 novels, 4 non-fiction, 4 humorous books, 2 books on sports.) I would recommend the following other changes in the selections: �r«t« HB SEAFARI6RS tCC Did He Realfy Win $140,000? ApHl «, l»S4 SIU NEWSLETTER from WASHINGTON NEW. ORLEANS.—Seafarer John Hals is still on the beach today, still trying to figure out what .happened to "his" $140,000 sweepstake "winnings. " I For weeks now, this city has been buzzing with talk about the seaman who lost a « In the light of World War II experience, it is believed that this na­ winning ticket on the "Irish tion would need at least 6,000 modern ships for an all-out World War Sweepstakes." III. However, the question continues to be, in Government circles. Just The mystery is complicated how large should the US merchant fleet be for peacetime purposes. by the fact that if Hals had a win­ ner, he had one nearly two weeks before the drawing to pick possible prizewinners and three weeks be­ fore" the race that finally decided the actual prizewinners had been run off. None of this has lessened his misery any, however, with things at a stalemate right now. Accounts of the events leading up to this situation are many and varied. Accordingly, although the trail may seem confused, it appears best to start at,,the beginning. Hals, who has been sailing SIU about ten years and is an Estonian by birth, decided more than a year ago it would be a good idea to stay ashore to try and speed up action on his citizenship application which Seafarer John Hals, left, tells the sad tale of the missing sweep­ was "in the works." stakes ticket to shipmate Henry PiszatowskI aboard the Del Norte. Months later, with the naturali­ Story has It that Hals won 50,000 pounds In "Irish Sweepstakes," zation process having reached the but he still must find ticket to. back up his claim to $140,000. point where he could afford to be away for a trip, he signed on as he wasn't able to find his "win­ a letter from a reader who found storekeeper on the Del Norte (Mis­ ning" ticket, which he said he must a sweepstakes ticket 18 months ago sissippi) for a 46-day South Ameri­ have to produce in order to col­ and wanted to contact Hals to see can run. This was on December lect under the rUles of the lottery. if it was the one he lost. 8, 1953. He is certain that when he cleaned At the same time the story While in Curacao, he bought out his locker to come ashore, he "broke" here, a story on an inter­ what he and others thought was an must have xmintentionally thrown view with Hals by the LOG'S Gulf "Irish Sweppstakes ticket" and, as away the marker., Area reporter reached New York far as he knows, threw it in his When news of his misfortune headquarters. locker with his other gear. When spread, the New Orleans newspa­ Ticket Puzzle the Del Norte returned here on pers contacted him and gave full January 22, 1954, Hals got off to play to the story of the seaman who The fact that Hals couldn't col­ receive his final citizenship papers. had a winning ticket In the "Irish lect because he couldn't produce The ship, meanwhile, sailed again Sweepstakes" and couldn't find the his ticket was a puzzle, since it was and called at Curacao, where the ticket with which to claim the known that purchasers of bona man who sold the ticket to Hals $140,000 prize. Then things began fide tickets for the "Irish Sweeps" came aboard looking for him. to happen. eventually get an official receipt It seemed everybody had figured from Dublin, which serves to es­ Won 50,000 Pounds "You can tell him when you get out a way for Hals to collect, and tablish their claim officially if they back to the States that his ticket is would let him in on it for a cut latec come up with a prizewinner. a winner worth 50,000 pounds of the winning stake. One selfA check with several racing ex­ ($140,000)," the agent told crew- styled "tax expert" who said he perts quickly established the fact knew how to save money on tastes that the race which decides the members. Crewmembers tried to do just on lottery winnings'called the SIU winners in the Irish Sweepstakes that when the ship arrived back at hall trying td get in touch with hadnit been run off yet. Further­ New Orleans again on March 11. Hals. The New Orleans Times- more,* the drawing of possible They eventually located Hals, but Picayune called and said they had prizewinners out of the millions of ticketholders in the "Sweeps" hadn't been held yet either. The lottery, originating in Ireland, was based on the results of the Grand Natiohal, a race run in England March 27. A call was then placed to the British Consulate. Was there an English sweepstake with a price of $140,000 or 50,000 pounds? Thesre wasn't, it seemed, although there (Continued on page 17) The standard weekly check-ups Sisk and J. Schaller in Baltimore on petty cash expenses conducted and E. Brondelsbo, J. Tarrant and by the weekly P Kissel in New York. three-man audit­ Quarterly Report ing committees Since the first quarter of the have been car­ year ended Wednesday, the next ried on regularly membership meeting in headquar­ in the various ters will elect the more important ports, as part of quarterly financial committee, 9 the Union's regu­ six-man body which will go over lar procedure for the records and make all prepara­ MOBILE — SlU-manned Water­ close control over tions fo.r the quarterly report. man Steamship Corporation ships finances. "These The week-by-rweek committees Goldman committees, elect­ take audits of the expenses and in­ miay soon carry passengers be­ ed at regular weekly special meet­ come of the branch alone for a tween several GJulf of , Mexico ings of the membership, consist of one-week period. ports. At present, passengers art one man from each ship's depart­ The quarterly transported between Gulf and At­ ment and check into the day-bycommittee has lantic .ports on Waterman coast­ day expenses of port operation. the job of check­ wise ships, but not between Gulf Items that come under their ing all finances !n ports only. scrutiny include such everyday all ports, plus Company headquarters here re­ things as postage, travel expense, headquarters, for cently asked the Interstate Com-' auto expense, building service, a three-months merce Commission for authority to cleaning costs, office supplies, period and then carry passengers abqard its ships paper towels and the multitude of making recom- plying between Galveston, Hous­ small items necessary to the Creasy mendations t o ton, New Orleans^ Panama City smooth functioning of branch hall ' the membership and Tampa. detail. accordingly. Freightships currently operating Seafarers who served recently In In the course of their operations, •on regular schedules between various port committees included they once again go over tlie opera­ these ports have accommodations K.. Goldman, J. Palther and £. tions of the weekly committees, for 12 passengers on each vessel. Monahan in Boston; W. Stricklin, providing a double check on the These accommodations are not O, Bailey and j. Gray ,in Norfolk; records. •. And, of course, they used at .iH-esent except for passen­ J.' Dubo^, B. Thomas .and have' the assistance of certified gers.bound from. # to an AtV' Creasy in'Savannah,- C. Flint, W. A. public accountants in their,work.cilqntfip.porfc,, •V SIU COMMinEES AT WttUE Waterman Asks Okay For Gulf Passenger Run According to best judgment, it should be largo enough to carry at least 50 percent of our foreign trade. Unfortunately, US ships, in January of 1953, carried only 25.8 per­ cent of our foreign commerce. The figure today is Just a little more, which means that the merchant marine is being subjected to neglect by the same purblind thinking that cost us untold lives and billions in World Wars I and II. The story of World War 11 shows that this country built over 54,000,000 deadweight tons of merchant shipping during that war at a cost of over $14 billion dollars. However, at a cost of around $4 billion, a. 40milllon ton fleet could have been built had the construction been done before the war broke out. t. ^ S, Since 1948, it has been Congressional policy, repeatedly conflrmed by Congress, that not less than 50 percent of our foreign-aid cargoes be transported in An\erican bottoms, a program referred to as 50/50. As reported in the L(X* from time to time, this policy is constantly under attack from persons in influential spots in the US Government as well from -others. • In order to overcome this constant agitation. Congressional commit­ tees are giving consideration to enactment of permanent legislation to make the 50/50 shipping rule stick to all US-aid programs in the future. There have been many bills introduced in Congress providing In one way or another for sale of surplus agricultural commodities to foreign nations. The 50/50 shipping proviso, if enacted Into permanent law, would apply to such programs. In the past, the US Government's off-shore procurement projgram has been administered in such* a way as to deny US-flag ships a fair participation therein. In many cases, involving our own off-shore pro­ curement, the foreign supplier controls the delivery routing, which means that they favor their own shipping. To cure this situation, the 50/50 shipping bill, soon to be considered in Congressional committees, seeks to make sure that ,the American merchant marine will share in transporting materials purchased abroad with US money. ' ' , V;' The US State Department may oppose such legislation,-b^l&ausa the various foreign nations are sure to bombard the State Department with protests against enactment of such a broad principle. i" 4" As of March 15, 1954, 49 applications were pending at the Maritime Administration seeking permission to transfer ships to foreign registry. Of this number, 40 covered cargo ships, 8 were for tankers and the re­ maining one was for a dredge. With the exception of one overage tanker which is being sold to Japanese Interests for scrapping in Japan, all of the above are for transfer either to Panamanian or Liberian reg­ istry and flag. Under present policy of the MA, many of these ships will go foreign, unless directed otherwise by Congress. For the period between July 1945 and February 1954, a total of 438 US ships were allowed to be transferred foreign. These were dispersed among 33 foreign nations, but the great bulk, namely 195, went to Panamanian registry. t t ' ' The Bureau of the Budget and the Departments of Commerce and Labor have teamed together in opposition to a bill which would provide that a seaman would not be entitled to an additional month's wages if he is discharged, without fault on his part, after commencement of a voyage, but before finishing a month's service on ship: The opposition of the Government agencies means that ; the bill will not be passed in this Congress. t ' Concerned with a decline In the merchant marine, a House subcom­ mittee has begun inquiry into the operations of the Military Sea Trans­ portation Service to determine to what extent MSis is in competition with private shipowners. MSTS operates both a nucleus fleet and a commercial fleet and, as of March 1, 1954, its combined fleet totalled 371 ships. During 1953, MSTS ships carried 132 million barrels of petroleum products. Fuel oil, diesel oil, aviation gasoline, motor gasoline and Jet fuel made up the bulk of this MSTS tanker lift. The MSTS dry cargo lift in fiscal year 1953 amounted to over 28,OOOiOOO measurement tons while, during the same period, MSTS shipa carried a-total of 2,611,339 passengers. Congress is looking into the MSTS operations to determine to \Chat extent there is competition with private enterprise and to what extent MSTS should be cut down. 4. 4i 4 The petroleum requirements of the US and the ffee world indicate that one of the most serious risks to national security is the prospective shortage of tankers. The Department of Commerce, concluding a recent study, believes that there is little likelihood that normal commercial activity will be able to provide the tanker tonnage necessary in the initial phases of full mobilization. Therefore, this agency feels that the Government should take the initiative in the creation and maintenance of a reserve of. usable tankers to serve military and essential civilian needs in any future crisis. t . 4) 4i The US Department of Defense feels that anything that will float Is of value in a grave emergency. Therefore, Defense IS opposed-to selling surplus US Libertys to foreign natibns until such time as this country has cured the existing shortage of ve^ssels, of the necessary types desired by the militaiy, , ' . �A»ril Z, 1954 SiSAFARERS Pace SeVea LOG Crewmembers ComDOse Hockev Team ARMY CHARGES ON MCCARTHY INVESTIGATED—Senator Joseph R. McCarthy was the focus of- an investigation last week, as his own sub-committee made plans to question him and the committee's counsel, Roy M. Cohn. Under investigation are Army charges that the two men brought pressure on Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens and Army Counsel John Adams, first to get Pvt. G. David Schine, a former unpaid adviser to the committee, a commission, and when that failed, and Schine was drafted, to secure him preferential treatment and have him assigned to New York City. The charges received strong support from both President Eisenhower and Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson. t INDO CHINA WAR GROWS HOT—Last week, Indo-China began ex­ periencing its first battle of modem proportions, when the Communist Vietminh forces launched an all-out attack, completely contrary to their normal guerilla warfare, against French forces in the Dienbienphu val­ ley. ' The valley is isolated in the northwest part of the country and France has about 20,000 men, the cream of her fighting force, locked In savage battle with the Communists, who breached some of the Dienbeinphu defenses, although suffering 5,000 casualties. The Reds threw approximately 45,000 men against the defenders and the French quick­ ly rushed assistance to the beleaguered valley by air. Meanwhile, in Washington, Gen. Paul Ely, chief of the French armed forces, re­ ceived a promise of more planes from the United States. S. tr X ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SHAKEN BY SCANDAL—A scandal which threatened to overthrow the new cabinet of Mario Scelba In Italy subsided last week and the premier got back to the business of run­ ning the government. The scandal broke when a picture magazine edi­ tor charged that the death of a party girl, Wilma Montesi, last year, originally listed as being caused by drowning, was actually due to an overdose of drugs taken at a fashionable club to which many members of the new cabinet belong. The editor further charged that orgies were commonplace among some of the highest placed persons of Italy and included the son of a high-ranking cabinet mem­ ber. Scelba moved swiftly and fired his chief of police. Al­ Here is recent photo of the though the number of lawsuits late Wilma Montesi, whose growing out of the original charges death has shaken the Italian and hearing which followed is now government. moce tharf two dozen, Scelba is thus far weathering the storm despite attacks on many men close to him. XXX THE BOMB—An explosion in the Pacific, apparently a hydrogen bomb, set off a chain reaction of newspaper headlines across the world when reports from the United States Proving Grounds In the Marshall glands stated that the thermo-neuclear blast on March 1 was the most powerful ever set off by man. The explosion proved too powerful to measure by Instruments; greatly exceeded the expectations of all the atomic experts; shook-buildings on an island 176 miles away; created a nuclear cloud 17 miles high and 28 miles in diameter; caused 23 Japanese fishermen to become exposed to radioactivity although ap­ proximately 70 miles from the test area; and exploded with a force estimated at being 600 times more than Hiroshima atom bomb. A more powerful bomb exploded March 26 was even more devastating. Crewmembers of the Princess Helene pose before a game in the St. John City Commercial Hockey League, St. John, New Brunswick. All of the players are members of the SIU Canadian District. Huck LeClair, left, middle row, another member of crew, coaches club. Israel Sea Union On Solid Basis The new Israeli Seamen's Union is today operating on a solid footing, following the deci­ sive defeat of the Communist faction in union ejections last fall. In 1951, Israeli seamen fought off an attempt by Comunist groups to seize control of the infant union with the aid of-*' the SIU, when American growth of the organization gave paid vacation and other benefits. Communist groups the opportunity Israeli seamen have a work-week unions rebuffed leaders of a to make their bid in 1951, but the of 47 hours at sea, and 43 in port. 42-day wildcat strike in their bfd to enlist the aid of US sea unions each time Israeli ships hit Ameri­ can ports. Th^ importance of its merchant marine to the tiny Near Eastern nation stems from the urgency to by-pass an Arab nation blockade, with the sea providing the only mass means available to the coun­ try for exporting its products and importing essential materials for its growing Industry and agricul­ ture. Accordingly, Histadrut, the AFLbacked General Federation of La­ bor in Israel, placed major empha­ sis on_the drive to keep the Com­ munists from gaining control' of the Ispaell Seamen's Union when It was formed In 1948. The fast wildcat tie-up eventually fizzled. Soon after the founding of the union, it won a union shop in ne­ gotiations with the shipping com­ panies which make up Israel's merehant fleet, comprising 30 ships totalling 160,000 tons. Three of these vessels were bought from the SlU-contracted Isthmian Steam­ ship Company, the last of them, the Steel Mariner, early in 1952. Won Contract Following tlie victory over the Communist faction last fall, the new union went after and got a contract with the Israeli operatoi's providing for .all hiring to be done under a union-run hiring hall set­ up, company contributions to, sick­ ness and accident funds, ten paid holidays, a graduated vacation set­ up assuring, a minimum 12-day YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH SEAFARERS GUIDE TO BETTER BUYING Beware Phony Health ^ans As investigations have shown, commercial accident and health insurance policies at best are an expensive way for a man to try to protect himself and family from the high cost of illness. At worst, such insurance is a trap for the workingman for many accident and health policies are full of triqks which destroy the advertised benefits. Many wage-earners have paid expensive premiums for sickness insurance for years, only to find that when they did be­ come sick, the insurers cancelled their policies. Or they found that when they reached age 60 or 65, the insurers either cancelled the policies or raised-the rates sharply. Some Seafarers have gotten caught by such policies too, as indicated by letters the victims have .written to the LOG. Even when there are no serious flaws in the policy which nullify the apparent benefits, such insurance sold by com^ii mercial companies is very costly for what it provides. Independent investigations have shown that even the re­ liable commercial companies have a record of paying out an average of only 55 cents in benefits. That is, for every dollar the average policyholder pays in, he can expect to get back only 55 cents in benefits. Deceive On Benefits One of the most deceiving aspects of such policies is the benefits themselves. The insurance company adver­ tises, it will pay stipulated sifins for .various jfickness ex­ penses—op much fpr^ h.-r^pital wont, 'so much for certain Operations. btC^ Your impression is that the promised ' benefit does cover the cost of the illness. But people in­ sured under such policies paying cash indemnity benefits generally must pay; a considerable additional charge for medical care expenses over and above the benefits paid by their insurance policies. This is particularly true in the case of insurance for surgery. While most accident and health insurance policies are costly—often ranging from $100 to $200 in cost for in­ dustrial workers—there are some seemingly cheaper pol­ icies on the market. These are often offered by mail-order 'insurance companies. There are several fairly reliable accicfent and hCalth insurance companies who sell by mail, but the lowest-cost of these are vety discriminatory. They often refuse to sell to industrial workers, including Sea­ farers, and also frequently discriminate against Negroes. Some of the other mail-order insurance sellers who adver­ tise seemingly cheap rates have hidden jokers in the policies which make them practically worthless. One of the favorite tricks is to advertise a long list of illnesses which the insurance pretends to cover. But often some of the illnesses are the same ones under different names, and some are very rare diseases which you probably never would get. Also, many of these mail-order firms are in­ sured in only ohe ^ate. So if you wanted to sue because you didn't collect when you feel you are entitled to the promised benefits, you would have to go to that state to take legal action. A Seafarer does have a certain amount of protection both through Federal bpspital 'care and the Seafarers WeU fare'Plan. The hospital-benefit provision of the Welfare Plan pa}'s $13 weekly during the^entire. period of hospi­ Olde Photos Wanted by LOG The LOG is Interested in col­ lecting and printing photo­ graphs showing what seagoing was like in the old days. All you oldtimers who have any old mementos, photographs of shipboard life, p i c t iu r e s of ships or anything that would show how seamen lived, ate and worked in the days gone by, send them in to the LOG. Whether they be steam or sail,, around the turn of the cen­ tury, during the first world war and as late as 1938. the LOG is interested in them all. We'll take care of them and return your souvenirs to you. Written exclusively for THE SEAFARERS LOG. by Sidney Margolius, Leading Expert on Buying talization. The disability provision pays $25 weekly for totally disabled Seafarers for the entii'e period of dis­ ability. There still remains the problem of sickness insurance for the family. Here too the Seafarers Welfare Plan has a valuable provision in the maternity benefit, vshich pays $200 plus a $25 bond for each child born. The lowest-cost outside plan available for a family is the Blue Cross. Rates vary in different regions, but in one region this writer studied. Blue Cross returned in bene­ fits 87 cents of every premium dollar it took in compared to the 55 cents for the typical commercial insurance plans. Generally you have to join Blue Cross through a group (rates are lower that way too). If there is such a group you can join in your community, it does offer the best available buy in hospitalization insurance. However, Blue Cross does not pay doctor bills. By far the best method of getting such medical insurance has been found to be the Jlrepayment group-practice plans, such as the Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP), the Labor Health Institute of St. Louis, San Francisco's Permanent Clinic and others. Generally participation in these plans is on a group basis too. which keeps out in­ dividual families. In such cases,, and where available, the Blue Shield plan operated in connection with Blue Cross, generally provides the next best value in medical insur­ ance. But in all cases, avoid commercial company policies un­ less you' can paii\*.ipate un a group basis, which reduces the cosk. �FiaceEicU SEAFARERS Aprfl 2, 1954 LOR 'i Eye Gift Story Ends In Rennlon On Ship CASH BENEFITS SEAFARERS WELFARE, VACATION PLANS REPORT ON BENEFITS PAID No. Seafarers Receiving Benefits this Period Average Benefits Paid Each Scafaref Total Benefits Paid this Period igaiiBlliii Bconitcd once asain are Seafarers Phil Pron, left, and Eric Joseph, aboard the Fairland. Joseph »ave up cornea so that Pron might see •gain in 1959 eye operation. Back together again for the first time since their celebrated meeting at the Staten Island USPHS hospital, Eric Joseph and Phil Pron are'now sailing aboard the Fairland (Water­ man) en route to Japan and-* again. A difficult corneal trans­ Korea. For both of them, the trip plant operation proved a success together is the realization of a three-year-old dream. Pron re­ cently completed his first trip since he went back to sea after being out -of action for three years because of blindness. After he got off the Strathport (Strathmore), he met Jo­ seph and they eventually Jound -a ship which had job openings for both of them. The story of Pron's recovery of sight is familiar to many Sea­ farers, because of the wide cover­ age it received in the daily press as well as the SEAFARERS LOG. His escape from a life of blindness was made possible through the dona­ tion of .a cornea by Joseph, who learned of Pron's plight when they were in the marine hospital to­ gether. Since he had limited vision in one of his own eyes, which was damaged by scar tissue, Joseph vol­ unteered to sacrifice the sight of that eye so that Pron might see and, after many long months of hospitalization s^d treatment, Pron was certified as fit for duty again in the summer of 1953. Throughout the long months when it was unknown whether the operation would be successful or not, both Pron and Joseph met pferiodically, when Joseph returned from a trip. It was a tough period for Pron, who hoped for the best and for an opportunity to ship out with the fellow-Seafarer who had saved his sight. "It would be like old times again," he always remarked, "and maybe I could find a way some day to repay Eric a little for what he did for me." Accordingly, while both of them were ashore earlier this year, they constantly watched for a ship which-might have berths for both of them. The opportunity came up on the Fairland, and both grabbed it. I II ^3. m WELFARE, VACATION BENEFm PAID THIS PERIOD Hospital Bcngfita Death Benefits Disability Benefits Matetaitv Benefits Vacation Benefits Total 4,Slg dXHts in ss AM as. 1 /ga WELFARE, VACATION BENEFITS PAID PREYIOUSLY HosDitai Benefits Paid Since Tulv 1. 1950 • Death Benefits Paid Since Tulv 1. 1950* Disability Benefits Paid Since May 1. 1952 * Matcrnitv Benefits Paid Since Aocil 1. 1952 * Vacation Benefits Paid Since Feb. 11. 1952 • TOMI • * Dace Benefits Becan 1 *4U!S'JI^ | 1 o^l B i *)> 9>4d W. 1" " " H 7^ WELFARE, VAOkTION PLAN A»ET$ Cash on Hand Vacation Welfare S:LLQS^ a# Vacation Estimated Accounts Receivable Welfare US Government Bonds (Welfare) Real Estate (Welfare) Other Assets — Training Ship (Welfare) TOTAL ASSETS ^St.sw ismg. SOL. ass^ SbSX sn.fsa ll9l>La 3.K During the month of Feb*, the Welfare Plan paid out twentyfive (25) death benefits, which makes forty-two (42) for th year to date* The Plan also paid out forty-one (41) mater^ nity benefits during Feb*, which makes ninety-t^e (93) for the year to date* Ae of this date, eleven (11) people have applied and quali­ fied for the scholarship benefits of 1954* Of this eleven (11), seven (7) have already taken the exams* The breakdown of the eleven (11) applicants is as followst Four (4) sea­ men, three (3) sons of seamen and four (4) daughters of seamen* • • •* •* •# *• Suhmitttd A1 Kerr, Assiatimt Administrator •.. and, remember this • • • All these are yours wthout contributii^ a sini^e nkkel on your Collecting SlU beufi-r. flt»i»«aay, vUrtether it?lti(U: lM»spital, birtivdisabiU^ or deaih%^l^^ ^ gervicfrimni^ately diTO your.irQion'a rqpreeaitativea; . > 'i.: �April t, 1954 SEAFARERS Pare Nine LOG Seafarer Recalls Old WHallng Days; Finds Life Today ^Tame^ The job of a carpenter on an SIU ship is comparatively tame today, according to Sea­ farer Edward Jacobsen, who used to hold down the same spot on the giant whale factory ships that worked the waters of the South Antarctic. One memorable experience, he recalled, was a three-and-' were the days when a carpenter of knives and bladed instruments a-half-year trip on the whaler also had the responsibility of used to skin and cut up the whale Ulysses as chief carpenter. Those seeing to it that the different types had a fine, razor edge. Using dull Seafarer Pat Murphy (right), port manager of the SIIT Sea Chest In Baltimore, is congratpjated on Union slop chest's top sales of Philip Morris cigarettes in the port by company representative Charlie Dodson. SIU Sea Chest took first prize for most sales of Philip Morris sea store cigarettes in recent contest. Sea Chest Takes Top Prize In Cigarette Sales Contest BALTIMORE—Running well in front of the opposition, the SIU Sea Chest here recently came away with first prize in a port-wide competition among slop chest dealers for top sales of Philip Morris sea^ dealers dealt solely with taxstores cigarettes on ships hit­ chest free, sea store cigarettes in bond, ting this port. the type which can only be sold iThe^cbntest, in which the Unionoperated slop chest won top honwas sponsored by the Philip Mprris Co. as part of a local pro­ motion for its smoking products. The -competition among the slop Throw in For A Meeting Job Under the rules of the SIU, any member can nominate himself for meeting chairman, loading clerk or any other •post that may be up for elec­ tion before the membership. Including committees, such as the tallying committees, finan­ cial committees, auditing com­ mittees and other groups named by the membership. Since SIU membership meet­ ing officers are elected at the start of each meeting, those who wish to run for those meeting offices can do so. aboard ship. The heavy sales of Philip Mor­ ris cigarettes by the Sea Chest branch was commemorated by, among other things, the presenta­ tion of a doll mascot to Seafarer Pat Murphy, port manager of the Sea Chest. The doll is a promo­ tion piece for the nationally-tele­ vised "I Love Lucy" show spon­ sored by Philip Morris. Sell Bulk Lots According to Murphy, former chief steward on the Carolyn (Bull), "the SIU showed those slop chest operators that we can really sell cigarettes in bulk lots and can handle the transaction efficiently and smoothly." The winning of the Philip Mor­ ris award in this port "nailed the lie," Murphy pointed out, "that the Sea Chest isn't able to handle large amounts of cigarettes or any other products for mass distribution on our ships. Some people in the trade have the notion we're a small outfit, especially since we're a Union operation," he added. Whales harpooned by small boats are secured aft of the factory ship Ulysses before hauled aboard one by one for processing. V '- J ' "I Afterdeek of ihe Ulysses bristles with activity as crewmembers cut away blubber from whale. Man high in photo hacks at whale ndth cutting tool to free blubber from, carcass. History When the votes in the second Cities Service election were counted, in April, 1949, the SIU rolled up a majority of 89 percent But despite the lengthy preelection proceedings and the fact that the SIU had won an earlier vote covering seven ships by.fl® pep5 S T cent, CS;saU tried to keep the Union out knives to cut up a 90-foot whale is like trying to count the sand on the beach. Jacobsen, a spry sea veteran who just turned 65, hails from Norway, from which many of the whale ships still go out to hunt the giants of the sea for their valuable oil and other prod­ ucts. He sailed British and Nor­ r wegian whalers Jacobsen for about tpn years off and on, but the trip on the Ulysses 15 years ago was the fa­ vorite. However, the ship itself had worse luck than he did, and was sunk during the war. A Seafarer since 1949, Jacobsen (Continued on page 17) Vietorgf lis Cities Service Company lawyers tried every trick to keep the dis­ credited company union, the Citco Tankerman's As­ sociation, alive, while dozens of pro-SIU men were fired on the slightest pretext. A stack of objections filed by the company also barred, the NLRB from m-tifyinif the SIU as bargaining agent 2\ o. 60 After the NLRB turned down the company objections, CS lawyers came back with "exceptions" to the NLRB decision. Certification finally came in December, four months later. The SIU demanded • immediate talks on a contract to give the men thoj;^ conditions they had been" seeking over three' years. �iF" SEAFARERS Page Tea i: LOG April 2. 1954 PORT HEPOBTS disillusion them, that is the reason New Orleans: for standing in the shade. On the political scene, as far as the Democratic primaries are con­ cerned, it has now come to a knock down and drag-out situation be­ Complaints have been received Shipping in the Port of Balti­ tween Mahoney and Byrd. We are more has been very slow and ap­ still of the opinion that the trend in this report i-ecently from men parently it will continue that way will be definitely toward Mahoney who have run into difficulty in atfor the next two weeks as we have as we have noticed that quite a tempting-to collect unemployment had several ships lay up for an few of the Democratic clubs, which compensation to which they were indefinite period. We also have the are very powerful here, have entitled. A high percentage of such cases Michael paying off here and she is swung over to him. Regardless of also laying up. So as you can read­ who may win in the primaries, we have been coming from Alcoa, ily see we are really on the slow are definitely sure that the State which has been reporting to !the State Employment Office, which bell here. In the meantime we of Maryldnd will go Democratic. handles the claims, that men who have had a ratio of about 2ii-to-l Taking Shape registered, so I wouldn't advise any . The new building is really shap­ become unemployed from Alcoa did so of their own accord, regard­ of the brothers to come to Balti­ more at the present time, unless ing up now and the public have less of the real reason for termina­ they can afford to hang around a nothing but the most favorable tion of employment. comments to make in its appear­ little while. All men who become unemployed ance even at this 'early stage. Also, We have had the following ships practically every AFi. labor or­ in this port through being fired, paying off here in the past two ganization which doesn't have a laid off because of ship'lay ups, weeks: Santore, Cubore, Marore building of its own; would like to or any other reason except quitting of Ore; Bethcoaster and Oremar have space in ours. So just bear a ship of a person's own accord are of Calmar; Kathryn, Ines, Beatrice along with us fellows, and it won't advised to obtain a statement from and Elizabeth of Bull; Cantigny be long before we will take over the company as to the reason for and French Creek of Cities Serv­ and I am sure the waiting will be unemployment. If the company does not want to supply such a ice; Yaka and Morning Light of well worth while. statement, the man involved should Waterman; and Robin Tuxford of Our man of the week. Brother call the hall immediately so a Seas. Luby O'Neal, has been a member Union representative can go to bat Signing on were the Santore, since December 7, 1938, and has Baltore, Cubore and Marore of been sailing for the past 30 years for him on the case. The statement should be ob­ Ore; and the Massmar, Oremar in the black gang. His hobby is and Bethcoaster of Calmar. In fishing and the crew likes to see tained" to substantiate unemploy­ transit vessels were the Bethcoast­ Luby coming down the dock when ment compensation claims when er and Marymar of Calmar; Alcoa he makes one of the Ore ships, filed with the State Employment Puritan and Alcoa Runner of Al­ knowing that at least they will Office here. Goes to Bat coa; Edith, Frances, Rosario and have an abundance of fish. He Marina of Bull; Antinous and said that during his time of sail­ The SIU has been going to bat Choctaw of Waterman; and the ing, he has seen the^ worst condi­ to help men in appealing claims Compass of Compass. tions possible and it was a Godsend which have been denied, but We have been able to place to all seaman when the SIU was chances of success in such appeals about 20 of our men at the pres­ organized, as now all of the sea­ are greatly improved if the man in ent time as gangway watchmen men can live like they are human question can produce a written ahd cargo watch­ beings and not the scum of the statement from the company re­ men due to the earth as they used to be thought garding the true reason of his un­ diversion of so of. He said that he can't thank the employment. John "Monk!' Kelly has asked many„ships from officials and the membership the Port of New enough^for the splendid work they that we take note of his thanks to York which have have always done and are still do­ the doctor, stewardess and crewgiven quite a few ing to make the Seafarers the best mehibers of the Del Sud (Missis­ of our oldtimers and the most recognized Union in sippi) for their kind treatment of him while Jie was ill aboard the a stake so that the maritime industry. Del Sud recently. Brother Kelly they don't have In Hospital suffered a heart attack and had to to carry the ban­ O'Neal We have in the marine hospital be returned to the USPHS hospital ner. This is cer­ tainly appreciated by the various at this writing, Raymond C. Myers, here. He is reported to be respond­ watchmen locals that took the Kristoffer Braten, Thomas Mungo, ing to treatment in good fashion. Well on the road to recovery courtesy to call us and we hope Alva W. McCullum, Benjamin Sunthat they will need a few of these derlund, Thomas Tierno, Andrew after recent surgery at the USPHS Westerlund, Lloyd G. Linthicum, hospital here is C. Brady, who says more often. Clifford H. Adkins, William J. he hopes to be back on the ship­ The Sea Chest here is really do­ ing a bang-up job' now which I Stephens, Paige Mitchell, John ping list before long. New in Hospital think is due to the change in the Scott, Alexander Johnson; Joseph Newly admitted to the hospital personnel. They not only contact" D. McGraw, William D. Kenny, our ships, but have been contact­ Clyde R. Leggett, George Mattair, were Seafarers J. N. Hill, A, Cox, ing other outfits besides. So I am Peter Losado, Karl Kristensen, G. H. Dolan and H. M. Hankee. sure that in later reports, you will Millard Cutler, William Kunak,- L. W. Wetzell Jr., Leonard Kay, agree with me that they are really Hinrich Wiese, Jesse A. Clark, J. D. Dambrino, R. W. Clark, T. L. Frank VanDusen, James B. Hum­ Dugan^and H. D. Fouche recently going all out in the Sea Chest. phries. We have Thor Thorsen re­ were discharged from the hospital Weather Fine ceiving special disability benefits and hope to be back on the job in At least there is one thing in this week also. the near future. our favor, the weather. Spring is Shipping in this port picked up a> Ear! Sheppard really here in Baltimore. The boys bit since -the last report and a good Baltimore Port Agent have even gone so far as to stand on the shady side of the street so that they won't get a sun-tan, for as you know, when these boys are all bronzed up, the girls think they just came in from a Far Eastern or Persian Gulf run. So as not to Baltimore: Union Helps Members Gel Unempleymenl $ Heavy Galls For Cargo, Gangway Walcbmon percentage of those who had been "sweating out" their turn on the shipping list were able to ship. The job situation here still is slightly below par for this season, however. We had a few minor beefs, but these quickly were squared away. dispute involving five nights lodging for 12 men on the Del Aires (Mississippi) has been settled with the result that the men involved can collect by contacting the Mis­ sissippi Shipping Co. Any of those who have left this port can collect file money that is coming to them by writing to the following address: Attn. Mr. Lisboney, Mississippi Shipping Co., Hibernia Building, New Orleans, La. Since our last report, the Steel Advocate and Steel Architect (Isthmian), the Del Aires, Del Norte, Del Monte, Del Sol and Del Santos (Mississippi) and the Antinous (Waterman) paid off here. The Del Norte and Del Monte signed on. Ships in transit were the Alcoa Corsair, Alcoa . Pennant, Alcoa Cavalier and Alcoa Pilgrim (Alcoa), Steel Architect and Steel Age (Isthmian), Del Monte (Mississippi), Seatrains New York and Savannah (Seatrain), the Fairland, Fairisle, Iberville, ClMborne and Wild Ranger (Waterman) and the Evelyn (Bull). LIndsey J. Williams New Orleans Port Agent 4, 4. i. Boston: Slate To Build Hew Road Through Bosleu Shipping continues to be slow in Boston, with prospects for the fu­ ture remaining the same. The Queenston Heights of Seatrade and Bull's Ann Marie paid ofl and signed on again since last report. In-transit vessels included Robin Tuxford, Robin Wentley and Robin Kirk (Seas); Bents Fort of Cities Service and the Fairisle of Waterman, Captain Litchfield, the represen­ tative of the Eastern Steamship Company came into the office and told us that the Yarmouth was def­ initely going to be put under the Liberian flag. On the Beach On the beach at this time are F. Albano, M. Doucette, H. Clem­ ents, J. Halpin, B. Gordy and lots more. After tearing down all the buildings a couple of doors up the street from the hall, the state is beginning to build its new high­ way. It is just starting to shape up rqw. This highway is u much needed improvement. James Sheehan ' Boston Fort Agent snr UAtti omEcroR r SEU, A&G District -• :tf ' !•; nonH Wait^ Get Vacation Pay Under the rules of the Va­ cation Plan as set forth by the. trustees, a Seafarer must ap­ ply within one year of the payoff date of his oldest dis­ charge in order to collect-his full vacation benefits. If he presents any discharge whose payoff date is more than a ' year before the date of his va.cation application, he will lose out on the sea time covered by that particular discharge. Don't sit on those discharges. Bring them in and collect the money that is due to you. BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. Earl Sheppard. Agent Mulberry 4540 BOSTON 276 State St. .lames Sheehan, Agent Richmond 2-0140 GALVESTON 3081.4 23rd St. Keith Alsop, Agent Phone 2-8448 L4KE CHARLES. La 1419 Ryan St. Leroy Clarke. Agent Phone 6-5744 MOBILE . . 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner. Agent Phone 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St. Lindsey Williams, Agent Magnolia 6112-6113 NEW VORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn HVacinth 9-6600 .NOREOLK 127-129 Bank St. Agent Phone 4-1083 PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St. S. CarduUo. Agent .Market 7-1635 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. r. Banning, Agent Douglas 2-5475 Marty Breithoff, West Coast Representative PUERTA de TIERRA. PR Pelayo 51—La 5 Sal Colls. Agent * ' Phone 2-5996 SAVANNAH 2 Abercorn St. .left Morrison, Agent Phone 3-1728 SEATTLE 2700 ut Ave Jeff^Ujette. Agent TAlfifttte : "18091811 N; ySnkiin*®?' ^Kay White. Agent Phone 2-1323, WtLMINGTON, Calif 509 Marine Ave. Ernest Tilley, Agent Terminal 4-2874 HEADQUARTERS 679 4th Ave., Bklyn. SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul Hall ASST SECRETARY-TREA.SURERS Robert Matthews Joe Algina Claude Simmons Joe Volpian WUliam Hall SUP HONOLULU FORT WILLIAM.... 118V4 Syndicate Ave. Ontario Phone; 3-3221 PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St. Ontario Phone: 5591 TORONTO. Ontario 272 King St. E. EMpire 4-5719 VICTORIA, BC, 61714 Cormorant St. Empire 4531 VANCOUVER, BC 565 Hamilton St. Pacific 7824 SYDNEY. NS.. 304 Charlotte St. Phone 0346 BAGOTVILLB, Quebee 20 Elgin St. Phone: 545 THOROLD, Ontario 52 St.sDavlds St. CAnal 7-3202 QUEBEC 113 Cot# De La Montague Quebec Phone; 2-7078 SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St. NB Phone: 2-5232 18 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 022 N. W. Everett St. ' Beacon 4336 lUCUMOND. CALIF 257 5th St. Phone 2599 SAN FRANCISCO........450 Harrison St. Douglas 2-8363 Great Lakes District SEATTLE 2700 1st Ave. V Main 0290 ALPENA 133 W. Fletcher WILMINGTON ...; 505 Marine Ave. Phone: 12.38W Terminal 4-3131 BUFFALO, NY 180 Main St. Phone: Cleveland 7391 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn CLEVELAND....-..734 Lakeside Ave., NE STerllng B-4671 . Phone; Main 1-0147 DETROIT 1038 3rd St. Canadian District Headquarters Phone: Woodward 1-6857531 y/. Michigan St MONTREAL «« St. James St. West DULin-M. ' Phone:' Melrose 2-4110 HALlFilX.INA. .iras... .wi^eiUa's4 SOUTH CHICAGO........3361 Ei mnB St Pfaonei Eatea 6-a41<> Phone: 3-8911 PORTLAND ..... Mobile: Warns Men On Hiring Shoif HeiieeToHall ipping in the port for the last couple of weeks was considered good with about 100 men shipped to offshore Jobs and about half again that many to various relief jobs in and around^the harbor. We had a total of 12 payoffs, six signons and two ships in transit. Ships paying off were the Maiden Creek, Wild Ranger, Claiborne, Iberville and Monarch of the Sea (Waterman); and Alcoa's Pennant, Cavalier, Pilgrim, Pointer, Clipper and Roamer. Signing on were the Fairisle, Wild Ranger and Warhawk of Wa­ terman, while the Pennant, Pilgrim and Pointer of Alcoa did like­ Hallman wise. In transits were the Dei Vaiie of Mississippi and the Evelyn of Bull. The ohiy beef we have of any consequence is the idea that some of the brothers think that they can give a few hours notice to the hall and get off a ship on foreign articles just before she sails. This is a practice that has to stop. It not only works a hardship on your replacement, but puts the Union ii a bad light. The Union has demanded that the company give any man that is discharged or laid up 24 hours' notice and at the same time the Union guaranteed that any man who is getting off give at least the same notice, making it part of the^agreement. This part of the agreement is definitely going to be lived up to and unless a man has a serious emergency such' as death in the family or serious ill­ ness, no exceptions are going to be made and violators of this section of the agreement made to stand to be tried for getting off a ship without giving proper notice. - On The Beach A few of the brothers currently on the beach in Mobile include A. Nelson, H. King, R. Merritt, J. Grin^es, R. Swayne, H. Jackson, C. Lowery, A. Lee, L. Jack.son, H. Hallman, D, Baria, M. Coleman, F. McConice and R. Aguair. A lot of interest is shown by the membership in-the local area on the organizing efforts of the AFL organizers, who are going full blast in this town. Everytime a newscast comes over the television set on the recreation deck, it finds the members assembled getting the latest news on the East Coast situa­ tion. The drive in this area looks fine and it is anticipated that in the very near future all southern locals will swing over to the AFI> ILA. Hugh "Cherokee" Hallman is raising a war-whoop around here now. He is originally from Atlanta, Georgia although he has made Mobile his. shipping port for some years. Recently he did about a year or so on the Choctaw of Wa­ terman and gave all the girls in Japan and on the Far East run a break. Hallman thinks the vaca- , tion benefit is tops in the Union, claiming it is his eating money since he taps out very shtfftly after payoff and then eats off his vaca­ tion money until he ships again. Hallman has just come out of the hospital on Staten Island, New York. He was laid up therie for a while, but decided to come down to the Gulf in order to fully recup­ erate from his illness. All the boys wish him well. Cal Tanner jifdbir«''Foft''Ag^nt'' •v,' li �ji-T- Psige Eleyep SEAFARERS LOG April 2, 1954 > JKMtr REPORTS going to be cleared up by cement­ two-week period has been the Lake Charles: ing the tanks. The chief on the weather. However, what we need Southwind is one of the boys who is more ships and less weather. has lots of trouble with electri­ The weather can always take care cians. Either he will change his of itself. ways or be left all alone with his E. B. Tilley gadgets. Wilmington Port Agent Things have been on the slow We had 14 ships pay off, four Oldtimers on the beach include bell here in Lake Charles for the sign on and 16 ships in transit here t. past two weeks, but the outlook John Morris. T. Nongezer, J. in the Port of New York. All heels Philadelphia: for the next two weeks Is fair. Christy, F. Boyne, F. Wesley, C. were settled on all the^payoffs and However, we do not recommend Moss, E. Bryant, while in the sign-ons. that the member's come rushing hospital are P. Wood, F. Paylor, We paid off the crew of the here as we have enough men here R. McCorkel, J. Littleton, P. JaWilliam Burden in the company of­ kubcsak, G. Corbett, W. Bedgood, to meet our needs. fice, after the ship laid up in Japan. Calling in this area were the J. Sellers, J. Kramer, P. Bland, C. Shipping for the past two weeks The following ships paid off: Lone Jack, Bradford Island, Bents Carkhuff and A. Norton. has been relatively slow in com­ Fort, Logans Fort,' Fort Hoskins. Jeff Morrison Rosario, Suzanne and Show Me parison to the increased activity in Savannah Port Agent Mariner of Bull: Val.XJhem of Val­ Winter Hill, Can4« J" 4entine; Government Camp, Chi- the port. Although we have-had tigny and Council wawa, AbiC|ua, Archers Hope, Brad­ five payoffs in the port, there were Grove of Cities Seattle: ford Island and Lone Jack of Cities fewer replacements than expected Service. The Lo­ Service; ^eatrains New York and and the prospects for the future gans Fort paid off New Jersey of Seatrain; Lawrence are not so hot. here from interSo far we have not had too much Victory, of Mississippi and the coastal. We had Mankato Victory of Victory Car­ trouble along the waterfront ex­ the Alexandra of cept Jor the walkout on March 17, Shipping is not good at the pres­ riers. Can-as come into and "there has been much discusr. Signing On Orange, Texas, ent time and it looks as if that will sion as to whether or not it was a to pay off and go be the prevailing situation for the Ships signing on were the Jef­ holiday for the longshoremen for Gann into lay-up. next two weeks as we have noth­ ferson City Victory of Victory Car­ which we can claim holiday -OT. riers; Robin Kettering of Seas; We don't think it was a holiday, but We had quite a battle over trans­ ing scheduled for payoff at this Show Me Mariner and the Law­ a walkout, so there is no claim. portation on her but we held firm time. Ships paying off were the Ragand all hands got their dough. The rence Victory of Mississippi. Otherwise, things are running company got the brilliant idea nar Naess of Orion, Battle Rock of Ships in transit were the Arlyn smoothly. that they would pick the kind of US Petroleum, Ocean Betty of of Bull; Warrior, Chickasaw, Choc­ Ships paying off were the Com­ transportation money to pay but Ocean Trans and the Hoosier taw, Alavvai and De Soto of Water­ pass of Compass; the Marina and we had other ideas and won out. Mariner of Isthmian. man; Marymar and Pennmar of Carolyn of Bull; Marymar of Cal­ We hope the ship doesn't stay laid The Ocean Lotte of Ocean Trans Cajmar;, Alexandra of JCarras; mar; and Council Grove of Cities up long, but one never can tell. signed on, while in-transits were Council Grovc' and Fort Hoskins Service. The same ships signed on the Alamar, Calmar and Portmar Strike Near End of Cities Service; Steel Vendor again. All but one union in the Build­ of Calmar; Seacomet of Colonial and Steel Navigator of Isthmian; In-transit vessels were the Edith. ing and Construction Trades strike and the Azalea City of Waterman. Bull Run of Petrol Tankers; Sea- Rosario, Ines and Elizabeth of Bull; against the contractors has signed The Hoosier Mariner laid up in train Texas of Seatrain; and the Robin Kettering and Robin Went­ up and ceased strike action. We Seattle this week and the member­ ley of Seas. Massmar of Calmar; will notify the men as soon as the ship on board was in a pitiful state Ro.bin Wentley of Seas. I want to inform the member­ Winter Hill of Cities Service and last union signs up. of mind since the Mariner-type ship that at , the present time we the Chickasaw of Waterman. On the beach here we find R. ships are the nicest freighters Steve CarduUo request that they do not park their Lyle. A. Fruge, R. Frye, J. Bau- afloat. It is certainly a shame to Philadelphia Port Agent cars in the : parking lot while the doin, P. Mulholland, R. Coe, S. Se- lay the-e ships up. Perhaps in the waterfront beef is going on. This li> $> t> nak, W. Walker and C. Gann. future when the Government also applies to employees because We held our regular meeting builds ships they will consult the Galveston: we need the space for the long­ last Wednesday and there were 28 ship operators. shoremen and the cars that are in­ bookmen present. Ross Lyle was Around the hall and happy right volved in the beef. chairman and Willie Walker was now is John Risbeck. John is 32 recording secretary. Claude Simmons years old, mar­ Leroy Clarke Asst. Sec.-Treas. ried, and makes Lake Charles Port Agent his home on the Shipping picked up in the past i t. t. East Coast, Balti­ two weeks, but it is not back to Wilmington: more, to be exact. normal at this time. The picture Savannah; He sails in the does not look too bright for the deck department coming two weeks, with nothing as bosun, receiv­ scheduled to pay off in this area. ing his book in Ships paying off were the Gene­ New York in 1943 vieve Peterkin and Lucile BloomFor the last two weeks I think it Shipping has been pretty fair. after being active Risbeck has been about as bad as it can field of Bloomfieid, as well as the in the Garment French Creek of Cities Service. We paid off and signed on the be for this port as we did not have Workers and UFE strikes, as well a payoff for the past two weeks. Signing on was the Bull Run of Southwind of South Atlantic. as others. His last ship was the Petrol Tankers. Ships in transit were the South­ However, the coming two weeks In-transit vessels were the Del ern States of Southern; Seatrains Seacoral which paid off in Seattle looks as if we will have some ship­ Monte of Mississippi, the Michael Savannah, New York, twice each; after a nine-month trip to Japan. ping as we have four ships due in He is especially happy this week of Carras, the Republic of Trafal­ Robin Kettering of Seas; Queenssoon. gar, the Val Chem of Valentine ton Heights of Seatrade and the because he has finally succeeded in Ships expected in are tne Coe Tankers, the Neva West of Bloom- Abiqua of Cities Service. obtaining his citizenship papers af­ Victory of Victory Carriers, Sea- field, Steel Advocate of Isthmian, ter a five-year struggle. A former Trouble On Board mar of Calmar, Fairport of Water­ and Seatrains Texas, Georgia, The Southwind came in with citizen of Canada, he will get his man and the Steel Chemist of Isth­ Louisiana and New Jersey. drinking water looking like a weak papers next week. mian. Jeff Gillette cup of coffee and the consistency Keith Alsop At this lime, we only have one Seattle Port Agent of cream of potato soup. This is Galveston Port Agent man in the hospital. He is Ragnor Ericson, who sails out of the Gulf most of the time but was taken off the Pelican Mariner of Bloomfieid when she was in port for bunkers. He is making out okay and expects to be out in a week or ten days. Shipping Figures March 10 to March 24 As, a reminder to the member­ SHIP. SHIP. TOTAL ship, it is a violation of Union rules REG. REG. REG. TOTAL SHIP. for anyone on the beach to go on PORT REG. DECK ENG. STEW.SHIPPED DECK ENGINE STEW. ships which are in port unless they 18 7 61 4 7 Boston 30 13 18 have a pass from the Union hall. 160 40 239 67 53 New York 95 62 82 Also, §omeone is trying to give the 11 55 76 21 23 Pluladelphia 28 28 20 stewards of these ships a little 29 127 260 52 ^ 46 slory, claiming the coffee they are Baltimore 107 88 65 asking him for is for the coffeepot 10 1 50 4 5 Norfolk 18 18 16 at the Union hail. Everyone knows 31 9 41 13 9 Savannah 9 20 12 we don't have any pot here, so be 2 51 1 0 1 Tampa 15 23 13 on guard against this practice. 128 196 46 45 37 Mobile 72 , 65 59 In-transit ships were the Steel 195 65 198 72 58 Executive of Isthmian; the Pelican New Orleans 62. 60 76 Mariner of Bloomfieid;. the Calmar 21 82 116 32 29 Galveston • 42 38 36 of Calmar; Azalea City, J. B. 21 92 28 30 79 Seattle 40 32 20 Waterman and Hastings of Water­ 26 113 24 " 18 68 San Francisco 38 40 35 man, and the Barbara Erietchie of 69 5 2 5 12 .^Wilmington ..v...i• 25 18 • T6 Liberty Navigation. The only tbing that has been Total* '.''T'v.'. «r-fi679''-' '..vfC.HlWfcW;,,...468 • goo^^fl|ippnd,ijh% .ppft In the past lit'J'.; -rimtH « New York: Transporialion Beef Is Settled By Unien Tanker Grew Receives Leng Distance Payoff No Trouble On Docks; Ship Activity Wanes Hoosier Mariner Idle Status Saddens Crew Shipping Piclnre Fuzzy Duwu In Texas Port Shipping Poor Bnl Is Expoclod To Pick Up f Southwind Has Water Beef, Chief Treuhle % San Francisco: Port Expects To Crew Two Strips In Lay.up Shipping has been slow for the past two weeks, with a lot of intransits stopping by this port. We expect to crew two Water­ man ships, the Jean LaFitte and the Madaket, both of which are laid up at present. Ships paying off were the Jean LaFitte and Madaket and the Sea Comet H of Ocean Carriers. The latter vessel signed on again. In-transit ships were the Raphael Semmes. J. B. Waterman, Gate­ way City, Hast­ ings and Azalea City of Water­ Goglas man; Calmar's Calmar; Isthmian's Steel Execu­ tive; the J. B. Kulukundis of Martis and the Sea Comet II. It seems that Harry Bridges and Hugh Bryson are still spreading their propaganda around here as the NLRB election for stewards is going into its last days. Bridges has already taken the stand that if the election goes "no union." he will ask to represent the stewards on the PMA ships. As we see it now, more and more companies are trying to get foreign flags for their ships, thus reducing our US fleet to a small fleet, probably one of the smallest merchant marines the US has had in a long time. It could end up smaller than before the war. Along these lines we can take a look at the shipbuilding program here and find it is next to nothing. With the men in this field mostly advanced in age, and drop­ ping out rapidly because of the scarcity and uncertainty of employ­ ment. there is sure to be a shortage of skilled workers in the ship­ building field. Young men won't want to enter it in an era of uncer­ tainty. We have lots of ships in various boneyards. but they will become obsolete about the same time because they were built with­ in a few years of each other. It would be better to spread it around a bit, chronologically, so we would have an up-to-date fleet of ships in service for ready use in any emergency. Oldtimers on the beach include M. Pappadakis, S. Mavromichalis, F. Curtis, B. Gapse. J. Goglas, W. Vause, J, Parks, W, Pennington, W. Kramer, C. McKee, W. Hunt, C. Nie, R. Mulholland, J. Pulliam, G. Dunn, G, King and R, Parady, In the marine hospital are T. Finerty, O. Gustavesen, P. S. Yuzon, J. Childs. H, Y, Choe, W. Singleton, M. Wilson, E. G. Plah, W. T. Center, J. Perreira, S, Sue and G. C. Eller, Tom Banning San Francisco Port Agent Quitting Ship? Notify Union A reminder from SlU headquarters cautions all Seafarers leaving their ships to contact the hail In an.ple time to allow the Union to dispatch a replacement Fail­ ure to give notice before paying off may cause a de­ layed sailing, force the ship to sail short of the manning requirements and needlessly make their work tougher for your shipmates. • J �SEAFARERS Pare Twehr* April 2. 1954 LOG i<" MEET THE SEAFARER IN THE WAKE Naval stores is a trade name for the products obtained from the pine tree, whose old stumps and branches are as useful for this pur­ pose as newly-cut trees. Naval is derived from the Latin navis, meaning ship, and in the old days these products were used for caulking and waterproofing vesse.s and for protecting rope against deterioration. At one time, naval • stores included all the material employed in building and main­ taining sailing ships, even masts 'and cordage, but it is now applied only to such materials as rosin, tar, pitch, turpentine and pine oil, regardless of how fGey're used. TEX METTING, messman of liberty, who was glad to con­ tribute to the cause." ' 3^ 3. t Fresh-water springs in the ocean Question: What is the most an­ have been noted by travelers and noying beef you run into aboard navigators for centuries. They ship? are caused by underground streams which discharge their Richard Adell, wiper: Who's waters into the ocean beneath the surface. The fresh water rises to going to clean up the laundiy room? That's the the surface 'because of its rela­ big question tive specific lightness as compared aboard any ship. with the sea water. These springs There's always a occur only in coastal waters, sev­ discussion about eral of them in the sea near Cuba. it. Tied in with One of the best known of these that is the recre­ submarine river outlets is in the ation room and Atlantic oft the coast of Florida library clean-up. near Miami. 3. 4.' t Nobody is direct­ 3> i i ly responsible for Mi. Desert Island, which lies off Boxing Day in England, which the Coast of Maine, was discov­ has nothing to do with prize-fight­ them. There should be a utility ered in 1604 by Champlain, who ing, is a survival of an old cus­ man aboard to.do the jobs. 3i 3i t named it LTsIe des Monts Deserts tom. In medieval times the monks Miguel Diaz, OS: The food situa­ —the island of desert mountains— of certain orders used to offer because from where he saw them, mass for the safety of vessels and tion is the most annoying beef any­ the mountains appeared bare, wild at the same time place a small one can have and solitary. In 1916, part of the box on each ship to receive con­ aboard a ship, Island was set aside by President tributions from the sailors. Car­ when it your only Woodrow Wilson as the Sieur de rying a box from door to door for source of food Monts National Monument to com­ the collection of Christmas money supply. There are restaurants memorate the founding in 1604 of wasy an early custom and, in the no handy and you've the first European settlement in course of time, alms boxes were North America north of the Caro- placed in churches for donations got to take what "linas by Pierre de Cast Sieur de to be distributed to the poor on you get. Some Monts. It was the first national Christmas morning. Eventually, say the food is monument created east of the Mis­ the day after Christmas became bad and some say sissippi and is the only one bor­ Boxing Day because on that day it is good, but the big thing is that dering on the Atlantic. The name the Christmas boxes placed in the it differs from ship to ship. X t. has since heen changed to Acadia churches are opened. Abraham Ruiz, oiler: I never en­ National Park. t t » When the Spaniards took pos­ countered any trouble or annoying i 3. 3^ beefs aboard session of Haiti after its discovery ship.. Everything Oars are muffled by wrapping by Columbus, they copied the prac­ always went something around them where tice of the natives, and built ele­ smoothly for me, they come into contact with the vated frameworks in which to sleep, but I've heard oarlocks in order to deaden the as a protection against prowling some of th^ men noise. According to one histori­ animals. The natives used a simi­ beef mostly about cal account, a petticoat was used lar framework, with a fire beneath, the inadequate to muffle the oars of the boat in for drying or smoking fish, and launch service which Paul Revere crossed the meat, and called all of these struc­ they get when in Charles River on his famous mid­ tures, no matter what their use a foreign port. night ride to Lexington during the was, a barbacoa. Thus when the Revolution. The incident is men­ Spaniards themselves roasted meat 3l' 3^ t tioned in "The Battle of April 19, upon a spit over an outdoor fire, Michael Collins, FWT: What an­ 1775," by Frank Coburn, as follows: they fell into the habit of using noys me most aboard ship are the "Fearing that the noise of the oars the native name. The name was guys who cry all In the oarlocks might alarm the carried later to North America, the time about sentry. Revere dispatched one of giving us the present word barbe­ shipboard condi­ his companions for something to cue, also an all-purpose word re­ tions and never muffle them with, who soon re­ ferring either to the food being stand up at the turned with a petticoat, yet warm cooked, the place where the cook­ meetings to voice from the body of a fair daughter ing is done or the process itself. their opinions to the rest of the membership. They do all their yelling in the foc'sle and expect the delegates to ACROSS DOWN 17. Kind of tree Members of carry the ball for them without 20 Large water glee club 1. This should be How union men knowing their beef. animals 39. Trojan kept up should be 23. Secret agent 40. From Cape 3^ 3^ 3> «. Western sea­ Tenderly 25. Small cat farers group Tricks 28. Part of head Town to Cairo Jasper Anderson, 3d cook: I find Predecessor of 29. Exist 41. Man's title s. Appropriate DDE 33. Years that the men beef mostly about the 43. Annam 12. Man from' Looks 34. SIU member measure Norway night lunch. Jet planes 35. 25 lbs in 47. Old boat 13. Black bird of One: Fr. Nothing seems to Mexico 49. Food Florida He des 36. Our Chief 52. Culebra satisfy them Social party 54. Bolivian Indian Justice 14. Monk's title Rupert. BC when it comes to 15. Angry (Puzzle Answer On Page 25) Made lace that pet gripe. 16. What the SIU provides Most of them 18. A number want a greater 19. Pronoun for a variety of night ship 21. Angle lunches. Some 12. BPOE members want them hot, 24. Annoy 26. Rodents some want them Indigestion 27. cold and some want them more 20. He's not wanted in SIU often and more numerous. SI. 32. 34. 87. 42. 44. 45. 46. 48. «0. SI. 63. 65. 66. 67. 68. 68. 90. Pacific island Attempt Cut wood Port near Schiedam Periods of time Call, in poker Port SW of Casablanca City near Lille Bearing of the Phillipines from Borneo Railroads Where Rabat is What a CPA makes Mr. Lincojn Pronoun Follow Girl's nickname Weights: Abbr. The Ptltish call U "asdlclf,/, There are two good reasons why Tex Metting is called "Tex" by his shipmates. For one thing he was born in Texas 30 years ago. For another, it is a lot easier to say "Tex" than it is to yell Gott­ fried Caesar Richard Metting, Jr. when it's time to call a guy to eat. That jaw-breaking handle is Tex's real name, although not many peo­ ple know it, outside of the shipping commissioner and the Coast Guard. "Everything grows bigger in Texas;" says Tex, "even names." Typically Texan, the strapping, soft-spoken 200-pounder has been popular with his shipmates since he first went to sea in 1943. Metting was born In Southwest Texas, near the coast, in the vicinity of Corpus Christi. It was only natural then, that when it^ became obvious that a healthy young man of 19 must choose a spot to serve his country in World War II that he should turn to the sea. With Tex, though, the idea of a sea-going career appealed to him and unlike many wartime seamen who turned to shoreside occupa­ tions after hostilities ceased, Met­ ting has made seafaring his life's work. Rode Ammo Ships "I was lucky, though," Tex re­ called. "I sailed in and to the war zones. Pacific and Atlantic, all through the war and never was in real action but once. That was in the Philippine zone aboard a Robin Lines ship thai crewed up in New Orleans. There were a couple of air raids on our convoy. Our ship didn't get hit . . . good thing, too. She was an ammunition carrier. As a matter of fact, I rode nothing but ammunition carriers through­ out the war and with the excep­ tion of that one time, every trip was as quiet and peaceful as any­ one could ask for." Metting started sailing in the deck department and sailed AB, deck maintenance and bosun until four years ago when he switched to the steward department. "We were making port in New Orleans in a rain storm one day," Tex explained. "Man, it was wet and it was cold. When we finally got tied up and I got down out of the bow and down below what did I find but the steward's depart­ ment guys all warm and cozy as you pleased, schooner rigged in; their best gear and ready to go ashore. That did it. I said to ray- ' self, 'Tex, from now on, this is for you.'" Metting went ashore that day and changed departments. Never­ theless, he heartHy endorses the new co'.nstitutional provision that' requires a man now to take it to the membership for approval if he wants to change departments. "We used to have men flopping from department to department, wherever they thought pickins' were better," Tex said. "This way, a man thinks about all the angles before he decides where he wants to sail. Then, after he has made up his mind, the fact that it isn't easy to change encourages him to take a sincere interest in his job.'' Delta Lines Man When he first started sailing, Tex sailed out of New York and San Francisco, and occasionally New Orleans. Since 1949, however, he has sailed out of New Orleans exclusively; most of the time aboard Delta Lines (Mississippi Shipping) passenger ships. Metting finds conditions much more stable today than when he started going to siea—union-wise and in the industry in general. "The SIU has done so much to establish seafaring as a stable, profitable profession that I think it is tops among occupations," he said. "The progress we have made as a union in the last 10 years is almost unbelieveable. I think it is a great thing, too, the effort the Union has put into establishing the membership in the minds of the public shoreside as the re­ spectable, hard-working citizens we have always known ourselves to be. While I'm not married, I know that SIU welfare and SIU security mean a great deal to our many family men who, without the secur­ ity that has been built up through our Union, certainly would feel a great deal more burdened by their shoreside responsibilities." Germany began military occupa­ tion of Hungary ... A fleet of US warships attacked Japanese posi­ tions in the Palau Islands, 550 miles due east of the Philippines . . . Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., known in the field as "Old Blood and Guts," was replaced by Maj. Geil. Alexander M. Patch, a veteran of the Pacific fighting, as commander of the American Sev­ enth Army . . . Finland rejected the six-point terms of an armistice offered by Russia. recommended a solid program for membership action. The first battie of the Indian campaign raged at the edge of the Manipur Plain, where one of four Japanese invasion columns 4" 3^ 3i launched assaults to break through Casmir Kaust, bosun: I think everything is fine aboard ship. The British defenses guarding the northeastern approaches to Imphal, guys ought to be key supply center for Allied forces thankful for the on the Burma border ..front . . . conditions they The epic battle around Cassino, have aboard the Italy, continued, as the Germans, ships of the by infiltrating into the ruins of Union without the town via subterranean passages, letting the little recaptured one-fourth of the city things bother . . . An SIU-A&G agents' confer­ them. They ence, held in New Orleans follow­ should remember ing the wind-up of the SIU of NA what it was like ,tp sail before they had a strong convention there, charted 'the fu* tflre course of the SIU-A&G and ;pbnt«MhFi<;fi /. 3> 3^ 3> 3^ 4 Two decisions by the US Su­ preme Court affirmed the power of the Office of Price Administra­ tion (OPA) to enforce price ceil­ ings and regulate rents . . . Allied planes bombed the French inva­ sion coast, hitting Calais and Cher­ bourg, as well as airfields around Paris and port facilities in Holland . . . The SIU and SUP launched a fight to regain the cuts in war bonus rates ordered by the Mari­ time War Emergency Board (MWEB) ... In Algiers, Pierre Pucheu, former Vichy Interior Minister, was executed for treason. Soviet forces crossed the Prut River frontier of Rumania, com­ pleting an 800-mile march from Stalingrad which recovered all biit 60,000 square miles of pre-1939 Russian ' territory, and captured Cemauti, the third largest city df that country, in a drive that took them within 15 miles of the border of Czechoslovakia . . . SIU Secre­ tary-Treasurer John Hawk waa named to attend the conference of . the International Labor OrganizaMbhrih'THiliadelphlaj^ April 29. :m. �April S, 1954 SEAFARERS SEAFARERS « LOG Vol. XVI. April 2, 1954 Page Thirteen LOG 'Whaddya Read ?' No. 7 Published biweekly by the Seafarers International Union. Atlantic & Gulf District, AFL, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY. Tel. HYacinth 9-6600, Cable Addi-ess: SEAFARERS NEW YORK. PAUL HALL, Secretary-Treasurer Editor, HEBBERI BRAXD, Managing Editor, RAV DENISON; Art Editor, BERNARS SEAMAN; Photo Editor, OAMXEL NIEVA; Staff Writers, HERMAN ARTHUR. IRWJN SPIVAK, JERRV REMER. AL MASKIN; GUU Area Reporter, BILL MOODY; Staff Assistants. LYMAN GAYLORO. MILTON HOROWITZ. Panamanians All For a number of years now the SIU and other sea unions have protested strongly against the transfer of US ships to foreign flags, particularly the runaway flags of Panama and Liberia. Yet every time they have the opportunity, the shipowners will slip one through with the benevolent ap­ proval of Government agencies who are supposed to protect our merchant marine. The latest instance is the Yarmouth, the passenger ship owned by the Eastern Steamship Company. It's no secret that shipowners love the Liberian and Pana­ manian flag because they mean coolie wages, crimp hall hir­ ing and no union contract. And since the transfer usually involves setting up a dummy corporation in the country in­ volved, it also means a neat and legal job of tax evasion. "Things have reached the point where even some European countries who are considered low-cost operators are com­ plaining about the competition. . ' ^ Along these lines the "New York Times" came up with an interesting suggestion. The newspaper proposed that may­ be the United Nations should take up the question of uni­ form regulations on ship registry. It sounds like a pretty good 'idea, but knowing the US State Department's attitude toward US-flag shipping, it would be a big surprise if this country ".were to take any action on this score. ie 4" 4" New Dock Vote fJ Another step towards resolution of the New York dock tangle was taken last week when the National Labor Rela­ tions Board upheld its examiner's recommendation and threw out the December dock election. The examiner found so much evidence of intimidation and violence that he deemed any election conducted under those circumstances as worthless. The Labor Board is now taking steps to assure that the next electibn will be held in a peaceful atmosphere. No date will be set imtil the ILA calls off its current political strike and permits the port to get back to normal. Under such cir­ cumstances, and given the proper protection, there is no question as to how longshoremen will vote. Meanwhile though, it appears that the dockworkers are not waiting for the Board to act but are. taking matters in their own hand by going back to work in increasing numbers despite an ILA-sponsored "strike" which is exclusively politi­ cal in nature. The strike has only one purpose in mind—to blackjack the Federal Government into issuing an election decision in their favor. It appears now that in the end the old ILA will have to throw in the sponge, letting the port get back to normal again. The CaU Of The Sea . The Jure of the sea beckons people from all walks of life, and there are always those ready to make a fast buck on them. An outfit of this caliber is the so-called "Davenport Seamen's Service" of New York City which, for a minimum $2 fee, will provide anyone interested in a sea job with a slick brochure containing the same information they could get out of any telephone book. Guaranteeing romance, adventure, plenty of sea air, in short everything but the job itself, these outfits prey on peo­ ple eager to turn to the sea as the place to start a brand-new life. If nothing else, however, the fact that they can sfay in business at least proves once again that Seafarers are members of a very desirable profession. School Bells Only Fanatics Snpport Old ILA To the Editor: The waterfront situation that we have been facing since the last few days of 1953 has created nu­ merous problems among longshore­ men and seaman alike, not to men­ tion the teamsters, but it is my profound belief that if this ends the so-called tactics followed by some so-called unions on the wa­ terfront, it is more than worth putting up with this situation a little longer. . Wage earners and business will gain if this matter is settled in a decent way. Since the longshore­ men make their living working Unemployment is spreading in goods picked up. Durable goods the ships, as we nearly all cities and industries, the suffered most, including metal and do, it is natural Bureau of Employment Security metal products, household items, for us to watch reported. The Bureau said that 85 machinery and military equip­ that a clean un­ percent of the nation's 149 major ment. Auto production climbed ion is brought labor market areas now have labor slightly and construction activity to and enforced surpluses, and that at least six per- was at an unusually high level. cent of the labor force is unem­ among them. 4" 4" 4' Ramirez I have been ployed in 34 areas, double the The Eighth Region of the United talking to old longshoremen on number a year ago. The bureau re- Automobile Workers of America, both sides In Manhattan and ported that in no area is there now | AFL, won bargaining rights at the Brooklyn (in a neutral way, of a shortage of workers, while there Hardy Manufacturing Company of course), and 1 believe we are right were five such a year ago. Union City, Indiana, in an NLRB in giving the new AFL-ILA a hand, 4i 4^ 4' election affecting 650 plant em­ helping them to know everything Local 281 AFL United Textile ployees. that they should have known long Workers won five to 121,^ cents an 4 i 4 ago, including better conditions hour, more for employees of the Layoffs have thrown 7,800 steelthat they are missing all around, Charles S. Field Corporation in workers out of jobs in the Youngsthe democratic way to hire, spell­ Passaic, NJ, retroactive to last De­ town, Ohio, district, while another ing out to them the welfare condi­ cember 3, through a wage reopen­ 11.000 are working less than 40 tions and monetary gains that we ing clause in the union's last con-1 hoiirs a week, a Steelworkers ' Union survey revealed. There are enjoy in the SIU and that they tract with the company. would have with the AFL-ILA. 65.000 steelworkers in the area. 4" 4' 4" A bill to raise the Federal min­ It's not for me to say how dirty 4 4 4 the old set-up was or still is, but I imum wage to $1.25 an hour and Unemployment cycles are apknow that everyone hears about to reduce the standard work week , parent in other parts of the world the ILA hiring practices and ru­ to an eventual maximum of 35 as well as in the US. In Canada, hours was introduced in Congress the number of persons seeking mors of other evil conditions. I find every day men working by Rep. Sam Yorty (D.-Cal.). The jobs during February at national the docks whose fanatic devotion Californian's bill eliminates over- employment offices rose to 558,to the old ILA is hard to believe. time exemptions in so-called sea- | 969. This was an increase of more Why? They figure that under old sonal industries, and raises the j than 35,000 in a month and nearly union procedures they can always floor for learners, apprentices, the 1160,000 since the previous year, get the bigger share of the work handicapped and messengers to $1 according to a survey reported by the Bureau of Statistics and the as long as they keep their leaders an hour. Labor Department. 4 4 4 happy. For the first time in history, 4 4 4 Abolish Shape-Up shipping clerks in the dress indus­ AFL Office defeated It is my humble opinion that if try will be covered by a union con- the. BrotherhoodWorkers of Railway Trainthe proper Government authorities tract. Local 60-A of the ILGWU men for bargaining rights for the assured the longshoremen that, no and five employer dress associa- Baltimore Transit Company office matter which union will represent tions agreed to a pact that recog­ workers, formerly held by the them, the Government intends to nized the union, increased wages BRT. Out of 129 votes cast. 111 make sure that the old, evil hiring for 4,000 workers by $3 a week, went to the office workers union practices will be abolished, the provided them with an employer- while the BRT garnered only new AFL-ILA would win clearly financed health and welfare fund seven. Eleven voters chose no any future electipn. and granted vacation and holiday union representation. Let us cooperate with this new benefits. 4 4 4 organization in every way, so that Agreements between five plants 4 4 4 in the near future every longshore­ Nine weeks before their old of the Robert Gair Company and man can enjoy all the good condi­ agreement expired, 6,000 employ­ the International Brotherhood of tions and advantages of democratic ees of the airplane propeller plant Pulp and Paper Mill Workers were hiring, whether he knows the boss of the Hamilton Standard Division renewed with a two percent in­ or not, besides having the privilege of the United Aircraft Corporation crease and several improvements of belonging to an authentic AFL in Windsor Locks, Conn., began in fringe benefits. The two per­ union.* getting nine cents an hour more in cent raise gives the workers an -If the longshoremen would only their pay envelopes under a new average increase of five cents or look the facts in the face and real­ two-year agreement negotiated by better. ize that, finally, after so many Machinists Lodge 743. Besides the 4 4 4 years, somebody is trying to help general wage increase, the agree­ Strike idleness in February was them without getting anything out ment provides for the freezing in­ at its lowest point for the month of .it for themselves in the way to basic rates of a 19-cent-an-hour in more than five years, the l^ureau of monetary gain. With the AFL, cost-of-living adjustment. of Labor Statistics reported. Feb­ the Federal Government and the ruary strikes, totaling 350, in­ 4 4 4 State of New York behind them, Total output bf the nation's fac­ volved 100,000 workers and caused the longshpremen cannot lose if tories has dropped for seven 750,000 man-days of idleness. This they will only rid themselves of Straight months, accor^ng to a re­ compared with 400 strikes in Janutheir shackles. port by the Federid Re^^e Board, ai;^, .involving 150,000 workei-s and The lights are burning late again at the offices of the SIU Scholarship Plan. By September, the Plan will grind out four new $6,000 scholarships and present them to the success­ ful applicants, the list of which already includes three Sea­ farers competing for this year's awards. The children of four Seafarers won the highly-rated awards in 1953. Naturally, with so much at stake the administrators of the SIU awards are still feeling ^heir way cautiously in check­ ing the records op thb achievement and ability of each applicant. " When all procedures are completed, there's the promise of a $6,000 all-expense-paid college education over the hori­ zon for Ahose^wjior aare'successfuj., i uv 4 ) ) U I'f r ^ Luis A. RamlMS oBfe^tlinillion. man-idays. "a| /•I �Face Fonrteca SEAFARERS LOG April t, 1954 L' ' .;'•' • • Close-up I heat W£ recognitij Th| than 1 Castll and Just M menll ••\,'( led tol made 1 livings mii Yetl I'l If it vl life AfJ inspea lives Thefl GoverA chaO'V1' Out 'oil Btructil tightefl down • petus 11 emphil for bol discovlI i propefl unusuH shipbcl discoul1 1 The!H 1 It waiH ''1, disastfl ii while fl 1 H 1 near jS TheB of thSH ij attackl out, 1«I 'l, sequeiS1 i'l for tMW •i I':! At m 1934, •|;t HavanH1 'S tioneiS for hacT JH I '< equippH ilghtinHlii ly, altHWP rain oH asleepH never^lI'll It m l>.i A f(1 ductec the dt was or 6j| sections of the ship, the fire-gutted luxury liner Mprro Castle is shown after it ran aground off Asbury hnt^' nf^ 1^, +rt « curious onlookers swarmed to the beaches, the boardwalk and the windows of the famed Berkeley-Carteret hotel (left rear) to gape at the smoldering vesseL By this time the passengers were off the ship* or had perished* ' J.. repoS by C ] newspl of thef Act �shot of scorched deck shows tremendous extent of fire damage. Terrific rped and twisted steel beams, fittings and deck fioor supports beyond |;0n. ;re have been many worse disasters at sea the burning of the passenger liner Morro le in 1934, but few have been more needless it the same time productive of more good, as the Titanic tragedy led to the establishof the iceberg patrol, the Morro Castle blaze a considerable tightening up of regulations that has life far more safer for those who go to sea for a or for pleasure. with all that went wrong with the Morro Castle, ere not for a few ironic tricks of fate, not a single ' )uld have been lost. It was a combination of loose , tion, bungling, bad weather and fate that cost the »f 124 people aboard. obvious fact of a. needless disaster spurred the iiment into action to remedy conditions so that i . of such disasters would be reduced in the future. • the Morro Castle ^came new rules on fireproof conon, seamen's certificates, lifeboats and equipment, * inspection procedures and a host of other changes through the years that received their original imfrom the disaster. Not the least of these was greater sis placed on tightening up fire-fighting training th unlicensed crew and officers, as a result of the ery that many in the crew were green hands imly qualified for the emergency. This was not an jal situation in the depths of the depression when \ard wages were so low and conditions so poor as to rage the development of professional seamen. I most Ironic part of the Morro Castle story is that j just four hours from safe berth in New York when |!r overwhelmed the ship. And the fire blazed on ithe vessel was just six miles off the Jersey shore, '.•sbury Park. j vessel's run of bad luck began when the skipper ship. Captain Robert Willmott, died of a heart , at 8:45 FM, a few brief hours before the fire broke !;aving the chief officer in charge of the vessel. Subi'v'ly the latter was brought to trial and imprisoned '3 years for his behavior during the emergency, •he time of the fire, the morning of September 8, the Morro Castle was enroute to New York from a, The popular cruise ship was crowded with vaca(iii including ia large quota of honeymooning couples Aom the short cruise was a favorite run. The ship good reputation for speed, comfort and safety, •ed as it was with what was considered a good fireg system and steam-smothering system. Consequent|hough it ran into very heavy weather and pouring iff Cape May, all was quiet aboard with passengers in their cabins—a sleep from which some of them iad a chance to wake. Started in Locker-Room ill-dress Federal investigation of the tragedy, conby the Department of Commerce! confirmed that ,e started in a locker in the ship's writing room. It Ver determined whether a carelessly-lit cigarette iineous combustion was responsible. Fevered press •it the early days spoke darkly of incendiary action hiunists, and a Cuban official interviewed by a Aper reporter said he was convinced it was the work Third International. Jtlly, the facts brought out subsequently show that Failure to launch lifeboats was one of contributing reasons toward heavy loss of life on the ship. Portside photo of the burning Morro Castle shows three lifeboats still on davits. the fire was discovered by the night watchmen at 2:50 AM in the morning, by which time it had spread into the library. He in turn notified the second officer, who in­ stead of sounding an alarm, attempted to put out the fire with a hand extinguisher! After five minutes of this, he gave up the attempt and turned in an alarm. But the fire grew with increasing rapidity, feeding on the wood panel­ ling, the heavy drapes and carpeting in the library, lounge and.recreation room. Apparently, no attempt was made to confine the fire in the first instance by closing off any of the rooms and cutting off air to the flames. The ignor­ ance of elementary fire-fighting principles shown by offi­ cers and crew throughout was later traced to a very good cause—the fact that fire and boat drills were a rarity on board the ship. From her>" one mistake piled on top of another in dizzy fashion. A leading culprit in the subsequent trend of events was the ship's chief engineer. Only twenty minutes after the alarm was turned in and the crew had gotten to fire stations power failed, and the water-pumps stopped functioning. Smoke had driven the crew from the engine room in confusion. The inquiry board found that the chief engineer had never gone to his post when the alarm was sounded, but headed straight for a lifeboat after a pre­ liminary look at the situation on deck. 3rd Assistant Action Things might have been worse were it not for the action of the 3rd assistant who braved the smoke to shut down the plant. He rigged the pumps to run on steam remain­ ing in the boilers so that passengers at the stern of D-Deck had some water power in the hoses with which to fight the flames. In rapid order the flames roared through passageways trapping many passengers in their bunks. Many who were seasick were unable to escape. Although the ship was close to shore within easy reach of dozens of small craft and Coast Guard stations, the first SOS was not sent out until 4:23 AM, an hour and a half after the first small blaze in the locker began. By 6 AM, when rescue ships were at hand, the blaze had burned right through midships, separating passengers and crew on the fore and aft sections of the ship. All lifeboats on the port side were burned before an attempt was made to launch them. When it was all over, the empty boats sitting on the burned-out deck were mute testimony to their uselessness. In response to the SOS large numbers of rescue ships converged on the scene, the Mon:irch of Bermuda and City of Savannah leading the flottila. The Monarch of Bermuda approached within a hundred feet of the blazing Morro Castle to pick up survivors, and that ship's pas­ sengers watching the awesome spectacle in the rain-swept seas, could feel the seai'ing heat of the flames. Steel Beams Twisted Those who boarded the smoldering ship the next day found the decks littered with shoes and clothes discarded by passengers who had jumped into the sea. The heat of the fire had fused glass to the portholes and twisted steel beams completely out of shape. SuiYivors, who flooded hospitals in New Jersey shore resorts added to numerous eyewitness accounts of the tragedy. Of five couples who had jumped into the water together in an attempt to swim ashore, two survived after six hours in the water. Two 72-year-old twins who were separated during the blaze were rescued separately and reunited ashore. One woman told of being kept afloat for hours by her husband, only to have him collapse and die as rescue arrived. The fact that the fire had taken place so close to shore under the eyes of thousands of witnesses added to public interest and to demands for action. The acting captain and chief engineer as well as the company were brought to trial in a Federal court. After lengthy proceedings, the jury concluded that the company was negligent be­ cause the ship was not kept in port long enough for thor­ ough inspection, and fire drills were rare. Firefighting equipment had deteriorated for lack of maintenance and the crew was untrained and disorganized. The acting captain was found guilty of delay in send­ ing out an SOS while the chief was rapped on the charge of fleeing to the first lifeboat. The results were jail terms for the two officers and a $5,000 fine for the company. However, the trials were the least of that which fol­ lowed. Far more important were investigations condutted by the Commerce Department and subsequently by the Senate Committee on Commerce. The outcome was significant new legislation, which has led to Ameri­ can ships being the safest afloat today. Among the changes that resulted were the following: • Engine joom unlicensed crewmembers had to get rat­ ings just as ABs did, via passage of tests. The practice of getting lifeboat tickets was encouraged in all three departments. • Woodwork and inflammable material in upholstery and drapes was ruled out in new passenger ship construc­ tion, a practice which extendied to all large ocean-going vessels under the US flag. • All passenger vessels had to be divided vertically by flametight steel bulkheads from deck to deck, insulated and stiffened to prevent spread of fire through the bulk­ head. Similar bulkheads were required on stairways, boundaries of galleys, cargo spaces, engine rooms and storerooms. • Regular fire patrols, steam smothering systems, suit­ able fire extinguishing apparatus, gas masks and emer­ gency equipment were required of all passenger vessels. • New specifications were written as to hull construc­ tion, engine room installations, pumps, windlasses and winches, etc. • Minimum life-saving needs were specified including a minimum number of davits per vessel and minimum ca­ pacity of the boats. The construction of lifeboats was minutely specified. • Regular crew fire drills before departure and at sea were required. Passenger fire drills and station bills were also written into law. • Annual inspections by qualified inspection men were called for. • Ships had to be built wittt watertight bulkheads and, watertight doors. Regular drills were ordered for oper­ ating the watertight doors, air ports, valves and scupper closings. The above, in brief, represents some of the main changes that resulted from the Morro Castle fire. Through the years they have been added to and improved so that the danger of fire, while nfever completely absent, could be reduced to a minimum. •I dl . I -II'jlI • "I M •| • ';sl 1 AI .:"i| •ll �Fiicc Stxfeea SEAFARERS LOG April S. 1954 SEAFARERS Forty-one member shipping lines of two trans-Pacific conferences inplan to set a minimum rate of $12 a ton for most goods transported Shipboard Accident Survey from Japan to Atlantic Coast ports in the US and $9 a ton on ship­ The SlU-manned Waterman Steamship Company has worked up a ments to the West Coast. The new tariffs are expected to he placed survey of all the causes of shipboard accidents on their ships during in effect April 1 .. A ship without a crew of seamen, the Diitch freighter the entire year of 1953, in order to find out what constituted the great­ Amstelstad, docked in Vancouver, BC, recently from Japan after 10 est shipboard hazards. The survey, based on accident reports from the officers and six stewards had turned sailors to make the voyage after 19 crewmembers had deserted the ship in Japan in a protest against The consideration shown by Frank various ships, showed a total of 1,147 accidents throughout the fleet Airey, night cook and baker for the well distributed among a variety of causes. But the greatest single a hard-driving mate, had food, unclean bedding and too much work. four-to-eight watch on the Ocean t 4 cause of accidents was under the heading of slipping, tripping and The Argentine Merchant Marine will inaugurate a new service to Lotte was duly noted and com­ falling. Black Sea ports shortly when the tanker Islas Orcadas sails with mended in the ship's minutes. All in all, 325 men were hurt because of obstacles underfoot or poor 10,000 tons of linseed oils for the European ports. The vessel will re­ Airey got the thanks of the men for serving them an early breakfast sea legs. Padeyes and chain lashings, door sill's, lines, wet decks due turn from Soviet ports with an equal tonnage of fuel oil .. Salvage ships raised the 1,740-ton Soviet steamer Ligovo from the Kiel Canal and making things a little easier to weather conditions contributed. Unsecured ladders and rolling of and towed it into the harbor. The Ligovo sank January 22 after col­ for the men on that watch. the ship were also responsible for a number of such accidents. On the Airey, who Is a native of Panama, liding with a Danish vessel...The 7.000-ton British freighter Triland other hand there was only one accident involving a man falling from was towed into Halifax, NS, harbor 14 days after the ship's fuel was has been sailing SIU ships for the rigging and overhead stages, where most people would assume that last three years. He makes his exhausted battling huge waves 385 miles east of the mty. Gales ham­ home in the Canal Zone where he most of the danger lies. pered the rescue operation. can watch the ships go by when The other major cause of mishaps involved handling of objects on if ICi not aboard one. board ship. Including strains and sprains from lifting objects, being Unloadings of railroad freight cars for export and coastal shipment hit by a falling object, bruised or cut against machinery and equip­ 4, 41 last year at the port of Charleston, SC, showed a 19 percent Increase ment, hurt by slipping wrenches, knife cuts and the like. over 1952 figures, with 11 Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf ports showing gains Being treasurer of the ship's fund Half of Total in this field. Twenty-nine ports showed decreases and the over-all is an added responsibility that can drop was 12 percent . . The shipping industry will participate in safety be a little bit of a Between them, these two general categories accoimted for half of conferences Aprii 5-9 at the 24th annual convention and exposition of heaidache. It also all shipboard accidents. In other words, the accidents were of the the Greater New York Safety Council. Ship operators, shipbuilders means a little ely­ kind that could happen in any industrial installation anywhere, with and stevedores will discuss topics including safety engineering tech­ tra work for a shipboard weath'er conditions being an extra added hazard. niques, material handling, shipbuilding and repair yard safety and crewmember on 4 4 4 safety for oil tankers, passenger vessels and dry cargo ships. his own time, keeping track of New Seasickness Cure? 4. 4. t the money in the The John D. McKean, the city's newest fireboat, was launched re­ Seamen don't like to talk about it too much, but when the going cently by Mrs. Robert F. Wagner, wife of the mayor of New York City. fund. really gets rough, some of the more experienced hands will get as Richard Paw­ It was launched in Camden, NJ, and is the first addition to the metro­ seasick as the rawest newcomer. In recent, years quite a few seasick­ Pawlak politan fleet in 14 years...The first Uruguayan ship to call at New lak, treasurer of ness pills have been tried out with indifferent success. the fund on the York in several years is expected here sometime this month. The ves­ Seatrain Louisiana, apparently did Now the Navy has come up with a new combination called Bonamine, sel is the 3,805-ton freighter Carrasco, American-built, and owned and a good job, because the ship's crew which. It is claimed, will give 24-hour protection against seasickness operated by the Uruguayan Government. gave him a vote of thanlu when in a single dose in "most cases." Tests conducted aboard a troopship i ^ » he ended his term of service and showed that only six of 115 soldiers given the drug experienced the The first vessel to bring foreign iron ore to the Pennsylvania Rail­ turned over his duties to another usual symptoms of seasickness. Soldiers who received dummy tablets road's new $10,000,000 ore pier in the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Seafarerer selected by his ship­ that contained no real medication were seasick in much larger num­ Pa., was the Andre, carrying 10,000 tons from Peru.. A fioating ma­ mates. bers. The same tests were conducted with paratroopers to combat rine repair shop, belonging to the Army, was launched at Bethlehem's airsickness. Sails On Deck Staten Island yard. It is designed for repairs to small craft, such as The new medication is now being sold commercially for use by Pawlak, who has been an SIU landing ships, at advanced bases. Germany is adding five tankers, all travelers, but seamen can't be blamed if they are skeptical of its vir­ member since February, 1949, sails large vessels, to its fleet this year, raising it considerably. At the be­ tues and stick to the old tea and cracker routine, or whatever their regularly in the deck department. ginning of the year. West Germany had a fleet of 74 vessels of ap­ own personal remedy happens to be. . He's a native New Yorker, 27 years proximately 270,000 deadweight, tons in service. old. He now makes his home in 4 4 4 t 4. t Bayonne, New Jersey. The completion of a new $750,000 river barge terminal at Chicago, A New Trade, Chemical Carriers 4 4" 4" 111., was announced by the American Waterways Operators, Inc. The A new type tanker industry under development now is carrying of new installation, which has a 2,000-foot dock and provides unloading A good job as ship's delegate was space for 25 box cars, . 20 open cars and 20 large trailer trucks, is done on the Shinnecock Bay (Mar liquid chemicals in specially-built ships. The SlU-manned Val Chem located on the Chicago River section of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Trade) by Clifton and Excello are two of a growing fleet of such ships. Ships like these > Canal, It will help to serve river traffic on the Illinois Waterway, G. McLellan. The carry a variety of products such as inorganic acids, caustics aqd syn­ which last year exceeded 18,500,000 tons. ship's minutes re­ thetic organic compounds. New Chemical Tanker ported that Mc­ 4" t , 4" » Lellan got the Recently Dow Chemical built the first tanker designed from the start The world's first mastless liner, the $16.8 million Drient Lines Orcaptain to lift for this kind of operation, since all chemical carriers previous to that sova, sailed from London, England, recently on her maiden voyage to logs he had im­ were converted tankers or bulk carriers. The new ship, the Marine Australia. Designers eliminated the conventional mast and planned a posed against Dow Ghem looks like a conventional T-2, but is able to carry up to 11 streamlined funnel that could be rigged to carry the radio antenna and three of the crew- different chemicals at the same time. This is made possible by the halyards The Navy announced that eight additional Governmentmembers, and fact that the tanks, pumps and vents are separated, so that there can owned ships of the MSTS fleet would be inactivated and placed in the handled other be no intermixing of chemical products. In addition, the chemical McLellan reserve fleet. The vessels will be overhauled and inactivated in private beefs in satisfac­ tankers can carry a certain amount of petroleum should the demand shipyards before being laid up in both Atlantic and Pacific reserve tory fashion. warrant. fleets. Easier Payoff In the Marine Dow Chem, four tanks are designed to carry corrosive 4^ t The Public Works Superintendent of New York State, Bertram D. His prompt shipboard represen­ caustic soda and are made accordingly out of pure nickel or steel cov­ Tallamy, announced the state barge canal opening schedule for the tation meant that there was that ered with nickel to prevent corrosion. The caustic soda has to be 1954 navigation season, weather and water conditions permitting, to much less for the boardiiig patrol­ kept at a rather high temperature, so that heating coils of nickel are be: the Champlain Canal to open April 5, and the Erie, Oswego and man to deal with at the ship's ar­ built in. This product is used widc-y in making soap, pulp, paper, Cayuga-Seneca Canals on April 12... The Chilean Government de­ rival, making for a smoother and rayon and other industrial items. Tanks * designed for carrying hydrochloric acids are lined with clared the country's principal ports emergency zones because of a speedier payoff for all concerned. strike of merchant marine officers. The walkout tied up more than 40 McLellan, a deck depertment rubber, and other tanks especially adapted accordingly. All chemical coastal vessels .. Finnish seamen, incensed at the "reactionary social man, has been an SIU member cargoes are isolated from the shell of the ship and any other steel policies" of a shipping company owned by the Soviet Union, recently since September, 1948, joining the surfaces which they would corrode, or from which they would get con­ called a successful strike against the line and forced Russia to give in union in San Francisco. The 35- taminated. to the workers. The seamen were members of the Finnish Seamen's year-old Seafarer Is k native of Other products carried by the chemical tankers include formalde­ Union . . . The Socony-Vacuum tanker Eclipse demonstrated the navi­ the Keystone state, Pennsylvania, hyde, liquid fertilizers, sulphates and simifar items. They can be ex­ gability of the Hudson River by going up to Albany even though she but now has home and family In pected to play a more important role in coastwise shipping in the next displaces 25,000 tons. It was the largest tanker ever to dock at Albany. Phoenix, Arizona. few years. ACTION Burly Dry Run By Bernard Seaman �SEAFARERS April 2. 1954 LOG Pare SeTenteea Yarmonth IShows Law Loopholes (Continued from page 3) responsible for the scheme would soon be telling his cellmates all about it in a Federal pen. When the shipowner does it, he gets the blessing of the Maritime Adminis­ tration and the Department of Commerce. No fJnifonn Requirements ^ The trouble is, as the "New York Times" put it in a recent article on transfers, "it is a surprising fact that the nations of the world have failed to develop any uniform pre­ requisites for granting maritime nationality to a vessel. Each coun­ try has the right to determine for itself the requirements which do­ mestic or foreign-owned ships must meet to fly its flag. Any country, may, if it desires, grant this right to foreign owned and operated vessels ..." The article goes on to point out "Not only may a ship owner avoid his national legislation by the de­ vice of foreign registration, but the foreign state is free under pres­ ent international law, to grant its flag to the vessel without demand­ ing more than the filing of an ap­ plication and the payment of a pre­ scribed fee . . . the flag-state has no effective control over the ves­ sel, which may not even touch the ports of the flag state. In this situ- going to bother to check the Yaration neither the flag state nor ' mouth to see if men sailing as any other country is in a position AB's, firemen, electricians, etc., to control the ship on the high are qualified ratings. Nor will these men, sailing regularly in and out seas ..." of Boston need port security cards It concludes by suggesting that steps should be taken through the and Coast Guard clearances to man UN for effective control of such the ship, unless they happen to be US citizens. ships. Hired Through Office The newly-created Boston-LiberMen on such ships are usually ians, who fall exactly within the category described above, have hired the old-fashioned way, been operating the Yarmouth un­ through the company office. Or der the American flag ever since else they are referred to the com­ the ship came out in 1927. Each pany by the consulate with no spring when the ice goes out, the questions asked. Yarmouth provides direct-access One thing about the latest Yar­ service between Boston and Nova mouth development is quite cer­ Scotia, a run that has been main­ tain though—the new Liberian tained steadily except during the ship and its owners will never get war years. within radar-hailing distance of Eastern was one of the first Liberian shores. companies under contract when In defending ship transfers re­ the SIU was organized in 1939 and cently before a Congressional its ships have been manned by Sea­ Committee, Maritime Administra­ farers ever since. One of the bene­ tor Louis Rothschild said that fits the company gains through the transfers were preferable to lay­ transfer is the privilege of hiring ing up or scrapping the ships. aliens at whatever wage it feels What Rothschild failed to say was like paying. Wages on Panamanian that each such transfer further and Liberian ships vary widely, but tightens the noose around Ameri­ it is not unusual for such ships to can flag shipping by putting exist­ hire men for $60 to $80 a month ing shipping operations in jeopardy and 40 cents an hour for overtime. through cut-throat competition. In Further, nobody from Liberia is most instances it is the existence of such cut-throat competition that makes it unprofitable for American-flag ships to operate. Maritime people would readily agree that removal of Panamanian and Liberian operations and their ilk from the high seas would make it possible for ships to operate profitably under the American The AFL-ILA's pointed out that flag. the "wildcat" strike"" was merely a political pressure device and had no connection with any legitimate economic beef. As the days wore on and the (Continued from page 6) "wildcat" weakened, the old ILA attempted a variety of smokescreen were lots of football, "pools" for diversions which had little effect big prizes. cn the waterfront. Since Curacao was close by They went so far as to dispatch Venezuela and many Seafarers several busloads of men to Wash­ take part in the big South Ameri­ ington where they picketed the can lotteries each year, the next NLRB offices and the White House. possibility checked was whether Observers were puzzled as to just Venezuela had just held a big what they hoped to gain through sweepstakes. The answer was neg­ these tactics, reminiscent of those ative here also. The prize was used by the Civil Rights Congress much smaller and the last one and other organizations generally was held in the fall of 1953. considered Communist-dominated. New Orleans was advised from Meanwhile, other Atlantic Coast headquarters that Hals couldn't ports like Boston, Philadelphia and have won the Irish Sweepstakes, Baltimore hummed feverishly in an even though there are two of them attempt to handle Iraffic diverted each year. The one prior to this was from New York. Longshoremen in held last fall before Hals bought those ports, still affiliated with the his "winning" ticket; the latest one old ILA, were busy unloading cargo wasn't due to be run off until that normally would be handled by March 27, and Hals had already New York longshoremen currently "won" it early in March. being kept from their jobs by the Since the Del Norte was still in port. Inquiries were started among old ILA. NLRB Throws Out Dock Vote, Orders New Pier Election (Continued from page 2) of the old ILA and further weaken­ ing its finances. Beatings and Knifings The NLRB examiner's report placed heavy stress on the pres­ ence of known waterfront hoods in and around polling places, on beat­ ings Inflicted on several longshore­ men and on the knifing of three men in Brooklyn by a mob led by Albert Ackilitis. Further substantiation of the AFL's charges of violence and in­ timidation came in the course of the so-called "wildcat" strike which the ILA called In a desperate at­ tempt to blackjack the NLRB into a decision it wanted. There were several instances of attacks on working longshoremen, their cars, telephoned threats to families, rock-throwing and the like. In one Instance ILA enforcers went so far as to invade a longshoreman's home and threaten his wife and children. Despite all the old ILA's tactics, each day saw larger numbers of longshoremen working the docks. VOLUMES OF THE Seafarers Log 1947-1953 ( Inclusive) kdittfr, SEAFARERS LOG ,lroeUyn 32, N»w York - 67S Fourth AVMUU PUuM itnd mo tho following: U) • • . I I I I I I I lb) .bound volumM of tho 1953 LOG ® $S ooch. comploto tots of bound volumoi of tho LOG for 1947 through 1951 ® $25 ooch. Encloiod li 0 totof of l., NAME •t««00f«0«*«»0«*0»«f0009*«t00090«0ft00 ADDRESS « • g • 0 # 0 • • .• V A." • 0 b« 0 0 f 9,4 *'4 0 ,g i • 0 .Lr::;:- M •• The carcass of a whale is scattered all over the foredeck of the whale factory ship Ulysses where massive.chunks of%halemeat and bone are cut up and prepared for processing. Work on another whale is already going forward on the afterdeck (rear). Sea Lif eToday^Tame' To Whaleship Baud (Continued from page 9) has about 30 years sailing time un­ der his belt, about equally split be­ tween foreign and US ships. His last SIU ship was the Robin Ket­ tering (Seas), which he had to leave in Africa due to illness. Later he repatriated back to the States on the Robin Locksley, an­ other Seas Shipping Company ves­ sel. Jacobsen reported that this Did He Win $140G's? NOW AVAILABLE BOUND iEiiliiilii ttooo^iooo . ' $25 was the first time in all his yean of sailing that he had to be hos­ pitalized. The way the whaling operation worked, the whales were hunted down and harpooned from small boats, then towed to the ship and secured aft, where they could be hauled aboard one by one with the aid of giant booms located amid­ ships. Whenever the ship was car­ rying whales aft, it moved slowly to avoid catching one of the mon­ sters in the propeller. On the afterdeck, the whale was cut up and the blubber removed so that the carcass could be moved to the foredeck where the meat and bone was retrieved. Although the familiar cry "She blows!" was always an exciting one on a whaling ship, especially when luck was poor and a catch was few and far between, Jacobsen ac­ knowledged that he'd had some ex­ citing times during World War II also. He made 21 trips across the North Atlantic, about a half dozen more between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean and spent some eight months shuttling along the English coast. The only ship he lost during this period was a Swedish freighter, which went down off the coast of England. the crewmembers. The Seafarer who was with Hals when he bought his ticket didn't remember what lottery it was on. The problem was to locate some­ body on the ship who had actually seen or spoken to the man who came aboard the Del Norte in Cu­ racao. This was established by a deck department man who said he talked with the guy, who had said a wire was being held for Hals in the steamship company agent's of­ fice informing Hals that he had a winning ticket. However, the doubting Thomases again entered the picture here, noting that in the case of the Irish Sweepstakes at least, the winners are informed directly by cable. Since Hals lives in New Orleans and obviously planned to make only one trip on the ship he would certainly have given his New Or­ leans address. Spoke To Two Others Two other crewmembers then appeared to volunteer the inform­ ation that they too had spoken to (Continued from page 3) the company representative and were told Hals had the winning lay-up fleets. Industry spokesmen, ticket. One of them said he knew however, urged that prior consider­ it wasn't the Irish Sweepstakes ation be given to those operators that was involved, but that it was with surplus freighters originally the "English Sweepstakes" instead. bought from the Government. They contended that the private opera­ However, there just isn't any. There the matter stands. The tors with idle ships of the desired LOG contacted the agent in Cu­ type should have priority to sell racao, but has gotten no answers them to Brazil. In other legislative action on as yet. The winners of the Irish Sweepstakes have already been maritime matters, a House unit also announced and Hals is definitely aired the question of the competi­ tion with private shipping posed not among them. Hals, meanwhile, is still upset by the Military Sea Transporta­ over the whole thing because he tion Service, which both union and thinks he is out a big wad of dough industry officials charge with offer­ and now all sorts of people are ing unfair competition in the after him to help him collect the carriage of both cargoes and loot—^for a price, in advance. He passengers. Opposition to the said he'd been buying all kinds of MSTS operation hinges on its lottery tickets for 20 years and movement of freight and passen­ the biggest prize he ever won pre­ gers which private shippers conviously was $30 in a Venezuelan fend could be just as easily moved pool. Now he's poorer by $140,000 by idle private tonnage. MSTS of­ that he never had anyway, unless ficials have defended the agency further inquiries at Curacaq can OQ the groM.nd that private operaestablish what, if anything, lie ^tors do not have the proper vessels flS'liandle tfie disputed shipments. ' ' won, and on whatT- ^ Unions Leading Transfer Fight �Pare Eirhten SEAFARERS LOO Shark Fishing Chief Attraction Aboard Vessel On Far East Run That one man was both the son and the father of a President of the United States? John Scott Har­ rison, bom in 1804 at Vincennes, Indiana, was the son of William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the US, and father of Benjamin Harrison, the twenty-third Presi­ dent. His only activity in politics was the four years he spent as a member of Congress from Ohio. tub was installed in the home of a Cincinnati, .Ohio, grain dealer in 1842. It was made of mahogany lined with sheet lead. 4 4 4" lb"* (be greatest source of tax revenue for the Federal Govern­ ment in the fiscal year which ended last June, aside from Income taxes, was from liquor taxes? A total of more than $1.8 billion in liquor t taxes was collected by-the Govern­ That if you're dealt a perfect ment during the period, an average hand in gin rummy, you've beaten of $11.50 for every man, woman odds of 13,629 to 1 against you? and child in the US. IliHiff "'liiHa =1 April S. 1954 4- ; 4" t That when an SIU ship is due to lay up for a period of more than ten days but comes out again within ten days, wages and sub­ sistence are payable to all mem­ bers of the crew entitled to return to the vessel who were laid off? When ships are inactive for less than ten days, the crew must be kept on at regular pay. t li I kr: if it \i Very dead shark hanrs limply on deck of the Robin Locksley as two of the crewmembers stand alongside it to have their pictures shot by the shipboard photographer. It was a 12-footer. The shark was taken after a fierce running battle. James Byrne, a mighty fisher­ man he, shows what a shark's dental work looks like without the rest of it. That Thomas A. Edison did not invent the incandescent electric lamp? Edison, however, was the first man to invent ap, incandescent electric lamp whlCn^was not only successful but which could be man­ ufactured commercially. Attempts by others to use electricity for lighting purposes were made with arc lights as early as 1800, nearly 80 years before Edison succeeded. 4> 41 4 4 4 4 That the SIU films "This Is The SIU," "The Battle of Wall Street" and the newest one—"The Sea­ farers: The Story of The SIU," in color, are available for showings on all ships? If the crew on your ship hasn't seen these Union films, prints can be obtained through SIU headquarters or any SIU hall. 4 4 4 That when billiard champ Willie Hoppe retired at the age of 65 in 1952, he had won the record num­ ber of 51 world billiard titles in a career dating back to his teens? To top things off properly, Hoppe cap­ tured the three-cushion crown for the sixth time in a row the year he retired. 4 4 4 That an edition of the Bible printed in London in 1631 was called the "Wicked Bible" because it appeared to sanction adultery? The unintentional omission of the word not in the edition made the Seventh Commandment read "Thou Shalt commit adultery," and all copies of the edition were or­ dered destroyed. "The few copies which escaped this edict are val­ uable collectors' items today. Just in case there is any doubt about who caught that 12-foot shark aboard the Robin That the first bathtub used in Locksley of Seas, reported in the February 19 issue of the LOG, Seafarer James Byrne America was imported from Eng­ wants it cleared up here and now. The intrepid worm-strangler said it was he and no other land about 1820 by Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin? Since who should get credit for the 4^ snare, and this is the way it force of its weight on the line. A of the tyro, or some brand of as­ it was an object of much curiosity, happened: call to arms brought the bosun and sorted relative at the very least. it is said Whitney kept it in the With the vessel anchored off the carpenter post haste. The duo The shark was hauled level with front yard of his home in New Tamatave, Madagascar, the junior quickly took hold of the line and the rail and suspended there for a York City when it wasn't in use thii'd assistant engineer dropped a pulled with all their strength, but­ time while the lens addicts took so that passersby could examine it. The first American-made' bath­ quarter-inch line over the aft end tressed by the strong coffee bean. shots to satiate their desires. of the ship one evening after din­ Byrne, in the meantime, was tak­ Top Shark ner. It was all in pursuit of some ing hitches on the line around the Lowering the denizen, of the diversion while the ship lay in rail. deep on the deck on a previously Bulbs Popping port. The line had a three-inch prepared foot scale, the shark , was steel hook on the end of it, baited The trio got the head out of the measured to be a 12-footer, weigh­ with a hunk of meat. water so that the air might stifle ing in at around 800 pounds on Nothing happened all that night the sea monster, taking some, of the fin. The fish was 42 inches or the next morning, but develop­ the fight out of it before they had around at its widest girth and had Seafarer^ true to the tradition of the sea, take their ship­ ments occurred apace soon after. to meet it head-on. By this time, a mouth span of 18 inches across. Around coffeetime on that Sunday the news had spread all over the It looked like a dental advertise­ board duties seriously, reported Seafarer Edwin Roop re­ morning, while the bosun and ship, with the amateur photog­ ment. It was the largest caught in cently aboard the Cubore (Ore),, In addition to the normal ship's carpenter were relaxing in raphers among the crew having s these waters, and one of the largest exigencies occurring aboard-^— — :— the shade of a nearby awning with field day. Bulbs kept popping, sharks snared anywhere in the ship, every Seafarer is ready the time being, the crew radioed their caffein in hand, Byrne went shutters kept clicking, and the trio waters of the world. to lend a hand in unforeseen ashore for further orders. After to try his hand at the line still kept hauling away. The electrician circumstances. Just silch a thing some time had passed, the ship re­ Letting pride fall where it may, hanging limply over the side of the put power on the winches, while the bosun hung the shark over the occured on the last trip of the ceived a message dfrecting that the ship. After reeling in one foot of the bosun and carpenter fashioned side the people on shore could Cubore when the captain crossed captain be buried at sea and his the line, Byrne was sorry he start­ a noose down the cable and ran take so a gander. The launches were the bar. body consigned to the deep. ed the whoie thing, because things it under the main fins. The ship was one-^ay out of running all day, with the crowd Weigh Down Body reaily began to happen. As the monster started up the coming out in droves. The next Sparrows's Point, Maryland, On a side of the ship, four pilot fish Acting on the orders, the bosun, , return run when, A Call To Amu Si" with the assistance of several mem-dropped off its sides and slid into day the line was cut and the car­ according to Something snapped the bait on the waters alongside a three-foot cass was consigned to the sea once Roop, the captain bers of the crew, sewed the skip­ the end of the line as if it were a baby shark which accompanied the more, but not before its jawbone, of per's body in canvas. Four pieces the vessel left teeth and all, were removed as a tidbit, and in the process trapped catch. The shark the men had of steel, each about four feet long, this earthly Byrne's hand to the rail with the caught was apparently the mother trophy. Were placed in the canvas next to world., He was Just about that time the^xliscusthe body to give weight to the sion arose as to who was the right­ buried at sea one sack and to sink the corpse. In ad-, day out of port ful claimant' to the finny, prize. dition, two buckets Of iron ore, in Friday, The bbsuh and carpenter each put on ip rock form, were emptied into the March 12, 1954, in their claim, disputing ^ Byrne's. Si#- canvas to help'weigh it down as^ But that was not ail, as the en- but not before Roop it plunged to the bottom. his Seafarer crew (1) What percent of ships owned by US citizens is now sailing gineerJ^ho started the whole thing saw to it that he wore all the ap­ •Ceremonies were held on the, claimebljt was, his line' and hook. propriate regalia. under foreign flags? stern of the vessel, with full The ar^ment was still raging at (2) Working together, Harry and John can do a certain repair job last report, but Byrne stuck stead­ Captain Mason, reported Roop, honors paid the captain by his was 53-years-old when he set sail crew. The chief officer, after the in 12 hours. Harry can do the whole job himself in 20 hours. How fastly to h^ line: on his final voyage. The mastor of captaii's demise, read the services. long, would it take John to do the job alone? OS'Over Side the vessel passed away during the The' deceased was then consigned (3) What famous news commentator devoted his television pro­ The daring devotee of iMak Wal­ 12-4 morning watch aboard the to the waters of the' Atlantic gram to an attack on Senator Joseph McCarthy and attracted nation­ ton had other news to report from Cubore after being io> Ul-healtb Ocean as the skipper made hie wide attention? , the vessel. He claims there was a most of the voyage to Venezuela. final voyage. balmy OS aboard who jumped Once the initial' shock had sub­ (4) Who is "Nick The Greek?" over the side of the ship and, swam sided, the crew got to work <5) What was the Ludlow massacre? to the beach and back. Of course, quicidy. • CrosB River Styx (6) A certain formation of clouds helps to form what is called a that was before the shark was If a cbewmember quits while The captain's body was bathed "Mackerel Sky." What is the name of the cloud formation? caught. That little bit of action a ship is in port, delegates and otheiwise prepared for its seemed to put a damper on any t7) Where does the New York Giants baseball team conduct are asked to contact,the hall repeats of the Same; aquatorial journey across the river Styx, with spring training? immediately for a replaceall hands pitching in to help. Then valor. .ment. Fast action on their part (8) Why are grooves placed around the edges of most coins? In one, English pub, said Byrne, one cfewmember covered the body will keep all jobs aboard ship with vaseline to exclude air and he saw a sign above the bar, writ­ (9) Leningrad's name in pre-Communist Russia was (a) Oathfilled at all times and elimi­ ten in typical British jargon; "We Wrapped-the body in a sheet before erinegrad, (b) St. Petersburg, ><c) St. Sophia? nate the chance of the ship severaUthuskles carried the body haves, cold, beers we haves, here,^' (101 What was the Battle of Zama? ' ' ' The beer, Byrne reported, was below and placed it in an iceboxV sailing shorthiuicled. ,much fbfttar, tbajpi! ,the-^f5ainnvyr,a:., j iSifith r, ' • ! v-J'i ' Sti #- Seafarers Mourn For Skipper on Final Trip W: m- Corner Fill That Berth i �April 2. 1954 SEAFARERS LOG Page Nineteen Brother Trio Goes Prospecting For What-Have-You In Colorado By SEAFARERS LOG Photo Editor There's nothing like getting away from the sea for a little relaxation, according to a report from Seafarer Chester Hughart, Hughart, it seems, got as far away from the sea as is possible for almost any man, so he should know whereof he speaks. Vacationing far from th^-*^' coasts on which he sails, the Union, invaded the prospecting his brothers were prospecting for, Hughart, along with two country in the hills of Colorado. but it can safely be concluded that The search for a satisfactory still camera that will take photographs In rapid sequence ("rapid" in this case meaning as fast as the photogra­ pher can press the shutter release) has grown in intensity during the past few years. The most urgent demands have come from the army of photo journalists who have designated themselves the vanguard of American photography. . brothers of the flesh rather than Hughart didn't say what he and This group has, in turn, been motivated by the editorial direction of many current periodicals. Editors more and fRore want photographers to preserve the precise sequence of events with all the sense of excitment and movement in the original situation. Sometimes this series of dramatic images is molded into a form called the "picture story." At other times action is published for its own sake because of some in­ trinsic point of observation or clear insight. Since one medium already exists in everyday life that dods this job beautifully—namely, the mov­ ies—much editorial thinking is actually an attempt to recreate with still photographs a similar illusion of motion. German Ditto 99 As a result photographers and. editors have turned hopefully to the rapid sequence camera with its motorized film transport and portability. Any or all of these interested parties would probably agree that the ideal sequence camera has not yet been invented. Nevertheless the German-made "Ditto 99" which has recently appeared on the American market has many features which make it a rapid sequence camera to be regarded with sei'ious consideration. The Ditto 99 is a full frame 35mm camera with a spring-operated motor that automatically transports the film and cocks the shutter up to 12 times in each winding. (The earlier Robot operated up to 24 times). It has a distinctive appearance with its body of satin chrome finish metal and light grey ribbed body covering. While not so compact as some 35mm cameras which do not have its spring drive motor, it is well designed and light in weight (22 ounces) considering the problems of fitting this kind of mechanism into a small precision caniera. Film loading is an important part of the proper functioning of the Ditto. The bottom and back of the camera are removed entirely by twisting a single knob. Because the film moves so rapidly, it is es­ pecially important that the rewind knob interfere in no way with the film magazine during operation. The conventional sprocket threading of a 35mm camera is eliminated in the Ditto. Instead, the film is gripped by holding pins that are built directly onto' the barrel of the spring motor, which actually serves as a take-up spool. A scratch-proof hinged pressure plate attached to the camera body serves to keep the film in exact alignment as it is sped through the camera. When the spring runs down there is no danger of partial exposure since only the transport is dependent on the drive spring; the shutter operates as usual only on pressure from the shutter release and this cannot be re­ leased if the film has not been fully transported to the next frame. Shutter speeds from 1/25 to 1/1000 a second plus B are set with a clearly marked dial on top of the camera body. The shutter is synched for all flash delays. The standard Ditto 99'lens is the 45mm Dittar 2.8. Because of the. great depth of field and the nature of the work usually done with a sequence camera, it has no rangefinder. The lens is interchangeable with telephoto lenses of 70 and 105mm focal length. Also available is a focussing head for distance from 8 to 24 inches. Price of the Ditto 99 with standard lens is $99.00 including tax, less carrying case and flash. The manufacturer has recently announced a new version of the camera with a slightly higher price which will provide a slow shutter Prospecting trio taking time out for a coffee break Include, left to speeds below the l/25th, also the ability to focus down to 8 inches right, Chester, James and Roger Hughart, above, while below, without any supplementary accessories. | Roger, left, watches Chester take rock scraping at cave entrance. Galley Crew Makes It Hot For Chow Hounds it fell somewhere alphabetically between aluminum and zinc. Using Lakewood, Colorado, as a base of operations for their dual project, the brothers Hughart fanned out throughout the state until they came to a campsite about 35 miles west of Denver, the capital of said state. Despite pros­ pecting and vacationing in the dead of winter, early last Febru­ ary, the touring trio found plenty of occasion to doff their shirts and bask in the hot winter sun. All that about two miles up. Packing all their mountain climbing and prospecting equip­ ment, Hughart and his brothers, James and Roger, set out for the wilds of the countryside. Armed only with pots, pans, coffeemaker and beer, as well as less important provisions, the trio made their way up and down those red hills for which the state is justly famous. Aware of ever-present danger, the brothers brought along their trusty flashlights as well as their what-have-you counters, just in case they ran across any what,have-yous while they were out prospecting. In addition, they brought along the only thing that was loaded on the trip, a camer>, to record the events of their ep­ ochal tour. . Otherwise, no one would have believed that they could have gotten sunburned in Colorado in the middle of winter. ^ew lumbers For Hq. Phones The telephone numbers of all New York headquarters phones were changed recently by the telephone company. All Seafarers calling headquarters are asked- to use the new num­ bers to get faster service. The new headquarters tele­ phone number is HYacinth 9-6600. Seafarers Pay Tribute To Shipmate's Memory Seafarers the world over, in storm and strife, in fair weather and foul, in good and bad times, have proven their worth many times over. Once again evidence is at hand to prove that Seafarers, like the-*^celebrated pachyderm, never Before it arrived, impatient as they forget a friend or a shipmate. were to honor Wilson's memory, The latest case concerns Sea­ farers aboard the Del Sol of Missis­ sippi who did not forget a former shipmate, the late and lamented Charlie Wilson. Wilson, who died in January, 1952, was buried in the port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, French West Africa. Clean Up Grave Making a recent run to the port aboard the Del Sol, crewme'mbers wqnt out of their way to see that everything was in tip-top shape in Wilson's last port of call. Some of the men made a special trip out to the grave to see that it was cleaned up and fresh flowers placed on it. Some foliage had overgrown the grave, but the boys got to work and it was cleaned up in no time at all. After it had been cleaned up a bit, fresh stones were placed around the periphery of the last resting place. When all-that was done, the Members of the jgalley crew making it hot (and :old) for the chow hounds aboard the Jean LaFitte ' Seafarers had to wait a bit until (WateVman) above, are, left to right, Wilson Davis, night cook and baker; Robert Revira, 2nd cook; \ the morning plane came in with a Cajt«ncii;.JHawkiiB!%TChigf. iCWriryJSboffi^lA' N^ftt. "jaHey^ Utility,' 'and Georige Cra^sl, chibf- st^wklrd.'" load of fresh flowers for the gi'ave. the crew took a photo of the refurbished resting place. Satis­ fied with their work, the crew headed back for the ship, knowing they had done their job well. They intend to look after it on every trip. The grave of the late Sea­ farer. Charlie Wilson, rests in Abidjan, Africa, where his for­ mer shipmates cleaned it up eU'lheir last run. �';' Pate Tweety F,'7 ,• ':'^'«r^77*r-^?srf SEAFARERS tOG AprU 2, 1»H ^Were You Caught In Raid Too?' Said The Seafarer To The Judge By Spike Marlin A few Friday evenings back a Some pretty good fighters, notably scant couple of thousand onlook­ Sandy Saddler for one, had their ers who were foolish enough to troubles. with him in the past. It liappened in a southern port, Seafarer Louis Aragues reports to the LOG, that he pay their way in saw a reasonably- However, he had been beaten almost got in trouble just by having a good time, content in his innocence. It was just successful club fighter by the three times in the past year by name of Paddy De Marco take the other ranking lightweights, which that innocence, however, he says in the "Del I^orte Navigator," a shipboard publication, lightweight championship away is probably the reason why the from James Carter in Madison Carter .management chose to fight which almost compounded his Square (l^rden. The results of the him in the first place. "crime" and landed him in fight, while mildly surprising, ex­ the local lockup. cited nobody except Mi». De Mar­ Stripped Of Talent Now DeMarco is supposed to Aragues had just come back co and the Idddies. meet Carter in a return. It would from the evacuation of Huranang, That's because few people took surprise nobody if Carter won the Carter seriously as a champion, Korea, in 1950 early in the Korean title back again. Nor would it and even fewer will have any dis­ War and he was ready for bear, or make much difference. For the position to classify De Marco in bear hug. Fun was what he wanted. lightweight class in the last couple the same, breath as such light­ of years has become almost as What he got was something of weights as Henry Armstrong, Bar­ another sort, but it ended up not stripped of good fighters as the ney Ross, Lou Ambers nnd Tony heavyweights, even though there too unpleasantly. Canzoneri to name a few outstand­ are a few men around who can Taking off on the town with the ing performers in the past two second assistant engineer, who was handle both Carter and DeMarco. decades. of a like mind with Aragues in the Through the years, the light­ search of amusement, the duo was Lost It Before weight class has had more than i^s feeling no pain after making As a matter of fact, once before share of great champions. The nodding acquaintance with a pint Carter lost the title, that time to cracker-barrel set will wax rhap­ Seafarer Louis Aragues, reporter for the "Del Norte Navigator," and of gin. They drank a staggering an awkward, clumsy Mexican sodic over such names as Joe Gans, his wife, Juanita, left, drop in to compare notes with the LOG. amount and it was transported fighter by the name of Lauro Salas. Battling Nelson and Benny Leon­ At right, itinerant journalist looks 'over a copy of his work. completely unchanged into their They had a return bout and Carter ard. But nobody has to go back walk. The engineer's name was won it back easily. Before and that far. Steve Brodie, which, Aragues for another trip riding high on his officers ranged up beside him with after, he has been ducking out on The last man who held the title upraised clubs, l^t the sergeant other hip. noted, figured later in the tale. After getting through a few non­ stymied the move for the present. the better men in the division, pre­ before Carter took it from him, Beating Two to a Bar Ik? Williams, could have taken descript pedigrees, the desk ser­ There was some allusion to "the ferring to fight set-ups. Wending their way through .town geant came to Aragues. The seamen back room" when Aragues quietly DeMarco figured as another one both Carter and DeMarco on suc­ like a musical note, from bar to showed him his seaman's papers, stole away. of the same, although he had a rec­ cessive nights when he was in his bar, the pair came upofi a street and told him a few truths and halfBack on the ship, conscience got ord for being a tough customer to prime. We don't think he would square which had a pub on each truths. The latter-were told with the best of the Seafarer and he handle mainly because he hit very have needed a total of 15 rounds to comer. Consternation set in until such an unwavering eye an^un- told the chief engineer what had hard with the top of bis head. do it in either. it was decided which bar to choose, faltering voice, that the sergeant transpired. Overwrought at the and having chosen, passing on to took them for the gospel. Making indignity visited upon an officer it. Brodie was so full of spirits at like the hero he claims he was not, of the vessel, the chief stepped the time that he was slouched over Aragues-claimed he was just back into the breach immediately, send­ the bar like a damp rag. The bar­ from the battlefront of fiumnang, ing down the first and third as­ tender used him to wipe a few hoping the association would place sistant to rescue the second. Any glasses before he realized what he him in a favorable light. Also, the more assistants, said Aragues, and had in hand. Then, out of the night, seaman implied that he was a the police would have been out­ came the gendarmes, and before political power in New York City. numbered. he could do a Steve Brodie off the The sergeant dealt with him gin­ Coming back the next week to rim of a glass into the liquid gerly after that. Payment of $20 answer the charges, Aragues was contents, Brodie, along with Ara­ bail made him a free man again, confident of their acquittal despite gues, was picked up on a vagrancy until the trial the following week Brodie's despondency. Seeking di­ charge. once again demanded his presence. rection to the court of the presiding The next thing the strolling Brodie, however, did not fare so judge, the pair got nowhere until troubadours knew they were in the well with the three-striper at the they encountered a kindly gentle­ pie wagon and heading for the desk. When asked his name, Brodie man who said he would lead the upper crust of the police force. blared out the truth. Naturally, as way, since he was going there, too. After a ride of short and vituper­ befits any minion of the law, the The man in question was dressed ative duration, the pair arrived at officer doubted him as much as if to the teeth, but ini a dignified old bailey, in company of others, he had said "Queen Elizabeth." manner, and Aragues felt drawn and greeted the desk sergeant with Asked again, Brodie became ada­ to him. Fire and Ice dark and glowering looks. Aragues mant and reiterated his nomencla­ Enjoying a brew at Kacjde's Bar in Houston, Texas, are Bert During the course of the asceht was the most lighthearted of the ture at the top of his voice, for Manifold, left, and Jimmie George,' second from left, along with group, however, knowing he was which he almost got the top of his in the elevator which was convey­ night mate and engineer, both of whom are unidentified. in the right with signed articles skull bashed in on the spot. Two ing them to the courtroom, the elevator operator mentioned that 22 people had been caught in a raid. Aragues, for some unfathom­ able reason, thougl^t the other man in the elevator was one of those snared in the trap. "Were you caught in the raid?" he directed The LOG opera thia column os on exchange /or stewards, cooks, his question to the kindly gentle­ man, who froze at the thought. bakers and others who'd like to share favored food recipes, little-known From then on things got much cooking and baking hints, dishes with a national flavor and the like, chillier in the elevator. suitable for shipboard and/or home use. Here is Sigmund Rothschild's To make a long story short, the recipe for pot roast. • chilly elevator rider turned out to cedure goes this way: Pot roast is more than an ordi­ be the presiding judge and Aragues nary American staple in the right Season the meat with the salt turned white. Of course; he laughed and pepper as hot as the tongue hands, according to Seafarer Sig­ it all off as a joke once the color allows. Then, dredge it in the flour, came back to his face. What else mund Rothschild, cook and steward keep bacon fat hot by having it for many years in and out of could he do, he reasoned to Brodie, maritime circles. The 39-year-old simmering in a frying pan on top who was too sick at the thought To BE CW "IWE SAFE SIDE, steward says he likes to cook on of the stove, then braise the beef commiserate with anyone. It any ship, pot roast or otherwise, in the bacon fat until it |s brown APPLY FD/e YOUR YACAVtON ended merrily when both Aragues but he prefers the European runs all over. and Brodie got off when the case YOU for pleasure. The next step is to dice the vege­ was dismissed, going to sea the next ACCUMULAYB OYBR tables and half a stalk of celery, For a full crew of 47 men, Roths­ day. Bar Boys Drink Skoal To Shipmates f: ... APPLY FOR YOUR. VACAVON DOUSHi Vf- :v«\,.- 90 PAYS OF SEA-TIME. THE VACATION OFFICE CAMNOTHOA/CX^ V\Sa4AJR.GBS ivnw ^ -PAYOFF DATES OV^/^J ONB YEAifL OLD. i,; .|s :• fcs; ;• v/iihlvKf^-r:-- Be Sure to Get Buee Receipts Headquarters again wishes to remind all Seafarers that payments of funds, for what­ ever Union purpose, be made only to authorized A&G repre­ sentatives and- that an official Union receipt be gotten at tfiat time. If no receipt is offered, be siure to protect* yourself by immediately bringing the mat­ ter to the attention of the see.xeta|ydxeaiin»r'% child says, take the following Ingredlents to tickle their palates: threequarters of -a pouhd of bacon fat; one dozen large onions; five to six cloves of gafiip: salt and pep^r ' to seakon; flour for Botfaschild dredging; ap­ proximately two gallons of beefstock; 10 . iu®diu'n-slz®d carrots; 16 pounds, of round or chuck beef and a roasting pan. Rothschild's step-by-step pro- place the vegetables on top of the beef, or mixed in, -and then put the concoction in the roasting pan. Cooks In Gravy At this point the beefstock comes into play by being poured over the beef and vegetables, which results in the pot roast be­ ing cooked in its own gravy. Place the dish in an oven registering 350 degrees for a period of about three hours, depending on the size of the meat. Turn the roast as it is warming in the pan every 10-15 minutes. All .that is left to do, says the Seafarer who has been cooking with ./he SIU ,a^ce. 1943, Is to serve it while it ia piping: hot ; . �April X. 1S54 SEAFARERS VMS VOG Taie In Classroom To the Editor: The SEAFARERS LOG. which comes to me through your courtesy, is one of the most valuable labor papers that I have known, and my thanks are long overdue. Many cdpies have been passed on, and especially those that had stories on well known historical events, like your story on the sink­ ing of the Titanic. It so happens that a teacher of mine, in litera­ ture, uses that episode as an assign­ ment for each new class, ^nd he was glad to add the SIU account of the disaster to his collection.. (I had brought an extra copy of the LOG from the New York conven­ tion at the time of my visit with all of you good friends at the SIU hall.) All of the endeavors sponsored and especially the scholarships are valuable to the better understand­ ing of the labor movement. I wish that I might be of use; would some old cards with photo­ graphs of German Lloyd liners, taken around the turn of the cen­ tury, be acceptable? Louise R. Hoocker (Ed. note: Thank you very much for your offer of the pictures; we will be very glad to have them.) 4" 4 "4 Pelican Mariner Hun Just Fine To the Editor: Amid the ringing of her ship's bell and the clanking of her chains, the spanking-new Mariner, the Pelican Mariner, has announced her arrival here in Yokohama, Japan. The trip across has been one of the most pleasant trips across I have ever had the good fortune to make. The untiring efforts of the entire steward department have made this trip so far a gourmet's delight. It is with regret that I add that almost all ships could not or cannot be the feeders that this one is. Fine Bakldg What with the exceptionally fine baking of our steward, J. Byrd and P. A. Shackelford, the expert cu­ linary efforts of the unmatchable George Crabtree and Wade Mor­ ris, the galley force is one of the best Pve ever encountered. Our crew here is a comparative­ ly happy one and the total lack of beefs aboard gives a somewhat ex­ hilarating 'feeling to any ship's delegate. I regret to inform you that Brother D. Thompson has become ill and will be removed to the hos­ pital here in Yokohama. He sure will be missed and the boys and I earnestly hope for his quick re­ covery. W. J. (Red) HolUgan Ii 4 4 4 Enjoys Heading Vnion Paper To the Editor: Just a few lines to let you know how much I appreciate and enjoy your LOG. I really look forward to it, as all the items in it are in­ teresting, amusing, informative and diversified. Keep it up and good luck to all of you. Lisa M. Prejos 4 4 4* Wants Hospital Forms On Ships To.the Editor: Brother Stewart Hanks,. who wrote the "Letter of the Week" in the March 5th-issue of the LOG, is to be commended. I agree with him that printed forms should be placed on board every SIU ship by the Welfare Department, this form to be filled out by the ship's dele­ gate with all pertinent informktioif about any brother who has to be hospitalized in a fdreign port. This form should contain such information as \^t the captaiir and coiBiway'agents did for tho Pac« Tweaty-«n« L E T r E JR S ailing brother, proper-medical care given and, if possible, a statement by the captain or agents on the method of repatriation after dis­ charge from the hospital abroad. This form will be airmailed at once to the Welfare Department in New York so that the director, Walter Seikmann, can be kept infortned by the company in the States on the man's welfare at all times, along with the method of transportation, maintenance, port of arrival and date expected, so that a welfare man can meet the ship, if necessary and see that the company agents do so. As we know, many of our broth­ ers have been stranded when they arrived in the States a long way from home, with no funds to tide them over till payment and settle­ ment of their case. One thing struck me very for­ cibly in Brother Hanks' letter as something that happens quite fre­ quently: men being repatriated on freighters and company vessels if they are physically unable to care for themselves during the long voyage home, such as men who have suffered a stroke or other in­ jury. A man in that predicament should be sent home on a pas­ senger shipvwhere he can be under a doctor's care, and the company should make the necessary ar­ rangements on arrival for an am­ bulance and prompt admittance to a USPHS hospital. In cases of this sort, I feel, our negotiating committee should have a clause in­ serted in the agreement at the earliest possible opportunity cov­ ering this. John Jellette 2Vo Bliss In Bliss For Him MAIG's Onlg SMV Benefit In Army To Die Editor: I would" like to have the L(3G sent to me regularly, as it's one of the many things about the SIU that I miss; it's the only SIU bene­ fit I can enjoy at the present, too. I sailed SIU from 1945 until Oc­ tober, 1953, when I was drafted and held the rating of chief elec­ trician. I would like to send re­ gards to all my brothers. Pvt. C. F. McDowell US 54 136 167 Student Co. 8 Camp Gordon, Ga. (Ed. note: We are add'.ag your name to the LOG's mailing list, as you requested.) maif until the trip was over and we were back in San' Pedro—40 days after leaving the States. Nat­ urally, everybody griped. To date To the Editor: As you know, the Army life we haven't heard from the hall; doesn't agree with an SIU seaman. no LOGS, no nothing. The chow and pay are very poor. Greater Need Some of the food they feed us is From what I hear over the radio worse than what I threw to the and read, there soon will be a sea gulls, and that is no lie. I am greater necessity for more jobs on now"at Fort Bliss, Texas, going to these ships. Perhaps some deal nun mechanics school. I guess I will could be made whereby the fabu­ be a mechanic for a while. lous OT of some seamen could be I have told some of the boys spread out to keep another man here about the SIU and all the or men busy, for instance, a-bo­ good conditions we have and they sun's mate or another assistant for don't believe me. Even after they the pumpman or a painter. Looks 4 4 4 see the LOG. Oh, well, all of this to me like there is plenty of work propaganda the Army tries to feed for more hands, sacrificing the OT, you is eafbn up by some of the of course. However, I am not fa­ guys. miliar with the work in other de­ To the Editor: I would like a little information: partments and merely suggest this After reading the March 5 issue I have always understood that the as an opening wedge to discussion of the LOG I became aroused minimum wage per hour set by the along those lines. enough to write my first letter to Government was $.75. My wife has It seems like a lot of ships, you. been working at an El Paso depart­ especially tankers, leave the lines On behalf of the crew of the ment store: she receives $20 for a on deck until they arrive at the Alawai I want to thank S. Hanks, 48-hour week. next port, at the great inconveni­ steward, for com­ Tell Keith Terpe I send my best ence of the crew. The only reason ing up with such I can see for doing this is to save regards to him. a wonderful idea OT or working time on deck. Many Boyd Davis in his "Letter of (Ed. note: The Federal Govern­ men stumble and grumble and do the Week." ment's minimum wage scale of nothing about it. The lines are -If the Welfare $.75 applies only to those persons piled right outside the crew messServices Depart­ whose work comes under inter­ hall and galley door. If insui'ance ment would put state commerce jurisdiction. De­ companies saw the number • of accident reports partment stores are under local passersby stumble and trip over aboard ships it these lines, they would tear their controL) would mean an­ Ciabiboli hair out. , 4 4 4 other great step toward success. Brother Hanks has Recreation {Spot The fantail is our most im­ explained the idea so well that portant recreational outdoor place nothing can be added. It would cr. the ship, but there is no over­ mean that the Welfare Services To the Editor: would have only to walk over to 4 4 4 We have completed two trips head canopy provided there for their files when a brother comes aboard the Sweetwater from San our benefit.. There are ropes all in with a beef about an injury, Pedro, Cal., and one trip from the over the deck and it still needs a instead of starting from scratch Persian Gulf to Japan. We have hosing down. It gets an occasional and trying to dig up facts too old at least two more runs to go by— sweeping, but that doesn't elimi- to remember. To the Editor: pate the redolences which arise We could have the accident I am a member of the Union we hope—since this is an excep­ from the garbage in that area. tionally good ship. What makes it reports drawn up to include the and. would like very much to have The crew, of course. There were about 20 tankers wait­ mate's or engineer's signature and hiy name put on the mailing list. good? ing for cargo in the Persian Gulf I am on the beach, unable to sail They're a swell bunch of 'seamen, and every one of them had a cano­ questions which give the brother cooperative and well qualified in for a while, but still like to get the py over the fan tail. We were in an even break instead of tlie one­ LOG biweekly, and appreciate it their respective jobs and a very the Baltimore shipyard for 45 days, sided accident reports we have at happy bunch. very much. James D. Fasten with plenty of time for erection, this time. (Ed. note: We have placed your Luke Ciamboli Take my department, for ex­ but still no canopy. name on the LOG's mailing list.) ample. It is the hub of the wheel 4 4 • 4 Seamen spend a great deal of; for morale, greater contentment 4 4 4 and belly-robbing. There's Jimmie time reading and the demand for Grant, steward, who says: "I current literature is great, rather haven't a worry in the world. I than the second-hand stuff we've To the Editor:. know things are always going okay been getting in the past yeai-s. I To the Editor: Enclosed you will find a ticket in in my department." Ralph Mar­ can safely say that I average $5 a I am grateful to you for placing tini is chief cook and tliat's ship, along with a great many oth­ the amount of $.50 as a charge for boarding a ship in order to see me on your complimentary sub­ enough said for those who know ers, trying to keep up with the someone. Just who gets this money scription list. I anticipate many world in reading matter. How pleasant hours of reading the LOG. him. He's also ship's delegate and about having a library dues of $5 and what is it spent for? Is this Whatever else may be said about has the right personality to handle a year, more or less, to help cover Merchant Seamen's Charity a le­ sailors, it cannot be said of them both jobs with dispatch. He's a expenses of having a ship's library gally constituted one? that they are ungenerous. .1 have conscientious worker and he on all SIU ships that we could It has been sometime now since found sailors and fisher folk to be pleases all with his culinary ai-t. point to with much pride? I went to sea, but this sme:ls pretty prepared to share both their sub­ Frank Hall is second cook and I guess I can find room enough fishy to me. Does the SIU get any baker and Frenchy Blanchard i.«i stance and themselves. to throw a few orchids to topside. of this money? This charge^ was third cook. Never heard a beef Marius Hansome They all seem to be okay, sociable levied for boarding the Pa'ricia among them. and pleasant. The skipper, Andrew of the Swedish Lloyd Line. Hotter Than Hot If this money is for foreign sea­ Pratt, is really tops, which is only Glancing in the galley one natural since he was trained in the men- alone I am against it, but if might see Frenchy with the skillet, foc'sle. American seamen benefit then it Frank preparing night lunch plat­ is all right with me". That is, if a AI Sadenwater ters and the chief cook washing responsible body is behind it and 4 4 4 some pans or preparing vegetables. spends a minimum amount on op­ The radio is going full blast, every­ erating costs, not like the cliari y one is happy and it is hotter than gyps which have been exposed re­ cently. thS fidley room where we hang our clothes to dry. The black gang and To the Editor: Paul Tribble deck department, if they have any (Ed. note: The SIU has no con­ This letter is to inform you that beefs, never discuss them in the a pogm of mine, "New York—Port nection with the vessel in ques­ messhall.. In fact, you mostly hear Of Dreams," first published in the tion and does not have any infor­ Iiumorous remarks about one an­ SEAFARERS LOCJ, will soon be mation concerning the charity in­ other and that many of the dieters sold in stores in New York City on volved. ) are eating themselves out of shape. post cards. I have made some 4 4 4 There is also talji about the great changes in the' poem and added lovers or about how "Bobo" the two verses since you published it. wiper bosses the pumpmen and I am aware the poem was used engineers. That's why we look for­ on the Manhattao waterfront to To the Editor: ward with pleasure to a couple of garner votes foir the AFL in its ' Please send me the LOG, as I more shuttle runs. In fact, I heard longshoreman dispute with the old miss reading it. You sent it for a some of the; boys discuss what they ILA and was specifically asked by short period but not lately; I enjoy would do if offered another year's one man if I objected to such use. reading it. contract out here in Japan. Sign Baltimore was buzzing when do not. The SEAFARERS LOG Kioc W. EUiott up for another hitch, says they. these Seafarers all came home is also entitled to use my poems (Edi note: We have once again at the same time. Kneeling, One'4lifficulty we have has-been. for any purpose- it believes bene­ added your name to our mailing ' the mail. The otdy addrear we: ficial to seamen,, the-port or the Hst, mad apologize for the-mistaket. left-te^ rilAtt, are Dan BiolroniSid aad Bffl Wiley, with Adam haveisTthescoa^aav^a-in.New Teriu Unhta, Thank you for calling it to our at­ Biichaes and Fred La Flaiit. tention.1 On thf first trip ww-di(te!t'fiet any Wants Hevised Injury Heports Smooth Sailing On Sweetwater Wants To Head IMG On Heaeh Scores Charge To Go Aboard Thinhs Seamen Hest Of Souls Busy Baltimore VOG Poem To Be Sold In NY Misses Heading Seafarers.LOG • 1- «ir LOG ;oU riS-iftiittiUSild �Fare Twenty-twa Objects To Idea For Improvement f?v rv SEAFARERS IPG Gets AR Tiehet In Raltimore To the Editor: Last time 1 was around the hall in New York .was about my permit. Well, now I have my AB ticket, recoiving it in Baltimore. A lot of credit goes to thp good bosuns and ABs with whom I have sailed under the SIU banner. Every bit of seatime is with the SIU. There was never a time aboard an SIU ship that if I asked to be shown something I w^s refused. Everything was explained to me patiently and intelligently. Perhaps you could put the en- t> X To the Editor: During the war I sailed in the engine room of various Standard Oil tankers and made numerous trips to England, Iceland and Rus­ sia. I am going to return to sea in the future and woulji like to join your Union at that time. I am very interested in the ac­ tivities of the Union and news from the several ships, and have been fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the LOG occasionally In the past when I came across copies of it. I would be very grateful if you •would add my name to your mail­ ing list and send me the LOG whenever it is published. John A. Johnson (Ed. note: Your name has been added to the- mailing list and you will receive the LOG every two weeks, as published.) ^ ^ ^ $•' >$• Ex'Stewardess Enjops LOG To the Editor: Enclosed you will find a donation for the LOG, which you send me every two weeks. I am a stew^dess, and have retired my book for the time being, but keep up with many of my shipmates through the LOG, and others through meeting them in New Or­ leans. Thanks so much for your courtesy at' all times. Rosalie Rodrlguo m. SeaeUft Is Now A Happy Ship ^ w• If ^ i:'-'--. 'v.'/"-. To the Editor: This ship, the Seacliff (Coral), was the one that was so much talked of tip and down the coast, especially the West Coast. Over in , Pusan, Korea, we heard of no end of trouble aboard with the last crew, but believe me, things are ^different this trip. ' We upheld the true SItf way !of doing things and' long may .our banner w'ave; Our agent^ Tommy To the Editor: Recently you published an article I sent to you about the schoolboy mate on the Mankato Victory (Victory Carriers). The issue came aboard when we got to Mobile, Alabama, and the mate was the laughing stock of the ship after the article was read by all aboard. This article and what I had to say to the old man did do a lot of good, as Mr. McKeen is now second mate, and I'm looking for­ ward to the day when he will be sailing OS where he belongs. I didn't get to the hall as I hoped I would because our orders were changed while the ship was at sea. Lots or Sugar I was so fed up with everything on the Mankato Victory that I paid off and went back to the West Coast. I am now aboard the Bien­ ville (Waterman) and it looks like this one will go to New York with a load of sugar, so i will surely be able to drop in then, about the middle of April. Best wishes to you all and to the continued success of the LOG and all the brothers at headquarters. Charlie Mazur 4 Thanhs Union For Its Paper Ex-Railroad Man Is A LOG Rentier Pen Is Mighty On SHI Vessel the stack and make it an official hospital ship.',' I strongly recom­ mend the Union printing some forms to cover any questions which usually arise when a man goes to the hospital, so this information will be available to the Union welfare men and lawyers. We have had vei^ good coopera­ tion from the engine delegate. Jack Simison; deck delegate "Irish" Adams; Omar Ames, the steward delegate. Only by a united effort can a ship be kept on an even keel. Bosun Knafiick has been a great help with Union matters and lead­ ership. George Johnson 4 Harry Emmett, left, and George Lowe have their pic­ tures taken aboard the Trojan Se'aman. closed snapshot of George Lowe and myself in the LOG. I am the one with the Seafarers' stetson on my head. My mom lives way down in Kansas City, Mo., and sh6 gets the LOG: She would like to see my picture to show to the folks. Harry Emmett w t 4" Choctaw Expects 4 Smooth Payoff To the Editor: The Choctaw (Waterman) had a smooth trip around from Seattle to Philadelphia, and we expect a smooth payoff. We have had a most cooperative and understanding captain — Captain Knut Aastasted; any beefs that arose wqre settled swiftly and without bias. The steward, David Edwards, was unusually cooperative, combined good Union performance with ex­ cellent leadership. We had aTgood feeding ship, and without running the department ragged. When we got behind, he didn't raise hell as to why, but stepped in and helped out. The ship has had quite a few hospital cases of one sort or an­ other. The chief mate was supposed to have said, "Paint a red cross on Honor Guard At Seafarer's Funeral To the Editor: I am writing in regard to your paper, the "LOG. I have enjoyed the great way this paper is made up, the down-to-earth truth there­ in, and \/ritten in such a manner as to be easily understood. I was given the privilege of read­ ing this paper through the kind­ ness of Bud Deane. I know he is now back with his fellow ship­ mates. The LOG was stopped when Bud left. He may want to knpw about this. F hope to see him again in the near future, and to meet you per­ sonally. Until then, I will say thanks for the swell reading and the best of everything to you. Jack Guthrie 4 4 4 LOG Not Safe In Army Camp To the Editor: I would very much like to have the LOG sent to mq, over here. There are a couple of fellows here in Rochefort, France, who receive the LOG in this outfit, but as soon as they put it down, somebody picks it up. You just can't leave anything aroun(j in an Army barracks. I would like to-receive my personal copy for the next 11 month.s. Pvt. Thomas J. Keenan (Ed. note: Your name has been added to the mailing list. You will receive the LOG every two weeks, as published./ 4 4 4 Thanks Seafarers For Giving Rlood To the Editor: I am writing to express my gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the men who so willingly donated blood to my little girl. She was seriously burned and is a patient of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City. As I do not know all of them personally, I am using this means of telling them how much I appre­ ciate their kind act. In tonclusion, may I wish them the best of luck and good sailing always. Mrs. Betty Keene 4 4 4 Wants Paper To Follow Her To the Editor; I have been receiving the LOG .at my present address' for some time now, but am moving soon, and am' sending you my new ad­ dress. I do not want to miss get­ ting any issue of the LOG, I enjoy reading, it BO much. 'i&y husband and I have been married for hine years; he was an SIU bookman then and I can't help but praise the progress of the iUhioh. Seafarers, friends and honor guard stand at respecHul attention ^: i»rs. W. W. Nichols as US Army, chaplain reads services at,'iji)n, fuiQ«irarpf Se.^,arer £ Cridlin. On left side of photo; Seafaters; ^ r- 'lEolft note; iVip' tfhanged Tarallo, J. Surles, E. C(>x, J. Broaddiis^ R. 'epllilns.m*! 1»54 Credit Where Oue^ Says He M, E T T E R S To the Editor: Just finished reading a piece in Banning in 'Frisco and Marty And the column, "Seafarers in Action," Dav4 and the representatives did concerning brother Paul Ulrich, a swell job. They straightened out In reference to speeding up the the ship so that this trip passed service between the messmen and with everybody happy and con­ chief cook. tented—much, different from the He seems to want a public ad­ last voyage. dress system installed for their Oldtimers On Board use. What the heck is his rush We have quite a few oldtimers for chow? Our on here, and if things did get a solid contract Itjtle out of line, as they sometimes specifies a com­ do, a meeting was called and those plete meal hour in the wrong were told and reprlfor the black nnanded. gang and the Plenty of stores were put on in deck department. Oakland--fresh and frozen vege­ However, there tables, plenty of everything, as our are no provisions agent was there to see everything whatsoever for was all right before we signed on. the steward deRyan The .captain. S. V. Syre, was as partment. We just have to eat whenever we get different from the last trip as day it and no one hears us squawk from night. Everybody is well sat­ about it. We don't care how fast isfied, happy and contented. E. Wallace we get it as long as we get it. The next thing these fellows will i it "t want will be for the cooks and messboys to be on roller skates at their very beck and call. Tell them to take it easy; they can get To the Editor: enough sack time off watch. Of course, I expect some reper­ I would appreciate it if you cussions about this, but I just got would place the name of a friend tired of reading all the time about of mine, Sam S. Hill, on the regu­ the other departments having so lar mailing list to receive the SEA­ many suggestions as to how to run FARERS LOG. He is a retired the steward department. If they railroad man and says the LOG is are so intelligent, why don't thoy one of the finest organized labor sail in the steward department and papers he has read. Thank you. see what it is like? Herbert R. Kreutz Joseph Ryan (Ed. note: The brother who (Ed. note: We have added Mr. made the siiggestufn in the first Hill to the LOG'S mailing list.) instance, Paul Ulrich, is a member K, i. i. of the steward department himself and apparently felt it would make things simpler for his gang.) Veteran Sailor . Ashs For Paper APFU To the Editor: I was in New York once again and didn't even get a chance to get up to the Port O' Call, what with one matfe getting off and a new one getting on. I had to stay aboard trying to do what both wanted done and to take care of the stores and ^ many other things. I sent in a story and pictures to the LOG about a fire aboard the Steel Scientist in Calcutta, India. The story and photos ran in the paper with the notation that the pictures were taken by me. That's wrong. I know what some brothers would Bankston say about that, so please get it straight next time and give credit where it is due to the •photographers. Don't say anything about Blackie Bankston, the son of a mother who Ls al.so the wife, mother-in-law and grandmother of a Seafarer. .Everything is holding its own around here, as you can tell by the minutes. That's all for^ now. See you soon. Blackie Bankston 4 4 4 Asks Paper Re Sent To Tepee To the Editor: I would like very much to have you send my copy of the LOG to Wallace P. Anderson, Tuscarora Indian Reservation, Mt. Hope Road, RFD No. 1, Lewiston, NY. I am not living at 11 Karolyn Ct. anymore. I might add that I certainly look forward to reading and receiv­ ing the LOG. I am very proud of our paper and I take great pleasure in showing it off to my Indian and white frieiids. I artf living on the reservation right now and plan on getting a ship as soon as shipping picks up a little. Best regards to all my friends in the Union. Wallace "Mad Bear" Anderson (Ed. note: Your change of ad­ dress has been noted and you will continue to receive the LOG regu­ larly, as published.) 4 4 4' Says NMU Not Equal Of SIU To the Editor: , I remember reading an article I took out of the New York Sunday News concerning members who wrote to the News about the hospi­ tal funds the NMU doesn't have. I was a member of that so-called union from 1939 to 1946. I was ashore from 1947-1951 When I went back for a short stay before join­ ing the SIU. I sure am sori'y I didn't join in 1938 when I first went to sea, as my wife is more than pleased that I am in a good and strong Union. We had lots-of beefs'on ships of. the NMU and they were always re­ ferred io headquarters. I don't know where headquarters was or is, but It sure was not in this coun­ try because we never got any re­ sults from them. M. V. C^ampl 4 4 4 Rlood Donors Receive Thanhs. To the Editor: _ I wouM very much like to thknk the Seafarers who donated blqod rfop me. Although I do not know the names .of the donors,|deeply appreciate their kindness. • It is gratifying to have been the recipient, of the extreme generqs^ty of these men. -The doctors say- I am sailing along smoothly. Thanks again.'-.'". ^ ' s^ V*to AUeluia- �If54 ^Lrr '^'''" ""'I' •" i™- «£srsv;:, «'-•'->•• at thillimeZnllTbralX York City Last c.'^L"raSisreM^ °trr.r- "^^inliij •'"•- :•' "::M:-^,«^.r'^i ... .. ;r.s.s •nly the homrS of 'f '';C^:VS'::'--^' K---: :•••<; ^ ^'<... i rf.""-- "« on the American market ^11 r"-i « « .».po«, „„„ SU |;-.;-:i^3 oi" ptrid"Lr »-• bulk at piers. Package carenpT^ ^.... i to the stores, where fhe taJrr.T' the merchandise within 24 houJf Supervisor Couri is ascicfpj L sistant appraiser and a ritn • with more tha^s years ofT^- I I 1 s I < .1 •"> ® examined i * ^ach Backstopping Couri and his tlJrton^'^H®''"'®®- seven assistant appraisers ^ and a similar number of examiner^ fxaminers remainder of the sfa« oners' aides. The elerks, samplers, verifiers Tor^ recording laborers. eriiiers, police guards and . • I I^ * bave'£Tvoted"'to'Sf°"'' ">•« familiar with the merchanS''th One handles prcious examine, and fish, another musical Wn ""^ats and so on. Each is a resn® " and toys, importing world fnri authority in the down atfrSe Ste 7.1°°' F t: "« '""'d Now Yori: ttof idl? ,7°<l."S"S°p.m'S °"^°'''°"' if" op'e«rg''°?„s;mS'° S TU^ ^ " ports around the countJ? countrv. It will carry 'reigh and exdlamonds set In rings. I ' ' • ^ I' ^ f a "-i' aiiHi assessable. At left, a tuestion on h«» V®•' «« •riginal 6e* mis?' I conference. Sinpe the dut^dlffe??^ imported artiit'thV^flo?er.*£l2rSlna^^ "T ciSLn? �, f. • I »' • tr='- i:;^?4' SEAFARERS ?»(• Twenty-tour /St-, t: I" i^:. April se, 1954 .. . DIGEST of SHIPS' MEETINGS ... STEEL VENDOR (Isthmian), Novembar the next trip; the steward knew of this 7—Chairman, Johnnia Hoggia; Sacratary, and made no attempt to remedy the sit­ Earl J. Laws. There is $7 in the ship's lund left over from the last trip. Old repair list will be taken care of. John­ nie Hoggie wag elected ship's delegate. Any member fouling up will be brought to punishment. Each man will donate to tiie ship's fund. Men off watch will clean the messhall. Motor should be turned off when the washing machine is not in use. Each man will change his own linen, piece for piece. Sanitary men will clean or wipe dust from fans in ail rooms. February 1—Chairman, John Hoggia; Secretary, V. C. Orancio. It was agreed to leave $28 in the ship's fund for the next crew, after donating expenses, and to give the remainder to the Polio Fund <$30). Crew was asked not to foul up and to return to ship on sailing day. Vote of thanks went to the steward de­ partment. Eveiwone must keep the laun­ dry clean after use, and use the wash ing machine properly. February li—Chairman, John Hoggia; Secretary, L. W. Fessler. Routine crew disputes were settled by the crew. Drfor locks for crew's quarters should be re­ placed. Fan situation is OK. Boatmen must be fed after the crew when going through the Suez Canal. Steward de­ partment was thanked for special items bought from their own pockets. There was a general discussion of various in­ cidents. STEEL ADMIRAL (Isthmian), January 17—Chairman, V. D'Angelo; Secretary, C. Burns. First assistant said hC would fix the wash basin in the 8-12 foc'sle. No US money will be given in draws. Deck department 8-12 watch fixed the sink themselves. Cold water faucet needs re­ pairs, foc'sle door should have hooks. De­ partment delegates will check on all porthole screens and report to ship's delegate. February 21—Chairman, Charles Col­ lins; Secretary, Charles Burns. Water tanks have been cleaned. Temporary repair of the broken sink is satisfactory. |<epair list should be prepared for the next meeting. There was a discussion about varnishing the ice boxes: chief mate will be contacted by the ship's delegate on this. Vote of appreciation went to the chief cook and the rest of the steward department. s.- LOG uation. All delegates will turn in re­ pair lists. Voluntary contribotions will be accepted for the ship's fund. Ship's delegate should contact the company agent In these ports to see if there are any SIU men in the hospitals, so we ean visit them, bring cigarettes, etc. Three SIU films were shown by th^ electricians along with the regular movies. € ROBIN LOCKSLEY (Seas Shipping), Feb­ ruary 16—Chairman, M. Brightwell; Sec­ retary, J.-imes F. Byrne. Aubrey Parsons was elected steward delegate. Baker will be given the chance to improve. Stew aid will be treated ,in the same way. Stores will be checked by the steward and patrolman before the ship leaves for the deep sea. to make sure that stores are adequate, due to the shortages on the last voyage. STONY CREEK (Amer.-TrampI, Janu­ ary 3—Chairman, J. S. Barron; Secre­ tary, E. Black. Ship's delegate will con­ tact the chief engineer about getting messroom chairs repaired. There is a food beef on shortage of one item. A few repairs are needed. There are 14.000 yen in the ship's fund. Steward will act as ship's treasurer. February 12—Chairman, Elmer Black; Secretary, Reuben Ruttkay. Chief en­ gineer was contacted on repairing messhall chairs, but said there were too many repairs to be done. Mate is still doing sailor's work. John Francis was elected engine delegate. Steward department should dump garbage over the stern. En­ gine and fidley doors should be kept closed at all times. Better care should be taken of the washing machine, such as not overloading, turning the switch off, making sure there is plenty of water in the machine and leaving it clean for the next man. Chief mate sent the page of the LOG that was posted on the ship's bulletin board to New York. Captain, chief engineer, mate and first assistant are anti-SlU in their attitude. Use Only One Mail Address Seafarers with beefo regard­ ing slo>v payment of monies due from various operators in back wages and disputed over­ time should first check wheth­ er they have a proper mailing address on file with the com­ pany. SIU headquarters offi­ cials point otit that reports received from several opera­ tors show checks have been mailed to one address while a beef on~~the same score is ' sent from another, thus creat­ ing much difficulty in keep'ing accounts straight. Seafarers are urged to use one perma­ nent address for mail so that claims can be checked speedi­ ly and payment macfe right away. trician should try to repair the record player. Washing machine is too low to drain well. Ship's carpenter will be asked to install a platform under it. Sanitary work should be continued a.s before. AZALEA CITY (Watarman), January 24—Chairman, Ray Quean; Secretary, Red Brady. There is a spray painting beef. There is $32.40 in the ship's fund. Delegate wiU ask the Wilmington patrol­ man for help on the shower hot water beef. Repair lists will be turned in. There is a beef against the messman for poor service, but he is a young kid doing his best. Men going on watch will sit at two tables. February 14—Chairman, R. Brady; Secretary, O. L. Barber. One man who missed* ship will be reported to the pa­ trolman. Ship's fund and ship's iron will be turned over to Brother Brady, who is staying on the ship. Mattresses and bunk springs should be replaced. Steward asked that all extra linen, clean and soiled, be returned before the pay­ off. DE SOTO (WaUrman), February 4— Chairman, Phil Reyes; Secretary, James Murphy. Repairs are needed on water cooler and double-bottom tanks. Con­ tributions to cover the cost of movie films will be turned over to the stew­ ard. pangway watch was asked to main­ tain a good watch. Garbage must be dis­ ROBIN SHERWOOD (Seas Shipping), posed back aft where facilities for this ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), January 13 November 30—Chairman, William Wal­ is. Entire crew was thanked for close —Chairman, Charles E. Wells; Secretary, lace; Secretary, T. Williams. Broom- cooperation between departments. C. A. Crabtree. Stevedore's toilet needr head was elected ship's delegate by ac­ repairing. One man was logged for not clamation. One man missed ship in ALCOA PILGRIM (Alcoa), February 27 turning to in Trinidad. OT in the deck Savannah and rejoined in Jacksonville. —Chairman, D. L. Parker; Secretary, H. department will be cheeked with the Fia. Laundr.v should be locked in port. Sedgeway. Repair list should be made mate. Department will make Garbage should not be dumped aft of up before arrival in Trinidad. Delegates up repair lists and delegates submit them to the house. Fish should be cooked later. reported everything okay. steward who will turn them in at Mo­ There should be more variety in the night lunch. ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), February 14 bile. Kitchen utensils should be returned Dishes used at night January 2S—Chairman, W. Wallace; —Chairman, Leon Hall; Secretary, C. A. to the messroom. be secure in the sink to keep Secretary, Thomas Williams. One sick Crabtree. Most engine department re­ should them from breaking. Vessel needs ex­ man was left in Capetown. Money draws pair work was done, but none of the and the library books should should be in US currenc.v. All l^ht deck department or steward department termination be replaced. guards should be taken down in pas­ work was done. Men working topside sageways. No beefs on food, OT or per­ should dump all trash back aft and keep RACNAR NAESS (Seatransporl), March sonal questions. it off the deck. All cups and glasses 7—Chairman, J. Air; Sacratary, T. Novak. should be-returned to the messroom and If ships lays up. it was proposed that the ROBIN KETTERIN(3 (Seas Shipping), pantry. There should be better cut balance of the ship's fund ($15.03) be put February 14—Chairman, D. Whittaker; steaks in the future. into slopchest cigarettes to be donated to Secretary, V. J. Stefanick. One man was hospitalized in Lourenco Marques. Pa­ DEL ALBA (Mississippi), February •— men on the beach. There will be a draw­ for the iron. Steward should see trolman will be contacted about a new Chairman, C. F. Murree; Secretary, W. ing washing machine. Ships going as far as A. Van Dyne. Former ship's delegate that the. vessel is properly stored, and Mombasa should be supplied with at reported a very pleasant voyage with the crew will back him. Quarters should least four months' stores. Food supply, full cooperation from all. New washing be left clean. which is insufficient, will be brought to machine has been installed. There is a WINTER HILL (Cltias Sarvica), March the attention of the patrolman before $47.14 balance in the ship's fund. Elec3—Chairman, O. Fadarsan; Sacratary, B. F. Crica. One man missed ship in Tam­ pa. Ship's delegate will take care of the ship's radio and ship's fund. The radio was left in a Sulphur repair shop. Patrolman will Investigate the cause of the ship's delegate missing ship. Engine delegate spoke about painting the messhall and asked the crew to keep it in order. Thomas was elected ship's treas­ urers by acclamation. No money will be spent without an okay from the ship's delegate. It was decided to have an ar­ rival pool of $30 and to divide the money between the winner and the ship's fund. Dangerous condition of the windlass will be reported; this is to be repaired. signed by the entire crew. Washing ma­ chine should be cleaned after use. Clothes should only be left in the ma­ chine for half an hour, or the engine will conk out. Laundry will be sent out in Singapore; .there is enough linen for one more change. Steward will increase the amount of food on requisition. Bosun wants to know what is to be done about cracks on deck and stanchions. Captain refused to allow forepeak to be cleaned and stated he will not turn any deck men to except regular watch on deck. R. Godwin was elected ship's delegate by Washing machine will be fixed in Balti­ more. and a new library brought aboard. Joe Schink was elected ship's delegate. Steward was instructed to turn in . re­ pair on washing machine hereafter. Books of the new library will be brought to the lounge and not left In lockers. man, Samuel H. Mills; Secretery, George f: AT SIU HEADQUARTERS 4tii AVB, t 20th St. • BroeklyR Swap yarns or watch the fighti on television with your old shipinates at the Port O' Coll-YOUR union-owned and union-operated bar. Bring your friends — where you're always welcome. And the tab won't fracture that payoff. - g; • •ifr. .& OWNED AND OPERATED by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT AF.L '•S'. be requested in the port of payoff. $21S was given (a the ship's delegate, R. God­ win, to hold. GULF WATER (Metro), January 10— Chairman, Aaron Wilburn; Secretary, Frank NIgrol. Few repairs were dona from the last trip. Sanitary men aren't doing .their work too well. Mate is get­ ting out of hand on living up to the agreement. Delayed sailing is questioned in Brownsville. Crew is leaving messrooms dirty at night and should clean up as they mess up. Crew should cut out the drinking, as the captain may write in to the Union. Watch the water heater below on the washing machine, as it may blow up on someone. Find out how to use it before takifig a chance. Machine should be washed out after use. Mate stopped the bosun from putting a safety line up back aft. Deck depart­ ment shower Boor should be fixed for sure this trip. FAIRPORT (Waterman), February 21— Chairman, T. Brannon; Secretary, Jack Ross. Repair list was turned in; up to now nothing has been done on it. First assistant^ requested that clothes be kept off fidley railings. Only deck beef is that ail hands were not called in to handle lines in Canal Zone. All repairs will be put on a list. More pressure is needed on sanitary line aft and midship. Repair CHILORE (Ore), February 21—Chalrlist will be given to the Baltimore patroi- man.'Sohn R. Taurin; Secrelary, Edward jnan. Vote of appreciation went to the P. Mattlson. Ship's washing machine is steward department for a job well done. out of order; ship's delegate will see the chief engineer about repairs. New library ALICE BROWN (Bloomflald), Fabruary was written for. Books should be re­ 2t—Chairman, Rad Sully; Sacratary, H. turned to the library after they have D. Camay. H. Lopez was elected ship's been read." Vote of thanks went to the delegate. He will see the captain about steward department for excellent prepa­ putting some kind of buzzer in the ration of food and service. Warning was crew messroom so the standby could given to men who were gassed up on the hear the mate when he wanted him day of sailing and missed watches. Everything else seems to be under con­ MAE (Bull),. February 21—Chairman, trol. Bill Morris; Secretary, Al Bekan. There is $1.59 in the ship's fund and ever.vthing EDITH (Bull), February 32—Chairman, Robert Godwin; Sacratary E. G. Tasko. is running' smooth. A brief talk was Television set was purchased and in­ given on the care of the TV set and ar­ stalled. leaving a total of $9.84 in the rival pool. Each member will donate 25 ship's fund. New shower is needed for cents to the ship's fund. Money that black gang. Arrival pool will be used was collected for Brother Morrison was refused, and was donated to the ship's to build up the ship's fund. lund. OCEAN LOTTE (Ocean Trans.), Janu­ ary 10—Chairman, A. F. Waddle; Sacra­ tary, T. J. Dawat. Painting of crew's quarters will be completed before we reach port, whether permitting. Wash­ ing machine will be secured to a stand so that the ringers can be used over both tubs. Chairs in crew's messroom and recreation room will be cleaned; the MASSMAR (Calmar), February 14— scuttlebutt will be cleaned out. A record Chairman, B. Snow; Secretary, Karalunas. will be kept on the activities of the chief Repair list was sent in from the Canal engineer during the voyage. Repairs are Zone. Ship's delegate should contact the to be made on ail warped doors and Union about increasing the food supplies. hooks will be put on them, so they can Steward said the port steward ignored be secured to the bulkheads. Informa­ his requisition and stores were put tion will be posted in the laundry on aboard by the company as they thought who is using the machine, and when his them sufficient. Steward said he would wash will be finished. A vote of thanks order a complete supply of mattresses. went to the steward department for the Ship's delegate should see the chief mate food and services rendered. Steward about painting the shower room. asked all crowmembers to help keep the messroom and recreation room free of ROBIN DONCASTER (Seas Shipping), shoreside personnel in foreign ports. February 28—Chairman, S. Furtado; Sec­ No data—Chairman, Charlie Volk; Sec­ retary, Harry D. French. Suggestion was retary, A. F. Weddle. Beefs will be made to help with movie equipment taken up with the patrolman on arrival. after films have been shown. Books and Union will be notified about the drink­ magazines should be returned to the ing water situation. We" have been library after they have been read. Coffee drinking wash water. Before sailing the bag should be cleaned out after coffee ship should be supplied with ample linen has been made. There should be more for a round trip. The steward and BR hot cakes and french toast for breakfast. had to wash linen. Sheets and pillow Deck by No. 4 hatch should be kept cases are too small. Vote of thanks went -rlean. so as not to track dirt inside pas­ to the bosun and the DM for- their will­ sageway. Ship's delegate should see the ingness to help those who wanted to chief engineer about installing basin in learn mora about seamanship. Thanks bosun's foc'sle and about having the car­ went to the night cook and baker, Frank penter make some benches for men to Airey, for serving early breakfast to the sit on outside, rather than cots. 4-8 and to the crew messman for prompt and courteous service. WILD RANGER (Waterman), January iL Prote. .One oiler missed ship and was replaced by a man from the hall. Dele­ gates will_ make up repair lists. Ship's delegate will see the chief mate about keys for the crew's quarters. Empty cups should be returned. to the pantry, and' each man should clean up the messhall after himself. EDITH (Bull), January 31—Chairman, Jim Cochoran; Secretary, Louis S. Rlizo. CHILORE (Ore), no dale—Chairman, acclamation. There was a discussion on Pat Fox; Secretary, L. T. Williams. donations for a TV set. New library will SEAMAR (Calmar), no data—Chalrmin, John Marshall; Secretary, Norman Wax­ ier. Captain is trying to prevent sociable card playing. One man missed the ship in Aberdeen and a letter was sent to the Union. There is a $10 balance In the ship's fund. Detailed report will be made on the repair list about the flooded head on sailor's side. Investigation will be made to see if the captain is within his rights in trying to prevent card play­ ing. C. B. Ross was elected ship"s dele­ gate by acclamation. Men are to be properly dressed In the messhall. There are four men in one room in the steward department quarters; Union will -be asked to take action on this. Vote of ttianks went to the steward department BALTORI (Ore), February 37—Chair­ for doing a fine job. S-- he is sorry for fouling up due to a hang­ over, but he is really sick now, and if he is not better when the ship arrives at Port Said, he wants to see a doctor. Majority of the crew voted to continue the ship's fund, and agrdbd to a volun­ tary donation at the payoff. Laundry and ship's library should be kept clean. Chief steward will take care of the ship's fund. OREMAR (Calmar), February 31—Chair­ man, George Hinnani; Secretary, F. H. Houck. J'ohn Foley was elected ship's delegate by acclamation. Crewmembers holding parties after working hours dur­ ing sleeiping hours, pipe down. Crewmembers should promptly return bor­ rowed cups or glasses to the pantry or messhall. Vote of thanks went to the SEA CLOUD (Saatraders), February 21 steward department, especially the new Chairman, F. 'Baron; Sacratary, S. Ful- PO messman. ford. Lee Banton was elected ship's delegate. All department delegates will STEEL NAVIGATOR (Isthmian), no list repairs that can be done aboard ship date—Chairman, Mack Chapman; Secre­ and turn in these lists as soon as. pos­ tary, Joseph CIrrlveau. Noise made by sible, so that as much can be done as the crew In the passageway is to be we are able, before returning to the stopped, in consideration of men who are States. Steward said menus would be sleeping. Shoreside personnel are being Improved; all were satisfied. > fed in the crew messhall; this will be reported to Jhe patrolman, as it should CAPTAIN NATHANIEL B. PALMER be discontinued. One man in the stew­ (American Waterways), February- 12— ard department lost all his papers and Chairman, Howard Rode; Secretary, Har­ his permit as well. Shoreside personnel ris Melbye. Few repairs were done by should be kept out of. passageways and the first assistant. There is no coopera­ quarters, and all business transactions tion from the captain on cleaning up the confined to PO messhall. E. Wasden was ship. First aid kit in the engine room elected ship's delegate. Vote of thanks is empty. Steward is doing a very good went to all steward department members job. Disputes will be taken up when the for good food and care. ship gets back. Steward Insists on hooks STEEL VOYAGER (Isthmian), Oecemfor screen doors to keep stevedores out of the passageway. Let^ will be sent ber 6—Chairman,'Aydley Fostel; Secre­ to the hall, and one cboY wilJ be posted, tary, Peter Van Wjrgerden. Locks still uo.trV4<r» repaired. , Thii;d ,eq^ eald tni^the fiUbihess of twg|g^afild'WUl be 10—Chairman, M. Sterne; Secretary, H. McAleen. Minor beefs will be settled by the patrolman. Joe Bracht was elected ship's delegate. Steward delegate was asked to explain the special chicken made for the captain. He was asked to serve chicken to the captain only if he requested it. Chief cook refused and served it to all the crew and the steward bawled, him out and said the chicken was for the captain only. Steward asked saloon messman not to'mention this spe­ cial food to the crew. Saloon pantry went to department delegate when food was placed on steam table and not menu. Ship's delegate suggested steward be brought before the patrolman. January 31—Chairman, A. D.t Aaron; Sscrstary, H. McAlser. Minor steward department beef straightened out to everyone's satisfaction. Delegate will get payoff receipt for money for port pay­ off. Transportation clarification will bo cleared up. Original NV crew got trans­ portation if payoff is in the South. Re­ pair lists will be turned in. CALMAR (Calmar), February 2S—Chairman, Thomas Lows; Sscrstary, Robert "N. Walton. Enough copies of the repair list for last trip were not made out for the East Coast. Thomas Lowe was elected ship's delegate by acclamation. Messhall fan will be repaired. Each delegate will make out a repair list for the West coast patrolman. Drinking fountain will be cleaned and painted. No glasses are to be left out at night. Laundry room should be cleaned after use. Wiper'g foc'sle was not painted out last trip. STEEL VOYAGER (Isthmian), February 27—Chairman, R. Nelson; Sscrstary, Peter Van Wygerden. Ship's delegate and patrolman saw the captain at the beginning qf the voyage about painting and sougeeing rooms. Captain promised ot have this matter attended to but did not keep his word. Rooms should be clean at ship's turnover. Not all repairs on the last voyage's repair list were attended to. There was a beet about the lack of room for the crew in the present (ContlfiHed. on page 25) �• ••'r-yvv' ' •• SEAFARERS A»ril f. 19S4 Pace Twenty-fiv* LOG ... DIGEST oE SHIPS' MEETINGS ... i-ii.i- If •' (Continued from page 24) in«Mroom. There wee a beef about the food, which wae all right going over. Chief took repUed that the food la the same. Suggestion was made that the messroom be souge^d more often. Hat­ ter of bringing a taxi, with luggage right to thw ship, and discrimination on this aaatter will be taken up with the Union. MADAKET (Waterman), January SiChairmen, Louis Frenken; Secretery, Don Collins. Clyde Clark was elected ship's delegate by acclamation: Don Collins was elected ship's treasurer. There was a special discussion on cleaning the ship. Anyone who needs new mattresses should ace the steward. Any suggestions on re­ pairs should be given to delegates. Ship's delegate wiU see about the movie pro­ jector. March 7—Chairman, Red O'Conner; •ecrefary, Don Collins. Vote of thanks went to the steward department for a Job well done. There was discussion on the washing machine, on the slopchest— which should be checked before the next trip, on medicine chest for the next voy­ age. and on general Union shipboard matters. There is a balance of $84 In the ship's fund. eULFWATER (Metre), February 71— Chairman, Aaron M. Wilburn; Secretary, Frank Nipro. Five men were logged for various causes. The deck department is having a lot of beefs with the chief mate, who seems to be getting worse as we go along. There is a beef about a man having to.pay for his own transportation PERSdNAt.S William R. Doyle Please contact Alfred Rezende «t 736 South Third Street, Phila­ delphia, Pa. i ' 4, Si Theodore Martens Please contact your brother Rev­ erend Paul Martens at the Bethle­ hem Lutheran Church, 119 East Watagua, Johnson City, Tennessee. 4 t Checks Waltlnc There are checks waiting for Walter J. Cousins, John J. Culeton, Russell E. Simmons, Steve Szanto, Jr., and Ben H. Faulk, which can be picked up by getting in touch with Michael J. Cousins, 4205 South Pi'ieur Street, New Orleans, La. Louis "Ellas" Stratlotls. Please contact -Paul Louloudes as soon as possible at 739 South Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Phone is 67-4857. 4 4 4 Earl Oppcl Please get in touch with Mar­ garet Oppel at 708 South Bond Street, Baltimore, Maryland. 4 4 4 Gustave W. Becbert Please contact your mother-inlaw, Mrs. Alma Garcia, 509 North Ensor Street, Baltimore, Md. It is a business matter. Your son Benny has been dead one year. to and from tho hotpital. Thore U a boef In overy port aa to draw, the cap­ tain acta aa if it'a a drain out of Itia own pocket. Repair list was turned in 6 days ago, to they have a lot of time to get on with the repairs. Chief mate tried to bribe the deck delegate. He never puta up a proper sailing board. There is over 200 hours' OT and some Is not accounted on the mate's record. All dirty linen should be turned in, as we are going into the shipyard and may lay up. Quarters should be kept clean. Vote of thanks went to the steward depart­ ment for feeding, menus and cooking for the entire ship. WINTER HILL (Cities Service), Febru­ ary 14—Chairman, N. M. Barry; Sscratary, e. Mlhalopoulls. N. M.^erry was unanimously elected new ship^ delegate Television set was repaired in Galveston. Tex., as requested by crewmembers, for $7.40. There is a balance of $15.65 in the ship's fund, which was turned over to the ship's delegate. March f—Chairman, Otto Pedcrsan; Sacretary E. F. Crica. Recreation room was painted and bulkheads sougeed. Messroom was painted out. Men off watch are entitled to delayed sailing from last voyage. Disputed OT wiU be taken up at the payoff. Other beefs were handled at Lake Charles. There is $3.32 in the ship's fund. Ship's treasurer wiU order cigarettes for the crew, and the difference between the cost and $2.00 per carton will go into the ship's fund. First assistant and chief engineer seem to have personal dislike and beef against the engine delegate. They refuse to put out OT as long as he remains delegate. Suggestion was made to get an ironing board. Ship's delegate will pick up the ship's radio from the repair shop in Sulphur, La. this trip. WILD RANGER (Waterman), February 11—Chairman, Widegraen; Secretary, Al­ fredo Aaron. Motion was passed to put a catwalk going aft for safety measures. Small pitchers are needed for water and juice. March <—Chairman, J. T. Hicks; Secratary, F. A. WIdagrean. Innerspring mattressea should be furnished all SIUcontractcd ships. Crew was asked to help keep the messroom clean and to return all coffee mugs and water glasses to tha messroom. Frank Adkins Canaugh Ex-Stoney Point Gear is still on the Stony Point. Write to US Petro Carriers, 655 Madison Avenue, New York City, and they will ship it COD to your home. 4 4 t 4 4 4 4 3^ 4 4 - Jacob Elizondo Tom Df George The LOG office has your dis­ Please get in touch with Mrs.' S. R. Melvinger, 1354 Jackson charge off the Chiwawa. Please pick it up. Street, Camden, NJ. 4 4 4 4 4 Salvage Awards Salvage awards earned by mem­ bers of the crew of the William M. ' Meredith in May and June of 1944, while rendering salvage service to .the Masaryk, can be obtained by communicating with Silas Blake Axtell, 15 Moore Street, New York City. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Erie Hoffman Please contact Mrs. E, B. Hoff­ man at 284 Indian Hills, Quincy, 111. Henry Chrlstal Peace Please get in touch with yoiir wife, Mrs. Helen Peace, Rt. 1 Box 195, "Vidor, Texas. , YlcShliapln Send your present address to JE. J. Furst, 3913 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WisWnsln. , i ' New York or the patrolman wiU be con­ tacted. A new library is needed. Deck toilets need repairs as well as aft heat­ ing system. Cups should not be left on deck. Linen should be returned and hospital cleaned. March 11—Chairman, John Guntcr; Secretary, B. Kinter. There is $4.80 in the ship's list. Repair list was turned over to department heads: most of re­ pairs were not taken care of as prom­ ised. Crew went on record not to sign articles until plumbing is taken care of. Steward reported that meats are of grade A quality. There was a discussion on the lack of proper repair work. Keys should be turned in so replacements can be made. Ship's fund will be donated to the LOG. Rooms should be left clean for the next crew. There was a dis­ cussion on noise made by steam pipes aft. MARCARIT BROWN (Bloomfleld), February 21—Chairman, J. D. McGoldrick; Secretary, John E. Hands. Edwin C. Hill was elected ship's delegate by acclamation. It was agreed that the laundry and recreation room cleaning procedure would be carried on as in previous trips; engine and deck depart­ ment wUl take care of the laundry and the steward department would take care of the recreation, room. NOTICES 4 4 The membership is again cautioned to beware of persons soliciting funds on ships in be­ half of memorials or any other so-called "worthy causes." No "can-shakers" or solici­ tors have received authoriza­ tion from SlU headquarters to collect funds. The National Foundation for Infantile Pa­ ralysis is the only charitable organization which has re­ ceived membership endorse­ ment. Funds for this cause are collected through normal Union channels at the pay-off. Receipts are issued on the spot QUEENSTCN HEIGHTS (Saatrade), March 10—Chairman, T. Flaming; Sacratary, D. Shaahan. Letter was sent to the Boston Itall about disputed OT for shifting the ship, as well as a report on the man who made the ship on the pierhead last trip. Members should not go over the crew and delegates and send a letter on any beef to headquarters be­ fore consulting the crew. TBfc also applies to the agent who should handle the beef. Broken porthole glass will be put on the repair list to be taken care at at the shipyard this trip. Ail previous repairs were taken care of to the crew's PONCE (Puerto Rice), March 14— satisfaction. The second pumpman. Jack Chairman, Rey Holder; Sacretary, H. L. Farrand, took care of most of the re­ Millar. Leo Rentes was elected engine pairs and got a vote of thanks. delegate. Brother Gonzales thanked the crew for the flowers sent to his wife. MAIDEN CREEK (Waterman), January Tony Viera was elected new ship's dele­ 17—Chairman, J. Ountor; Secretary, B. gate. Captain did not order a replace­ Kinter. Some repairs were done. Cun­ ment for the OS, claiming that the ship ningham was elected ship's delegate by carries an extra man. and he would be acclamation. Engine department quar­ compelled to pay off a man if he had to ters should be cleaned and painted. All get another one. Each crewmcmber will repairs will be made before reaching donate $1 to the ship's fund at the next payoff. Patrolman wiU be notified of the captain's attitude toward the crew. Captain was on deck Interfering with or­ dinary routine deck work. Ship's dele­ gate will find out why the crew must wait for a draw in every port. Walter "Whitey" Craig Edward Nooney Please contact Leroy Clarke at Your mother is ill and worried about you. Contact her at 552 1413 Ryan Street,. Lake Charles, La. It is very important. Ocean Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. John R. Ramey Get in touch with Silas Blake Axtell, 15 Moore Street, New York • City, regarding your suit, ^Can'Shahers* Have No OK Quiz Answerg .(1) 15 percent. (2) Thirty hours.' Solution Is this equation: 1/20 plus 1/x equals 1/12, then 2x equals 60, X equals 30. (3) Edward R. Murrow of the Columbia Broadcasting System. (4) A famous gambler. (5) Struggle between striking mine workers, militia, and mine guards in Ludlow, Colorado, April 19, 1914. Twelve children and two women of the striking, work­ er's families were killed. ' (6) CiiTO - cumulus cloud s, which come in layers and patches. (7) Phoenix, Arizona. (8) Coins were once pared by peciple, who would then sell the accumulated gold and silver. Grooves help prevent this. (9) (h) St. Petersberg. (10) Battle, fought between Hannibal's Carthagiaians and Roman lei^cins on plains of Africa in 202 b.e. Hannibal lost, thus pavIhff wky'to irlsi'^ Of Rbaiafn: didpiriil. SEAMAR (Calmar), March »—Chair­ man, William Sibley; Secretary, T. Brennan. J. B. Bairnett was elected ship's delegate by acclamation. Washing machine will be repaired as soon as pos­ sible. There is a $10 balance in the ship's fund. Suggestion was made to buy magazines. Laundry will be cleaned by the engine department; recreation room by steward and deck departments. Repair list will be turned over to the ship's delegate. There was a discussion on the benefits of the SIU Sea Chest over the outmoded slopchest on this vessel. ' FRENCH CREEK (Cities Service), Jan­ uary 36—Chairman, Harry Jaynes; Sec­ retary, Dan Beard. Captain refuses to handle mail through the Singapore agent. Deck department is waiting clarification from New York on anchor watches in Yokdsulia. Motion was passed to mail outgoing mail through the ship's dele­ gate, using the ship's fund. Baker's of­ fer to donate cash to the ships fund was accepted. Baker got a vote of thanks for his generous offer. John the pantryman got a vote • of thanks for his cooperation in the mcsshall and the galley. The brand of washing powder Issued is not acceptable, and crew asked that a better brand be put aboard in the States. There should be a greater vari­ ety of iced drinks. Both toasters need repairing as well as the screen on the baker's door. Some mattresses do not Rt the bunks. Discussion on the use of imitation black pepper and dried apples will be referred to the next meeting. March 6 — Chairman, Harry Jaynes; Secretary, Dan Beard. There is $6.13 in the ship's fuhd plus S26 from the ar­ rival pool. There are a number of cases Puzzle Answer as they have been using our showers in Puerto Rico. Crew was asked to stay out of the pantry during meal hours. One table should be set aside for the watch. of dysentary almard, and It was sug­ gested that the dishwashing machine be checked and that glasses and mugs be carefully washed. Patrolman should see (he steward about getting a special cleaner for glasses. Linen washed at Suez came back filthy and smelted bad. Heads should be kept cleaner by the crew. Repair list must be turned in by Monday. Beef on the shortage of stores and the miserable slopchest will be turned over to the patrolman. ROBIN TUXFORD (Seas Shipping), March 9—Chairman, H. R. Cuymon; Sec­ retary, Charles C. Peters. Engineers have been very lax on repairs for this trip. One man missed ship twice. Drinking fountain outside crew messhall should be replaced. Three motors burned out this past trip. Ship should be fumigated for rats and roaches. New refrigerator is needed; old one is always on the blink. Galley exhaust fan does not operate prop­ erly; there is not enough power to suck fumes out when frying. This is an ex­ ceptionally hot galley. Patrolman will be contacted on these matters. Vote of thanks went to the steward department for the exceUent chow put out. MORNING LIGHT (Waterman), Febru­ ary 15—Chairman, Duke Wall; Secretary, Celuska. Galley drain was not fixed yet. First assistant told the steward today that he would get on this Job right away. George Llbby was elected new ship's dele­ gate by acclamation. Bosun told the deck department that all hands were to be sober on sailing day to avoid trouble. Dirty linen should be put by the spare room set aside for this purpose, and not thrown down below. Steward told the crew that the steward department would try to avoid any food beefs, but if there should be one, bring it out at the meet­ ings where it can be straightened out SIU fashion. All garbage should be placed in the can aft and not on deck. Laundry is to lie kept clean by each man u.sing it; each laundry will dump garbage and clean up for a week at a time. Crew uses the messhall as a recreation hail, and it should be cleaned up by those using it. Slop sink should be kept clean by ail three departments. March 14—Chairman, Duke Hall; Secre­ tary, L. Galus. The man logged for al­ coholism should be sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as we get in. Stew­ ard will order-more linen so that the ship is up to par. Union should take up the matter of innerspring mattresses with the company. Washing machine and ironing board should be fixed. Crew unanimous­ ly gave a vote of thanks to the steward and his department for the good service and the well done job performed this trip. All garbage should be dumped aft of No. 9 hatch and garbage pails should not be washed out in the slop sink. Chief cook said a few words aliout how well pleased he was with the galley force, and he hoped that there would be all the old faces in the galley next trip. INES (Bull), February 21—Chairman, Manuel Marines; Secretary, Ray Brown. Topside will be asked to return books to the library. There should be more variety on meats and menus. Food being left out at night should be inspected. Fruit should be kept away from the steam table. There should be coopera­ tion in keeping the library clean. Ship's fund will be used to buy a good washing machine. March 14—Chairman, Harry Gerle; Sec­ retary, Harold Long. Repair list will be turned over to the patrolman. W.-\shing machine needs repairing. There is $10 in the ship's fund. Vote of thanks went to the electrician and ship's delegate for procuring washing machine, changing motors, etc. This machine was bought by the crow, as the machine supplied by the company needs fixing. Recreation room. messhaU and heads for all depart­ ments were painted out this past December. MARORE (Ore), March 13—Chairman, Hank Shepeta; Sacretary, M. A. Rendweles. All rooms should be cleaned be­ fore leaving the ship for the next crew. D.M will keep the fan repaired. MAE (Bull), March 20—Chairman, Sid Burger; Secretary, Ed Carlson. There is S25.04 in the ship's fund. Porthole gas­ kets should be checked. .Extra elements will be bought for the TV antenna. Wash­ ing machine is to be cleaned and turned off after use. ELIZABETH (Bull), March 21—Chair­ man, F. Greet; Secretary, C. Oliver. One man was left in the hospital in San .luan. Ship's delegate will see the patroinian about getting milk in San Ju.-in, Puerto Rico. Motion was passed to get book shelves made in the laundry room. I'ote of thanks went to the crew messman for the good service. All new crewmembers should be on the ship an hour before sailing, as they stand a good chance of being left on the dock, as this skipper leaves when he is ready. Vote of thanks went to the steward department and baker for a fine job. New lockers should be installed in all crew's quarters. JEAN LAFITTE (Waterman), February 7—Chairman, Jack Thompson; Secretary, George Craggs. There was discussion about the contract. Ship's delegate win obtain contract information when the vessel pays off. Deck delegate will see the chief engineer about fixing the crew's coffee urn; incidentally, this urn is ready for the boneyard. March 13—Chairman, not listed; Secre­ tary, Wilson J. Davis. Patrolman will be asked to talk with the skipper about ' draws on arrival in Japan; he will also be asked by the patrolman to use a bit of courtesy ,in talking to men. Steward I desiai'tment got a vote of thanks. WorkI ing activities should go according to Union rule, not according to seniority. Patrolman should blast the mate about medical treatment on board. The crewmember who feels that he was mistreated will speak to the delegate. A committee consisting of Wilson J. Davis, Jack Thompson, and Peter Prevas was elected to draft a letter to-the Union on the captain's attitude toward men. Motion was made to make the hospital into a foc'sle for daymen on all C-2 vessels owned by Waterman. WILLIAM A. M. BURDEN (Western Tankers), January T1—Chairman, Ed Farrell; Secretary, W. Wright. Five replace­ ments are needed. G. Baker was elected I ship's delegate. Captain will be asked I abuot safe equipment for cleaning tanks. 1 Chief engineer will be contacted about : getting tank tops fixed; they cannot be i closed. i I i I I OCEAN ULLA (Ocean Trans.), March t — Chairman, Arthur Kavcl; Secretary, Vincent Maahan. Joe Cantin was elected ship's delegate. Each man will donate S.50 for an iron to the ship's fund. Ship's delegate will see the captain about a wringer and port discharges. STEEL AGE (Isthmian), March 4 — Chairman, Louis Johnson; Secretary, H. W. Clemens. Tom Duncan was elected new ship's delegate by acclamation. There is $21.17 in the ship's fund, which was turned over to tlie ship's delegate. Chief engineer and captain will he con­ tacted about heat. New washing machine i should be gotten before leaving the States. Motion was made to move the I checkers away from the house where the ; crew sleeps. One man from each de: partment will clean the laundry. Dcie> g.atcs will check the repair list. Crcw; members are to be dressed properly be­ fore entering messroom and pantry. I Standby buzzer was installed from bridge I to messroom. Screen doors should be i bolted in port to keep shoreside person­ nel out. WACOSTA (Waterman), March 11— Chairman, Pet. Loieas; Secretary, Luis ' A. Ramirez. A motion was made that an SIU patrolman at the next port be conI tacted to straighten up some matters and I repairs, especially the galley mixing ma] chine. The matter of individual distribu­ tion of linen to the engine dep.irtment will be referred to the patrolman through the ship's delegate. Meeting hours to be rotated as suggested. ROBIN KIRK (Seas Shippingf, March 7 —Chairman, Joe Selby; Secretary, John BEATRICE (Bull), March 21—Chairman, W. Clark. Two men missed ship In Cape­ J. Foti; Secretary, J. McLaughlin. Mate town: matter to be turned over to the pawill try and get lockers for the deck de­ I trolman. Bosun suggested that ship's partment, oilskins and working clothes. keys be turned over to the ship's deleWashing machine, as usual was discussed. ' gate for next voyage. A few minor beefs A new one is needed. Shoreside person­ i were reported on the food; crew asked nel should be kept out of passageways. for sardines and salmon. Editor, SEAFARERS LOG, 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn 32, NY I would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG—please put my name on your mailing list. (Print Information) QSQBIS SBIS QSQ NAME QiaQSH QSin SSQ nQsas [i3[is]iisDiQ STREET ADDRESS aSB] SOS SHQSOD sraas DQO [iiiinas CITY BHSQSQSnQ BSQQ QSia Signed ...ZONE STATE TO AVOID DUPLICATION: It you art an old tubtcribar and hava a ehanf# of addratt, ploaio givo your formor addross belowi Hsa afflia asaas cisB! caaa earaas ADDRESS CITY ie6*606*B*«a66*e6***e*a***eeeee*«6*66**>**»*eeeeaeO«eeaeoa««66««at66«66 $$6BB*666O60b60OM6e66«6*e«6*i60$*G iBM6a«i48 66$66 • 40e«»0«ae0«*60066 ZONI 60a6BBB«BBBMgo .STATB �vmr, -Pace Twenty-slz SEAFARERS April t. 1954 LOG We/fore To The Rescue With $ .earn- A hurry-up requirement for money due was met by SIUWelfare Services when Sea­ farer Fortunato Bacomo was hos •pitalized in the Manhattan Beach USPHS hospital recently, Bacomo, who came off an Isth mian ship, had a considerable amount of money coming to him in wages but was hung up temporar­ ily because of the necessity of fill­ ing out vouchers and other forms. Got $200 Draw However, Welfare Services was able to make arrangements for a $200 draw which was delivered im­ mediately to the hospital by SIU "Welfare Services representative A1 Thompson, leaving one Seafarer a lot happier than he was before he got into the hospital. ' The quick action by the unioh helped Bacomo out of a tight spot in rapid order. It was his dough, after all. in the HOSPITALS The following list contains the names of hospitalized Seafarers who are being taken care of by cash benefits from the SIU Welfare Plan. While the Plan aids them financially, all of these men would welcome fnail and visits from friends and shipmates to pass away the long days and weeks in a hospital bed. USPHS hospitals allow plenty of time ./or visitors. If you're ashore and you see a friend's name on the list, drop in for a visit. It will be most welcome. Seafarer Fortunato Bacomo displays $200 draw arranged for by the Union and delivered at Manhattan Beach hospital by SIU Welfare Services Representative A1 Thompson. Nurse looks on. All of the following SIU families Mrs. Paul McBride, Box 525, will collect the $200 maternity Church Point, La. benefit plus a $25 bond from the 4" 4' 4 Union in the baby's name. Michael Joseph Schenk, bom February 9, 1954. Parents, Mr. Donald Arthur McNeil, bom and Mrs. Joseph Schenk, 3905 Fait March 5, 1954. Parents. Mr. and Avenue, Baltimore, Md. Mrs. William A. McNeil, 202 • 4* 4^ 4" Henly Avenue, Crichton Station, Sherri Lynn Baker, bom DecemMobile, Ala. br 24, 1953. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. 4" i 4" Conrad £. Baker, PO Box 177, William Charles Vogel, Jr., bom Petaluma, Cal. Febraary 20, 1954. Parents, Mr. 4> 4^ 4^ and Mrs. William C. Vogel, 1538 Sara Louise Knaflich, born Riverside Avenue, Baltimore 30, March 1, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Md. Mrs. Hanly V. Knaflich, 5704 East ^ 57th Street, Seattle 5, Wash. Teresa June Akins, bom Febm4> 4> t ary 23, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mary Jane Griffith, bora Janu­ Mrs. Marion J. Akins, Route No. 1, ary 16, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Nashville, Ga. Mrs. _Jesse Griffith, 1319 Linden 4i 4i t Avenue, Baltimore, Md. Joan Anna Tutwiler, bom Febt 4" 4J roary 25, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Lorene Marie Anderson, born Mrs. James H. Tutwiler, 1641 March 17, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Waverly Way, Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Richard A. Anderson, 191 4 4^ t Scott Street, Naugatuck, Conn. Kenneth Ray Bevell, bom Jan­ 4i t 4> uary 8, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Jose Antonio Pescador Lopez, Mrs. Arbie L. Bevell, PO Box 19, born March 5, 1954. Parents, Mr. Courtland, Miss. and Mrs. Jose Pescador Lopez, 1539 Hoe Avenue, Bronx 60, NY. 4" 4^ 4' Sally Ann McBride, bom Feb4. 4^ 4> mary 18, 1954. Parents, Mr. and William Charles Lee, Jr., born February 28, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Lee, Route 1, Tifton, Ga. Raymond Theodore V r a b 1 i c, born February 7, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond I. Vrabllc, 6727 Thruway, Dundalk. Md. t 4" 4' Carta Jean Freilich, bom March 12, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Selig S. Freilich, 261-79 Langston Avenue, Glen Oaks, LI, NY. 4^ 4 4« Herman Finhold Cox, born Feb­ ruary 16, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cox, Jr., 223 St. Paul Avenue, Pass Christian, Miss. 4" 4 4" Delane Anna Yeats, born March 2, 1954. Parents, Mr. , and Mrs. Henry L. Yeats, 1237 Music Street, New Orleans, La. 4 4 4 Marcia Delores Kendrick, bom March 5, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Kendrick, Route 5, Box 20, Springhill, Ala. 4 4 4 Charlotte Rose Warning, bom January 19, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Warning, 64 Item Avenue, Crichton Station, Mobile, Ala. 4 4 4 Gary Ray Smith, born Febmary 23, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. George J. Smith, 312 Essex Street, Saugus, Mass. Let OS Know... h: It ii you're in trouiile 444 Mitzi Renee Flowers, born March 10, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde H. Flowers, 965 Church Street, Mobile, Ala. 4 4 4 4 4 4 Joseph Clyde 'Goude, bom March 13, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Goude, 634 Hudson Street, New York, NY. Mary Magdalen Gutierrez, bom January 19, 1954. Parents, Mr. ayid Mrs. Simon Qutierrez, 7105 Avenue N, Houston, Tex. How To Get Disabled Pay YOOK PROBLEM IS OUR BUSINESS W'^-' Ite- UE lUE no WEIFJUE SEimCES Eii!>UTMEIR Any totally disabled Sea­ farer, regardless at age, who has been employed for seven years on SlU-contracted ships is eligible for the $25 weekly disability benefit for as long as he is unable to work. Ap­ plications and queries on un­ usual situations should be sent to the Union Welfare Tmstees, e/o SIU Headquairters, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32,. NY. USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATI^N BEACH. BROOKLYN. NY Percy D. Allred James R. Lewis Fortune Bacomo Francis F. Lynch Thomas Bryant Harry F. McDonald Joseph G. Carr Archibald McGuigan Julian Cuthrell David Mcllreath EmUio Deigado Frank Mackay Antonio M. Diaz Lloyd MUier John DriscoU Alfred Mueler M. W. Gardiner Eugene T. Nelson Robert T. Gilbert George Schumaker Bart E. Ouranick E. R. Smaliwood Thomas Isaksen Henry E. Smith John W. KeenanHarry S. Tuttie L. Kristiansen Renato A. Viiiata Frederick Landry VirgU E. WUmoth James J. Lawlor USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND, NY Manuel D. Aguas John Mclnnes George Anderson Vic Miiazzo Thomas R. Bach Sau Mok Meivin Bass John Nemeth John Beckmann Warren Nielsen Marcie Boyles Emilio Ortiz Azhar Caram Edward PoUse Jar Chong Peter Prokopuk Pedro Claude Heinrich Rabba Fred A. Delpenha Robert Reynolds Raul Deiossantos Edwin T. Rushton Donald Dunn P. W. Seidenbergh Joseph Faircioth Robert Sizemore Brigidio Figueroa Frank Soriano Deforest Fry Jose Sousa Esteil Godfrey Walter Sudnick Hans R. Hanssen James Thompson John B. Hass B. F. Trottie Lyie Hipp Samuel L. Vandal Lars Hope Jan Vanos , Choo Chang Lai Louis WiUiams Alexander Leiter USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE. MD. C. Adkins Alva W. MeCulIum K. K. Braaten Joseph D. McGraw Jessie A. Clarke Terral McRaney MUlard M. Cutler George Mattair Jos. Dallas W. Middendore James R. Dodson Paige A. Mitchell BolestaH J. Dzeiak Edward A. Morgan JameFw. Gordon Thomas Mungo G. E. Herrmann Raymond C. Myers J. B. Humphries Herbert Parks McConniey Jarrell Jimmie Priddy George Jerosimfch John C. Ramsey Alexander Johnson .Tohn Scott William Kenny J. T. Sigmon Karl Krlstensen W. J. Stephens William Kunak Ray B. Sunderland Dorsey J. Lambert Thomas Tlerno Clyke R. Leggett Frank Van Dusen L. G. Llnthicum Andrew Westerlund Peter Losado Henrlc N. Wlese David McCollum Clifford Womack U.SPHS HOSPITAL S.:ATTLE. WASH. O. E. Abrams S. Johannessen Sverre 1. Brenna V. K. Ming G. C. Famum Linus E. Twits William K. GuUey Otto R. Ware USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS. LA. Vincent B. Arjona Clarence W. Cobb WiUiam D. Austin P. B. Cogley Leonard BaUey S. Cope Thomas Barracliff J. D. Dambrlno James J. Battle Andrew Danko Charles E. Brady Thomas J. Dawson WUIiam R. Burch Henry L. DUl P. J. Carpovich J. L. Diosco S. C. Carregal Gordon R. Oooley Richard W. Clark Thomas L. Dugan E. G. Knapp Robert T. Eider Leo Fontenot Leo H. Lang B. D. Foster James M. Lucky Hugh D. Fouche Grant Marzett Stanley A. Freeman C. E. McClarnan James E. Gardiner J. E. McEHreath Nathan L, Gardner James R, Miller John B. Geissler Otto H. Palsson Jack H. Gleason H. F. Paschall Harry M. Hankee Harry G. Peek F. Hauser Edgar A. Piatt H. C. Herring W. E. Reynolds WiUiam RocheU John L. Hinton Robert E. Hommel J. Santiago J. W. Howell Luthgr C. Seidea John N. Hull James T. Smith Thomas S. Johnson L. C. Smith Lonnle R. Tlckla William Johnson Leonard Kay J. E. Ward John E. Kennedy Louis W. WetzeU Michael V. Kicko US NAVY HOSPITAL KEY WEST. FLA. Thomas W. Atkins USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK. VA. John L. Griffin Manuel Martins John R. Henchey William H. Mason W. G. Keiswetter USPHS HOSPITAL SAN .FRANCISCO. CAL. Wayne T. Center Joe Perreirs Henry J. Childs Eugene G. Plahn Ho Yee Chow W. S. Singleton G. C. Eller V. W. Sorensen' T. C. Finntrty Sing Ah Sue Olav Gustausen M. B. WUson A. M. Keller P. S. Yuzon USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH. GA. W. C. Bedgood R. B. McCorkel Paul B. Bland A. R. Norton C. E. Carkhuff F. S. Paylor G. O. Corbett James B. -Sellers Paul Jakubcsak Gilbert F. T/lIson .Toseph Kramer James F. Wilson Jimmie Littleton Paul M. Wood SEASIDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LONG BEACH, CAL. Ragnor A. Ericson BEEKMAN DOWNTOWN HOSPITAL NEW YORK. NY Bernard Jurkowski GRASSLANDS HOSPITAL VALHALLA, NY Arthur Lomas USPHS HOSPITAL DETROIT. MICH. Tim Burke Harry J. Cronin VA HOSPITAL BALTIMORE. MD. Leonard Franks SAILOR-S SNUG HARBOR STATEN ISLAND. NY Joseph Koslusky POTTENGER SANITORIUM MONROVIA. CAL. E. L. Prltchard USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON. MASS. Frank Alasavlch Theodore Mastaler E. P. Belkner Robert A. Rogers Ralph M. ChurchiU Jose J, Valenzueln Lawrence Macnell USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEX. ^ Mair C. Bunker J. E. Markopolo Claude L. Davis A. L. Miller M. DegoIIado Floyd C. Nolan Eugene R. Hall A. J. ScTievlng Harry E. Horn Denis C. Skousas Samuel S. Lyla ' Jack D. Strickland Ernest L. Magers Delegate's Letter Helps Win Quick Care For Injured Man The importance of meeting ships on which men are being repatriated because of illness was underscored recently by the case of Seafarer James Marker, fornfierly on the Robin Kirk. Marker and another crew- cab and sent home for rest and member were coming back recuperation. from Africa on another Robin In Harker's, cdse; the company ship, the Robin Sherwood, as re­ wanted him to stay on the ship patriates because there was a doc­ until It docked in Baltimore, be­ tor on board that particular vessel. cause that was where he had signed Earlier the ship's on In the first Instance. But Harkdelegate on the er wanted to get hospitalization Sherwood had Immediately. Consequently, notified head­ Thompson took him off the ship quarters Inform­ and over to Staten Island where ing the Union of because of his condition they ad­ the arrival of the mitted him as an inpatient right two men and ask­ away. ing that some­ Under the circumstances, it was body be at the a good thing that the delegate had dock to take care written headquarters because Bark­ Harker of them. er's condition was none too good Consequently, Welfare Services and It would not have been advis­ representative Al. Thompson met able for him to continue on to the ship when It docked on- the Baltimore. This case again points up the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, After discussing the matter advisability of having -delegates with company representatives. It notify headquarters well In adwas agreed that one of the repatri­ Vjance that tji^y^ coming - home ated men should be put In a taxl- with repatriated men aboard. �SEAFARERS April 2. 19M LOG Page Twenty-seven Can't Keep Good 5IU Man Down SEEDP THE SEAFARERS Now recovering from a fractured hip, a broken pelvis and other injuries at a US Public Health Service hospital is Seafarer Edwin L. Rushton. While faced with a long period of convalescense, Rushton is happy that the Union got him transferred out of a private hospital into a place where he" couid get free medical treat­ ment and enjoy the company With WALTER SIEKMANN of fellow-seamen. iNewa about men fn the hospitals and Seafarers receivtna SW Wel­ Rushton suffered his injury when fare Benefits will be carried in this column. It Is written by Seafarer Walter Siekmann based on items of interest turned up while he makes he fell off the gangway of the Val his rounds in his post as Director of Welfare Services.) Chem while the ship was at its terminal in the East River. He was Quite often Seafarers run into a little trouble collecting maintenance rushed to Lincoln hospital in the and cure from the shipping companies because they once had a child­ Bronx for emergency treatment. hood ailment and neglected to report it to the company doctor when Contacted Hospital they were examined and questioned. Then if they get sick on board tl^e ship, the insurance companies will look to connect their shipboard As soon as the Union received a sickness with their previous medical history as an excuse for not paying report of the injury, a Welfare maintenance. Services" Representative got in The insurance companies argue this way—if the man had reported touch with the hospital and made his previous ailment to the examining doctor, the doctor would have arrangements to transfer Rushgiven him a thorough check-up on that particular matter and then found ton to the more congenial climate of Staten Island. him not lit for duty. The injured Seafarer can pass Now its pretty obvious that if a man was sick once, many years be­ fore, and has been sailing fit for duty for a number of years, there the time of day regaling his ship­ Isn't much chance of connecting his shipboard sickness with what went mates with tales of an interesting on before. But If the man doesn't report it to the doctor, then the in­ past. At various times he has been surance people have the loophole they are looking for to deny main­ a wrestler, an infantryman, a food broker, a restaurant worker and a tenance. So make sure when the doctor asks questions about your past illness variety of other occupations. He to tell him all that has happened. If you are fit for duty, you will get comes from a long-line of seafarers cleared anyway, with the USPHS doctors having the final say on that on his mother's side. He was born score. That way, if anything happens on the ship the insurance people won't have ai loophole to deny you maintenance. On the beach over In Yokohama, Japan, are a couple of the boys who like that part of the world. Amadeo Fedele was taken sick on The Cabins and is now in that Oriental port awaiting repatriation. Max Lipkin, on the other hand, makes the town his home away from home. Now, however, he is there recuperating from a broken leg. One of the brothers, Glenn Curl, who hails from New Orleans down in the bayou country, is laid up In Manila, PT, at this time because of an auto acci­ dent. Harry Cronin is expecting to get out of the Seafarer-patients in the hospital In Cincinnati, Ohio, with a "fit for duty" Staten Island USPHS hospital slip before very much longer. never lack for immediate Vic Milazzo is now over at the Staten Island hos­ Milazzo pital after being transferred from the Manhattan service or company, under the well-organized system of hospital Beach hospital. He's hoping to get a "fit for duty" slip soon. delegates maintained by the SIU " Hugh Crawford, who hails from Tampa, Fla., was there. The delegates, working in fireman on the Abiqua when he came down with a conjunction with daily visits by hernia. He is getting out of the Staten Island hos­ SIU hospital representatives are pital and will head for New Orleans to do his con­ able to take care of all non-medi­ valescing. Quite a few of the boys do the same thing cal needs in short order. in order to recuperate in the southern sunshine, and Each floor in the ho.spital has its It has nothing to do with the good-looking women own delegate, who of necessity, down there, they say. must be an ambulatory patient. The Welfare Services Department, answering all Any time a new patient is admitted needs for Seafarers, got a strange request from Tim to the floor, the delegate notifies McCarthy aboard the Tagalam. Tim says there's a Fedele headquarters immediately and lets belly-robbing^ steward aboard the scow, so he wants Welfare Services to send him a package of good chow to tide him over Welfare Services know if there is anything the man needs. It might a rough trip. Of course, he's only kidding. be a matter of getting his gear off a ship, notifying his family of his whereabouts, or simply getting him some smokes. In addition, if any man is con­ fined to his bed, the word is passed through the hospital from floor to floor to see if he has any friends who could visit him. Of course, the delegates them­ selves keep changing since they get discharged from the hospital in due course and a new one has to be chosen to take their place. But there is always somebody on hand to represent the men and take care of all the little items that make a difference between a relatively pleasant hospital stay and a pretty unhappy one. SlU Delegates At Hospitals Always On Job Already A Lens Hound? iriliiplii? •y'f-'. in Swanipscott, Massachusetts, to the daughter of a sea captain. His grandfather operated a fivemasted sailing schooner that car­ ried coal between Hampton Roads and other Atlantic ports, and Rushton was often aboard the ship as an infant. However, a few years later, the ship was wrecked, ending his sea-going career for the time be­ ing. Non-Union Trip Sub.sequently he shipped as OS on a United Fruit vessel, but one trip under the non-union condi­ tions prevailing then convinced him that seafaring was not for him. He then worked in a variety, of jobs, but when the depression set in, he became part of a wrestling tour. He and a 280-pound ex-Holy Cross football tackle, Kewpie McCue, toured the tank tdwns wrest­ ling four or five nights a week for the local "championship." To at­ tract the local citizenry, Rushton went under the name of "Farmer" Rushton." After a while though, Rushton got tired of having his ears pinned back by McCue, so he left the wrestling- business. During World War II, Rushton found himself storming the beaches of Normandy with the infantry and picked up a bullet for his pains. Finally, in 1951, he decided to try his hand at seafaring again. His first ship was the SlU-manned Northwestern Victory, wdiich he found quite different from the United Fruit ship he once was on. Right now, Rushton sails regu­ larly in the steward department. He hopes to be back in action soon with his SIU shipmates. Knowles died on February 7, 1954, in Mobile, Ala., of a head injury. He sailed as a bosun in t'ne deck department. Burial took place at Wolf Ridge Cemetery. Whistler. Ala. Brother Knowles is survived Thomas E. Foster, 58: A skull •by his wife, Theima Doris Knowles, fracture received in an automobile Route 8, Box 171, Crichton, Ala. crash near Death Valley Junction. 4> 4 4 Gal., caused Brother Foster's death on February 18, 1954. A chief John Ira Waller, 38: On Decem­ steward. Brother Foster was buried in Jacksonville, Tex.; the estate is ber 29. 1953. Brother Waller was administered by Mrs. Minnetta B. drowned in Delaware River. New Hanrahan of 20197 Piccadilly Road, Castle Co., Del., and was buried at Middleboro Cenietery, MiddleDetroit 21, Mich. boro, Mass. He sailed as a wiper in !• t t the engine department. Simeon Layne, 64: On March 3. 4 4 4 1954, Brother Layne died at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, Robert E. Halliday: While the and was buried in Evergreen Ceme­ Steel Designer was at latitude tery there. He sailed as a member 28-40N longitude 75-07W, on Janu­ of the steward department. ary 25, 1954, Brother Halliday fell overboard and was lost at sea. He 4" 4" 4» Lloyd C. Knowles, 37: Brother sailed as carpenter in the deck department. Any Seafarer who has become a father since April 1, 1952, can receive the $200 maternity benefit payment, plus the Union's gift of a $25 US Treasury Bond for the child. A copy of the mar­ riage certificate and birth certificate is i-equired. If possible, a discharge from his last ship should be enclosed. Duplicate pay­ ments and bonds, will be given in cases of multiple births. Disability; Any totally disabled Seafarer, regardless of age. Who has seven years seatime when companies participatinig in the Welfare Plan, is eligible for the weekly disability benefit for as long as he is totally unable to work. Applications and queries on unusual situations should be sent to the Union Welfare Trustees, c/o SIU Headquarters, 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn 32, NY. ' •• The deaths of the followinu Seafarers have been reported to the Seafarers Welfare Plan and $2,500 death benefits are being paid to beneficiaries. Mqternity; .b' l/oili y.\ ""'mti Convalescing happily in company of fellow-seamen. Seafarer Ed Rushton displays SIU hospital benefits in one hand while Seafarer Don Peterson offers a light for bis cigar. At right are Seafarers Robert Reynolds and Walter Sudnick. Who Geia SiU Reiiefits? Mrs. William Renter, wife of Seafarer William Reuter, shows off the new addition to the family, in the person of son William John, bom January 11, 1954. The New York City Seafarer was last on the ASalea City (Waterman). Junior doesn't seem bothered one bit by the photographic activities "•'M 4 4 4 Peter Sadowski, 41: A messman in the steward department, Brother Sadowski died of a heart ailment on February 25, 1954, at the Balti­ more, Md., USPHS hospital. He was buried at St. Stanislaus Ceme­ tery in that city. His estate is ad­ ministered by Stanley Sadowski, 120 Montford Avenue, Baltimore, Md. 4 4,4 Tedd R. Terrhigion, 50: On Feb­ ruary 8, 1954, Brother Terrington suffered a fatal hemorrhage in New Orleans, La. He sailed in the steward department. Surviving is his son, Tedd Phillip Terrington, Apartment F, 500 Felicitj', New Orleans, La. ' -1 I �• OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT •. AFL • fljv'-1 • Sf ?-:-' : L-. i Whether you've spent coffeetinne with a mermaid or merely plucked a lessjosty morsel out of the briny, the. place to tell about it is in the pages of the SlU's own newspaper, the SEAFARERS LOG. Letters detailing the exploits of Sea­ farers all over the world, in matters big or small, can be passed on to your friends, shipmates and posterity as well. Photographic records of events aboard ship and ashore, drowinqs, short stories, poetry and the like are always welcomed. Send them to the Editor, SEAFARERS LOG, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, New York. I" > I < F' r.-. 4.M � 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 1950-1959 Description An account of the resource Volumes XII-XXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 2, 1954 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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. XVI, No. 7 Description An account of the resource Headlines: NLRB THROWS OUT DOCK VOTE; ORDERS NEW BALLOT THREE SEAFARERS, OTHERS SEEK SIU SCHOLARSHIPS MOBILE ASKS DEEPENING OF SHIP CHANNEL LAST 25 SHIPS TO BALLOT IN STEWARD VOTE UNIONS LEAD FIGHT ON TRANSFERS AS HEARINGS BEGIN NEW WATERMAN TERMINAL OPENS AT PORT NEWARK YARMOUTH SAILS THRU SEA LAW LOOPHOLES SIU DONATES BATCH OF NEW BOOKS TO USPHS HOSPITAL GULF SHORE GANGS WIN PAY INCREASE TOUTS SEA JOBS AT $2 A HAND PATIENTS CALL ON NMU FOR HOSPITAL AID EARLY POLL RETURNS BACK SHIPS' LIBRARIES; SOME CHANGES SOUGHT CONFERENCE TAKES UP MARITIME ILLS LOG ERRS IN PHOTO MIX-UP DID HE REALLY WIN $140,000? WATERMAN ASKS OKAY FOR GULF PASSENGER RUN ISRAEL SEA UNION ON SOLID BASIS EYE GIFT STORY ENDS IN REUNION ON SHIP SEAFARER RECALLS OLD WHALING DAYS; FINDS LIFE TODAY 'TAME' SEA CHEST TAKES TOP PRIZE IN CIGARETTE SALES CONTEST PANAMANIANS ALL NEW DOCK VOTE THE CALL OF THE SEA SCHOOL BELLS THE MORRO CASTLE FIRE SHARK FISHING CHIEF ATTRACTION ABOARD VESSEL ON FAR EAST RUN SEAFARERS MOURN FOR SKIPPER ON FINAL TRIP BROTHER TRIO GOES PROSPECTING FOR WHAT-HAVE-YOU IN COLORADO SEAFARERS PAY TRIBUTE TO SHIPMATE'S MEMORY 'WERE YOU CAUGHT IN RAID TOO?' SAID THE SEAFARER TO THE JUDGE WHAT'S THE TARIFF WELFARE TO THE RESCUE WITH $ CAN'T KEEP GOOD SIU MAN DOWN SIU DELEGATES AT HOSPITALS ALWAYS ON JOB Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/2/1954 1954 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/ab5a02fd1c724c7959593daf5a641592.PDF 163cf4734139dfd728c18a271efb7c2f PDF Text Text SEAFARERS^LOG OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION . ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT . AFL-CIO I �INc* Tw* StAFAHERS April *, 1965 LOG Rap Foreign AttaekB On UJ, Ship Aid fof/cit Sea Unions Hit Bricks At U.N Urging Strong U.S. Ship Poiicy •NEW YORK—Seafarers took to the picket lines at the United Nations with other mem­ bers of the joint Maritime Labor Committee to voice their support for a strong U.S. merchant marine and to warn U.S. delegates to a 12-nation maritime parley against any weakening of our cargo preference and"*^ The U. S. Department of Agriculture is once again demonstrating its unconcealed hostility toward the American-flag merchant fleet. De­ partment officials, under the direction of Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman, continue to sing that tired old song that the use of U.S.-flag merchant ships is detrimental to the exipori of American farm products to Russia and other Communist countrie«. continually seeking to undermine ship subsidy programs. Also Committee." The Agriculture Department's latest attenipt to reduce the role of "The State Department insisted the position of the U.S. merchant participating in the demon­ this was never contemplated but marine, and regard every move to the U.S.-flag fleet to insignificance in the nation's commerce occurred stration were the ILA, NMU and we know different," Gleason said. improve the lot of the U.S. fleet as when its Undersecretary, Charles S. Murphy, testified before the International Finance Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on U.S. government agencies—the a threat to themselves. the MEBA. Banking and Currency. Murphy's warmed-over testimony about the MA, Agriculture, Defense, State The countries represented at the alleged harm resulting from the use of U.S.-manned vessels was a The three-day meeting pick­ and Commerce Departments—have 12-nation meeting share between repeat performance of the views expressed by his boss, Secretary eted by maritime labor was called been chipping away at the founda­ them the largest merchant fleets in Freeman, who tried to sell this story to a group of cabinet officers and by the U.S. for the declared pur­ tions of 4he American merchant pose of explaining American ship­ marine over the years in order to the western world. They are Great others on March 23, 1964. ping policies to other western gain favor with foreign govern­ Britain, Japan, France, Norway, The theme that Murphy and Freeman have been using is actually nations and convincing them that ments. Cargo preference laws have Netherlands, Sweden, West Ger­ the policies were not aimed at giv­ been continually Jeopardized in many, Belgium, Greece and Den­ a repeat of the views of E. E. Kelm, the president of Cargill, Inc., who mark. Representatives of many of issued essentially the same opinions only four days before the Secretary ing the U.S. unfair advantages. this manner. the same nations met last month In of Agriculture made his exaggerated statement in 1964. Cargill is IMaritime labor charged, however, European countries which main­ Paris with Admiral Harllee and one of the nation's biggest grain trading companies which was involved that U.S. officials would use the in the shipment of U.S. grain to the communists. The company stood meeting to grant more concessions tain large merchant fleets are also other American representatives. to profit handsomely from its ability to turn to low-wage foreign-flag to the foreign shippers at the ex­ vessels in moving this grain. pense of our merchant marine. The ridculous part about the arguments advanced by Secretary At the top of the agenda for Freeman and his subordinates is that while they never miss an oppor­ the meeting was the continuing tunity to wail about the "high cost" of using American ships, these controversy over the release of same officials run government programs which spend billions of dollars freight rate setting information by annually to support a small segment of our farm population. European and Japanese dominated steamship conferences. AmericanNEW YORK—The rank and file credentials committee of The $5 billion which Agriculture spends.each year for farm sub­ flag companies have been trying to get the Maritime Administration the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, sidies is over twelve times the amount spent for all the programs of to take a stronger stand regarding Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, has reported on the assistance to the U.S. merchant fleet including construction subsidides, operating subsidies and the cargo preference programs combined. The disclosure of the information. 8^00 million which American taxpayers ante up annually for the three eligibility of nominees for^ Weakening Cargo Laws separate subsidies which are paid on domestic cotton, are 10 times the Inland Boatmen's Union and the delegate to the SIUNA con­ United Industrial Workers were annual cost of our cargo preference program. We find it ironic that But the unmentioned issues in the meeting were the reported vention. The credentials com­ elected at special membership the subsidy dispensing Agriculture officials spend most of their time willingness of the U.S. delegates, mittee for the Atlantic and Gulf meetings held on March 29. The worrying about the cost of the cargo preference program. led by Maritime Commissioner Ad­ district have found that all nomi­ committees checked the qualifica­ Secretary Freeman and his officials have claimed that the depart­ miral John Harllee and a State nees for the position of convention tions of all nominees and certified ment has no intention of ignoring Congressional intent to insure a they are eligible to run as conven­ delegate are qualified, and in ac­ Department officer, to discuss strong, flourishing merchant marine for our nation. We would like weakening of U.S. cargo prefer­ cordance with the report of the tion delegates. to believe, these statements, but Agriculture officials don't give us a ence laws. Those laws, though President, dated March 8, 1965, an chance. Over and over again the department seems intent on dra­ The credentials committees of weakly enforced, were designed to election will be held on April 19, matically illustrating its contempt for the U.S. merchant marine. The keep the U.S. fleet afloat in a sea 1965, in all AGLIWD ports to deter­ the IBU regions, and the UIW re­ latest example of this thinly veiled antagonism was Under Secretary gions referred to their Regional mine the convention delegates for of cut-rate foreign competition. Directors' reports of March 8 Murphy's testimony before the International Finance Subcommittee Because of protests from mari­ the district. dealing with the SIU convention, which showed, all too well, the department's desire to downgrade the The credential committees elect­ provided that: "In the event status of the U.S.-flag fleet. time labor, the government was forced to shy away, publicly, at ed by the regions of the Inland the number of qualified nomi­ U.S. maritime expects this brand of conduct from Agriculture least, from any position compris­ Boatmen's Union, and the United nees is equal to, or does not Industrial Workers reported that exceed the number of delegates to oflicials. We all remember how American ships and American seamen ing our merchant marine. were short-changed when U.S. grain shipments were moving to Russia ILA president Thomas W. Glea- all nominees are qualifled and be elected to these conventions, last year. U.S. vessels got the bureaucratic cold shoulder even though shall be deemed elected, pursuant such nominees shall be deemed to son, chairman of the Maritime La­ th late President Kennedy had issued a public statement that American bor Committee, said: "The united to the reports filed, by their re­ be elected convention delegates." bottoms would be used to move the bulk of these cargoes. spective regional directors. The reports of these regional di­ protest by the maritime unions The Twelfth Biennial Conven­ rectors, dated March 8, 1965, were against the State Department plan Same Treatment Expected to discuss basic U.S. maritime pol­ tion of the SIUNA will start at mailed to the membership of the Unfortunately, it looks like the U.S. maritime industry is going to icy with foreign governments ap­ 10:00 AM, Wednesday, May 28 IBU and UIW regions on March 10, be faced with the same situation all over again when American farm parently had an effect. We have thru June 1, 1965 at the Gramercy 1965. products start moving to communist countries in the next few months. received assurances from Secretary Inn, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, AGLIWD Election A most blatant example of how the cargo preference statutes are of Labor W. Willard Wirtz that N.W., Washington, D.C. The AGLIWD credentials com­ ignored came to light recently when the Department of Commerce U.S. representatives were under Elected Commltteca mittee, which was elected in approved an export license for the sale of 90,000 tons of soybeans to deflnite instructions not to discuss New York port and headquarters Russia. Despite our determined attempt, not a single government The credentials committees of questions under review by the President's Maritime Advisory the Atlantic and Gulf regions of the on March 29 has certified the official can give us any assurance that even a single ton of these soy­ names of 28 members as qualifled bean cargoes will be transported on an American ship. to run as convention delegates The Union's list of particulars against the Agriculture Deprartment's from the district. The qualifled record in degrading the role of the U.S. fleet was detailed in our nominees are: 40,000 word statement to the Maritime Advisory Committee last John Cole, C-8; George Dacken, November 16. Responsibility for this continuing hostility to American D-26: Rex Dickey, D-6; Joseph Di- maritime was laid squarely where it belonged—on the shoulders of Giorgio, D-2; Frank Drozak, D-22: Secretary Orville Freeman who is plainly unfit to discharge his Paul Drozak, D-180; Norman W. responsibilities. DuBois, D-475; Ernesto V. Erazo, E-34: John Fay, F-363; Leon Hall, The SIU statement accused the Department of Agriculture, which H-125; Paul Hall, H-1; William Is responsible for shipping 70 percent of the commodities "that come Hall, H-272; William Jenkins, J-78; under cargo preference, of consistently attempting to deprive American Anthony Kastina, K-5; A1 Kerr, ships of their fair share of these cargoes. Despite the fact that cargo K-7; E. B. McAuley, M-20: Robert preference cargoes acccounted for only half, or 3Vi percent of the Matthews, M-1; Frank Mongelli, country's total foreign trade. Agriculture sUll views this as detrimenUl M-1111; Edward Mooney, M-7; to U.S. export policy concerning communist nations. Louis Neira, N-1; Earl Shepard, Even though this may seem to be a comparatively small amount of S-2; Gordon Spencer, 8-1162; Freddie Stewart, S-8; A1 Tanner, our foreign trade, it actually spells the difference between life and T-12: Cal Tanner, T-l; Keith death to the unsubsidizd dry cargo carriers. Terpe, T-3; Lindsey J. Williams, As the SIU pointed out in its November statement, prospective harm W-1; Steven Zubovich, Z-13. to the nation's taxpayers may be mainly in the minds of the Agriculture The committee noted in its re­ Department. Of the $15 billion in farm commodities that have been port that since the AGLIWD is en­ shipped abroad since the PL 480 plan begain in 1954, the extra costs titled to 27 delegates,, it will be from using U.S.-fiag shipping has amounted to about $230 million or necessary to hold an election to just more than 2 percent of the total value of these cargoes. choose these delegates to the Nothing has changed since the SIU made its statement in November. SIUNA convention. The commit­ Agriculture officials continue to ignore the intent of Congress by often Seafarers and other members of maritime labor picketed tee said it was making this an­ acting as if the cargo preference statutes didn't exist. Even though before the United Nations building in New York to protest nouncement in accordance with the four months have passed since the Union made its charges. Department attacks, by foreign shippers on UiS. maritime aid policies. (Continued on page 20) officials still have failed to answer this document. Credentials Committees Act On SfU Convention Nominees 'i By Paul Holi �*91^0.%vm SE AF ARER S funawev Tankw§ CafM Major Offanderg SlU Protests Naming Oil Co. Exec. To Study 0.8. Gold Drain Crisis WASHINGTON—The Seafarers International Union of North America told the President's Maritime Advisory Com­ mittee last week that it opposes the appointment of Albert L. Nickerson, chairman of the + board of the Socony Mobil Oil ment nor purchase consumer goods Company, as head of the Tiere, and that they amass millions 1^0 G SlU Fight To Save USPHS Hospitals Taken To Congress WASHINGTON—^The Seafarers International Union of North America has urged,. Congress to halt the proposed closing of seven U.S. Public Health Service hospitals., The Union condemned a plan announced by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare on -*• — "The availability of this treat­ ing lists for those veterans with January 19, 1965, propos­ ment has been on a diminishing non-service-connected disability." ing that merchant seamen basis over the years as a result of The Fifth Annual Conference of Advisory in earnings which do not come back to the United States either in the form of corporate taxes or expendi­ and other patients using PHS The formation of the Balance of tures for goods and services. facilities be transferred to Payments Committee, as an ad­ hospitals operated by the Vet­ The SlU noted that Nickerson, as visory group to the Department of Commerce, was recently announced chairman of the board of Socony erans Administration. by Secretary of Commerce John Mobil, is a top-ranking officer of The SIU's Washington rep­ T. Connor, who is also chairman one of the five American oil com­ resentative, Thomas L. Meyer, panies which between them own of the Maritime Advisory Com­ half of all the American tankers spoke against the proposed PHS mittee. registered under the Panamanian hospital closings at a recent hear­ The Maritime Advisory Comifnit- and Liberian flags. The other four ing of the House Subcommittee on tee was created by Executive Or­ companies are Standard Oil of Appropriations for the Depart­ der of President Johnson last June New Jersey, Texaco, Gulf,, and ments of Labor, and Health, Edu­ cation and Welfare. The Union is to consider the problems of the Standard Oil of California. also presenting Its position to the American Merchant Marine. It The SlU said that the composi­ House Merchant Marine and Fish­ consists of Secretary Connor, Sec­ tion of the Balance of Payments eries Committee which is current­ retary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz Committee, which consists exclu­ ly conducting hearings on the and 15 non-Government represen­ sively of e^jecutives of large hospital closings. tatives of maritime management, American business enterprises, is labor and the public. The SlU HEW officials have proposed the representative on the committee is "reminiscent" of the composition closing of PHS facilities in Boston, of the Maritime Evaluation Com­ international president, Paul Hall. mittee, which was created by for­ Norfolk, Savannah, Galveston, The SlU's opposition to Nicker- mer Secretary of Commerce Luther Memphis, Chicago and Detroit. son's appointment was set forth in Hodges in 1961 to study the prob­ "It is Ironical," the SIU said, a letter to Connor, copies of which lems of the maritime industry. "that the plan to close seven of were sent to all members of the The SlU said the Maritime Eva­ the USPHS hospitals, which could Maritime Advisory Committee. luation Committee had studied the be the first step in the abandon­ The SlU said that it was gratified industry for more than two years ment of the entire USPHS pro­ that Secretary Connor, in announc­ and finally made a series of recom­ gram, is announced almost simul­ ing formation of the Balance of mendations "which, in our view, taneously with President Johnson's Payments Committee, had recog­ contributed nothing toward a solu­ design for a massive medical re­ nized the contribution which Amer­ tion of our merchant marine's prob­ search program and for expansion ican-flag ships couid do make to a lems." of medical care and treatment as reduction of our balance of pay­ The SlU noted that the only ma­ essential to a better America. The ments deficit. ritime representative on the Mari­ hospital closings would be a step The SlU added, however, that time Evaluation Committee was backward for a society that must among the major offenders, with Eugene Holman, the former chair­ move forward." respect to our balance of payments, man of Standard Oil of New Jersey The SlU characterized the Gov­ are American companies which —one of the "Big 5" runaway ernment's plan to liquidate the operate vessels under the runaway operators. seven hospitals as incongruous, flags of Panama and Liberia. "In view of the above facts," the since the Administration's "Great The SlU pointed out that these SlU said, "we question the advis­ Society" purportedly Includes ex­ companies pay billions of dollars ability of Mr. Nickerson's appoint­ panded medical care. Increased abroad for ship construction, that ment as head of the Balance of hospital and clinical facilities and they employ foreign seamen who Payments Committee and record greater research efforts under Fed­ eral sponsorship! The Union's neither pay taxes to this Govern­ our opposition to this action." statement pointed out that the Public Health Service hospitals are universally respected for their high quality, comprehensive medi­ cal care and treatment and re­ search and clinical facilities. WASHINGTON—Senator Warren G. Magnuson, (D-Wash.) speaking before the Propeller Club here, urged the Administra­ Established In 1798 tion to put some real muscle into its "Ship America" policy as an The Union reminded the Con­ aid in solving the nation's continuing balance of payments gressmen that the PHS hospitals problem. traced their origin to a statute en­ Magnuson, chairman of the key Senate Commerce Committee, acted In 1798 when they were es­ said that in the past the government "had only suggested in tablished for merchant seamen and quiet ways that it might be helpful to use U.S.-flag carriers, but other Federal beneficiaries. The never has it been an official policy of the U.S. to actively and program of these hospitals was aggressively encourage this." shaped to meet the special require­ Magnuson noted that the merchant fleets of industrial nations ments and character of maritime like France, Britain and Japan all carry a greater share of their employment, leading to the pres­ nations' ocean borne commerce than does the U.S.-flag fleet. ent Federal program of marine American ships carry only nine percent of total U.S. commerce hospitalization which the PHS still in the ocean trade. administers today. Inadequate Fleet The SlU explained that this pro­ Magnuson said the failure of American ships to cai'ry a larger gram was established for seamen part of our commerce was related "directly to the inadequacy of who must work without the avail­ our present fleet, particularly the bulk carrier fleet." His viem ability of medical care while at on the declining strength of the U.S.-flag fleet paralleled that sea. Since a seaman's work is of taken by American maritime labor. a transient nature and his time on shore'is subject to tlie arrival and The lawmaker called upon American importers to specify U.S.departure times of his ship, he re­ flag ships wherever possible. Since importers would remain sub­ quires hospital and medlcaf care ject to freight rates set by the various liner conferences, there that would be easily accessible would be, theoretically at least, no Increase In cost of them. after long periods at sea. Since Magnuson urged Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor to call this care must be available at any a speedy meeting of the Balance of Payments Advisory Commit­ U.S. port in which a ship calls, the tee to consider methods of putting a firmer foundation under the maximum possible number of "Ship American" polioy. strategically located facilities Is essential, the Union said. Balance of Committee. Payments Senator Urges "Ship American" To Solve Dollar Drain Problem Paye TOref the periodic closings of a number of these Institutions Inspired by pressures from the Bureau of the Budget," declared the SlU. The Union charged that those responsible for the closing plan had failed to pay attention to the President's Commission on Heart, Cancer and Stroke which has praised the PHS hospitals' re­ search, training and patient care program. In a statement issued in December, 1964, the President's Commission called for additional funds for increased research space in the PHS hospitals and for in­ creased research and training ac­ tivities at these facilities. Contradictory Plan The Union's statement asserted that the HEW plan was both con­ tradictory and misleading because It would be Impossible to accom­ modate seamen in VA hospitals since these facilities do not even have enough beds available for veterans. In the VA-facilities in the immediate vicinity of the areas where the seven PHS hospitals are slated to close, bed utilization ranges from 85.9 to 99.3 percent. Hospital administration experts consider 80 percent of bed occu­ pancy as the most practical level of operation. The SlU criticized the HEW plan as jeopardizing medical care and treatment for seamen, as well as jeopardizing the ability of the VA to care for war veterans. The Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. PubUc Health Service also echoed this criticism when It said, "It Is difficult to understand how the patients from the PHS hospitals can be cared for by the VA hospital system when many of the VA hospitals that these pa­ tients are to be referred to are already operating at maximum pa­ tient capacity and have long wait­ the American Legion held in Feb­ ruary went on record as opposing the transfer of PHS hospital pa­ tients to VA facilities. "The plans of the Bureau of the Budget and the Department," the SlU charged, "are fraught with flaws and unwarranted and mis­ leading projections, both from the standpoint of continued availability of the marine hospitalization pro­ gram for Seamen and from the dol­ lars and cents standpoint. The Union said the plan to close the PHS hospitals as a money-saving move. Is hardly the basis for such drastic and irreparable action which will only result In Increased costs. The SlU pointed out that the average dally cost of maintaining a seaman in a USPHS facility is $29.65. As an example, the $34.35 average dally cost for room, board and all other major medical costs in the Chicago Marine Hospital was cited. Similar services in private hospitals in Chicago have an average daily cost of $41.53. The SlU also pointed out that the Department of Health, Education and Welfare had significantly failed to mention the Government's in­ vestment or the present value of the seven PHS hospitals to be shut down. "It is apparent," the Union declared, "that shortly after their closing, these hospitals will be a mass of cobwebs and will no doubt wind up being sold to private pur­ chasers for a shred of their value, with the taxpayers footing the bill for this tragic mistake." No Hearing Held The Union was also critical of the manner in which HEW an­ nounced the closing plan. If departmomt officials sincerely be­ lieved that their proposal meant (Continued on page 10) Quarterly Financial Committee SIU rank-and-file Quarterly Financial Committee met recent­ ly at New York headquarters. Committee members are (clockwise) Seafarers J. Doris, Philadelphia; Walter Walsh, Baltimore; Douglass Claussen, Houston; Curley Barnes, N.Y.; Edward Kelly, Mobile; and Clyde Lanier, New Orleans. •t ; �Vngt Vamt SEAFARERS April t, Ita LOG SlU-IBU Tugman Rescues Shipmate—But in Vain PHILADELPHIA—^Despite the heroic rescue efforts of a long-time friend and shipmate who gravely risked his own life, Captain John Southard, master of the SIU Inland Boat­ men's Union-contracted tug Triton, was killed March 13 in an accident on the Delaware River. mediately dove in to save the unconscdous skipper afloat until Captain Southard was di­ stricken both could be pulled on board. master. recting the towing to berth of The rescue was aided by the the German freighter Karl Garmmersdorf at 8 a.m. when he lost his footing on a ladder and fell into the chilly water. Deckhand Henry Tulewicz, an IBU shop steward who had sailed with Cap­ tain Southard for 15 years, im­ Southard had fallen between the tug and the freighter while both were underway. In attempting to save him, Tulewicz was in constant danger of being crushed along with the Captain between the two vessels. Nevertheless, he kept the SIU Pacific Unions Blast Shipowner-CG Power Play WASHINGTON—SUP Secretary Morris Weisberger and MFOW President Bill Jordan last week entered "strong objections" to a U.S. Coast Guard proposal which would, in effect, enable the shipowners • to increase their control over; their attempt to come through the seagoing jobs by authority to back door." change certified engine room rat­ ings aboard so-called "automated" ships. The opposition of the two SIU Pacific District unions was voiced at public hearings here on pro­ posed changes in the navigation and vessel inspection rules and regulations held before the Mer­ chant Marine Council of the Coast Guard on March 22 in Washington. The new Coast Guard proposal, would establish new engine room endorsements aboard ship, and leave the manning of a particular vessel to the discretion of the offi­ cer in charge, "whose decision will take into consideration the request of the vessels owners" and the de­ gree of automation on board. Objecting to the proposal "both in language and principle," the two SIUNA vice presidents ques­ tioned the Coast Guard's right to require higher rating standards than those authorized by law mere­ ly on an owner's request. If it can be shown that there is a need for higher ratings, the union officials declared, then the Coast Guard should proceed in a legal and or­ derly manner to establish the re­ quired standards "and not repeat The SUP and MFOW consider any regulation that would give the shipowners the power to change ratings aboard ship to be contrary to the best interests of their mem­ berships, particularly at a time when manning requirements aboard "automated" or "Retrofit" vessels is a matter of great concern and controversy in the industry. It was also pointed out that al­ though the proposed change deals only with engine room ratings at present, once the owners are per­ mitted to exercise such influence over the selection of engine de­ partment personnel, it would be only a matter of time until the breach would be widened to in­ clude the deck and other depart­ ments. After considering the testimony of interested parties at the hear­ ing, the Council recommended that all proposals for revised endorse­ ments for seamen on automated or partially automated steam pro­ pelled vessels be tabled for further study, and that continued consul­ tation would be held with affected labor unions, management, and owners or operators of such ves­ sels. By Eari (BHIII Shcpard, Vice-President. Atinntlc SIU Represented At 'Union Day' The key role played by maritime labor in the nation's defense effort was celebrated March 5 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal when repre­ sentatives of the SIU, ILA, MEBA, NMU and other maritime and government employees labor groups joined with the administrators of the base in "Union Day" festivities. Brigadier Generai A. J. Mont­ gomery showed 50 union representatives around the huge facility, considerable skill of Ante Baric, the Triton's mate, whose steady including a bus tour of the sprawling complex of wharves and ware­ hand at the wheel helped to avert houses. The occasion ended with a reception for the terminal employees a further tragedy. Tulewicz and and their labor representatives in the Terminal Dining Room. The Southard were pulled back on the general, the top officer in the Army Terminal Command, said the unions at the base had "made a working reality of the present Memorandum tug within ten minutes. of Understanding," which guides labor relations at the Terminal. Died of Injuries Boston Both were taken to nearby pier Brothers in the Boston area, especially those in the SlU-affiliated 78, South Wharves, where they were removed to Pennslyvania fishermen's unions, are still fuming about the Russian cod caper. Hospital. Southard had struck his Insult was added to injury a few weeks ago when a U.S.-flag ship head in falling, however, and died docked here with a 450-ton load of Soviet-caught codfish. The blocks of his injuries shortly thereafter. offered for sale in the U.S. were most likely taken from the same Tulewicz was treated for exposure. fishing grounds off our east coast where our fishermen have to fight Southard, 55, was employed by off the red competition. ILA members refused to handle the cargo Independent Towing for 25 years and it has since gone into limbo, -f and had been the master of the The danger of further Soviet looking for a Group 2 job. encroachments on U.S. fishermen Baltimore remains, however. Shipping has been real good in Shipping in Boston has been on Baltimore. We had to ship 32 men the slov/ bell, but is expected to more than were registered in the pick up in the next period. There last period. Tho^re are still jobs were two payoffs and two ships available here for Group 2 engine serviced in transit during the last department men. During the past period. two weeks, there were seven Alfred Gardner, who last sailed payoffs, 5 sign-ons and 12 ships as chief cook on the Achilles, was serviced in transit. Tulewicz Southard real sorry to get off that floating Raymond T. Lavoine Jr. is company tug Triton for the last hotel. He had to go into the hospi­ registered again for the Losmar 18 years. An active unionist, he tal, but is now FFD again and after getting off the ship during had served several terms as pres­ ready to ship. Lawrence Melanson, the ILA beef. She's one of his ident of Local 1700, which eventu­ a 25-year SIU man, paid off the favorites and he says he'll be ally affiliated with the SIU-IBU. Cities Service Norfolk when she happy to get on board again. He was highly regarded by fellow went offshore and is now visiting Norfolk unionists and tugmen in Phiiadel- with his wife in Canada. Norfolk shipping has been on phia and his passing was deeply John Gala, last in the blackgang the slow bell, but is figured to im­ felt there. on the Cities Service Baltimore, prove in the coming period with In a tribute to the Captain and is in dry dock with a broken wrist the arrival here of several coal deckhand "Hank" Tulewicz, fellow suffered in an auto accident. He ships. During the last period, only IBU member Gene McCullough, a hopes to be ready to ship soon four ships were serviced in deckhand on the tug Teresa McAl­ again. Donald Watson, last aboard transit. lister (P. F. Martin), wrote: "I am the Hercules Victory, paid off Clyde Mariner, who last sailed prompted to pen this letter after when she laid up and is now the deck department on the much thought and perhaps a little holding down the hall for a coast­ &uval, is currently in dry dock but soul-searching. Please accept the wise run. hopes to be ready to ship soon. wishes of myself and, I am sure, Alvin Olander, last aboard the New York many others in regard to a humble Steel Chemist, left the ship due to and extremely courageous man. I Shipping has been brisk In New the untimely death of his father. speak, of course, of our "Hank." York, with 19 payoffs, 9 sign-ons Alvin is ready to ship again, "What this man did has brought and 20 ships serviced in transit however. back to me a new and greater Shipping looks to remain good Puerto Rico faith in my fellow man. All of us during the next two weeks. Oldtimers on the beach here admired, respected and appreciated include Charley Carey, Fernando On the beach here is Stan Beli, Captain John, but who among us possessed the courage displayed by who sails as a chief cook. Stan's Munoz, Julio Colon, Primo Fern­ last ship was the Columbia and he andez, Julio C. Ruiz and Isaac his deckhand? was forced to leave her when she Brown. A couple of Seafarers — laid up in Baltimore. Now he's Rafael Torres, Valentin Acabeo watching the board for a coast­ and Justo Velazquez — signed aboard the Alcoa ships that passed wise run. through last week. James Dimetrios is an ex-prize fighter who decided on a seagoing career. He's happy with his new life, and says he wouldn't change it for anything. Jim, who sails on Apr. 2, 1965 Vol. XXVIf, No. 7 Official Publication of the SIUNA deck, is waiting foi a Far East run. Del Mar Crew Wins Delta Line Safety Award SEAFARERS LOG Walter Minette, who sails in the blackgang, is also waiting for a Far East trip. Nemesio Qulnones, a 3rd cook, is watching the board for a South Africa-bound ship. Philadelphia Shipping has been fair in Phila­ delphia and is expected to remain that way into the coming period. During the last period there were four payoffs, one sign-on and nine ships serviced in transit. fl ; ;!i< \ 'd . _ _ A plaque citing the Del Mar (Delta Steamship Lines) and its SIU crew for an outstanding safety record during the past year was presented recently in New Orleans. At the presenta­ tion ceremonies were (l-r) Seafarers Al Fabrlcant, porter-printer; Jack Procell, bosun; Delta Line safety director Paul Pollatt; Delta port captain E. R. Seamen, who made the presenta­ tion; the Del Mar's Captain Kourian; and chief steward Vic Romolo. Charles W. Johnson has been watching the calls for an AB job on a coasthugger. Bay Riemer, who sails in the blackgang, is waiting for a coal run, preferably on the Commander due here next week. Fred Clopton is also waiting for a coal ship bound for Holland. Donate Giangiordano, a- union menaber since 1943, usually sails as a bosun, but this time out he's r V• 11 f. n-j (1 Atlantic, Gulf. Lakes & Inland Waterz District. AFL-CIO Executive Board PAUL HALL, President CAL TANNER EARL SHEPARD Exec. Vice-Prcs. Vice-President AL KERR LINDSEY WILLIAMS Sec.-Treas. Vice-President ROB. A. MATTHEWS AL TANNER Vice-President Vice-President HERBERT BRAND Director of Organizing and Publications Managing Editor: MIKE POLLACK; Asst. Editor: NATHAN SKVEH; Staff Writers: ROBERT ARONSON, ALVIN SCOTT, PETE CARMEN; Art Editor: BERNARD SEAMAN. Published biweekly at the headquarteri of the Seafarers international Union, At­ lantic, Gulf, Lakes and inland Water) District, AFL-CIO, iZS Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11232. Tel. HYacinlh 9-(600. Second class postage paid at tho Pott Office in Brooklyn, NY, under tho Act of Aug. 24, 1912. • ' K I if i �April t, U6S SEAFARERS First Pension Check LOG Pace Five Dockers Planning To Boycott Ships Trading With Viet Reds NEW YORK—^The International Longshoreman's Association has pledged to tie up foreign-flag freighters that have carried supplies to the Communist Viet Cong who are fighting the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government. Leaders of the ILA plan to boy­ cott these ships in every — — port from Maine to Texas. Greek-flag Spalmatori, called at subsidies to the American ship­ the port of Campha, North Viet ping industry . . . The figure Representative Paul C. Rog­ Nam after loading a cargo of rice Upon being approved for regular monthly $150 pension benefits recently, Seafarer Hemsley Guinier (right) dropped by New York headquarters to pick up his first check from headquarters rep Joe DeGeorge. Guinier last shipped aboard the Westfieid (Sea Land). By Frank Drozak, West Coast Representative San Jose Gives Scabs Heave-Ho The city of San Jose has followed the lead of San Francisco in sivine professional scabs the heave-ho. The City Council approved an ordi­ nance last week making it a misdemeanor for employers to hire on strikebreakers. Under the law, which passed the Council by a five to one vote, a strikebreaker is defined as anyone who has volunteered to work for a struck company on two or more occasions within a twoyear period. Only 11 states currently outlaw the use of professional scabs—Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, Louisiana, Rhode Island and Hawaii. With any luck, California will soon join the list. "Labor is supporting an anti-strikebreaking bill introduced last week in the state legislature. The measure is currently under study by the body's Industrial Relations Committee, and a hearing on it is yet to be set. Spurred to action by the San Francisco printers strike last year—where scabs were used in abundance—community leaders in California now seem determined to rid the state of the scab plague. San Francisco Shipping has been better than fair in the city by the Bay. During the last period the Summit and the Ames Victory were in to pay off, and the Overseas Rose, Mankato Victory, Iberville and Northwestern Victory signed on. In transits dur-4; ing the period were the Penmar, Kenmar, Penmar and Seamar. Whitey Lawis, who sails as an Steel Artisan, Geneva, Seamar, Elizabethport, Summit, and San electrician, gave up the soft life Juan. In addition, a few men went on the beach in San Francisco and up to Seattle, where shipping is stopped up here where the ship­ very good, to latch onto jobs on ping is good. He's ready to go with the first job on the board. grain ships. Crossing paths in the Pacific were AB B. E. Parady, who just shipped to Asia aboard the North­ western Victory, and W. O. Armann, a FWT, who just pulled in from the Far East and expects to rest up for a while. Wilmington In contrast to other Pacific ports, Wilmington shipping was slow in the last period. The Steel Artisan, Seamar, Calmar, Marymar and Los Angeles passed through in transit. The St. Lawrence laid up here on March 14, but is expected to crew up by the end of the month. The outlook is fair for the coming period, with seven ships due in transit. Freddy Magallanes had to pile off the Overseas Rose in Seattle after learning that his wife was seriously burned in an accident. All the men in the Wilmington Hall join in wishing Freddy's wife a speedy and full recovery! Seattle As noted above, shipping is very good in Seattle. "Tlie same can be said for the weather, which has been beautiful. Paying off in the last period were the Northwestern Victory, York, Cottonwood Creek, Steel Make.-, Hudson, Producer, Transhudson and Morning Light. In transits were the Anchorage, ers (D.-Fla.) has assisted the ILA boycott plan by compiling a list of vessels from Western na­ tions that have traded with North Viet Nam during the past year. The United States State Depart­ ment has accused the North Viet­ namese of directing the Viet Cong rebellion and aiding it with men, arms and supplies. Representative Rogers has re­ vealed the names of 15 foreignflag ships that have called at U.S. ports last year after trading with North Viet Nam. The names of these ships and others engaged in trade with the Hanoi government wiii be posted in offices of ILA locals on the East and Gulf coasts where Longshoremen can keep a watchful eye to see if one of them tries to quietly slip into port. 200 Allied Ships The list of ships to be boycotted will undoubtedly spiral upward since Congressman Rogers has re­ ported that 200 ships flying the flags of nations friendly to the U.S. have carried cargoes to and from North Viet Nam. The West­ ern countries carrying on a major share of North Vietnamese trade include Japan, Britain, France, Belgium, West Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The six Euro­ pean nations are all members of NATO. A check of the 15 vessels that Representative Rogers reported as having called at U.S. ports after transpprting cargoes to and from North Viet Nam shows that over half fly flags of countries that are prominent havens for runaway ship operators. Panama alone ac­ counts for the registry of seven of the ships trading with the Red Viet Cong. Dockworkers got their boycntt of ships carrying supplies for the Viet Cong off to a good start in early March when they tied up the Panamanian-flag Severn River in New York. Another ship, the in Lake Charles, La., according to Representative Rogers. Proposed Bill The Florida congressman has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives as the first effort to cut the yiet Cong supply line and strengthen the American ship­ ping Industry. The proposed bill, HR 6154, would halt shipments to and from the U.S. aboard vessels engaged in trade with North Viet Nam. Urging the House to act quickly on his bill, Rogers said, "The U.S. Government has spent some $350 million in the past year in direct should be much greater than 10 percent, and the least the Govern­ ment can do is deny American car­ goes to foreign shippers trading with the enemy." The U.S. State Department has made no formal effort to date to restrict trade by our allies with the Hanoi government by estab­ lishing a ship blacklist. Several of our European allies and Japan have resisted U.S. suggestions that they impose restrictions on their trade with Red Asian nations. However, these countries have said they will agree not to trade in a special list of strategic goods with Communist countries in Southeast Asia. Great Lakes Ports Expecting Big Year DETROIT—Traffic on the Great Lakes and the St. Law­ rence Seaway, which set new across-the-board tonnage rec­ ords during the 1964 season, is expected to be even better this year. Ports from Duluth to the creased export orders for grains mouth of the St. Lawrence and edible and non-edible oils re­ have lined up an encouraging number of ship bookings, and ves­ sels will be getting underway just as soon as ice conditions permit. Some Seaway facilities are already open and others will follow suit by April 15. ported. Import calls for steel— mainly from European and Far Eastern sources—are also up 4his year. Total tonnage on the Seaway during 1964 was 39.3 million tons, including 3.7 million tons of gen­ eral cargo, making it the best year Many ports have used the win­ ter layover to improve and expand in history. Optimists on the Lakes now predicting a 45-miIlioncargo handling facilities. Buffalo, are ton year. for example, is rushing completion Meanwhile, Congress is consid­ of the 83,000 square foot dock able to accommodate more ships. De­ ering authorizing a study of the troit has a new processing ter­ chances of keeping the Great minal and warehouse area capable Lakes open to year-round ship traffic. The bill proposing the of accommodating three, ships. study, sponsored by Senator Wil­ Toledo will have a new 600-foot liam Proxmire (D.-Wis.K is vir­ berth in , operation by June, and tually certain of approval, its au­ Cleveland is in the process of thor predicted. opening new transit sheds. The The study, to cost $50,000 over new loading facilities will allow a two-year period, will be included the ports to better handle the inin the omnibus rivers and harbors bill now being prepared by the Senate Public Works Coinmittee. This practically insures that my bill will pass both houses," Prox­ mire said. "If the Great Lakes ports can be kept open for even an addi­ tional few weeks, it would be a great economic boon for the Great Lakes shipping industry, Prox­ mire added. He said a lengthen­ ing of the shipping season could mean millions of dollars'" for Lakes ports. Proxmire noted that consider­ able information was already available on de-icing harbors and waterways and could be used, when properly assessed to end forever the "four-month ice block­ ade" on the Lakes. Maritime Trades Council Meeting in Boston Union Has Cable Address At a recent luncheon sponsored by the Boston Maritime Trades Council, delegates heard Massachusetts Governor John A. Yolpe outline a proposed new tax program to help meet the state's growing educational needs. Participating in the meeting were (l-r) SlU safety director Joe Algina, International Longshoremen's Association business agent Matthew Bento, Governor Voipe, and John F. Beirne, president of Local 5, Masters, Mates and Pilots. Seafarers overseas who want to get in touch with headquar­ ters in a hurry can do so by cabling the Union at its cable address, SEAFARERS NEW YORK. Use of this address as­ sures speedy transmission on all messages and faster service for the men involved. •M �SEAFARERS Pace Sis April t, INS LOG {Figures On This Page Cover Deep Sea Shipping Only in the SIU Atlantic Gulf Lakes and Inland Waters District) February 13 - March 26 more than offset a slight decline in Wilmington. Shipping continued to improve during the last two A breakdown of jobs by department showed a strong weeks, as more vessels came out of lay up caused by the demand for deck department personnel, while calls for ILA strike and began to take on crews. A total of 1,734 Seafarers in the other two departments remained normal. Seafarers were shipped, compared with 1,573 shipped Registration continued to pick up, rising to 1,285, com­ during the previous two weeks. pared with 1,197 in the prior two weeks. The number of Shipping on the East Coast was brisk, especially in Seafarers registered and on the beach at the end of the New York, where jobs moved at a fast pace. Boston period, however, continued its sharp decline to 3,125 shipping remained steady while slight decreases in the this period, contrasted to 4,567 in the period before. number of jobs occurred in Philadelphia, Baltimore, With jobs going over the counter at a rapid pace in the Norfolk and Jacksonville, Shipping was booming in the Gulf, the seniority situation was radically changed, with Gulf, as the last of the dockworkers went back to work only 40 percent of the jobs going to A Book members and the congested harbors began to clear. Houston job compared to 59 percent in the previous two weeks. Taking calls were excellent, with more than twice as many jobs advantage of the situation, C Cards shipping comprised shipped as normal; Mobile shipping calls were almost 27 percent of the total, while B Books accounted for 32 twice the number during the last period; and the job "percent, the same share as in the previous period. situation in Tampa was also brisk. Shippiftg dropped off Shipping activity remained almost stationary, with 53 slightly in New Orleans, although job calls remained above normal. Shipping on the West Coast was improved payoffs, 48 sign-ons and 135 in transit visits, compared ^his period with both San Francisco and Seattle showing with 53 payoffs, 43 sign-ons and 131 in transits in the a sharp upturn in the number of jobs available, which prior period. Ship Acfivify Pay Siga la Off! Oat Troat. TOTAL lottM 2 N®w York .... 19 PliiladolpMa.. 4 loltimoro .... 7 Norfolk ..... 0 JacktoRvlllo . . 2 0 Tompo Mebllo 4 Now Orleoni.. 3 Houftoii ..... 1 Wilminqteo .. 0 Soo Fronelico. 2 Sootflo ...... 9 0 9 2 5 0 1 1 2 8 8 0 '4 8 2 20 8 12 5 12 8 6 13 33 5 7 4 4 48 14 24 5 15 9 12 24 42 5 13 21 TOTALS ... 53 48 138 234 DECK DEPARTMENT Registered CLASS A Port Boston New York Philadelphia "litimore Norfolk .Incksonville Tampa I'^obile New Orleans Houston Wilmington Francisco Seattle TOTALS GROUP 1 2 1 2 16 24 6 16 11 18 5 2 3 2 1 1 11 9 33 37 48 18 5 1 16 2 5 9 110 192 Registered CLASS B Shipped CLASS A Shipped CLASS B Shipped CLASS C GROUP GROUP GROUP. 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 15 55 3 20 14 63 3 7 10 38 11 22 11 36 2 24 0 5 10 15 4 13 1 7 2 4 7 12 4 . 33 1 15; 12 37 6 10 16 2 12 21 4 32 7 0 0 3 0 6 1 3 8 1 4 3 3 4 5 2 0 3 6 11 3 0 0 3 1 2 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 4 7 12 1 0 2 3 5 1 23 1 3 8 8 17 7 20 28 1 3 12 .16 1 77 1 7 15 18 24 20 32 7 61 3 36 45 22 73 1 7 52 16 12 98 4 28 22 29 : 37 9 54 7 0 1 3 0 1 0 4• 0 3 3 1 2i 1 23 0 5 5 15 6 4 2 19 0 2 8 9 2 20 0 6 13 30 2 15 8 25 11 10 21 8 9 50 1 352 10 84 96 1 190 117 214 46 1 377 22 114 104 I1 240 sl GROUP 1 2 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 1 0 0 1 33 0 2 0 1 0 3 2 51 TOTAL Shipped CLASS 3 ALL A B 0 0i 3 0 10 63 36 4 2 12 2 13 0 37 0 32 0 0 6 8 1 5 2 3 0 5 12 5 0 1 28 16 0 0 61 36 47 98 13 54 3 5 4 3 4 5 19 8 8 30 5 25 32 1 85 377 240 Registered On The Beach CLASS A CLASS B GROUP GROUP C ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 0 3 5 13 1 19 1 3 5 9 10 109.113 140 37 290 8 34 62 104 2 271 17 24 5 46 0 3 15 18 0 69; 45 56 5 106 1 17 29 47 0 14 9 12 2 23 1 5 9 15 10 4 2 7 1 12 2 4 15 9 5 22| 6 9 2 17 2 3 6 11 45 35 1 33 7 75 2 10 24 36 0 97 96 76 12 184 1 55 71 127 47 199 76 85 26 187 6 37 37 80 5 12 14 16 3 33 2 6 5 13 32 19 5 20 2 41 3 10 7 20 8 63 17 _15 3 35 0 9 10 19 85 1 702 456 506 106 !1068 29 196 289 1 574 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Registered CLASS A Port Joston New York Philadelphia Baitimore Norfolk .Tncksonville Tampa Mobile "^'ow Orleans Houston Wilmington Pan Francisco •^Seattle Shipped CLASS A GROUP GROUP 3 ALL 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 12 47 15 12 4 7 5 0 12 2 5 13 5 0 9 4 15 5 0 2 1 3 1 6 3 3 2 2 2 0 0 1 6 0 0 14 16 1 6 9 1 32 23 7 11 11 1 63 25 11 39 11 3 3 0 3 0 1 2 8 2 6 10 5 2 14 10 2 131 1 1 215 91 63 ! 169 49 25 1 266 15 3 ALL 0 2 41 1 16 4 2 11 0 4 0 10 0 1 18 2 48 4 72 8 10 1 3 20 0 13 Shipped CLASS B GROUP 3 ALL 1 2 0 0 0 0 62 2 3 5 0 7 1 4 0 20 0 6 1 7 1 3 0 6 1 2 0 2 9 0 17 0 6 2 21 3 42 1 4 78 4 41 0 3 1 1 6 6 19 4 17 0 11 2 23 1 287 ' 15 106 Shipped CLASS C 3 ALL 1 i 16 9 6 11 15 9 4 8 0 3 1 1 12 18 31 9 20 65 2 4 6 16 8 19 87 208 GROUP 1 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 5 1 1 2 10 0 2 0 1 0 3 3 34 TOTAL Shipped Registered On The Beach CLASS A CLASS B CLASS GROUP GROUP 3 ALL A B C ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 0 01 0 0 1 1 1 4 1 6 0 3 2 5 3 7 62 16 7 85 56 118 14 188 12 52 67 131 1 1 7 11 1 19 5 31 5 41 0 8 17 9 5 7 20 15 7 42 12 52 7 71 1 11 19 31 0 1 7 8 1 16 4 13 0 17 0 2 10 12 3 5 6 3 5 14 1 5 0 6 1 8 13 4 0 3 9 1 3 13 5 11 0 16 0 3 6 9 6 17 1 18 6 41 13 21 5 39 1 18 18 37 1 3 42 31 3 76 37 77 12 126 8 61 55 124 2 14 78 65 14 157 33 _ 87 11 131 11 51 56 118 1 3 3 4 3 10 4 16 3 23 2 7 5 14 0 1 19 16 1 36 5 20 2 27 2 7 3 12 5 17 2 19 5 41 4 13 1 18 3 6 2 11 19 1 56 208 56 1 551 180 468 61 1 709 i 41 238 255 [534 00 TOTALS GROUP 2 1 1 1 10 30 1 11 1 8 1 3 4 6 0 1 12 4 34 10 10 54 8 1 5 12 2 11 ~60 191 CLASS B Registered STEWARD DEPARTMENT Registered CLASS B Registered CLASS A Pol# Bos NY Phil ilai Nor .'ac Tam Mob NO Hou Wil SF Sea TOTALS 1-s 0 6 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 5 1 2 1 24 Shipped CLASS B Shipped CLASS A Shipped > CLASS C GROUP GROUP GROUP GROUP 2 3 ALL 3 ALL 1 1 2 3 ALL 1 1 2 3 ALL 1-s 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 8 2 15 5 15 44 5 11 37j 2 10 4 8 18 0 8 14 2 6 8 10 1 3 0 1 5 5 2 0 8 9 2 12i 0 17 1 14 7 1 5 14 1 7 3 6 1 4 6, 0 16j 2 81 1 0 4 5 3 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 0 4 5; 1 2< 1 1 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 2 3 0 1 1 0 3 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 o; 0 2 1 2 0 0 9 10 5 0 5 6 1 0 4 2 12 1 1 3 4 1 40 1 0 30 31 3 17 34 a 39 4 14 5 17 10 2 34 30 9 8 25 34 7 14 42, 2 16 7 21 11 23 27 70i 1 0 0 o; 0 0 1 2 4 3 4 0 0 11 2 0 1 18 0 2 7 4 2 5 3 8 9i 4 2 5 0 T 3 5 12 3 11 1 28 2 3 4 0 10 3 4 12 9 9 255 15 21 120 1 156 59 27 75 j1 185 12 13 98 1i 123 27 75 52 101 1 1 ^ -"i TOTAL Shipped GROUP CLASS 1 2 3 ALL A B C ALL 1-s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 8 8 44 15 8 67; 35 0 0 3 3 12 8 3 23 6 0 0 0 0 16 17 0 33 14 0 0 2 2 8 5 2 15, 5 0 0 3 3 2 4 3 9, 0 0 0 3 3 5 3 3 111 2 0 1 3 4 12 10 4 26 11 0 2 3 5 40 31 5 70 17 0 1 39 31 70 34 31 135 15 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 5 0 0 4 4 18 9 4 31 6 0 0 6 _6 28 19 6 53 2 0 4 66 1 70 255 156 "701 481 119 " Registered On The Beach CLASS A CLASS B GROUP RROUP 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 3 2 3 9 0 0 3 3 63 40 69 207 9 14 36 59 7 4 26 0 9 0 13 13 26 15 25 80 4 37 2 31 4 5 3 17 2 0 10 12 3 2 0 5 2 0 .2 4 6 3 5 16 0 2 3 5 16 11 19 57 1 0 14 15 42 21 76 156 8 4 96 108 44 23 33 115 7 12 33 52 7 7 9 28 3 1 8 12 11 .6 10 33 0 0 8 8 6 5 8 21 2 0 13 15 238 144 269 1 770 38 35 270 1 343 SUMMARY DECK ENGINE STEWARD GRAND TOTALS Registered CLASS A GROUP 1 2 3 ALL 110 192 50 I 352 50 191" 25 I 266 "83 27 75 ['185 213 410 150 i 803 Registered SHIPPED CLASS B CLASS A GROUP GROUP 123 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 10 84 96 190117 214 46 3771 15 91 63 169 49 215 23 287. 12 13 98 I 123,102 52 101 255 SHIPPED CLASS B GROUP 1 2 S ALL SHIPPED TOTAL Registered On The Beach CLASS C SHIPPED CLASS A CLASS B GROUP CLASS GROUP GROUP 1 2 3 ALL A B C ALL 1 2 3 ALL 1 2 3 ALL 22_ 114 104J 2401 2 51 32 85 377 240 85 702 456 506 106 11068'^^ 196 289 I 514 15^106 87|208 3 34 19 56 287_ "208j 56 551 180] 468 61 I 709 41 238 255 I 534 15 21 120 1156 0 4 66 70,255 156 70" 481 357 144 269 I 770 38" 35 270 I 343 37 188 257 | 482 268 481 170 j 91;9 52 241 311 |604 5 89 117 I 211919 604 211 [1734 993 1118 436 [2547 i08 469 814~[1391 �AfrOa^lMi SEAFARERS • - . •-i" -• -• Sevw LOG Five More SlU Veterans Approved For Pensions ^ ly Al K«rr. Sccrttary-Treosurtr Pension Benefits Under Discussion The Seafarers Welfare Plan has approved the addition of five more names to the growing list of Seafarers receiving $150 monthly pensions after lifetimes of sailing. All five are veterans of the SIU Atlantic and Gulf District. Based on some ot the past articles that have been carried In the SEAFARERS LOG relative to various SlU benefits .tend welfare prorrams, We have received questions concerning the various items provided for onr oldtimers and pensioners. The new pensioners are department. A native of Pennsyl­ now makes his home in Mobile, Sheldon Butler, 63; Ricardo vania, Denddo retired to his home Ala., with his wife, Susie. He Armesto, 69; Anthony Dend- in Newark, N.J., after taking his sailed last, aboard the Claireborne. Under our welfare and pension programs, there are two types of pensions available. One is a normal pension for Seafarers 65 years of age or older, who have 15 or more years of seatime, with 90 days of seatime in the past calendar year 4 and one day of seatime in the six- as complete medical, hospital and month period immediately preced­ surgical benefits paid in full for ing the date of application. themselves, in addition to hospital Those meeting the requirements and surgical benefits for their receive a pension of $150 per dependents. month, plus complete medical, Under the rules for both of these hospital and surgical benefits paid pensions, if a man Is able to secure in full for themselves. Their de­ part-time work, he can earn up to pendents receive hospital and but not in excess of $1,200 per surgical benefits according to the year without forfeiting his pension. dependents' benefits schedule of However, If he exceeds the $1,200the Seafarers Welfare Plan. limit, he is then removed from The other type of pension pro­ the pension list. Another require­ vided by our Plan is a Disability ment under the rules is that in Pension, for which the require­ order to continue receiving this ments are 12 years of seatime, 90 benefit from year to year, a pen­ days of covered employment dur­ sioner is required to take a physi­ ing the calendar year preceding cal examination once a year to the date of application, at least determine if he Is still eligible. one day of seatime during the sixPensioners who have qualified month period immediately prior as above are also entitled to death to the application date, and benefits of up to $4,000. The medical certification that the ap­ amount of the death benefit is plicant is permanently and totally determined as follows: If the disabled, or unemployable. beneficiary designated under the Those meeting these require­ SWP and/or Seafarers Pension ments are entitled to a Disability Plan is a surviving blood relative, Pension of $150 per month, as well then the benefit shall be $4,000. ANNER reef is a mile-and-a-half long killer standing in open water southwest of Jamaica. At no point B does the reef come within four feet of the surface. It is a hidden killer—cloaked by the sea—with only the white water caused by the constant breaking of wind-driven swells to betray its presence. Banner Reef has claimed many ships. The sand and silt surrounding the reef is a graveyard of ships from many times and many place. Brass and twisted steel from ships which fioundered only recently lies side by side with the rotting timbers of Spanish Gal­ leons. Soon this underwater gi-aveyard will receive its latest corpse—^for stuck firmly on a rocky ledge right now is a modern freighter. Gradually, the sea will take the vessel apart and strew Its pieces helter-skelter among the accumulations of the last four centuries. And un­ doubtedly, there will.be more added in the future. Such a spot—where the wreckage of four centuries of shipping lies in one relatively small area—is bound to draw wreck explorers, treasure hunters, salvage seekers, and the just-plain-curious, in droves. But not all who like to visit and explore the place are venturesome enough to go—for it is a dangerous area where the would-be wreck explorer is likely to have the wreckage of his own vessel scattered alongside the bones of the wreck he came to explore—with his own bones possibly beside that. A Wild Place Banner Reef is a wild place where many of the laws of nature seem to have been revoked, or at least sus­ pended temporarily. For instance, there are sometimes two tides a day—but sometimes there is only one— brought about by some eccentric movement of the moon. Charts exist for determining when this phenomena is due, but they so resemble the demented scribbling of a mad scientist that few mariners have ever seriously tried to figure them out. Navigation charts claim a constant oneknot current running from the windward side of the reef to the lee side. Divers however report sudden changes in the direction of the current which would have washed them completely pff the reef had they hot grabbed a solid piece of wreckage and hung on. Many explorers have visited the reef. They like to think of themselves as underwater archeologists, but sel­ dom are. Mostly they are wreck explorers or treasure hunters—whose "scientific" interests goes no further than the "kicks" they get out of inspecting an old wreck or do, 65; Matheas J. Oswald, 61; and George E. Rouse, 59. Butler signed on with the SIU in the port of Tampa, bringing with him over six years of sailing experience. A veteran of the steward departm e n t, Butler spent most of his years sailing as night cook and baker. A native of Florida, he presently makes his home in Jacksonville, with his wife Burier Henni. He sailed last on the Del Aires. Armesto joined the SIU when it was founded, and continued to sail in the engine department. He sailed as FWT on his last trip-which was aboard the Robin Locksley. He makes his home in New York City. Denddo retired last month with many years of experience as an American seaman, of which 22 were spent sailing on SIU ships. Although he sailed mostly in the steward department, he also spent some time sailing in the engine last trip aboard the Bienville. Rouse joined the SIU in New Oswald joined the SIU In Orleans, after having served for Mobile, and sailed for more than 24 years in the engine department. Oswald was sailing in the deck department when he retired last month. A native of Australia, he S/T Manhattan Hauls Record Oil Cargo GLASGOW, ScoUand — The SlU-manned supertanker Man­ hattan (Hudson Waterways) set another record recently when she delivered the larg­ est cargo of any kind ever brought to Great Britain. The huge tanker brought 103,537 tons of Persian Gulf crude oil from Kharg Island to the Scottish port of Finnart. The shipment was also the largest ever ordered by the British Petroleum Corpora­ tion. The three-year-old Man­ hattan, which displaces 108,590 tons, is one of the largest ships in the SlU-contracted fleet. the profit they hope to make by finding valuable objects. The most devoted of these men, however, face the dangers of the sea, the weather, shifting politics and all the other hazards which beset a man working outside of his natural element, to return year after year to the same spot—a thirty-foot-deep hole scooped out of the top of the reef which is thought to contain treasure—Spanish gold. Does the ship in the hole contain a cargo of treasure— or the worthless junk of a cheap souvenir shop? Does the hole contain tlie remains of one ship or two? What is the age and name of the ship, or ships, in the hole? Six ma­ jor expeditions have been organized to explore the wreck­ age in the last four years at an estimated cost of over $110,000—yet the questions remain unanswered—and only objects of little more than historical'interest have been brought up. There are other wrecks in the Caribbean, where the presence of treasure is more certain. But few can match the mystery and fascination of the ship (or ships) in the hole. To satisfy this fascination, men face the dangers of foul weather, heavy seas, tricky tides, motor failure, dragging anchors, sickness, injury and swamping. Two Recent Expeditions Descriptions of two recent expeditions to the reef dem­ onstrate just what can happen when things go wrong. One searcher set out _from Florida with a four-man crew in a 110-foot sailing vessel equipped with auxiliary power. At Jamaica the crew quit, for their own reasons, and the organizer of the search—^hooked on the idea of Spanish treasure—decided to push on alone. Reaching a small Caribbean island, he managed to hire a navigator of dubious accomplishments, and put to sea once more. After one day out heavy seas began pitching the small vessel about violently and the organizer was thrown across the deck. With three broken ribs the voyage con­ tinued until the navigator managed to run the vessel aground on a small reef. They managed to back off the reef, but the boat was by this time taking so much water that the Coast Guard was called to air-drop emergency pumping gear, with the aid of which they managed to make it all the way back to Florida—^where the emer­ gency gear jJTomptly exploded and burned the vessel to the waterline. Yet, despite personal injuries and loss of his boat, the searcher plans to return to the hole as soon as he can get the necessary equipment together again. On another recent voyage to the wreck which set out from Port Everglades, Florida, the helmsman, while Armesto Denddo 3 years in the Army during the Second World War. He sailed as an AB until his re­ tirement last month. A native of Oswald Rouse Missouri, Rouse now makes his home in New Orleans. He sailed last aboard the Cathy. running in 25-foot seas, took bearing off a false light and ran into a reef on the north coast of Cuba. The boat went down in less than 10 minutes. Swimming for shore through the rough seas, one of the crewmen was bitten by a shark. Reaching shore safely, they were all taken into custody by Cuban militiamen who, thinking them gun-runners, wanted to shoot them on the spot. For­ tunately the execution was delayed until Cuban \livers could go down and inspect their vessel in the shallow water where it lay and verified their story that they carried only salvage equipment. The whole incident proved the point, however, that treasure hunting on Ban­ ner Reef is fraught with many and varied dangers. Has any treasure actually been found in the hole. The answer to this is yes—but not much. Back in 1901 Caribben islanders scrounging for brass brought oip about $6,000 in gold bars and coins—and that's it. Others have brought up old cannons and shot (which experts have declared are of too small a caliber to indicate that they came from a tresure ship—which were usully heavi­ ly armed), ivory combs, religious medals, knives, etc. All of this was obviously made in the old world (Spain) and was bound for the new world when the ship went down. So she certainly would not be carrying treasure back to Spain. What Keeps Them Going? But the search goes on because of a theory which may be little more than wishful thinking. Since much of what is found in the hole is battered and bent—indicating that the ship went down during a violent storm—other and mucli more fragile objects are often found intact and unbroken. To explain this, a theory has sprung up that two ships may lie in the hole—and if one contains no treasure perhaps the other does. This is the thin hope which keeps men coming back year after year. The second ship which they want to believe lies in the hole in the Nuestra Senora del Carmen, a capital ship which sailed for Spain in 1730 with a cargo of $3 million in gold and silver. Old records, which the Spanish kept 'meticulously, indicate the Senora dei Carmen floundered on Banner Reef during a storm. No matter how slim hopes are for finding treasure, the search will continue. In a world where science is continually explaining mysteries away in cold, scientif c terminology, mystery alone represents a valuable tre.a ure because mystery keeps men young. A world witho t mysteries will be an.old and boring world barely woivli preserving. �Page Eight SEAFARERS April I, 1805 LOG House Committee Okays Expanded Medicare Plan By Al Tanner, Vice President WASHINGTON — An expanded version of the Administration's program of health care and Fred Farnen, Secretary-Treasurer, Great Lakes for the aged (Medicare) has been approved by the House Ways and Means Committee. In addition to the basic hospital and nursing-care benefits proposed by the Administration, the Fight To Save PHS Hospital Continuing bill also provides for a volun--*^ Chicago SIU representatives along with other maritime union rep­ tary insurance plan covering be available to those 65 or older All services ordinarily furnished resentatives have called meetings with U.S. Public Health Service who enroU In a voluntary insur­ by a hospital for its in-patients doctors' fee. officials in the Chicago area. Several meetings on the matter of the ance plan devised by the House except doctor's fees would be cov­ Included in the bill is a 7 per­ cent increase in cash benefits under the present Social Security program and liberalization of other features of the program. In total, the committee provided even more benefits than the Ad­ ministration had asked for. In a statement issued at the White House. Pre-ident Johnson solidly endorsed the committeerevised Medicare bill as "a tre­ mendous step forward for all of our senior citizens." "The committee's action," the President said, "is an historic one —the first time that a House com­ mittee has acted favorably on a medical insurance bill for all of our older citizens." Vote On Party Lines committee. Those wishing to par­ ticipate in this additional program would pay premiums of $3 a month, which the Federal Government would match. Basic benefits, financed under Social Security, would include up to 60 days of hospital care for each period of illness, for which the patient would pay the first $40. 'Eldercare' Sponsor Raps AMA Tactics The vote approving the bill WASHINGTON—The American within the committee was 17 to Medical Association has again 8—and along straight party lines overplajied its hand in its desper­ with the Democrats voting for the ate last-ditch battle against mediAmericans. indicated however, that they might The AMA's high-ipressure press support the measure in the end. agents got so carried away in their praise for their own substitute but The solid vote of the committee for the Medicare bill is even more inferior "Eldercare" proposal that "Eldercare's" legislation sponsor impressive because it came at a time of increased agitation by the was forced to denounce the AMA's powerful and well-heeled AMA Representative A. S. Herlong against Medicare and for its own phony "Eldercare" proposal. The (D-Fla.), sponsor of "Eldercare" in doctors' lobby has set aside vast the House, said the AMA had funds for their last ditch fight mounted "a misleading advertising against Medicare passage and are campaign" to push the measure determined to spend every cent and that it was "overselling" itself. available to block the final passage What rankled Herlong was state­ of the measure. ments by AMA leaders like Dr. The AFL-CIO has long recog­ Donovan F. Ward, who testified nized the importance of Medicare j before Congress recently. Ward legislation for our older c;t.'zers, i claimed that the "Eldercare" bill who have been increasingly in-! "could provide more benefits for capable in recent years of meeting persons over 65 who need health the skyrocketing cost of hospital care and cannot pay for it . . . than and medical treatment. The AFL- gny other measure pending before CIO has been in the forefront of ^ congress." the fight for this much-neefled AMA Inflated Claims legislation and has pledged to con­ Additionally, the AMA has made tinue the fight until final passage similarly inflated claims about is achieved. "Eldercare" in spot commercials Passage Seems Certain on television and radio and in As things stand now. House pass­ newspaper and magazine ads. The age of Medicare seems certain, doctors' group is said to have spent probably in early April. As soon ! $2 million fighting medicare. as the House has acted the Senate Congressman Herlong said the Finance Committee plans to start AMA ads said that "Eldercare" hearings on the measure. would provide "complete coverage for all those who need aid" and Under the present bill, the basic would "pay 100 percent of all ex­ hospital and nursing benefits would be financed by a small in­ penses." Actually a warmed-over crease in Social Security taxes and version of the present deficient would be available to all persons Kerr-Mills Act, "Eldercare" would 65 or over. Coverage for doctors' depend on the amount of backing fees and additional benefits would each individual state was prepared to give it. "Eldercare," like Kerr-Mills, also forces prospective recipients to take a degrading pauper's oath be­ fore they can become eligible. Benefits under "Eldercare" would Headquarters again wishes to vary from state to state, with the remind all Seafarers that pay­ poorest states where the need is ments o*' funds, for whatever greatest offering the least. This has been the pattern of Kerr-Mills. Union purpose, be made only "Medicare," the name given to to authorized SIU representa­ the King-Anderson bill, would pro­ tives and that an official Union vide equal services for all. It would icceipt be gotten at that time. be run through the Social Security If no receipt is offered be sure system with each American em­ to protect yourself by imm^. i- ployer and employee sharing in tely bringing the matter to the the cost as they now do under So­ cial Security. No pauper's oath is attention of the President's required, allowing older Ameri­ office., , cans to ke^ep tjic, dignity they so richly .deserveJ ered. From 20 to 100 days of posthospital care in approved nursing homes and up to 100 home-nursing visits also would be allowed for each period of illness. A period of illness, under the bill, would cov­ er a span beginning when the pa­ tient entered a hospital or nursingcare faoiility and ending 60 days after his discharge. Out-patient hospital diagnosis services would also be provided as a basic benefit, with the patient paying $20 of the cost of each diag­ nostic study. The $20 payment would be credited to his account, however, if he subsequently was admitted to the same hospital. Voluntary Section The voluntary portion of the proposal, designed to supplement the basic benefits above, would cover various health services in addition to doctor's fees. The in­ sured would pay $50 of their costs each year. The insurance plan would pay 80 per cent of the an­ nual costs over $50 and the in­ sured would pay 20 per cent. The coverage would include: • Physicians' services, including surgeiy, whether performed in a hospital, clinic, office or home. • Care for 60 days in a mental hospital for each period of illness, up to a lifetime maximum of 180 days. (Mental-ihospital care is not provided by the Social Security part of the legislation.) • Up to 100 home nursing visits each year in addition to those al­ lowed under the Social Security provisions. • Specified • health services, whether provided in or out of a medical institution, including many X-r,ay and laboratory tests and treatments. closing of the Chicago Hospital have been held with Mayor Daley of Chicago. Every effort is being made to postpone the closing date for the Chicago Hospital. Detroit Glenn H. Cnmmings, Great Lakes District No. 4874, old time Seafarer who originally joined the Great Lakes District in 1947, received his first pension check on March 23rd. Brother Cummings sailed for many years as a wheelsman for Wyandotte Transportation Company. Cummings' last three years on Lake boats were spent as porter. Brother Cummings started sailing originally in 1926 for the old Great Lakes fleet as a deckhand aboard the Steamer Norway. Anticipated Shortage of Firemen and AB's for the 1965 Season All men having the necessary sailing time to take their Fireman's test are urged to do so. This also applies to deckhands that have the necessary time to take their AB's test. Any brothers intending to obtain additional Coast Guard endorsements are advised that informa­ tional data for preparing for the-f AB and Fireman test Is avaalable Duluth through the Detroit Hall, Jack Shipping has not started yet in Bluitt. the Port of Duluth. There has been a little winter work on the Piatt Lakes District Agreement which is laid up in Duluth. They The Agreement between the SIU- are supposed to finish up this GLD and tlie Great Lakes Asso- week. ciatdon of Marine Operators will Al Colallilo is running for City be opened May 15th. Various con­ tract proposals are coming in from Councilman. He won the primary the few ships that are already election, and the general election operating. All brothers are in­ will be coming up April eth. We structed to submit their contract urge all eligible voters in this area proposals to the attention of the to get out and vote. Brother Kenny Contract Negotiating Committee, Lund has been assisting the Port 10225 West Jefferson, River Rouge, Agent, J. R. Hall, with school Michigan. Notice will be sent to trainees. He has been instructing the contracted companies in ac­ in the Stewards Department, giv­ cordance with the 6(Niay clause in ing them helpful hints on Galley procedure. the contracts. Our blood bank is starting to Fit-Out 1965 build up again here in the Port of Certification was received from Duluth. All members are urged to the NLRB declaring Local 10, donate. TSAW of the SIUNA as the official Frankfort bargaining agent for all Checker Part of the Stewards Department Cab drivers. In the very near fu­ ture, meetings will be scheduled has been called to report to the with Checker Cab Company for MV Viking. The rest of the crew the purpose of negotiating a con­ is expected to be called for March tract. TSAW organizers are in the 29th. Due to the ice conditions in field gathering pledge cards from Lake Superior, it is not likely that several other major Detroit cab the MV Viking will be down here companies. (Continued on page 23) SIU-IBU GLT&D Tallying Committee Be Sure To Get Dues Receipts Tallying Committee for recently completed election of Regional Officers of the IBU Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Region includes (seated, l-r): Winston Sullins, Sam Streighf, James Duvall, Roddle MacDonaid, Merle Dickens and Leo Alexonder. Observing the committee in action are (standing, l-r): Tom Gerrity, Dick Tillmon, Leslie Willord and Art Miller, repre- Renting the ports of.'Cleveland, Detroit, Toledb and Buffalo respectively. �Affril f; IKS SEAFARERS LOG PKe Nlaff SEAFABEBS POBTS OP THE WOBUJ GKOK sSgSsteSte ••:: The citizens of Bangkok, a city called the Venice of Asia, live, work and play on the water. The SlU-manned Steel Apprentice makes regular calls et Bangkok. The Bangkok waterfront doubles as a "sail-in" shopping center. An ancient fenriple. and. a modern,power plant prQvide> contrait fo,r a Seafarer's loni.^ ' Bahglcolc offers an interesting cbmbfna'tion of old and new ways of (Tfe. Bangkok, a city called the "Venice of Asia," is the chief port and capitol of the exotic nation of Thailand. It lies on the Gulf of Siam in the heart of troubled Southeast Asia. The nation forms part of the great Asian "rice bowl," and that vital export accounts for much of Bangkok's ocean commerce. American-flag ships of the SlU-contracted Waterman and Isthmian Lines are regular visitors to Bangkok, as are many SlU-manned tramps and tankers. The Thais are a gentle, hospitable people, and the Seafarer ashore can be sure of finding a friendly reception. Ocean ships usually dock in the south part of the city in the Klong Toev district. A well-equipped Mariners' Club just outside the dock gates has a money-changing service, shop, swimming pool, billiard room, bar and library. The heart of Bangkok is two or three miles away from the port area. The reliable cabs into town are usually those with yellow license plates. The downtown area is bisected by the Bangkok River. The busy life on the river and the canals of Bangkok led to the city being called the "Venice of Asia." One of Bangkok's better hotels, the Oriental, is on the river at Suriwong Road. The Bamboo Bar" in the air-condi­ tioned hotel is considered one of the best watering places in town. New Road, which crosses Suriwong Road, is a prin­ cipal shopping center. The street also contains many night­ spots. The Golden Dragon offers top Chinese dishes and Nick's No. 1 Hungarian Inn makes a specialty of steaks. The famed floating market of Bangkok, where merchants hawk their wares from the decks of river craft, is well worth a visit. The market, which lies north of the Suriwong Road area, offers good buys in the handicrafts of Thailand— especially gold and silver pieces. A favorite weekend past-time in Bangkok is watching the uninhibited freestyle boxing contests held at Rajadamnern and Lumpini Stadiums. The boxers use their elbows and feet freely and with sharp effect. Western-style boxing matches tend to look tame alongside their Siamese counter­ parts. The other main attractions in Bangkok are the fine array of gold-roofed temples and palaces. The Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn is one of the most spectacular. The beautiful Chaki Palace is the home of Thailand's royal family. It is considered the polite thing in Bangkok to speak in low tones, keep smiling, and take your shoes off when enter­ ing a house or temple. The Chaki Palace, above, is the traditional home of Thai­ land's modbi-n-itiinded King and Queen. . • a !ir e 7 d iy g t t. d r a e �(i page ten SEAFARERS Matson Offers S.F.LA. Passenger Run April », 1S6S LOG QUESTION: What is the most By Robert A. Matthews, SAN FRANCISCO—A bit of pre-war nostalgia savored by Vice-President, Contracts, & Bill Hall, Headquarters Rep. many Californians was reborn a few weeks ago when the unusual cargo with which you A wide range of various shipboard beefs come into play in the selec­ SlU-contracted Matson Navigation Company began offering sailed? • tion of questions sent into the Union over the last period. The first overnight passenger service Eddie Bonefont: Sulfur was the was sent in by David Pashkoff, ship's delegate on the Overseas Joyce, on the Lurline betwen Los San Francisco to Los Angeles and most unusual cargo with which regarding the work of the helmsman. Angeles and San Francisco. six trips from Los Angeles to San I ever sailed. "J It was the first time sea service between the state's two major cities has been available since the early 1930s. Then, old-time steam­ ship buffs delighted in sailing on the Yale or the Harvard. The trip, never meant to compete with quicker air or rail service, offered the traveler a relaxed journey dur­ ing which he could enjoy the ocean breezes and take life gener­ ally easy. The Lurline, which has Mari­ time Administration approval to revive the service, will pick up and discharge passengers bound for either city as part of her regu­ larly scheduled runs to Hawaii. She will make nine trips from AFL-CIO Asks Bigger Labor Dept. Budget WASHINGTON—The Labor De­ partment needs more, not fewer, wage-hour investigators, the AFLCIO told Congress recently. The department's proposed budget would eliminate 62 wagehour jobs next year, including 35 field investigators' position. AFLCIO Legislative Representative James F. Doherty said the effect of the cutback would be "disas­ trous." He told a House Appropriations subcommittee that shortchanging of workers by employers who pay less than the federal minimum wage or who fail to pay overtime rates has increased sharply in re­ cent years. In addition, he said, in­ vestigators during the coming year will have the added responsibility of enforcing the Equal Pay Act, which requires men and women doing the same work to be paid at the same rate. Doherty told the subcommittee that the Labor Department should also be directed to increase its staff of safety investigators to in­ sure compliance with Walsh-Healey Act provisions. Francisco this year. The price for the 18-hour cruise will run from $45 to $155 per passenger depending on the type of accommodations. Passengers will be able to bring their cars along for an added fee. The liner has a capacity of 760 first-class passengers. Matson hopes to at­ tract some of the old buffs and younger tourists. With the twocity service. Matson is probably the only steamship line offering what could be called a "weekend cruise." USPHS Hospitals (Continued from page 3) better and more comprehensive care for all concerned, they could have held full and open discus­ sions with seamen's unions and other interested parties in an at­ tempt to reach a solution satisfac­ tory to all concerned, the SIU as­ serted. "They did not choose to do this . . . because they knew the plan was the first in a series of steps to destroy the PHS hospital­ ization program for mechant sea­ men and the other Federal bene­ ficiaries," the statement said. The SIU told the congressional hearing that the HEW proposal has been condemned by every group af­ fected by it. Opponents of the proposal include the seamen's un­ ions, management organizations, veterans organizations and the commissioned officers responsible for operating the PHS hospitals. "Surely there would not have been such a categorial and unani­ mous denunciation of the plan if it had an iota of merit, and if its objective was a sincere attempt to improve the public health service, rather than to abolish it and foul up the VA hospital system in the process," the SIU said. Speaking in behalf of American seamen who are relying on the PHS hospital program for their well being, the SIU urged Congress to continue the operation of PHS hospitals which have clearly demon­ strated their competence and capac­ ity to serve the people of the U.S. throughout the history of the coun­ try. Robin Line Money Due it- m The Robin Line has notified the SIU that it is holding checks for unclaimed' wages due crewmen for the period of August 1, 1964 through January 31, 1965. The following Seafarers may collect their checks by writing to Mr. L. G. FarreU, Assistant Treasurer, -Moore-McCormack Lines, 2 Broadway, New York, N.Y. Murphy, George E., $140.90; Boucher, Joseph E., $5.78; Silva, George, $140.90; Connel, Charles, $140.90; Kostegan, Stephan, $9.10; King, Robert J., $5.77; Stanzah, Henry F., $135.30; Hazelton, C. H., $5.78; Crosbie, Richard W., $3.75; Makowka, Laurence, $6.57; Vittleos, Marko, $133.55; Barret, Robert Jr., $18.17; Keefe, Kevin T., $341.65; Martell, Elziar A., $144.15; Munsie, John C., $126.49; Yaughan, Richard F., $1.88. Holt, Timothy R., $5.78; Brinegar, Paul M., $377.74; Jones, Jessie L., $404.31; Rhodes, Lindsey L., $833.85; Houchin, C. M., $142.03; Poston, James D., $96.63; Bryant, John, $33.44; Ellis Edward M., $145.78; Mullen, Jobe E., $27.00; Ficarrotta, John, $119.07; Boole, George P., $1.47; Gold, Byrd M., $5.78; Wicker, Raymond D., $91.37; Jenkins, Billie, $11.26; Williams, Victor E., $2.20; Safford, R. D., $2.20; Ayers, Preston, $26.29. Crawford, Leo I., $183.41; Schwartz, Morris, $5.78; Smith, James, $119 07; Ragsdale, Wf H., $2.93; Lecou, William, $87.47; kruptavich; P, W., $lD5.7i? Smith, Earl P., $2.00. Question: "What is the man on the wheel supposed to do. The Mate There is some­ thinks that the man on the wheel is supposed to paint and do a lot of thing about raw sulfur that dis­ other things. Please send me something on this matter." colors the skin Answer: The crewmember on the wheel is required to steer the ship if you wear only. This shall also apply when automatic steering equipment is em­ rings, wrist ployed aboard ship. watches and Reference: Standard Freightship Agreement, Article III, Section 8— such while they Relieving Helmsman. "No Mate shall relieve Helmsman except in the are loading or emergency. Sougeeing, chipping, painting, etc., shall not be considered unloading it. an emergency." Also, It has the worst odor in. the A question from J. A. Batiii • world. It was rough to live with aboard the Western Clipper re­ listed below. These men are urged the stuff. ^ ^ gards the overtime rate when to pick up their checks from this Pedro Perez: Years ago, I was department or notify headquarters on a ship that carried a number transfering bunkers. where the checks may be sent. of animals from Question:.I am writing in re­ In the settlement of disputed Africa to the gards to a matter about transfer "States. I guess of bunkers. My agreement does overtime abroad the Transorleans, they were for not state anything about this and a check being held for Seymore zoos, because we the Chief insists that, it is my job Sikes. carried lions, ti­ because he says so without the From the Ames Victory, checks gers, elephants, payment of o.t." are being held covering travel a couple of ze­ Answer: This is not considered wages, subsistence and transporta­ bra, and a lot of the duties of the Pumpman. This tion for Ralph L. Jones and Lee W. monkeys. I did work is performed by the En­ Morin. not care for the gineers. In the event the Pump­ In the settlement of disputed smell too much, but we had to man is required to perform this overtime for tank cleaning aboard feed the animals, and that meant work, he shall receive overtime. the- Manhattan, a check is being lots of overtime. Reference: Standard Tanker held for L. Harvey. Derek Lamb: I was on a ship Agreement, Article II, Section 10. Checks for the settlement of dis­ taking artillery shells to Korea "Customary Duties. Members of puted overtime aboard the Penn in 1952. To me, all departments shall perform the Carrier are being held for Earl H. that was unusu­ necessary and customary duties of Reamer, and Walter Smith. al, but I soon that department. Each member of Former crewmembers of the got used to hav­ all departments shall perform only ing ammunition the recognized and customary Niagara, who are owed money for the settlement of disputed over­ on board. The duties of his particular rating. time, are Francis M. Greenwall ship spent sev­ and Richard Heckmen. When it is necessary to shift a eral months aft­ er that shuttling man to fill a vacancy, the man so George Doest still has a check ammo from Ja­ shifted shall perform the duties waiting for him for settlement of pan to Korea. of the rating to which he is as­ disputed overtime earned aboard For a first tripper, though, it was signed." the Seatrain New Jersey. quite unusual. The next question comes from A transportation differential 4" 3^ the engine delegate aboard the William Brown: Frozen frogs Western Comet, William Bilger. check from the Elimir is still be­ legs were the strangest cargo I It regards making repairs on heat­ ing held for James H. Smith. ever saw aboard Checks for the settlement of a ing coils in tanks. ' any ship. We transportation dispute are being Question: What rate of overtime held for these former crewmem­ picked several does an Oiler receive on the bers of the Valiant Hope: Thomas of them up in watch below, making repairs. Iran, where you E. Bewley, Edward E. Edinger, wouldn't expect Thomas E. Hanson, Donald Ker­ Answer: Double overtime. to find frogs at shaw, Thomas E. Morris, and Reference: ..Standard Tanker Berthall L. Winborne. all. We had a Agreement, Article IV, Section special reefer Former crewmembers of the 19, (b). "When members of the box installed on Hercules Victory who have checks crew are required to enter tanks the deck, and they were frozen so they were that have contained animal, vege­ waiting for them for the settle­ table, petroleum oil, creosotes, or ment of disputed overtime are no ti-ouble. molasses for the purpose of clean­ Murry Carroll, Ole A. E. Hilsen, 4« 3> 3> William A. ing or making repairs, therein, the Edward' Jensen, Guss Janavaris: The most um Laughlin, Ernest J. Lichtensen, watch on deck during straight time usual cargo I ever sailed with was a package hours shall be paid at the rate of William Logan, Robert Smith, deal during WW time and one-half per hour. The George Stanley and Donald T. Watson. II. We had 24 watch below between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through The contract department is hold­ large twin - en­ gine airplanes Friday shall be paid for such work ing checks covering subsistence on the deck of a at the rate of double overtime. On for the following ex-crewmembers tanker, and in Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays of the St. Lawrence: Bill Mpontsithe tanks, we or between the hours of 5 p.m. karis and Nicholas Sakellarides. carried high oc­ and 8 a.m. the rate for such work Some new additions to the list tane airplane shall be double overtime. Each of checks being held by this de­ man entering tanks for the above fuel. It seemed partment include a disputed over­ to me at the time that it was a purpose shall be entitled to re­ time check for Readus R. Wheelceive $7.50 for reimbursement for strange way to move airplanes clothes . once only, during each ington, earned while aboard the around. ballast voyage. It is understood Robert Conrad. 4" 3» i Checks covering one days wages Thomas Trainori Not too long that sea boots for tank cleaning ago, I was on a ship that carried will be furnished by the Company. earned aboard the Natalie are be­ While engaged in tank cleaning, ing held for James R. Boone, four thorough­ men shall receive no other over­ Spiros D. Cassimis, Howard W. bred race horses time." Gibbs, Alfred D. Kirkconnel, Jose to Puerto Rico. They were being In submitting questions and Ortiguerra, Frank G. Valerie,, and shipped down to work situations for clarification, Adolph Vante. race at the track delegates and crews are reminded in San Juan. I'm once again to provide as much a city boy, and detail as possible setting forth the they told me to circumstances of any dispute. take care of the Money Due mine TO horses. I was really, worried; but t^y^ were easy The Contracts and Constitution to take care of and caused ho •d^partmrat'is'still hpldihg a num­ trouble. '' ber of checks- 'for'tfie 'Seafarers' TUBIJQQ �Jfro t, im Pag* Elevea lOO On*-Wax Trip' lal le­ er he 27 Id or ry DOZEN COPE CLINICS ANNOUNCED—OOPE, the political arm of the AFL-CIO, has scheduled a full dozen Leadership Clindcs to be held during April and May. The clinics are Intended primarily for those who have direct responsibilities for OOPE activities in their area. The day and one half clinics will be followed by conferences for state and local central labor bodies. The clinic schedule is: • April 1-2, Sheraton Hotel, Philadelphia, for Penn., Del., D.C., Md. and W. Va. tig • April 8-9, Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco, for Calif, and Nev. e, 3) • April 10-11, Multnomah Hotel, Portland, Ore., for Ore. Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii and Wash. je ot St. jd ur )n ie ig »e • April 12-13, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Denver, For Colo., Ariz., Mont, N. Mex., Utah and Wyo. >d • April 20-21, Muehlebaoh Hotel, Kansas City, Mo., for Mo., Kan., Okla. and Texas. as le • April 22-23, Americana Hotel, Atlanta, Oa., for Ga., Fla., Ky., S. C. and Va. y- to of • April 24-25, Olaridge Hotel, Memphis, Tenn., for Tenn., Ala., Ark,, La., Miss, and N. C. • April 27-28, Pick-Nicollet Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn., for Minn., Iowa, Neb., N. D. and S. D. • and • • • Id April 30-May 1, Statler-Hilton Hotel, Cleveland, O., for Ohio Mich. May 7-8, Lasalle Hotrf, Chicago, for III., Ind., and Wise. May 14-15, Statler-Hilton Hotel, Boston, for New England. May 16-17, Statler-Hilton Hotel, New York, for N. Y. and N. J. 3^ t t •ONE MAN, ONE VOTE' RULING UNDER ATTACK—A rightist drive is under way to undermine the historic Supreme Court decision requiring state legislatures to be apportioned on the basis of popula­ tion. Opponents of the ruling are pressing for a constitutional amend­ ment to permit one house of a state legislature to be apportioned on a basis other than that of p<H>ulation. They are seeking to retain, in effect, the old system whereby political power was in the hands of usually conservative rural politicians and under which city residents had less than their full share of representation in state houses. Testifying on the amendment before the Senate Judiciary Conunittee, Senator Paul H. Douglas (D,-I11.) said: "I oppose any amendment to the Constitution which would restrict or reduce the rights of citizen­ ship. These are individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and the denial or reduotion of them is no less objectionable whether accomplished by the dictation of a single tyrant, an oligarchy, or a majority." A strike by 32,000 Glaa* BotUe Blowers was ealied "100 pereent effective" by union president Lee W. Minton as stalled eontraet talks were resumed in Atiantle City. N.Y. The strike wss the first ever called by the union against the 22 companies which form the Glass Container Manufacturers Institute. The key issue in the strike is the continuing effect of automation on the industry's work force. The union is asking for a guaranteed work year of 48 weeks for those with more than ten years seniority; 50 minutes of relief time daily, and a wage minimum of $2 an hour. Negotiations began last October in anticipation of the Feb­ ruary 28 contract expiration date. The union agreed to two exten­ sions to allow time for balloting on a management wage offer. a. t t Steel Workers at American and Continental Can companies won a 45c an hour wage increase after a three-week strike at 71 plants across the nation The wage in­ creases will go to more than 32,000 workers. Pension, insurance and job protection benefits were also improved under the agreement. The wage raise is the first for Steel Workers in the can industry since 1^61. The USWA first reached agre^t^ehji with AWrican Can, settling wltly Continental Can. )1 )2 53 54 i5 56 two days later. The settlements are subject to ratification by union committees. 4^ 4" Organized labor in Lansing, Michigan, won the thanks of the Greater Lansing Dental Health committee for the time and effort it provided in a recent drive to turn back an attempt to end the fluoridation of the city's water supply. The Greater Lansing AFL-CIO formerly restated its approval of the fluoridation pro­ gram and gave publicity to its stand in the Lansing Labor News. In a referendum vote, Lansing Citizens defeated the anti-fluoridation drive by a vote of 11,914 to 3,251. J- 4" Veteran labor editor Edward Keating died at his Washington, D.C. home recently at the age of 89. While best remembered as the long-time editor of Labor, weekly publication of the Railway unions, Keating served as a liberal Demo­ cratic Congressman from Colorado from 1913 to 1919. As a Congress­ man, Keating sponsored the first federal child labor law and the first minimum wage law for wom­ en and children in the District of Columbia. He was a successful newspaperman in Denver and Pueblo, Colorado before becoming editor of the widely respected pnion Journal. He .is ,siicvivgd„tiy W?.wife,;,]fJe^orl..;.,,^,,, re n rs '9 10 At the recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Ex­ Hardly a day has gone by recently without some mention in the newspapers and other ecutive Council, the Executive Board of the news media of the increasingly dangerous Maritime Trades Department, recognizing balance-of-payments deficit being faced by the close tie between the increase in our pay­ the United States. The situation is rapidly ments balance deficit and the increase in reaching, and has perhaps already passed the American - owned runaway-flag shipping, point where, if foreign nations should sud­ urged the passage of legislation wiping out denly decide to call for what we owe them the tax havens enjoyed by American corpor­ in gold, we could not pay them. What this ations operating runaway-flag ships. would mean, in effect, is a form of bank­ Such a call should be heeded by the gov­ ernment. These billion-dollar corporations ruptcy. National bankruptcy. Various agencies of the U.S. Government are not "special cases" and should assume the have expressed great concern with our pay­ same tax responsibilities which the rest of American industry assumes. They cannot ments deficit—and rightly so. It is a situa­ be allowed to milk the American economy tion filled with potential danger to the na­ tion. But one of the chief drains on U.S. gold any longer because the nation cannot afford reserves has been completely ignored, al­ it much longer. With the Communist bloc mounting an in­ though the SIU, other segments of the mari­ creasing barrage against the U.S. every day time industry and noted economists have —aided in some cases by our supposed pointed to this area where Government ac­ tion would be quickly and completely effec­ "friends" among foreign nations—the flow of gold out of the U.S. is to be viewed with tive. alarm. Economic warfare is a political tactic This, of course, is the dollar drain caused as old as history, which the Communist world by American-owned runaway-flag ships. has adopted as a weapon against us. By-con­ These operators spend billions of dollars tinuing to invite an economic crisis through abroad for ship construction—money which a continuing balance-of-payments deficit, we leaves the United States and never returns. are in effect helping to load the guns which They employ foreign seamen who neither may soon be fired against us. pay income taxes to our Government nor The "dollar - gap" must be closed. The purchase consumer goods here. This money "gold outflow" must be reversed. The bal­ too, leaves, never to return. ance-of-payments deficit must be turned into The vast profits amassed by these run-- an asset. A giant first step in doing all this away-flag operators never come back to the would be taken if these American runawayUnited States either in the form of corporate ship oper^ors were reminded—through stiff taxes or in the form of expenditures for legislation closing the tax loopholes which goods and services. Instead, they support allow runaway tax-havens to operate—that foreign industries which compete in the they too are Americans. They benefit great­ world markets with American goods and de­ ly from being members of American society prive even more American workers of their and must meet the same obligations which jobs. These runaway operators have been other Americans assume gladly .They must fen;iind^ -0|f, their duty., Right nqw, tjiey getting away \yith ecottoi^ic'murder for a long are shirking it badly. ^ime. !• .1 11 12 13 •A 15 e e if s o t a �Page Twelve SEAFARERS April t, 1868 LOG AFlrCIO Sponsored Newscast Attacks Food Industry Conspiracy Food Industry Primes Its Guns T o KiirTruth-ln-Packaging' Bill The piece below, dealing with the deceptive packaging chicanery being practiced! by the food industry and others against the American consumer, comes from recent comments made by Edward P. Morgan on his network news program, which is sponsored by the AFL-CIO. The SIU stands firmly with the rest of the labor movement in support of passage of "trhthin-packaging" legislation. Seafarers and their families are -urged to write their congressmen to demand passage of this much-needed measure. By Lindsey Wiliiams. Vice-President,' Gulf Area SIU Bciatmen Win Contract Gains Good news to New Orleans members of the SIU Inland Boatmen's Union was successful completion of negotiations for new contracts with harbor towing companies. The companies in question were Crescent Towing and Salvage Com­ pany and the George Whiteman Company. Good gains were made in At one of those business luncheon forums they are always having in New York, a bril­ both contracts and include an increase in both the straight time and liantly successful and somewhat heretical young advertising executive named Frederic the overtime rates of pay. Better working conditions and improved Papert was asked to comment on charges that manufacturers were conspiring to bilk the vacation and welfare benefits also were worked out in the new collec­ tive bargaining agreements. public with deceptive packag--*a series of mergers In the ing and labeling of goods. His | turn, continues Consumer Reports, Both of these companies are on an eight-hour day, five-day week 1920's, Is now fighting a Fed­ Paul Willis, president of the basis with overtime being paid for work performed outside the usual answer was an endorsement, since eral Trade Commission antieight hour day and on weekends or holidays. In effect, of the objectives of the Grocery Manufacturers Associa­ monopoly order to dissolve a tion, perhaps the most powerful Plans have just been announced for increasing grain handling four-year-old "truth in packaging" more recent merger and has facilities in the New Orleans-Baton Rouge area, already the leading bill recently reintroduced in Con­ group in the industry, "laid it on been cited In the last 25 years grain export center. gress by Senator Philip A. Hart the line" at the annual Television for 28 violations of the Food Bureau of Advertising convention (D- Mich.), a measure now before The South Louisiana Port Commission has decided to build an Drug & Cosmetic Act. Mor­ the Senate Commerce Committee. a little more than two years ago. $8.5 million public grain elevator at Reserve in St. John the Baptist timer did single out the Hart If the line was not sharp, Willis' Parish. This is on the Mississippi River north of New Orleans. bill as the villain in the piece, implications were crystal clear: re­ "I worry about the weasel Present plans call for operation of the new elevator by Bayside accused it of threatening to member, fellows, the golden source words and half truths more Warehouse Co., a Texas corporation owned by Cook and Co., Memphis, disturb the system consumers of so much of your advertising than about wholehearted lies," Tenn., cotton and grain shippers,-ffind so satisfactory. revenue. Papert said. "Some govern­ on a 25-year lease arrangement. ment regulation is necessary. When Senator Hart com­ Well sir, there have been some Construction of the new facility passes the time by visiting the Sea­ We've asked for it. The public plained to Look that the legis­ fascinating developments since. will mean more jobs for longshore­ farers Hall daily, is sweating out should be protected." lation had been inaccurately For one thing, the January 26 is­ men and better shipping for Sea­ his "fit for duty" certification, not described and suggested that sue of Look Magazine carried an farers who prefer to ship out of expected for more than a month, The key question seems to be he write an answering piece so he can get back to work. Some ^I ^ Charles New Orleans. how much the public cares about Mortimer, chairman of the giLook replied It did not think other IBU men who have been ad­ Shipping continues to be good mitted to the hospital include being protected. the public felt any strong need gantic General Foods Corp. in New Orleans and Houston, but James Snyder, a longtime deck­ for reform at the moment. Au article iu the March Is­ Politics In The Pantry Is reported slow In Mobile. Three hand for Coyle Lines, who is suf­ sue of Consumer Reports says The April issue of Coronet Mag­ ships are laid up in Mobile. They fering from ulcers and Tommy Entitled "Let's Keep Politics that "the food industry has azine does print the senator's arti­ are the supertanker Mayflower, Trehern who Is awaiting surgery. Out of the Pantry," the article ar­ succeeded in pulling its pres­ gued that Mary Jones, the typical cle. In iit he asks, "what national the Trans Texas and the Walter Seafarer Hamilton Seburn is mak­ sure groups together for an American housewife is a shrewd forum do we have? Two large-cir­ Rice. No crewing dates have been ing every job call and is ready to all-out, uo-holds-barred drive and happy woman reveling in the culation magazines retained set for these ships yet, but when grab the first pumpman's job to to defeat Truth-in-Packagiug." fact that our free-enterprise sys­ writers to do stories on Truth in crews are called for these vessels hit the board. He finally received The magazine reports that the the job situation in Mobile will be his "fit for duty" slip after being tem brings her "the purest, most behemoth $80 billion food in­ greatly improved, of course. Packaging but the stories somehow discharged from the hospital nutritious, easiest-to-prepare food dustry is so alarmed that "it have never been seen in print. where he had been confined since the world has ever seen." New Orleans has come right out into the December 23. Three times I have had television open with one of the most Luke LeBlanc, veteran IBU Unsurprisingly, as Consumer appearances cancelled and have member, has been discharged from shameless power plays in some Vincent J. Fitzgerald had to hit Reports noted, Mortimer did time." been told privately it was because the USPHS hospital and is now the beach because of illness. He not mention that the General on outpatient status. Luke, who advertisers had protested." (Continued on page 18) Foods colossus was created by The effort has gathered momen- More on 1>- NCH TANKER CRASH When a disastrous collision occurred on January 18, 1965 between - the SlU-contracted Lucile Bloomfield and the French gasoline tanker Port Manech off Le Havre, the LOG carried a complete story on the disaster in its next issue (January 22 LOG, page 3). No pictures of the disaster were available at that time. The dramatic photos printed here were sent to the LOG recently by Seafarer Charles Rawlings (R-639) who was. aboard the Lucile Bloomfield at the time of the collision. The photos were taken by and previously printed in the French newspaper, Le Havre. In a letter accompanying the pictures, Seafarer Rawlings praises the quick and competent fire-fighting action by the Lucile Bloomfield's SIU crew, which he says undoubtedly saved the ship. Special credit is given to bosun Bill Butts "for his fast action in recognizing the danger and organiz­ ing the men into fire-fighting groups." "Without his ability to give the proper commands under­ standable to all hands, I believe that our disaster might have been much greater than that which we suffered. A job well done!" On impact, Rawlings recalls, flames shot up immediately with a loud roar. "The flaming liquid (gasoline) was rolling down the decks. All available hoses, including the fresh­ water hoses, were used to fight the fire. The flames did their share of damage. The mooring lines, guys, forward fire­ hoses and hatch covers were aflame. The windows on the wheelhouse were cracked and broken from the heat and flames as well. The crew eventually succeeded in extin­ guishing the fire. "So ended a most memorable experience, never to be for­ gotten," says Rawlings. Charred and blistered paint on bow end of Lucile Bloomfield at­ tests to the ferocity of the fire which SlU-crewmembers suc­ cessfully fought and extin­ guished. When the ships hit, .flaming gasoline rolled across the ship's decks* �AprOt. U« SEAFARERS Working On The Lakes rv nirfMB LOO Stronger Maritime Urged To Meet Defense Needs NEW ORLEANS—"Americans need to realize that their merchant marine is vital for trade, and useful for military requirements," Vice Admiral Glynn R. Donaho, Commander of Military Sea Transport Service reminded his listeners in a recent speech at the Annual Institute on Foreign Trans- ^ portation and Port Operations, • "There are no privately-owned "It is clear, from what I have at Tulane University. American-flag ships with heavy- said," he stated, "that MSTS and The periodic fit-outs and layups of SlU-contracted Great Lakes vessels provides plenty of routine chores for Seafarer crewmen. Above, Lome More and John Stevens (l-rl play tug-o-war with a tarp to protect the deck of the bulk-carrier McKee Sons (Boland & Cornelius Steamship Co.) from paint splashings and scrapings. Citing the vital role the U.S. merchant marine has traditionally played as a "Fourth Arm of Defense," Donaho expressed con­ cern with the continuing deteriora­ tion of the American-flag merchant fleet and the increasing difficulty it will therefore encounter in fulfilling this traditional role in time of national emergency. Among the deficiencies of the present U.S.-flag merchant fleet which could operate against its successful handling- of a military role, Donaho cited the following examples: Factors Involved • "The American merchant fleet contains too large a percent­ age of ships that are twenty years old. SIU Win At Checker Cab OKd By NLRB A high pressure hosing down is often the most efficient method of keeping a deck shipshape. Handling the hose aboard the McKee Sons is Elmer Mogro (left), while Del Conquergood does the spraying. Both photos were taken while the vessel was in Toledo. WorldwideTankshipBoom Leaves U.$. Out In Cold LONDON—Tiie United States-flag merchant fleet is riding the tail en^ of a world-wide boom in new tanker construc­ tion, according to information just released by a leading British brokerage house. Liberian total was swelled The U.S., which ranks a byThe 41 ships which transferred reg­ poor fourth among nations istry to that flag. New bottoms with tanker fleets, appears to be doing virtually nothing to improve its status according to the survey of 1964 tanker construction put out by Davies and Newman. During the last six months of 1964, the U.S. added only 128,000 deadweight tons of new tanker bottoms to its total of 6.8 million tons. This put the U.S. near the bottom of the list of nations acquiring new tankers. Liberia led the list with nearly two million new tons of tankers, followed by Norway, Britan, Ja­ pan, USSR, Panama and France, Runaways Liberia and Panama are, of course, runaway flag havens. To circumvent and avoid American taxes, wages and safety .standards, this nation's leading oil companies have maintained and built-up tanker fleets in the two nations. for Liberia accounted for 21 ves­ sels. The tanker fleet of U.S. oil giants like Gulf, Standard Oil, Texaco and Socony Mobil all flourish under runaway flags. The rate of tanker scrapping and reconversion also slowed dur­ ing the six month period accord­ ing to the survey, and the relative age of tankers lessened as more and more new ships were added to the total. New orders for tankers slowed somewhat, indicating that the boom is petering out. The steady deterioration of the U.S. tanker fleet could be halted by regula­ tions, fixing a 50-50 oil import' system, under which at least half of the oil imported into the U.S. would be required to be carried in U.S.-flag tankers. The SIU has. made such a pro­ posal to the U.S. Department of the Interior. DETROIT — First-time contract proposals with the Checker Cab Company here are presently being prepared by Local 10 of the Trans­ portation Services and Allied Workers district of the Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, and negotia­ tions are expected to begin shortly. SIU-TSAW Local 10 in Detroit received formal certification by the National Labor Relations Board as bargaining agent for 1,800 Checker Cab drivers after winning a smashing 2-1 election victory in balloting by the Checker drivers. The Labor Board Certification for Local 10, climaxed a three-year struggel for bargaining rights cov­ ering Checker Cab drivers. The dispute involved three separate elections during the past nine months all won by Local 10. Fol­ lowing this latest decisive election win. Local 10 announced that it is spreading Us organizing drive to other taxi fleets in the Detroit Metropolitan area. Local 10 was organized by a group of Checker drivers in the spring of 1962, after Checker man­ agement began reducing the sched­ ule of commission payments to its drivers. The Union petitioned for an election at that time, but legal proceedings delayed the balloting for two years. . Court Decision An 8-1 decision by the U.S. Su­ preme Court in a separate case last March finally paved the way for an election in June, 1964, that involved a local of Jimmy Hoffa's Teamsters. Although Local 10 won this election, the NLRB dimsissed the results on the basis of an "al­ tered sample ballot" used by the Teamsters in their pre-election campaigning. The second election in October, 1964, was also won by Local 10, but the board ruled that the union lacked a majority due to the num­ ber of contested ballots. The most recent runoff election held recent­ ly, which Local 10 also won handsdown, was ordered by the NLRB two months ago, after it ruled that the Teamsters did not qualify for a place on the ballot. Uft capacity of 100 tons or more. • "Only one large, commerolally-owned roll-on/roll-off ship flies the American flag, and she is chartered to MSTS at this time. • "There are only 18 refrigera­ tor ships in commercial operation; all of them are over 15 years of age." Donaho emphasized the need for a modernization of the U.S.-flag merchant fleet for both trade and military roles. the American merchant marine are closely related. I want to empha­ size that MSTS cannot operate, and does not expect to operate, without support from the merchant marine, both in peace and in war." "The mission of MSTS is military. MSTS exists to provide immediate sea lift capability in accordance with the requirements of the combat forces. It has succeeded in the past because of the cooperation and assistance of the merchant marine." By Fred Stewart & Ed Mooney Headquarters Representatives Good Feeding Keeps Morale High Attitudes and morale in shipboard life is extremely important today as it has always been. Taking the drudgery out of a seaman's routine and giving him an opportunity to study or read, or just take life easy during his off-duty hours, is an important contribution to morale. To a large extent the cook can do as much for keeping up the spirits of the crew during a long voyage as anyone else aboard ship. Sea air and the sailor's routine can transform ordinary appetite into a ravenous hunger. "Chow time" at sea is a great event, both because the crew is genuinely hungry and because the meals at sea tend to "break up the day" with its routine chores. If the food is well prepared and appetizing, mealtimes are a pleasant break and morale is high. If the meals are consistently dull and bland, eating can become just another chore and morale drops like a lead. The cook therefore, should actually be credited with ruling the dis­ positions of the crew. He is one of the most respected members of the product—the results of his a ship's complement and the work—is expected to be good and on time. meals that are turned out en­ Cook Has Specialties lighten and brighten the days of seamen during the voyage. To break the routine of daily feedings the cook usuaiiy prepares Filling Human Bunkers specialties, which should be ap­ When a Seafarer undertakes the preciated by the crew for the ex­ job of filling his daily "bunkers," tra work that goes into them. On his greatest attention is directed the human side, a vote of thanks to the ship's cook. Most times the ' by the crew generates a greater crew gives the cook or the whole desire, interest and effort on the part of the cook to consistantly steward department a vote of put out the good chow. thanks for such good feeding. At sea. eating habits aboard ship This in turn, more often than not, causes the stewards and cooks to differ widely. A typical menu pro­ take great pride in their meals vides an elaborfate variety of and they constantly try to out-do foods for brothers from every themselves to maintain their! section of the United States. In an effort to please all, the conk ap­ reputations as "good feeders." plies spicy seasonings in a variety The cook's job is not an easy of foods—preparing specialties one. A ship's cook, unlike other which originated from all over the cooks, has to brace himself to en­ world. The best of these national dure rough weather—and you can dishes are carefully picked out and believe it—there is no place on a prepared for Seafarers. ship that is as uncomfortable, or As is often said by the Seaas dangerous, as a rocking galley. SIU cooks have turned out con- faier at the mess table— home sistentlv fine meals in the rough- "as never like this!" Bring on the est seas, and even, on occasion. | chow. Three cheei-s for the cook. with the plant shut down and the I ship almost totally without power. Ou a normal day tiie cook's work sheet is there before him. The timing—the menu outlined in detail—is given careful study by him and the proper preparation for the exact hour keeps him con­ cerned and busy. One slip-up and everybody knows that his work is not complete. The cook cannot "pass the buck." Either the chow is ready on time or it's not. Either it is good and tasty, or it's not— and in either case, every man on board knows it pretty quickly. All week, Saturdays and Sundays and holidays—at sea or in port. Quitting Ship? Nptify Union A reminder from SIU head­ quarters cautions all Seafarers leaving their ships to contact the hall in ample time to allow the Union to dispatch a replace­ ment. Failure to give notice be­ fore paying off may cause a de­ layed sailing, force the ship to sail short of the manning re­ quirements and needlessly make the work tougher for your ship­ mates. �r< l"i!^ 11 t Pas* PoorleeB SEAPitRERS Afcii i; itw LOG REGION TALLYING COMMITTEE REPORT ON ELECTION OF GREAT LAKES TUG AND DREDGE REGION, INLAND BOATMEN'S UNION, SEAFARER'S INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO OFFICIALS FOR 1965-1968 We, the undersigned duly elected members of the region tallying committee met at 10:30 A.M. on March 22, 1965, at the Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Region head­ quarters at 10225 West Jefferson Avenue, River Rouge 18, Michigan. In a body, we v.cnt to the office of the River Rouge Savings Bank in River Rouge, Michigan and presented ourselves to (Miss) Fay Wilber, vice president of the River Rouge Savings Bank. Ail of the mail ballots received by the bank, as well as the daily ballots from the polling places were turned over to the committee. Miss Wilber provided the com­ mittee with a written, signed statment to the effect that all envelopes received by the bank identified as being a part of the IBU election had been personally received by her, placed under locked depository and handled by no other person connected with the bank. With the ballots in our possession, we returned to IBU headquarters and prepared for the counting of the ballots covering the voting period March 8th, 19d5, through March 20, 1965. A conference room was put at our disposal and a rope barrier estab­ lished behind which the committee undertook its task. Observers were allowed behind the roped-off--area. Regional Director Robert Jones turned over to the committee all material In his hands connected with the election. In our hands were placed the envelopes containing the unused ballots from the polling places, the ballot stubs, the roster of the mall ballots sent, the files from the polling places containing the official voting rosters, and the minutes of the special meetings held at the various polling places. Upon convening at 11:15 A.M., in compliance with Article X, Section 2, paragraph tn) of our Union Constitution, we elected from among ourselves, Samuel Streigbt, S-12039. as Chairman of the Committee. The committee verified that all seals were intact on the ballot envelopes containing both personal mail ballots and the ballots of votes cast in the polling places. The first business before the committee was the checking of the mail ballot envelopes against the voting rosters of the polling places. Each name on an envelope was checked against the voting rosters of all ports. ? A check of the mail ballots disclosed the following: TUG SECTION: Ballots #776 through #785 were mailed out to individuals who had requested to vote by mail. Of the ten (10) Tug Section ballots mailed out, nine (9) were returned to the River Rouge Savings Bank. Each mail ballot had been sent out by Certified Mali and the return receipts were shown to be in order. A check of the postmarks of the mail ballot envelopes showed that all mail ballots were received by the depository prior to the close of business on March 20th, 1965. We then received from the Headquarters offices of the Union, all of the files relative to the conduct of the election. From the fiies, we found signed receipts for ballots #1 through #775 for the Tug Section, ballots #1 through #950 for the Dredge Section and ballots #1 through #110 for the Allied Marine Section. The Committee then checked the numbers on the stubs received from the various ports, and these numbers, when checked against the numbers on the stubs of all ballots printed, issued, and ready for voting, were found to coincide, port by port. % Your Committee then checked the dates of the voting rosters and compared them against the minutes of the Special Meetings for the election of the Polls Committees in the various ports. We found in every instance that a Polls Committee had been elected on each day in which voting was conducted in the various ports. Where no Polls Committee could be elected, no voting took place, as is required by our Con­ stitution. We checked the unused ballots that were on hand in Headquarters office that had not been issued. The stubs on these unused ballots were numbered #786 through #1000 for the Tug Section, a total of 215 ballots. In the Dredge Section, the stubs on the unused ballots were numbered #957 through #1200, a total of 244 ballots. In the Allied Marine Section, the stubs on the unused ballots were numbered #111 through #250, a total of 140 ballots. Tug Section 1000 Allied Marine Section .... 250 Dredge Section 1200 Numbered 1 to 1000) (Numbered 1 to 250) (Numbered 1 to 1200) In addition to the above, the printer also printed sample ballots as follows: Tug Section ; 50 Allied Marine Section ...i..,.;50 Dredge Section 50 Your Committee has checked the election files, maintained by Headquarters offices of the Union, and has found signed receipts for all of the above baiioite, or they were on hand in Headquarters. There was a member who had requested a mail ballot, to whom none was sent, since he didn't meet the qualifications for voting by mail. This member was: The following is a breakdown of the ballots that were sent to the ports by Head­ quarters as well as a breakdown of the unused ballots returned to Headquarters, ballots used and total ballots cast, section by section. DREDGE SECTION: Ballots #951 through #956 were mailed out to individuals wiho had requested to vote by mail. Of the six (6) Dredge Section ballots mailed out, all six (6) were returned to the River Rouge Savings Bank. Each mail ballot had been sent out by Certified Mail and the return receipts were shown to be in order. There were two members who had requested a mail ballot to whom none was sent, since they didn't meet the qualifications for voting by mail. These members were as follows: Earl F. Burdick, B-12066, had requested a mail ballot by letter dated February 23rd, 1965, which was postmarked February 24th, 1965 in Oswego, New York. His request for a mail ballot was denied because his request was not in compliance with the "Regional Director's Report on Election Ballot and Instructions for Voting." Contained therein, was the requirement that the request for a mail ballot be made no later than February 22nd, 1965. L. J. Brookes, B-12056, had requested a mail ballot by letter that was undated, but which was postmarked March 1st, 1965 in Fulton, New York. His request for a mail ballot was denied because his request was not in compliance with the "Regional Director's Report on Election Ballot and Instructions for Voting." Contained therein, was the requirement that the request for a mail ballot be made no later than February 22nd, 1965. ALLIED MARINE SECTION: No mail ballots. r,equested„ by anyone In this Section, therefore, none were mailed out. '''. ' ^;i Your Committee then checked the unused ballots that were returned from various ports. The unused baliots, when combined with the unused ballots in Head­ quarters and the stubs of the used ballots in ail "ports, compares equally in number with the amount printed by the printer for the Union. This Committee has seen a bill from the printer, and the bill states that-they had printed ballobs fw the Union, as follows: It should be pointed out to the membership that, out of the ten (10) Tug Section mail ballots sent out, only nine (9) of them were returned. The mail ballot of Francis J Beliant, B-12050, was not returned, which accounts for the discrepancy of the one • (1) Tug Section ballot that is shown in this report as having been issued, but which is unaccounted for in the total number of ballots cast. Malcolm H. Lee, L-12030, requested a mail ballot by letter dated February 23rd, 1965, which was postmarked February 23rd, 1965, in Alexandria, Virginia. His request for a mail ballot was denied because his request was not in compliance with the "Regional Director's Report on Election Ballot and Instructions for Voting." Con­ tained therein, was the requirement that the request for a mail ballot be made no later than February 22nd, 1965. I Port Ashtabula Buffalo Chicago Cleveland Detroit Duiuth Lorain Milwaukee Sault Ste. Marie .. Toledo Mail Port Ashtabula Buffalo Chicago ^ Cleveland Detroit Duiuth Lorain Milwaukee Sault ste. Marie Toledo Mail (. vv t' V. I "TUG SECTION" Baliots Received Ballots Unused From Headquarters Ballots Used And Returned BalloU 1 1-25 26-50 25 51-89 00-200 39 201-285 286-350 85 351-402 403-450 52 451-486 487-550 36 551-577 578-600 27 601-622 623-650 22 651-668 669-700 18 701-750 701-734 735-750 34 751-762 763-775 12 776-785 none 9 Total votes cast in all ports and by mail 359 "DRIEDGE SECTION" Baliots Received Baliots Unused From Headquarters Ballots Used And Returned Ballots Cast 1-50 1-2 3-50 2 51-200 51-83 84-200 33 201-350 201-248 249-350 48 351-450 351-393 394-450 43 ...451-600 451-498 499-600 48 601-650 601<-617 618-650 17 .651-700 651-660 661-700 10 701-750 701-702 703-750 2 751-900 751-797 798-900 47 .901-950 901-923 924-950 23 951-958 951-956 none g ' •vVKrtal vo^ia bast!.In.dirportu'and'by ' *279 i �April ».1»65 SEAFARERS "ALLIED MAAINE SECTION" Ballots Received Ballots Unsoed From Headquarters Ballots Used And Returned Ballots Cast 1in n iin n. * 11.90 nl 11 90 n 91%n "n 9190 n 91 AO n 91 ft Port Ashtabula Buffalo rhieatrn DZU .:::::::::::::: li.™ iSs. Lorain 71-80 Milwaukee 81-90 Sault Sle. Marie'!'"!'." 91-100 Toledo 101-110 jyjaji " o' -0-0-0"" t Tl'ao 81-90 91-100 101-110 ' -0-0-0- "" Total votes cast in all ports and by mail 5 •This figures includes the ballots that were voided by.,t'he Region Tallying Committee. LOG Page WteeB as valid ballot cast even though we were unable to find ballots for the day equal to the number of stubs issued for the day. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Port of Chicago, in sending in their stubs and unused ballots at the completion of the voting in the port, failed to include the certification statements with either sections. However, your Region Tallying Committee has counted the March 13. 1965, the Polls Committee in the port ot Chicago issued ballot #227 from the Dredge Section to Brother Harry Oliver, 0-12005 by mistake, since he should received a Tug Section ballot; however, the Committee discovered the error and, prior to the ballot being marked, it was returned to the Committee. Brother Harry Oliver was then issued ballot #257 and allowed to vote same. Your Region Tallying Committee has counted Brother Harry Oliver's ballot that he voted as a valid ballot past and Dredge ballot #227, which was late! reissued and voted as a valid ballot cast. On March 16 and March 20, 1965, Polls Committee for the port of Chicago failed OFFICIAL TALLY SHEET FOR ELECTION OF 1965-1968 OFFICERS - W ' H S a 5 <IEHSQ 38 < 2 < •CmouQQt-lSMWHS REGIONAL DIRECTOR 1. Edward Daniel Anderson A-12005 2. Elmer Gallagher G-12015 3. Walter F. Gunn G-12014 4. Robert T. Jones J-12000 5. Harold F. Yon Y-12001 No Votes Voids Write-ins Totals H 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 9 31 88 3 1 22 1 8 5 4 182 7 19 54 21 9 362 0 2 76 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 001011200;0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -0 0 0 27 72 133 95 89 44 32 20 81 35 15 3 6 0 643 10 17 63 94 0 0 4 . 0 36 42 0 43 0 ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR (DREDGE SECTION) 1. Ernest T. DeMerse 1 0 4 5 37 0 5 D-12026 2. Donald Mariner 1 0 9 38 4 0 3 M-12083 3. Richard L. Tillman 0 33 32 0 6 ;6 1 T-12015 No Votes 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 Voids ...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 O 1 O O 1 1 Write-ins !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 O O O O O O Totals 2 33 48 43 48 17 10 0 19 8 1 25 4 3 85 0 0 1 59 1 18 18 2 127 0 0 0 O O 1 O 1 O 2 47 23 0 O O 6 3 4 1 279 3 ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR (TUG SECTION) 1. Thomas J. Burns 25 35 73 24 27 26 17 18 33 6 B-12006 No Votes 0 4 7 28 7 1 4 0 1 5 Voids 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Write-ins 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Totals 25 39 85 52 36 27 22 18 34 12 8 292 1 0 0 9 58 2 7 359 The Committee would also like to bring to the attention of the membership the fact that some write-ins that appeared illegible or on de-faced ballots will not be included in this report. The reason for this is that some ballots containing write-ins happened to be voided because the ballots on which they were written was illegally defaced or illegible. During the period of time in which the Region Tallying Committee was in opera­ tion, several discrepancies on the conduct of the election have occurred, but none of which would change the outcome of any job on the ballot. However, for the benefit of the membership, we are listing them, port by port, as follows: CLEVELAND, OHIO In checking the rosters for the Tug Section in the port of Cleveland, your Com­ mittee found that the port Polls Committees for the dates of March 8th and 13tih had numbered the ballots on the rosters as issued from #1 through #47. Actually, they should have been numbered #351 through #397. After the above dates, the Polls Committees then listed the ballot numbers properly on the rosters. Your Region Tallying Committee has counted these two days ballots as valid ballots cast. The same situation as given above, applied to the Dredge Section in the port of Cleveland, except the ballot numbers should have been #351 through #390 instead of #1 through #40 as shown on the roster. Your Region Tallying Committee has counted these two days ballots as valid ballots cast. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN The Port of Milwaukee, when sending in their stubs and unused ballots to Head­ quarters at the end of voting, failed to include the Certification statements with either of them for all sections. However, your Region Tallying Committee has counted the ballots from Milwaukee as valid ballots cast. LORAIN, OHIO The port of Lorain, oq March 11, 1965, failed to put the date or the name of the port on the outside of the envelope in which the ballots were mailed to the depository. Also, on the same date, the Dredge Section voided ballot stub #654 as well as an entry on the roster; however, your Region Tallying Committee has counted these days ballots for the port as valid ballots cast even though we were unable to find ballots for the day equal to the number of stubs issued for the day. . ( « • . I• . ,On March 18, the. Tug Section voided ballot stub #622 as well as the entry on the roster; hoivever, your l^egion Tallying Committee has counted this day's ballot iLl'iftn'^ Region Tallying Committee has counted both days ballots as valid ballots cast. On March 18, 1965, only two (2) members of the three (3) man Polls Committee for the Chicago signed the ballot envelope; however, your Committee, in checking rosters and the Special Meeting Minutes for the election of a Polls Committee, found all rosters for the name of three (3> of our members and that these three .3) members had been elected Polls Committee members and that two <2) of these three members names appeared on the ballot envelope. Your Region Tallying Committee has, therefore, counted this days ballots as valid ballots cast. DETROIT, MICHIGAN On the date of March 10th, 1965, the port of Detroit Polls Committee enclosed its rosters and Polls Committee minutes for the day in the ballot envelope that was mailed to the ballot depository. On March 19th, the Polls Committee enclosed the rosters for the day in the ballot envelope, that was mailed to the ballot depository. On the d^tes of March 12th, 1965 and March 16th, 1965, the ballot envelope failed to have included thereon in the blank spaces provided for that purpose, the name of the port or the date MAIL BALLOTS The following are the names of the members who requested, were entitled to, and were sent Absentee Ballots: Wollan, James A. Wilcox, Ellis J. Bowditch, Robert E. Henderson. Kelly Burdick, Waltri J. Yon, Merlin J. Dredge Section Dredge Section Dredge'Section Dredge Section Dredge Section Dredge Section Book#W-12052 Book#W-12021 Book #B-12022 Book #H-12036 Book #B-12060 Book #Y-12004 Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot #951 #952 #953 #954 #955 #956 Rasmussen, Carl Tug Tug Tug Tug Tug Tug Tug Tug Tug Tug Book #R-12008 Book #T-12029 Book #T-12033 Book #B-12050 Book #B-12025 Book #K-12010 Book #M-12068 Book #M-12150 Book #L-12044 Book #Y-12002 Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot Ballot #776 #777 #778 #779 #780 #781 #782 #783 #784 #785 Jr. Thompson, Stanley F. Bellant, Fi ancis J. Bennett, Herman J. Kingston, Willie McDonald, Robert C. Mlske, Alex Larkin, James E. Yletalo, Verner Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Our Talley of these mail ballots is given on our master (alley sheets for the whole election. It should be pointed out to the membership that the ballots used for the mail ballots were part of those that had been retained at Headquarters. That out of the sixteen (16) mail ballots sent out, only fifteen (15) of them were returned. This accounts for the discrepancy of one ballot that is shown in the report as having been issued but not accounted for in the total number of ballots cast. There were members who had requested mail ballots to whom none were sent since they did not meet the qualifications of voting by mail. These members have been dealt with previouly in this report. The following were the write-ins made during this election of officers for our Union: PORT SAULT STE. MARIE CHICAGO DREDGE SECTION NAME Harold F. Yon TUG SECTION Danile Boyle Edward Anderson Marvin Stetson John Thomas John Byrne DETROIT Max Tobin TOLEDO Filex Knitchell TITLE Assistant Regional Director Assistant Regional Director CONCLUSIONS: Your Committee finds that the balloting took place in strict accordance with the Constitution, and that what errors were made, were all of no imporance, and of no measurable effect and could not influence tbe voting results and were dealt with in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. It is, of course, impossible to talley write-in votes that were illegible or where the ballot has been defaced, therefore, in the case of write-ins that are illegible or when they appear on defaced ballots, this Committee has carried such ballots under the heading of Void ballots, in which category they properly belong. We recommend that the procedure on write-ins followed by this Committee be upheld, inasmuch as it is impossible to count write-in votes where the name written in is illegible or a voter defaces the ballot. If a man wants to write in a name, he ought to do so clearly if he wants his write-in to be effective, and he must be careful not to place illegal marks on the ballot. L. ALEXANDER, A-12013 M. DICKENS. D-12027 R. MAC DONALD, M-12062 S. STREIGHT, S-12039 • -•••••*"• •' ' "•** i.iiUVALL;lD-120i0'' W. SULLINS, S-12004 �SEAFARERS Page Sixteen Soviets Plan More Fishing Off U.S. Coast April 8, 1985 LOG Lifeboat Class 130 Goes into Books BOSTON—^The Soviets are con­ tinuing to press the expansion of their already vast and complex fishing operations in the North Atlantic, according to latest in­ formation. The Soviets are building a nev/ fleet of Vostok-class fish factory ships, and at least some of them are expected to show up in the traditional American fishing grounds off Cape Cod The Vostok-class sr.ips are each capable of carrying 14 smaller trawlers on deck. They are able to stay at sea for 125 days, and, during the course of a single voyage produce 10,000 tons of frozen fish, 1000 tons of fishmeal, 10 million cans of fish and about 100 tons of industrial fats. The news of the new Russian factory ships appeared in the Boston Blue Sheet, a local daily news bulletin of the fishing in­ dustry published by the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. Members of Lifeboat Class 130 sit for their graduation picture at SlU headquarters after Expansion of Soviet fishing op­ passing ail requirements for their Coast Guard lifeboat tickets successfully. The new grad­ erations in the North Atlantic uates are (l-r, front) Kenneth McAvoy, Juan Guerrero, Charles Miles, Francisco Tirado, Juan would be considered another set­ Landron; (rear, l-r) instructor Dan Butts, Jesus Landron, Walter Forsman, Epifanio Rodriguez back to American fishermen in and Handy Gordy. the area. Discovery of a 450-ton load of Soviet-caught codfish aboard a U.S.-flag freighter re­ cently brought protests from the SIUNA-affiliated Atlantic Fisher­ men's Union and other labor groups. The ILA refused to un­ load the cargo. While the shipment may have been a one-time only fluke, the U.S. fishing industry regards any NEW YORK—^Tlie rank and file credentials committees for the four regions of the Inland new Importation of fish into the country as a threat to its very Boatmen's Union of North America of the SIUNA-AGLIWD have reported on the eligibility existence. of nominees for delegate to the IBU convention. The committees elected by the Atlantic IBU Credentials Committees Act On Convention Delegates Lakes IBU Vote Tally Completed DETROIT—The Regional Tally­ ing Committee of the Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Region of the Inland Boatmen's Union, SlUNA has completed its report on the election of officers for the Region held during the month of March. As announced in the report of the Tallying Committee, Robert T. Jones was re-elected to the post of Regional Director. Richard L. Tillman was elected to the post of Assistant Regional Direc­ tor (Dredge Section), and Thomas J. Burns was elected to the post of Assistant Regional Director (Tug Section). The voting by members of the Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Re­ gion took place in the ports of Buf­ falo, New York; Ashtabula, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michi­ gan; Duluth, Minnesota; Lorain, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Saulte Ste. Marie, -Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio. The report of the Tallying Com­ mittee will be placed before the membership for approval at the next scheduled membership meet­ ing in April Balloting for the posts of Port Presidents will also take place at the regular April membership meetings of the Tug and Dredge Region in the Great Lakes ports mentioned above. The names of candidates for the posts of Port Presidents were made known to the membership in the Regional Director's Repprlj on tfie Election of Port Presidents. Coast, Gulf Coast, and Great regional directors were mailed to ballots to select the convention Lakes Tug and Dredge regions the members of the respective delegates on Monday, April 19, have found that all nominees regions on March 10, 1965^ 1965 at the Union halls in Jersey are qualified and shall be deemed elected pursuant to the reports filed by the three regional direc­ tors, dated March 8, 1965. The credentials committee for the Rail­ way Marine Region found all nomi­ nees qualified and in accordance with the Regional Director's report of March 8, 1965, an election will be held April 19, 1965 to determine the Convention delegates for the Region. The Special and Second Quad­ rennial Conventions of the Inland Boatmen's Union is scheduled to begin at 9:30 A.M., Thursday, May 27 at the Gramercy Inn, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Wash­ ington, D.C. Elected Committee The credentials committee for the Atlantic Coast has listed the following -three members as those who will serve as delegates from the region: Harry Hastings, H-26; George Hinkleman, H-30; and John Simpson, S-5279. The Gulf Coast credentials com­ mittee has announced the follow­ ing six members as those who will serve as delegates from the region; John Avery, A-5003; Joseph John­ son, J-5076; Gerald Keller, K-5000; George Jordan, J-5045; Luke LeBlanc, L-5221; and Claude New­ man, N-5083. The credentials committee for the Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Region has listed the following three members as those who will serve as delegates from the region: Robert Affleck, A-12018; Raymond Thompson, T-12011; and Wayne Weston, W-12002. The credentials committees for the four regions were elected at special membership meetings held on March 29. The meetings were held in New York for the Atlantic Coast, New Orleans for the Gulf The reports of the credentials Coast, Jersey City for the Railway committees will be presented in Marine Region and Detroit for the detail to the IBU membership in Great Lakes Tug and Dredge the Atlantic, Gulf Coast and Great Region. The committees checked Lakes Tug and Dredge Regions at the qualifications of all nominees the regular April meetings for apand certified they are eligible to run for convention delegate. RMR Election The credentials committees of the Atlantic, Gulf and the Great The Railway Marine Region Lakes Tug and iDredge regions credentials committee has certified referred to the reports of the three the following four members as regwnal directors dated March 8, qualified to serve as convention tarnioVi provided nt*rktri/1AH the 4-nA following: tAlirkitrmcr* "In **in _ _ . _ _ which delegates from the region; Joseph the event the number of qualified J. Fadde, F-20000; John A. Fornominees is equal to, or does not sythe, F-20033; Dennis M. Lee, Lexceed the number of delegates 20054; and James P. Waters, W^ to be elected to these conventions, 20000. The committee noted that such nominees shall be deemed to since the RMR is entitled to only be the convention delegates. two delegates to, .the IBU convenThe March 6 reports of the fourition, SMR members will cast their City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk. Voting will take place between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Members of the RMR will elect polls and tally committees at each port on April 19 at special meet­ ings to be held between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. These committees will be responsible for conducting the elections in each port. Special membership meetings for RMR members will be held In each port on Wednesday, April 21, 1965 at 1:00 PM to act upon the final report of the Polls and Tally committees. Portland Updating Facilities PORTLAND, Ore. —A longrange waterfront development pro­ gram, including a new container handling area for the SIU Pacific District-contracted Matson Navi­ gation Co., is being planned to im­ prove cargo handling, transporta­ tion and industrial facilities here. The plan calls for estimated ex­ penditures of $120 million over the next 35 years. A priority system has been adopted for start­ ing four major pier construction projects in the near future. A large area at Terminal 4 is slated for conversion into a con­ tainer handling area for the ulti­ mate use of Matson Navigation. The container area is expected to be ready within a year, according to the Commission of Public Docks here. A later step In the rehabili­ tation of Terminal 4 will improve the area's grain-handling capacity. UIW Reports OnConvention Delegates NEW YORK—The rank and file credentials committees of the United Industrial Workers of North America of the SIUNA-AGLIWD have reported to their Regional Directors that nominees for the position of delegates to the Union Convention from the Atlantic and Gulf coast regions are fully quali­ fied and shall be deemed elected, pursuant to the UIW Regional Di­ rector's reports of March 8, 1965. The UIW will hold its Special and Second Quadrennial Conven­ tions at 9:30 AM, Wednesday, May 26 at the Gramercy Inn, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Wash­ ington, D.C. The credentials committees were elected on March 29 at special meetings in New York, for the At­ lantic Coast region, and in New Orleans for the Gulf Coast region. The committees checked the quali­ fications of all nominees and cer­ tified that they are eligible to run for convention delegate. The credentials committees re­ ferred to the UIW Regional Direc­ tors' reports of March 8 which pro­ vided the following: "In the event the number of qualified nominees is equal to, or does not exceed the number of delegates to be elected to these conventions, such nominees shall be deemed to be Seafarers being admitted to a elected convention delegates." The Public Health hospital are UIW Regional Directors' reports urged to carry with them their of March 8, 1965 were mailed to Union book plus proof of ell-' the membership of the Union on gibility for SIU b e n e fi t s; March 10, 1965. namely, a record that they have The Atlantic Coast credentials at least 90 days seatime during committee has listed the following the previous year and at least one day during the previous six six members as those to serve as months. Failure to have the delegates from the Atlantic Coast proper credentials will cause a region: John Dwyer, D-10034; Mark delay in payments to the Sea­ Evans, E-10073; Warren Leader, L-10140; Ralph Quinonez, Qfarer. If the Seafarer Is admitted to 10003; Matty Stucchio, S-10041; a hospital which is not a PHS and Lee Wynn, W-10287. The credentials committee for institution, he should contact the Union* immediately. The the Gulf Coast has certified Paul Union will arrange with the Drozak, D-10236, to serve as con­ USPHS for a transfer.to a Pub­ vention delegate for the Gulf lic Health hospital in'*his vicin­ Coast region. ity. The PHS will not pick up The committee's reports will be the hospital tab for private presented in detail to the UIW hospital care, unless it is noti­ membership at the regular April fied, in advance. , , . , , meetings of the A.tlantic. qnd Gulf coast regions for approvaL - Prove Eligibility For Hospital $ �April t. 1961 SEAFARERS Cuba Blacklist Figure Hoids At 237 Vesseis WASHINGTON—Two new shape have been added to the blacklist of ahips forbidden to haul U.S. Government cargoes because they have traded with Cuba, the Maritime Administra­ tion has announced. Two vessels have been removed from the Ust however—so the number of vessels on the blacklist remained vteady at 237 for the two week period ending March 15. In addition, the MA announced, the Government of Israel has agreed to keep all Its ships—about 75—out of the Cuban trade. Added to the list during the last period were the Lebaneseflag Maria Despina^—7,254 tons and the Finnish-flag Margrethe Paulin—7,251 tons. Off the list are the Greek-flag Everest of 7,031 tons and the Israeli-flag Daniela, 608 tons. In addition to Israel, Spain is the only other country to pledge to keep all of their ships out of the Cuban trade since the U.S. set up the blacklist. The total of ships pledged out of the Cuban trade is now 791. Cuba meanwhile, has announced a proposed expansion of its own merchant fleet which could make the U.S. embargo un­ workable. A recent announcement from the Cuban capitol claimed that the Castro regime has one of the fastest-growing merchant navies in the world, and plans to have the biggest merchant fleet of all the Latin-American nations within the next two years. Sea Land Protests New Rail Rate Cuts WASHINGTON—The continuing favorable treatment the Interstate Commerce Commission has given to the railroads on rate setting practices has brought a sharp protest from the SIU-contracted Sea-Land• Service, which is seeking can­ two city administrations—Long cellation and investigation of Beach and Oakland, California. rail rate cuts on the shipment of canned produce from the west coast. The Sea-Land protest against the rate cuts maintained that "it is much more than likely that canned goods revenues are being consciously sacrified (by the rail­ roads) in order to drive out intercoastal competition both eastbound and westbound." The water carrier called the cuts a "destructive competitive practice proscribed by the Na­ tional Transportation Policy" and charged that they were "unjust and unreasonable." The rail rates, posted with the I.C.C., went into effect on March 19. Sea-Land's protest against them was joined by west coast produce packers and Delta Offering New Venezuela Passenger Run WASHINGTON — SlU-contracted Delta Steamship Lines is now offering passenger service from Venezuela to U.S. Gulf ports. It was announced here recently. The additional service to be offered by Delta is expected to improve participation of U.S. ships in the passenger trade in the area. No U.S. combination passenger ship service has been available from Venezuela to U.S. Gulf ports, although some passenger accom­ modations in freight ships are available. The new service has the approval of the Commerce Depart­ ment. Delta operates the three com­ bination passenger-cargo ships Del Mar, Del Norte, and Del Sud on U.S. Trade Route 20, U.S. GulfEast Coast of South America. The ships carry 119 passengers each. Delta also ^operates ten freighters on Trade Route 20 and on Service 2 of Trade Route 14 (U.S. GulfWeSt Africa; ; ' ' - • - The rail rate reductions will have an impact on iis Intercoastal operations, Sea-Land maintains, because much of those operations are devoted to the transport of canned produce. Sea-Land has said that it will be forced to reduce its own freight rates to meet the rail­ road competition. Page Seventeen LOG Poverty In Aloskan Boondocks Called Worse Than Appalachia BRISTOL BAY, Alaska—^With congressional passage of the Aid to Appalachia Bill now a reality, many interested Americans are pointing out that there are other areas of the U.S. also held tightly in the grip of poverty—a poverty which in many cases is even more severe than that facing the inhabit->ants of the economically de­ the hardships faced this winter in fast—about 8 feet above regular the Bristol Bay area. high water mark, that over 100 pressed Appalachia region. A teacher employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Kwethluk, an Eskimo village in a remote area near Fairbanks, Alaska, recently described con­ ditions in the village which, she said, "Could make Appalachia seem like a palatial wonderland by comparison." What she described was families with up to 10 children living in one-room homes, the largest of which "are 18 by 20-feet. The village Is accessible only by air and so remote that even getting food and blankets for the cruel Alaskan winters is almost impossible. "From around November 20th, 1964 up to around March 3rd," he writes, "there was a cold spell, zero and below temperatures . . . and snow over the roof-tops and six or seven feet on the flats and level—one of the toughest winters on record . . . even to the oldest of the old timers. "Prior to freeze up, in midOctober, a big storm came up here raising the high tide some six to eight feet on the lower Nushagak River and doing considerable damage to villages." Drowned Sled Dogs At the village of Togiak, Down­ ey writes, "the tide came in so sled dogs chained up were drowned before they could be turned loose . . . washed out cabins, flooded all their winter grubstakes—oil, etc., and moved the church clear across the creek. "A couple of days ago, a couple of cannery buildings collapsed with the weight of all the snow . . . and March and April are gen­ erally noted as snow months around this way." As for the small villages, he writes, they are mostly "fifty years behind the times in water, sewer and sanitation systems which in most northern villages are prac­ tically non-exis'tent." Personal Experience "Just a couple of weeks ago," the teacher reports, "I was called upon in the middle of the night to double for midwife (doctors naturally are almost unknown in such areas—Editor's note) and during the hours I waited for the baby I almost froze. "There were two shelves used for beds, two blankets serviced the parents and five children, and the only food in the home was dry fish. Added to thg normal difficulties of an Eskimo winter, was the fact that this past winter (which is still far from over in these northern areas) was a particularly bad one, with severe storms and snowfall. The LOG recently received a let­ ter from Jim Downey, an official of the SlU-affiliated Bristol Bay Resident Cannery Workers Local 46, in which he described some of By Cal Tanner, Executive Vice-President Maritime's WWII Role Overlooked A Strong American merchant marine has a dual purpose In keeping our country strong. It's first and primary purpose is to transport the goods, insuring the position of the U.S. as the world's number one trad­ ing nation. The second purpose is to back up the country's military establishment, fulfilling the vital role of ferrying men, supplies, weapons and ammunition without which our armed forces cannot sur­ vive overseas. The heroic performance turned in by our merchant marine In keeping supplies flowing across the U-boat infested Atlantic during World War II has been recounted time and again, but the Maritime Administration and other govermnent officials seem to have forgotten this impressive record of success. Every time the MA budget is slashed, every time applications for government assistance to cargo and bulk carriers are rejected, and every time Federal officials permit the transfer of a governmentsubsidized vessel manned by American seamen to foreign-flag registra­ tion, irreparable harm is done to the service that the U.S. maritime industry can render to the nation's defenses. While MA officials are more often than not content to turn their backs when it comes time to consider policies that would build a strong U.S. maritime, military officials -f know that this continuing neglect participating in Steel Pike in­ can lead to a national disaster. cluded the SlU-manned Couer Two high U.S. naval officials D'Alene Victory (Victory Carriers) have recently issued public state­ and the Del Sol (Delta Lines). ments emphasizing the vital role These two vessels were part of a of U.S. merchant ahips in mili­ civilian force that landed some tary operations should this coun­ 60,000 Spanish and American try be confronted by a national troops with their weapons and emergency. Vice Admiral John S. equipment on the coast of Spain McCain, Jr., commander of the last fall for joint maneuvers. Navy's amphibious force during the After landing the role of the recent successful land-sea maneu­ merchant marine in the exercise ver "Operation Steel Pike," both before a hearing of the House had high praise for the perform­ Merchant Marine Committee, Ad­ ance of U.S.-flag merchant ships miral McCain declared he could participating In the exercise. not conceive of undertaking a maThe Amerlcah ' inHerchani fleet , '*(;iCdntinued '6n page 23V Protect Your Health! Donate Blood In the surgery in a large hospital the nurse hooked up the fourth flask of blood to the tube leading into Jimmy's arm. The surgeons were suc­ cessfully tying off the bleeding artery in the boy's leg, severed by a fall through a glass door. On the floor above, other physicians were slowly pumping blood in and out of an infant bom of a mother whose blood was of a different type. On the medical floor, a patient with a severely bleeding ulcer was being transfused, buying time until he could be put back in good enough condition for surgery. In the hospital's central supply rooms a nurse was carefully checking the supply of bottles just received from the blood bank for the patient about to go in for open-heart surgery. Naturally, all this blood must come from soihewhere. But where? Most likely it came from the hospital's blood bank. Where did fliey get it? They got it from Tom, Dick, and Mary who volunteered to donate blood as a public service or to have credit if they required it. If it is required for you, it must be replaced from a blood bank of which you are a member. Except for the patient going to the open-heart unit, none of those who were getting blood had any idea the day before that they might need it. The hospital and the -f bank knew, for there is a fairly blood have been solved, as it has predictable volume of transfusion become more readily available, need in any community and these and as the value of transfusions demands are pretty well charted. has become more appreciated, a Depend on Volunteers peculiar difficulty has arisen: Peo­ Most of the blood banks depend ple are taking it for granted. on volunteers to step up to the The glamour of giving blood has tables and give a pint of their worn off. The publicity value seems blood as a public service, or as a to have paled and the attention member of an organization. A of the public has turned to other union or a club can establish a things. Every blood bank has ex­ pool of credit for its members so perienced periods when their sup­ that when one of them needs a plies were so short as to threaten transfusion, the credit may be their ability to meet even the dras­ drawn without having to be round­ tic emergencies for which there ed up In haste at the time of need. was no other treatment, reported A very handy reserve. the MD COLUMN of the Group Time was when this was not so. Health Association of America, The little boy with the severed Inc. vessel might bleed to death before SIU Supply his parents op friends could be rounded up, cross matched and To have blood available for bled to try to meet his needs. members and their dependents, the World War II virtually brought Seafarers' Welfare Plan has a the blood bank Into being, mostly Blood Bank in Brooklyn. The for the military uses, but their im­ Union has Blood Bank arrange­ portance for the civilian sector was ments through all Port Agents. equally great. By the end of hostil­ The demands for blood from these ities nearly every good sized com­ banks are so great that we are munity had a start on a bank. constantly in short supply. Sea­ The methods of keeping blood farers and their dependents have have greatly improved, standards used 4,429 pints from the Blood for the operation of the banks have Bank in Brooklyn'since its incep­ been developed, and the techniques tion. Blood cannot be obtained of cross matching the blood of the from a supply house—you are the donor and the recipient have been only source of blood. In order that greatly improved. Today the avail­ you and your loved ones will have ability of blood is as important as this life saving fluid available when the availability of antibiotics; per­ needed, it is necessary for you to haps even more so, since one can donate blood. Don't say tomorrow! usually wait for the antibiotic but DONATE NOW! The ideal time is too often the blood is needed im­ when you report to the clinic for mediately for emergencies. your examination. Come prepared As ihe problems of handling the I (Coiitiniied' on page 22) �SEAFARERS Pag* ElgMecB Apra B. ms LOG Selma, Alabama Racists Began As Union-Busters SELMA, Ala.—The armed, mounted civilian posse responsible for so much of the bru­ tality against civU rights demonstrators here had its origins as an anti-labor force in 1958. It was first organized by Sheriff Jim Clark to combat union activities in the area. Clark himself, has admitted plant frcHn time to time during march, the city's public safety that the posse was first organ­ free periods and If whites and director, Wilson Baker, begged ized "to handle labor strikes Negroes were sitting together he'd Clark: "Let me handle it. Just The inherent instability of a space capsule in water makes attachment of a floatation collar necessary as soon as possi­ ble after touchdown. Successful Space Flights Often End In Seasickness CAPE KENNEDY—When the Gemini space capsule "Molly Brown" set down in the South Atlantic at the end of her epic journey last week, astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young were forced to swapttheir space skills for sea legs by the medical men of the space until recovery could be af­ program. On each test landing fected. As seafarers (if only for an hour), they were subject to the hazards of the trade. One of the chief of these, as most oldtimers know, is what used to be called under the fancy name of "Lord Nelson's disease"—^plain old sea­ sickness. The spacemen were even more prone to it than a sailor out in a gale on an old Liberty ship. For the Gemini capsule they piloted, unlike the earlier Mercury craft, was designed to float not upright but on its side. For the astronauts it was like riding a roller coaster while almost standing on their heads. Major Grissom, for example, was so strapped in that when the ship hit the water his head made a deep arc each time the capsule bobbed in a swell. Lt. Cmdr. Young, halflying on his side, had his head pulled violently forward with each movement of the capsule. Grissom suffered the most. The veteran astronaut, who named the capsule after the "unsinkable Molly Brown" because his first Mercury craft had gone down to the deep six, became seasick 28 minutes after landing. He became nauseous and had to use the plastic bag provided for that contingency. Young also reported being seasick but less violently so. Perhaps because he was an old Navy man, or so the sailors of the world would like to think. The illness had been predicted I Editor. ' ; prior to the actual flight, at least one of the astronauts became ill. To counteract seasickness, both men were provided with Tigan, a newly developed anti-motion drug. Results proved that the drug was something less than wholly ef­ fective. This also was expected. Science has discovered that there can be little remedy to offer when the sea decides to get up her furlSs. Riding in a small capsule tossed about like a canoe in a storm will get to almost anybody sooner or later. The secret of seasickness, ac­ cording to the scientists, lies in the inner ear. Here there are three semi-circular tubes with liquid in them. As a person moves either his head or body, the fluid sloshes around and affects the nerve endings in the area. The nerves, in turn, pass signals on to the brain to tell the person how well he is balanced. By moving the head or body too violently, confusion is created in this delicate process and a person becomes first dizzy and then nauseous. This essentially, is what seasickness is, and it can happen anywhere—on a ship. In an air­ craft or on an amusement park ride. Scientists working in the field of space medicine are concerned with the problem of seasickness. Thus Seafarers may someday bene­ fit from this aspect of the space program, should a really effective seasickness preventive ever be found. and any other things going on. This statement was made on a nationwide television broadcast over the American Broadcasting Company on March 7. T. H. Vincent, regional director of the United Packinghouse Work­ ers, filled in the details of the story. He said that UPW.A was striking two plants of the Ziegler Packing Co. in Bessemer and Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1958. The third plant was at Selma and some of the strikers, mostly women, \/ent to Selma to try to win support from the work­ ers there. "A peaceful picket line was set up," Vincent said. "Clark arrived on the scene with one or two deputies. He acted like a maniac. He stuck his finger in the face of Ray Morgan, one of our inter­ national reps, almost touching Ray's nose and said; " 'You'd better be careful. As far as I'm concerned you're the leader of an unorganized mob and mobs mean trouble.'" Morgan and Clark argued for a period and finally the sheriff said that one of the reasons he was there was that the plant manager was opposed to the picketing, Clark left, Vincent said, "but not before he threatened to jail us if we continued." "Later two people from inside the plant came out to the picket line with auto jacks, shouting threats to us. Since most of our pickets were women, two of our men met them," the union leader said. "Our men gave one a bloody nose and the other a cut lip. This was all Clark needed. He put the two men in his car and paraded them around the area shouting, 'This is what they call peaceful picketing.'" Vincent said that "late In the afternoon Clark showed up to warn us that if we showed up again we'd be thrown In Jail. Since most of our people were women, and knowing something about Clark's reputation, we decided to leave town, "We were Informed that early the next morning 50 to 75 farmers on horseback, deputized by Clark, showed up at the plant. They car­ ried rifles, squirrel guns and baseball bats. "The way people were keyed up by Clark, this posse was set, for anything that could happen, I've no doubt about that. That is the way Clark works. He excites peo­ ple, gets them worked up to a point where they will do things which he cannot do." Methods Breed Violence Vincent added that "having worked In the area some 15 or 20 years and seen the way Clark operates, I have no doubt that the atmosphere created led to violence down here." He explained that every time he came into town one of Clark's men would follow him and stay with him during the entire time he was in Selma. Vincent recalled, also, some of Clark's antics at the Swift cotton seed oil plant in Selma, which UPWA represented until recently. "Clark would come Into; the order them to separate." The only <Hganized plant in Selma today is the Independent Lock Company and the Inter­ national Union of Electrical Work­ ers has the bargaining rights. lUE was decertified several years ago after strong pressures were placed on the workers to vote against the union, "After one year without a union," an lUE spokesman said, "the workers had enough. They voted for lis in a labor board election." Selma Is a major population center in Alabama's Black Belt. Over 57 percent of the tfoimty's 57,000 people are Negro; fewer than 2 percent of the eligible Negroes are registered to vote. Apart from voting rights, merely to be a person in Alabama isjiot easy. When reporters asked Sheriff Clark if a woman defend­ ant was married, he replied, "She's a nigger woman and she hasn't got a Miss or a Mrs. in front of her name." "Alabama's first, largest and most active chapter of the White Citizens Council was born here," a white citizen boasted. ' A White Citizens Council rally a few weeks ago, featuring former Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, drew 1,500 whites. Council leader­ ship and the town's political and economic leadership are entwined. Former Selma Mayor Chris Heinz is the new president of the Citizens Council. Clark said recently the council "does a good job." wait a minute and they'll be all right." Clark snapped back, "I've waited too long already," and drove away. After demonstrators were beaten during the march. Baker told a civil rights worker, "They've taken it out of my hands." Gulf Coast (Continued from page 12) expects to be okay soon, however, and is visiting with friends while recuperating. Johnny Ward made one voyage as engine utility on the Del Sud and had to get off to go into the hospital w^here he has been for nearly a month. Percy Libby, another of the .real oldtimers, is in the hospital after a long stay on the Del Norte in a watchman's job. In good health and fine voice is "Gator Mouth" Bates who was very much in evi­ dence at the last membership meeting. Buck Estrada has been enjoying his vacation. Ray DeShong, one of the veterans of the American Coal Beef bad to leave his job on the Del Santos because of illness. Ray is getting along fine, however, and is now on outpatient status from the hospital. MobUe Robert L. Kelly, who has been shipping SIU almost since the or­ ganization of the union, got off the Alcoa Runner after about two years to enjoy a vacation with his family. He is -registered in Group 2 of the deck department. Demetrio Miofas, who was a messman on Ten Years of Racist Role the Alcoa Runner, also got off for Clark was first elected in 1955, a rest. He lives in Daphne, Ala. and has won re-election since then. Jerry L. Carl is about ready to He faces three Justice Department take the first AB job to hit the suits charging him with interfer­ board. His last ship was the Ocean ing with and intimidating i>otential Ulia, a coastwise supertanker. Negro voters and staff workers After staying on a fireman's job from the Student Nonviolent Co­ on the Bradford Island for about ordinating Committee (SNCC). eight months, George W. William­ Clark's proposal for solving son came ashore to vacation with Selma's racial troubles is for "out­ his wife and children. Harold side agitators" to leave and "let Keith got off the Northwestern Alabama handle Its own Victory and registered in Group problems." 2, Engine Department. He has been The sheriff always carries an shipping out of. Gulf ports for electric cattle prod, which he de­ about 20 years. Robert Sanchez scribes as a "most humane instru­ who had been chief steward on ment." He is usually accompanied the supertanker Mayflower for sev­ by some members of his 300-man- eral years until the ship was laid up recently is registered in Group strong civilian posse. 1-S and hoping to get back out Clark and Colonel A1 Lingo, soon. head of "the Alabama State Patrol, Houston are good friends. Clark says he has "been in daily contact with Lingo" Salvador Blanco isn't entirely and that "Colonel Lingo and I sold on the "romance run." He got have worked very close since off the Del Mar after two trips to (Martin . Luther) King came to South America. Now he is looking Selma" last January. The Dallas for a Mediterranean or a Far East County sheriff has supplied Lingo run. Jimmy Byrd checked in at the with the services of his armed hall and registered in Group 1 of militia. Clark and his posse have the Deck Department after getting appeared to put down racial off the Kent when the ship was demonstrations in Birmingham, laid up in Jacksonville. Byrd was Tuskegee, Gadsden and at the bosun on the Kent's last voyage University of Alabama. In to Bombay. Johnny says the crew Notasulga, the sheriff himself pulled white photographer Vernon was one of the finest he has ever Merritt from a school bus, beat him sailed with, t^harles F. Sherhans took an AB's job on the Bangor to and smashed bis camera. India. His last ship was the coast­ Selma's newly elected city ad­ wise eontainershiip Beauregard. ministration, while maintaining a Gordon Wheeler is looking for a "bard line" on segregation and long trip going anywhere. Donald Negro registration, differs with H. "Trader" Horn got off the Our Clark on handling racial protests. Lady of Peace after a trip to Al­ Merchants here privately say their giers. He said it was a good trip business is down since large scale after two months on toe beach he arrests began. During one recent 1 is ready to go. . A �MIS, IMS SEAFARERS Page mnefeea LOG Don't Delay On Heat Beefs Now that the (»Id weather is here, Seafarers are reminded tiut heating and lodging beefs in the shipyard can be easily handled If the ship's delegate promptly notifies the captain or chief engineer and shows them the temperature reading at the time. Crewmembers whb beef to themselves about the lack of heating but wait three, or four days before making the problem known to a respon­ sible ship's officer are only making things tougher for themselves. The same applies when shipyard workers are busy around living quarters. Make sure you know where and when the work was done so that the SIU patrolman has the facts, available in order to make a determination. r SAN FRANCISCO (Sea-Land), March 3—Chairman, Clarence Hill; Secretary, Rocer Hall. Ship's delegate reported that everything is running smoothly. $7.64 in ship's fund. It was request^ that crewmembers dona.e fifty cents each to purchase new antenna for TV. Mm L05MAR (Cnlnial), OeC. 28—Cliaif. man, Anton Vukinick; Secretary, J. Bartier. Brother Russell M. Wright was elected to serve as new ship's dele­ gate. No beefs reported by depart­ ment delegates. Discussion on TV repairs. Feb. 14—Chairman, B. M. Romanoff; Secretary, T. Mignano. Minor beefs were all settled and everything is O.K. now. iK OVERSEAS JOYCE (Maritima Over­ seas), Feb. 27 — Chairman, John J. Hewarth, Jr.; Secretary, John H. McElroy. Some disputed OT in deck de- partment delegates. Srothw Robert Mull was elected to serve as ship's delegate. WESTERN HUNTER (Western Agen­ cy), March 8—Chairman, W. T. Langford; Secretary, L. O. Smith. $40 in ship's fund. One man was hospital­ ized in Ras Tanura. Feb. 28—Chatiman, William Fnllint; Secretary, W. T. Langferd. $40 in ship's fund. To contact headquarters about hiring aliens in foreign ports. ROBIN GRAY (Robin Lines), Feb. 8—Chairman, G. Mulholland; Sec­ retary, A. D. Nastk $20.14 in ship's fund. Brother K. Nichols resigned as ship's delegate and was extended a vote of thanks by the crew. Brother A. O. Nash was elected to serve in his place. ALCOA TRADER (Alcoa), March 14— Chairman, Thomas J. Fay; Secretary, Nick Martin. Some disputed OT in deck and engine departments. Vote of thanks to the steward department for a job well done. ATLAS (Burbank), Feb. 28—Chair­ man, W. J. Anderson; Secretary, Alfred Hirsch. $38 in ship's fund. No beefs reported by department delegates. partment. Discussion on repairs. Vote of thanks to the steward department LA SALLE (Waterman), March 18— for good food, even under trying con­ Chairman, Ed Moore; Secretary, W. ditions. ' Beckford. Ship sailed short one pantry man. No beefs reported by depart­ FLOMAR (Calmar), Feb. 28—Chair­ ment delegates. man, E. Luzier; Secretary, J. Funk. $16.50 in ship's fund. No beefs re­ NATIONAL SEAFARER (Windward), ported by department delegates. Feb. 14—Chairman, Joe Selby; Secre­ tary, J. T. Leiinski. Discussion about ERNA ELIZABETH (Overseas Naviga­ headquarters being consulted atiout subsistence for all the blackouts crew tion), March 8—Chairman, L. Clark; Secretary, M. K. Pierce. Everything is had. Motion made that members not sign on until ship gets cold water or running smoothly with no beefs. portable water coolers. OCEANIC SPRAY (American Oce­ anic), Feb. 28—Chairman, L. 0. Dasey; Secretary, D. Gadner. $11 in ship's fund. Ship is short of money for draws. Ship to be fumigated while in shipyard in Yokohama. KEN MAR (Calmar), March 4—Chair­ man, V. Douglas; Secretary, V. Doug­ DEL RIO (Delta), Feb. 28—Chairman, las. Some disputed OT reported by deck delegate which will be taken up A. Abram; Secretary, A. Tolentino. Mo­ tion made that patrolman be con­ with patrolman. tacted about getting a new brand of coffee aboard. Otherwise, there are ALCOA VOYAGER (Alcoa), March 7— no beefs. Chairman, Edgar R. Hauser; Secretary, Victor M. Perez. One crewmember was SEAMAR (Calmar), March 8—Chair­ hospitalized in Calcutta, India, and was returned to the States via air man, W. F. O'Brien; Secretary, Wm. T. travel, to be treated at USPHS hospi­ Rose. Brother George Litchfield was tal. Some disputed OT to be taken up elected to serve as ship's delegate. Discussion on having telephone in­ with patrolman. stalled in messhall. Also to have head­ quarters check on shortage of crew MT. VERNON VICTORY (Victory Car­ on board. riers), Feb. 20—Chairman, Peter Pat­ rick; Secretary, H. Meredith. $20 in SANTA EMILIA (Liberty Navigation), ship's fund. Some disputed OT in each department to be taken up with Feb. 21—Chairman, E. M. Bryant; Sec­ patrolman. Brother Walter Lungren retary, George Hair. Brother Ernest was elected to serve as ship's dele­ Bryant resigned as ship's delegate and gate. Vote of thanks to Brother Tom Brother T. Gerber was elected to serve. Fleming, outgoing ship's delegate, for It was suggested that the Company be fine job he did representing the crew. contacted regarding the dirty water Captain extended a vote of thanks to aboard ship. Thirty-one rupees in the entire crew for their spirit and ship's fund. No beefs reported by de­ cooperation at Christmas time. Vote partment delegates. of thanks extended to Mr. Griffit, sec­ ond engineer, for his kind donation to SEATRAIN SAVANNAH (Seatrain), the cause during the Holiday Season. March 14—Chairman, Walter Brightwell; Secretary, Raymond L. Perry. No HASTINGS (Waterman), March 5— beefs reported by department dele­ Chairman, Woodron Roid; Secretary, gates. Brother S. Frank was elected John Wells. No beefs reported by de- to serve as ship's delegate. I ? '! I J- PETROCHEM (Valentine), Feb. IDChairman, J. D. Gribble; Secretary, F. S. Paylor. Ship's delegate reported that everything is running smoothly. Brother W. Matthews was elected to serve as ship's delegate, and Brother F. S. Paylor as ship's treasurer. g(;fiLV,VOiJ6ETT£f2 WATCH OUTYOU 60II4(9 WITH THIS (A 'k: % # % ^ •# ' A real bull session was going on in a foc'sle of the Globe Explorer (Sea Liberties) not too long ago, as a few old time Seafarers sat around discussing various aspects of the Sea­ farer's life. The breeze was really blowing, when Peter Wedrogowski walked into the room. "I was on a ship once," he-* — said, "down in the Red Sea, endeavor they choose to pursue. members in the recent SIU elec­ just cruising along, when all Eddie Tlllasol, ship's delegate tion of officers. "Every single full the sudden we heard the cry 'Man overboard.' We threw out a life ring, and then the CS^tain turned the ship around and we picked the man up a few minutes later. When we asked him how he came to fall off, he answered, 'Fell off? Nobody fell off! Somebody moved the ship.'" ^ Joe Ritcbhurg, the bosun aboard the Geneva (U.S. Steel) informed the crew that the regular safety meeting, which was soon to be held aboard the ship, would have a special feature. Cries of "Girls" and "Money" were soon quieted by the announcement that they would see some movies on safety. Bather disappointed, but maintaining a stiff upper lip, one of the crewmembers quipped, "Oh, well, may­ be there'll be some glrls-ln the movie." 4" 4" aboard the Bangor (Bermuda) is no exception. Vdllasol was only recently elected ship's delegate, and in order to do his best for the crew, he has come up with a simple rule to make his job successful. "When a man has a beef," he says, "he should take it first to the department delegate. Then either the delegate can settle the beef or bring it to me. Eddie has one additional thought about the rule. "It takes the co­ operation of every Union man aboard to make it work. If you want a good trip, and want-to help me represent you in the best way possible, all you have to do is follow the recipe." Villasol claims that the formula is quite success­ ful, and hdps to make for pleasant trip. i 4. The crew of the Steel Ret (Isthmian) has finally det what to do u... the money the company awarded them for having the safest ship in the fleet during the last six months of last year. They spent it for a television set, which has Swartjes been installed aboard the ship, and had $57 left over. "We are still trying to decide what to do with the rest of the cash," reports ship's delegate Hendrik J. Swartjes. The steward department of the Mominc Light (Waterman) re­ cently pulled a switch on the crew. Instead of the steward de­ partment getting the vote of thanks, the stew­ ard department voted a special thanks to the crew for their Caldwell efforts in keeping a clean messroom and pantry. "It makes it easier on everybody when we have this kind of cooperation," says ship's delegate David Cald­ $1 jli well. Anguished cries have been heard it 4' 4i coming from the laundry room All great men have a formula aboard the Cities Service Norfolk for success in whatever line of (Cities Service), repoiTs ship's delegate F. F. Flanagan. The wash­ ing machine has been tearing up the crew's clothes, he says, and the men are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new machine. Lakes Stoker 4i Edwin Campbell, a member of the SIU Great Lakes Dis­ trict, stokes a boiler on the Henry R. Piatt (Gartland), a coal burning bulk carrier. The photo was snapped by Fred Shannon who is also a member of the ship's engine department. 4" 4- book member aboard this ship voted by absentee ballot," Rocky •aid, "while we were in Karachi, West Pakistan. t t 4. The ships delegate aboard the Steel Surveyor (Isthmian) recently discovered exactly how wonderful peace really is, reports meeting chairman Joseph Catalonotto. Dur­ ing a shipboard meeting, the dele­ gate said to his fellow Union mem­ bers, "If there are any beefs, bring them up now or forever hold your peace." Catalonotto was pleased to hear that not a word was said. "So was the delegate," he says. 4" 41 4" nfarers Eladie Grajales sent r to the LOG recently bursth pride. The letter was an .•ement that his daughter, a Grajales, has become en- Eladio and America Grajales gaged to a home town boy down there in New Orleans where the Grajales family lives. Eiadlo is popping his buttons and wants the world to know why. Although the date for the wedding has not yet been decided upon, the couple have already made plans to spend their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Gra­ jales has been sailing SIU since 1944, and last sailed aboard the Oceanic Tide (Oceanic Ore). LOG-A-RHYTHM: Traveler Seafarere aboard the Spitfire (American Bulk Carriers) recently found themselves retrieving their _By Frances K. Hirschy, desserts from the ceiling of the The following log-a-rhylhm was messroom, reports Robert Ruther­ written by Mrs. Frances Kano Hirschy ford, ship's delegate. "There was In memory of her late brother. Sea­ farer James Francis Kane who was no disturbance," he says, "it's just lost overboard while sailing on the that the baker aboard cooks such Deborah in February, 1936. light and fluffy pastries and cakes that they just float away if we He'd been around the world in don't hang on to them. A rousing ships vote of thanks to a very fine baker. A dozen times, or more— Saw pyramids, France, Italy 4" 4« 4And Tripoli's golden shore; Edward (Rocky) ACams, ship's delegate of the Steel Voyager, (Isthmian) had good reason to be Vieiced sunset over Timbuktu, proud of the his fellow Seafarers Heard rolling waves at dawning. during their last trip. The Voy­ ager, which paid off in New York, Good night. Good night. Goad night. Dear Heart, not too long ago, baa one hundred I'll see you in the morning. percent participation of full book \T'&ALLGBTriNe OUT OF HANP - IT'S W-WMAr's AlOfglSHr—' cA rHAT» <9 IT'S UNNATURAL- ^ nCAhlOHLY tfAp TO ONE If 3 �Page Twenty SEAFARERS SIU Letter Writers Find Opinions Count In Capital Two Seafarers who have let their voices be heard on two important national problems— the diminishing American merchant fleet and medical care for the aged—have learned that their opinions count in our nation's capital. Evidence that their opinions carry weight in the lawmaking process came"*" of interest to his Representative, in the form of two letters, one in behalf of President Johnson. Commissioner Ball reported that Paul G. Rogers (D.-Fla.) The from the President of the the Congressional deadlock over article, Which described the Gov­ United States, and the other from the President's Medicare bill in the ernment's neglect of the U.S. a member of the U.S. House of last Congress had held up action maritime industry, was forwarded on the bill. He assured the SIU to Rogers along with a letter con­ Representatives. oldtimer that President Johnson taining Polakoff's own personal The Seafarer who took his has pledged his continuing support comments on the U.S. maritime opinions to the chief executive was of legislation which would insure situation. 'Captain' Wiiliam P. Driscoll, a hospital insurance for the aged and Keep U.S. Fleet retired Union member who now would increase social security In his letter to Representative lives in Sailors Snug Harbor, benefits. He further pointed out Staten Island. Driscoll wrote the that these measures had received Rogers, who is a member of the President about the desirability of high priority on the President's House Merchant Marine Commit­ legislation providing hospital in­ list of proposals that would receive tee, Polakoff said it is the com­ surance for the aged and received early consideration by the 89th mittee's job "to make sure that the American shipping companies two replies for Congress. stay under the American flag, his efforts. A veteran member of the stew­ employ American seamen who will The first came ard department, Driscoll started work under American employment from the Presi­ sailing under the SIU banner in standards." dent, thanking 1942 when he joined in Philadel­ Congressman Rogers wrote him for taking phia. Polakoff that he had found the the interest to LOG Article Told Story LOG'S "Maritime Muddle" story an write. A second, follow up letter The other public spirited letter- interesting one and appreciated came from Rob­ writer, was former Seafarer Ed­ the opportunity of reading it. He ert M. Ball, com­ ward Polakoff, Who thought that said that he would keep Polakoff Driscoll missioner of the the "Maritime Muddle" feature up to date on the progress of legis­ Social Security Administration that appeared in the October 16, lation affecting U.S. maritime who wrote a more extensive reply 1964 issue of the LOG would be Policy in this session. LOG-A-RHYTHM: The Seafarer April S, 19U LOG SIU Widow Thanks Crew For Donation CITY OP ALMA (Waterman), March 12—Chairman, Joseph Moodyi Sacratery, John Clark. Brothor Joseph Moody was elected to servo as ship's delegate. Everything Is running smoothly aboard ship. Patrolman to be contacted about repairs that should have been completed In shipyard. Vote of thanks to the steward depart­ ment operate In keeping out all natlvos hi foreign ports. TAMARA GUILDEN (Transport Com­ mercial), Feb. 27—Chairman, J. Brusei Secretary, R. Viloria. $1 In ship's fund. No beefs reported by department dele­ gates. Chief Electrician was elected to serve as ship's delegate. Motion made to have ship fumigated In Haifa. STEEL ARTISAN (Isthmian), March B—Chairman, Mike Carlini Secretary, Art Anderson. Brother Richard Deianey was elected to serve as ship's dele­ gate. Patrolman to be contacted In San Francisco regarding dirty water tanks.. No beefs reported by depart­ ment delegates. OVERSEAS EVA (Maritime Overseas), March S—Chairman, Wallace P. Anders son; Secretary, Jose B. Arceo. Soma disputed OT reported in deck end en­ gine departments, otherwise there era no beefs. It was suggested that the ship be fumigated for roaches. Broth­ er Wallace P. Anderson was elected to serve as new ship's delegate. BEAUREGARD (Sea-Land), March 1 March 14—Chairman, Jose B. Arceai —Chairman, C. B. Henbyi Secretary, Secretary, Jerry Green. Some disputed OT to be taken up with patrolman. Vote of thanks extended to the baker for the good baking. ALCOA EXPLORER (Alcoa), March 20 —Chairman, John Eddins; Secretary, 0. Fisher. Brother John Eddins was eiected to serve as ship's delegate. No beefs reported by department dele­ gates. Fazil All. Brother J. R. Batson was elected to serve as ship's deiegate. Drinking fountain In crew's quarters should be repaired, otherwise no beefs reported by department delegates. ALCOA TRADER (Alcoa), Feb. 28 — Chairman, Thomas Fay; Secretary, Thomas Magras. Brother Thomas Fay was elected to serve as ship's deie­ gate. Vote of thanks extended to the steward department for the good feed­ ing. No beefs reported. MARORE (Venore), March 7—Chair­ man, K. Skelley; Secretary, P. L. Shauger. Patrolman to be contacted re­ garding disputed OT for no launch service at Bombay. Otherwise, every­ thing is running smoothjy. JOSEFINA (J. H. Winchester), Feb. 27 —Chairman, R. W. Simpkins; Secre­ tary, H. G. Cracknell. Brother Willard C. Thayer was elected to serve as new ship's delegate. Delegate to see captain about painting out all living quarters. All hands requested to co­ TRANSHUOSON (Hudson Water­ ways), March 11—Chairman, Frederick Otto; Secretary^ Robert Gilbertson. Some disputed OT reported in each department. Discussion on the matter of poor medical attention aboard ship. Vote of thanks to the steward depart­ ment. CHATHAM (Waterman), March 14— Chairman, Robert Davis; Secretary, Sidney Garner. Brother Harry Galphin was eiected to serve as ship's deie­ gate. Vote of thanks to Brother Clyde Jernigan, former ship's deiegate, for a iob well done. ROBIN LOCKSLEY (Moore-McCormack), March 7—Chairman, W. E. Mes­ senger; Secretary, L. Gadson. Brother Hazel Johnson was elected to serve at ship's delegate. No beefs reported by department delegate. FAIRPORT (Waterman), Jan. 24 — Chairman, John A. Sullivan; Secretary, A. Kuberski. Ship's delegate resigned and was extended a vote of thanks for a job well done. Brother Frank Wranik was elected was elected to serve as new ship's delegate. $4.85 in ship's fund. SIU Convention Nominees (Continued from page 2) Pat Finnerty, F-12006. GLTD President's report of March 8, members elected the credentials 1965. Copies of this report had committee at a special meeting The following Log-a-Rhythm was submitted by Seafarer J. F. Wunderlich, Seafarers on the Steel Admiral been mailed to every member of in Detroit on March 29. who sails in the deck department. (Isthmian) have that warm feeling the AGLIWD on March 10, 1965. The credentials committees of He has traveled through many foreign lands that comes from giving assistance the United Industrial Workers has Members of the AGLIWD will He has crossed all seas on earth, to the family of a former ship­ vote to elect delegates to rep­ certified the following five mem­ He has sailed on tankers and rusty tramps mate. Saddened by the loss of resent them at the 12th Biennial bers as qualified to serve as del­ On windjammers he had his berth. egates to the SIUNA convention: Brother Julio Sarayno, who passed SIUNA convention on Monday, John Dwyer, D-10934; Mark April 19, 1965. Balloting will begin Many's the night when he's braved a storm away while the ship was In in all ports at 9 AM and continue Evans, E-10073; John Jackson, JWith his waist lashed to the wheel Djibouti, SIU crewmembers col­ ports at 9:00 AM and continue 10105; Warren Leader, L-10140; And kept her head pointing straight to the seas and Ralph Quinnonez, Q-10003. lected a total of $358.62 for his until 5:00 PM. The helm held with hands of steel. family in Brooklyn, writes Felix AGLIWD meinoers In each port The committee was elected at spe­ meetings held in New York His love is a ship, his mistress the sea will elect a Polls and Tally Commit­ cial Dayrit, a member of the Steel and New Orleans. The oceans his habit and home. tee between the hours of 8:00 AM Admiral's crew. Great Lakes District He is cursed with the fate that all Seafarers have and 9:00 AM at special meetings on A few weeks later, crewmembers April 19. These committees will Nominations for delegates to the Not to rest, but eternally roam. on the Admiral received a warm conduct the elections in each SIUNA convention from the Great Lakes District were made on It is true that some quit and head for dry land port. And then wish they were back out at sea. Special membership meetings March 15 1965 at the regular With their socks dripping salt, and spray in their face. will be held in each A&G port membership meetings of the dis­ Again they feel like men running free. on April 21, 1965 at 11:00 AM to trict. Ail nominees must submit act upon the final report of the their nominations or acceptance.? The bitter remorse is by salt washed away. combined Polls and Tally commit­ by wire, registered letter or in person, in accordance with in­ The ship will sail with the tide. tees. structions contained in the Secre­ Its crew cleansed of dirt from corruption ashore IBU tary-Treasurer's report, dated Just a shipmate by your side. The credentials committees for March 8, 1965. the Atlantic and Gulf Coast re­ A three man nominating com­ gions of the Inland Boatmen's Un­ Dayrif Sarqyno by Jim Mates ion has listed the following five mittee will be elected at the regu­ note of thanks from Mrs. Felisa members as those who will serve lar membership meeting in De­ troit port and headquarters on Sarayno, the former Seafarer's as delegates from the two regions: Monday, April 5, 1965. This com­ widow. Mrs. Sarayno's note said, Ray Herold, H-1; George Hinkle- mittee will pass on the eligibility man H-30; John Simpson, S-5279: "May I express my thankis from Joseph Trainor, T-5151; and Mar­ of all nominees. Its final report 'J.s.c.e. the bottom of my heart for this tin Gould, G-5000. Committee will be presented to the regular SEAtAE N 'js financial assistance given to my members were elected at special membership meeting to be held in Detroit on April 19, 1965. <g.ocu rv\E:ivjT-.S family given by your helping hands meetings held In New York and The Great Lakes District Sec­ at the time of my dear husband's New Orleans on March 29. retary-Treasurer's report of March The Railway Marine Region cre­ death. dentials committee has announced 8 provides that "in the event the "I can't find words to say how that the following two members number of qualified nominees is much I appreciate the concern you are eligible to serve as delegates equal to, or does not exceed the number of delegates to be elected showed to my family during this from the region to the SIUNA to these conventions such nomi­ terrible time." "May God be with convention: Gomer P. Mc- nees shall be deemed to be elected you always, and guide your daily Ginty, M-20000, and Edward B. convention delegates." In the a Pulver P-20000. The committee endeavors. I wish you good luck was eiected at a special meeting event that the number of qualified S=i and good health." held in Jersey City on March 29. nominees is greater than the num­ ber of delegates to be elected, the Brother Sarayno, a native of the The credentials committee of report provides that an election l^ilippines, died at the age of 66 the Great Lakes Tug and Dredge will be held in ail ports on Fri­ of a heat stroke. He joined the region has listed the. following day, April 23 between the hours two members as those who will SIU in 1941 in the port of Balti­ serve as delegates from the re­ of 9:00 AM ana 5:00 PM. Copies of the' Secretary-Treasurer's re­ 'Sorry, Greasly, we just don't have an endorsement such as more and sailed as a member of gion to the SIUNA convention: port were mailed to all GLD mem­ world series score keeper!" the engiue department. Robert "Jones, * j-12000, and bers on March 10, 1965. J. F. Wunderlich 'Sea Daze' •>1 �Airiif, Iffl SEAFARERS Galley Aces LOG Ptf« Tireatf-OM Prompt Mail Service Pleases Rachel Vs SIU Crewmembers By WILLIAM CALEFATO Mail to a Seafarer means as much as it ever did to the GI's who fought in either of the World Wars. When the Rachel V (Ocean Cargoes) dropped anchor in the Gulf of Cambay off the coast of northwest India, SIU crewmembers stayed put for mail call instead of head­ ing for shore as soon as possible. After their letters had letter. Only when he returns to be known as the "barrel post bis home port in the states, does office." been distributed, you could al­ he get the letter. Members of the galley gang on the Western Hunter (Colonial Tankers) are kept busy taking bows for the flood of compli­ ments coming their way for the fine chow they produce. SlU steward department members responsible for the raves are (l-r) Benny Moradilla, third cook; Fred Benetz, night cook and baker; Lebnodis Lopez, chief cook, and W. T. Longford, chief steward. Urges Members To Aid Union respect for these two men be­ cause of everything they did for him, and today, I am ex­ tremely thankful for their support. My thanks to all those connected with the SIU for helping to create such a won­ derful organization. Mrs. Arthur Swanton To the Editor: It is time for the members of the SIU to stand up and let themselves be heard. It is easy for the membership to take it easy and let the union do the 4" i" 4" work for them. In most cases, when it comes to national is­ sues, it is in the interest of every member to take advan- To The Editor: I want to thank the SIU for the Pension Plan. I received notice that I had been approved for pension on my birthday, and it was a wonderful birthday present. With a steady income, I can now sleep easy and not worry about how I am going to All letters to the editor for live. publication in the SEAFARERS All this is due to the efforts LOG must be signed by the writer. Names will be withheld the SIU makes in looking after Its oldtimers. It was with its upon request. members in mind that the SIU' pressed forward to achieve such tage of his constitutional rights wonderful advances as the pen­ and let himself be heard. sion plan and the other benefits The SIU is presently fighting that every Seafarer enjoys. the move of the government to Many thanks to the Welfare close some of the USPHS hos­ plan and the headquarters rep­ pitals; it is also fighting to keep resentatives who did so much the merchant marine alive. You for me. I wish the SIU contin­ are only helping yourself when ued success. you help the union win these Fred Harvey battles. One of the ways to let 4" 4< 4' yourself be heard is to write to your congressmen, the men that make the laws. They were elect­ ed by you, and should be told how you feel. To The Editor: M. R. Palluccl The death benefit I received after my beloved husband, Rob­ 4> 4" l* ert Cozart passed away, prompts me to write this letter to ex­ press my gratitude and appreci­ ation to the SIU for everything To The Editor: it has done for me and my late I recently-visited the grave husband. I feel it must be a of my husband, Arthur Sawn- wonderful union that provides son, and was reminded of how so well for its members, and muoh the SIU did for me at then also considers the families the time of his death. I feel that of its members when they have the SIU is a wonderful organ­ passed on. I am also grateful ization. They did much for my for the sickness benefit check I husband while he lived, and recevied. It helps to pay the they have done much for me hospital bills my husband had since his death. I also want to before he died. thank all the brother Seafarers I want to say just how kind of my husband for the respects I think the members and repre­ they paid him at his grave. sentatives of the SIU are, and I want to give special recog­ thank them so very much for nition to Buck Stephens and the sympathy and help they ex­ Lindsay Williams for everything tended to me during my hour they did for me. When my hus­ of grief. band was living, he had great Grace Cozart Oldtimer Lauds . Pension Plan Death Benefit Brings Praise SIU Widow Thanks Union M fr V (t '(• I r 11 y most r^d a sea story in the ex­ pressions on the faces of the crew who were receiving their first word from home in months. The nearest city to the ship was Bhavnagar, whiioh was seven miles Inland. Even though experienced Seafarers who have been making Indian ports for years say that this is one of their favorite liberty cities, our crew obviously felt that a letter from home was more im­ portant than to go racing into town. Since we were far from the dock, most of the SIU crew­ members settled down to write re­ plies to their cor­ respondents a 11 over the world. Cdefato Good mail de­ livery was one of the big things that made the Rachel V a happy ship. David Sykes, who performed a top job as ship's delegate, also did a great deal to insure a smooth trip. Sykes, who sails as an AB, played the part of postman even better than Uncle Sam's letter car­ riers back home. One of his jobs was to bring the mail to the crew from topside and then collect it at specified times for posting from India. The post­ age was added to the slop chest bills of the crewmembers, and the last batch of correspondence was mailed out free, on the house. Top Topic Mail is often one of the most im­ portant topics of a Seafarer's con­ versation. The job of getting mail to a ship is a problem that some­ times makes a seaman bitter or disappointed. Seafarers know that back on shore, there are good people who care, and bad people, who couldn't care less, about the responsibility involved in getting a Seafarer his mail as promptly as possible. We often hear a few misguided people censuring the shipping com­ panies for failing to forward or otherwise delaying letters ad­ dressed to the ships at sea, but the record shows this criticism isn't always true. The fault lies elsewhere, as can be seen from the lollowing ex­ ample: A Seafarer was sent a let­ ter frc i England which was for­ warded to a company agent in Se­ attle. Somebody in that office took the envelope and typed the infa­ mous phrase which is calculated to make any Seafarer see red: "Non­ delivery. Return to sender." In this case, however, there was a happy ending to the incident. Fortunately, someone else pasted a label across the letter bearing the address of the ship's next port. Clerical Kinks It should be obvious by now that the kinks in the seaman's mail system often lie in the offices of the agents for the companies. We seafarers know that it may be easier for clerks in an agent's office to simply return a letter than to ascertain where it should be delivered. Examples of this practice occur too often to count. A seaman could be on a ship in the Far East for two months wait­ ing and hoping for an important H I I c f ^ ^ , .1 H1 If the clerk responsible for this carelessness was in the seaman's place, he could understand the bitterness that results. Seafarers, who are out of con­ tact with their families and friends for long periods of time, know that there is life in letters, both materially and spiritually. Letters are the vital link that bring us news about our personal life. Grief Producers Letters that fail to reach SIU members at sea, often have un­ fortunate effects back home. Many times the writer thinks that, since bis letter was returned undeliv­ ered, futher attempts to reach the addressee are useless. Other times the letter writer comes to the mistaken conclusion that the far-off Seafarer has abandoned him or her. As a result of these situations, friends and sweethearts have been separated forever, and mothers have lived in torment and anguish, thinking that their sons were lost at sea because their let­ ters were returned undelivered. SIU members should realize that the U.S. Post Office has spe­ cial rules and regulations devoted to the proper handling of a sea­ man's mail. If mail service to a ship is seriously disrupted, a com­ plaint to the Postmaster General in Washington is definitely in order since a Seafarer's legal rights have been outraged. The concern for prompt, effi­ cient handling of a seaman's mail exists right back to the dawn of recorded history. A relic in the Galapagos Islands illustrates the honorable way in which seafaring men handled mall in the days of the sailing ships. Barrel P.O. Crewmembers from passing ships would take mall they were carrying and store It in a wooden barrel located on one of the islands. When another ship happened by, a party would land and check the barrel to see if there were any let­ ters addressed to their next port of call. These letters would be sorted out and delivered to their destination. The device came to Seafarers today are reassured to know that there are people in the maritime industry who are con­ scientious about the way their mail is handled. A number of the larger shipping companies are thorough in their treatment of the details of mail handling, going so far as to keep records of the mail bundles that are sent to their ships. While the home offices of the companies are trying to do a good job with ship's mail, it looks like people at other key points in the distribution system are respon­ sible for the inadvertent errors that plague the delivery of^ our correspondence. Those of us on the Rachel V realize as do Seafarers on all of the seven seas, that prompt mail de­ livery goes a long way toward making the seaman's life more pleasant as well as lessening the lonely feeling of a long voyage. One of the big reasons why SIU crewmembers on the Rachel V (Ocean Cargoes) had a smooth trip all the way to India was the excel­ lent performance turned in by David Sykes who dou­ bled as ship's delegate and postman. EVERY MONTHS If any SIU ship has no library or needs a new supply of books, contact any SIU hall. YOUR SIU SHIP'S LIBRARY " f t: y f « •"» ; f. �Pag0 Twentjr-Tlw9'- SEAFARERS lOG sro AItRlVAX.S and Know Your Rights All of the following SIU families have received maternity benefits from the Seafarers Welfare Plan, plus a $25 bond from the Union in the baby's name: Brian Patrick Finnerty, born 1965, to the Rafael Molinas, February 1, 1965, to the Edward Aroibo, Puerto Rico. Finnertys, Elmhurst, New York. 4 4 4 Leonard Richard Sienu, born 4" 4 3^ Brian Scott Smith, born Feb­ February 12, 1965, to the Peter A. ruary 26, 1965, to the Raymond Siems, New Foundland, New Jersey. Smiths, Paulsboro, New Jersey. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Maureen Dunphy, born January 26, 1965, to the Patrick Dunphys, Rio Piedras, P.R. 4 4 4 Josephine Bosch, born March 9, 1965, to the Francisco Bosohs, Brookiyn, N.Y. 4 4Pril J, IMS 4 4 Richard Miller, born December Lillian Vargas, born February David & Dennis Bacon, born February 13, 1965, to the Law­ 26, 1965, to the Enrique Vargas, 30, 1964, to the Robert Millers, Victoria, Texas. Playa Ponce, Puerto Rico. rence Bacons, Bear Lake, Mich. FINANCIAL REPORTS. Th» constitution of tho SIU AUantlo. GuU. and Inland Watera District makes speclfio provision for safeguarding the membership's money and Union finances. The constitution requires a detailed CPA audit every three months by a rank and file auditing committee elected by the membership. All Union records are available at SIU headquarteri in Brooklyn. TRUST FUNDS. AU trust fundi of tho SIU Atlantic. Gulf. Lakei and TnT.nd Wateri District are administered In accordance with the provliloni of various trust fund agreements. AU these agreements specify that the trusteas In charge of these funds shaU consist equaUy of union and management representatives and their alternates. AU expenditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trustees. AU trust fund financial records are avaUable at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by tho contracts between tho Union and the shipowners. Get to know your shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and avaUable In ail Union haUs. If you feel there has been any violation of your shipping or seniority rights as contained In the contracts between the Union and the shipowners, notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mall, 1 return receipt requested. The proper address for this Is: Earl Shepard, Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 17 Battery Place. Suite 1930, New York 4, N.Y. Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to you at ail times, either by writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Anpeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of aU SIU contracts are available In aU SIU haUs. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which ynu work and live aboard ship. Know your contract rights, as weU as your obligations, such as fiUng for OT on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, any SIU patrolman or other Union oSicIal. in your opinion, fails to protect your contract rights properly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY—SEAFARERS LOG. The LOG has traditlonaUy refrained from publishing any article serving tho political purposes of any Individual in the^Union, officer or member. It has also refrained from pub­ lishing articles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This estabUshed poUcy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the September. 1960, meetings In ail constitutional ports. The responsibUity for LOG poUcy is vested in an editorial board which consists of tho Executive Board of the Union. The Executive Board may delegate, from among Its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OP 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 circumstance should any member pay any money for any reason unless ha is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and Is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to headquarters. Carl Theodore Treitler, Jr. The deaths of the following Seafarers have been reported born January 12, 1965, to the Carl to the Seafarers Welfare Plan (any apparent delay in payment T. Treitlers, Arabi, Alabama. of claims is normally due to late filing, lack of beneficiary 4 4 4 card or necessary litigation for the disposition of estates) t James Dickens, born January 5, 1965, to the John Dickens, Cur­ Jerome Kindzora, 42: Brother Leo Portugal, 37: Brother Portu­ tice, Ohio. gal died Oct. 24, 1964, aboard the Kindzora died July 25, 1964, of 4 4 4 S e n a c a in Al­ injuries received Andrew Lee Nicholson, born giers, La., of ac­ in an accident December 19, 1964, to the Gary M. cidental causes. while aboard the Nicholsons, Mobile, Alabama. A member of the Walter Rice at 4 4 4 SIU since 1963, sea. A member Gloria Burnett, born February he sailed in the of the deck de­ 9, 1965, to the Willie Burnetts, deck department partment, he Longville, La. joined the Union as AB. No bene­ 4 4 4 ficiary to his es­ in 1962. He is Susan Kantarik, born December survived by his tate was named. 31, 1964, to the James P. KantarBurial was in the wife, Guadalupe iks, Superior, Wise. Ail Souls Cemetery, Long Beach, Flores de Kindzora. Burial was in 4 4 4 the Calvary Cemetery, Galveston, Brenda Morales, born October Calif. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. The SIU pubUshes Texas. every six months in the SEAFARERS LOG a verbatim copy-of its constitu­ 4 4 4 28, 1964, to the Leonides Morales, tion. In addition, copies are available In all Union halls. All members John William Yaddow, 83: 4 4 4 Bronx, New York. should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves Ernest Mosley, 35: Brother with its contents. Any time you feel any member or officer is attempting Brother Yaddow died Oct. 24, 1964, 4 4 4 to deprive you of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods such Mosley died Oct. 23, 1964 of respir­ Peter Welch, born January 8, of heart failure as dealing with charges, trials, etc.. as well as ail other details, then the atory failure member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. 1965, to the Elbert Welehs, Cov­ in the Buffalo, while aboard the N.Y., Columbus RETIRED SEAFARERS. Old-time SIU members drawing disabiUty-pension ington, La. Norberto Capay benefits have always been encouraged to continue their union activities. Hospital. A mem­ 4 4 4 Including attendance at membership meetings. And like all other SIU mem­ in Singapore. A Laurie Clarmont, born February ber of the SIU bers at these Union meetings, they are encouraged to take an active role in member of the ail rank-and-file functions. Including service on rank-and-file committees. Great Lakes Tug 7, 1965, to the Wayne Clarmonts, Because these oldtimers cannot take shipboard employment, the membership Union since 1946, and Dredge Re­ Elberta, Mich. has reaffirmed the long-standing Union policy of allowing them to retain he sailed in the their good standing through the waiving of their dues. gion since 1962, 4 4 4 deck department. Joseph Klima, born January 13, he sailed as an EQUAL RIGHTS. Ail Seafarers are guaranteed equal rights In employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in the SIU He is survived by 1965, to the Charles J. Klimas, oiler. He is sur­ constitution and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the his wife, Made­ vived by a friend, Marine City. Mioh. employers. Consequently, no Seafarer may be discriminated against because line C. Mosley. of race, creed, color, national or geographic origin. If any member feels Chariotte Gansalus. Burial was in 4 4 4 that he Is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Nancy Bernacki, born December the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buf- His body was returned to the headquarters. United States, but his place of 12, 1964, to the Walter Bernackls, faio, N.Y. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATIONS. One of the basic Tights burial is not known. of Seafarers is the right to pursue legislative and political objectives which Edison, New Jersey. 4 4 4 will serve the best interests of themselves, their families and their Union. 4 4 4 4 4 4 Thomas John Tighe, 62: Brother To achieve these objectives, the Seafarers Political Activity Donation was Charles Richard Robinson, 62: Rose Mary Shupiery, born Feb­ Tighe died Oct. 28, 1964, in Fort established. Donations to SPAD are entirely voluntary and constitute the funds through which legislative and political activities are conducted for Brother Robinson died November ruary 2, P965, to the Samuel Worth, Texas, of the benefit of the membership and the Union. 6, 1964 of heart Shupierys, Maple City, Mich. heart disease. A If at any time a Seafarar feais that any of tha above rights have been disease in the 4 4 4 violated, or that he has bean denied his constitutional right of access to member of the USPHS hospital Union records or information, he should Immediately notify SIU President Rafael Molina, born March. 8, Union since 1942, Paul Hall at headquarters by certified mall, return receipt requested. in Boston. A he sailed in the member of the deck department. engine depart­ He is survived ment, he has by his nephew, been a member (Continued from page 17) James Tlgbe, his of the SIU since sister, Helen, and to donate blood! A person can 1951. No sur­ donate as often as every eight (8) h LS brother, vivor was weeks. We have many members Frank. Burial was in the St. Law­ Julius Swykert Neut Williams who have donated over a gallon of rence Cemetery, New Haven, Conn. named. He was buried in the New Mrs. Araceliz Frojan would like You are requested to contact Calvary Cemetery, Boston, Mass. blood. Don't depend on your you to contact her at 57-59 Bergen 4 4 4 your wife immediately. 4 4 4 brother to give blood for you or Floyd Cummings, 48: Brother Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. James Warren Patterson , 59: your dependents. This is your re­ Cumming died Oct. 30, 1964, of 4 4 4 Brother Patterson died November 4 4 4 ' sponsibility. injuries received Joseph Pietta 6, 1964, in the E. G. Mitchell All you have to do is follow the in an accident New Orleans Your mother is anxious that you Your mother would like you to simple instructions given below whiie aboard the USPHS Hospital get in contact with her Im­ contact her in regards to a refund and report to your blood bank. Bangor, in Saudi mediately. of natural causes. check for you which was sent to You will feel more like a man in Arabia. A mem­ A member of the her. 4 4 4 ber of the Union that you, are doing your share. steward depart­ 4 4 4 Albert Edward Cook since 1938, he ment, he began DON'T: Eat 4 hours before Rudolph R. Cefaratti You are asked to contact your sailed in the deck sailing SIU in donating blood. No alcoholic Mrs. Mary Cefaratti is anxious brother, Charles Cook, at 21 department. Ho 1951. He is sur­ beverage for 24 hours. Paisley Drive, Wilmington, Del., about your wife's condition, and is survived by his vived by hiis would like you to write to her DO: You may drink fruit 19808, as soon as possible. wife, Patricia M. sister, Mrs. Mary at 51 Clinton Street, New Britain, juice, black coffee with sugar, Cummings. Burial was in the Kreger. Burial was in the Saint 4 4 4 Conn., 06053. or tea with sugar (no milk or Forest Lawn Cemetery, Slidell, La. Joseph No. 2 Cemetery, New Income Tax Refunds cream). You are also allowed 4 4 4 4 4 4 Orleans, La. Income tax refund checks are 2 slices of toast with jam (no Robert Marero Comeel Amelinck, 67: Brother 4 4 4 being held for the SIU members butter). ^ Mrs. Rohama Lee, editor-pub­ Amelinck died November 19, 1964, James Lawrence Stogaitis, 59: listed below by Jack.Lynch, Room of natural causes Brother Stogaitis died Jan. 30, 201, SUP Building, 450 Harrison lisher of Film News, would like DONATE NOW!! YOUR in the Staten Is­ BLOOD IS NEEDED! 1965, in Day City, Street, San Francisco, 5, Calif.: you to contact her at 250 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. land USPHS Hos­ Mich., of respir­ Alexander Ansaldo, Orla S. pital. A member atory failure. A Bushold, Eigil E. Hjeim, Willard 4 4 4 Cim&NGAODIfESSON^ of the SIU since Girard E. Doty member of the Layton, Lum She Lee, Potenciano 1945, ha sailed in Your wife is in urgent need of SIU since 1949, Paculba, Ruben Ramirez, W. II. ^lOSMAIUmLISrf the engine de­ contacting you. Cail or write her he sailed in the Shelby, and Wong M. Sing. partment until he at 2219 Kipling, Apt. N, Houston, deck department. retired in 1964. 4 4 4 Texas. Surviving are his He is survived by daughters, MaryWilliam P. Dunn Jr. 4 4 4 his friend, ellen Rodier, and You are asked to get in touch John Urzan Jeanne Frosien. Burial was in the Janet Mastro. He with your wife, Mrs. Rachel G. Get in touch with Mary St. Charles Cemetery, Pinelawn was buried in the ML Olivet Dunn, at 861^ Waller Street, Barachak on a very important mat­ N.Y. Cemetery, Saginaw, Mich. Austin, Texas, as soon as possible. ter, as soon as possible. SIU Clinic iHcuiPE MmTcm MUMBST �^UlAPAlteitS S, INf Fig« Tweafy-Tbre* Sokednle of Membership Meetinsrs All hospitalised Seafarers would appreciate mail and visits whenever possible, The following is the latest available list of SlU men in the hospital: If; J;!) |i!:i USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MARYLAND John E. Anderson Henry Muches Lowell Bailey Ralph Nay Arthur Botilho Harvey Newcomb Clyde R Brittle Leon NorczyK Charles T. Crocker John Pastorek, Jr. Noble J. Duhadaway James Portway Donald K. Evans Joseph Pozzuoll , Henry Fossett Wm. J. Stormer Clayton Frost Anton Vukinick George Graham Joseph A. Williams Arthur Heroux Calvin E. Willamson Frank E. Holland Lyio Williamson J. L. MaclejewskI Vernon Williamson USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA Isaak Bouzin Richard E. Fisher Alexander D. Brodle Torolf J. Kismul James P. Conley James Lear Homer Dowell John P. Murphy Larry L. Fike USPHS HOSPITAL DETROIT, MICHIGAN Joseph Arnold Anton Jenka Ralph Bocco Kenneth Kane Harold Bradley Earl J. Thelsen Albert Bailey Clarence Troy A. Chrlstenspn John Waterman Donald J. Gordon James Walsh Viola M. Hull USPHS HOSPITAL CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Walter Anderson Ray Kersten Ludwig Bednar Perry Spilde Wm. G. Wallls Lloyd Lund John Pollock Donald Marshall Harold Murphy Harold P. Carroll USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK, VIRGINIA John Arpistead Raleigh Paul Basltio BoschI Hertford B. Rice Elbert S. Clayton Jay W. Short Lonnle Cole, Jr. Prue Vaughn Barron Daniels Guy Whitehurst James L. Danzey james A. Wllklns Lowell Harris George Williams Charlie Haywood H. C. Willihgham Cecil A. J'ennette USPHS HOSPITAL BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS Gene Adklns John Keegan USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON, TEXAS V: L. Corns William Odum Edw. E. Davidson Ralph J. Palmer Phillip Jeffers Morris J. Perry Herman D. Haddock William S. Rudd Wm. Kwasnica Arthur F. Sabaurin Judson P Lamb Wm. C. Scruggs John Manen Peter A. Thompson P. W. McDonald R. L. Toler W. H. McDonald Wm. W. Van Dyke George H. Noles USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS. LOUISIANA Aleck Alford George BInnamans James L. Allen Donald L. Blackman Howard A. Berzine Wm. K. Blanchard Michel Blllo Eugene J. Boyle I^^lSW""oF UNION HALLS SlU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters PRESIDENT Paul HaU EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT Cal Tanner VICE PRESIDENTS Earl Shepard Lindaey WUUama A1 Tanner Robert Matthena SECRETARY-TREASURER AI Kerr HEADQUARTERS REPRESENTATIVES BUI HaU Ed Mooney Fred Stewart BALTIMORE 1216 E. BalUmore St. Rex Dickey, Agent EAstern 7-4900 BOSTON 177 State St. Ed Riley, Agent Richmond 2-0140 DETROn 10225 W. JeHergon Ave. VInewood 3-4741 HEADQUARTERS ... .675 4tli Ave.. Bklyn HYadnth 9-6600 HOUSTON 5804 Canal St. Paul Drozak, Agent WAlnut 8-3207 JACKSONVILLE 2608 Pearl St., SE.. Jax WiUiam Morris. Agent ELgih 3-0987 MIAMI 744 W. Flagler St. Ben Gonzales. Agent FRanklin 7-3564 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. I.ouia Neira. Agent HEmlock 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. Buck Stephens. Agent Tel. 529-7546 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn HYadnth 9-6600 NORFOLK 115 3rd St. Gordon Spencer. Acting Agent . .622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4th SL .lohn Fay, Acting Agent DEwey 6-3818 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Freemont St. Paul Gonsorchik, Agent . .DOuglas 2-4401 Frank Drozak. .West Coast Rep. 6ANTURCE PR ..1313 Fernande* Juncos Stop 20 Keith Terpe. Hq. Rep Phone 723-8594 SEATTLE ... 2505 1st Ave. Ted BabkowskL Agent MAin 3-43M TAMPA 312 Harrison St. Jeff GiUette. Agent 229-2788 WILMINGTON. CaUf 505 N. Marine Ave. Frank Boyne. Agent TErminal 4-2528 TAMPA S12 Harrison St TeL 229-2788 eilEAT lAKES TUO • DREDGE REGION REGIONAL DIRECTOR Robert Jones Dredge Workers Section - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Richard L. TiUman BUFFALO, 94 Henrietta Ave. Arthur MiUer, Agent TR 5-1536 CHICAGO 2300 N. KimbaU Trygve Varden. Agent ALbany 2-1154 CLEVELAND 1420 W. 25th St. Tom Gerrity. Agent 621-5450 DETROIT 1570 Liberty Ave. Lincoln Park, Mich. Ernest Demerge. Agent DU 2-7694 DULUTH 312> W. Second St. RAndolph 7-6233 SAULT STB. MARIE Address mail to Brimley. Mich. Wayne Weston. Agent. .BRimiey 14-R S TOLEDO 423 Central St. CH 2-7751 Tug Firemen, Liiiemen. Oilers A Watchmen's Section ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Tom Burns ASHTABULA. 0 1644 W. Third St. John Mero. Agent WOodman 4-8532 BUFFALO 18 Portland St. Tom Burns. Agent TA 3-7095 CHICAGO 9383 Ewlng. S. Chicago Robert Affleck. Agent ESsex 5-9570 CLEVELAND 1420 W. 25tb St. W. Beams. Pro-Tem Agrnt MA 1-5450 DETROIT-TOLEDO 12948 Edison SL Max Tobin. Agent Souttagate. Mich. AVenne 44)071 DULUTH Box No. 66 South Range. Wis. Ray Thomson. Agent EXport 8-3024 LORAIN. 0 118 E. Parish St. Sandusky. Ohio Harold Rutlisatz. Agent .... MAin 6-4573 MILWAUKEE ....3723 A. So. Shore Dr. Joseph MiUer. Agent ..SHerman 4-6645 SAULT STE. MARIE ....1086 Maple St. Great Lakes Wm. J. Lackey. Agent ..MEirose 2-8847 SECRETARY-TREASURER Rivera Section Fred J. Farnen ST. LOUIS. MO BOS Del Mar ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER L. J. Colvis. Agent CE 1-1434 Roy Boudreau PORT ARTHUR. Tex 1348 7th St. ALPENA 127 River St. Arthur Bendheim. Agent EL. 4-3616 BUFFALO. NY 735 Washington RAILWAY MARINE REGION TL 3-9259 HEADQUARTERS ....99 Montgomery St. CHICAGO ..9383 Ewing Ave. Jersey City 3. NJ HEnderson 3-0104 So. Chicago, DL SAginaw 1-0733 REGIONAL DIRECTOR CLEVELAND 1420 West 2Sth St. G. P. McGinty MAin 1-5450 ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTORS DULUTH 312 W. 2nd St. E. B. Pulver R. H. Avery . RAndolph 2-'4110 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St FRANKFORT. Mich 415 Main St. EAstern 7-aono HaU Address: P.O. Box 287 ELgln 7-2441 NORFOLK 115 Third St. HEADQUARTERS 10225 W. Jefferson Av. 622-1893-3 River Rouge 18. Mich. VInewood 3-4741 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S 4th S>. DEwey 6-3818 Inland Boatmen's Union NATIONAL DIRECTOR Robert Matthews GREAT LAKES AREA DIRECTOR Pat Flnnerty BALTIMORE ....1216 E. BaUlmore St. .EAstern 7-4900 BOSTON 276 Stole St .Richmond 2-0140 HEADQUARTERS 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn HYacintb 9-6600 HOUSTON 5804 Canal St. WAlnut 8-3207 JACKSONVILLE 2608 Pearl St., SE, Jax ELgin 3-0987 MIAMI 744 W. Flagler St FRanklin 7-3564 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St HEmlock 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave Tel 529-7.54R NORFOLK 115 Third St. Tel. 622-1892-3 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S 4th Si DEwey 6-3838 United Industrial Workers BALTIMORE ;.1216 E. Baltimore St. EAstern 7-4S00 276 State St. Richmond 3-0140 HEADQUARTERS 675 4th Ave Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 HOUSTON 5804 Canal St. WAlnut 8-3207 JACKSONVILLE 2608 Pearl St. SE ELgin 3-0987 MIAMI 744 W. Flagler St. FRanklin 7-3564 MOBILE ...1 S. Lawrence St. HEmlock 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. Phone 529-7546 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Phone 622-1892-3 PHILADELPHIA 3604 S. 4th St. DEwey 8-3818 TAMPA , .212 Harrison St. Phone 229-2788 BOSTON Forney Bower Oble W. Livingston John P. Brooks Percy Joseph Llbby Clarence Burrows Lawyer McGrew Joseph Carr Lonnle McKenna Oscar CIno Clauda McNorton C. E. Cumminn Joseph F. Mendoza Chas. Cunningham Philip Mendoza Cleo L. Dupree Ethel Messonnler Harry D. Emmett Peter J. Morrealo Marshall Foster John W. Pice LUis G. Franco V. P. Pizzltolo Robert M. Godwin Eugene G. Plahn R. M. Grantham Santos Ramos Eric N. Gronberg Albert J. Rebane Orlando L. Guerrero Patrick J. Scanlan Wade B. Harrell Hamilton Sebum Walter H. Harris Jimmie D. Snyder Emmet L. Harvey Vlljo Sokero Leon Mead Hlnson Daniel W. Sommer Timothy P. Holt Jack Trosclair Frederick H. Houck Joseph 3. Vanacor Benjamin Hugglns John Ward James J. Lala Anthony J. Zanca USPHS HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA J. C. Laseter F. P. Daugherty B. B. Henderson H. L. Grizzard USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASHINGTON R. Best J. R. Coyle R. L. Harnden Boyd Spear G. B. Calhoun Jerome Stokes B. E. Divine USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND. NEW YORK Edward Arthur Adolt Helnsaar Enrique Alvarez AH HubabI Emmett Avery Eric Johnson Conway Beard W. Kowalezyk Robert Blackstock Thomas Lowe V. Chamberlain Warren Mclntyre Gordon Chambers David McKlnley Dan Covaney Norway Morris George Crabtree s. Paczkowski Earl Cronsell Julio Quinonez Joseph Czech Tomas Ramirez Daniel Doheny Aaron Sasser Herbert DIerkIng Joseph Saxton DOmenIck A. Fois W. Schoertbortl Stanley Friedman John Shaw Robert Gabel Warren Smith Edmund Glowczak Stanley Stevens Estell Godfrey Adolph Svenson USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH. TEXAS Benjamin Delbler Abraham Mander Abe Gordon Max Olson Thomas Lehay J. Thibodeaux SAILORS' SNUG HARBOR STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK Daniel Gorman Thomas Isaksen Alberto Gutierrez William Kenny Edwin Harrlman Harrv MacDonald U.S. SOLDIERS HOME HOSPITAL WASHINGTON. D.C. William. Thomson USPHS HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE James McGee P-'UI Lacy VA HOSPITAL LONG BEACH. CALIFORNIA Raymond Arsenault VA HOSPITAL ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN Robert Asbahr ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN Percy Johnson VA HOSPITAL WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT Paul Kolensnick VA HOSPITAL HINES, ILLINOIS Oscar Kvaas VA HOSPITAL HOUSTON, TEXAS Thomas Mahion PINE CREST HAVEN NURSING HOME COVINGTON, LOUISIANA Frank Martin PENINSULAR GENERAL HOSPITAL SALISBURY, MARYLAND Richard Savage CAMARILLO STATE HOSPITAL CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA David Taylor Jobs (Continued from page 17) ' jor amphibious assault without the merchant marine. While there is no question in the mind of these naval officials about the value of a strong mer­ chant marine in the nation's de­ fense picture, it now looks like MA officials are slowly getting the same idea. MA Administrator Nicholas Johnson told the con­ gressional investigators that the U.S. merchant marine can pro­ vide the MSTS with valuable extra tonnage, when needed, with a min­ imum of red tape. He also spoke of the value of a citizen-manned mer­ chant fleet working In conjunction with the military. If this country's merchant fleet is to continue to fulfill its historic role as the "Fourth Arm of De­ fense," the maritime administrator had better shake up his policy makers before the U.S. cargo fleet becomes the victim of steadily en­ croaching obsolescence. Address­ ing a transportation group at Tulane University, Admiral Donaho viewed the sttady deterioration of the U.S. merchant fleet with alarm. SlU-AGLIWD Meetings Regular membership meetings for members of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are held regularly once a month on days indicated by the SIU Constitution, at 2:30 PM In the listed SIU ports below. All Seafarers are expected to attend. Those who wish to he excused should request permission by tele­ gram (he sure to include registration number). The next SIU meetings will he: New York April 5 Detroit April 9 Philadelphia April 8 Houston April 12 Baltimore Aplrl 7 New Orleans April 13 Mobile April 14 jji jji West Coast SlU-AGLIWD Meetings SlU headquarters has issued the following schedule for the monthly informational meetings to be held in West Coast ports for the benefit of Seafarers shipping from Wilmington, San Francisco and Seattle, or who are due to return from the Far East. All Seafarers are expected to attend these meetings, in accord with an Executive Board resolution adopted in December, 1961. Meet­ ings in Wilmington are on Monday, San Francisco on Wednesday and Seattle on Friday, starting at 2 PM local time. Wilmington San Francisco Seattle April 19 April 21 April 23 May 17 May 19 May 21 •f-reach month at 7 PM in various Great lakes SIU Meetings ports. The next meetings will be: New York April 5 Regular membership meetings Baltimore April 7 on the Great l.akes are held on Philadelphia April 6 the flrst and third Mondays of tHonston April 12 each month in all ports at 7 PM Mobile April 14 local time, except at Eetroit, New Orleans AprU 13 where meetings are held at 2 PM The next meetings will be; • Mcotings held eT Laoor Temple, New­ Detroit April 5—2 PM Alpena, BulTalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Doluth, Frankfort, April 5—7 PM SIU Inland Boatmen's Union Regular membership meetings for IBU members are scheduled each month in various ports. The next meetings will be: Phlla April 6—5 PM.. Baltimore (licensed and un(Licensed .AprU 7—5P.M. Houston April 12—5 PM Norfolk April 8—7 PM N'Orleans ...April 13—5 PM Mobile April 14—5 PM RAILWAY MARINE REGION Regular membership meetings for Railway Marine Region-IBU members' are scheduled each month in the various ports at 10 AM and 8 PM. The next meetings will be: Jersey City April 12 Philadelphia April 13 Baltimore April 14 •Norflok AprU 15 GREAT LAKES TUO AND REGION DREDGE Regular membership meet­ ings for Great Lakes Tug and Dredge Region IBU memlers are scheduled each month in the vari­ ous ports at 7:30 PM. The next meetings will he: Detroit Milwaukee Chicago Buffalo tSanlt Ste. Marie Duiuth Lorain ...April April April April April April April 12 12 13 14 14 15 14 (For meeting place, contact Har­ old Ruthsatz, 118 East Parish. Sandusky, Ohio). Cleveland Toledo Ashtabula AprU IS April 16 April 16 (For meeting place, contact John Mero, 1644 West 3rd Street. Ash­ tabula, Ohio). 4" 4" 4^ United Industrial Workers Regular membership meetings for UIW members are scheduled port News. t Meeting held at Labor Temple, Sault Ste. Marie. Mich, t Meeting held at Galveston wharves. Great Lakes (Continued from page 8) before the 11th of April. Due to the crew being called for the MV Viking and the number of jobs eliminated, the men desiring to exercise their seniority have 15 days from March 20th to do so. Those desiring to receive the sep­ aration allowance and forfeit their seniority must also do so within this period. Alpena Registrations in this port have slowed down considerably in all departments. Even though ship­ ping has not begun in this port, from all indications. Seafarers should have another profitable year on the Great Lakes and pos­ sibly a better season than last year. Cleveland Joe Mickaiowski got the season off and running by being the first man off the board to ship as wiper aboard the J. J." Boland on a day that was one of the worst this win­ ter, instead of fit-out weather. Radio Pete Ozimek and Mike Pesenak have been down on the river working in the^ shifting gang while waiting to he called hack to their ships. Buffalo Registrations have picked up in this port with the antieipation of the fitout of vessels layed up here. A portion of the Engine crew has been shipped for the J. B, Ford, which is the only vessel in this area fitting out at this time. Win­ ter work is still going on and sev­ eral of our men are working at these jobs. The latest ice report is that ice conditions remain heavy, with ap­ proximately a ten mile ice field up to seven feet thick which indi­ cates it will be at least two or three weeks longer before things get moving here. Many of our regular men have begun to check in with the expec­ tance of an early caU hack. �SEAFARERS LOG OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT • AFL-CIO Cites Panel's 100% Anti-Maritime Rulings AFL-CIO Urges Hall Raps Cargo Preference Congress Pass Grievance Committee's Bias Vote Rights Bill NEW ORLEANS—In a speech made here recently at Tulane University, SIU president Paul Hall attacked the Cargo Preference Grievance Committee for its prejudicial handling of maritime industry complaints. WASHINGTON—^The AFL-CIO called upon the Congress to end "once ahd for all" discrimination against Americans Hall's criticism "was made The MA's recent decisions to marine may get a "bold new in the polling booths by insuring the right of every adult before the Institute of Foreign grant a waiver to Spain to carry front," Hall declared. Transportation and Port Op­ 50 percent of the U.S. goods it is American citizen to vote. President Hall praised the Mari­ erations. William Jordan, president receiving under Public Law 17, time Administration and its chief, ation of literacy and other types President George Meany and the removal of five Spanish tests, but a bill aimed solely at of the SIUNA Marine Firemen, testifying at House Judiciary of ships from the Cuban blacklist Nicholas Johnson for getting the these tests "will not do the whole Committee hearings on the Ad­ job of implementing the 15th Oilers and Watertenders Union, came in for heavy criticism from subsidized operators and the smal­ ministration's right-to-vote bill Amendment" assuring equal vot­ also addressed the Institute. Hall, since the Spaniards have ler shipowners talking together emphasized that the denial of the ing rights. The measure should be agreed to biuld ships for Havana. about policies that would' benefit President Hall told members of their mutual interests. He also right to register and vote to Ne­ broadened to cover all denials of Favorable Congress lauded the Administrator for his groes "can no longer be ignored; the right to vote whether based on the Institute that the maritime in­ interest in getting more U.S. dustry's lack of success in its deal­ it can no longer be compromised. tests or other means. Reviewing the legislative out­ ings with the Grievance Commit­ look for the Maritime industry. tonnage built. However, he was He told the committee the Ad­ critical of Johnson's statements • The provision calling for fed­ tee has led several of the unions ministration bill is fine so far as President Hall declared that the it goes, but should be "broad­ eral examiners to register voters represented on the committee to merchant marine has a Congress about the growth of subsidy pay­ ments over the years. Hall re­ ened" to assure that "an annual in areas where fewer than 50 per­ more favorable to it today than battle in the Congress on this is­ cent of the residents were regis­ quit in disgust. He said that of the ever before. "All we have to do minded his audience that prices on tered or voted in the 1964 presi­ 30 cases presented to the panel, everything have gone up drastic­ sue should not be necessary." dential election needs broadening the Maritime Administration has is fight through the bureaucrats to ally since World War II. He stressed that the bill's rem­ to cover areas where there was bring about the type of program edies "should be available in any general discrimination against Ne­ decided them all in favor of the that will save us all," he said. Foreign-Flag Drain situation where there is wide­ groes but a high percentage of Government, not the maritime in­ President Hall found reasons Speaking of the country's peri­ spread abridgment of the right to white registration. dustry. for hope in the operations of the lous balance of payments position. vote in violation of the Constitu­ • The AFL-CIO is "wholeheart­ The Grievance Committee on President's Maritime Advisory President Hall questioned the tion, whether that deprivation is effected by the fountain pen or edly in favor" of the remedies pro­ Cargo Preference Administration Committee. This committee was Government's failure to prevent vided in the bill but feels it should was set up by President Johnson also appointed by President John­ foreign-flag ship operators from the night stick or night riders." "go further" and waive the re­ last May to handle complaints on son last spring to produce sugges­ taking U.S. dollars out of the Without Delay quirement that an individual must the implementation of the cargo tions for improving the status of country. The AFL-CIO's testimony came have been rejected by state or preference statutes. The commit­ the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. The Both Hall and MFOW President as committees of the House and local authorities before he can 17-member panel includes repre­ Senate sped hearings on the meas­ apply to the federal examiner for tee consists of representatives of sentatives of maritime labor, man­ Jordan assailed the failure of the the Maritime Administration, the Government to halt the contin­ ure after President Johnson's ap­ listing. Departments of Labor, State and agement, the public and the Sec­ uing decline of the American mer­ peal for "no delay, no hesitation, retaries of Labor and Commerce. Meany opposed the provision to Agriculture, and advisors from The SIUNA is represented by chant marine's share of the U.S. no compromise" on enactment of a bill to guarantee the Negro the have federal examiners collect maritime labor and management. President Hall. overseas freight business, They poll taxes in states where they President Hall is the SIU repre­ right to register and vote. told the Institute that when the sentative on the panel. Public Forum Merchant Marine Act of 1936 was The House Judiciary Committee exist and urged that poil taxes be passed, U.S.-flag ve^ls were opened hearings almost immedi­ eliminated completely. Score Card The SIU president views the transporting 37 percent of the ately after the President's historic "No American should have to The SIU president said, "We are MAC as a genuine public forum country's foreign trade. Congress address to a joint session of Con­ buy his right to vote in any elec­ keeping a score card. You know in in which the various segments of at that time expressed its concern gress. Senate hearings got under tion," he declared. crooked dice game, they are the maritime industry can give over the small size of this: per­ way after the Senate assured • The provisions for challeng­ smart enough to let you win just their opinions on public policy centage. quick action by voting 67 to 13 to ing elections are inadequate, espe­ send the bill to the Judiciary cially in areas where persons are one round. We have had 30 shut­ needed to insure a strong mer­ Today, American ships are mov­ Committee with instruction to re­ permitted to register but denied outs so far." He promised that a chant marine. In addition, MAC record of these unfavorable de­ members now have the opportunity ing only 9 percent of U.S. foreign port it back by April 9. the right to vote. There are no cisions would be presented to to obtain records and reports commerce and comparatively little The bill has 66 sponsors in the provisions for holding new elec­ Congress to document the need which are necessary to document is being accomplished to Increase Senate, refleKing wide bipartisan tions or holding them under fed­ for changes In the laws affecting proposals, he said. Using this the share of the American-flag " support. Similar bipartisan back­ eral supervision, Meany noted. the U.S.-flag fleet. machinery, the U.S. merchant fleet, they declared. ing was evident in the House. The Senate was prodded on the need for speed with a warning from its leaders that the Easter recess might be cancelled if the bill is not passed by April 15. The House is planning to act on the measure during the week of April 11Noting that the AFL-CIO has stated its opinion on voting rights "innumerable times" in every forum of the nation and before congressional committees, Meany declared that any attempt to dilute the right to vote is "undemocratic, un-American and despicable." Use Every Means The position of the AFL-CIO, he told the committee, "is that every possible means must be used to achieve the maximum pos­ sible registration and voting in the United States . . . We reject out of hand that there can be any firstclass or second-class citizenship." Only the federal government can do the job of assuring the right to register and vote in light of experience at the state and locaMevel, Meany asserted, and the government naust "do it now," Delegates to the five-day Sixteenth Annual Institute On Foreign Transportation and Port Operations held at Tulane University, On various provisions of the bill, Meany made these points: enjoyed luncheon reception held at the SIU hall at New Orleans. Delegates heard talks by (l-r) SIU Gulf Area Vice-President Lindsey Williams; Senator E. L. (Bob) Bartlett (D.-Alaska); Baltimore Sun maritime news editor Helen Delich Bentley; SIU • 'The AFL-CIO supports "fully and wholeheartedly" the invalid-, President Paul Hall; and International Longshoremen's Association Vice-President Anthony Scottp. � 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 1960-1969 Description An account of the resource Volumes XXII-XXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 2, 1965 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU FIGHTS HOSPITAL CLOSINGS SEA UNIONS HIT BRICKS AT U.N. URGING STRONG U.S. SHIP POLICY SIU-IBU TUGMAN RESCUES SHIPMATE – BUT IN VAIN SIU PACIFIC UNIONS BLAST SHIPOWNER – CG POWER PLAY DOCKERS PLANNING TO BOYCOTT SHIPS TRADING WITH VIET REDS HOUSE COMMITTEE OKAYS EXPANDED MEDICARE PLAN FOOD INDUSTRY PRIMES ITS GUNS TO KILL ‘TRUTH-IN-PACKAGING’ BILL MORE ON SIU SHIP-FRENCH TANKER CRASH WORLDWIDE TANKSHIP BOOM LEAVES U.S. OUT IN COLD REGION TALLYING COMMITTEE REPORT ON ELECTION OF GREAT LAKES TUG AND DREDGE REGION, INLAND BOATMEN’S UNION, SEAFARER’S INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO OFFICIALS FOR 1965-1968 IBU CREDENTIALS COMMITTEES ACT ON CONVENTION DELEGATES HALL RAPS CARGO PREFERENCE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE’S BIAS Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/02/1965 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. XXVII, No. 7 1965 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/b48480a70662330eb4826432ab4941c5.PDF 64c538a6d07abac32702368a043812b2 PDF Text Text PDF Compressor Pro STRIKE FUND VOTING IS NOW PROGRESSING Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers* International Union of North America Vol. VII. A, NEW YORK. N. Y., FRIDAY. APRIL 20. 1945 No. 16 AN EARLY BOOSTER FOR THE STRIKE FUND Displaying the same enthusiasm for the Strike Fund Resolution that had been indicated at the port membership meetings, rank and file members pushed into the third floor of the New York Hall to vote this week as the Resolution and seven proposed constitutional changes were submitted to a coast-wise referendurn baUol.'?—;;;;; ; The ballot is reproduced on The men made no bones about page 7 of this issue for the con­ their approval of the $10 strike venience of the membership. It is assessment as they showed their expected that everyone will read books to the watchers, and one it carefully and acquaint himself eager beaver wanted to pay his with the provisions of the amend­ $10 at once. He was persuaded ments. These changes, if passed, to hold off until the entire mem­ will be the governing rules of bership has had a chance to vote the SIU, and as such affect every and make it official. member of the union. The voting which opened Wed­ If there is any doubt in any­ nesday will continue through one's mind as to the meaning or May 23rd, to allow the fullest (Continued on Page 7) participation of the membership. The seven proposed amend­ ments to the constitution were drawn up at the Agents' meeting in New York in March, and pass­ ed by the membership on a coast­ wise basis to be referred to a referendum vote. Gallant Vessel Award Is Made To SUP Ship Four Dead In Tanker Crash Four seamen were killed and twenty-seven others missing when two tankers collided in con­ voy 700 miles at sea off Sandy Hook. The SS St. Mihiel, War Emergency Tankers, Inc., carry­ ing 180,000 barrels of 80 octane gas, burst into flames when she struck the 11,516 ton SS Nashbulk, operated by the National Bulk Carriers, inc. The fire was not brought under control until after the abandon ship order had been given. All but one of the victims were members of the St. Mihiel crew. The skipper, whose name has not been disclosed, is "belieiffd to have gone down with the ship. Some of . the crew were trapped in the ship, others were lost when they jumped into the flaming sea. Ten survivors have been taken to the Marine hospital on Staten Island. It is reported that a Coast Guard cutter has recovered the bodies of four missing crew members at Federal Anchorage 22, about 40 miles offshore. NEW YORK, April 10—The firsi: gallant ship award ever made to an American merchant vessel was presented to the SUP ship, Samuel Parker, at. Bush Terminal, Brooklyn, yesterday. Called the "most hit" vessel still in service, the plaque was presented while admiring work­ ers swarming over the ship's sides, and longshoremen.bringing supplies aboard heard why the Brother Mickey Moran. SIU Electrician, wu so enthused oyer the idea of-building a big post ship was being honored. war strike fund that he showed up with his sawbuck even before the voting on the proposition opened. The Samuel Parker was in Here he is trying to press his money • on Patrolman Jimmy Hanner's who explained, that the heavy action during the six union couldn't accept any money until the membership had voted the assessment on a coast yise re­ months of 1943 in the Mediter­ ferendum. "Ten bucks is mighty cheap job insurance, is the way I look at it." said Moran. ranean and survived repealed bombing attacks during the in­ vasion of Sicily. "The stark courage of her gal­ lant crew—in battle and heroic WASHINGTON (LPA)—With the European phase*' rescues — caused her name to be NEW YORK DOORMAN perpetuated as a gallant ship," of the war about at its end, a new tug-of-war has started HAS A BEEF said Admiral Land, in making the between organized labor and the Administration over gen­ Shipping at the port of Balti­ I have a beef that I want to award. Ribbons will be awarded eral wage increases which are necessary, labor contends, to more is expected to increase with to the members of her crew who submit to the membership give workers adequate buying power in the postwar period. the end of the war in Europe, ac­ were on her in the Mediterranean. through the LOG. cording to a survey by govern­ This doorman's job has devel­ Administration officials have'* should be confined to specific in­ ment agencies. It is expected oped into the most trying job in indicated they will keep the lid dustries. TOP MAN that • the character of the trade the Union, what with tossing out on as long as possible. James F. Leaders of the AFL argue, will change, as it already has to drunks, answering foolish ques­ tions, and having to listen to all Byrnes, before retiring as direc­ however, that unless the "Little a small extent, and increase to a the old gags about why a guy tor of war mobilization and re­ Steel" formula is modified now new high. When the war ends, food and hasn't got his book with him. conversion, put out a report in and wage increases allowed, materials of all kinds .for the re­ If the membership would co­ which he % posed raises in pay workers will enter the reconver­ habilitation of devastated areas operate it would make things rates untijf? "after" full produc­ sion with too little buying power, will probably make up the bulk easier for everybody. If you're tion had bfen reached and "after" thus leading to an economic col­ of the export tonnage, with im­ gassed up, don't come around; "it had been determined how lapse. ports swinging back gradually to come back when you're human The AFL set forth its views in those needed by American man­ much of the wartime increase in again. A good union man always wc^rkers' productivity would car­ the latest issue of its research ufacturers. carries his book with him, and publication "Labor's Monthly ry over into peacetime. the rules say you must -show it Survey.": full production and full employ­ A similar stand was taken by before you can get into the four heads of war agencies in a "It's time to end the mistaken ment. building. review of their work for the past idea that wage increases lead to "A return to free collective bar­ T' If these over-exuberant guys .year, released last week. The re­ price increases," the AFL de­ gaining," the AFL maintained, don't stop pestering me, I'll have port was signed by William H. clared. "Wage increases cari be "should make possible wage in­ to take their books away, which paid out of savings of industry creases "to restore workers' buy­ Davis, director of economic stab­ I very definitely do not want to ilization; OPA administrator from the workers' enormous rise ing power without increasing do. Please take this in the way Chester Bowles, WLB chairman in production per man-hour dur­ prices. Free enterprise cannot it's offered: the Union will oper­ exist without a high national in­ George W. Taylor and war food ing the war." ate much more efficiently if administrator Marvin Jones. The Federation warned that come, and high workers' buying everybody does his part. Tell They contended that-prices have after V-E Day, when long over­ power to create a market for the Fred Vinson, President Roose­ your shipmates to help. been held during the past year time hours end, earnings of work­ products of "industry." velt's last major appointment, L. GRANTHAM and warned against lifting of ers will take a catastrophic drop The AFL reiterated previous will have the final word on in­ wage controls lest "runaway in­ unless hourly rates are boosted. demands that wage rates should dustrial reconversion and post­ Keep In Touch With flation" occur. Taylor in a speech Current rates, it said, are insuf­ be hiked up about 15 cents an war .planning. Vinson succeeded f reiterated that stand and de- ficient to provide the purchasing hour to furnish the purchasing James Byrnes as Director of 'War Your Draft Board, j'I^clared increases, if allowed, power necessary to bring about power needed to yield production. Mobilization and Reconversion. DEMAND WAGE FREEZE END Shipping Increase �PDF Compressor Pro " v.- .'MT Pa^e Two TVE SEAFARERS '• Friday. April 20, 1945 LOG SEAFARERS LOG From The Assistaiit Sec'y-Treas. Published by the SEAFARJIRS' immiSATlOmh UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ Having missed the March 28tK meeting due to the fact that Brother Hawk and I had to at­ tend a meeting with Calmar offi­ cials in rega*<I to negotiating an agreement, I waS not able to make a, report at that time. How­ ever, since there was not very much to report, I do not think it was missed. Slowly, but surely, we are arriving at an under­ standing with this outfit, arid we hope to have the pleasure, in the near future, of informing the membership that these negotia­ tions have been completed. President (05 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. JOHN HAWK - -- -- -- - ^ecy-Treas. F. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - Washington Rep. 424 .5th Street, N. W., W^hington, D. C X X a t- Directory of Branches BRANCH NEW YORK (4) ... BOSTON (10) BALTIMORE (2) ... PHILADELPHIA .... NORFOLK NEW ORLEANS (16) CHARLESTON (9) . SAVANNAH TAMPA JACKSONVILLE MOBILE SAN JUAN, 28 P.R. PUERTO RICO GALVESTON HOUSTON ADDRE3S PHONE 51 Beaver St.-i—HAnover 2-2784 33Q Atlantic Ave.-!-LIberty 405 7 14 North Gay St.—Calvert 4539 ................ 6 North 6th St.—Lombard 7651 ............ 25 Commercial PI.—Norfolk 4-1083 339 Chartrea St.—Canal 3336 68 Society St.—Charleston 3-2930 220 East Bay St.—Savannah 3-1728 842 Zack St.—^Tampa MM-1323 920 Main St.—Jacksonville 5-1231 7 St. Michael St.—Dial 2-1392 45 Ponce de Leon-xSan Juan 1885 305^ 22nd St.—Galveston 2-8043 6605 Cana) Street X X X X PUBLICATION OFFICE: 5,1 BEAVER. STREET New York, (4) N. Y. \ HAnorer 2-27S4 ^^2«I Trade Union Emissary ^ Vj Am still working on a number of outport beefs. Unfortunately, the majority of these disputes are uncollectable and not in accord­ ance with our agreements. I hope the boys, will not be disappointed when a bad beef does not pay off. Also, since most of the compan­ ies have the old story of papers the low income groups; the use of the no-strike pledge by and log books not yet having ar­ the bosses to undermine the labor movement. Point out rived, I have to sit in on them to that with the disappearance of blood-soaked war profits, force them to give me some acthe employers will try to retrench where they always hajte -tion. b^fore,^ the expense of the worker, by reducing wages. Explain to. them that when they get their musteringout pay, and take off their OD's, they are even as you and I-^civUians looking for a job, and that the consideration and adulation that they get so deservedly now, will go with their uniform. When they are back, two choices face them—-to join with the rest of the American labor movement in fighting fosT fair wages, and fair conditions—or to be herded by the bosses into a scab pool to be used to break the back of the only force that can keep them from economic slavery, the trade unions of America. This is a job we seamen must do, and not out of ideal­ ism, either. It is a question of being practical. The SIU, and your own labor conditions, depend on the strength of the rest of organized labor. A weak labor movement means a scab pool that will threaten the security of the SIU. Strong unions mean security for all. Become an emissary for labor, and protect yourself! Quite a number of , members have been in to see me on outport, beefs, which have not been sent in to me as yet. Until the beefs are sent; in I have no way of settling,, since the shipowner will not listen to verbal beefs un­ less I have something in writing or until the ship gets back, where ^ they can contact the skipper or the he_ads of the various depart­ ments to verify if such work was • done. dphe attitude of the American servicemen toward the trade union movement will greatly influence labor con­ ditions in this country after the wajr. The influx of more than twelve million veterans into the ranks of organized labor would make it a powerful agency for the common good.. Veterans hostile to unionism could deal labor heavy Having attended meetings of blows. maritime unions for a number of Unlike the merchant seaman, wlio generally is a mem­ years, I can state frahkly that for ber of, or influenced by unions, the average GI abroad not real Democratic meetings, ours only has no direct contact with the labor movement but are tops. I believe that there is not a union in the field which has is constantly being fed anti-union propaganda. such frank and open , discussion Elsewhere in this issue we print a letter from a former by all hands as are held in the AJFL organizer now with the infantry in Europe. It is his* SIU and SUP meetings. Every­ one speaks his mind on variong feeling that the GI will be a staunch unionist because 1L' subjects and it, is as it should be, has seen the value of organization in the Army, and knows proving again that our Union V that the best organized outfit wins. education is traveling in the right direction. This may be so, and we hope it is so. But at the best The State Department has issued invitations to 31 it is a negative approach. It leaves too much to chance and Regarding the $10 strike assess­ too clear a path for the reactionary elements who are also organizations, among them Organized Labor, to be available ment, of which I am heartly in interested in organizing the veteran—^into an anti-labor for consultation to the American delegation at the San favor: For the benefit of the outfit. We need only to remember the union busting days Francisco Conference. The State Department made it clear young members who are not far miliar with past history of the that organized labor would have no official voice and seamen's that followed the last war. labor movements—the old timer can acquaint you with Many unions are doing their best to keep in touch with would not attend even in an "advisory" capacity. A "consultant" is someone you pay no attention to. what happened in the 1921 strike. their membership by means of special bulletins, their imion It was lost by the seamen. papers and letters, attempting to counteract the deliber­ The shipowner was in the driv­ ately malicious lies of the employer-kept press. But there er's seat at that time, due to ship are millions of men who are outside of their reach. And lay-ups, lack of enough funds of here, we chhik, is where the merchant seaman enters the The Strike Fund Resolution, along with several pro­ the union to carry on a success-' picture. strike, and by certain officials posed constitutional changes, was submitted to the mem ful who had lost all interest, in, ths Just as the SIU has asked you to ship on unorganized bership this week. Voting on it will continue until May strike and the union. ships and become unofficial organizers for the Union, so 23 rd, to insure the fullest participation by men now at sea. must not happen again. too you can become unofficial foreign ambassadors for the It is of the greatest importance to the welfare of the WeThis must keep our conditions and trade union movement as a whole. SIU that the strike fund resolution be passed. There is no wages. To wage a successful When you hit a port and meet up with the GI's, tell doubt but what the operators are preparing for that post­ strike we must have enough them what the unions have been doing on the home front war day when they can bring their union-smashing into money to battle, not only the shipowner, but the WSA and the to protect their interests. Tell them how many shoreside the open. NMU, who will surely work unions have included in their contracts with the employers Peace in Europe and Asia will probably mark the be­ against us. So mark "yes" for, provisions that will provide them jobs under compensated ginning of warfare in America—industrial warfare. Any the strike assessment, which is seniority rights. Tell them how we are fighting reaction at union which is not prepared financially and organization­ your bread and butter in the fu­ home. ture years to come. ally to fight for its existence, will be a dead duck. Point out to them that at the end of the war they will It is not that we wart to strike. It is that we must be ( be civilians again, and will face the very same problems prepared to meet any onslaught on the part of the operators. Keep In Touch With that the trade unions are meeting with now: the widening Vote for the Strike Fund Resolution! Your Draft Board. gap between wages and prices; the mounting tax burden on It's your postwar job insurance! They're Hard of Hearing Build The Strike Fund '4 'ft. �PDF Compressor Pro -T-V'. I HE Pftaay. April 20. I9t& GI Joe Not Anti'Union WASHINGTON, D. C.—One of the great war mysteries is what American soMierS and sailors overseas think about organized labor and what they propose to do about it when they get home after the war ends. A great deal has been written about the subject, mostly from anti-union sources. Labor has heard dire threats. Oc­ casionally it has received a pat on the back. The following letter received by AFL Organization Director Frank Fenton helps to clear up some of the mystery and should be heard carefully by every trade unionist: "Dear Brother Fenton: "From somewhere in Frahce, PFC Walter L. Mitchell, a combat infantryman and former AFL organizer now on leave of absence from the Federation, wishes to report. After months of combat, m which I have experienced many of the horrors and terrors of mod­ ern warfare, comes a brief but welcome respite from foxholes in a 24-hour rest camp, where again I thank God for watching over me and write my first overseas letter to you. "It has beeh my privilege to discuss the war, postwar, peace and 'home'-front situations with GI's from all walks of life. GI's from union families, from non-union fafaiilies> from union industries, from non-union and anti-union industries and GI's from the farm— all live and pray and fight for the day when they can return home 6hd go back to work and live normally again. "These boys have all learned, the hard way-, what organization meahs. They all know that only through united effort, unity of pur^ pose and personal sacrifice can any objective be taken ahd held. "It is my belief, contrary to the anti-union propaganda at home, that our unions are safe from the threat of GI destruction. Instead of the 'predicted' death for unions, there will be an influx of new, rugged and, at times, reckless blood which may prove hard to satisfy or control. Never will any serviceman forget that the best organized outfit wins! "We of the American Federation of Labor must be on the alert that discharged servicemen are not misled in choosing their brganization. The organization that has led the battle for economic ad­ vancement for working people throughout pre-war and war years Should and will be the chosen organization for well-informed vet­ erans on their return to employment." , SEAFARERS LOG New Booklet Is Published By SIU Educational Department "Here's How, Brother!" is the latest of the booklets put out by our e d u c a t i o n al department. Packaged in an attractive green cover, and illustrated by the prominent labor cartoonist, Ber­ nard Seaman, the booklet is sim­ ply and entertainingly written in seamen's language. The booklet points out that one of the jobs of the oldtimer is to acquaint the new member and the trip card man With the ins and outs of his shipboard SUP Ship Rescues British Seamen Get Two# Army Airmen Increased Payment Racing almost a hundred miles For Dependents through high seas in the black of the night, the SUP ship, John Howard Payne, effected the res­ cue of two injured Army airmen whose plane had crashed in the •'acific. The vessel Was 75 miles from the scene when the ship's radio picked up the message. Maximum speed was put on. and the Navy gunners joined merchant seamen as ektra lookouts as the ship plowed through the heavy seas. For many hours the search continued until investigation of J several flares disclosed a man waving a luminous paddle from a yellow rubber raft. Skipper Orion A. Larson maneuvered his vessel to make a lee for lowering a lifeboat. The raft was drifting rapidly but in spite of the diffi­ cult Conditions, both of the pain­ fully injured men were transfered from the raft. SUP men manning the lifeboat were Kenneth W. Leonard, Boat­ swain; Leroy V. Accord, AB; Kenneth G. Neilson, AB; George R. Bones^ Jr., Ordinary Seaman. Medical assistance was requesteff of the SS Whirlwind which had joined the search ahd tWo Navy medical corpsmen Were taken aboard to attend the two fliers. Two other possible survi­ vors Who were thought to be adrift in lifebelts could not be found. (ITF)—The families of British mechant seamen who are pris­ oners of war, are to receive larger financial remittmehts, it was an­ SEAFARERS* INTERNATIONAL UNION nounced recently. A. F. of L. The first step in this direction was made during the summer of 1941, When scales of payments to Above is how the cover of Ihe new booklet looks. It is printed these families Were laid down and in bright green. Below is. one of the several illustrations drawn by which Varied according to the Bernard Seaman. This one illustrates how not to act aboard ship— rank and family circumstances. don't turn to if you are gassed up. After investigation, however, it was discovered that these ar­ rangements did not meet the needs of large families.. The new arrangement now pro­ vides that the minimum payment to the seaman's family will be at the increased rates payable to de­ pendents of deceased or missing seamen, with additional provis­ ion for pocket money in intern­ ment camp; pension fund contri­ butions; and the accumulation of a small balance for payment to the seamen POWs on their re­ turn. DISSOLVED Two soldiers home on leave Were having a chat. "But wereb't you engaged the The cartoon below shows how one crew should turn the ship last time we- met?" asked one." over to another crew-^^verything bright and Clean and shipshape. "What happened? Did you break it off?" "No, not exactly." "Then she did?" "No, she didn't." "Well, then—" RESOURCEFUL "You see, she told me What her . A doctor had an urgent phone clothes cost, and I told her what call from a gentleman saying his my pay was. Then our engage­ small son had swallowed his ment sagged in the middle and fountain pen. gently dissolved." ^ - "All right, I'll Come at once," -the doctor asSuried him. "What I ty lare you doing ih the meantime?" . And the gentleman replied, Tijiur Dritfi "Using a pencil." Keep in Teiteh Wtih Page Three duties as well as educating him in the principles of unionism. It tells you how to protect yourself and the union, and ex­ plains the principles of shipboard cooperation, from the time you are dispatched to the time you hit the beach. "Here's How, Brother!" is in­ valuable in that it tells you how to go about keeping a record of your overtime, and how to go about presenting it in the proper shape so that at the payoff every­ thing will go smoothly. While the Patrolman is there to protect your interests and handle your beefs, it is to your advantage not to have your overtime claim de­ velop into a beef. Nor is the booklet for new­ comers only. The oldtimer will find, plenty here, too; the little things that eVery man gets to know after awhile, but Which sometimes Sink into the back­ side of his mind and need a little shaking up to be brought topside. You SIU men will like "Here's How, Brother!", so drop into the nearest hall and get yourself a copy. GERMAN SEAMEN STRUGGLE AGAINST THE NAZI REGIME (ITF) From Frankfurt-oh-Main now cleared of the Wehrmacht and occupied by the American forces, comes word of an amaz­ ing strike of the Bargemen there against Nazi oppression. The ITF's source declared: "Shortly before my departure from Frankfurt-on-Main, I exper­ ienced something which until re­ cently would have been unim­ aginable in Nazi Germany—a strike and a real demonstration. It began when the Gestapo board­ ed a ship to arrest a sailor and his wife, who was the cook on board. The crew of 16 refused to unload the boat before thleir com­ rade had been set free. When the police tried to intervene, the stevedores and crews of other ships adopted a threatening atti­ tude; hundreds of men downed tools and left for the town in groups. The police tried to dis­ perse the crowd in Zeil, the main street in the town. At the same time further demonstrations broke out in the market place. "Both demonstrations merged and women With empty baskets began to curse the war. Without anybody knowing who gave the word, some 2,000 people began to run through the street urging soldiers on leave to join them. The chaos reached its peak when 10 minutes later, the masses out­ side the prison ,in Eschenheimer Landstrasse demanded that the political prisoners should be set free. Stones were thrown at the windows of the administrative Of­ fices of the prison. Three lorries, with . SS men armed with machine-guns, drove up in front of the prison and opened fire. Some of the demonstrators were killed and many seriously woundded; there were no arrests . . . The strike in the port lasted until two days later, when the sailor and his wife were released." �• PDF Compressor Pro ^ VT; 'i "it-''-' • irsK ' THE Page Four SEAFARERS LOG Coast Guard Examination For Reefer Engineers Is A Faroe You can't beat the Coast Guard because they know all the answers. In fact they have them all written down strict'^ Camel Walk A Mile ly according to Hoyle and Audell—^just listen to what hap­ Because They Can*t pened only last week. Afford A Taxi Brother J. R. Wallace, Pacific 106, had served four years ill the Navy prior to be-* The R, J. Reynolds Tobacco cpming a merchant seaman. Of turned down he protested that he Co., makers of Camel cigarhad a large family and needed these four years he was in full eftes, has got a beef. Everybody promotion. He further offered to charge of a three-quarter ton and his Uncle Joe is making go aboard any type of ship and C02 and a one quarter ton am­ prove that he could do the job. money, but old R. J. Reynolds, All he got for his trouble was the they're losing money. And they arrogant answer from the ex­ want the OPA to give them a aminer, "Study birth control and price increase. learn the answers before you Here are some of the figures come around again." they cited: This isn't the first complaint Liggett & Meyers Tobacco we have received about these Co. (Chesterfield) had a net phony shoreside examiners. The profit of $25,750.00 for the base truth is that they are shilling period of 1936-39, before taxes. for the Maritime Coinmission In 1944 it rose to $31,240,000. training and upgrading schools |: Americcui Tobacco Co. (Lucky and have no use for the guy who Strike) had a base profit of learns his the hard way. $28,937,500 and in 1944 it hit It is time now to insist that $42,722,000. no examiner be appointed by the Philip Morris & Co., went government who is not a thor­ from $5,587,750 to $12,581,000 ough master of his profession. A monia refrigeration plant. Since shoe maker knows his last but P. Lorillard (Old Gold) raised getting out of the Navy he has the jackpot from $4,006,500 to been sailing regularly below. he doesn't try to tell an iron $9,929,000 in 1944. Hearing that there was a great worker how to drive a rivet. But—^poor old.C^els dropped shortage of Reefer Engineers he Neither can these Coast Guard immediately went over to the ex­ CPO's and war baby stripers tell from $33,940,750 to the abso­ aminers and applied for an in­ real seamen how to do their work, lutely intolerable figure of $31,620,000. dorsement. much less examine them for raise How do they expect R. J. The first step was waiting in in grade. Let them go to sea and Reynolds & Co., to live on line for about an hour until his name was called. Going into the put qualified seamen in their THAT kind of money? examining room he was con­ jobs. fronted by a shoreside Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer who THE BUSHY EYEBROWS WIN started throwing questions at him. Of the twenty four ques­ tions which required written answers, three quarters were re­ lative to ammonia plants which are now practically obsolete. The main point however is that the questions were purely aca­ demic and had little or nothing to do with operation. There were practically no questions concern­ ing the most modern and most generally used marine refriger­ ant, "Freon." No matter how well the questions were answered they had to be word for word like the written answers held by the examiner or it was no dice for the indorsement. When Wallace protested that his answers were in essence the same as the government answers, the examiner scornfully replied that he went by the book. When pressed, however, the high pres­ sure CPO admitted .that he didn't know anything about refrigera­ tion and couldn't answer the questions himself. Wallace must have stepped on the toes and hurt the pride of the landlubber examiner because al­ though he answered seventeen of the twenty-four questions ac­ cording to the answer sheet, and demonstrated his knowledge of the other questions, he was still tiu-ned down. In any kind of ex­ amination a seventy-five per cent score is passing but evidently this two-bit examiner has his own code. Whether Charles O'Neil, bushy-eyebrowed president of the A Spanish member of the Appalachian Coal Operators, or John L. Lewis, bushy-eye­ SIU with seven years sea time browed president of the United Mine Workers, won out in the took an oral examination for an Oiler's endorsement and because miners' contract fight depends on which set of bushy eyebrows you of his poor English was unable consult. One fact they a^ree on: UMW won a pay increase of $1.07 to answer the questions in the a day. Bushy-eyebrowed O'Neil's side contends that the UMW gained exact manner, When he too was as much as $1.50 a day. (LPA). ,.,a Friday, April 20, 1945 N, Y, Times Demands Fair Treatment For Us Pointing out that merchant seamen have perform­ ed "some of the most dangerous war services," the influentional New York Times has joined the ranks of these call­ ing for a Merchant Seamen's Bill of Rights. The articl^ under a Washington date line, appeared in the March 24tli tissue, and is reprinted below: , "A long-neglected subject that eventually may affect a quarter / of a inillion or more veterans of '' some of the most dangerous war> services is the status of the com-' Labor pressure scored two vic­ missioned and enlisted members . tories in Vermont recently. of the Merchant Marine. A bill requiring unions to reg­ ister and pay taxes was with­ "It is said that 80 per cent of drawn from the State Legislature. those serving since the start of The State Senate defeated a the war have been sunk at least ' bill, passed by the House, which once. _ .' would have imposed punishment "In aU veterans' job prpfer- • ranging up to $5,000 fine and ences the merchant marine/ takes , from one to five years in jail for his placq in line below the least anyone using "coercion to force a of the veterans of the armed ser­ person to join any organization." vices, regardless of the compar­ In boss talk, "coercion" means able risks encountered or injur­ handing a guy an application ies sustained. card. "There is no provision for con­ tinued periodic treatment for ^ i 4: these men, even though the GI' Action by Local 3 of the Inter­ Bill of Rights holds out the prom­ national Brotherhood of Electric­ ise that every veteran of the al Workers, AFL, forced the Ha- armed services may have free birshaw Corp. to cough up with a necessary hospitalization for the half million bucks to the em­ rest of his life, if he is unable to ployees of four of their plants. pay for it. Also, there is no per­ The money was due on the manent pension program for the night shift bonus of five cents an disabled merchant mariner. The hour on the 4 to 12 shift, and rehabilitation program promises* ten cents for the 12 to 8 shift. well on paper, but there hre sub­ stantial reports that the service is % X suffering from poor administra­ The Gallup Poll, these people tion in many States and from who go around asking all kinds ignorance of the- operation of' it of questions, and who very often rather generally. come up with the wrong answers, "The result is that disabled picked a winner last week. Merchant Marine personnel who Persons were asked if they had need rehabilitation have been enough money saved to tide them discharged in large numbers from along if they lost their job at the the hospitals and have disappear­ end of the war, and Gallup dis­ ed, to become probable charges covered that 40 per cent ques­ on the community as indigents. tioned didn't have a dime to their There has been no indication of names, and were worried about agitatipn f.jr discharge bonuses for the Merchant Marine veter­ their postwar prospects. Now that even Gallup knows it, ans and there may be good rea­ do you think maybe Congress will sons why they would be separ­ make the,same startling discov­ ated from the veterans of the armed services. But the veterans' ery? It's not likely. program cannot be considered % % closed until Congress makes a Local and long distant tele­ substantial effort to determine phone operators in New York the status of these men. "At the least there should be City voted 13,813 to 658 to go out an effort to recognize the dignity on strike unless their wages are of the service and give to the hiked. This is a continuation of thousands of disabled Merchant the similar action of several months ago. At that time, asking Marine veterans some distinction for $5 a week increase, they were from members of the civilian pop­ offered $4 by the telephone coni- ulation who have taken no risk pany. The WLB stepped in and and suffered no injury connectedawarded $3. The beef now is that with war." the company did not push their $4 offer before the WLB in good He also expects Lewis and his faith. Miners Union to come back into The telephone operators, or­ the AFL. It was the White House, ganized in two indrependent he points out, acting through Dan unions, want the lines to be taken Tobin of the Teamsters, which over by the government. kept the "tough, strike-calling miners' boss out of the federa­ 4, $ 4, tion." According to Victor Riesel, la­ 44 bor columnist for the New York Post, the influence of the CIO Almost twenty thousand Am­ with President Truman will-be erican Fede^tion of Labor mem­ much less than it was with bers have already made the su­ Roosevelt. He expects the AFL preme sacrifice in this war. In to-become dominant in Washing­ other words, one in every ten ton politics. American fighters killed in com­ Riesel points out that the CIO bat to date has been an AFL ^ went down the line with Wallace, man. As of the end of March,; actively fighting the- Democratic there were 52,000 AFL wounded, machine, while the AFL backed 9,900 AFL missing and 7,000 AFL Truman from the very beginning. prisoners. , Labor— Spotlight �• PDF Compressor Pro •;- :;.^sv!V';-./>'!'!:;' Friday. April 20. 1945 THE Admiral Takes Over The SS Amelia Galley You think you've heard of^ brass-batty seamen? Brother, you FOE OF SLAVE LABOR ain't heard nothin' until you lis­ ten to the story of Chief Stew­ ard Dave Archer. This guy was A so nutty about uniforms that he had shoulder boards on his pa­ jamas. The character was hired from; the WSA by the Bull Line and sent aboard the SS Amelia. When he came aboard he saw the gun­ nery officer up forward looking over the 5 inch gun. He walked up to the Navy man, looked pointedly at his single stripe, and then said, 'T am a Lieutenant, Junior Grade, in the Naval Resecj^e. I outrank you and I'll ex­ pect you to salute me when I come aboard." The stew-pot admiral then called his department together and announced that they should salute him when ever they met Sen. Joseph C. O'Mahoney him on deck, and that unless they (D. Wyo.), more than anyone else called him MISTER Archer he in Congress is responsible for the would not reply. in the Senate The admiral figured that now successful fight against the slave'labor bill. everything would be lovely, if O'Mahoney, who comes from he could only get the carrots and Wyoming which isn't highly in­ dustrialized or unionized, carried the ball for labor for the last two months. O'Mahoney's battle was endorsed by all of organized labor. (LPA.) Bond Salesmen Are Invited To Visit broccoli to come to the attention whenever he entered the galley. Well, as you no doubt suspect, MISTER Archer didn't get the respect to which he thought he was entitled. As a matter of fact, the SIU tossed him off the ship when the Amelia hit the first U.S. port. COZY MINISTER Representatives of the Treas^ sury Department will be invited to attend SIU membership meet­ ings to promote the sale of War Bonds, on a motion made by Sec­ retary-Treasurer Hawk at the Chicago Agents' Conference. The motion instructed Presi­ dent Lundberg to write a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury explaning that the apparent poor sale of bonds by seamen is due to the impossible job of getting the individual seaman to report the exact amount of bonds he has bought. NORWEGIAN SABOTEURS A very deaf old lady from Balaam's Crossing, Arkansas, went to visit her daughter in St. Louis. After being there a few days she was taken quite ill and her grand-daughter, fearing that it might be appendicitis, sent for the doctor. She asked the doctor to make an examination but to be very casual about it, so as not to frighten her grandmother. Increased sea communications between Norway, and Germany are of highest military import­ ance to the Germans at this cru­ cial stage of the war. Because of this, the Norv/egian sabotage forces have stepped up their ac­ tivities and are successfully iso­ lating the German garrisons in Norway by cutting these comm.unications. After spending half an liour with the old lady, the doctor came out and reported that aU she needed was a complete rest. Very much relieved that it was nothing serious, the girl took her sewing and went to her grand­ mother's room for a chat. Frequent attacks on German ships are I'eported and an espe­ cially important operation of this kind took place during February in the port of Fredcriksstad in the Oslo fjord. Thirteen tugboats, lying ready to two three big Ger­ man ships out of the harbor, were boarded in broad daylight by Norwegian saboteurs. The Nor­ wegians sailed them out to sea, passing German warships lying at anchor and brought them safely to the Swedish harbor of Stroemstad. (Two of the tug­ boats were scuttled at sea be­ cause of insufficient supply of fuel.) "How did you like my doctor?" she asked. "Your doctor!" The old lady Ri^egan to giggle. "Child, I thought i.^ j5rou said he was your preacher! —•and I was just laying here thinking how fresh city preachers were. SEAFARERS ' '' ' •:• ' •;^*1''="''-:'. />' LOG Page Ha® Bailey Bill Banning Royalties Wonld Hit Union Health Funds WASHINGTON, D. C.—Senator Josiah W. Eaileyj who haiis from North Carolina and believes that all Amer­ ican workers should be drafted and regimented by the Gov­ ernment, introduced a new kind of anti-labor bill which the would outlaw employer payments to a union for any pur­ Marine Hospital In Los Angles Area Unending agitation by SIU-SUP culminated in victory this week when a merchant mar­ Union Men Needed ine hospital with 300 beds in the On Great Lakes Long Beach-Los Angeles area was authorized by the U.S. Pub­ DETROIT—The Great Lakes lic Health Service. Ultimately season has just opened. There the institution will be expanded is a shortage of men here on to provide 800 beds. the Lakes, so why don't some Maritime unions have been of you former Great Lakes sea­ trying for twenty-five years to men now on the coast come have a marine hospital construQ- back here and help us teach ted in this ar.ea. The nearest hos­ these people the advantages of pital is in San Francisco, and being SIU? All of you know cases here that could not be sent that the LCA must be broken north have been contracted to if we are to get decent condi­ other hospitals in this region. tions here. Budget Bureau permission has We are greatly in need of already been granted, and ap­ some good Union men who proval of the Federal Hospital will go to bat up here as they Board is expected. . did and still are doing on the coast. We have a tough com­ BRITISH TRANSPORT bination up her^ composed of the fink LCA and the com­ WORKERS mie NMU. (ITF) Following the demands The NMU is pulling the same made by the workers' represent­ phony "cooperation" stunt up atives on the British Road Haul­ age Central Wages Board, it was here in conjunction with the agreed to .request the Minister of LCA. Their program can only Labor to amend the existing result in the enslavement of all seamen, and create a month­ wage ceilings. ly income for the Commie The Minister of Labor will be asked to -increase by 4s. a week, Party. We cannot permit this the statutory pay of all adult to go on. workers, and for certain classes Any of you who are inter­ of junior workers (under 18) an ested can get full details re­ increase of 2s. 6d. garding your draft stcdtus and releases, and the organizational OPEN SEASON drive information at the New A young -lawyier from the York HaU. North sought to locate in the Upon arrival here report to South. He wrote to a friend in the nearest SIU hall for as­ Alabama, asking him what the signment and instructions. prospects seemed to be in His city Come on home, fellows, and for "an honest young lawyer and let's make these lakes fit for a Republican." In reply, the friend wrote: "If a seaman to work on. You you are an honest lawyer, you know we have done it else­ will have little competition. If where. Let's do it here, now. you are a Republican, the game I. E. BISHOP GL 390 laws will protect you." pose other than a straight checkoff of dues. Sen. Bailey admitted his bill was aimed at President John L. Lewis of the United Mine Work­ ers Union and President James C. Petrillo of the American Fed­ eration of Musicians, Lewis was seeking a 10-centa-ton royalty from the operators for a health insurance fund to protect sick and injured mine workers in his recent negotia­ tions. Petrillo has already won a royalty of a fraction of a cent per record from recording com­ panies for a fund to provide free public concerts and employ idle musicians. Actually, however. Bailey's bill would go far beyond banning such royalties, union chiefs said. If enacted, it would hit health insurance funds already estab­ lished in many industries through collective bargaining beween unions and employers. Several unions—notably the Hatters and the Ladies'* Garment Workers—have negotiated agree­ ments under which employers pay 2 to 3 per cent of their pay­ rolls into health funds, admin­ istered either by the unions or jointly by the unions and em­ ployers. These are used to pay .sickness and accident benefits, medical costs, hospital expenses and death benefits for employes covered by the agreements. Similar pacts have been se­ cured by the Upholsterers and the Furniture Workers' unions and the idea is spreading. These and other similar gains by unions would be wiped out under the Bailey bill, labor spokesrhen said. However, Joseph A. Padway, AFL counsel, challenged consti­ tutionality of the North Carolina Senator's measure. UNION REPRESENTATION BEFORE COAST GUARD Whenever an SIU or SUP man gels tangled with the Coast Guard, a union official is right on tap to represent him and see that his rights are safeguarded. The Special Services Department in New York has rung up a remarkable record of acquitals before the CG Hearing Units. The SUP is also on the ball in the Pacific. Here is a picture of the union in action. On the extreme left is SUP agent Carl Chrislianson of Honolulu testifying before a Hearing Unit regarding a collision between two ships in a Pacific convey. �PDF Compressor Pro n THE Page Six SEAFARERS LOG Friday Ai>ril 20, 1045 week with plenty of overtime on' deck security watches which the "Well, here I am again, the aame company tried to pay off at $6.00 per ni^t; but I held out and got bid story; no AS's or Stewards. 15 hours per man. Paid off the SS Alcoa Pilot in Brother Bull Shepard arrived Gulfport; had a few minor beefs, in our midst April 12 on a Alcoa but got them all squared away wagon. Believe he intends to OK. .spend a few days greeting old Also, had the old Eastern tub friends before leaving again. With him are Several other old timers Falsniouth. She is run by Alcoa Had to take the Steward's De­ down from Boston without a position I would have been-in if bers that have been shipping out so the wagOn they brought in is in fine shape, for which. Brother?^ partment off. Seems the Steward clearance from the hall, but after I had to call the WSA for men of Galveston the past few years we thank you. It is a pleasure are in for a pleasant suiprise. wanted to be the whole cheese kicking the gong around for two after taking two of their men off. have rigged this hall up in first to pay off a wagon like that. hours we had them send him We wdre not so lucky on another and not feed the boys. He had back and ship a steward off the ship that needed a Wiper in a class shape. LEROY CLARKE, Patrolman been on that old tub S6 long that board. hurry. We scouted all over town Paid off the SS John A. Dix cff he thought that he could do just This coming Week still looks looking for a man and had to call the Shfepard Steamship Company. NEW YORK as he wanted to do. Also, had a good as there are plenty of ships the WSA as a last resort. This is This ship paid off clean and the a bad thing and the sooner our ship was comparatively clean. The port of New York has seen few minor beefs on deck, but got in and due in. We can stand This week we haVe the SS another fair week With the num-. them all squared away OK. The plenty of men from the oulports, members realize it the better it will be for us. We can't afford Alvion Victory of the Bull Line, ber of payoffs increasing. company officials put the deck so Come on down and ship. to overload our union with green in transit. A good many of the department on the spot because Shipping is still good. We have Thifty four ships were paid Off men. If there is a job On the members of this creW are former they were not there to shift the called several of the outports for this Week, mOst of the beefs be­ ship after they were unloaded men but were unable to get as board it should be taken by a shipmates and personal friends Of ing settled before payoff. Only one man got his papers pidl many as we needed. So it was Union man even if he does have mine. Several of them came to The SS Edelston of Smith and' ed, because he had a previous log necessary to c^l the fink hall for more time to wait and even if he the meeting Wednesday and took Johnson gave us quite a bit of wants to wait for a ship where an active part. Nice going fel­ men again. against him. he can ship out with some of his lows. Perhaps if more members trouble in the Steward's depart­ What the hell is the matter Well, we finally managed to buddies. The trips are not very ment. It seems aS if 'everyone On with all the old Gulf sailors? The get in the army docks for a pay­ long nowadays and you can al­ when they are on ships would her had Coast Guard charges' make the meetings, all of the out against the other. She was check­ Gulf Was good enough for you in off. The SS B. Bourn of the ways meet again next trip. ports would be able to have a ed and there were only three hard times, and it should be good Mississippi SS Company came in meeting eVery meeting night. I visited the hospital last week enough now. So, why not OOme from a four months trip and had book members in the Steward's and found some of our old mem­ To those members that ship out Department. The Coast Guard' down and see us soon? Shipping quite a few beefs as well as a large number of trip card men. bers there. R. C. Shedd who was of Galveston regularly: When you charges against one Of these Was is good. Had the Waterman Ship Pan There was quite a militant crew unlucky enough to have a boom are ready to ship bring your gear dropped, one was exonerated and Orleans In Sunday, April ?, 1945, aboard and they insisted that an dropped on his foot, and T. M. to the hall as this hail has a fire­ the other got pfobation. All and With a load of bananas. Had to Agent be present at the payoff, Griffith who had to get off his proof vault. Your gear will be all we batted 100% with the get the crew from the RMO to or the payoff would have to be ship in Cuba to be flown to the safer here than in the USS dub. Coast Guard having had a big man the ship. Seems the boys held at the company office. Cap­ U.S. for hospitalization and Clay­ Which reminds me to say that week defending 17 men. None of don't want to take her because tain Rogers was down for the ton A. Ingram, a survivor from since this hall has been Open more them lost their papers. of the members are using it to Balloting for the neW constitu­ she only makes eleven-day round company from New York to the SS Henry Bacon. sit around and play cards, check­ tional amendments and the $10.00 landle the payoff. With his help Ingram is out now and home trips. ers, etc., instead of using the USS. additional strike assessment will we were able to get a Patrolman for a visit. Griffith is probably in Have the Cape Texas in now; D. STONE, Agent start here on April 18. Appirwill write about it in the next aboard and square everything Philly by now although when he away. This was made possible by left here I wasn't quite sure he'd ently there will be a big turnout LOG. She belongs to the Bull the action taken by the crew. So make the train. Shedd's foot is on this. It is the concensus of Line. when you pull into army docks improving and since no bones NEW ORLEANS opinion of the membership that ^ to pay off, demand union repre­ were broken he should be O.K. in NOTICE II! Well here we are again, doing this assessment will be one of the • sentation or payoff in the Com­ a few more days. Due to the fact that there is an business at the old stand. Things jest things that the Organization" excessive amount of luggage here pany office. I had a case with the Coast are really humming here in this has ever advocated and will'be Brother Hawk, the Secretary- Guard last week and it turned out port. We are shipping anything our biggest weapon in our fight ih oiu- branch which has been left during a period of several Treasurer, and I attended a meet­ better than I thought it would. that looks like a seaman and so to hold conditions and wages at years, it will be necessary for us ing with the Labor Board for the The man was already on proba­ far no ships have been held up the union standard after the war. to dispose of it so as to enable us purpose of voting the Chesapeak tion for an offense committed a for lack of men, although much J, P, SHULER, Patrplman to check baggage coming in. Ferry Company. We hope to hold week previously. I was afraid to oUr disgust we have been 4 i Therefore, we hope all the boys an election in the near future. I his papers Would be lifted for at forced to calLthe RMO for a few Shipping has slowed down over will see this, notice and Claim feel confident that we will win it least six months but they gave men but that is only as a last the week end, but has picked up: their gear within the next thirty hands down and bring them un­ him tSe minimum, thirty days' resort. from the outports, such as Bos­ der the banner of the SIU. This suspension. days. Our Agent, Brother Michelet, ton, Philadelphia and Norfolk. will bring up the income for the GEORGE BALES, Agent port as well as be a big advance­ That's about all that has hap­ is leaving this week to take over We have shipped 30 men to those pened during the past week here ment for the men who work on in Savannah, except that our hall another job for the Union qnd is ports and expect other ports to being relieved by Brother Eddie the ferries. is beginning to look a little bet­ Higdon, an old timer. The port call in for more men in the near NORFOLK I Shipping prospects still look ter every day. We're trying to Will be in good hands as Brother future. Shipping here is still booming, good, so you book men come on get the little incidentals that the Higdon has been working in New Would like to bring this'parti­ the boys are picking their jobs down and ship so we can discon­ cular item up to the attention of boys have asked for. While there now and we are having quite a tinue having to use the fink hall. is a severe scarcity of these York and Philadelphia and he is Chief Stewards, especially. Quite not a green man. time crewing the old tubs. But things down here we manage to Brother Shuler, please note a few of you Stewards know the RAY WHITE, Agent as yet we have managed to stay get them after a little searching, that you will soon have Brother shipping rules, some don't, others clear of War Shipping recruits. and we hope to have a place Michelet back and he says that just disregard them. Well, It seems as if we have SAVANNAH down here Soon worthy of the he will try to teach ygu to cook, Stewards of late are getting in found a pardner for the lad of the habit of promoting messmen men who sail SIU ships. but doubts if it can be doho. Waterman SS Company, namely Shipping in the Port of Sa­ ARTHUR THOMPSON, Agent. From all the dope we can get to the position of 2nd Cooks, Morgan Hiles. Only this bucko vannah has dropped considerably. Bakers, and Chief Cooks. That is here, this port will be one of the violating shipping rule No. 30, would-be Simon Legree is skipper Only three men have shipped out largest in the country within a which says that no Messmen, OS, on the SS Robert M. T. Hunter of since rny last report and quite a <iALVESTON few weeks. So all you boys who or Wipers can be promoted to a' the South Atlantic SS Company. few of the boys are coming down He broke the agreement about this way to register. We like to Shipping has beeh slow this would like to ship out come on higher rating, even if he has the every way he could during the laVe them down -here, of course, past week in this port but we are down and grab yourselves atty endorsements and had just com­ trip. He would pull sneak fire but if shipping doesn't pick up expecting things to pick up again kind of a run that you like. pleted a voyage. First, he must' drills, one in the morning and we'll have a tough time getting shortly. We had a few cases at the Coast come off the ship. Then he must then one in the afternoon. He al­ them out. One ship was due in Since this pOrt has its car, we Guard but so far the score is still register at the hall for the high­ so had the AB'S to bring his meals last week and we're all waiting are able to make those ships lay­ in our favor. No papers lost. er rating, and then ship out ac­ to his room and dispute their still. It should be in tomorrow ing in"the out of way ports. Had Had a Mississippi Shipping cording to the shipping rules. overtime. This bum really had though, and two new diesel jobs to replace severar men on the Company wagon in hefe last The only time OS, Wipers and everything messed up in general for Waterman are coming out of Brandywine the first week that Week with a mate who insists On Messmen may be promoted is in" but failed to hank any of the the yards in a matter of weeks. we had the car, and while I was working on deck. The boy claim­ an emergency while at sea. If Once in a while I have one or making the ship took the NMU ed this pay but it will haVe to go' crew with the Coast Guard, fC&tmnned &n Page 8) At the pay off We had him two replacements-and then I have Steward that had been riding to a port Committee. The Broth­ tough time getting men. We this ship off. The Captain didn't ers waited until payoff tO claim singing a different tune, our tune. He had to pay all the overtime, had a West Coast ship in last like the idea Of losing his fair this pay which makes it hai-d as well as being raked over the week and the WSA put two re­ haired boy who had been With for your officials to collect^ so fOr coals by the Patrolmen and Coast placements on board and they him for five months. After talk­ Pete's sake. Brothers, When yOu Guard. His name is Chance, so were immediately removed and ing to him I convinced him that make or claim overtime put it be careful when you Ship with replaced by SIU men. for the best interests of those con­ down the day it is claimed. Doh't this bum. He really tries to throw We were lucky enough to find cerned, the Steward should be wait until the end of the trip to the book at you. do this. It Will aid In collecting two oldtimers who shipped out paid off. Eastern also tried to pull a fast even though they could have The new hall is now open here overtime. one with one of their old Com­ stayed ashore a while longer. in Galveston and is located at Paid Off a South Atlantic Com­ pany Stewards. They sent him They realized What a hell of a 305 22nd Street. All you meto- pany mule Ship during the past MOBILE iiiii , :A-- -i-y ."v n �PDF Compressor Pro > Friday. April 20> 194S THE SEAFARERS Strike Fund Vote ts New Proceeding •v., (Cpniinu^ / from Page Ij >ordrng of jay of the amenS^ jiients, he sd.iuid ask lo have it Ixplained before he votes. I The voting rules are simple: Anyone who is a full book memin good standing is entitled to cast a vote in, this referendum. Do jjot use a lead pencil, use either pen and ink or an indelible, ^pencil. Do not put any other 'rnerkings on the ballot, or it may be invalidated, The rules are simple enough. If followed carefully there should be no confusion or mistakes made. The Strike Fund Resolution was introduced before the New York membership on March 26th, and passed unanimously. It was concurred in by the other ports on April 11th, and directed for it referendum vote. The Resolution provides for a single $10 strike assessment on each member to used for a war Page Seven ONE BAT FOR ALL THREE! v'hest to meet the expected post­ war union-busting drive of the The money raised will be kept in a special fund, to be used only in case of a general strike of all ships, and then only if called by a referendum vote of the membership. It was pointed out in the reso­ lution that the seamen after the last war were practically reduc­ ed to slavery by the vicious as­ sault of the operators. It is, ex­ pected that the same attempt wUl be made after this war is ended. The strike fund will permit the SIU to protect the conditions it has gotten for its membersconditions that are far above any ever enjoyed by a maritime union. If the expressed opinions of the rank and file are any indication, the resolution is as good as pass­ ed, and the SIU can actively plan its fight to remain strong and powerful after the war. SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA ATLANTIC and GULF DISTRICT qONSTITUTIQN AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTION BALLOT INSTkUCTIONS TO VOTERS: Vote either YES or NO — Mark a cross (X) in the aquare. Do not use a lead pencil in marking the ballot — ballots marked with lead pencil will not be counted. MARK/YOUR BA1.LOT with PEN and INK or INDELIBLE PENCIL. DO NO'? PUT ANY OTHER MARKINGS ON THIS BALLOT. FOREWORD THE ATLANTIC AND GULF AGENTS ASSEhflBLED AT THE RECENT ATLAN'TIC AND GULF DISTRICT AGENTS CONFERENCE HELD Hi NEW YORK, N.Y. FROM MARCH 12, 1945 to MARCH 17, 1945, DREW UP AND RECOMMENDED THE ADOP­ TION OF THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION- AND THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED AND CONCURRED IN BY THE MEM­ BERSHIP ON A COASTWISE BASIS TO BE REFERRED TO, A REFERENDUM VOTE. VOTING PERIOD FROM, APRIL 18th THROUGH May 23. 1945 BALLOT •CONSTITUnON AND SIO.OO STRIKE ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION ARTICLE Vn, SECTION I.— Shall be amended to read; REINSTATEMENT Members more than six months in arrears may be reinstated through the concurrance of the membership at a regular business meeting or at a special meeting upon payment of all back dues, fines and assessments. Members so reinstated shall be regarded as Probationary Members for a period of one year. TE5 • LOG ARTICLE XERgt^ECnnON Vn — Shall be amended to read; In the regular meeting held in Branches during the second meeting in January, the Com­ mittee on Election shall open the Ballot Box, count the nuno^^er of ballots therein contained and count the number of votes for each candidate. The result shall be noted in the Minutes^ The Committee shall then forward to Headquarters all used ballots (i.e.. All ballots taken from the Ballot Box, including blank and disqualified ballots), together with a copy of the tally sheets, under sealed cover, marked "Ballots For Officers". That in the event an. riection committee is not available then the ballots from that particular port in their entirety used qr. unused, shall be forwarded to Headquarters by the Branch Agent. YES • NO • ARTICLE XRL SECTION K — Shall, be amended to read: All Committees mentioned in Article #13 shall be full book t..embers in good standing but shall not be employees of the Seafarers' International Union of North America. YES • NO • ARTICLE XV, SECTION V, Paragraph m Shall be amended to read; He shall, prepare weekly financial reports showing in detail the income ^d expense and forward copies thereof to Headquarters, together with- duplicates of receipts for income and original vouchers for expenditures. He shall at the end of each week remit to the SecretaryTreasurer any money on hand in excess of Two Hundred DoUars, with the exception of tho New York and New Orleans Branches which shall be allowed to keep on hand $.500,00, respectively. YES • NO • ARTICLE XXL SECTION II — Shall be amended:, to read; The initiation fee shall be Twenty-five ($25.00) Dollars, and shall accompany the appli­ cation for membership, and the dues shall be Two DoUars ($2.00) per month, payable in advance. YES • NO • NO • ASnClE m SECnON IV — ShaU be amended to read: RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the European War is drawing to its final stages, and we all know that after this War is ended the shipowners will begin an assault on our conditions and wages with a viciousness never before known, and WHEREAS, to fight all shipowners and labor haters who would like to see us broken after this War, and the seamen reduced to slavery as they were after the last War, we murt have finances to fight them successftiUy, and WHEREAS, sheUing out a few bucks now to prepare for the fight wiU protect our living, standards after the War, and ABTICIE XBS. SECn^^ W —> ShoU be amended to read:. WHEREAS, our wages and conditions today are far above any Maritime Union in history and are indeed worthy of protecting and extending, so Members shaU be entitled to vote upon presenting their membership certificates, showing that they are in good standing, and have not previously vote4 at the same election. Each THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we go on record to assess ourselves in addition to the ASA a single $10.00 Strike Assessment: so as to guarantee a real Strike Fund that member shall sign for their baUot on the official tally sheet provided for that purpose. Mem­ can carry us through any crisis, and bers shalTmark their ballot with pen and ink, or indelible pencil and shall eSgnify. Aeir choice of canffidates by marking a cross (X) in voting square , opposite names or by writing in the BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED, if this is carried, then the additional money be added to blaidr line the name of their choice if such name be not' printed upon the ballot. Lead pencils the ASA Fund which cannot be used unless in a General Strike of all ships, and then •hall not be used in marking ballots. Whpn a member has marked' his ballot; he shall deliver only after a referendum baUqt to do so, and it foldoil to tile judge, who aftee ascertainiue that the member is entitled to vote, shall tear off the numbered stub and ifeposit the ballot. The Committee shall then stamp the members', BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that if this resolution is carried that it be placed, on a ballot, as per constitution, as soon as possible so that the membership will have the op­ certificate of mcmbecsbiF in the proper column for the y wr and month of election, such stamp portunity to express themselves by secret baUot. shall, beat the, word "voted" the initials oI the voting place and. the fiate of the voting. If the member is not entitled to vote, the judge shall void his ballot, the tellers shall count the ballots ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE ABOVE RESOLUTION as they are deposited and the clerks shall keep record of the count. Balloting for Officials shall bq secret and shall take place each day during the months pf November and December — Sixty (60) day referendum provided that there are not less thm tjiree (3) nor more than six (6) full book members in good standing elected to look at their books and -guard the ballot box and no ballot shall be accepted except those cast in the regular manner. YES • NO 0 YES • NO • YES • NO • Be Sure To Cast Your Ballot Before May 23rd '•5» .-f-Jr ^ - • �PDF Compressor Pro •. • •'•• -:'• • • • Page Eight THE SEAFARERS • •' ^ T.ti.;^fi • •'. ^ii£ LOG Friday,'April 20, 1945 BUUJETIN t il / Unclaimed Wages—Seas Shipping Company Willie J. Carpenter ORIENTAL—VOYAGE lA John W. Royal Dick Kardel 2.85 Robert A. Jackson John- Melopaulos 2.74 James I. Fossatl G. Brennan 1.42 William R. Barnes ORIENTAL—VOYAGE 2 Daryl D. Walizer James F. de Paw 20.12 Wilson C. Jones, Jr Thomas F. Niebauer 21.15 Joseph A. Poehnelt Victor B. Cooper 6.89 Robert L. Chuites 6.44 71 2.13 8.53 14.93 17.06 7.11 3.55 3.55 ROBIN GRAY—VOYAGE 70 ORIENTAL—VOYAGE 3 52.67 L. k. Welch 8.92 John E. GofF C. A. Ray 11.88 ROBIN LOCKSLEY H. J. Butts 16.11 VOYAGE 11 PETER WHITE—VOYAGE 3 Joseph Gamblick 3.37 Joe R. Graves 602.13 James Winters 2.63 J. Chadwick Hagbey 2.63 REINHOLD RICHTER VOYAGE 1 ROBIN LOCKSLEY W. N. Beatty 2.64 VOYAGE 12 D. Morgan 2.64 Sjur Borlang 2.95 D. Kerr 2.64 Fidal Lukban 11.38 REINHOLD RICHTER ROBIN LOCKSLEY VOYAGE 2 VOYAGE 13 Robert Lee Bladsacker 30.71 Francisco Morciglio ; 7.28 Charles J. DeCromer 30.71 Henry R. Singleton 7.11 Harold R. Storer 30.71 L. C. Sawyer 30.71 ROBIN LOCKSLEY VOYAGE 14 RICHARD RUSH—VOYAGE 2 16.42 Robert Hall 4.27 John W. Przelecki Vito Karchmajeski 8.88 John F. Martins 4.27 Charles Mundis 2.64 Nelson H. Ostman ............ 4.27 R. V. Kern 2.84 Frank Revill ;.. 4.27 Harold L. UpdegrafE 2.84 Bernaldo' Villaneuva 4.98 Clarence C. Short Paul J. Combs William D. Baisley 4.27 ROBIN LOCKSLEY 4.98 VOYAGE 15 4.98 Vito Karchmajeski RICHARD RUSH—VOYAGE 3 ROBIN SHERWOOD Johannes T. Norgaard 7.82 VOYAGE 12 Gunnar K. Svalland 4.98 Paul Marifke David F. M. Sykes 7.11 Robert E. Hardin ... Gerard F. Hanraham .7. 4.98 ROBIN SHERWOOD James W. McFarlin 2.13 VOYAGE 13 RICHARD RUSH—VOYAGE 4 P. Gonzales W. Dickson 2.17 ROBIN TUXFORD Harry Justice 12.61 VOYAGE 11 William Maximo 6.75 Carlton S. Johnson 26.84 Edward Hosinski Thomas R. Stoneking 7.42 ROBIN TUXFORD Albert Weber 9.60 VOYAGE 15 ROBIN ADAIR—VOYAGE 69 Manfred Keillitz Leon Gray -6.48 Andrew Jones Angelo Stranery 2.13 ROBIN WENTLEY ROBIN ADAIR—VOYAGE 71 VOYAGE 6 John Hatgimisios 3.77 C. Hill John Aba 5.34 P. Fitzgerald % C. Gundersen ;. ROBIN DONCASTER Arthur H. Duncan VOYAGE 2 Eugene H. Haas Lawrence Holmes 40.00 Joseph Kniffin J. L. Sterne ROBIN DONCASTER A. L. Ottinger VOYAGE 4 J. E. Stilman ! Eugene O'Brien 2.84 B. K. Monroe D. F. Kelly ROBIN DONCASTER F. R. Steigler VOYAGES r Theodore M. Ross 7.38 J. M. Boyt Julius A. Batille 3.69 R. Hite Kenneth D. Bailey 41.65 A. B. Ottinger Henry B. Perrin ROBIN DONCASTER ROBIN WENTLEY VOYAGE 7 VOYAGE 7 Gregory J. Colburn 6.44 I. J. Sullivan Jabe H. Steadham 6.44 Jack Anderton : Franklin K. Buchanan 1.45 Karl L. Sneath Clint D. Reavis 6.44 Robert W. Ross 6.44 ROBIN WENTLEY Albert C. Bogel 6.44 VOYAGE 8 Douglas E. Smith 1.45 Howard G. Rogers Franklin C. Loschi 1.45 Glifford M. Spratham Jule F. Zaleski 6.44 Thomas Brooke 6.15 5.36 5.93 .71 52 22.13 10.66 ROBIN WENTLEY VOYAGE 9 Oscar F. Nelson Paul T. Amos Richard L. Amos Ray Bough Frank Aghazarmian John A. Lambert Ray Bough : Wilbur J. Bohn ROBIN WENTLEY VOYAGE 10 W. H. Kuehn George R. Golden SAMUEL GRIFFIN VOYAGE 2 Roman Gonzales Allister Murner SAMUEL GRIFFIN VOYAGE 3 William Carlson SAMUEL GRIFFIN VOYAGE 4 John Snivernarz Theodore Wiglarz F. A. Lenk Theodore Wiglarz James D. Matheson Emilio DeSanto 98.75 WALTER COLTON 98.75 VOYAGE 1 98.75 John L. Buck 12.80 98.75 Homer O. Wooley 19.75 98.75 5.28 WALTER COLTON 5.36 VOYAGE 2 1.22 Paul L. Garrett 36.50 WALTER COLTON VOYAGE 3 8.53 Roy Simpkins : 1.07 20.60 Douglas H. Hudson 1.07 Paul L. Garrett ....: 10.82 Winston L. Castleman 19.17 Jose M. Delora 11.31 98.75 80.44 WILLIAM MOULTRIE VOYAGE 1 A. Michelet 11.42 Samuel L. Ash 2.75 2.66 Oscar Anderson ;..... 21.69 2.61 2.61 2.95 3.20 SAMUEL GRIFFIN VOYAiE 5 Harry Weisberg Theodore Paul, Jr John Slaman .'. Louis E. Williams Helon Ballantfne 1.32 11.38 5.69 3.55 2.84 SAMUEL GRIFFIN VOYAGE 6 Edward B. Chachulski 3.Q7 SIDNEY LANIER VOYAGE 1 Donald D. Knox James L. March John Camara Bobby Lancaster Abry C. Mullen Halbert S. Ray Thomas J. Whitford J. E. Mathews W. F. Morris J. A. Hugdens G. L. Prescott Lonnie Sims 6.46 5.15 5.15 5.95 5.14 5.15 5.81 12.56 .89 23 5.19 5.89 SIDNEY LANIER VOYAGE 2 Leo E. Narodzonek Ellis D. Weller Donald M. Grove Joseph J. Radziewicz Howard E. King Lester E. Leach James B. Thompson L....;.... Ralph A. Barber Walter R. Compean Frank Gecan Alan Whitmer 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 14.22 1.84 3.17 3.32 1.35 5.65 5.65 71 2.84 4.58 4.58 5.29 3.16 SIDNEY LANIER 3.87 VOYAGE 3 . 5.80 5.47 Frank Lis 5.64 SIDNEY LANIER VOYAGE 5 George Bartin 10.66 THOMAS MASARYK 3.55 VOYAGE 1 .64 Walter A. Ogden 2.95 14.53 4.60 THOMAS MASARYK 2 12.30 VOYAGE 2.97 Elmer S. Schrouder .70 C. Siegler 14.52 7.94 8.61 478.98 WILLIAM MOULTRIE VOYAGE 2 Philip Syrex 28.74 Clifton E. Mainers 5.00 David Hall 5.20 Regis F. Hartnett 5.20 Bryan G. Downes 5.19 Newton A. Paine 5.15 Robert M. Snell 28.74 Leo N. Cullman i 5.15 Edmund Zalusky 5.15 Angel Uriarte, Jr .....' 5.06 Thomas Morgan 5.15 Walter I. Little 5.18 William Szyts 5.15 John RicUy !.. 27.77 Harold Greenlee ^ 5.19 Karl F. Karlson, Jr 27.82 Mike Agic 5.18 Aubrey Silverthorne 5.17 Arthur H. Foerch 5.20 Earl R. Pennock 5.17 Money Due| SS JOHN H. B. LATROBE James Houghton, 1 hr; Richard Floyd, 4 hrs; H. Boucher, 4 hrs; R. Eubanks, 4 hrs; A. R. Swiscowski, 1 hr; E. Rihn, 4 hrs; W. Apple, 5 hrs; S. Birkland, 2 hrs; C. Bandu, 2 hrs; M. Silva, 90 hrs; A. Gniewkowski, 4 hrs; L. Minks, 4 hrs; C. Eister, 4 hrs; J. Bubler, 4 hrs; R. Peak, 5 hrs; J. Kivler, 4 hrs; G. Berkimer, 4 hrs. * Collect at Calmar, 44 Whitehall Street, New York, N.Y. I > *1 SS JOHN BLAIR W. White, 19 days. Second Cooks Wages. Collect at Calmar office, New York, N. Y. i SS BANVARD J. Knapp, Oiler: you have money coming to you and can collect at the SIU Hall, New York. '' a> i SS BETHORE Thomas Donoghy, Oiler, 24 hrs; Thomas Estelle, Wiper, 2 hrs; B. Seliste, Dk. Eng., 12 hrs. Collect at Calmar SS Company office. a> a> i SS PEPPERELL The following men have $36.00 each coming to them for security watches in New York: A. R. Thebochearu, J. R. Pawlaczyk, J. E. Peters. Collect at Calmar SS Company, office. 4. a^ a; SS BAYOU CHICO Rogers, AB, 7 hrs;.Japel, AB, 4 hrs; Wallander, OS, 7 hrs; John­ son, AB, 6 hrs; Brinck, AB, 6 hrs; Davis, OS, 10 hrs; Frye, AB, 3% hrs; Messer, AB, 3 hrs; Reyes,, OS, 7% hrs. Collect at Waterman SS Company office. WILLIAM MOULTRIE VOYAGE 3 Michael F. Larkin u.... 49.08 R. Denzek 39.82 Howard V. Wilson 5,08 H. Fenton 22.75 H. Knutson : S.OQ^ WILLIAM MOULTRIE VOYAGE 5 WILLIAM MOULTRIE Richard F. Eastman 2.63 VOYAGE 6 A. Madigan 22.75 Richard W. Townsend 18.72 Around The Ports (Cont'muei from Page 6) you are in port, it can't possibly be an emergency, for the Hall is open from 8 AM to 9 PM on week days and from 10 AM to 6 PM on Sundays and holidays. Therefore it is easy enough to call your Union Hall for replacements. These shipping rules apply to all the Departments. Some Stewards are under the impression that they stand alone and their word is law. Person­ ally, I know they are wrong and for the benefit of those that don't you belong to an industrial Union. The Engihe Department at any time or the Deck or Stew­ ard Department can hold a meet­ ing when one or the other of the Departments is violating any of the SIU Rules or it's Constitu­ tion. With cooperative methods among the three Departments aboard the ships, difficulties can be ironed out practically 80% except that which must be iron­ ed out on arrival in Port. The SIU is a solid union, and all De­ partments are combined for but a purpose, the betterment of con­ ditions and wages. The SIU is progressing and without your co­ operation and interest, we as an organization, wouldn't have pro­ •i gressed this far. We, as members of the SIU, are fully aware that there is only, a small dent into the maritime field and that we must all cooperate to expand our union. • For witho*ut expending, we will be static and will be­ come stale and lose interest. So let's study more of our con­ tracts, the shipping rules and oui! constitution for a bigger and bet4 ter Union in the SIU of NA.' W. PAUL GONSORCHIK^. Ditpateher / X 0'' � 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 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. BCC The name(s) and email address(es) of the person to whom the email was blind carbon copied. 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Title A name given to the resource April 20, 1945 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. VII, No. 16 Description An account of the resource STRIKE FUND VOTING IS NOW PROGRESSING FOUR DEAD IN TANKER CRASH GALLANT VESSEL AWARD IS MADE TO SUP SHIP DEMAND WAGE FREEZE END TRADE UNION EMISSARY THEY'RE HARD OF HEARING BUILD THE STRIKE FUND GI JOE NOT ANTI-UNION NEW BOOKLET IS PUBLISHED BY SIU EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT SUP SHIP RESCUES TWO ARMY AIRMEN BRITISH SEAMEN GET INCREASED PAYMENT FOR DEPENDENTS GERMAN SEAMEN STRUGGLE AGAINST THE NAZI REGIME COAST GUARD EXAMINATION FOR REEFER ENGINEERS IS A FARCE N.Y. TIMES DEMANDS FAIR TREATMENT FOR US LABOR-SPOTLIGHT ADMIRAL TAKES OVER THE SS AMELIA GALLEY BAILEY BILL BANNING ROYALTIES WOULD HIT UNION HEALTH FUNDS MARINE HOSPITAL IN LOS ANGLES AREA UNION MEN NEEDED ON GREAT LAKES BRITISH TRANSPORT WORKERS BOND SALESMEN ARE INVITED TO VISIT NORWEGIAN SABOTEURS SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/20/1945 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1945 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/d142bf3a66e1d5d49b840c19ef8e20d8.pdf b4d601e5011d74ac555c0a81adadac55 PDF Text Text DOUBLES  DEATH BENEFIT  The  Seafarers  Welfare  Plan  announced  this  week  that  the  death  benefits  payable  to  Benefi­ ciaries  of  deceased  Seafarers  had  been  doubled,  effective  April  16.  By  unanimous  agreement,  the  Board  of  Trustees voted  to increase  the $500  bene­ fit to $1,000.  The  additiorial  $500  benefit  is  payable  in  all  cases where the deaths of  qualified employees occur  Qfficial Organ, AtlaniXc & Gulf  District, Seafarers International Union of  NA  on or after  April 16,1951, the trustees said.  The  decision  to  expand  the  death  benefit  fea­ NEW  YORK.  N.  Yi  FRIDAY.  APRIL  20.  1951  No. 8  tures  of  the  Plan  came  just  about  nine  months  VOL.  xiii  'after  the  welfare  program  for  Seafarers  went  into  effect.  Pay­ ment  of  the  original  $500  death  and  $7  weekly  hospital  benefits  will  bring,  with  such  legislation  to  be  provided  by  the  Plan  began  on ,  drafted  by the fishermen's  organizations. It  July  1,  1950.  NLRB  Seeks  Int'l  Convention  Decisions  In  the course of  the Fifth  Biennial Con­ Whereabouts  Of  vention  of  the Seafarers  International  Un­ ion,  which  was  held  in  San  Francisco,  was  recommended  that  the  proposed  legis­ CS  Seafarers  March  26­30, the  delegates acted  on a  con­ lation  should  include  exemption  for  the  I  The  National  Labor  Relations  siderable  number  of  important  resolutions  board  has  informed  the SIU  that  and  proposals affecting  the seamen's, fisher­ the following  men  who  may have  men's  and cannery  workers' sections  of  the  back  pay  coming  to  them  in  the  international.  Cities  Service  case  have  still  not  Among  the  principal  policy  decisions  been  heard  from:  George  W.  Eberdino,  Jesse  taken  by  the  convention  were  the  follow­ Green,  Howard  Hammons,  James  ing:  Monroe,  Frank  Schmiedel  and  • Authorized    the  International  to open  John  Vierra.  an  office  in  the  Port  of  Seattle,  Wash.,  to  These  men  are  advised  to  get  coordinate  the  organizing  activities  of  the  in  touch  with  William  CLough­ lin.  National  Labor  Relations  fishermen  and fish  cannery  workers  in  the  Board,  2  Park  Avenue,  New  Puget  Sound  and  Alaskan  areas,  to  assist  York  16,  New  York,  by  May  1,  and  represent  the  various  unions  affiliated  1951.  with  the  International  and  to organize  the  Anyone  knowing  the  where­ unorganized.  abouts  or  addresses  of  these  men    for  the  passage  of  Federal  leg­ can  help  them  by  forwarding'  • Called  islation  to  guarantee fishermen  the  right  this  information  to  Mr.  O'Lough­ to determine what  price the fish they catch  Itn.  In  line  with  their  purpose  of  making  the  Welfare  Fund  ope^  commercial fishermen  from  the  provisions  rate  to  the  fuUest  advantage  ot  of  the Sherman  Anti­Trust  laws  and  simi­ the  Seafarer­beneficiaries,  the  lar  laws  in  states  where  they  exist.  This  Union's  representatives  on  the  resolution  is  to  be  presented  to  the  next  Board  of  Trustees  suggested  American  Federation  of  Labor  convention  doubling  of  the  $500  death' pay­ series of  meet­ for  its  aid  and  support  in  obtaining  pass­ ment. Following a  ings  in  which  the  effects  of  the  age  of  the  proposed  remedial  legislation.  proposed  increase  were  studied,  • Voted    approval  of  H.R.  1762,  as  the  company  representatives  amended  by  the  convention,  which  was  agreed  to  bring  the  benefit  up  to  introduced  into  Congress  for  the  safety  $1,000.  AUTHORIZATION  of  life  and  property  by  making  all  com­ Authority  for  the  Trustee's  ac­ mercial fishing  vessels  subject  to  the  rules  tion  is  contained  in  Article  III,  and  regulations of  the Coast  Guard  Marine  Section  1  (c)  of  the  Welfare  Inspection  Service.  Plan  agreement,  which  states  • Amended Article IV, Section    2 of  the  that  the  Fund  shall  be  used  and  International  constitution  to  increase  the  applied  "to  pay  for  additional  number  of  International  vice­presidents  types  of  welfare  benefits  as  may  be  determined  jointly  by  the  Employers  and  the  Union;  the  cost  of  such  additional  benefits  shall be controlled  by  the amount  of  money  actually  in  the  Fund,  and,  based  on  experience,  the  benefits  it  is  estimated  the  Fimd  Headquarters  of  the  SIU's  At­  tion  payments  to  the  great  ma­ sum  for  each  man  per  working  working  seamen  ever  qualify  for  can  provide  without  undue  de­ vacations  under  the  continuous  lantic  and  Gulf  District  has  re­ jority  of  men  who  at  present  day  on  their  ships.  .  To  obtain  his vacation  pay  un­ employment  clause  embodied  in  pletion  or  excessive  accumula­ do  not  qualify  under  the  out­ quested  meetings  with  all  con­ tion ..."  tracted  operators  for  the  pur­ moded  vacation  clauses  com­ der  the  proposed  Union  plan,  a  the  existing  contracts  through­ Because  of  the  conservative  pose  of  negotiating  an, equitable  mon  to  all  maritime  union  con­ Seafarer  could  go  to  the  Fund  out  the  maritime  industry  policy  and  sound  economic  at  intervals  to  be  stipulated  and,  In  advancing  its  revolutionary  vacation  plan  that  will  give  the  tracts.  judgment  exercised  by  the  trus­ upon  presenting  proof  of  the  To  achieve  this  objective,  the  proposal,  the  Union  will  point  membership  guaranteed,  collec­ tees  in  setting  up  the  plan  and  number  of  days  he  has  worked,  Negotiating  Committee  will  pro­ out  to  the  operators  that  "sea­ tible  Vacation  pay.  providing for  the manner  of  ope­ collect  the  money  he  is  entitled  time  is  seatime,  no  matter  what  In  informing  the  shipowners  pose  the  establishment  of  a  Va­ ration,  the  Fund  has  been  on  to  under  his seatime.  company  a  seaman  works  for,  of  its  desire  to  open  negotiations  cation  Plan  modelled  along  the  solid financial  footing  practical­ The  Union's  proposed  vacation  lines  of  the  highly  successful  and  that  in  the final  analysis  on  the  vacation' subject,  the  Un­ plan  evolved  after  a  long  period  it  would  make  no  real  differ­ ly  from  the  outset.  ion  proposed  that  the first  meet­ Seafarers Welfare  Plan.  A  report  from  the  Welfare  As  outlined  by  the  Commit­ of  study  of  the  present  method  ence  to  the  operators;  ing  be  held  on  May  15.  Plan's  offices  at  11  Broadway  in  of  providing  the  men  with  vaca­ tee,  the  vacation  payments  At  the meetings, the  Headquar­ The  Union  committee  explain­ New  York  City  reveals  a  re­ ters  Negotiating  Committee  will  would  be  met  out  of  a  central  tions.  ed  that  thd  shipowners  already  tiresent  to  the  SlU­contracted  fund  sustained  by  contributions  Based  on  its  observations,  the  have  a  vacation  provision,  simi­ serve  of  approximately  three­ operators  a  revolutionary  plan  from  the  operators.  The  contri­ Negotiating  Committee  estimated  lar  to  that  being  sought  by  the  quarters *of  a  million  dollars.  Of  which  would  guarantee  vaca­ butions  would  be  based  on  a  that  less  than  10  percent  of  the  SIU,  in  their  contracts  with  the  this,  a  half­million  dollars  is  in­ AFL" longshoremen.  Like seamen,  vested  in  interest­bearing  United  (Continued on Page 3) the  longshoremen  may  work  for  many  operators  in  the  course  of  a  year.  Unless  the  existing  vacation  arrangement  is  corrected,  sea­ For  the  protection  of  the  men  will  continue  to  be  victims  the  medical  officer  in  charge  to  Up  to  the  present  moment,  the  of  the  peculiar  nature  of  their  crew's  gear  and  the  ship's  By  JOE  ALGINA­ ­ "forward  abstracts,  including  di­ Coast  Guard  has  never  showm  equipment,  and  for  the  pro­ hospitalized  members'  are  re­ agnoses,  from  the  clinical  record  any  interest  in  seamen's  welfare,  employment,  the  Union,  con­ tection  of  the  SIU  agree­ minded  that  their  medical  ab­ of  my  case,  to  the  Marine  Hear­ and  the  signing  of  any  authori­ tended.  ment, men  standing  gangway  Although  the  SIU  has  long  watches  should  remain  at  stracts  are  their  own  personal  ing  Unit  of  the  Coast  Guard."  zations  giving  them  medical  ab­ property  and  that  they  should  stracts  would  appear­  as  an  in­ been  aware  of  the  inadequacy  their  post,  in  the  same  man­ NOTIFIED  UNION  not  sign  any  papers  authorizing  Heeding  the  advice  of  the  Un­ vitation  to  future  complications  of  the conventional  vacation  pro­ ner  as  the  Fireman  below  transfer  of  their  records  to  the  ion,,  the  Seafarer  did  not  sign  and  unneccessary  red  tape.  vision  in  the  maritime  industry,  must  stand  his  watch.  Gang­ it  reserved  action  until  it  had  ways cannot  be covered  from  Coast  Guard.  the  paper,  but  instead  called  the  In  the  past, many seamen  have  This  advice,  w;hich  has  been  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  been  pronounced fit  for  duty,  disposed  of  a  number  of  other  the  messhall  or  foc'sle.  issued  by  the  Union  on  a  num­ visiting  Union  Hospital  Patrol­ only  to find  that  their  seamen's  matters,  which  it  regarded  as  The  gangway  watch  is  as  ber, of  occasions  in  the  past  few  man.  papers  have  been  held  up.. Until  having  priority  in  the  member­ much  a  part  of  oiu:  agree­ years,  is  being  repeated  because  No  member­need  sign  any  such  time  as  the  Coast  Guard  ship's  welfare.  ment  with  the shipowners  as  of  the  experience  of  a  Seafarer  such  authorization,  and  the  hos­ gives  evidence  of  good  faith  in  Chief  among  these  was  the es­ the  wage settle,  and  must  be  in  the Staten  Island  Marine  Hos­ pital  cannot  turn  over  any  rec­ matters  concerning  seamen's wel­ tablishment  of  the  Welfare  Plan  fully  observed  at  all  times.  pital this  week.  ,  ords .  to  anyone  unless  author­ fare,  it  is  extremely  wise  to  re­ which  would  give  benefits  pro­ This  notice  refers  particular­ For  no  apparent  reason,,  this  ized.  Medical  records  ate  d  mat­ frain  from  any  voluntary  action  viding  a  good  start  toward  a  ly to  ports  in  East  and  Brother  was  asked  to  sign  a  ter  of  trust  between  physician  that  wo.uld  enable  it  to  make  greater  measure  of  security  for  South  ABiea.  life  any  more  difficult.  seafaring  men.  mimeographed  form  authorizing  and  patient.  (CofUinued on Page 3) Operators Asked To Meet On SIU Vacation Plan  Seamen Warned Against Giving  Coast  Guard  Medical  Records  Gangway Watch  �Pi  If'  TTH E ^,Eyi^i4:M^n s yi^M Page Two  Ftmr, MM  M.im  Published  Every  Other Week  by  the  SEAFAREES  INTERNATIONAL  UNION  OF  NORTH  AMERICA  Atlantic and Gulf  District  <Afiiliated  with*the  American  Federation  of  Labor  At  51  Beaver Street, New York 4,  N. Y.  HAnover  2­2784  Reentered  as  second  class  matter  August  2,  1949,  at  the  Post  Office  in  New  York,  N.Y.,  under  the  Act  of  August  24,  1912.  267  Only  The  Beginning  Now  add  another  reason  to  the  many  that  have  al­ ready  made  the  Seafarers  Welfare  Plan  one  of  the  most  .distinctive  of  its  kind.  This  week,  in  just  about  nine  months  from  the  date  Seafarers  began  receiving  the first  Benefit  payments,  the  Board  of  Trustees  agreed  to  a  100  .percent  increase  in  the  death  benefits  payable  to  bene­ Bciaries  of  deceased  Seafarers.  Beginning  April  16,  the  death  benefit  went  to  $1,000,  from  the  original  $500.  Thus the Plan  has  already demonstrated  the flexibility  envis^ed  by  the  Union  trustees  when  they  insisted  upon  a  self­administered  program  in  the  course  of  drawing  up  the  agreement.  The  trustees  have  scored  another  point  in  favor  of  their  argument  that  the  Seafarers'  Plan  is  • superior to the  insurance  company  method  of  administra­ tion,  for  seafaring  men  at  least.  It is  extremely  unlikely  that  any increase  in  the  orig­ inal  benefits  would  have  been  possible  within  nine  months  of  being  executed  under  a  plan  underwritten  by  an  in­ surance company.  The  cumbersome,  cold,  impersonal  ope­ rations  of  big  company  administration  would  not  permit  the  simple, flexible  and  highly  personalized  form  of  ad­ ministration  that  is  possible  in  the Seafarers  Welfare  Plan.  Our  Plan  works  solely  in  the  interest  of  its  Seafarer  beneficiaries,  which  was  the  avowed  purpose  of  the  trus­ • tees in  developing  the  welfare  program.  In  establishing  rhe  type  and  amount  of  the  initial  benefits,  the  trustees  beld  to  a  conservative  course.  Their  principal  objective  ^as  to  get  a  smooth,  workable  Plan  into  operation  as  quickly as  possible,  without  endangering  the ability  of  the  tWelfare  Fund  to  meet  the  benefit  payments  at  any  time.  They  maintained  that  once  the  Plan  got  under  way  And  its Fund  accumulated  a  reserve  sufficient  to  put  it on  solid financial  footing,  they  would  begin  instituting  in­ creases  in  benefits  which  they  are  constantly  exploring  and  studying.  In doubling  the death  benefits  this  week,  the Welfare  Plan  trustees  gave  solid  evidence  of  what  they  were  talk­ ing about.  With three­quarters of  a  million  dollars  having  been  accumulated  in  the first  nine  months of  its existence,  the Plan  showed  the necessary financial  ability  to meet  the  costs  of  an  increase  in  benefits,  and  the  company  repre­ sentatives  agreed  with  the  Union  trustees'  proposal  that  a  $500  rise  in  the death  benefit  payment  was  practicable.  Seafarers  have  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  unique  Welfare' Plan  that  is  aimed  at  producing  the  maximum  in  benefits  for  themselves  and  their  families.  In  its  report  to  the fifth  biennial  convention  of  the  Seafarers International  Union a  few  weeks  ago,  the Atlan­ tic  and  Gulf  District  said  that  the  Welfare  Plan  was  an  achievement  of  "historical  significance  in  the  seamen's  movement."  This  was  a  very  proper  evaluation  of  our  welfare  program,  because  it  embodies  all  the  elements  of  security  heretofore  undreamed  of.  It was a great  day for every Seafarer  when  the Union  won  from  the  operators  last  year  agreement  to  the  prin­ ciple  of  a  welfare  plan.  But  as  developments  are  rapidly  proving,  that  was  only  the  beginning.  Quoting  again  the  A&G  District's  report  to  the  SIU  convention:  "... the  surface  of  this  new  area­ of  security  for  [| seamen  has  only  been  scratched  as  yet,  but  the  vast  po­ ll  tentialities  that  it  has. for seamen iriarks  it  as  second  only  to  the  Hiring  Hall  as  an  instrument  of  security  for  the  men  who  go  to sea."  MANHATTAN  BEACH  ROBERT  ATMORE  JOHN  W.  KEENAN  MATTHEW  BRUNO  TIMOTHY  SULLIVAN  DAVID  MCILREATH  BEOW  TEAN  KNEW  CONSTANTINE  MAKRIS  RUPERT  A.  BLAKE  FRED  GRIMES  JOHN  J.  DRISCOLL  J.  H.  ASHURST  VIC  MILAZZO  JOHN  T.  EDWARDS  E.  FERRER  ROBERT  F.  LARSEN  A.  LOMAS  JOSE  DE  JESUS  E.  LOPEZ  JOSE  ESPINOZA  t  i*  MEMPHIS  R.  A.  RATCLIFF  JOHN  B.  HEGARTY  CLARENCE .D.  SHIVELY  4.  4,  FQHT STANTON  GIDLOW  WOODS  DONALD  MCDONALD  HENRY  THURMAN  SAN  FRANCISCO  SILVESTER  WALKER  CHARLES  NANGLE  JESSE  J. BENTLEY  C.  L.  MOATS  H.  HILL  JAMES  R.  LEWIS  H.  MCGRATH  4,  4  4  STATEN  ISLAND  RAYMOND  SMITH  EUGENE  MILANESI  F.  DILLANNA  ARCH  MCGUIGAN  FRANK  CARDOZA  R.  QUINN  JOHN  BARRON  N.  DORPMAN  .  ANDREW  SCHWARTER  JOSEPH  KOSLUSKY  JOSEPH  CALLISTO  HENRY  D.  ADAMS  A.  BALCHUS  •  fi.  PCReELLO  HARRY  HARPER  Z.  WYDRA  GEORGE  M.  ARNOLD  EARL  GONYEA  H.  J. BEAVEN  N.  Ei'TIMOU  CHARLES  SANCHEZ  CYRIL  DOWNEY  ERIC  JOSEPH  JOHN  HURD  J.  CUELLES  U. MERJUDIO  WALTER  JOHNSON  4  4  4  BALTIMORE  PAUL  C.  CARTER  JOHN  LA  FOE  JOSEPH  T.  TORRA  ARCHIE  WRIGHT  JOSEPH  SCHUMSKY  B. KLAKOWICS  J. KARPINSKY  B. J. GRYZESKOWICK  PAIGE  A.  MITCHELL  4­4  4  GALVESTON  T.  ULINSKI  ALEXANDER  WHEATON  JOSEPH  F.  LEWIS  E.  D.  HODGE  4  4  4  MOBILE  B.  CHRISTENSEN  JAMES  H.  JONES  TIM  BURKE  4  4  4  SAVANNAH  L.  E.  WILSON  R.  L.  MORGAN  W.  ANDERSON  4  4  4  NEW  ORLEANS  E.  M.  ALLAIN  G.  A.  ALLEN  J.  B.  ALLMON  WILSON  O.  CARA  ROGELIO  CRUZ  H.  E.  GRANT  R.  W.  HEATON  R.  E.  HOGAN  DANIEL  D:  KELLY  HUGH  F.  LAGAN  /  LEO  LANG  J.  NAUGLE  KARL  RAANA  CLAUDE  RAY  S.  P.  SCHIEFFLER  ROBERT  W.  THOMPSON  L.  TICKLE  4  4  4  FT.  WORTH  E.  J.  NAVARRE  4  4  4  NORFOLK  JAMES  T.  TANNEHILL  ERWIN  T.  GREGORY  4  4  4.  BOSTON  F.  DIRKSMEYER  G.  A.  ROSE  E.  GARDNER  A.  LEVA  H.  LUFLIN  • ;'A'  Men In Hoipitais  S«afarers  who  want  to  ba  aligible  for  the  WeHaro  Plan's  weekly  hospital  bene­ fits  should  make  sure  they  . bave their  Union.books,  sea­ man's  papers  and  copies  of  their  last  discharges  with  them Aipon  antering  the  hos­ pital.  ,  Union  Patrolmen  will  pay  . the  seven­dollar  benefits  to  eligible  members  for  each  full  week  of  hospitalization  during  their  weekly  visits*  Failure of  a hospitalized Sea­ farer  to  have  the  above­ mentioned  papers  with  him  will  prevent  the  Patrolman  from  making  the  benefit  payments.  Hospitalized  members  who  have not  yet  filled out  bene­ ficiary  cards  for  the  Wel­ fare  Plan  can  obtain  them  from  the Heapiial  Patroljaten.  �A;  t  Friday,  April  20,  1951  THE  SEAFARERS  LOG  Page Three  SlU Welfare Plan Doubles  Death Denefit  (Continued  from  Page  1)  States  Government  bonds,  pur­ chased  two  months  ago.  The  Union  trustees—Paul  Hall,  (Continued  from  Page  1)  the  affected  AFL  unions  in  a  Great  Lakes  Robert  Matthews  and  Joseph  from eight  to nine,  in order  to provide  the  port  for  the  drafting of  policy  to combat  Volpian — based  their  argument  Canadian  District  with  representation  on  ' the  raiding  threat.  Recommended  further  for  an  increase in  the death  ben­ efits  on  the  strong  reserve  status  that  President  Green  appoint  a  person  or  of  the  Fund.  This  method  ol  The  Joint  Comntittee  on  Port  the  International  Executive  Board.  • Authorized    a  boycott of  the National  persons  to  coordinate  energies  of  the  af­ providing  additional  benefits  was  ..  Industry and  City Planning Com­ mission,  appointed  by  the Mayor  Shipping Authority  because  it had  violated  fected  unions  for  a fight  to  the finish  on  among  several  which  are  con­ stantly  being  studied  for  incor­ to  investigate  pier  facilities  in  the  terms  of  the  "Statement  of  Policy"  this  matter.  poration  in  the  welfare  program  New  York  City,  after  a  com­ drawn  up  by  the  seagoing  sections  of  the  • Denied    a  request  for  autonomy  by  when  the  Fund  shows  evidence  prehensive  survey  has  submit­ ted several recommendations  that  SIU  and  other  maritime  unions  in  Wash­  the Great Lakes District,  but  permitted  the  of  being  able  to  meet  increased  would  modernize  the  city's  wa­ ington  last  January. The  resolution  charg­  Secretary­Treasurer  of  the  District  to  re­ expenditures  without  jeopardiz­ terfront  installations  and  speed  ed  that the  NSA liad submitted _to pressure  submit  the  request  for  further  considera­ ing  its soimd  economic status.  up  the flow  of  cargo.  from  the shipowners  in  dealing  with  mat­  tion  between  now  and  the  next  Interna­ JOINTLY­ADMINISTERED  .  Speciflcally  the  committee  re­ ters  involving  the  civilian  status  of  sea­  tional  convention, if  he so  desires,  The  Seafarers  Welfare  Plan,  ported:  men,  and  put  the  convention  on  record  to  • Withheld    granting  of  autonomy  to  which  is  maintained  by shipown­ 1.  That  except  for  the  normal  er contributions of  25 cents  a day  notify Secretary  of  Commerce Sawyer  and  the  Canadian  District  at  this  time  in  view  replacement  of  the  very  old  and  for  each  man  employed, is  joint­ obsolete  piers,  the  existing  sys­ Maritime  Administrator  Vice­Admiral Co­  of  the  fact  that  strong  remnants  of  the  ly  administered  by  the  Union  tem  be  considered  adequate  as  chrane  that  all  pledges  and  signatures  are  communist  party's  waterfront  section  are  and  the  companies  through  the  to  numbers.  being  withdrawn  from  the  "Statement  of  still  around  and  are  awaiting  any  oppor­ Board  of  Trustees. Max Harrison,  2.  That  the  existing  narrow  tunity  to  move  back  into  the  picture.  In  formerly  labor  relations  director  piers  and  piersheds,  which  are  Policy."  • Referred    to  the  Executive  Board  a  denying  full  autonomy,  the  convention  of  the  Waterman Steamship  Cor­ in  other  respects  adequate,  be  poration,  is  Administrator  of  the  widened  and  be  provided  with  request  for financial  assistance  sought  by  Canadian  District  Plan.  Citable  aprons  and  slips,  the  International  Transport  Workers  Fed­  still  a  young  organization  and  that  un­ i3.  That  the  bulkhead  sheds  of  til  such  time  as  it  accumulates  sufficient  The  Plan  is  widely  reg^ded  aid  in its fight  against  the .com­ certain  piers  be  substantially  eration  as  unique  in  the field  of  welfare  deepened  to  increase  efficiency  munist  party. in  the  ports  of  Western  strength  and  experience  to  handle  any  programs  in  that  it  is  self­ad­ communist  maneuvers  on  its own  without  ministered,  in  contrast  to  the  in  cargo  handlings  and  provide  Europe  and  the  Mediterranean  area.  off­street  truck  bertha  Instructed  the  International  President  close  aid  of  International,  it  is  advisable  insurance  company  method  of  administration  used  by  most  or­ TRAFFIC  JAM  to  appoint,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  to  withhold  full  autonomy.  ganizations.  The  latter  arrange­ 4.  That  regulations  governing  • Referred    to  the  Executive  Board  for  street  traffic  along  the  North  Executive  Board,  a  representative  to  at­ further  consideration  and  action  the  re­ ment  was  studied  by  the  trus­ Pier  be  modified  to  remove  gen­ tend  the  Seafarers  Sectional  Conferences  quest  of  the  ITF  for  assistance  in  the  or­ tees  during  the  formative  stages  of  the  Seafarers  Plan  but  was  eral  traffic  froni  the  marginal  and  the  ILO  Joint  Maritime  Commission  ganizing  of  Panamanian  flag  vessels  under  discarded  at  the  insistence  of  way.  Conference to be  held  in Geneva  in  May.  the SIU representatives, who cor­ the  ITF  banner.  In  referring  the  request,  5.  That  the  city  assume  a  Referred  Trinidad  and  Tobago  Sea­ the convention  recommended  that  the  Ex­ rectly  maintained  that  it  would  share  of  the  cost  of  moderniza­ tion  of  the  city  piers  in  all  in­ farers  Union,  which  requested  affiliation  ecutive  Board  take  cognizance  of  the  fol­ be  more  costly  and  provide  less  personal  service  than  self­ad­ stances  where  such  improvement  with  the SIU,  to the British  Seamen's  Un­ lowing:  1)  That  the  SUP  has  organized' S straWn.  will  have  a  definite  benefit  on  ion,  inasmuch  as  the  latter  oi%anization  a  Panamanian flag  vessel  under  the  banner;  the  immediate  waterfront  area.  has  jurisdiction.  Commenting  on  the  newly­in­ of  the  SUP  with  the  typical  American  creased  death  benefits,  A&G  Dis­ 6.  That  in  determining  the    the Federal Mar­  wage  and  working  conditions;  2)  all  of  trict  Secretary­Treasurer  Paul  rentals  to  be  charged  for  new  • Took cognizance of  piers,  some  consideration  be  giv­ itime  Board's  failure  to  grant  fair  and  the  affiliated  SIU  seamen's  districts  are  Hall said  that  "Our  original  pur­ en  to  the  charges  for  similar  equal  allocation  of  reactivated  vessels  to  engaged in organizational activities of  great  pose,  which  is  to  expand  the  existing city  piera  the  seagoing  affiliates  of  the  International  scope  on  American  flag  vessels,  as  a  result  welfare  benefits  for  Seafarers  7.  That  early  consideration  be  whenever  and  wherever  feasible  given  to  the  proposal­  to  con­ and  instructed  the  International  President  of  the  reactivation  of  large  numbers  of  is  now  being  realized.  Doubling  struct  a  truck  terminal  for  the  to  notify  all  District  affiliates,  proper  na­  American flag  vessels  to meet  the  interna­ of  tlie  death  benefit  is  only  the  perishable  food  industry,  and  tional  legislators,  the  AFL  and  all  parties  tional  crisis.  first  of  what  we  hope  will  be  a  otherwise  alleviate  conditions  in  interested  in  the  maritime  industry  of  the  • Referred    the legislative  aspects of  the  series, of  expanded  benefits."  the  vicinity  of  Washington  Mar­ Board's  unfair  position;  urged  continua­ fight  to preserve  civilian  status  of  seamen  ket.  tion  of  the fight  to  win  fair  allocation  by  to  the  SIU's  International  President  and  8.  That  the  city  continue  pressing  the issue  on all  levels.  the  Washington  representative  for  appro­ without  delay  or  interruption  with  the  waterfront  improve­ • Reaffirmed    policies  laid  down  by sea­  priate action. Their decisions  to be referred  Readers notifying the SEA­ ments outlined  in its master plan  going sections  of  SIU  at  the 1949  conven­  back  to the  International  Executive  Board  FARERS LOG  of  a change in  for  port  improvement, ­ mailing  address  are  re­ tion  with respect  to Interjoational  and  Dis­  for final  action.  quested  to  include  their  old  STUDY  URGED    the  per  capita  tax  by  ten  address  along  with  the  new.  9.  That  the  Depa^toent  of  trict  relations,  shipping  policy.  District  i  • Increased  manpower  shortages,  closer  association  by  cents  a  month  to  enable  the  International  In  addition  to  making  easier  Marine  and  Aviation^make  a  comprehensive  study  of  the  es­ and  wifh  the  various  Districts,  and  joint  to carry on the stepped­up activities on  the  the  switch­over  it  will  also  tablished  United  States  Pierhead  action  on  all  maritime  problems.  legislative  front  in  behalf  of  the seamen's,  guarantee  uninterrupted  Lines  within  the  city  and  seek  • Recommended    that  International fishermen's  and  cannery  workers'  sections  mailing  service.  such  changes  as  may  be  dis­ President  advise  AFL  President  William  and  to meet  the  rising  costs  of  operations.  All  notifications  of  change  closed  by  the  study  to  be  justi­ of  address  should  be  ad­ Green of  the jurisdictional  raids being made  Constitution  was  amended  to  permit  the  dressed  to  the  Editor,  SEA­ fied.  10.  That  the  city  engineers  by  CIO  unions  on  AFL  international  un­  increase  which,  it  was  pointed  out  still  FARERS  LOG,  51  Beaver  begin  an  immediate  study  of  the  ions  in  the  Great  Lakes  area  and  request­  keeps  International's  per  capita  the  lowest  Street,  New  York  4,  N.  Y.  proposed  rehabilitation  plans  for  ing  the AFL  leader  to call  a  conference of  of  any  trade  union.  the  East  River  with  a  view  to  determining  whether  or  not  such  plans  may  replace  parts  of  the  master  plan  for  this  section  of  the  waterfront.  Serving  on  the  committee  are  able  that  in  the  months  to  come  think  we  cannot  keep  their  ships  card  should  do  so  at  once.  Fail­ By  EARL  SHEPPARD  various  business  men  connected  NEW  YORK—The  port  of  New  we  may  feel  the pinch,  and  have  running  on  schedule,  they  will  ure  to  do  so  will  slow  up, pay­ with  the  city's  waterfront.  Rep­ York  has no  beefs,  outside  of  the  some  difficulty  in  getting  the  be  less dikely. to  sign  a  contract  ment  on  the benefit, should death/  resenting the labor  imions on the  general  dissatisfaction  over  the  men  with  the  necessary  indorse­ with  lis.  So,  you  fellows  who  occur.  •   waterfront  is  Joseph  P.  Ryan,  chilly  weather.  The  Branch  is  in  ments.  have  the  requirements,  go  out  The  aim  of  the  Welfare  PlanV  is  to  pay  the  money  out  fast  President  of  thn  International  fine  shape,  shipping  has  1?een  So  for  that  reason,  we'd  like  and  get  those  endorsements!  Longshoremen's Association; very  good,  and  there  are  no  out­ to  repeat  what  we  have  been  The  big  news  this .week is  that  as  possible  so  that  it  can  take  AFL.  standing  beefs  pending  at  this  saying  these  past  few issues:  All,  the  Welfare  Fimd  is  already  ful­ up  the  slack  at  home.  men  who  are  eligible  for  higher  filling its  promise  to  broaden  its  The  cards  are  available  at  time.  Although  the  shipping  tempo  ratings  are  urged  to  go  after  benefits  once  the  Fund  was  sta­ payoffs,  sign­ons  and  every  Branch  Hall.  See  that  you fill  has  increased,  terrifically  over  them  at  once.  Entiy  ratings  are  bilized.  But  doubling  the  death  benefit  • one out  as soon  as  you  can.  You  easy _ to  get.  It's  not  having  the  Check  the  slop  chest  be­ the  past  few  months,  we  have  may  save  a  loved  one  a  great  to $1,000  is only  the first increase  man  with  the  endorsement  that  foze'Your  boat  sails.  Make  had  no  difficulty  in  manning  our  in  the  welfare  benefits.  There  deal  of  trouble  later.  may  prove  the  bottleneck  in  the  ships.  Thus  far,  no  contracted  sure that  the slop  chest  con­ will  be  many  others,  you  can  Incidentally,  if  you  ever  want  tains  an  adequate  supply  of  ship  has  sailed  shorthanded,  or  future.  to  change  beneficiaries,  all  you,  If  we  continue  to  man  our  bet  on  that.  all  the  things  you  are  liable,  been  ddayed  in  sailing.  However,  with  more  and  more  contracted  ships  quickly  and  ef­ While  on  the  subject  of  the  have  to  do  is fill  out  another  to need. If  it doesn't,  call the  ships  coming  out  of  the  bone­ ficiently,  we  will  continue  to  Welfare  Fund,  all  men  who  have  card.  The  latest  one  you  signed  Union  Hall  immediately;  yard  each  week,  it  is  conceiv­ grow.  If  newly  formed  outfits  not  yet  signed  the  beneficiary  will  be  the  legal  beneficiary.  /  NYC  Piers  In  Need  Of  Modernizing  int'l  Convention  Decisions  Log  Qualified  Men  Urged  To  Get  Endorsements  Check It — But Good  �V  .,­ Page Four  THE SEAFARERS L a G^ \ Friday,  AprU  20, 1951  ^p^Oiis  Keep  dipping  Brisk  In New Orleans  ­  rSy  LINDSEY  WILLIAMS  NEW  ORLEANS —The  affairs  Much  has  been  said  for  and  against  building  the  St.  against  him,  now  doing  a  good  job  as  usual  on  the  Bull  of  this  port  are  in  good  shape  Lawrence Seaway,  but  it  is  not  often  mentioned  that  among ' Run, as  2nd  Pumpman.  and  shipping  continues  to  be  brisk,  despite  the  fact  that  there  it's  many  drawbacks  is  the  fact  that  foreign  flag  shipping  Now  pipe  this bunch  of  malarkey: The  MSTS Memoran­ were  only  a  few  payoffs  in  the  would  be  able  to  make  further  inroads  on  transportation  o:  di^  ou  Uniform  Requirements  states  the  Chief  Petty  past  two­week  period.  Officer  must  wear  white  cap  with  black  band,  etc.  Petty  Responsible  for  the  good  ship­ American  products  and  materials.  As  if  they  aren't  dug  in  ping  were  the  14  vessels  that  deep enough  now. . . . John G.  Pew of  the Sun  Shipbuilding  Officers  and  "men"  must  wear  garrison  caps,  etc.,  etc.—no  signed  on  here  since  the  last  and  Dry  Dock  Company  recently  discussed  plans  to  indoc­ wonder  they  have  a  hard  time  holding  the  men.  Lousy  meeting.  The  payoffs  were  clean  wages and  conditions, military  procedure  to follow  and  then  and  there  are  no  beefs  pending.  trinate  new  employees  on  shipyard  safety  practices,  and  they  have to  dress according  to  a  book.  Right  hand  salute­ Scheduled  for  the  coming  two  emphasized  selling  the advantages  of  working  in  a  shipyarc  hup hup—^bcack. ...  weeks  are  six  payoffs  so  far,  so  as  the  first  step  in  the  process.  Why  didn't  he  come  right  it  appears  that  shipping  wilL un­ Last  week  we  inquired  about  that  "Vanishing  Ameri­ doubtedly  maintain  the  pace  of  out  and  say  that  this first  step  would  really  teach  the  new­ can,"  Walter  Gardner.  Vacation  is  over,  fellows.  He's  back  the  past  month  or  so.  Two  ships  comer  how  to  be  a  good  company  stiff?  in  town—in  disguise. . . . Just as  a street  car  conductor  was  that  will  be  crewed  up  between  now  and  next  meeting  night  will  Some of  this corny stuff  you  read  here comes from  you  about  to start  his car, a  woman  yelled, "Wait  a  minute, till  be  those  of  the  newly­contracted  members,  but  I'll  take  the  blame  for  it.  An  example—Chil  I  get  my  clothes  on."  AIL the  male  passengers  (naturally)  Bloomfield  outfit.  craned  their  necks to see  this Lady  Godiva, and  instead saw  dren  are like  little animals.  Deer  faces  and  bear  a—. Ooof!  GRAIN  ACTIVITY  a  housewife  drag  her  laundry  aboard,  on  her  way  to  the  In  addition  to  the  sign­on  and  .  .  .  The  Radio  Operators  Union  blames  the  shortage  of  laGndramat.  Ho,  hum.  Want  your  three  dollars  back?  payoff  activity,  the  port  has  had  Radio  Operators  on  the  rigid  and  slow  screening  process  its  share  of  ships  in­transit  and  The  Taft­Hartless  Bill  stinks  on  ice,  but  at  least  it  has  at  the  present  writing  a  number  of  the  Coast  Guard.  Yet  M§TS  ships  operate  all  ov,er  this  to  be  lived  up  to  by  management,  labor  and  the  govern­ of  them are  lined  up in  the  river  world  of  ours  with  men  aboard  who  the  Coast  Guard  ment.^ The  Soviet  Zone  Railway  Administration,  which  lost  fo  get  their  turn  at  the  grain  elevator.  According  to  the  latest  itself  has admitted are  definitely  threats to  this country. .  a  suit  brought  against  it  by  the  Railwaymen's  Union,  re­ information,  additional  grain  fa­ The  Lakes season  opened  up on April  8 and  within  twenty­ fuses  to  pay  off  according  to  the  judgment,  still  keeps  un­ cilities are  being planned for  this  four  hours  thirty  ships  were  off  on  their  Great  Lakes  employed  4,686  men  who  struck,  and  refuses  to  release  port  and  work  on new  docks and  shuttle.  foiur  strikers from  jail.  All  this  wonderful  treatment  by  the  elevators  is  to  get  imder  way  at  Three  days  after  the  ban  limiting  construction  of  ships  laboring  man's  friend—Soviet  Russia.  Don't  misunderstand  once.  Further  impetus  to  New  Or­ built  in  German  shipyards  to  twelve  knots  and  7,200 Hons  me.  I  know  that  you  must  do  dirty  things  like  this  so  that  leans  shipping  is  expected  from  was  lifted,  two  large  shipping  companies  ordered  fourteen  you • c  an  later  have  Utopia—^but  who'll  be  left  to  enjoy  it?:  the  plant  which  industrialist  Along  the  same  line,  49. railway  men  must  stand  trial  Henry  Kaiser  has  started  build­ freighters which were either bigger or faster  than the former  for  taking  part  in  "crimes  against  the  state"  in  Argentina,  ing  here.  The  enterprise  will  he  limit.  They  are  complaining  that  the  shortage  of  metal  and  have  their  property  attached  to  insure  payment  of  the  a  permanent  one,  as  will  the  prevents  them from  building  another  Europa  or  Bremen.  grain facilities  that  are  being  de­ .  .  .  Seatrain  Lines  and  Ocean  Steamship  Company  are;,  fines  which  will  definitely  be  handed  out.  They  struck,  veloped.  All  of  these  develop­ awaiting  approval  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commis^on  Sounds  ridiculous?  Didn't  you  hear  General  Electric's  ments  point  to  more  business  for  for  what  will  result  in  a  merger  of  the  two  companies.  If  Charles  Wilson,  this  country's  Chief  of  Defense  Mobiliza­ approved, Seatrain  will operate  one of  their vessels  between  tion  propose  drafting  workers  into  defense  industry—at  Savannah and  New  York. Ocean  Steamship is  owned  by  the  Army  pay?  Didn't  you  hear  the  Republicans  yell  for  a  Central  of  Georgia  Railway. More  jobs  for SIU  members.  stronger  and  toothier  Taft­Harshley?  So  they  could  un­ doubtedly  jail  you  for­ bring  man  enough  to  squawk  about  In  his  report  to  the  SEAFARERS  LOG,  the  delegate  improving  conditions.  Don't  say  it  couldn't  happen  here.  aboard  the French  Creek  reported  the following  as a news­ are  half  there  already.  worthy  occurence—^"Well,  the  other  day  the  Captain  had  Longshore  gangs­ in  White  Sea  ports  consist  mainly  of  the  Ordinary  Seaman  make  coffee  in  the  wheelhouse  while  we  were  having  fire  and  boat  drilL"  Teh,  teh.  . . . Ziggy  women  who  have  to  work  thirteen  hours,  with  one  hour's  Zigarowski  doing  the  bellyrobbing  aboard  the  Sea  Coimet  break.  Armed  guards  supervise  the  loading  and  silence  is  with  hopes  of  seeing  the  Big  City  pretty  soon.  Well,  Zig,  the  password.  Labor's  reaction  to  this  is  "Be  careful  it  until  then,  the  Big  City  has  hopes­ too. ... Red  Mc  Hugh,,  doesn't  happen  here."  But  industry  says,  "My,  aren't  you  the  port  of  New  Orleans  and,  who  did  such  a  fine  job  of  sticking  it  out  and  organizing  workers  lucky?"—^That's  a  nice  comfortable  feeling  to  close  consequently,  increased  shipping  aboard  the Winter  Hill, with  all the  odds you  could  look  for:  with, don't  you  think?  opportunities  for  SIU  men.  In  the  past  month  I  attended  two  conventions.  The  first  was  the  fifth  Biennial  Convention  of  the  Seafarers  International  Union  in  San  Francisco,  which  I  participated  in  as  a  delegate  of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  District.  By  CAL  TANNER  A  report  of  the  highlights  have  MOBILE­r­Shipping in  the port  Fairhope,  Monarch  of  the  been  given  in  the  last  issue  of  of  Mobile  is  on  the  bright  side  Seas,  Antinous,  Alcoa  Pointer,­ the  LOG  and  very  likely  in  the  at  this  time,  arid frmn  all  indi­ Alcoa. Clipper  and  Alcoa  Corsair.  current  one.  cations it  will  continue , that  way  LOUISIANA  ACTIVITY  NEWCRtWS  for­jquite  awhile.  Upox^  returning  from  the  SIU'  In the past two weeks we  were  We  have  checked  with  the  '.convention,  I  attended  the  kept  pretty  busy  crewing  up the  companies, who  are  handling  the  Louisiana  State  Federation  of  regular  scheduled  ships,  along  alloted  ships  that  are  to  come  Labor  convention,  held  in  Mon­ with  two  that  \yere  taken,  out  out  of  the  lay­up fleet,  and  we  ;roe.  A  number  of  important  de­ cisions  came  out  of. this  meeting  of  the layup fleet.  They  were  the  have  been  informed  that  the  Edward  Grant,  Bloomfleld,  and  which  wUl  prove  of  value  to  all  the  North  Platte,  Mississippi,  connecicd  with  the  American  will  be  crewing  up  within  the  Federation  of  Labor  unions  in  next  two­week  period.  the  state  of  Louisiana.  We  would  like  to  stress  the  At  this  writing  there  are some  fact  that  there  is  a  shortage  of  .  17. Seafarers  in  the  Marine  lios­ ABs  and  that  anyone  holding  /  pital  in  this  port—their  names  this  rating—especially  with  n  J  appear  on  page  2  of  this  isstie^  green  ticket—who  wants  to  ship  who  are  getting  benefits  from  out  right  away  should  come  to  the  Seafarers  Welfare  Plan.  The  Mobile,  because  we  can  use  :  money,  of  course,  comes  in  very  them.  ' handy—but  equally  as  important  Deck  men of  the SS  Battle Creek  Victory  are  manning  the  I  went  to  Montgomery  where  to  them  are  the  visits  and  mail  oars  of  a  Ufeboat  as  they  return  to  the ship  with  a  capsised  I  met  with  the  new  Selective  from their  old  friends  and  ship­ craft  in  tow. Standing  on  the  towed  boat  is the Battle  Creek's  mates.  There­is ­no' better  medi­ Chief  .Mate.  Incident  occurred,  recently  off  Port  Everglades,  Philip  Barbour  and  the  Frank  Service  Director  lor  Alabama.  I  received  promises  that  due  con­ cine  than  the  knowledge  that  Florida,  and  was  photographed  by Seafarer Loreace  E; Taylor.  Spencer.  you  aren't  forgotten — so  liow  Engine tltility  on  the  Triton  Steamship  Company vesseL  Tay­ :  For  the coming  two  w^eks,  we  sideration  would  be  shown  to  about  taking  time  out­  to  drop  lor  r^orts  that  the  operation  was  a  complete  succeaa  —  have, the following  ships  due  in  qualifled  merchant  seami^n  in  connection  with  deferment.  in  on ^lem^  or  to write a  letter?  file  cadef  Mate  didn't  even  gel  his feet wet.  fen­  payoff  and  replacements:  Recovering  A  Lifeboaf­ RfobHe  Shipping Really  Booming;  Bonoyard  Ships  Spoil  Dlfforonco  1  �Friday,  April  29i  19S1  THE SEAFARERS L4f€ Page Fire a  It's  not  near  as  tough  as  you  might  think.  Anyone  jwith  an  ordinary  camera,  in  good  working  order,  and  a  ^little  imagination  can  get  good  photographic  results.  And  ^shipboard  life  offers  about  as  good  a  variety  of  subject  ^matter  that  can  be  found  anywhere.  ,  Lester  Moore,  a  Seafarer  on  the  Seatrain  Havana,  has  ' ^  been  concentrating  lately  on  his  shipmates—and  has  been  Jc^doing  a  good  job,  photographically  speaking.  It  might  be  k'^well  for  those  interested  in  getting  some  good  shots  oh  ^l^^tatheir  own  ships  to  take  a  cue  from  Moore's  work, samples,  ­  ,^yof  which  appear  on  this  page.  >  '  First  of  all,  wait  for  a  fairly  bright  day.  If  you  want  J to  photograph  individual  shipmates,  see  that  they  are  1 relaxed  before  you click  the shutter. Let  them smoke, look  Ijat  a  paper,  or  just  stare  out  at  sea.  In  photographing  in­r  ^'dividuals,  don't  be  afraid  to  get  up  close  to them.  If  yoti  j^have  trouble  posing  guys,  "shoot"  them  while  they're  at  I work.  Don't  be  discouraged  if  you  think  the  first  results  l  iren't  too hot.  A  little practice  is  all  you  need. Just  watch  Jyour  mistakes  and  don't  repeat  them.  And  when  you  come  up  with  a  satisfactory  collection  send  them  into  the  LOG, identifvinp  the  people  and* scenes.  Relaxing  on  the  rail  aboard  the  Seatrain  Havana  are  Faustino  Pedraza.  AB;  Robert  A1  vardo,  OS,  and  John  Cerullo,  Electrician.*  Norman  Whipple,  blessihanu  lets  Old  Sol  ap­ ply  a  coat  of  tan  as  he  catches  up  on  his  reading.  Walertender  Ben  Sweeney  looksLat  peace  Frederick  Holm.  Messman.  does  what  any  hep  Seafarer  with  the  world  as  he  enjoys  a  pipeful  of  hia  th9  minute  he  gets  a  latest  copy  of  his  Union  newspaper,  favorite  tobacco.  F  Fred's  a 'cover­to­cover  reader  of  the  LOG.  •  >  ,  i  ­  Down  in  the engine  room. Seafarer  Robert  Nowell,  ^Hertender^  stays  on  the  job  in  typically  efficient  ilexes  Edward  Cooley.  the  Seatrain  Havana s  Stewed.  Brother  Ed  sure  looks  as  though  all  is  getmg ^^11 in  his  department.  a  r  !  iiiiii  The  photographer  didn't  say  what  it  was  tha­ Robert  Alvardo.  OS,  was  peering  at,  although  ha J  labeled  the  shot  "On  Lookout,"  �Page Six  '  THE  S  E  AF  A  R  E  k S  LOG  , >; ^  •  FrIdr.y,  April  20.  ISSl  ——1  By  Ail  M^ns,  But  Not  In  Christmas  Clubs  It  Was  Plenty  Rough  ,  If  any  wage­earning  family  club,  at  least  pick  out  one  that  percent  if  you hold,  them  the full  has  any  savings  left  these  days  won't  cost  you  anything  but  the  ten  years.  One  disadvantage  is  after paying  95  cents a  pound for  loss  of  interest.  Not  all  banks  that  if  you  cash  in  Series  E  .  stew­meat,  it  ought  to  be  care­ have  the  same  Christmas  club  bonds^ before  maturity,  your  in­ ful  where  it  puts  the  money.  You  rules.  Some  simply  omit  the  in­ terest  rate  drops.  The  bonds  av­ can  make  your' money  earn  a  terest,  but  forbear  charging  pen­ erage  interest  of  only  about  1.5  little  more  and  it's  worthwhile  alties  or  dues.  percent  the  first  five  years,  and  doing  it.  The  trouble  is,  there  The  Christmas  club  in  a  way  4.5  the  second.  (If  you  ever  are  always  people  around  who  is  something  like  the  "savings  must  cash  in  Series  E  bonds  be­ will  be  glad  to  take  your  savings  fund" supposedly  built  up  in  or  fore  maturity, always cash  in  the  but  omit  paying  you  any  inter­ dinary  or  whole­life  insurance  latest  you  bought  first,  to  pro­ _  est.  policies.  This  type  of  expensive  tect  the  higher  interest  being  •   One  such  widespread  plan  is  policy  is  frequently  sold  to  peo  earned on  the more mature ones.)  the  Christmas  Club.  The  Christ­ pie  on  the  basis  that  otherwise  Annuities  earn  about  the  same  mas  plan  actually  is  only  a  sav­ they  won't  save.  But  ­like  al  rate  as  Series  E  bonds,  but  the  ings  account  with  special  trap­ plans  that  purport  to  save  for  bonds  have  an  advantage:  if  you  pings,  but  with  one  big  differ­ you,  it  costs  you  something.  In  must  get  your  cash  out  in  the  ence:  the  regular  account  pays  this  case,  if  the  policyholder dies  early  years  you  suffer  no  loss.  you  interest,  but  the  Christmas  his  family  gets  no  more  money  With  annuities,  you  can't  get  all  plan  doesn't.  In  fact,  you  may  than  if  he  had  bought  the  lower­ your  mdney  back  if  you., cash  even  have  to  pay  "dues"  or  cost  term  insurance,  and  the  in­ them  in  early,  since  there's  a  certain  penalties  for  lateness,  etc.  surance  company  keeps  the  sav­ sales  and  administration  expense  But  so  convinced  are  some  ings  fund  built  up  in  the  insur­ which  comes  out  of  your  initial  payments.  people  that  the  Christmas  sav­ ance  policy.  To  this  writer  at  least,  the  ings  plan  is  something  they  must  COMPARISON  best  bet  for  a  savings  program  follow,  that  around  October  Then  where  should  a  wage­ seems  to  be  a  combination  of  Here's  a  view  of  the SS  Sea  Comet  as  she  bucked  heavy  when  the  club  "rules"  say  they  earning  family  put  its  small­ Series  E  bonds  for  long­range  seas  20  miles  off  the  Colombia  River  bar  on  New  Year's  day.  must  keep  up  the  Christmas  enough  savings  where  they'll  plan,  they'll  even  draw  money  earn  the  most  interest  and  yet  savings,  such  as  for  education  or  according  to  one of  her  crew.  The  vessel  layed  to  for  26  hours  out  of  an  interest­bearing  ac­ be  safe?  Here's  a  comparison  of  retirement,  with  a  savings­bank,  "and  lost  our  life  boat  plus  having  oxir.  coal  bin  washed  out  count  to  put  in  the  Christmas  the  interest  earnings  and  com­ credit­union  or  building and  loan  in the  galley  by  about  100  tons  of  the  Pacific,  which  dropped  plan.  Bank  tellers  themselves  parative  advantages  of  various  account  for  short­term  deposits.  in  unexpectedly.  Had  a  jolly  time  boiling  water  and  scooping  But  NOT  the  Christmas  Club.  coal.''  our  correspondent  added.  are  amazed  at  how  many  people  sources  for  saving:  do  this.  The  Christmas  savers  Sayings  Banks  are  one  of  the  just  don't  seem  to  realize  that  safest  depositories  (accounts  are  they  forfeit  their  interest  when  insured  by  a  Government­spon­ I they  transfer  money  out  of  a  sored  corporation).  Currently  I savings  account  before  the  end  many  savings  banks  pay  2  per­ of  the  year  (banks  generally  cent  compoimd  interest.  That's  credit  the  interest  to  your  ac­ more  than  the  commercial  banks  count  at  the  end  of  a  quarter­ pay,  so  do  a  little  shopping  in  or  half­year).  your  town  to  make  sure  you  get  The  big  value  in  the  Christ­ the  savings  bank  rate.  mas  club  is  the  compulsion  to  Postal  Savings:  You  can  depos­ save.  That  may  be  all  right  for  it  savings  in  any  post  office  too,  children,  but  adults  ought  to  be  at  an  interest  rate  of  2  percent.  able  to  save  when  they  know  But  postal  savings  have­ one  dis­ they  need  to,  without  being  advantage:  the  interest  is  paid  chastised  for  it.  Perhaps  even  quarterly  and  kept  separate  un­ kids  can  be  better  encouraged  til  you  call  for  it.  You  must  im­ to save  by  the  knowledge  they're  mediately  buy  new  postal  cer­ being  rewarded  by  interest  earn­ tificates  with  the  interest  money  ings,  instead  of  being  threatened  or  it  lies  idle.  In  banks,  the  in­ terest  is  credited  to  your  ac­ by  paying  cash  penalties.  If  you  can't  save  without  a  count  and  automatically  earns  additional  interest.  Credit  Unions  pay  on  the  av­ erage  of  3  percent  interest  to  member­depositors.  Credit  unions  have  an  excellent  safety  record.  (Most  are  insured  <by  a  nation­ wide credit  union pool,  and many  are  supervised  by  the  Federal  Security  Agency  or  by  state  By  LLOYD  GARDNER  agencies.)  Building  and  Loan  Associa­ SAN  FRANCISCO—With  ship­ :  ping  in  several  gulf  ports  and  ti®"s  pay  a  higher  rate  than  sav­ in  Seattle  maintaining  a  fast  banks,  an  average  of  IVz  Boy  Scouls  of  Troop  50  from  Tottenville^  Slalen  Island,  pile  some  of  the  old  gear  given  pace,  men  on  the  beach  in  this  Percent  and  some  as  much  as  3.  to  them  by  the  Seafarers  International  Union  into a  truck.  The lads  carted  out  a  few  chairs ipnd  port  are  advised  to  head  for  any  Some  even  now  have  a  plan  about  100  old  cots  which  would  have  been  impractical  to  repair.  The  Scouts  will  recondmon  one  of  them  if  they  want  to  get  which  gives  more  interest  for  them  for  use  on  their  summer  camping  trips.  out  in  a  hurry.  | long­range  savings.  For  example,  A  tapering  off  here  is  expected  yo"  in  a  certain  amoxmt  in  the  coming  two  weeks,  inas­!^®^^  month  for  50  months  with­ jtnuch  as  only  six  vessels  are  withdrawing,  you  get  one­ The  SlU's  ntew  Headquar­ schedxiled  to  call  here  in­transit.  quarter  of  one  percent  more  in­ ters­New  York  building  is  The  Gulf  ports  that  are  en­ terest;  for  ICQ  months,  one­half  rapidly  taking  shape  and  con­ joying  good  shipping  at  the  mo­ of  one  percent  more,  etc.  In  struction  has  progressed  con­ ment  are  New  Orleans,  Galves­ many  associations  cash  can  be  siderably  beyond  the  point  deposited  and  withdrawn  as  in  I'  ton  and  Mobile.  shown  in  photo  at  right  which  a  This  port  played  host  to  the  bank.  However,  in  times  when  was  taken  two  months  ago  as  delegates  from  the  seafaring,  money  doesn't ^flow  as  freely  as  supporting  steel  girders  were  fishing  and  canning  sections  of  now,  assets  of  building  and  loan  being  swung  into  place.  the  Seafarers  International  Un­ associations  may  not  be  as  liquid  Seafarers  who  haven't  as  ion,  who  attended  the  Fifth  Bi­ as  those  of  banks,  and  they  may  ennial  Convention  here  March  require  you  to  give  notice  before  yet  taken  a  look  at  the  site  withdrawals.  Most  associations  had  better  do  so  pronto  or  26­30.  now  carry  insurance  protecting  they'll  never  be  able  to  say  The  next  convention,  which  your  deposit,  as  do  banks,  but  "1  remember  how  it  looked^  comes  in  1953,  will  also  be  held  it's  advisable  to  check  this  point  before."  Located  on  Fourth*  in  the  State  of  California.  San  in  each  case.  Avenue,  between  20th  and  21st  Diego  was  selected  as  the  next  Streets,  the  building  is  just^ a  convention  city.  ANNUITIES  AND  BONDS  couple  of  blocks  from  the  It  is  the  home  of  some  of  the  Government  Bonds.  The  series  Prospect  Street  station  of  the  fishermen's  and  cannery  workers'  E  Government  bonds  are  the  v^nions  affiliated  with  the  SIU,  long­range  investment  'paying  BMT­4th  Avenue  subway  line.  ;" ^d  the  selection  was  made  by  the  highest  interest  return  con­ Photos  showing , the  Hall  as  delegates  after  it  was  pro­ sistent  with  safety,  except  for  it  nears  completion  will  ap­ posed  by  our 'Brothers  in  those  some  credit  unions.  The­return  pear  in  a  forthcoming  ise'j;<s  organizations.  on  Series  E  bonds  is  about  3  of  the  LOG.  They  Called  It  A  Good  Deedl  Wanna Job?  Head  South,  Says  Frisco  Swinging  H­ % I  1  ­Jv' I  �Fridar, AfNtU  2a 1951  T H E SEAFARERS L O G^ Va^Serek Burner  By  JOHN  BUNKER  Many  Seafarers  will  recall  the  author  of  this  article as a retired member  of  the SIU who sailed  in the Black  Gang. Bunker  now covers the water­ front beat  as a  reporter  for  the Christian  Science  Monitor. His  recently­concluded series of  articles,  "Seafarers  in  World  War  II,"  is  now  being  ^  published  in  book  form  by  the  SIU.  The old "coal  burner is fast fading frora the sea.  ' Unless  unforseen  changes  intervene,  the  coal  fired  ship  may  become  as  scarce  as  the  wind­ jammer  before  many  more  years  go  by.  Just  recently  the fast  decline  of  the* coal fired  freighter  was  emphasized  by  the  Panama  Rail­ road  Company,  when  it  announced  the  discon­ tinuance,  by  December,  1951,  of  coal  bunkering  service at  the Panama  Canal.  For  years  the  Canal  was  an  important  coaling  stop  for  tramp  ships,  as  well  as  for  regularly­ scheduled  passenger  vessels  and  fast  cargo  ships  on  the  United  Kingdom­Australia, run.  Coaling  stations  were  opened  at  Bafbao  and  Cristobal  in  1916,  and  did  a  big  business  imtil  oil fired  boiler^  and  diesel  engines  began  replac­ ing  coal fires  at  a  fast  rate  in  the 1920s.  MARKET  VANISHING  in  the  four  years  after  World  War J, accord­ ing to  the Panama  Railroad  Company, coal bunk­ ering, at  the Canal  dropped  from  45,000  ta 14,000  tons a month, and  only  1,500 tbns a  month  were  sold  during  the  entire  year  of  1949!  ' What  few  British  coal  burning  ships  that  are  still. using  the  Panama  Canal  will  soon  be  re­ placed  by  oil  burners.  This  marks  the  passing  of  a great  era at  sea.  From  the  time  that  the sailing  ship  Savannah  made a crossing  of  the . North  Atlantic  with a  90  h.p.  auxiliary  steam  engine  in  1819,  coal  has  powered  thousands o£  freighters^ liners,  warships,  tugs  and  vessels  of  many  types  all  over  the  world.  In  1870,  more  than  12  percent  of  world  ton­ nage  was  coal powered.  In  1900,  more  than  60  percent  of  all  ships  moved  by  steam  engines  powered  with  steam  generated  from  coal fires.  Diesel  engines  began  to  replace  coal  burning  steam  engines  about  1914  and,  after  World  War  I, this  replacement  was  greatly  accelerated.  Coal  fires  were  also  replaced  by  oil  for  reasons  of  economy,  greater  efficiency,  and  increased  car­ go­carrying  capacity.  The oil fired  ship  or  the  diesel  required  fewer  Firemen  and  no  coal  passers.  Cutting  down  on  big  coal  bunkerage  space  provided  more  room  fpr  cargo.  STILL  ON  LAKES  Coal  is still  used  on  many  ships  on  the  Great  Lakes,  although  hand firing  has  given  way  on  most  of  the  larger  ships  to  automatic  stokers.  Latest of  the Lakes ore carriers, the huge Wilfred  Sykes,  biuTis  oil.  Diesel  propulsion,  too,  is find­ ing  increasing favor  on  the Lakes.  M^y  river  tugs used  coal  until  recent  years,  but" postwar  river  boat  cohstruct^n  has  been  almost  100  percent  diesel.  Of  more  than  1,300  towboats  on  the  rivers,  about  1,000  are  using  diesel  engines,  the  rest  being fired  with  coal for  .  the most  part.  As the coal burning  passenger ship and freight­ er  l^ve the  seas,  so  do  the  coal  Firemen.  It is doubtful  if  there has  been­a  more  skilled  seafarer  than  the  coal  burning  Fireman.  When  struggling  valiantly  but  unsuccessfully  to  keep  steam  up  in  a  two­boiler fireroom,  the  writer  has  vratched  with  amazement  and  admir­ ation the efforts of  a veteran. Fireman, who threw  coai  into  the fires  hour  after  hour, with  a'rsrth­ mic motion that  made  the  ji^ aeem  hki notyng  at til, ^en spent partiof; the  shovel  while  the  six fireS  in  the  two  boilers  under  his charge  kept  the steam  pressure  hover­ ing  merrily  along  the  red  line  on  the  gauge.  As  anyone  knows  who  has  worked  in  a  coal  burning fireroom,  the  shoveling  is  only  part  of  the job.  Most  of  the Fireman's  skill comes  in  the  way  he  plies  the  long,  heavy  slicing  bar  and  the rake; the instruments  on  which  the Fireman  heaves  and  hauls  before  the open fire  doors,  and  with  which  he  obtains  the  utmost  combustion  from  the  coal.  It's  the  Fireman  with  the  back­breaking  slic­ ing  bar  who  has  pushed  the  freight  ships  across  the trade  routes when  the propeller  thrashed  the  air  in  stormy  seas  and  steam  went  out  of  the  gauge  like  water  through  an  empty  bucket.  It's  the  Fireman  with  his  tough  hide  and  his  strong  arms  who  made  the  ships  go  when  the  owners  put  aboard fuel  that  passed  for  coal  only  because it  was black.  Few of  this breed are left now in  the American'  merchant  marine and, if  a  ship were  to crew  up  With  a  black .gang  calling  for  two. or  three  Fire­ men  on a  Watch,  it  would  be mighty  difficult  to  muster  a full  crew  in  the  stdkehold.  the fantail  during  the  crossing  in  good  weather.  The  more  adventurous  of  trans­Atlantic  pass­ engers were  wont  to  tour  the  engine  spaces  arid  have  a  look  at  the  Firemen,  the "hairy  apes" of  the ship.  It  was  usually  considered  the  right  of­ the  stokehold,  however,  to  demand  tribute  ofi  the­  tourists  before  they  were  allowed  in  the'  boiler  spaces  and  the  money  collected  went  te,  the  Firemen's  fund.  STORIES  GALORE  Stories  are  legion  about  these  black  gangs  of  yesteryear,  and  when  oldtime  Engineers  get' to­ gether  they  can  spin  yarns  for  hours  about  the.  fabulous  characters  who fired  the  ships  in  the.  days  of  coal—^men  who  would  swap  their  last  pair  of  shoes  for  a  drink  on  shore  and  then  report  for  work  on the fireroom fioor  plates  with  burlap  rags  wrapped  around  their  feet.  When  the collier  Plymouth  left  Boston  several'  years  ago  to  end  her  career  at  the  wreckers,  this sad  farewell  to  the  old  ship  was  painted  in .  red  lead  on  one  of  the  boiler  fronts:  "I  have fired  this  boiler  for  21  years!"  The  Fireman,  a  Spaniard,  scrawled  his  name  after  the simple  "requiem."  Serving  for  21  years  as  a  coal  burning  Fire­,  man  on  one  ship!  There  was  a  tough  man!  According  to  United  States  government  ship­;  ping  statistics,  thfere  are  less  than  a  dozen  coal­ fired  ships  left  in  the  American  ocean­going  merchant  maririe.  One  of  these,  it  is  interesting  to  note,  is  a  war­built  Victory  ship  that  was  converted  from  oil  to  coal  burning  about  three  years  ago.  She  is  the  collier  Oakey  Alexander,  one  of  the  Po­ cahontas  Steamship  Company fleet.  Her  boilers  are fitted  to  burn finely  grovmd  coal,  so  her  Firemen  have  little  more  to  do  than  the  Fire­ men  on  an  oil  burner. There is  no  manual  labor  involved.  Pocahontas  has  most  of  the  other  American­ flag  coal  burning  freighters,  all  of  them  well  known  in  the  coastwise  coal,  phosphate  and  sul­ phur  trades.  They  are  the  Harry  Bowen,  Isaac  T.  Mann,  Jonancy,  Bylayl,  Freeman  and  James  Ellwood  Jones.  There  are  a  few  freighters  constructed ­ abroad  in  recent  years  which  use  colloidal  fuel,  a  mix­ ture of  oil  with finely  powdered  coal.  THEY  PRODUCED  Many  a  ship  has  made  port  after  a  furious  battering  in  the  wintry  Atlantic  because  her  black  gang—^the  men  at  the  boilers—numbered  Firemen  who  could  produce  steam  when  every  pound  of  pressure  counted  in  a  life  and  death  struggle against  the waves.  And  many  the  ship  that  has  gone  down  be­ cause  her  Firemen  couldn't  cope  with  a  falling  steam  gauge.  On  most  coal  burners  the  Fireman  has  about  six fires  to tend  and  his time­honored  equipment  for  dmng it is a  shovel  (called  a "banjo"  by  the  oldtimers),  a  rake,  a  slicing  bar  weighing  up­ wards  of  50  poimdsj a  pair  of  gloves  and  a  wet  rag  knotted  around  his  neck.  GOODBYE.  MR.  CHIPS  The  rag  helps  the  coal  slinger  to  keep  from  If  for  any  reason  American  ships someday find  keeling over  in  the intense stokehold  heat  of  the*  themselves  short  on  oil  supplies,  colloidal  fuel  tropics,  when  not  a  breath  of  air  comes  down  will  probably  become  popular.  the  vents  and  a  pair  of  dungarees  are  soaked  It  is  hardly  likely  under  any  circumstances  with  perspiration  before  the  watch  is  half  an  hour  old.  When  gripped  by  the  teeth  the  wet  that  the coal  burning  Fireman  will  return  to  the  rag  also  helps  the  Coal  Passer  to  keep  from  sea. His  is a  breed  of  mariner  almost  gone.  Now­ adays,­ men  don't  want  this  kind  of  hard,  dirty  choking in  the blinding  bunker dust.  work.  And,  besides,  the  automatic  stoker  is  re­ Always present in the fireroom  is a  water  can,  ported  to  be  from  ten  to fifteen  percent  more  and  usually  each  of  the  Firemen  on  watch  has  efficient  than  the  human  Fireman.  his own  suspended from  the handles  of  the ven­ Here  are  a  few  interesting  facts  about  some  tilator,  the  downrush  of  the  air  keeping  the  water  from  getting  too  hot.  The  oldtimers  often  famous  North  Atlantic  coal  burners:  The  great  Kronprinzessin  Cecilie  of  the  North  kept a gin or  brandy bottle handy  to "spike"  the  German  Lloyd  Line,  a  706  foot,  passenger­carry­ water.  .  giant,  had  four  reciprocating  engines  that  drove  After  a  watch  in  the  old  days  the  Fireman  took  his  bath  out  of  a  bucket,  for  showers  were  her at a speed  of  24  knots. To  provide  the steam .  unknown  on  either  liners  or  tramps.  And  on  a  for  these  engines,  each  of  which  produced  12,000/  long  voyage  aboard  some  eight ­ knot  cargo  h.p.,  she  had  19  boilers  and  124 fires  which  ate­ drogher,  the  grimy  Fireman  was  lucky  to  get  up 764  tons  of  coal  every  24  hours.  She carried about 12 Firemen on  a watch. They  enough  water at  the end  of  a  watch  to  wash off  shoveled  about 31 tons of  coal  every  hour!  the  sweat  and  grime:  Perhaps  the  greatest  of  all  coal  burners  ever  Amazing  it  was,  however,  that  thousands  of  to sail  the  seas  was  the  liner  Lusitania.  men stuck  to the profession  of  coal burning Fire­ On  the  run  from  Queenstown  to  New  York,  man  during  their  entire  lives  at  sea,  becoming  very  prOud  of  their  calling.  Hiere was an  esprit  this­  turbineipowered  speedster  carried  a  small  de corp$: among  Firemen, especicaUy  on  the blue  army  of  Firemen,  Coal  Passers  and  Watertend­ ribbon,  trans­Atlantic  liners­and  it  was  usual  ers. Her bunkers  held 6,200  tons and  the average  for  the^Firemen  to form  a "band"  with buckets,  daily  coal  consumption  was 1,090  tons,  including  washboards  and  all  sorts  of  improvised  instru­ the 18  tons  that  the Cooks  burned  up every  day  Inents  arid  give  a  concert  for  the passengers  on  in the galley stove;  �THE  SEAFARERS  LOG  Pag« Eight  SS  BuU  Run  Back In Trade  After  Crash  Friday,  April  20,  1951  Aboard  The  Salem  Maritime  Well­Wishers'  Mail  Swamps  SIU  Hero  Seafarer  Eric  Joseph,  who  The  SlU­manned  tanker  gave  his right  eye  to  save:  Bull  Run has  resumed  coast­ the  sight  of  a  Union  Bro­^  w i s e  operations  following  ther,  is  being  deluged  with  commiviications  from  well­ completion  of  repairs  for  wishers  throughout  the  na­ damages sustained  in a recent  tion  who have  been  touched  collision  with  the  freighter  by  the story of  his  sacrifice..  Monrosa  in  the  mouth  of  At  the  Marine  Hospital  in  Sta­ ten  Island,  where  Eric  is  recu­ the  Mississippi  River.  perating from  the  operation  in  The  vessels collided  in  an early  which  the  cornea  of  his  eye  was  morning  fog.  Both  put  in  at  New  transplanted to  that of  Phil  Pron,  Orleans  for  repair  jobs.  None  of  nurses  have  been  kept  .on  the  the  crewmembers  were  reported  go  hauling mail  and telegrams  to  injured.  Seafarer  Joseph's  bed.  The  Bull  Run,  owned  by  the  Most  of  the  messages  are  load­ Mathiasen  Tanker  Industries,  ed with  praise for  the selflessness  Three  of  the  crewmen  who have  been  doing  a  bang­up  Job  Inc.,  made  port  under  her  own  Joseph  displayed  in  offering  his  power  and  entered  the  Todd­ on  the  Cities  Service  tanker  are  (left  to right):  Joe  Scramuna,  eye  to  aid  Pron.  A  few  of  the  Johnson  Drydocks  shortly  after.  Cesar  Martinez  and  Ben  Benenale.  correspondents  abided  him  for  She  was  bound  for  New  Orleans  ^  The  Salem  Maritime  is  ope­ making  such  a  sacrifice.  Joseph  from  Narrangansett  Bay  to  pick  rating  in  typical  SIU  ship­ shrugged  these  off  with  a  smile,  up  a cargo  of  oil  when  the  crash  shape  style,  according  to  Vic  maintaining  that  he'd  never  be  occurred.  Litardi  (above),  who  recently  sorry  for  what  he  did.  paid  off.  TANKER'S  BOW  DAMAGED  CHERCHEZ'  LA  FEMME  Part  of  the  freighter's­bridge  The  "Food  for  Thought"  articles,  which  the  Union  Even  romance  entered  the  and  '  her  starboard  side  were  is  distributing  to  all  contracted  ships  as  suggested  topics  picture.  A  few  of  the  communi­ gashed,  while  the  tanker's  bow  for  discussion  at  shipboard  education  meetings,  are  arous­ cations  were  from  females  who  was  damaged.  The  Monrosa,  ing  unusually  strong  interests  thought  Eric  would  make  them  which  was  en  route  from  Hous­ among  crewmembers,  according  ginmills,  generally  by  instigating  a fine  husband.  One  young  lady  ton  to  Mobile,  was  carrying  a  to  reports  reaching  the  LOG  this  wild  rumors,  wTiich,  if  given  told  the  Seafarer  she  liked  the  full  load  at  the  time.  Her  cargo  week.  looks  of  him  from  the  pictures  credence  would  have  the  effect  was  unloaded  at  the  Cotton  of  weakening  confidence  in  the  Slight  damages  were  sustained  she  saw  in  the  newspapers  and  Warehouse  wharf  so  that repairs  That  the  revival  of  the  ar­ organization.  Fortunately,  h e  by  a  Greek  Freighter  and  the  added  that  he  "sounded  just  like  ticles  —  originally  published  in  could  be  made.  booklet  form—^has  hit  a.  recep­ added,  gashounds  are  on  the  SS Steel  Flyer  in an  early morn­ my  type." She  suggested  a  meet­ A  Creole  Line  vessel,  the  wane  in  the  SIU  and  as  a  result  ing  collision  on  April  4,  The  ac­ ing.  Monrosa  has  the Texas  Transport  tive  chord,  is  evidenced  by  the  of  the  membership's  policy  they  cident  occurred  about  2  AM,  Brother  Joseph  said  that  he  and  Terminal Company  as  agents  comments  contained  in  scores  of  are  gradually  becoming  elimi­ shortly  after  the  Isthmian  ship  isn't  contemplating  any  imion  in  New  Orleans.  The  Gulf  Ship­ letters  from  individual  crewmen  nated  as  an  obstacle  to  vhe  con­ had  left  Baltimore  for  Norfolk.  other  than  the  SIU  at  the ^mo­ ping  Lines  acts  as  agents  for  and  copies  of  ship's  minutes  that  tinued  progress  of  the  Union.  No  one  was  injured.  ment,  so the  romantic  young  wo­ Mathiasen  in  the  Crescent  City.  are  arriving  at  Headquarters.  The  Steel  Flyer  returned  to  men  will  have  to  heave  a  sigh ­ THE  GRIPER  Typical  of  the  reaction  to  the  Baltimore  where  she  spent  three  and  try  their  luck  elsewhere.  "Food  for  Thought"  series  is  the  Another  De  Soto  Seafarer  got  days  at  the  Maryland  Drydocks  Eric ' has  already  been fitted  tenor  of  a recent  education meet­ up  to  say  that  the  chronic  ship­ undergoing  repairs  on  her  dam­ with  a  temporary  plastic  eye  ing  held  aboard  the  SS  de  Soto.  board  griper  is  the  greatest  aged  floor '­plates,  according  to  while  a  permanent  one  is  being  Don't  hold  your  pictures  In  the  discussion  following  a  single  bar  to  smooth  shipboard  Jim  Hand,  Second  Electrician,  made  for  him.  Meanwhile,  fur­ reading  of  the  article  entitled  functioning  and  harmonj'  among  who  was  aboard  at  the  time.  and  stories  of  shipboard  acti­ ther  tests  will  be  made  soon  by  "Beefs—and  Beefers,"  a  number  crewmembers.  Where  such  indi­ vities.  Mail  them  to  the  Sea­ The  Isthmian  ship resumed  her  doctors  to  determine  the final  farers  Log,  51  Beaver  St.,  of  crewmembers  hit  the  deck.  viduals  have  records  of  creating  voyage  to  Hawaii.  effect  of  the  transplanting..  New  York  4,  N.  Y.  If  you  One  member  stated  that  gas­ dissension and  confusion  on ships  haven't  the time  or don't  feel  hounds  were  the  principal  source  they  board,  the  speaker  said  of  illegitimate  gripes  that  are  they  should  be  dealt  v/ith  "as  a  In the  mood, just  forward de­ harmful  to  the  membership  as  disturbing  element,  just  as  un­ tails.  WeH  do  the  rest.  Pic­ desirable  as  a  gashound  ashore  tures  will  be  returned  if  you  a  whole.  wish.  He  pointed  out  that  these  in  a  ginmill."  characters  do  their  griping  in  On  the  SS  Puerto  Rico,  SIU  members  have  expressed  great  interest  in  the  current  series  of  shipboard  education  articles,  which  are  read  aloud  prepara­ tory  to opening  the floor  for  gen­ eral  discussion.  Evidence  of  the  broad  interest  • l:#i  of  Seafarers  in  the  matter  of  A Union  education  is  the  motion  carried  at  the  April  1  meeting  ,  ti  iili  aboard  the  Cities  Service  tanker  Chiiwawa.  The  motion  adopted  said:  I  1  "To  accept  the  Pumpman's  suggestion  to  hold  educational  forums  to  enlighten  some  old­ iilip  timers  in our  Union and  the  new  comers  to  our  Union's  principles  and  functions  ..."  Among  the  other  ships  report­ ing  education  meetings  at  which  "Food  for  Thought"  was  discuss­ ed  are  the  Sea  Cloud,  Logans  Fort,  Catigny,  Ann  Marie,  Gov­ ernment  Camp,  Del  Norte  Cub­ ore,  Oremar,  Sandmate,  Hurri­ Seafafers on  the SS  Steel  Advocate  report  that  all  is going  cane,  Republic,  Seatram  New  The  phologzapher  succeeded  in  getting  E.  OppicL  Deck  very  smoothly  aboard  the  Isthmian  ship.  Here  are  three  of  Jersey,  Bradford  Island,  Choc­ Delegate,  and  J*  Napoleont,  4­8  watch,  to  stop  their  pairting  her  worthfiis  coffee  time.  Left  to  right:  Eugene,  Wiper:  K.  taw,  Iberville,  Steel  Director  and  of  the  SS  Ines'  starheard  lifeboat  long  enough  to  gel  this  Bancroft,  Pantriuhan,  and  Julio  Bmmard,  ^fun.  picture^  Ship  was  in  Mayagues  at  the  lime;  Salem  Maritime.  'Food  For  Thought'  Stirs  Interest  In  SIU  Education  Greek  Freighter  Collides  With  SS  Steel  Flyer  Send  'Em in  Hold  That  Brush!  On  The  India  Run  ^  p  k ;  • A­y.­y/y/i.,...,.  r  '  \f �''^m  ­­^ • '  Friday, April  20. 1851  TtiE  SEAFARERS  LOG  Page  Nine  Digested Minutes  Of  SID  Ship  Meetings  TRINITY  (Carras).  Feb.  28—  their  departments. Stewards  Del­ sign  on  until  all  repairs  have  Chairman,  John  Lane;  Secretary,  egate  reported  disputed  overtime  been  made.  Discussion  on  the  Peter  Piascik.  Delegates  reported  and  the  usual  beefs  against  the  amount  of'painting  to  be  done  no  beefs.  Discussion  and  accept  Steward,  who  refuses  to  coope­ by  Stewards  Department.  ance  voted  on  unloading  cargo  rate  with  the  men.  Motion  car­ XXX  and  time  ashore.  All  hands  re­ ried  to  keep  plugging  for  120  SOUTHERN  CITIES  (South­ quested  to  keep  the messhall  and  quarts  of  milk.  Patrolman  to  ern  Trading),  March  18—Chair­ pantry  cleaner^  Steward  reported  check  slopchest  before  ship  goes  man, A.  Kamens; Secretary, Wal­ more  money  would  have  to  be  foreign.  ter  Terry.  Delegates  reported  no  raised  before  a  washing  machine  XXX  beefs. Motion  carried  to make  up  could  be  purchased.  STEEL  SCIENTIST  (Isthmian),  a  repair  list  and  have  Patrol­ X  X>  %  March  24—Chairman,  T.  Rezeve­ man  contact  ship  in  Charleston.  ALCOA  CLIPPER  (Alcoa)  tab;  Secretary,  C.  Lee.  Engine  Article  from  LOG  on  drinking  March  4  —  Chairman,  Max  Rob­ Delegate  reported  that  men  who  and  performing  read  to crew  and  arts;'  Secretary.  George  Richer.  refused  soogee  overtime  will  not  discussed.  Delegates  reported  all  okay.  Mo­ get  painting  overtime.  Discussion  tion  carried  that  anyone  missing  on  the  purchase  of  a  washing  meeting  will  be  disciplined.  In­ machine  in  New  York.  Sugges­ 'SL  nerspring  mattresses  to  be  or­ tion  made  to  see  Captain  about  dered  when  ship  hits  port.  Vote  putting  a  desk  in^the  foc'sles.  of  thanks,  given  movie  commit­ Vote  of  thanks  given  the  Stew­ tee.  All  crewmembers  told  to  re­ ards  Departme;^  for  a  job  well  port  for  duty^on  time.  done.  XXX  XXX  X  X  X  ALCOA  PENNANT  (Alcoa),  ROBIN  MOWBRAY  (Robin).  PORTMAR  (Calmar),  March  18  March  11—Chairman,  E.  Fields;  Ec  —  Chairman,  Gilbert;  Secretary,  Feb.  6  —  Chairman,  Bdward  Secretary,  G.  Russell.  Delegates  Yanch;  Secrelary,  Amos  Baum.  Denzek.  Ship's  Delegate  report­ reported  no  beefs.  Steward  and  Delegates  reported  no  beefs.  ed  that  locker  for  foul  weather  Ship's  Delegate  to  speak  to  Special  meeting  called  to  hear  gear  had  been  squared  away. Mo­ Skipper  about  passenger's  dog  Steward's  charges  that  one  man  tion  carried  to  thank  Stewards  who  is  messing  up  the  rooms.  Department  for  cooperation  dur­ has  been  drinking  heavily  and  ^  ^  &  ing  the  trip.  Discussion  on  why  has  been  unable  to  do  his  work  DEL  CAMPO  (Mississippi),  properly.  Accused  Brother  apolo­ cold  drinks  are  served  only  once  March  4—Chairman,  Edward  Ei­ gized  for  his  actions  and  prom­ a  day  in  hot  weather.  land;  Secretary,  Lee  Snodgrass.  V.  ised  to  straighten  up  if  given  XXX  Discussion  on  working  cargo  and  another  chance.  Short  talk  given  BENTS  FORT  (Cities  Serv­ on  safety.  Arrangements  made  the  number  of  men  used.  Ap­ proval voted on  two Headquarters  and  over  the side.  Also  to  report  ALAMAR  (Calmar),  March  18  ice),  March  25—Chairman,  Pari­ to  schedule  baseball  games  in  matters  pertaining  to  ,.time  the  leak  in  underwater  oil  hose  —  Chairman,  Mazur;  Secretary.  dase;  Secretary,  Costin.  Dele­ Beira,  if  possible.  Steward  au­ causing  great  danger  to  the  Shonts.  Delegates  reported  ne  gates  reported  no  beefs.  Discus­ thorized  to  purchase  dart  board,  ashore  and  unloading  cargo.  safety  of  the  crew. Thanks given  beefs.  Motion  carried  to  have  sion  on  more  soap  for  deck  and  monopoly,  chess and  other  games  XXX  Bob  Moore,  2nd  Cook,  for  his  Union  see  company  about  pro­ engine  departments.  Suggestion  from  ship's  fund.  INES  (Bull), March  4  —  Chair­ man, Stanley  Gondzer; Secretary,  efforts  to  give  the  crew  excel­ viding  table  cloths.  Motion  car­ made  to find  out  who does  paint­ XXX­ ried  to  have  the  three  depart­ ing  of  black  gang  passageway.  ROBIN  MOWBRAY  (Robin),  H.  Orlando.  Delegates  reported  ent  baking.  ments  work  together  to  clean  Pumpman  asked  who  he  works  April  1  —  Chairman,  James  E.  X  ^  X  no  beefs.  Suggestion  made  that  three  departments  cooperate  in  ALCOA  PLANTER  (Alcoa).  laundry  and  recreation  rooms.  under  when  loading  and  unload­ Miller;  Secrelary,  Amos  Baum.  ing,  the  Chief  Engineer  or  the  Delegates  reported  no  beefs.  XXX  keeping  recreation  room  clean.  March  17—Chairman.  S.  Yoris;  Chief  Mate.  Two  messages  on  unloading  car­ Secretary.  W.  WUlridge.  Dele­ WILD  RANGER  (Waterman),  New  library  to  be  picked  up  in  go  and  time  ashore  read  and  gates  reported  everything  okay.  March  7—Chairman,  L.  Eckhoff;  next  port.  Suggestion  made  that  Ship's  Delegate  to  see  Captato  Secretary,  J.  Morton.  Delegates'  accepted.  a  quantity  of  milk  be  increased  about  subsistence  if  new  stores  reports  accepted.  Motion  carried  when  leaving  Africa  with  pas­ do  not  come  aboard  at first  US  to  report  to  Agent  the  fact  that  sengers. Steward  reported $112.65  port.  the  Captain  took  an  NMU  man  in  ship's fund.  as  replacement  instead  of  an  XXX  XXX  XXX  CANTIGNY  (Cities  Service),  SIU  man.  Motion  carried  to  in­ LOUIS  EMERY.  JR.  (Victory  GOVERNMENT  CAMP  (Cities  Feb. 18  —  Chairman.  D.  Moon;  form  Patrolman  of  Captain's  Carriers),  March  31 — Chairman,  Service),  April  10  —  Chairman,  Secretary,  W.  Thomas.  Ship's  lack  of  interest  in  sick  crew­ Jim  Hanners;  Secretary,  Ed.  A1  James  Phillips;  Secrelary,  J.  Delegate  reported  nothing  had  members.  binski.  Ship's  Delegate  reported  Parker.  Delegates  reported  num­ been  done  about  repair  list.  The  XXX  he  would  try  to  get  1st  Assist­ ber of  books  and  permits in  their  Chairman  gave  a  brief  talk  on  FORT  HOSKINS  (Cities  Ser­ ant  and  Captain  together  to  see  departments.  Discussion  on  food,  the  Union  agreement  and  stated  vice),  March  10  —  Chairmaxi,  D.  who  is  disputing  the  overtime.  with  crewmembers  suggesting  that  all  should  study  it.  Food  Jones;  Secretary,  Frank  Flana­ Delegates  reported  number  of  that  Patrolman  inquire  into  its  XXX  SIMMONS  VICTORY  (Bull),  beef  raised  by several men  claim­ gan. Delegates  reported  on  num­ books  and  permits  in  their  de­ preparation  and find  out  if  any­ March  .6—Chairman,  R.  White;  ing  too  much  repetition.  Captain  ber  of  books  and  permits  in  partments.  Motion  carried  not  to  thing  can  be  done  about  it.  Re­ Secretary,  W.  Salazar.  Delegates  to  be  seen  about  shipboard  pro­ quest  made  that  Ship's  Dele­ reported  overtime  for  no  shore  niotions  he  has  made.  gate  bring  to  Mate's  attention  leave  in  Kurihama, Ja&an.  Ship's  the rusty  and  unusable cranks  on  XXX  Delegate  told  to  write  New  York  HURRICANE  lifeboat  davits.  Article  reprinted  (Waterma n),  for  clarification  of  matter.  Dis­ March 41 — Chairman, S. Klider­ from  "Food  for  Thought"  read  REPRESENTATIVES  cussion  on  dividing' equally^ ov­ man;  Secretary,  P.  Whitlow.  by  Ship's  Delegate.  Discussion  SIU, A&G  District  HEADQUARTERS  Joe  Algina  Robert  Matthews  ertime should  the cargo  be  work­ Delegates  reported  no  beefs. Pro­ held  on  matter  and  item  posted  Joseph  Volpian  BALTIMORE  14  North  Gay  St.  ed  by . the  crew.  on  the  bulletin  board.  Further  per  instructions  for  using  wash­ William  Rentz,  Agent  Mulberry  4540  discussion  to  be  held  at  next  276  State  St.  X  X  X  ing  machine  drawn  up.  Volun­ BOSTON  SUP  JOHN  HANSON  (White  tary  donations  for  library  to  be  Ben  Lawson,  Agent  Richmond  2­0140  meeting.  16  Merchant  St.  Dispatcher  Richmond  2­0141  HONOLULU  Range),  March  4—Chairman,  Pa­ accepted  at  payoff.  ­ XXX  Phone  5­8777  GALVESTON  SOb'A—ZSrd  St.  trick^ Ryan;  (Secretary  not  giv­ ROBIN  WENTLEY  (Robin).  Ill  W.  Bumside  St.  Keith  Alsop,  Agent  Phone  2­8448  PORTLAND  en).  Delegates  reported  number  Beacon  4336.  Mairch  25 —  Chairman, E. Smilh;  LAKE  CHARLES.  La.... 1419  Ryan  St.  RICHMOND,  Calif  257  5th  St.  Secrelary,  Ray  Sadowski.  Dele­ Keith  Terpe.  Agent  of  books  and  permits  in  their  Phone  2599  MOBILE  I  South  Lawrence  St.  departments. Steward  told  to  or­ gates  reported  number  of  books  450  Harrison  St.  Cal  Tanner,  Agent  Phone  2­1754  SAN  FRANCISCO  der  milk,  bread  and  ice  cream  and  permits in  their  departments.  Douglas  2­8363  NEW  ORLEANS  523  Bienville  St.  in  Canada.  SEATTLE  .86  Seneca  St.  Ship's  Delegate  elected.  Crew  Lindsey  Williams,  Agent  XXX  Main  0290  asked  for  ladders  for  top  bunks.  Magnolia  6112­6113  LAFAYETTE  (Waterman),  XXX  WILMINGTON  440  Avalon  Blvd.  NEW  YORK..:  51  Beaver  St.  SWEETWATER  (Metro  Petro­ March  17'^hairman,  J.  Bisson­ Each  department  to  rotate  a  f Terminal  4­3131  HAnover  2­2784  leum),  March  11  —  Chairman,  net;  Secretary,  Peter  Patrick.  NORFOLK  week  at  a  time  the  cleaning  of  127­129  Bank  St.  George  Fargo;  Secretary.  Sam  Delegates  reported  that  delayed  Ben  Rees,  Agent  the laundry.  Phono  4­1083  Canadian  District  337  Market  St.  Phillips.  Delegates  reported  dis­ sailing  be  discussed  "by  all  de­ PHILADELPHIA  XXX  463  McGill  St.  Cardullo,  Agent  Market  7­1635  MONTREAL  puted  overtime.  Motion  carried  partment  delegates.  Ship's  Dele­ S.  SEATIGER  (Colonial),  March  MArquette  5909  SAN  FRANCISCO  450  Harrison  St.  to  pmchase  a  waterproof  motor  gate  to  go  to  San  Francisco  Hall  Lloyd  Gardner,  Agent  Douglas  2­5475  HALIFAX  18 —  Chairman, Tom  Gould; Sec­ 1281/5  Hollis  St.  for  the  washing  machine.  Sug­ and  see  if  sofa  in  crew  messhall  SAN  JUAN,  PR  252  Ponce  de  Leon  Phono  3­8911  retary,  Victor  O Brianl.  Dele­ FORT  WILLIAM. .ll8!/5  Syndicate  Ave.  gates  reported  all  okay.  Ship's  gestion  made  that  Steward  add  can  be  recovered.  Minor  repairs  Sal  Colls,  Agent  Ontario  Phone  3­3221  2  Abercom  St.  variety  to  menus  and  check  sup­ to  be  taken  care  of  in  San  Fran­ SAVANNAH  Delegate  gave  a  short  talk  on  103  Durham  St.  E.  B.  Tilley,  Agent  Phone  3­1728  PORT  COLBORNE  ply  of  coffee  and  jams.  Ship  also  cisco.  importance  of  each  man  doing  Phone  5591  SEATTLE  2700  1st  Ave.  to  be  fumigated.  ..86  Colbome  St  his  job.  Need  for  washing  ma­ Ray  Oates,  Agent  Seneca  4570  TORONTO  XXX  Elgin  S7I9  chine  brought  up.  1809­1811  N.  Franklin  St.  ALAWAI  (Waterman).  March  TAMPA  XXX.  VlCTORlATT..... 617 J'S  Cormorant  St.  Ray  White.  Agent  Phone  2­1323  BRADFORD  ISLAND  (Cities  llr­­ChairmBn. M.  Keeffer; Secre­ WiLMiNGTGN, Calif.r.^. 44 >  :  x.jx_jk.  ­  —­  Empire­­4­531­ Blvd.  Service), March 18—^Chairman,  R.  tary,  Frank  Allen.  Deleigates  re­ Jeff  Morrison,  Agent  Terminal  4­2874  VANCOUVER...*  SOUTHERN  COUNTIES  (Sou­ 565  Hamilton  St.  Schwenk;  Secretary.  A.  Moore.  ported  some  disputed  overtime  HEADQUARTERS .,51 Beaver St.,  N.Y.C.  Pacific  7824  Ihern  Trading),  April  1—Chair­ SYDNEY  304  Charlotte  St  man,  T.  HiU;  Secrelary,  A.  Se­ SECRETARY­TREASURER  Ship's  Delegate.,  reported  beef  in  deck  department,  other  okay.  Phone  6346  Paul  Hall  vier. Delegates  reported  all okay.  about  shore  leave­  in  Tuxpan.  Ship's­Delegate  accepting  orders  HEADQUARTERS  *0*  McGlll  St  ASST.  SECRETARY­TREASURER  Suggestion  made  to  report  to  for  irregular­sized  clothing  for  Repair  list?  passed  out  to  aeie­ Earl  Sheppard  Montreal  MArquette  7377  Patrolman­oil  spill  on  ship  deck  slopchest^  {Continued on  Pffge 13)  ipi'vfe op io­if»'t­emis of 4fie  Corrfyact Hie Union will seeib it'+hapf­the  Companies do.  Directory  Of  SIU  Halls  mmmmmik n �" •.  ­ •  ­• .•   •  • ,  ­  V.  THE  S  E  A  F>  4  R  E  E  S  L (KG  Page Ttm  Fzlda7/Apsil^2a  1851  THE  MEMBERSHIP  SPEAKS  liki:  Gadsden Galley Men Submit  Carroll  Vic  Got  Run­Around  In  Far  East  Suggestions  For  Stewards  To  the  Editor:  Thought  I  would  drop  you  a  primarily  interested  in  stabiliz­ few  lines  as  the  present  voyage  To  the  Editor:  ing  food  costs.  comes  to  a  close.  It  lasted  about  We'd  like  to  congratxilate  James  V.  Nelson  six  months  and  11  days  out  Frenchy  Michelet  for  the  well­ Alfred  Yarborough  around  Japan  way,  and  1  mean  written  and  well­thought­out  ar­ Robert  Ruttledge  just  that  ^  ticle,  "Guide  for  Stewards."  We  Newton  Paine  ,  feel  that  a  solution  of  some  sort  MV  Gadsden  The  odds  were  against  us  as  .  should  be  presented  to  offset  the  far  as  getting  to  Korea  was  con­ tendency  among  various  com­ cerned  but  we  did  get  to  Bang­ panies  to  ship  their  own  Stew­ kok,  Thailand,  where  we  layed  ards.  So  with  that  thought  in  mind,  we offer  the following sug­ on  the  hook  for  a month'waiting  gestions:  for  a  load  of  rice.  Finally  we  1.  Stewards  should  have  at  all  did  get  the  rice.  The  De  Pauw  times  tife  net  cost  of  each  food  Victory  was  there  with  us.  item  in  order  to  plan  his  menus  To  the  Editor:  PONY  BOYS  so  that  the  per  diem  cost  of  each  meal  would  not  be  exces­ I  would  like  to  have  the  SEA­ FADERS  LOG  sent  to  my  new  The  city  of  Bangkok  is  a mod­ sivCi  ern  city  and  the  people  in  gen­ address.  2.  A  Union  committee  should  I miss  some  issues  of  the  LOG  eral  are  very  sociable  and  they  meet  with  various  company  Port  when  I  am  out  on  a  trip  and  it  gave  us  a  lot  of  leewayT" There  liiiii  Stewards  to  determine  a  rea­ is  always  good  to  have  them  on  was  an  interesting  pastime  down  sonable  daily  cost  allowance  per  my  return.  The  LOG  is  doing  there  —  those  good  old  horse  Cleanliness  of  Carroll  Victory's  messroom  is  clearly  visible,  meal.  (This  allowance  should  be  lots  for  the  membership  in  many  races.  Believe  you  me,  those  elastic  in  order  to  take  into  ways.  However,  on  my  last  trip  Siamese  ponies  can  certainly  run  as  crewmembers  polish  off  one  of  the  many  meals  they  put  comaderation  rising  or  falling  we  ran  into  only  one  issue  on  a  and  at  times  there  are  some  away  in  Far  Eastern  waters.  pretty  good long  shots.  That  goes  food  prices.)  five­months  trip.  to  show  you  that  Americans  are  awa  instead,  then  loaded  for  MAINTAIN  QUALITY  We  did  not find  any  in  Dajar­ not  the  only  ones  to  buy  hay  Pusan.  We  got  as  far  as  Moji  3.  Stewards  should  keep  as  kata,  Bombay, Colombo,  Karachi,  sometimes.  then  discharged,  then  orders  to  ­dose  to  their  allotments  as  pos­ Basra,  Krammansha,  Singapore,  Frisco  and  diverted  again  to  sible.  By  that  we  mean  that  no  Port  Sweatesham,  Penang  and  After  leaving  there  we  were  New  Orleans  for  payoff.  bound  for  Korea  only  to  get  sacrifice  of  quality  or  quantity  severaT other  places.  As  every  one  who  has  been  I  think  a  good  something­ex­ diverted to  Osaka  to  discharge,  should  be  made  to  gain  individ­ out  that  way  knows  it  is  the  ual  ,  records  as  money­saving  tra­special  for  the  LOG  would  along  with  some  more  of  the  same  old  joke—short  of  stores,  usual  atmosphere a  seaman lob^s  Stewards.  On  the  other  han(^  be  to have some  of  the  oldfimers  which  makes  a  fellow  do  a  lot  or.  But  everyone  had  a  good  Stewards  not  having  valid  rea­ to  relate  in  writing  their  life's  of  griping.  But  on  the  whole,  time  and  then  we  sailed  for  Yo­ story,  especially  the  ones  who  sons  for  exceeding  their  allot­ this  was  a  dam  good  trip  com­ kohama to  load  for  Inchon.  nients  could  be  judged  as  in­ sailed  the  sailing  ships.  pared  tb  some  on  the  Far  East.  Why  does  the  LOG  not  date  competent.  PORT  FALLS  Nattirally  some  of  the  boys  that  the  letters  sent  into  it  from  the  While  we  feel  the  ideas  we  Too  late,  though,  for  Inchon  have  been  on  the  bauxite  trail  different  ports  of  the  world,  also  have  presented  are  basically  lad  fallan,  so  we  went  to  Okin­ and  are  not  used  to  the  Far  rough,  we  do  think  tliey  have  name  the  port  from  where  the  East  were  getting  a ^little  home­ some  merit  and  if  some  plan  letter  was  written?  Is  there  any  sick.  national  or  international  law  could be  worked  out  along  these  I  want  to  take  the  pleasure  lines,  all  pressure  against  Union  against  this?  of  praising  the  crew  for  the  way  D.  D.  Story  (right)  and  a  Stewards  on  the  companies  part  'Before  closing,  I  would  like to  cooperated  '^o  make  things  they  shipmate  kill  time  in  their  say  again:  Keep  up  the  good  would  be  eased,  for  they  are  as  pleasant  as  possible­tmder  the  foc'sle.  Perhaps' they're,  puzzl­ work  there.  I  hope  that  in  some  conditions.  ing­over  the  route  of  the  ship,  future  issue  I  shall find  my  D.  D.  Slory  ^which  Story  reports  rambled  questions  answered.  To  the  Editor:  SS  Carroll  Victory  all  over  the  Pacific  area.  George  L.  Midgelt  A  few  lines  to  f  "  >w  If  you  don't find  linen  Los  Angeles,  Calif.  i.„y­ when  you  go  aboaxd  your  (Ed. note:  The  LOG  does not  I  am  doing fine  thing  is  going  well­with,  zne  in  print  the datea referred  to be*  ship, notify  the Hall at  once.  the  Army.  I  am  very  thankful  cause  in most  eases the corres­ ^A  telegram  from  LeHarve  or  pondents  do  not  use  them.  to  the  Union  for  sending  me  a  Singapore  won't  do  you  any  Brother  Midgett  himself  ne­ copy  of  each  issue  of  the­LOG.  ^ood.  It's  your  bed  and  you  glected  to  put  a  date  on  the  It  is  always a  pleasure for  me  have  to  lie in  it.  above  letter. Locations are used  to  read  about  our  Union  always  when  given.)  doingv  great  things  and  accom­ plishing  the  best  working  condi­ • fi  tions  for  a  seaman  to  sail  with.  I  am  now  sharing  two  honors.  By  RAY  WEINBERG  First,  being  in  the  US  Army  • Z­­ '  ani^  second^  being  a  brother  member  of  the  SIU.  I  want  to  Five years I  sailed  the rolling  sea,  :|r­ say  again,  I  am  waiting  for  the  Through  peace  and  war  emergency;  day  1  will  once  again  be  sailing  I did  my  work  and  earned  my  keep.  an  SlU­contracted  ship.  With  broken  bones  and  loss  of  sleep;  ANNIVERSARY  I'd  draw  my  pay and­paint  the towm ­  ­  '  ­I  Today  I  am  in  the  Army  four  Then  thought one  day  Fd'settle down.^^  '  ^  months  and  time  is sure  passing  by  fast.  I  have  been  trjring  to  I came  home  with  thoughts  so  grand.  get up­to  the Hall  for quite  some  time  now to  pay  you­  people  a  And  went  to work,^ a  railroad  man;  visit.  The  only  time  I  get  off  Of  overtime  not  one  darned  cent,  ;  •   is  on  weekends  so  by  the  time  "• • fl  I starved  to  death  to  pay  the  rent;  •  w  I  get  up  to  l^ew,  York  it  is  too  To  top it off  on  New  Years  eve.  late,  se  it  won't  ­be­  imtil  the  Some darn fobl car  run over  me.  _  first week  of  April  before  I  will  be  up  to'see  you.  I  wfll  close  for  now,  sending  With  busted head apd  broken thumb,  my  be^  regards  and 'wishes  to  I figured,  ihan, I sure  been  dumb;  The  SS \Sleei  Architect  is  making  plenty  of  ports  in  the  you,  all  my  Union  Brothers  and  in go  on  back and  catch  a  ship,  w  Far  East,  her  delegates  report.  Here  are  four  of  the  "good  especially  to  a  helluva  swell  But  somehow  there  I made  a  slij);  i "  joes''  they  say  are  keeping'the  ship  moving  in  fine  style.  Left  Union.  Good  luck!  The aimy isays,; "It can  »ot  be,  ,  '  John  W.  Broad  to  rigkb  the Bosun,  Deck  Maintenance, Second  Cook  and  Chief  ­ For  youj  myiboy,^; belong  to m&"  >  r­'  Fort  Bi*,  N.  J.  Coofc$  whose  naaxes  wemn't  giveii.  01dtima*s' Yams  Would Interest  This Seafarer  Seafarer In Army  Pleased With  SIU Achievements  AnEHTION!  Photo  In  Galley  Setting  The  Last Word  1  •  r  . I  �Ftiday.  April  20.  1951  Brother Suggests  Alcoholism Study  By Trade Unions  T  H  E  S  E  A  F  A  R  ER SLOG  The  Suii  Beat  Down  Page  Eleven  LaFitte  Ends  Epic  Voyage  After  81  Days  In  Diydock  To  the  Editor:  6%  months. Of  this 81  days were  spent  in  drydock,  which  sime  Voyage  22  for  the  SS  Jean  gives  a  man  plenty  of  time  to  I  have  noticed,  that  emphasis  LaFitte  ended  with  the  payoff  in  learn  to  like  rice  pudding.  Re­ San  Francisco.  There  was  very  is  being  placed  on  discipline  of  little  disputed  overtime,  which  pairs  included  the  replacing  of  gashounds  and,  performers,  amounted  to  about  10  hours  and  192  bottom  plates,  frames,  inner  would  like  to  mention  a  few  was  cleared  up  in  , short  order  floors,  vertical  keel,  rudder,  pro­ points  on  the  one  type  of  "gas­ to  the  satisfaction  of  those  con­ peller  inner  bottom,  which  were  damaged  when  this  ship  went  ,  hound"  who  I  believe  should  be  cerned.  aground  off  the  coast  of  Japan  helped  out,  and  that  is  the  alco­ The  First  Assistant  was  up  on  in  a  typhoon  on  October  10,  charges  for  giving  everyone  a  1950.  holic,  of  which  I  myself  am  one.  hard  time  while  this  ship  was  The  typhoon,  recorded  ae  Seamen  generally  drink,  but  it  in  drydock  and  for  trying  to  "Rudy,"  with  30  foot  tidal  waves  is  the  few  that  lose  control  of  hand  out  contract  work.  By  this  caused  the  ship  to  run  aground  themselves  that  we  as  Union  I  mean  he  had  a  set  of  company  on  Kamono  Shima  shoal  at  1:12  books,  giving  the amount  of  time  members  should  assist  in  keep­ PM  and  was  refloated  at  1:40  on  work  in  the  engine  room  that  PM.  ing  with  our  brotherly principle^  had  been  done  on  some  other  Alcoholics  are  sick  people,  GOOD  SAILORS  vessel  of  this  class  under  ideal  which  the  American  Medical  As­ conditions.  Chief  Mate  Barry  was  more  sociation  defines,  "As  a  disease  than  satisfied  with  the  boys  on  KNEE  DEEP  and  a  medical  responsibility.'  deck  and  informed  the  delegates  The  strong  rays  of  old  Sol  were  unrelenting  and  these  The  US  Public  Health  Service  He  wanted  the  same  work  that  it  was one  of  the  best  gangs  •  four  subjects  had  to  do  their  squinting  best  to  help  the  York­ says "Alcoholism  is a  major  pub­ done  in  the  same  time,  despite  lic  health  problem."  The  Federal  mar's  photographer  get  his shot. From  left  to  right: Juan  Leon,  the  fact  that  conditions  were  he  ever  had.  They  sure  put ­out  OS;  Pete  De  LaCruz;  Jimmy  Nelson,  FWT,  and  "Red"  Lewis.  entirely  different—our  men  were  and  to  show  the  boys  he  would  Office  of  Vocational  Rehabilita­ tion  has  advised  its field  offices  working  in  oil  and  water  up  to  meet  them  half­way  he  informed  to  consider  alcoholism  as  an  ill­ their  knees.  He  was  heard  to  them  that  if  they  wanted  time  ness  to  be  treated  as  other forms  remark  that  if  they  did  not  off  while  in  drydock  it  was  okay  with  him.  of  disability.  hurry,  he  would  help  thom  with  This  offer  was  taken  up  by  a  kick  in  the  pants.  COMPENSATION  only  a  few  who  had  things  to  happy. The  man  does  not  lose  his  One  other  beef  was  made.  New  York  State,  like  Rhode  To  the  Editor:  do  ashore  before five  o'clock.  Island  and  California,  rates  al­ It  is  quite  natural  that  after  card  if  he  returns  to  the  Hall  This  one  by  the  Stewards  De­ The  rest  of  the  gang  wanted  to  coholism  <where  chronic  addic­ a  voyage  and  the  ship  hits  a  upon  completion­of  his  standby.  partment  against  Captain  "Red  work  and  use  up  the  red  lead  tion  is_  proved)  as  legitimate  guy's  home  port  for  a  man  to  All  that  is  necessary  to  get  a  Lead"  Andersen.  He  was  charg­ so  Andersen  would  be  happy.  cause  for  disability  benefits  im­ dfesire  perhaps  a  day  or  tv/o  standby  is  to  call  the  Dispatcher,  ed  with  discrimination,  using  vile  In  fact, it  was  the first  time any­ der  the  Workmen's  Compensa­ away  from  his  job,  either  to  be  have  the  money  for  the  period  language  and  calling  tiiem  out  one  had  seen  him  smile.  Yes  sir,  tion  Act.  with  his  family,  attend  to  per­ ready  to  pay  your  relief  at  the  by  name.  These  charge,s,  as  I  pretty  red  lead  all  over  the  sonal  business,  or  just  to  blow  prevailing  rate,  then  tak|§  off.  understand  it,  are  pending  and  ship.  I  would  like  to  propose  a  Brother,  to  do  your  business  or  are  to  be  taken  up  with  the  lis  top.  Union  committee  for  the  study  It  was  swell  to  see  all  hands  blow  your  top.  Then,  when  you  company  officials.  of  alcoholism  among  Seafarers,  I  have  noticed  on  many  ships,  hit  the  deck  each  morning  ready  return,  you're  ready  to  carry  on  Outside  of  the  above  every­ to  be  set  up  on  a  local  and  na­ that  instead  of  getting' a  stand­ for  work  and  doing  the  most  your  regular  duties  as  usual.  thing  was  as  good  a.s  could  be  tional  basis,  and  to  work  in  con­ by  from  the  Union  Halls  for  the  with  the  little  they  had.  There  John  Jellelle  expected  under  the  conditions  junction  with  such  civic  com­ desired  time  off,  the  man  simply  was  no  cabin  fever  while  on  this  existing  while  we  were  under­ mittees  as  Alcoholics  Anonymous  does  not  show  up  for  his  work,  trip.  As  the  oldtimers say,  a  long  going  repairs  in  the  Mitsubishi  and  the  National  Committee  for  thus  causing  a  hardship  on  his  trip  will  show  who  the  good  shipyard  in  Yokohama,'  Japan.  Education  on  Alcoholism.  This  shipmates,  especially  in  the  Ste­ We  were  on  articles from  August  sailors  are.  But  this  gang  was  wards  Department.  latter  group  is  today  campaign­ 18,  1950  to  March  1,  1951—about  all  there  and  everyone  a  swell  ing  on  a  city­wide  scale  in  New  However,  the  crew  is  working  guy  and  good  shipmate.  I  would  Orleans  to  raise  $15,000  to  carry  and  the  men  must  be  fed.  At  like  to  wish  them  good  luck,  on  its  program.  Labor  ­itself  times  there  are  no  messmen  or  fair  sailing  and  smooth  weather,  should  not  only  contribute finan­ cooks  on  duty  and  a  beef  re­ To  the  Editor:  wherever  they  may  be  at*this  cially  but  take  an  active  part  in  sults,  not  only  from  the  crew­ writing.  men  but  from  the  company,  as  Hey,  I'm  alKfor  it!  this  undertaking.  John  (Blackie)  Winn  well.  This  is  no  good  for  the  This  new  vacation  plan  that  FOUR  PROGRAMS  Union,  either.  Many  men,  upon  the  Union  has  under  considera­ Four  industrial  programs  start­ returning, find  their  jobs  gone  tion  sure  sounds  like  a  good  LOG  AVAILABLE  ed  prior  to  1950  (Allis­Chalmers,  anyway.  deal.  Here  is  one  guy  that  hops  To  the  Editor:  Consolidated  Edison,  DuPont  and  All  this could  be avoided.  Some  right  on  the  wagon  and  says,  The  crewmembers  of  the  SS  AT  DON'S  PALACE  Eastman  Kodak)  stimulated  nu­ member,  who  is  waiting  for  a  "Keep  up  the' good  work,  fellas."  Del  Mundo  are  enclosing  a  copy  IN SANTURCE, P.^.  merous  requests from  other  com­ ship,'  would  appreciate  earning  I've  been  on  the  SS  W.  E.  of  a  letter  of  recommendation  panies  during  1950.  money to  pay his room .and board  Downing for  the  past  4Vi  months,  that  we  have  written  voluntar­ To  the  Editor:  sailing  coastwise  and  looking  ily  for  the  Purser  of  this  vessel.  Copies  of  the  SEAFARERS  I  point  to  this  fact  above  be­ for  a  few  days.  cause  of  production  and  feel  that  I  am  very  happy  to  notice  forward  to  my  vacation  pay.  But  We  would  appreciate  it  a  lot  LOG  will  now  be  available  for  we  Union  members  should  meet  that  in  the  past  few  weeks  sev­ it's  sure  hell  to  be  married  to  if  you  would  publish  the  letter  SIU  men  in  Santurce,  P.R.,  at  responsibility  by  showing  un­ eral  Messmen,  Cooks  and  other  one  scow.  in  the  LOG,  as  we  would  like  Don's  Hamburger  Palace,  12011  derstanding  of  our  membei­s'  ratings  have  called  in  for  reliefs  But  if  I  got  off  this  one  I'd  all  the  Brothers  to  know  what  Ponce  de  Leon.  i  problems  to  produce  good  Union  for  two  to  three  days  thus  keep­ be  right  back  on  another.  a  swell  guy  William  Hebert  is.  A  former  seaman,  Don  is  i  men  and.relations  with  between  ing  our  contracts  secure,  their  Again  I  say,  "Our  negotiating  The  text  of  the  letter,  sent  to  native  of  Colorado­  who  has  own  jobs  secure  and  making  committee  is  doing  a  swell  job."  the  Port  Purser,  reads;  management  and  labor. _  brought  a  breath  of  Coney  Is­ Eddie  Chanle  C;  J.  some  members  on  the  beach  "It isn't  often  the employer  and  land  to  the  isle.  the  employee find  common  He  caters  to  SIU  members  and  ground  for  agreement.  This  does  claims  he'll  see  that  only  bona­ not  mean,  however,  that­the  em­ flde  seamen  get  the  LOG.  ployees  are  in  any.  way  hostile  Early  A*  Punch  toward  the  company;  it  does  mean  that  we  are  quick  to  note  and  to  inform  the  company  of  Asks  LOG  To Keep Son  injustices  .  ,  .  and  by  the  same  Informed Of  SIU Doings  token  we  should  be  quick  to  praise  the  company  for  fair  play  To  the  Editor:  and  cooperation.  The  entire  crew  of  this  vessel  wishes  to  convey  Will  you  please  send  the  LOG  their  thanks  and  appreciation  of  to  me,  so  I  can  forward  it  to  my  the  choice  of  ship's  clerk.  He  son.  Pvt.  Gregory  Higner.  has  been  tops  in  cooperation  He  held  Book  No.  100676  and  with  one  and  all  the  entire  trip.  sailed  with  the  SIU  for  several  Mr.  Hebert  has  combined  genial­ years  before  going  into  the  ity  with  cooperation  in  such  a  Army.  On  his  last  trip  home  he  way  that  it  has  been  a  pleasure  was  so  anxious  for  news  of  his  shipmates  and  the  SIU  that  I  to  sail  with  him  .  .  .  felt  it  would  be  a  big  help  if  "Crew  of  the  Del  Mundo"  I  could  send  the  LOG  to  him  We  would  like  to  also  mention  every  two  weeks.  that  the  Steward  of  the  Del  In  that  way  he  could  keep  in  Mundo  was  very  cooperative  touch  with  his  friends  and  the  HANS  SPEIGEL,  Butcher  JOHN  ROBINSON.  Carp.  FRANK  FINDLAY,  Deck  Maint.  with  the  crew.  His  name  is  Union.  Luigi  Martinelli,  Mrs.  Lilian  De  Rover  :  These  three  closeups  are  among  a  series  of  photos  of  crewmembers  aboard  the  Mississippi  New  Orleans. ­ La.  Jaihes  E.  Bell  '. cruise  ship  and  submitted  by  Ship's  Delegate  L. B.  Erowiu  To  the  Editor:  Rules For Getting Reliefs Simple And Wise To Follow SIU Vacation Pay  Plan Hailed  As 'Good Idea'  Purser, Steward  Rate Aces With  Del Mundo Crew  Camera  Studies  Of  Del  Sud  Seafarers  �Page Twelir*  T0£  SEAFARERS  LOG  rrldayv  Xpra  20,  1951  tankermeii  And  In ScramUe For Latest LOG  To  Ihe  Edilor:  .  The  rest  of  the  crew  and  I  I  jhave  just  received  that  precious  sent  lo  all  SlU­conlracled  ships  are  not  intended  to  su­ persede  the  regular  quantity  distribution  of  the  paper  throughout  the  world.  The  LOG  still  goes  to  bars,  grills  and  clubs  in  ports  the  world  over  where  crewmen  can  read  the  entire  paper  leisurely.  The  purpose  of  the  airmail  copy  is  to  bring  to  every  SIU  ship,  regardless  of  its  location,  the  up­to­the­nunute  activities  of  the  Union,  so  that  crews  will  know  whait  is  going  on.  with­ out  having  to  wait  until  they  pick  up  a  copy  sent  via  regu­ lar  mail,  and  which  naturally  would  reach  its  destination  at  a  later  date. As  it  is,  the  pres­ ent  air­mail  procedure  is  ax­ pensive,  although  well  worth  the  cost.  However,  to  send  more  than  one  copy  would  in­ volve  an  expenditure  that  would  be  prohibitive.)  XOG.  The  reason  I  say  this  is  • because  we  only  received  one  copy.  Then  we  all  have  to  go  Ihrough  that  scramble  to find  out  who's  going  to read  the LOG  first.  ;  Our  LOG  is  our  only  means  |r  ^  of  contact  with  the  Union's  ac­ tivity,  which  is  progressing  on  the  beach  month  after  month.  I  1^^  hope  the  members  of  the  SEA­ FARERS  LOG  will­take  this  in­ to  consideration  and  try  to  send  intiore  LOGs  to  our  Brothers  who  stop  in  these  far  oif  Eastern  places,  such  as  we  are  in  at  present.  M.  E. 'Watscn,  Electrician,  submiffBd  these  photos  taken  LIKED  'TOOD"  aboard  the  Carras  tanker,  SS  MichaeL  In  photo  above  (left  We  received  the  latest  LOG  to  right)  are:  Tom  Murphy,  Sam  Bussell,  Ship's  Delegate  Joe  Tony Ruggerio sports  a brand,  iand  the  article  "Food  For  Air,  Tony  Ruggerio,  William  Malacawicz, Sing  Foo,  Joe Cunha,  new  pair  of  dungarees  held  up:  Thought,"  which  we  all  read  H.  Pressley,  Ed  Brezina,  P. J.  Wilkie  and  William  Oppendorf.  by  suspenders  improvised  from  and  thought  was  quite  good  in  a  piece  of  line.  Corn  cob  and<  the  line  of  Union  education.  I  hat  complete  the  rig  recom­'  personally  hope  that  there,  are  mended  for  well­dressed  sea­'  more  articles  written  on  Union  men sailing  below  the  Equator.'  education  for  our  benefit.  We  just  left  Karachi,  Pakistan,  yesterday  morning  and  we  are  To  the  Editor:  that  falls  in  March  and  Red  is  A  gent  wearing  a  red  sweater  LOWE'S  FOOD  TOPS,  how  arriving  in  Bombay.  The  Santa  Clause."  wants  to  know  who  we  are  and  SAYS CREW OF  trip  is  well  under  way  and  the  After  arriving  in  Philadelphia  After  we  had  a  few  more.  Red  when  we  tell  him, says,  "I'm  the  entire  crew  seems  to  be  satisfied  on  the  good  ship­Council  Grove,  says,  "Stick  aroimd  Jack,  I  want  Captain.  I'll  have  the  Mate fix  SALEM  MARITI  TE  with  the  Far  East  run.  I  only  we  make  up  our  minds  to  get  Sid  to  go  with  me  and  get  a  you  a  letter."  To  the  Editor:  hope  we  can  keep  up  the  spirit  off.  The  Patrolman  sees  that  we  pair  of~  shoes  and  a  hat.  Wait,  We  breeze,  along  to  the  Mate's  We,  the  crew  of  the  SS  Saleni  throughout  the  rest  of  the  voy­ are  paid  off  okay.  Says  he,  we'll  be right  back."  room  and  he  looks  like  a  good  Maritime,  who  have  sailed  witli  age.  "Where  are you two  dopes  bound  I  stick  around  and  soon  in  Joe.  I  put  the  bum  on  him  to  As  I  close  now  to  continue  for?"  Sid  says,  "Drive  us  to  moseys  Pete  Lawson  and  Blackie  stake  m%to  a  half—but  blow  me  Chief  Cook  Bill  Lowe,  would  like  to  record  our  vote  of  thanks  reading  the  LOG,  I'd  like  to  Penn  Station."  Otvos.  They  say  "drink  up,  down,  he  comes  across  with  a  to  this  man, for  the  splendid  job  thank our  Union  officials  and  the  where*re  your  clothes?"  I  say  buck.  he  has  done  as  Chief  Cook  whil^  SEAFARERS  LOG  staff  for  the  Arriving  at  the  station,  Sid  proudly,  "At.the  doghouse."  fine  work  they  have  been  doing  flips  a  coin. Heads  we  go  to  Bal­ "Let's  go  get  them,"  says  On  the  way  ashore  we  meet  on  board  this  vessel.  in  keeping  our  Union  ­ at  the  timore,  tails  we  go  to  New  York.  Blackie. "You  don't want  to sleep  up  with  Eric  Sommer,  the  Bo­ From  the  day  he  arrived  until  highest  level,  which  has  been  Well,  I  don't  know,  but  Day  there."  I  say,  "What  in  hell  is  sun.  He  says,  "Hi  dopes,  go  the  day  he  signed  off,  we  crew­ flips  the  coin  a  fancy  way  and  ahead  and  sign  jon."  So  we  did.  maintained  year  after  year.  this  anyway."  Everybody  is  so  After  all  our  trials  we find  we  members  can  truthfully  say  that  later  I find  out  the  coin  has  two  By  the  way,  I  won  the  scram­ we  have  been  more  than  satis­ tails.  So  I  can't  win,  anyways.  nice  to  us  all  of  a  sudden.  We  do  have  a  good  ship  and  a fine  fied.  We  found  him  to  be  an  ble  to  read  the  LOG.  get  our  gear  and  start  walking  crowd,  from  the  Old  Man  down.  Would  you  please  send  the  Arriving  in  New  York,  we  —to  51  Beaver  Street.  excellent  Cook,  a  diligent  and  LOG  to  the  enclosed  address.  register  at  the  Hall  and  then  Up  on  the  third  deck,  Paddy  Everybody  is  happy,  even  us  conscientious  worker  and  a  good  My  wife  and  I  would  deeply  ap­ proceed  to  the  "Historic,"  which  McCann  says,  "Why  don't  you  dopes.  Tommy  Moller,  the  Stew­ shipmate.  is,  as  everyone  knows,  a  well­ ard,  is  feeding  us  like  we  were  We  do  hope  that  all  the  other  preciate  it.  known  hangout  for  intelligent  boys  take  a  bath  and  go  lo  bed.  at  the  Hotel  Astor. She'll  be  the  ships  in" the fleet  will be  as luckjr  George  Zidik  It's  nine  o'clock  and  you  might  flagship  of  the fleet—until  the  SS  Steel  Advocate  dopes  like  us.  as  well  go  to  sleep.  I'll  give  you  owner  buys  another,  anyway!  as  we  were  to  have  enjoyed  his  (Ed.  Note:  The  air  mail  We  are  having  a  good  time  a  nice  soft  pillow  and  blankets  food  and  company.  copies  of  the  LOG  which  are  with  our  few  bucks,  when  in  and  a  nice  early  call  in  the  Signed  by  crewmembers  J.  Denley  steps  "Red"  Faircloth.  He  says,  morning  to  join  the  ship."  bf  the  Salem  Maritime  C.  E.  Sansom  "Hello,  you  dopes,  where  are  He  wakes  us  up  at  5  AM,  so  you  staying?"  nice  and  cheerful,  with  two  We  whisper,  "The  doghouse."  crisp  white  shipping  cards  all  He  is  so  nice  and  says,  "I'll  get  ready  for  us.  So  thoughtful  of  you  both  a  room  and  get  you  him.  After  riding  the  subway  enough  to  eat  on  for  a  week."  this  way  and  that  and  taking  in  To  the  Editor:  I  go  to  the  head  to  look  in  a  the  delightful  Brooklyn  scenery,  deal.  One  Brother  has  made  a  mirror  and  see  if  it  can  be  me  we finally  locate  the  ship  and  To  the  Editor:  Received  the  February  23  is­ special  paper  holder  to  keep  the  isue  of  the  SEAFARERS  LOG  he  really means and  think, "Well,  start  looking  around  for  anyone  On  behalf  of  the  entire  crew  LOGs  in  good  condition,  as  you  of  the  SS  Montebello  Hills  and  will  note  in  some  pictures  we  and  the  entire  crew  of  the  SS  maybe  it's  another  Christmas  looking  like  a  Bosun.  myself  I  wish  to  thank  you  ever  hope  to  send  to  the  LOG  soon,  De  Pauw  Victory  salutes  the  so  much  for  the  bundle  contain­ We  expect  to  be  shuttling  oil  td  SIU  trustees  of  the  Seafarers  ing  all  the  LOGs  for  the  year  Europe  for  some  time  to  come."  .Welfare  Plan.  1950  which  was  received  here  ;  It's a  real  tribute  to the  tradi­ E.  L.  Baker  .  in  Port  Said.  tions  of  the  SIU  and  the  invest­ The  Brothers  aboard  have  lik­ ment  in  interest­bearing  govern­ (Ed.  Note:  The  bundle  you  ed  ancf  enjoyed  the  book  so  request  is  being  sent  fo  the ,  ment  bonds  is  another  step  for­ much  that  they  have  asked  me  Port  Said  agent.  Happy  read­ ward.  It  also  proves  that  the  in­ to find  out  from  you  if  similar  iag.)  terests  of  the  entire  member­ books  f6r  the  years  of  1948  and  ship  is  being  safeguarded  by  the  1949  are  available  also.  If  so,  untiring  efforts  of  all  our  elected  what  would  be  the  cost  to  have  Ex­Seaman,  Now  Jesuitr,  officials,  who  are  always "striv­ them  sent  to  this  ship?  ing  to  lead  the field  in  the  mari­ Likes  Quality  of  LOG  time  industry.  If .  you  will  send  ihe  the  de­ sired  information,  I  will  try  to  To  the  Editor:  TOP  SEAMANSHIP  make  hrrahS®™®"ts  for  the  I  wish  to  commend  you  upon  We  are  docked  here  in  Naha,  money ­fo  be  sent  to  you  for  the  quality  of  your  publication,  Okinawa,  "and  there  are  several  these  booksSif  they  are  avail­ one  of  the  January  issues  having  ships  here—NMU,  SUP—­and  not  able,  OP,  to'  save  time  and  reached  me  here  from  the  Gulf.  trying to  blow  any smoke  up  our  trouble,  ituch  is  possible,  you  As  a  former  merchant  seaman  stacks,  we  are  tops  when  it  might  s^id fhe  bodks and  charge  myself,  I  ask  that  you  place  me  comes  to  searnanship.  This  was  the  pried to  Jne,  the  Ship's  Dele­ on  your  mailing  list. Tf  there  is  proven  when  the  Deck  Gang  on  gate.  ^  •  a  subscription  rate, let  me  know.  the  De  Pauw  Vic  rigged  up  the  I  will  the  cost  When  we  Also,  if  at  any  time  there  ^  lumbo an  hour  to  4  hours  quick­ hit  the  I  suggest  this  be­ anything  I  may  be  able  to  do  er  than  the  others.  cause  I uhderstand  it  is  hard  tc  in  the  line  of  assistance,  just  let  Will  write  more  after  we  ar­ send  money  to  the  States  from  me  know.  rive  in  Yokohama.  The  only  otrer  here.  With  a  glass  of  cool  suds  to  help  wash  it  down.  Seafarer,  phange  I  see  here  is  that  the  (Father)  W.  J. Farrell.  "Uncle"  Otto  Preussler  digs  into  one  of  New  Orleahs'  famed  We  dre  receiving  the  LOG  "mustache"  is  bigger.  Woodstock  College  poor  boy  sandwiches.  Insignia  on  Otto's  jacket  is  the  SIU  regularly,  as  it  is  mailed  out  Vic  Miorana  wheel,  synfibol  of  the  Brotherhood  of  the  See^  to  us  and  we  enjoy  it  s  gPeat  WoodsSbck.  Md.  s  "  For  A  Couple  Of  Self­Confessed  'Dopes'  These  Guys Appear To Be Getting  On Okay  De Pauw Men See  Welfare Bond Buy  As A Safeguard  With Crew On Shuttle Run  If'  I  i �Friday.  ApzU  ib.  1951  THE  SEAFARERS  LOG  .I4''  Page  Thirleen  Digested  Minutes  Of  SiU  Ship  Meetings  and  the  eggs  and  bacon  greasy.  at  the first  possible  opportunity.  Steward  reported  he^  had  called  Stewards  Delegate  reported  a  a meeting  of  his  department  and  beef  about  3rd  Cook  not  taking  he  felt  there  would  be  an  im­ orders  from  Chief  Cook.  Motion  Every  Seafarer  aboard ship  is right  where  the news  provement.  carried  to  accept  the  Stewardsi  is  breaking.  What  goes  on  aboard  SlU­contracted  ships  Department  Guide.  Motion  car­ XXX  ried  to  give  the  3rd  Cook  B;  BARBARA  FRIETCHIE  (Li­ and the  activities of  their, crewmembers can  make inter­ second  chance  to  make  good.  berty  Navigation),  April  I  —  esting  reading.  Chairman,  Eric  Sommer;  Secre  XXX  All  you  have  to  do  to  translate  these  activities  into  tary,  Clarence  Semsom.  Agreed  DEL  VALLE  (Mississippi),,  stories or  reports to  be read  by the  rest  of  ^he  member­ to  secure  a  library  in  Los  An­ March  4—Chairman;  Frank  Ken­ ship  is  to  jot  down  the  facts  and  forward  them  to  the  geles.  Crew  to  chip  in  $5  apiece  drick;  Secretary,  Lew  Meyers.  SEAFARERS  LOG.  If  you  can  turn  out  a  good  yarn,  to  pay  for  washing  machine.  A.  Gonzalez  elected  Ship's  Dele­<  that's fine.  But  if  you think  you can't,  then all  you need  Steward  promised  to  rectify  gate.  Baker  told  not  to  stores  shortage  of  proper  sized  pillows.  bread  in  storage  boxes  but  to,  do  is write  down  the  details  and  we'll  take  care  of  the  Bosun  reported  he  was  happy  bake  bread  daily.  New  brand  ot  rest.  the  way  the ship  was  shaping  up  shore  bread  ordered.  Ship's  Del­ Pictures  heighten  the  interest  of  a  story,  so  if  you  for  its first  trip  since  being  egate  to  ask  Captain's  permission:  have  snapshots  taken  on  your  voyage,  send  them  along  taken  from  the  boneyard  and  to  build  additional  bookshelf  in  the  recreation  room.  being  crewed  with  SIU  men.  too.  '  XXX  'XXX  Let's  make  every  Seafarer  a  reporter.  Submit  your  FAIRISLE  (Waterman),  MarcR  WINTER  HILL  (Cities  Serv­ stuff  to  the  SEAFARERS  LOG,  51  Beaver  Street,  New  ice),  March  18—Chairman,  Or­ 11—Chairman,  P.  Naujalis;  Sec­ Yoric  4,  N.  Y.  ville  Mayhew;  Secretary,  Mich­ reteury,  James  Clinton.  Delegates    nd  XXX.  ael  Michalik.  Delegates  reported  reported  number  of  books • a SEATRAIN  NEW  JERSEY  permits  in  their  departments­ number  of  books  and  permits  (Seatrain),  March  25—Chairman,  Delegate  read  the  article  from  plies and  the  Delegates are  to co­ aboard.  Treasurer  reported  he  Discussion  on  repairing  of  galley  operate  with  him  to  get  the  ma­ "Food  for  Thought"  that  was  Bill  Frederick;  Secretary,  Wiley  had  purchased  a  steam  and  el­ stove  by  Electrician  if  parts  are  Carter.  Delegates  reported  num­ sent  to  the  ship  with  the  LOG.  terials.  Recommendations  made  ectric  iron  and  a  typewriter  for  available.  for  Negotiating  Committee:  Sail­ XXX  ber  of  books  and permits  in their  XXX  ing  board  time  be  posted  before  crew  use.  Motion  carried  to  do­ IBERVILLE  (Waterman),  depar t m e n t s.  Communication  CANTIGNY  (Cities  Service),  nate  $50  to  March  of  Dimes.  5  PM and  that a  change  be made  from  Headquarters  from  "Food  March­  22  —  Chairman,  W.  J.  March  18—Chairman.  C. Kenneyr  in  the  rest  period  clause.  Also  XXX  for  Thought" read  and  discussed.  Smith;  Secretary,  V.  Capitano.  Secretary,  S.  DiMagglo.  Dele­,  request  made  that  innerspring  SEATRAIN  TEXAS  (Seatrain),  Discussion held  on shipboard  har­ Delegates'  reports  accepted.  Let­ gates  reported  a  few  beefs.  Mo­ ter  from  Union  read  and  posted  mattresses  be  required  in  the  March  18  —  Chairman,  Blackie  mony.  tion  carried  to  draft  a  petition  in  the  bulletin  board.  Clarifica­ contract.  Communication  on  Russel;  Secretary,  Gene  Auer.  concerning  the  milk  situation.  X  t,  t,  tion  asked  on  4­8  deck  watch  "Membership  and  Policy"  read  Delegates  reported  number  of  Steward  Department  Delegate  CHIWAWA  (Cities  Service),  and  discussed.  books  in  their  departments.  Dis­ sanitary  work.  April  1—Chairman,  George Stam­ cussion  on  losing  pay  on  months  gave  a  brief  talk  on  the unsani­ XXX  bilis;  Secretary,  James  Corcoran.  tary  condition  of  the dishwasher.  that  don't  have  30  days.  Gener­ OREMAR  (Ore  Line),  March  Ship's  Delegate  reported  that  re­ Imitation  pepper  to  be  replaced  al  discussion  on  keeping  mess­ pairs  promised  last  trip  were  25  —  Chairman,  C.  Kellog;  Sec­ by  real  pepper.  Suggestion  made  room  clean  in  the  evenings.  not  made.  Delegates  reported  retary,  P.  Allgrien.  Deck  Dele­ to  have  bread  put  aboard  at  XXX  number  of  books  and  permits  in  gate  reported  one  hour  of  dis­ LLOYD  S.  CARLSON  (Bloom­ both  ends  of  trip.  puted  overtime;  other  depart­ their departments.  Motion carried  XXX  iield),  April  1  —  Chairman,  J.  to  hold  educational  meetings  to  ments  okay.  Motion  carried  to  SAN  ANGELO  VICTORY  Preeswood;  Secretary,  C.  Brown.  enlighten  everyone  as  to  the  Un­ concur  with  Headquarters  com­ (Seatrade),  March  16—Chairman.  Ship's  Delegate  elected.  Motion  ion's  program  and  past  record.  munications.  Motion  carried  to  carried  to  check  slopchest  to  as­ E.  Malone;  Secretary,  J.  Good­ turn  ship's  fund  over  to  polio  Members  urged  to  read  all  Un­ sure  an  adequate  supply for  voy­ win.  Delegates  reported  number­ ion  literature  and  be  ready  to  drive.  age.  Motion  carried  to  donate  of  books  and  permits  in  their  XXX  accept  any  shipboard  duty  rep­ $5  toward  purchase  of  washing  departments.  Discussion  on  Wi­ SAND  MATE  (Const.  Aggre­ resenting  the  Union.  pers  spot  soogeeing  passageway­ machine.  gates),  April  4 — Chairman,  Ed  by  their quarters  during  sanitary  XXX  XXX  BRADFORD  ISLAND  (Cities  Bender;  Secretary.  John  Cole.  LONE  JACK  (Cities  Service),  work  hours.  Service),  April  I—Chairman,  R.  Delegates  reported  all  in  order.  XXX  April  3—Chairman,  Nils  Beck;  »  »  »  Leo;  Secretary,  H.  Kehlenheck.  Ship's  Delegate  reported  that  ALCOA  PILGRIM  (Alcoa),  Secretary,  Bernard  Kimberly.  Ship's  Delegate  said  transporta­ maintenance  of  the  television set  TAINARON  (Actium),  March  March  18—Chairman,  J.  Thomp­ Delegates  reported  the  number  tion  money  . to  join  the  ship  is  up  to  the  crew,  the  company  4—Chairman,  Charles  Frits,  Sec­ of  books  and  permits  in  their  son;  Secretary,  L.  Mitchell.  Del­ letar^ L.  Benson.  Delegates  re­ claims.  Motion  caraied  to  not  would  be  paid.  Communication  departments.  Vote  of  apprecia­ egates  reported  no  disputes,  aU  from  headquarters  on  "Member­ allow  any  strangers  aboard  un­ ported  number  of  books  and  tion  to  Negotiating  Committee  books  in  order.  Discussion on  in­ ship  and  Policy"  read  and  dis­ less  they  are  guests  of  the  crew.  permits  in  their  departments.  and  notification  that  crew  is  100  cident  which resulted  in  the  hos­ cussed.  Patrolman  to  be  seen  Article  on  "Membership  and  Motion  carried  that  all  garbage  percent  for  vacation  plan.  Ship's  pitalization  of  the  Steward.  about straightening  out  beefs  on  Policy"  read  to  the  crew  and  be  dumped  back  aft.  Crew  re­ Delegate  reported  on  safety  milk,  bread  and fresh  vegetables.  then  posted  on  the  bulletin  quested  to  be  quiet  in  evenings.  meeting.  Suggested  that  the  of­ board.  XXX  STEEL  DIRECTOR  (Isthmian),  ficers  uncover  when  they  enter  XXX  DESOTO  (Waterman),  March  Feb.  id—Chairman, M.  Anderson;  crew's  messrpom  during  the meal  15  —  Chairman.  Ikekela;  Secre­ Secretary,  W.  Stark.  Delegates  hours.  tary,  Philip  Reyes.  Delegates  re­ reported  all  okay.  Steward  read  STEEL  APPRENTICE  (Isth­ ported  all  in  order.  Discussion  and  commented  on  Frenchy  Mi­ XXX  mian),  March  10—Chairman,  H.  SALEM  MARITIME  (Cities  on  the  advisability  of  buying  a  chelets  article  on  the  Stewards  XXX  Ekins;  Secretary,  R.  Mhchell.  FAIRLAND  (Waterman).  Department.  2nd  Cook  asked  Service),  March  31  —  Chairman,  washing  machine  when  the  ship  Samuel  Stephens;  Secretary,  H.  is  never  out  of  port  longer  than  why  his  work  was  not  better  as  Ship's  Delegate  reported  that  March  11  —^  Chairman,  Garrett  Zwen.  Delegates  reported  num­ three  days.  Lengthy  discussion  all  desserts  were  of  poor  quality  crew  quarters  will  be  painted  Wile;  Se«etary,  Demiel  Jones.  Delegates  reported  number  of  ber  of  books and  permits  in their  held  on  the  article  fi­om  "Food  for  Thought"  on  beefs  and  grip­ books  and  permits  aboard.  Ship's  departments.  Motion  carried  to  ers.  Several  members  spoke  on  Delegate  and  Chief  Cook  check­ hold  educational  meetings  on  their  experience  with  characters  ed  stores  in  Baltimore;  shortages  ship  after  regular  meeting.  Mo­ The  SEAFARERS  LOG  as  the  official  publication  of  the  Sea­ to  be  reported  to  the  Baltimore  tion  carried  to  take  $15  from  of  this  sort.  farers  International  Union  is  available  to  all  members  who  wish  Hall.  Motion  carried  for  the  ship's  fund  for  games.  Litera­ XXX  to  have  it  sent  to  their  home  free  of  charge  for  the  enjoyment  of  ture  from  Headqdarters  read  to  DEL  NORTE  (Mississippi),  their  families  and  themselves  when  ashore.  If  you  desire  to  have  Steward  to  put  in  a  requisition  March  22—^Chairman, Alfred Nas­ the  LOG  sent  to you  each week  address cards  are  on  hand at  every  for  a  greater  variety  of  fruit.  J crew  by  Shipls  Delegate.  sar; Secretary,  W.  Dillman. Crew­ SIU  branch  for  this  purpose.  Talk  by  Ship's  Delegate  on  con­ XXX  CHOCTAW  (Waterman), March  member  Wolfe  spoke  of  the  con­ *  However,  for  those  who are  at sea or  at  a  distance  from  a  SIU  dition's  and  benefits  of  Union  11—Chairman,  H.  Stivers;  Sec­ ditions  aboard  ship  when  he  be­ hall,  the  LOG  reproduces below  the  form used  to request  the  LOG,  ships  as  compared  to  non­union  retary,  William  Jenkins.  Engine  gan  going  to  sea  and  how  great  which  you  can  fyi  out,  detach  and  send  to:  SEAFARERS  LOG,  51  ship.  Message  from  Headquar­ ters  on  time  ashore  and  unload­ Delegate  reported  quite  a bit  of  was  his  surprise  and  delight  Beaver  Street,  New  York  4,  N.  Y.  ing  cargo  accepted.  disputed  overtime;  other  depart­ when  he  began  sailing  on  SIU  ments  working  well.  Crew  ask­ ships.  Brother  Cave  discussed  4.  4.  t  PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION SOUTHERN  DISTRICTS  ed  not  td  take  Union  educational  how  to  conduct  a  meeting,  and  (Southern  Trade),  Feb.  13  —  bulletins  from"  bulletin  board  as  urged  that  the men read  the edu­ To the  Editor:  they  were  put  there  for  the  cational  material  aboard.  Motion  I would  like  the SEAFARERS LOG  mailed  to  the  Chairman.  Roy  Swindell;  Secre­ carrierf*  to  hold  a  vocational  address, below:  tary,  Grant  Tarbell.  Delegates  benefit  of  the  entire  crew.  meeting  on  the  northbound  trip.  elected  in  all  departments.  Sec­ 4,  Name  retary  read  the  contract  that  is.  CUBORE  (Ore  Line),  March  XXX  HURRICANE  (Waterman).  J^­ to  be  in  force  aboard  ship.  Each  25  —  Chairman,  W.  Fields;  Sec­ Street  Address  dl  1—Chairman,  H.  Acosta;  Sec­^  department  to  hold  a  separate  retaryi  W.  House.  Delegates  re­ Zone  State  meeting  for  discussion  of  the  ported  no  beefs.  Deck  Depart­ retary,  P.  Whitlow.  Donations for  City  contract  and. return  to  the  next  liient  delegated  to  keep  laundry  library  and  crew  washing  ma­ Signed  ship  meeting  with  any  questions  clean  during  trip.  Members  were  chine  to  b^l^on  at  the  payoff.  .1^': they  may  have.  • '    V'  asked  to  read  and  okay  rules  Steward . instructed  to  make  a  Book  Na  1  adopted at  earlier meeting.  Ship's  requisition  for  additicaaal  sup:.  (Continued  im  Esjp  14X  'it  (Continued from  Page  9)  gates.  Discussion  on  who  is  scheduled  to  get  Union  books  for  Organizational  work  in  the  com­ pany.  Chairman  discussed  im­ portant  phases  of  agreement  and  overtime.  it  i  REPUBLIC  (Trafalgar),  March  *28—Chairman,  A1  Myrex;  Sec­ retary,  L. Sarrokie.  Delegate read  article  on  "Membership  and  Po­ licy"  that  came  to  ship  with  the  LOG.  Delegates  reported  no  beefs.  Engine  Delegate  raised  matter  of  blowing  to  1st  Assist­ ant  Engineer  as  it  is  hard  on  the  Wipers'  hands.  Eyery  Man  A Reporter  Notice  To  AH  SIU  Members  �Page  Fourleen  THE  SEAFARERS  LOG  Fridays AprU  20,  195}  Getting Fired In Old Days  Was  Sometimes  A  Fayor  Wiili  Iho nation  tightening  its defense  preparations*  the role  of  the merchant  marine  is daily  becoming more  vitaL  For  this  reason  it 'is  imperative  that  every  Sea­ By  LOUIS  GOFFIN  women  and'small  children  were  This  didn't  last  too. long,  as  on  one  side,  and  the  men  and  I  had  conveniently  taken  them  farer staxid  ready  to ship  in  the  rating  for  whi^h  he  is  In  previous  issues  of  the  LOG,  growing  Boys  were  on  another.  from  the fruil storeroom  without  qualified and  in which  he can  be of  the greatest  service.  I related  certain experiences  that  In  other  words,  there  were  permission, and  also without  pay­ In  this  connection.  Headquarters  continues  to  i>oint  befell  me  on  my first  trip  to  about  two­  or  three­hundred  ing  for  them,  and  it  didn't  take  eea,  aboard  the  SS  Philadelphia,  people  in  one  set  of  quarters,  long  for  one  of  the  Stewards  to  out  that  many  men  qualified  by  experience  and  skiU  a  coal  burning  passenger  ship  most  of  them  three  bunks  high.  spot  me.  I  was  brought  before  .have  not  applied  for  endorsements  for  high  ratings.  operating  between  New  York  The  ventilation ­was  very  poor,  the  Captain,  and  my  explanation  ­Men  who do  not seek  higher ratings  for  which  they  and  Southampton,  England,  plus  and  the  sanitary  conditions  were  that I only did  this to  relieve the  are  qualified  are,  in  effect,  causing  a  waste  of  heeded  a  stop  at  Cherbourg,  France.  equally  poor.  As ' a  matter  of  suffering  of  these  poor  people  skUl.  •   In  these  episodes  I  touched  fact,  it  was  nothing  unusual  to  fell  on  deaf  ears.  upon  my  duties  aboard,  and  cer­ see  women  iii  the  crew's  bath­ The  Maritime  Administrator  is  seeking  draft­defer^  I  was  told  in  no  uncertain  tain  incidents  that  took  place  rooms,  due  to  their  inability  to  terms  that  my  services  were  no  ment  for  rated  men  only.  Consequently,  men,  who  are  in  the Engine  Department  of  this  read  English.  longer  useful,  and  to  pack  and  chip.  Now  I  would  like  to  tell  The  food  that  was  served  was  get  off  when  we  arrived  back  in  drafted  because  they  have  not  obtained  the  ratings  for  the  story  of  my  second — and  on  a  catch­as­catch­can  basis,  New  York.  And  so  ended  my  which  they  are  qualified,  will  not  be  serving  in  Jobs  in  final—trip  on  this  scow.  meaning  that  only  those  with  two  trips  aboard  the  old  SS  which  they can  be  of  greatest  service  to  our  nation.  •   My  second  voyage  started  off  long  arms  were  sure  of  eatiifg.  Philadelphia  in  the  beautiful  If  you  have  the  cfualifications,  apply  for  upgrading.  much  better  than  my first,  as  I  The  food  was  served  from  trays  year  of  1920.  »  Do it  today]  vras  fortunate  in  being  given  a  and  was  on  the  order  of  the  Old  new  job,  which  consisted  of  Country.  What  with  the  smell  handling  fruit  from  the  store­ of  herring  and  other  assorted  rooms,  and  shining  passengers'  grub floating  through  the  com­ shoes  in  the  early  hours  of  the  panionways, and  the odors  of  the  morning.  lis;  Secretary,  H.  Murranka  quarters  building.  Voted  to­com­ .  {^Continued  From  Page  13)  quarters,  we  had  quite  a  smell  I still resided  in the same  dirty  evaporating  throughout  the  EVELYN  (Bull).  March  11  —  Delegates  reported  no  beefs. One  ply  with  Headquarters  request  glory hole.  But  even  this I didn't  whole  afterdeck.  Chairman,  Martin;  Secretary;  man  from  each  department  dele­ on  ratings  aboard  ship.  mind  as  much  as. I  did  when  I  As  bad  as  these  conditions  Bishop.  Delegates  reported  no  gated  to  keeping  laundry  arid  first  joined  this  sliip,  since  the  were,  the  people  managed  to  beefs.  Repair  list  to  be  turned  spare  messroom  clean.  Stewai'd    TONEWALL  JACKSON  (W^  new  job  gave  me  a  little  more  get  along,  and  they  were  sure  in  before  ship  hits  port.  Motion  asked  to  feed  at  4:30  when  in  • S terman).  Dec.  31'  —  Ch^rniam  freedom,  and  more  time  to  my­ a  happy  group  when  we  arrived  carried  to  go  on  record  in  favor  port.  Steward  to  get  a  larger  Jerry  Palmer;  Secretary,  Earl  self.  Of  course,  the  handling  of  in  New  York.  of  time  ashore  and  xmloading  percolator.  Lawes. Discussion on  purchase of  the fruit  was  a  break,  as  it  was  The  main  incident  that  hap­ cargo  policy  adopted  by  Union.  t  4.  4.  a  new  washing  machine.  Dele­ through  the  fruit  that  I lost  my  pened  to  these  people,  and  even  AMBER  STAR  (Triton).  March  gates  reported  no  beefs.  Motion  4,  t  i  job  when  we  arrived  back  in  some first­class  passengers,  was  ROBIN  LOCKSLEY  (Robin).  11—Chairman.  Di  Dood;  Secre­ carried  to  have  Ship's  Delegate  New  York.  a  heavy  storm  that  we  ran  into  March  24—Chairman,  Steve  Ber­ tary.  H.  Iliff.  Chairman  spoke  on  check  repair  list  with  1st  As­ about  three days from  the States,  eria;  Secretary.  Vernon  Porter.  the  Union  educational  program  sistant.  OLD  SALT  DAMPENED  When  we  pulled  out  of  New  When  this  blow  started  all  the  Delegates  reported  no  beefs. Dis­ and  discussed  the  rules  of  safety  York,  things  were  much  differ­ quarters  were  battened  down,  cussion  on  time  ashore,  unload­ aboard  tankers.  Delegates  re­ AZALEA  CITY  (Waterman),  ent  from  my  first  trip.  Now  I  and  the  passengers  were  instruc­ ing  cargo,  suggestions. for  new  ported  number  of  books apd  per­ Feb.  22  —  Chairman,  George'  imagined  myself  to  be  an  old  ted  not  to  go  out  on  deck.  The  building  and  upgrading.  Crew  mits  in  their  departments.  Dis­ Leidemann;  Secretary,  Frank  isalt.  I  felt  like  a  real  oldtimer,  first  few  hours  were  not  so  bad,  reported  as  being  satisfied  with  cussion  on supplies that are  short.  Puthe.  Ship's  Delegate  spoke  on  4,  t  t  as  I  strolled  around  the  deck.  but  as  the  storm  increased,  and  work  of  the  Stewards  Depart­ the fine  conduct  of  the  rcew  However,  I  was  fooling  no  one  as  the  ship  started  to  pitch  and  ment.  FRENCH  CREEK  (Cities  Ser­ during  trip.  Suggestion  made  to  but  myself  because,  on  the  third  roll,  the  passengers  in  the  after­ \  vice).  March  24—Chairman.  Jo­ not  throw  lighted  cigarettes  out.  4>  4.  day  out,  we  ran  into  a. blow,  quarters  began  to feel  the effects.  SHINNECOCK  BAY  (Veritas  seph  Collins;  Secretary,  H.  Re­ of  the  portholes.  and  this  oldtimer  never  felt  Soon  they  started  to  get  sick,  Steamship),  April  1—Chairman,  suce.  Delegates  elected.  Dele­ ^  4>  4^  sicker  in  all  his  life.  Boy,  was 1 and  what  with  the  congestion  A.  Bell;  Secretary,  E.  Eriksen.  gates  reported  all  okay  in  their  BEATRICE  (Bull),  Feb.  25—  seasick!  As  usual,  I  swore  that  in  the  cramped  spaces  that  they  Delegates  reported  their  depart  departments.  Voluntary  contri­ Chairman,  Charles  Scofieid;  Sec­ when  this .trip  was  over,  I was  were  confined  in,  it  really  be­ ments  in  order. Suggestion  made  butions  to  ship's  fund  to  be  retary,  F,  Young.  Delegates  re­ going  to  head  home  and  get  came  a  scene  that  is  hard  to  that  white  card  men  read  the  taken  at  payoff.  Crew  agreed  to  ported  all  in  order.  Ship's  Dele­ myself  a  job,  and  forget  the sea.  describe. There were  these people  booklets,  shipping  rules  and  all  buy a  new iron.  gate  to find  out  at  Headquarters  Of  course,  this  never  happened,  vomiting,  moaning,  and  groan­ available  union literature  aboard.  ­  its.  if  milk  can  be  put  aboard  in  but  that's  the  way  I felt  at  the  ing,  slipping  over  the  scum  on  Stewards  Department  given  a  ANTINOUS  (Waterman).  Feb.  Puerto  Rico.  Bosun  to  stop  bor­ the  decks,  and  falling  on  one  vote  of  thanks  for  thefr  work  in  18—Chairman,  C.  Turner;  Secre­ time.  another  with  the  rolling  of  the  getting  the  ship  into  shape.  tary,  C. Gartier.  C.' Garner  elect­ rowing  money  from  the  wash­ Other  than  this  illness,  the  ing  machine  repair fund. Vote  of  trip  across  was  rather  unevent­ ship.  Steward  reported  a  shortage  of  ed  as  Ship's  Delegate.  Delegates  thanks  to  Electrician  for  his  co­ ful,  and  the  time  ashore  in  This  blow  didn't  spare  any  bed  spreads.  reported  the  number  of  books  operation  during  trip.  Southampton  wasn't  much,  ex­ one.  The first­class  passengers  and permits  in  their departments.  4>  4>  4*  cept  for  the  steerage  passengers.  were  also  suffering,  although  March  25—Chairman.  H.  Tut­ Motion  carried  to  have  needed  These  immigrants  were  required  they  could  get  out  in  the  pro­ tle;  Secretary,  H.  Iliff.  Ship's  repairs  listed  and  turned  into  to  be  examined  by  doctors  be­ tected  leaside  deck  in  this  situ­ Delegate  reported  that  beef  on  the  Delegates  in  proper  time.  fore  they  were  allowed  aboard  ation.  engine  department  foc'sles  had  Discussion  on  the  latmdry  room,  and,  in  cases  where  vermin  was  FRESH  FRUIT  been  adjusted.  Discussion  on  t  i  found  in  the  women's  hair,  they  I  decided  to  help  the  unfortu­.  purchasing  of  a  washing  ma­ FAIRPORT  (Waterman),  Feb.  were  required  to  have  their  hair  nate  steerage  passengers.  Citrus  chine. General discussion  of  over­ 11—Chairman.  J. Decabo;  Secre­ cut  almost  to  the  scalp,  other­ fruit  being  far  and  few  for  these  time,  manning  scale,  and  accom­ tary. J. Baxter.  Delegates  report­ To  the  Editor:  wise  they  could  not  sail  to  the  people,  I  arranged  to  help  them  modations.  ed  on  the  standing  of  their  de­ States.  The  howling  that  went  obtain  some,  by  loading  up  a  partments.  Suggestion  made  that  Will  you  put  a  little  note  in  I < v  up  was  really  something  for  the  bagfull  of  oranges,  lemons,  and  LIBERTY  BELL^Tramp  Car­ repair  list  be  made  in  quadrup­ the  LOG  thanking  the  officers  book.  However,  there  were  very  grapefruit.  go). Miirch  25—Chairman, L. Gil­ licate.  Discussion  on  new'  Head­ and  crewm4mbers  of  the  MV  few  cases  where  they  refused  to  Ponce  for  the  money  order  they. ...  "see  the  barber  on  the  dock.  forwarded  to  me  through  the  •  We  carried around six­hundred  New  York Hall.  It was  a surpxise  steerage  passengers,  and  for  the  and  needless  to  say,  a  pleasant  benefit  of  those  that  do  not  un­ one.  The  extent  of  my  apprecia­ derstand what  a steerage  passage  Cash  dividend  payments  of  ended­  in  February,  1951."  That  $45,800,000;  all  manufacturing,  tion  is  beyond  words'  and  all  I  was,  let  me  explain  that  uiitil  corporations  making  public  re­ comparison  shows  that  publicly  by  $393,400,000;  ­ textiles  and  can  say  is  thinks  to  them  alL  1924  the  carrying  of  steerage  ports  were  $493,000,000  in  Janu­ reported  cash  dividends  totalled  leather  by  $13,600,000;  paper  and  At  the  present  tirne  I  haye  no  passengers  was  a lucrative  trade  ary,  1951,  and  $219,000,000  in  $2,855,000,000,  an  increase  of  printing  by  $9,400,000;  chemicals  idea  when  I'll  be  getting  out  of  for  certain  passenger  lines.  The  February,  1951,  down  4  percent  $613,700,000,  or  27  percent  over  by  $77;300,000;  oil  refining  by  here  (Staten  Island  Marine  Hos­ $38,000,000;  iron  and  steel  by  fare  was  very  cheap,  and  the  from  the January­February,  1950,  the  same  period  a  year  ago.  figures,  according  to  the  United  $82,400,000;  other  manufacturers  pital)  but  when  I  do  I'll  have  NOT  BAD  biggest  majority  of  these  passen­ to  get  out­patient  treatment  for  States  Department  of  Commerce.  The  railroad ^industry  (which  by  $43,200,000.  gers  were  immigrants  from  Po­ about, a  year  and  a  half.  land,  Russia,  and  most  of  the  But  before  you  start  weeping  wants  a  15  percent  rate increase)  Machinery  (except  electrical)  As  things  starid  now  I  have  ]$alkan  countries,  who  could  just  for  the  corpbrations,  remember  paid  out  55  percent  more;  min­ went  up  by  $27^100,000;  electri­ about  35  percent  return  in  my  about  afford  the  price charged  that  December, "1950,  was  a  par­ ing almost  50  percent more;  man­ cal  machinery  by  $35,600,000;  left  hip  and  leg.  My  right  side  • 5;:.;  trade  and  transportation equipment  by $10,­ Also  very few,  if  any,  of  these  ticularly  heavy  month  (45  per­ ufacturing, finance,  hasn't  changed  yet.  people  could  speak  English  or  cent  over  December,  1949),  with  miscellaneous  paid  out  between  700,000;  automobiles  by  $46,300,­ I  can't  complain  because  now  many  special  and  extra  dividend  20  percent  and  33  percent  moi;ri.  000;  non­ferrous­  metals  by  read  it,  and  all  the  signs  that  I know  for  myself  just  what  this  disbursements.  And  on  top  of  Oil  refining  paid  out  14* percent  $16,100,000.  I  saw  aboard  this  ship  were  in  crippling  disease  of­  polio  can  that  many  corporations  which  Trade  dividends  went  up  $25,­ more,  and  iron  and  steel  paid  English,  and  this  led  to  many  do  to  the  human  body.. Since  I  usually  pay  dividends  in  Janu­ out  68  percent  more.  500,000; finance,  $64,500,000;  rail­ incidents  that  were  both  funny,  was  stricken  I  have  seen  and  .  ary,  paid  them  a  month  ahead  Every  category  listed  by  the  roads  by  $41,300,000;  heat,  light  and  at  times  very  tragic.  —in  December.  Department  of  Commerce  show­ and  power  by $20,200,000;  electric  heard  of  many,  cases  and  con­ PACKED  TIGHT  •  But  the  true  picture  is  given  ed  gains  except, food,  beverages  light  and  power  by  $17,600,000;  sider  rnyself  very  lucky.  The  quarters  that  they  had  in  comparing  dividends  for  the  and  tobacco,  which  showed  a  gas  by  $9,900,000;4l'b<5mmuniea­ In  closing  I  again  say  thanks  4or  these  passengers  were  noth­ three  months  ended  in  February,  di.cp  of  $3,300,000.  tions  by  $9,900,000,  and  miscel­ and  good  luck  to  all.  ^  ing  but  huge  dormitories.  The  1950,  with  the  three  months  Mining  dividends  increased  by  laneous  by  $13il00­,000.  ^  %  '  •':"­  Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings  Milariesi  Thanks  Ponce  Crewmen  For  Contribution  Don't Cry For Bosses ­  Profits Still Zoom  Hi,.  �IFxldair'  Aitfil  20; 1951  TtLE  SEAFARERS  LVG  Page  Fifreen  BOSTON  —  Cludrman,  Ben  continue  to  be  good.  No  one,  he  Lawson,  894;  Recording  Secre  said, should  have to  worry about  lary,  R,  Waehler,  49085;  Reading  getting  out,  no  matter  what  his  Clerk,  W.  Prince,  30612.  rating.  Two  industrial  improve­ ments  in  the  port—the  building  Minutes  of  the  jlast  Boston  Rsa REG. REG. SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL TOTAL DECK ENG. STWDS. . REa DECK ENa STWDS. SHIPPED of  additional  docks  and  elevators  Branch  meeting  were  read  anc  •   PORT  to  handle  the  booming  grain  .accepted.  Headquarters,report  to  56 9 30 27 11 17 6 44 trade,  and  the  multi­million  dol­ 'the  membership  and • t  he^ Secfe­ Boston....,,,­.,.,,.'.,.­ 98 148 131 377 189 140 114 443 lar  plant  being "erected  by  Kaiser  tary­Treasurer's financial  reports  New  York.  !..  53 41 36 39 130 37 38 PhUadelphia  114 —should  bring  more  shipping  to  dated  March  17  and  March  24,  82 70 104 256 92 63 58 213 New  Orleans.  The  Patrolman's  Baltimore  vwere read  and concurred  in. New  38 52 28 118 17 15 11 43 and  Dispatcher's  reports  were.  .......  : Business  of  other  Branches  hav­ Norfolk  6 30 27 16 49 25 26 81 accepted  by  the  meeting.  Ex­ • Savannah.........—................  ing  meetings  were  accepted  by  11 8 4 16 14 23 11 41 Tampa  cuses  from  the  meeting  were  re­ the  membership.  Agent's  anc  35 80 48 26 109 58 71 209 ferred  to  the  Dispatcher.  Head­,  <.  1  Dispatcher's  reports  were  given  Mobile  101 98 71 270 99 88 90 277 quarters  report  to  the  member­ and  accepted.  Membership *stooc  New  Orleans..  47 28 30 105 70 82 50 202 ship  was  read  and  concurred  Galveston...,  in  silence  for  one  minute  in  36 23 90 33 28 29 31 90 in.  The  meeting  stood  in  silence  ­ memory  of " departed  Brothers.  West  Coast  501 652 430 1,583 692 574 491 1,757 for  one  minute  in  memory  of  departed  Brothers.  The  meeting  NEW  YORK  —  Chairman.  adjourned  with  163  members  Frenchy  Michelel,  21184;  Re­ Steve CqrduUo  spoke about  ship­ TAMPA—Due  to  a  lack  of  a  ters regarding  persons other  than  present.  cording  Secretary,  Ed  Mooney  ping  for  the  coming  two­week  quorum,  no  regular  meeting  was  crewmembers  or  officials  board­ :46671;  Reading  Clerk,  John  Ara­ period.  He  also  stressed  the  im­ held.  After  the  Dispatcher  re­ ing SIU ships  was  read  and  con­ 4,  4.  r.basz, ' 29836.  GALVESTON—Due  to  a  lack  portance  of  men  not  piling  nff  ported  on  shipping  for  the  two­ curred  in  (second  reading).  Dis­ Minutes  of  last  regular  meet­ a  ship  at  the  last  nainute,  let­ week  period,  the  special  meeting  patcher's  report  on  shipping  for  of  a  quorum  no  regtilar  meeting  ing  and  three  special  meetings  ting  the  ship  sail  shorthanded.  was  adjourned.  the  past  two  weeks  and  Pa­ was  held.  After  the  Dispatcher  read  and  accepted.  Secretary­ From  now  on,  he  said,  every  trolmen's  reports  were  accepted  reported on  shipping for the two­ 4. "  t  "Treasurer'e financial  reports  and  ship  that  sails  out  wUl  have  the  MOBILE—Chairm^  BiU  Wal­ by  the membership.  At this  point  week  period,  the special  meeting  New  Bu?ines.s  of  other  Branches  crew  checked,  and  any  man  that  lace,  44473;  Recording  Secretary,  the  meeting  stood  in  silence  for  was  adjourned.  holding  meetings  were  read  and  misses  a  ship  will  be  brought  C.  Kimball,  52;  Reading  Clerk,  one  minute  in  memory  of  de­ 4  a>  a>  ­concurred  in,  with  the  excep­ up  on  charges,  as  per  the  Union  L.  Neira,  26393.  parted  Brothers.  Meeting  ad­ SAN  FRANCISCO—Chairman,  tion  of  that  part  of  Baltimore's  constitution. Charges  and findings  Previous  Mobile  minutes,  journed  with  200  members  pres­ H.  Fischer,  59;  Recording  Secre­ meeting  to  dispense  with. the  against  three  Brothers  wer6  read  Headquarters report  to  the mem­ ent.  tary, M. Burnstine,  2257;  Reading  shipping  list  inasmuch  as  ship­ and  concurred  in.  Dispatcher  re­ bership  and  the  Seoretary­Trea­ Clerk, H. Krohn,  34819.  4>  4*  4*  ping  was  so:good.  Report  of  the  ported  on  shipping  during  the  siuer's financial  NEW  ORLEANS  —  Chairman,  Minutes  from  previous  San  reports  were  Headquarters Reinstatement Com­ last  tworweek  period.  A  vote  of  read  and  concurred  in. New  Bus­ Leroy  Clarke,  23062;  Recording  Francisco meeting  and New  Busi­ mittee  was  accepted.  In  the  thanks  was  given  to  the  Head­ iness  of  other  Branches  having  Secretary,  Herman  Troxclair,  ness from  other  Branch  meetings  Headquarters  report,  Secretary­ quarters  Negotiating  Committee  meetings were  read and  accepted,  6743;  Reading  Clerk,  Buck  Ste­ were  read  and  accepted.  Agent  Treasurer  Paul  Hall  gave  the  for  the fine  job  it  was  doing  with  the  exception  of  that  part  phens, ' 76.  Lloyd  Gardner  reported  that,  highlights  of  the SIU's  5th  Bien­ to  build  the  SIU.  The  meeting  of  Baltimore's  minutes  regarding  Minutes  of  previous  New  Or­ shipping  in  this  port  had  slowed  nial  Convention,  recently  con­ stood  in  silence  for  one  minute  dispensing  with  the shipping  list.  leans  meeting  read  and  accepted.  down,  and  that  any  members  cluded  in  San  Francisco.  He  re­ in  memory  of  departed  Brothers.  In  his  report.  Agent  Gal  Tan­ Charges  were  read  against  a  who  could  make  New  Orleans,  minded, the  meeting  that  it  was  The  meeting  adjourned  with  125  ner  said  that  at  least  six  ships  member  for  getting  gassed  up  Galveston,  Mobile  or  Seattle  time  for  the  election  of  a  Quar­ 'members  present.  were  due  in  within  the next  two  and  disrupting  a  payoff,  and  would  be  assured  of  getting  out  terly  Finance  Committee  to  go  4­  it  4.  weeks,  and  that' this  port  would  were  referred  to  a  trial  commit­ in  a  hurry.  Headquarters  report  over  the  books  and  records  of  BALTIMORE—Chairman,  Wil­ probably  have  two  new  ships  tee.  New  Orleans financial  re­ to  the  membership  and  Secre­ the  Union,  and  recommended  liam  Renlz,  .26445;  Recording  from  out  of  lay­up  to  crew:  the  ports  and  minutes  of  special  tary­Treasurer's financial  reports  that  it  be  elected  at  a  special  Secretary,  G. *  A.  Masterson,  Edward  L.  Grant  (Bloomfield)  meeting  were  accepted.  Secre­ were  read  and  accepted.  Excuses  meeting  to  be  held  before  the  20297;  Reading  Clerk,  Leon  ahd  the  North  Piatt  (Mississippi).  tary­Treasurer's financial  re­ from  the  meeting  were  referred  next  regular  meetiifg.  Two  new  Johnson,  108.  "  He  reported  that  he  had  been  ports  were  read  and  accepted.  to  the  Dispatcher  for  action.  Pa­ companies  had  been  signed,  he  The  regular  order  of  business  to  Montgomery  and  met  with  New  Business  of  other  Branches  trolman's  and  Dispatcher's  re­ S|iid,  and  the  ratio  of  members  was  suspended  to  go  into  obli­ the  new  Selective  Service  Di­ having  meetings  were  accepted,  ports  were  given  and  accepted.  :^l  to  contracted  jobs  was  the  best  gations  and  charges.  Trial  Com­ rector  for  Alabama,  and  that  he  with  the  exception  of  that  por­ The  meeting  stood^in  silence  for  it  had  ever  been,  assuring  fast  mittee  was  elected.  The  follow­ was promised that due  considera­ tion,  of  Baltimore's  mim^tes  per­ one  minute  in  memory  of  de­ shipping  for , all  hands.  Assist­ ing  members  took  the  Oath  of  tion  would  be  given  qualified  taining  to  the  dispensing  of  the  parted  Brothers.  Several  Bro­ ant  Secretary­Treasurer  Bull  Obligation:  Harold  Powers  and  merchant  seamen  by  the  draft  shipping list.  Agent Liudsey  Wil­ thers  took  the  deck  tmder  Good  gheppard  urged  all  those  eli­ F.  Mayo.  Charges  against several  boards.  He  concluded  his  report  liams  reported  that  the affairs  of  and  Welfare  on  matters  pertain­ gible  for  higher  ratings  to  get  members  were  read and  referred  by  giving  the  highlights  of  the  the  port  were  in  very  good  ing  to  the  Union.  Meeting  ad­ them  as  soon  as  possible,  to  to  the  Trial  Committee.  Minutes  recently  concluded  SIU  conven­ shape,  and  that  shipping  for  the  journed  with  78  members  forestall  a  possible  shortage  of  of  the  previous  Baltimore  meet­ tion.  Resolution  from  Headquar­ next  two­week  period  should  present.  rated  men  in_the  future.  He  ad­ ing  and  the  Baltimore financial  vised  all  men  who  had  not  yet  reports  were  read  and  accepted,  filled  out  their  beneficiary  cards,  as  were  the  Secretary­^Treasur­ designating  the  ones  they  want  er's financial  reports  and  New  to  receive  the  death  benefit  un­ Business  of  ofhej Branches  hold­ der  the  Seafarers  Welfare  Plan,  mg  meetings.  Motion  carried  to  to  do  so  at  once.  Requests  for  forward  aU  ships'  minutes  to  the  excuses  from  the  meeting  were  SEAFARERS  LOG  for  publica­ referred  to  the  Dispatcher.  Pa­ tion.  All  excuses  from  the meet­ feolmen's  and  Dispatcher's  re­ ing  were  referred  to  the  Dis­ ports  were  given  and  accepted.  patcher.  Headquarters  report  to  G.  PATTON  TOM  (SS  Catahoula)  HANS  PETER  PETERSEN  At, this  point  the  meeting  stood  the  membership  was  read  and  Contact  Robert  F. Reynolds  at  "Please  send  my  suit  to  me  at  Get  in  touch  with  John  A.  in  silence  for  one  minute  in  concurred  in.  Agent  Curly  Rentz  1301  Hobart  Building,  582 . M^g­ 604  Rosalee  Street,  Houston,  OMelia, 11 Broadway, New  York  memory  of  our  departed  Bro­ gave  the  membership  a  sum­ ket  Street,  San  Francisco,  Calif.  Texas.—^Rocky  Milton."  City,  as  soon  as  possiUe.  thers.  Charges  were  read  gainst  mary  of  what  happened  at  the  •   4  4  4  i  '  a  member  and  referred  to  the  5th  Biennial  Convention  of  the  4.  4.  4.  JOSEPH  BOOKER  THOMAS  FIELDS  Trial  jCommittee.  Under  ­Good  SIU.  Reports  of  Dispatcher,  Pa­ WILLIAM  B.  ANDREWS  (SS  Michael)  and  Welfare,  it  was. brought, out  trolmen  and  Hospital  Committee  Communicate  with  Jesse  L.  Check  your  receipt  numbered  that  men  going  to  the, hospital  were  accepted  by  the  member­ Rosenberg,  15  Park  Row,  New  D­94887  and  contact  G.  A.  Mas­ If  you  have  gear  missing  you  should. notify  the  Union,  via  a  ship.  The  meeting  stood  in  sil­ York  City,  as  soon  as  possible.  terson,  Baltimore  Engine  Patrol­ can  claim  same  at  office  of  J. M.  Carras,  24  State  Street,  New  penny  post  card, giving  the name  ence  for  one  minute  in  memory  4  4  4.  man.  York  City.  WALTER  PETROWSKI  of  the  hospital  and  the  ward  of  departed Brothers. Meeting  ad­ 4  4.  4  they  are  in.  It  was  again  an­ journed  with  205  members  in  Commiuiicate  with  your  local  4  4  4  GEORGE  F.  MARTIN  RUSSEL  D.  MTTLE  nounced  that  the  Union  Hospi­ attendance.  draft  board  immediately.  Please  get  in  touch  with  your  Please  contact  Mrs.  Alice  Ka­ tal  Delegate  visits  the  hospi­ 4,  4"  4.  4.  4­ mother  at  1748  Northfield,  East  minski,  Columbia  Hotel,  Chester,  ALLAN  MYREX  tal  twice  a  week,  on  Tuesday  NORFOLK  —  Chairman,  Ben  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Pennsylvania.  It  is  very  im­ and Thursday. Meeting  adjourned  Rees,  95;  Recording  Secretary,  Communicate  with  your  local  4  4  4.  portant.  with  456  members  present.  draft  board  immediately.  James  Bullock,  4747.  THOMAS  GREENWOOD  ,  4  4  4  4;  4"  1>  There  being  no  quorum  for  a  4  4  4.  Your  wife  writes  that  she  is  JOHN  JOSEPH  SHACK  JOHN  P.  WILLIAMSON  regular  meeting,  a  special  meet­ PHILADELPHIA  —  Chairman.  ill  and  would  like  you  to  get  in  "Get  in  touch  with  your  bro­ Steve  Cardullo,  24599;  Recording  ng  was  held  to check  books  and  Important  that  you  get  in  touch  with  her  by  telephoning  ther, through  his wife,  Mrs. Ruby  Secretary,  D.  C.  Hall,  43372;  shipping  cards.  Excuses from  the  touch  with  Thomas  M.  Breen,  CR­3979,  or  writing  to  her  at  Shack,  1519  Eutaw  Place,  Balti­ meeting  were  referred  to  the  Room  609  22  Broadway,  New  Reading' Clerk,  W. Gardner.  2818  Dumaine  Street,  New  Or­ more  17,  Maryleind:  Steve."  Idinutes  of  previous  Philadel­ Dispatcher.  A  report  on  shipping  York,  N.Y.  leans,  Louisiana.  4  4  4  ­  t  4  t  phia  meeting  and  New  Business  ::or  the past  two weeks  was given  4  4  4  GONZALO  RAUL  SOSA  JAMES  ENSOR  of  other  Branches  were  read  and  by  the  Dispatcher.  Blanche  Valentine  asks  that  W.  B.  JONES  It  is  important  that  you  get  4,  4.  4.  accepted,  as  were  ffeadquarters  Your  sisterr Mrs.  Naomia  Mor­ you  get  in  touch  with  her  at 821  report  to  the  membership  and  SAVANNAH  —  No  regular  in ­touch  with  Thomas  M.  Breen,  ris,  has  moved  to 4212  Cleveland  Vallejo  Street,  San  Francisco,  Room  609,  22  Broadway,  New  the  Secretary­Treasurer's  finan­ meeting  was  held  because  of  a  Avenue,­ San  Diego  3,  California.  California.  York  38,  N.Y.  cial  reports.  In  his  report,  Agent  ack  of  a  quorum,­ From Marth 29 To  April 11  �Page  Sixteen  T  mE  & E  A E  A  R E  R S  G.  WMAT A(^ 20. iwi^  '  ;•  "T.  ­ •  u,);.­!r­5­:.­r:L  •  ^  .•   ::m§0  ^'l,  •  •   :y ' i /• '•  '. •  t ?i*;'.  '.. '>'• •  ­ •  ':>•   i.Pt^_'l'  '  • • • • *".'  •  i­ QUESTION:  What  incident, in  the course of  your  seagoingr  catreer, is one that you'll very likely remember  for a lohj?  time to come?  JOHN  K.  PARSON,  OS:  H.  HERKINHEINS,  Bosun:  FRANK  BIANCO,  Wiper:  PHILIP  L.  HUBS,  Machinist:  JOHN  B.  MOLINI,  Oiler:  The incident  I'll  long remem­ Back  in  November  we  left  Being  that  most  sailors  gen­ ber  involves  the  loss  of  a  Yokohama  for  Pusan,  carrying  erally  visit  ginmills  or  hot  shipmate.  We  were  riding  a  full  Cargo  of  gear  for  the  spots  in  foreign  ports,  they  heavy  seas  and  this  shipmate  Army.  Included  was  a  load  of  don't  often  get  a  chance  to  was  on  the  foc'sle  head,  se­ deck  cargo  of  trucks  and  see  anything  worthwhile.  So  curing  lines.  Just  as  the  lines  similar  materiel.  This  stuff  was  on  one  of  my  trips  I  decided  were  secured,  a  big  sea  broke  in  danger  of  breaking  loose.  to  do  something  different.  Our  over  the  bow  and  smashed  To  avoid  this,  we  could  head  ship tied  up in  Dunkirk.  I  took  him  against  the  anchor  wind­ back  for  Yokohama,  which  a  little  tour  of  Casteb  a  typi­ lass.  He  was  badly  banged  up.  would  cause  a  delay  of  one  cal  little  old  French  town  His  skull  was  Iractured,  We  and  a  half  days.  The  Old  Man  nearby.  A  historic  spot  on  the  helped  him  down,  but  that  then  asked  us  if  we  could  Belgian  border,  it  was  once  night,  shortly  after  8  PM,  he  lower  the  gear.  This  is .an  un­ the  stamping  grounds  for  Mar­ died.  I  felt  very  badly,  having  usual  procedure  at  sea,  espe­ shall  Foch.  A  guy  wPh  a  cam­ sailed  with  him  on  a  round­ cially  in  rough  weather,  but  era  could  find  plenty  of  good  the­world  trip  and  we  were  we  said  we'd  try  it.­  We  went  shots.  It  was  strictly  sightsee­ good  friends.  He  was  a  book­ to  work,, with  all  hands  really  ing,  but  something  I'll  remem­ man  of  long  standing  and  well  putting  out  and  working  har­ ber.  So  if',  any  of  the  guys  known  in  the  Union.  Many  moniously.  We^succeeded.  No  ever  get  stuck, in  Dunkirk  and  will  remen^er  him.  He  was  one  was  hurt  and  no gear  was  want  to  do  something  differ­ Jimmy  Na:^or.  destroyed.  ent,  they'll  know  where  to go.  During  a  trip  to  India  some  In  *47  or  *48,  I  was  on  the  lime  ago,  I  met  some  Anglo­ SS  Thomas  Hyde.  We  had  a  Indian  girls.  One  of  them told  rough  Chief  Engineer  and top>  me  that  she  wanted  to  intro­ side  gang.  I  was  Engine  Dele­ duce  me  to  an  Indian  Prince,  gate  and  we  had  a  decent  whose  name  sounded  like  Ka­ bunch  of  crewmembers  aboard^  bu  of  Mishurabab.  I  went to  We  carried  the  first  load  of  his  home—it  looked  like  a  coal  to  Norway  in  the  post­ mansion  to  me—^where  the  girl  war  period.  After  discharging  introduced  me  to  the  Prince.  in  Christiansen,  the  officers  We  spent  some  pleasant  hours  were  in  a  hurry  to  get  going.  shooting  the  breeze  and  drink­ But  we  had  been  frozen  in by  ing  some  of  his fine  liquor.  the  ice  which  covered  the  wa­ He  asked  nte  from  where  in  ter.  The  impatient  bunch  on  the  States  I  came  from.  I  told  topside  couldn*t  wait  for  the  him,  and  he  said  that  he  had  ice­breakers  to  come  up  and  many friends  from  the  States.  help  us  out.  Instead  they  used  I  a>hed  him  for  the  names  of  the  ship  as  an  ice­breaker  and  some  of  them.  Among  the  caused  damages.  Result  was  names  he  rattled  off  were  that  we  were  held  up  28  da^h  Hedy  Lamar  and  Clark  Gable.  getting  repairs.  JAMES. PORTER,  Steward:  EUGENE  CECCATO,  AB:  In  1948  I  was  on  the' Sea  Carp.  In  Beira,  two  men  came  .  up  to  me  in  the  galley.  One  asked,  "Would  you  feed  a  man  .if  he's  hungry."  I told  him  it  was  the  policy  of  Union  men  to  feed  any  hungry  man.  He  asked  for something  to eat,  and  I  told  him  to  go  in  the  saloon,  where  he  was  served.  Mean­ while,  I  called  the  Old  Man.  He  looked  them  over  and  told  me  it  was  Mr.  Lewis,  owner  of  the  Robin  Line,  and  his  pilot.  Later  Lewis  asked  me  if  I  could  prepare  a  banquet  for  14  people.  1  iold^ him  yes,  but  that  the  policy  was  to  feed  all  hands  the  same.  He  said  sure,  that  the  men  below  enabled  him  to  run "^his  outfit  and  they  rated  it.  JOE  MAIMONE,  OS:  I  was  aboard  a  Cities  Serv­ ice  tanker  as  a  volunteer  or­ ganizer  in  1949,  before  the  SIU  contract.  Two  of  the  non­ union  guys,  the  Chief  Cook  and  an  Oiler,  were  continually  battling.  The  Oiler  claimed  the  Cook  was  trying  to  poison  him,  so  he  ate  nothing  but  bread  and  water.  The  Oiler  would  agitate  the  other  men  in  the  messroom.  One  day  the  Cook  and he argued.  The  Cook  wont  into  the  galley,  came  out  with  some  knives  and  started  throwing  them.  One  of  the  guys  told  him  to  quit,  but  he  continued.  So  this  gUy  picked  him  up and heaved  him against  the  bulkhead.  We took  the  Cook  to  . sick  bay,  but  the  Steward  demanded  he  turn  to  immediately.  L.  TAYLOR,  Eng.  Utility:  I  best  remember  the  salvag­ ing  of  the  Portuguese  motor­ ship  Alger  in  December  of  1948,  northwest  of  the  Azores.  We  responded  to  an  SOS  .  and  it  took  us  about  16  nourS to  get  a  line  on  the  helpless  ship.'  Two  of  oxir_ crew  were  hurt  getting  the  job  done.  With  the  ship  under  tow  we  headed  for  t.ie  Azores.  But  then  we  ran  into  a  hurricane,  although "we  made  our  destination  okay.  The  reason  this  incident  sticks  in  my  mind  is  th^  after  we  got  into  port,  the  crew  of  the  rescued  Portuguese  vessel  sent  over  14  cases  of  Madeira  wine  to  our  boys  as  a  takeh  of  their  appreciation.,j ^  On  one  trip  we  were  about  eight  days  out  of  Germany  when  we  hit  a  storm.  I  was  on  the  wheel  at  the  time. Sud­ denly  we  were  in  a  trough.  .  I  looked  out  the  window.  There  was "my  watch  partner  hanging  over  the  side.  The,  Captain  came  up  and  changed  the  ship's  course,  and  that's  probably  the  only  thing  that  saved  us  from  rolling  over.  We  were  listing  at  35  to  40  degrees  consistently.  That  par­ ticular  roll,  the  one  that  near­ ly  took  my  watch  partner  away,  threw  most  of  the  crew­ members  out  of  their  bunks.  All  type writers, and adding  ma­ chines  were  smashed.  As  a"  result,  the  payroll  was  held  : up vfor  awhile.  '  •  •  W.  SCKOENBQRN,  Carpenter:  The  incident  foremost  in  my  mind  happened  while  in  Cal­ cutta,  during •  the  big fight  a­ few  years  ago  between,  the  Moslems and  the Hindus.  While  I  did  not  witness  any  of  the  actual fighting,  the  evidence  of  strife  was  everywhere.  Hu­ man bodies  by  the dozens  were  ..  floating  down  the  river  and  when  we  re:urned  to  the  sMp  one  night  by  taxi,  the  Hindu  driver  had to  take  us  into  the  Moslem  district.  On  the  way  f  we  would  see  a  Hindu  body  here  and  there  and  I  believe  our  driver  set  a  new  speed  record.  One  day  the  Red  Cross  came  aboard  and  asked  for  blood  donors  to  aid  the  • ic­ tims  of  the  strife.  The  crew  volunteered  in  good  SIU  fashion.  � 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 1950-1959 Description An account of the resource Volumes XII-XXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 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 April 20, 1951 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. XIII, No. 8 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Description An account of the resource Headlines: SEAFARERS WELFARE PLAN DOUBLES DEATH BENEFIT NLRB SEEKS WHEREABOUTS OF CS SEAFARERS INT'L CONVENTION DECISIONS OPERATORS ASKED TO MEET ON SIU VACATION PLAN SEAMEN WARNED AGAINST GIVING COAST GUARD MEDICAL RECORDS ONLY THE BEGINNING NYC PIERS IN NEED OF MODERNIZING QUALIFIED MEN URGED TO GET ENDORSEMENTS SIGN-ONS KEEP SHIPPING BRISK IN NEW ORLEANS RECOVERING A LIFEBOAT MOBILE SHIPPING REALLY BOOMING; BONEYARD SHIPS SPELL DIFFERENCE CAMERA CLOSE-UPS OF SEATRAIN SEAFARERS SAVE MONEY, BY ALL MEANS, BUT NOT IN CHRISTMAS CLUBS WANNA JOB? HEAD SOUTH, SAYS FRISCO REQUIEM FOR THE OLD COAL BURNER SS BULL RUN BACK IN TRADE AFTER CRASH SEAFARING ABOARD THE SALEM MARITIME WELL-WISHERS MAIL SWAMPS SIU HERO 'FOOD FOR THOUGHT' SITRS INTEREST IN SIU EDUCATION GREEK FREIGHTER COLLIDES WITH SS STEEL FLYER Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 10/11/1951 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1951 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/0433b5608cd6267104cdaade2a811105.pdf ae0416fdaf854bc2032fcca0e6a56bcf PDF Text Text Volume 62, Number 4 Hull Completed For 1st Coastal Cruise Vessel New Delta Queen Ships Slated to Sail Next Year The hull has been completed for the first 226-passenger coastal cruise ship in the SIU-contracted Delta Queen Coastal Voyages fleet (above). Construction of the second hull is under way. Delta Queen's parent company, American Classic Voyages, also recently announced news concerning the first of two 1,900-passenger deep sea cruise vessels it is building. Page 3. Tampa Ne Of Stranded Crew SUNDAY. FllUWAU 27. '!000 Seafarers Honor late VP By Dedicating Mobile Hall Stranded sailors languish in limbo ITF, Others Gain Back Pay, Repatriation for Mariners More than 150 active and retired Seafarers and their families recently gathered at the SIU hall in Mobile, Ala. to celebrate the memory of Leon Hall, the late Atlantic Coast VP. Hall began his career in Mobile. As the building was dedicated in his memory, a photo of Hall and a plaque were unveiled (top photo). Applauding at the ceremony are (from left) SIU President Michael Sacco, Clyde Hall (nephew of Leon Hall) and Port Agent Ed Kelly. In bottom photo, members of Leon Hall's family are welcomed to the building by SIU officials, led by Sacco (front, third from right). Among those in attendance were Hall's sisters, Isabella Singleton and Alberta Hall (front, third and fifth from left). Page 4. A front-page story in the Tampa Tribune chronicled the saga of Lithuanian and Russian mariners who were stuck aboard their rusting , disabled runaway-flag freighter for more than a year and a half in the Gulf Coast port. Immediately after the original story ran, authorities cleared the red tape, allowing crew members finally to return home with back pay. Page 2. �Stranded Crew Finally Goes Home Presidnt'1 Report Our Next Generation When you are doing something right, the word spreads. That has got to be the case concerning the Paul Hall Center's unli.-------...,,.._.... censed apprentice program. From Alaska to Hawaii to Guam to Florida, special efforts are in place to promote this nine-month curriculum to young men and women looking for a career. Last month, I took part in a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. where the local Propeller Club offered a scholarship to a young lady, Dusti Arrowood, who is headed to Piney Point. Executive Vice President John Fay, Fort Lauderdale Port Michael Sacco Agent Ambrose Cucinotta and I were proud to represent the SIU at the event where we could meet one of the people who will be carrying the banner oftbe union and the U.S. merchant marine in this new century. The unlicensed apprentice program has been turning out mariners ready to meet the challenges of the sea since the curriculum was changed in 1997. At that time, the center expanded its basic training for those entering the industry. Previously, newcomers studied for three months in classroom situations while receiving hands-on training at the Piney Point campus. Now, they receive nine months of preparation-with three months of actual sea duty in between the education received at the school. These young people are the future of the SIU. They are the ones who will be aboard the U.S.-flag vessels that are on the drawing boards today. Their future is bright because of the work all of you have done to secure a strong U.S.-flag fleet. I'm sure you have noticed 11ll the new vessels we have announced in the Seafarers LOG the last several years. Some of them already are sailing, others will he coming on line soon. It does not do any of us any good to contract for these new ships, then not recruit new people to join our ranks. Like most of you, I look in the back of each issue to see who has retired. But I also make the point of looking to see who's coming on board. Those great young faces photographed in the unlicensed apprentice water survival classes are the next generation of Seafarers. Their efforts have caught the eyes of many. Alaska Congressman Don Young devoted one of his half-hour television shows aired to his constituents to the unlicensed apprentice program. He interviewed two of the graduates who came from that state during the telecast. Government officials in Hawaii are working with the union to recruit young people from the Aloha State. After touring the center in December, the governor of Guam, Carl T.C. Gutierrez, launched a recruitment program for the residents of his territory. And this is just the beginning. Each of you can play a role in this effort. Promote what it means to be a Seafarer to young people. Explain how they can gain a profession and see the world at the same time. Let them know what is coming, like the new cruise ships. Put them in touch with the admissions office at the Paul Hall Center. Remember, others watched out for you and taught you the ropes when you joined. Now you can return that favor to a young man or woman just starting his or her venture in life. Our next generation of Seafarers have tremendous opportunities ahead of them. Let's do all we can to help them meet those challenges. ITF Aids Mariners on Runaway-Flag Ship; Tampa Tribune Articles Bare FOC 'Prison' The headline said it all: "Stranded sailors languish rn limbo." It applies to any number of mariners aboard runaway-flag ships throughout the world. But in this instance, the Tampa Tribune front-page article focused on the awful case of Lithuanian and Russian crew members stuck aboard the Golden Star for more than a year. In its edition of Sunday, February 27, the newspaper published three articles related to the case, beginning on page one and occupying a full page inside. Attracting such publicity is part of the campaign against runaway-flag shipping that is waged by the London-based International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), to which the A front-page article in the February 27 Tampa Tribune exposes the SIU is affiliated. Besides general· plight of Lithuanian and Russian crew members stuck aboard the ly increasing people's awareness Golden Star, a Panamanian-flag freighter in need of repairs. about the runaway-flag scam, exposure can help pressure the last six without getting paid. unscrupulous shipowners to give They survived with the help of a crew members their due-usually local minister and the monthly back wages and repatriation, and food stipend provided by the perhaps medical attention. shipowner, alternately listed as With the Golden Star, efforts Tamboril Properties Inc. or The Miami Herald last by the ITF and the Immigration Caribbean Ship Management. month reported that the runand Naturalization Service were After surveying the rusting augmented by the Tribune s ship and meeting the crew, away-flag Carnival Cruise aggressive coverage. Tribune reporter Elizabeth Bettendorf Lines opposes a cruise ship reporter Jim Sloan, one of two wrote, "Their vessel has become ticket tax- $4 per person, per who covered the Golden Star, their prison. They share it with day-that would generate said the paper fielded numerous cockroaches and sweltering heat." $320 million for construction phone calls and emails from local In an overview of the runwayof a baseball stadium downcitizens responding to the stories, flag scam, Sloan described "a town. "saying the situation is really dis- worldwide fleet of derelict hulks Carnival Chairman Micky gt'.isting and wanting to help." rusting in ports around the world, Arison's basketball team, the After the stories ran, the manned by sailors left to rot Miami Heat, plays in a new mariners received back wages while shipowners squabble over and were flown home. arena "operated through a tax Coast Guard fines and port fees, The relief was long overdue. or simply battle bankruptcy. They on hotel visits," the newspaper The Panamanian-flagged Golden are most often flag-of-convenoted. However, a Carnival Star, a 490-foot freighter, limped nience ships, registered with spokesman told the Herald into Tampa in September 1998 Third World countries that prothat the proposed cruise ticket after sustaining damage from a vide little regulation. Some call tax is "absolutely preposterhurricane. them 'runaway flags.' Others ous." It's still there and still needs bluntly label them ' Dogs of the The levy would partially repairs. Sea."' fund a ballpark for the Florida Many of the mariners who The scheme usually involves recently departed the vessel had multiple parties from runawayMarlins, with the club paying spent more than 17 consecutive an estimated $80 million. Continued on page 4 months aboard the Golden Star, Stranded sailors languish in limbo Carnival Taxed By Proposal Rank-and-File Financial Committee Approves Union's Records for 1999 A committee of rank-and-file members, elected by their fellow Seafarers during last month's union meeting in Piney Point, Md., has reviewed the SIU's financial records for 1999 and found them in good order. Each department was represented on the committee. Serving were Recertified Bosun Dan Marcus, AB Joseph Riccio, QMED John H. Smith, FOWT Melvin Grayson, OMU Decarlo Harris, Chief Steward Donald Mann and SA SIU officials welcome a new recruit for the Paul Hall Center's unlicensed apprentice program during last month's meeting of the Port Everglades, Fla. Propeller Club. From the left are Fort Lauderdale Port Agent Ambrose Cucinotta, SIU President Michael Sacco, Dusti Arrowood and SIU Executive VP John Fay. Volume 62, Number 4 April 2000 Jam es Simms. The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org ~76 2 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Daniel Duncan; Managing Editor, Jordan Biscardo; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright © 2000 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. Seafarers LOB Serving on the committee were (from left) OMU Decarlo Harris, Chief Steward Donald Mann, FOWT Melvin Grayson, Recertified Bosun Dan Marcus, SA James Simms, QMED John Smith and AB Joseph Riccio. Pictured with them is SIU SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel (far right). "We find that the headquarters of the union is taking all steps possible to safeguard union funds and to see that the disbursements of the union are in accordance with the authority delegated to them and that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to increase day-to-day efficiency of our operation," the committee noted in its report. The use of an annual financial committee is required by Article X, Section 15 of the SIU Constitution. It reads: "The Annual Financial Committee shall make an examination for each annual period of the finances of the Union and shall report fully on their findings and recommendations." Apri/2000 �American Classic Announces 'Milestones' In Revitalization of U.S. Passenger Fleet 1st Hull Complete for Coastal Cruise Ship; Expansion Means New SIU Jobs On Horizon SIU-contracted American Classic Voyages last month announced what it described as "several milestones in (the company's) plan to introduce six new vessels over the next four years," augmenting its position as the largest owner and operator of U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed passenger vessels. For Seafarers, the news bodes well for job opportunitiesbeginning next month, with the scheduled start of Columbia Queen riverboat vacations in the Pacific Northwest. The new 161passenger vessel, slated to sail on May 26, is part of the fleet operated by American Classic sub· sidiary Delta Queen Steamboat, also rui SIU-ccntracted company. Meanwhile, the hull has been completed in Jacksonville, Fla. for the first 226-passenger ship in Delta Queen's new "coastal voy- ages" fleet, and construction of the second hull is under way. The line--ultimately to include five vessels-will begin operations next year. American Classic also announced that Independence Day weekend ''will mark the start of fabrication of the first of two 1,900-passenger vessels (the company) is building under the historic Project America initiative to help revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, create more than 5,000 American jobs, increase U.S. tax revenues and expand consumers' leisure travel options." These two deep-sea vessels are being built in union-contracted Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascaguola, Miss. The ships (operating under the banner of United States Lines) are scheduled to sail around Hawaii beginning in 2003 and 2004, respectively. As part of that same program, the Patriot (formerly Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam and acquired last year by U.S. Lines) is expected to begin Hawaiian Island cruises in December. The ship can transport more than 1,200 passengers. Finally, American Classic reported that November 11 has been scheduled as the fust departure of the SIU-crewed SS Independence from its new home port of Kahului, Maui. Currently, the Independence utilizes Honolulu as its home port. "American Classic Voyages remains committed to the U.S.:flag fleet," noted SIU President Michael Sacco. •This company is another example that the maritime revitalization program initiated in the mid- l 990s is paying dividends in new vessels and new jobs for American mariners." The first hull is complete for Delta Queen's new fleet of coastal passenger ships, which will sail along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts. First Orea-Class RO/RO Expected by Summer 2002 TOTE Provides More Information on New Jones Act Vessels Seafarers may see the first of two Orea-class roll-on/roll-off vessels operated by Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) as early as the summer of 2002, according to the company's president and CEO, Robert P. Magee. Speaking before the Washington, D.C. Propeller Club on February 29, Magee updated maritime industry and government officials on the progress of the new vessels, announced in the January issue of the Seafarers LOG. TOTE plans to build at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego two RO/ROs for the Jones Act fleet. They will sail between the Pacific Northwest and Anchorage, Alaska. The ships will be the first non-military containerships or RO/ROs built in an American yard since the R. J Pfeiffer came out in 1992. Magee told the audience the company is fully involved in the engineering phase of design. He expects the first steel to be cut by spring 2001. "We look forward to these vessels serving the people of Alaska soon," Magee stated. He revealed more details about the vessels during his address, including several planned "redundancies." With this, maintenance can be performed on one unit while another is working. He added TOTE is doing this because the ships operate more like a cruise vessel as they are never shut down in order to keep the seven-day round-trip schedule. Each will be powered by diesel electric plants, with four main engines and two auxiliary units. Each will have two electric motors, dual rudders and twin propellers. The power plants are designed to be the cleanest burning available in today's market. The two RO/ROs will be 839 feet long and have beams of 118 feet. The three vessels already in the TOTE fleet are 790 feet long with 105-foot beams. One of the necessary design features for the new ships is they must fit the terminals already being used by TOTE. The ships will incorporate other environmentally secure systems, including a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant and double-hulled fuel tanks that are not adjacent to the skin. The Orea-class vessels will be able to hold more than 600 trail- TOTE Pres. and CEO Robert Magee (left) updates SIU Asst. VP Contracts George Tricker on the progress of the two new Jones Act RO/ROs planned for Alaskan service. Apri/2000 ers/containers and 200 automobiles as opposed to the nearly 400 and 110 respectively on TOTE 's present ships. The new RO/R.Os will feature 12 internal ramps compared with five on the three that are sailing. The deck configuration will allow the new ships to handle trailers ranging from 30 to 70 feet. The bows will feature a "whaleback" design to protect containers on the deck from high seas. The hulls will be ice-belted to provide additional protection in Cook Inlet during winter. Magee pointed out TOTE is the first of several shipping companies considering an update of their Jones Act fleets. He said this points to an even stronger U.S.flag merchant fleet for the new century. (The Jones Act, part of the 1920 Merchant Marine Act, is the nation's freight cabotage law. It states that any cargo moved between two domestic ports must be carried aboard U.S.-crewed, U.S.-built and U.S.-flagged vessels.) TOTE operates three SIUcrewed vessels-the Great Land, the Northern Lights and the Westward Venture. TOTE is a subsidiary of Saltchuk Resources, Inc. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed on · Monday, Mai 29i' 2000 for the observance of MemofieFDay {unless. an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Administrative Task Force Finds USCG Missions Vital for New Century An interagency task force assigned to look into the needs of the U.S. Coast Guard into the 21st century has found "that the nation has an enduring need for a Coast Guard, specifically for a Coast Guard in the deepwater environment, that there is a near term requirement for re-capitalization and that the Coast Guard's Deepwater Capabilities Replacement Project should continue to be pursued." Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater issued the report in late February in conjunction with a speech by Coast Guard Commandant James Loy to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on February 24. Admiral Loy updated the media and others from the maritime industry on the role of the Department of Transportation agency and how it is being prepared for the future. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mort Downey served as chair for the 16-member task force composed of representatives from various federal departments and agencies as well as the White House. The group, appointed by President Clinton in 1999, was charged with answering if the nation requires a Coast Guard to operate in the deepwater environment. It analyzed the agency's missions through the year 2020. This was the first administrative-level survey of the agency in almost 20 years. In the summary of his task force's report, Downey stated, "Our findings reinforced the value of a multi-missioned Coast Guard with regulatory, law enforcement, and humanitarian-focused emergency response authority, and military capability that offer this and future administrations a highly motivated, cost-effective service with the demonstrated competence to meet changing national priorities." The task force agreed to a series of conclusions that underscore the need for the Coast Guard and the support the agency will require to meet the challenges of 2020: •the Coast Guard's roles and missions support national policies and objectives that will endure into the 21st century; • the United States will continue to need a flexible, adaptable, multi-mission, military Coast Guard to meet national maritime interests and requirements well into the next century; •in order to hedge against tomorrow's uncertainties, the Coast Guard should be rebuilt so as to make it more adaptable; • the Coast Guard should continue to pursue new methods and technologies to enhance its ability to perform its vital missions; •the re-capitalization of the Coast Guard's deepwater capability is a near-term national priority; and • the deepwater acquisition project is a sound approach to that end and the interagency task force strongly endorses its process and timeline. Seafarers LOG 3 �1 ----'He Earned the Respect of All' Building Named in Leon Hall's Memory Among the more than 150 people attending the ceremony are (from left) OMU Percy Payton, Jacksonville, Fla . Port Agent Tony McQuay and retired Steward Tobe Dansley. Pictured at the counter are (from left) SIU employee Alicia Lorge, Recertified Steward Albert Coale and retired Steward Herbert Scypes Sr. SIU Boat Operator Rescues Fisherman Editors note: SIU member Richard Williams, second assistant engineer on the NATCO dredge Manhattan Is land, submitted the following article. On the morning of March 10, the crew boat Columbia River -operated by Seafarer Dennis Johnston-was doing a routine survey of the San Juan, P.R. entrance channel. The Columbia River is working with the SIU-crewed hopper dredge Manhattan Island, which is contracted to deepen and widen the entrance channel. San Juan is well known for its onshore swells and heavy surf. Aboard the Columbia River, Johnston and Don Smith, a field engineer for NATCO, sighted a sport fisherman caught in the trough and waving frantically. Initially the fisherman was moving in and out of sight due to the heavy swell. It appeared his engine lost power and he was rapidly heading toward the rocks. Captain Johnston immediately suspended the survey to investigate. Sea conditions made it impossible to go full speed; by 4 Seafarers LOB the time the Columbia River arrived, the fisherman was only about 25 to 50 feet from the rocks. Now the crew boat was in danger of going aground; but Smith threw a line to the boat-aptly named Hijo Afortunado or Fortunate Son-and safely towed it to a nearby marina. Approximately one-half mile away was a runaway-flag vessel that had been aground for several months. If the crew boat had arrived a minute later, the allfiberglass Hijo Afortunado would have suffered the same fate. The fisherman praised Johnston and Smith for their assistance and courage. Captain Steve Taylor saw the rescue from the Manhattan Island. "If he had gone up on the rocks, there's no telling if anyone would have found him," he said. "His boat would have crunched like potato chips. "He's lucky, because we don't survey there every day and (Johnston and Smith) were the only guys around for miles." More than 150 active and retired Seafarers and their families recently gathered at the SIU hall in Mobile, Ala. to celebrate the memory of Leon Hall, former vice president of the union's Atlantic Coast region. In what is believed to have been an unprecedented ceremony, the building was named in memory of Hall, a charter member of the union, who passed away in 1992 at age 72. No other SIU hall has been dedicated in someone's memory. The hall now features a large photo of Leon Hall and a plaque of remembrance. "Leon was a mentor to the next generation of union officials," said SIU President Michael Sacco during the February 25 ceremony. "He reminded all of us who worked with him to always respect the brothers and sisters who make up this union. He drilled into us the need to do our homework and always be prepared when we boarded a ship, because the members were counting on us." At least 20 members of Hall's family attended the assembly, including his two sisters. "The comments from everyone who attended were so positive," noted Ed Kelly, the SIU port agent in Mobile. "It couldn't have gone any better." Hall, always an extremely popular union brother. worked every shipboard job in the galley, becoming a chief steward. In the early 1960s he came ashore to work with the union's Maritime Advancement Program, the SIU 's early upgrading and refresher training operation. From there, he served the membership in various posts including San Francisco port agent, New York port agent and headquarters representative. In 1979 he became Atlantic Coast vice president, a position to which he was re-elected in every union balloting until his retirement in 1988. Never short of conversation, he affectionately was nicknamed "Radio" by his union brothers and sisters. "Leon truly cared about his fellow Seafarers," observed Sacco. "He earned the respect of all." AB Herbert Scypes Jr. provided four photos accompanying this article along with two on the front page. The memorial plaque reads as follows; "Leon Hall was a true believer in helping others. He was an advocate, teacher, listener, mentor, supporter-in other words, a union brother in every sense of the word. While he fought to improve the working I Leon Hall served the membership in many union posts, including Atlantic Coast vice president. conditions for all Seafarers, his heart always remained in Mobile. Brother Hall charted the course that many others followed in the SIU." SIU President Michael Sacco (second from left) is pictured with retirees (front, from left) Sonny Rankin, Sacco, Y. C. McMillan, Herbert Scypes Sr., Herbert Hollings, (back) Nick Juzang and Eddie Bowers. 1 NATCO Crews Ratify 3-Year Contract By a vast majority, SIU members sailing aboard NATCO dredges have approved a new three-year contract featuring numerous gains. "We're all pretty excited about it," said Captain Steve Taylor aboard the Manhattan Is land. "Everybody's happy with it," observed AB/Dragtender Ray Maddock, who served on the negotiating committee. "Primarily, what the guys were asking for were more benefits for their dependents, a higher pension and pay raise. We achieved all of those goals, along with others. We got everything the members asked for, plus a few other gains they (initially) weren't even aware of." Also serving on the committee, which negotiated the contract in early March, were Mike Horn, Dale McKelvie, Jeff Mccranie, SIU Asst. VP Contracts George Tricker and SIU Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Port Agent Ambrose Cucinotta. Captain Phil Kleinebreil said everyone on the Northerly Island approved the contract. "Everybody is very satisfied," he noted. Among other gains, the pact calls for a 3-percent wage increase each year of the contract; doubles the optical benefit for members and their dependents; doubles the death benefit; and adds prescription coverage for dependents. It also stipulates additional pension credits; increases vacation benefits; and adds NATCO crews to the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. "I think it's a good one. I was happy with it," said Hom. "I've been through this procedure a few times now, and every time it's been an education. We tried really hard this time to educate the crews about all the gains that were made, because some of the background information isn't necessarily incorporated into the printed version of the contract." Both Hom and Maddock credited Tricker and Cucinotta for their efforts. "This was my first time on the bargaining committee, and it was a worthwhile experience," stated Maddock, whose wife is a shop steward for the Office and Professional Employees International Union. "Both George and Ambrose were invaluable. They're professionals and they're good guys." He added that both the SIU crews and the company are work- ing to ensure NATCO crews may take advantage of the curriculums available at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, including various classes based at the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. ITFAssists Stranded Mariners Continued from page 2 flag nations. More than a halfcentury ago, U.S. maritime unions called them runaways because of their use as a device for shipowners to pay a fairly nominal fee to the government of a non-maritime nation seeking to raise revenue. The shipowners then escape from a maritime nation's safety regulations, procedures and inspections, tax laws and higher wages-mostly by insulating themselves with often unscrupulous managers and registries. The ITF comprises more than 500 unions from approximately 130 countries. April20DO �Houston Seafarers Meet With Rep. Green U.S. Rep. Gene Green (top photo, standing) earlier this year attended a membership meeting at the SIU hall in Houston, where he emphasized to Seafarers his strong support of the U.S. merchant marine. Green-pictured with (from left) SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, SIU Asst. VP Jim McGee and SIU Representative Kenny Moore-reiterated his backing of the Jones Act and the Maritime Security Program. He also encouraged members to register and vote in the November elections. Supreme Court Rules State Oversteps Jurisdiction Regarding Tanker Regs By a unanimous vote, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the state of Washington had overstepped its jurisdiction in imposing stricter tanker regulations than those implemented by the federal government. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy delivered the decision in the case of United States v. Locke on March 6. In his statement, Justice Kennedy wrote, "Washington's regulations regarding general navigation watch procedures, crew English skills and training, and maritime casualty reporting are preempted by the comprehensive federal regulatory scheme governing tankers." Kennedy added, "The state has enacted legislation in an area where the federal interest has been manifest since the beginning of the republic and is now well established.... Only the federal government may regulate the design, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, operation, equipping, personnel qualification and manning of tankers. Congress has left no room for state regulations of these matters." The case was remanded to the lower courts to consider whether other standards, such as lookouts in times of restricted visibility, may be allowed because of "peculiarities" within Washington state's waterways. It was brought to the U.S. District Court in 1996 by the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) after the Pacific Northwest state passed laws requiring tankers entering the state's waterways to meet its stricter regulations than those implemented by the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Those regulations dealt with watch policy, English-speaking requirements, spill reporting and additional training and drills. INTERTANKO challenged the legislation as unconstitutional because it superceded federal law. After the district court ruled in favor of the state, INTERTANKO appealed. The United States intervened on the side of INTERTANKO, claiming the district court failed to give sufficient weight to the foreign affairs interests of the federal government. Despite the involvement of the government, the appeals court found in favor of the state. The case moved to the Supreme Court and was heard December 7, 1999. AFL-CIO Continues Push for Global Economic Fairness Following its peaceful march through the streets of Seattle last December to call attention to the needs of workers in the global economy, the AFL-CIO is pushing forward with its campaign for global fairness. The national labor federation's executive board endorsed a state- Amsea Offers Retroactive Adjustments for RRF Crew Members Amsea has joined the list of Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessel operators providing EPA wage adjustments to Seafarers working aboard its contracted ships. SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez reported the company will provide the adjustment retroactive, in some cases, to July 1998. Tellez noted the problems concerning the EPA pay scales go back to complaints filed in July 1998 about the bidding procedure used by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) in awarding new three-year contracts for RRF ships. When MarAd rescinded the awards announced the previous month, it extended the contracts for those companies already managing the vessels. Since that time, MarAd has been working to correct the problems discovered within its bidding procedures. New awards are expected to be announced later this year. The SIU-contracted vessels covered under the Amsea announcement include the Cape Jacob, Cape John, Cape Johnson, Cape Juby, Cape Lambert, Cape Lobos, Cape Nome, Cape Washington, Cape Wrath, USNS Curtiss and USNS Wright. The RRF fleet provides surge shipping for the U.S. armed forces. The ships are owned by the government but operated by private companies that employ U.S. merchant mariners. The vessels, which are kept in various states of readiness, include tankers, roll-on/roll-offs, breakbulk and auxiliary crane ships. Pres. Jackson Crew Discusses Merger ment during its meeting in February to educate both union members and the general public on how the global economy affects everyone, to push for stronger human rights and worker rights language in trade agreements, to establish international solidarity with workers in emerging nations and to hold multinational corporations accountable for their e:fforts to speed the race to the bottom. One of the AFL-CIO's immediate objectives is to stop legislation that would grant permanent normal trade relations to China. Congress is considering a measure that would end the yearly review for such trade status for China. The measure has the support of the White House. In its effort to show why China should not be granted permanent normal trade relations, the AFL-CIO referred to a U.S. State Department report issued February 25 that stated the Asian nation's "poor human rights record deteriorated markedly throughout the year, as the government intensified efforts to suppress dissent." The report detailed extensive human rights abuses, including AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney updates the Maritime Trades Dept. executive board on the labor federation's campaign for fairness in the global economy. continued or further tightened restrictions on freedom of religion, association, movement, speech and the press. Among the facts listed by the State Department to support its contention were: • extrajudicial killings, torture and mistreatment of prisoners, forced confessions and denial of due process; •by the end of 1999, almost all key leaders of the opposition China Democracy Party were in prison or custody; • thousands of members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement were detained after the movement was banned in July; and • violence against women which included forced abortions and forced sterilization as well as trafficking of women and children. After the State Department report was released, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said, "Year after year, report after report shows that China has no intention of abiding by the most basic rules of the international community. Our growing trade relationship with China has not encouraged China to clean up its act, despite what supporters of permanent free trade status claim." Polling conducted by the AFL-CIO since the first of the year revealed nearly 70 percent of American voters reject the idea that "the best way to improve human rights is not to restrict trade, but to engage China and include it in important international bodies, such as the World Trade Organization." The polls also showed Americans dismiss the idea that permanent trading status for China would expand exports and create good jobs in the U.S. Sweeney further noted, "China-which has not yet ratified the two United Nations covenants on human rights it agreed to sign before President Clinton's-·trip to China in 1998has broken every trade agreement it has signed with the United States over the past 10 years." The affiliated unions of the AFL-CIO, which includes the SIU, represent more than 13 million workers. Hvide Marine Founder Dies Earlier this year, Seafarers aboard the President Jackson in San Francisco discussed the proposed merger of the NMU into the SIU. Pictured in the galley are (from left) SIU San Francisco Port Agent Nick Celona, Recertified Steward Terry Allen, Assistant Cook/Utility Mary Lou Lopez and SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone. As reported in last month's issue of the Seafarers LOG, members from both unions overwhelmingly voted in favor of full merger talks. April2000 Hans J. Hvide, founder of Hvide Marine Incorporated, passed away March 16 after a 10month fight with heart disease. He was 83. Hvide Marine owns the five SIU-crewed "Double Eagle" tankers-the HM! Ambrose Channel, HMI Diamond Shoals, HM! Cape Lookout Shoals, HM! Nantucket Shoals and the HM! Brenton Reef Hans Hvide had a long and distinguished career in the maritime industry, retiring in 1994. He is credited with initiating the first roll-on/rolloff operation in the United States, in the early 1950s. He founded several maritime companies, including American Overseas and Chartering Corp. (1945), and Port Everglades Towing Co. (1958), the forerunner to Hvide Marine. The Miami Herald described Hvide as a "maritime pioneer" who "helped mold Port Everglades with his inventiveness, will and philanthropy." His son, Erik, who served as president of Hvide Marine for five years, told the newspaper, "Whether it was a deckhand or a cook, a captain or a manager, he always had time for people and a sincere interest for them. He believed in people and was very idealistic." Hans Hvide was born in 1916 in Bergen, Norway to a ship-owning family. He graduated from Bergen Commercial College in 1935 and immigrated to the United States five years later. During World War II, Hvide was an executive with the Norwegian Shipping and Trading Mission in New York, which was charged with the operation of the Norwegian merchant fleet. Seafarers LOG 5 �Wheelsman Joseph Boyer Richard Reiss QMED Eugene Hayes J.A. W Iglehart After a fairly mild winter, Great Lakes Seafarers are getting an early start the 2000 navigation season. The Southdown Conquest was the first laker to fit out; the cement carrier departed February 7 from Chicago bound for Charlevoix. Mich. Full crews also reported aboard the JA. W Iglehart and Alpena in mid-March to inspect their boats and get them in tip-top condition for the heavy loads ahead. The opening of the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.-traditionally marking the beginning of a new sailing sea.son-took place at the end of last month~ and most of the other SIUcrewed lakes vessels began their routes at that time as well. SIU representatives met with Seafarers aboard many of the vessels at fit-out and provided the photographs on this page. They noted that whil.e no ice remains on the lakes, the water levels are still very low. on The dredge Luedtke gets to work. Porter Gary Lipczynski American Mariner Wheelsman Kenneth Bluitt American Mariner Right: AB Watchman Jeff Laland Richard Reiss A Great Lakes tug in Toledo helps break ice for the American Republic. Bosun Herb Shiller J.A. W Iglehart Deckhand Lorry Wilcox Luetdke Engineering Co. 6 Seafarers LOB AB Vladislav Pitsenko J.A. W Iglehart Right: QMED Tracy Ribble J.A. W Iglehart Second Cook Raymond Maynord American Mariner April 2000 �Recertified Stewards Encourage Apprentices The message may not be new, but its tremendous importance to SIU members also is intact. In what has become an unofficial tradition, 10 graduating members of the recertified steward class last month urged unlicensed apprentices at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education to take full advantage of the opportunities available through the school and the SIU. The stewards-Robert Hag- gerty, Martin Buck, Abraham Martinez, Anthony St. Clair, William McGee, Charles Roldan, Randy Stephens, Richard Riley, Jeanette Montgomery then," said the 38-year-old Seafarer. "Today, the unlicensed apprentices have a wonderful program here. I encourage you to ask questions and be careful in foreign ports. Good luck!" Haggerty, 36, whose home port is Tacoma, Wash., told the apprentices that this shouldn't be their only trip to the Paul Hall Center. "I can't urge you enough to keep upgrading. Keep current and you'll have no problem shipping," he stated. St. Clair, McGee and Stephens each reminded the apprentices that their safe, productive work aboard ship will help determine and Kevin Marchandaddressed the apprentices and fellow Seafarers during the March membership meeting in Piney future continued employment opportunities for Seafarers. "It's important to do a good job when you're out there," Point, Md. observed Stephens, 45, who sails from the; port of Houston. Thi; recertified stc;w~ds also complimented the school's in· structors and staff, crediting them with maintaining a comfortable but professional atmosphere that promotes learning. Recertification, a five-week curriculum, is considered the top class offered to members of the steward department. Head Start Marchand, who sails from Port Everglades, Fla., let the apprentices know "what a head start your have." He recalled that his first deep-sea voyage ( 1978) occurred only because an · officer literally shanghaied him to a nonunion ship. . "Things were very different "When you get to sea, work hard and do your job," said the 46-year-old McGee, whose home port is Jacksonville, Fla. "Stick with the course and come back to Piney Point to upgrade as soon as possible." "It may seem obvious, but the best thing you can do for yourself and your union is to do a good job/' explained St. Clair, 43, who sails from the port of Houston. "And come back ~o upgrade. The staff here works hard for our benefit." 'Holding ~ Future' Riley, 49, emphasized, the impact the apprentices can have. "You hold the future of our Part of the class took place at the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, located near the Paul Hall Center's main campus. Several stewards said they were impressed by the facility's very modern and maritime-specific equipment. The fire fighting school opened last summer. The SIU's newest recertified stewards are pictured with SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez (top photo, fourth from left) and (bottom photo) SIU Director of Legislative Affairs Terry Turner (right, standing). Completing the fiveweek curriculum were Richard Riley, Anthony St. Clair, Abraham Martinez, Robert Haggerty, Kevin Marchand, Jeanette Montgomery, William McGee, Charles Roldan, Randy Stephens and Martin Buck. union in your hands," declared Riley, who sails from the port of Honolulu. "Please don't drop the ball. We have the best educators here at the school; take advantage of it. There are more and more (industry) regulations to come, so stay current by upgrading. "And remember this; 'Safety First' will protect you and your family." Others in the recertification class mentioned various aspects of the curriculum, with several pointing to the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School as an invaluable addition to the Paul Hall Center. Montgomery, 35, praised the Paul Hall Center's culinary staff, whom she described as "outstanding." She said the recertification students enjoyed a natural camaraderie and "good communication" throughout the class. Montgomery, whose home port is Tacoma, Wash., also said she enjoyed the upgraders' meeting with SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez and SIU Assistant Vice President Contracts George Tricker at the union's headquarters, located in Camp Springs, Md. Martinez, 43, credited the union and the school for offering a worthwhile class and a solid career path. "I'm proud to be an SIU member and I thank (SIU President) Mike Sacco and his staff," noted Martinez, who sails from the port of Jacksonville. Buck, 42, who also sails from Jacksonville, commended "the Apprentices Earn GEDs Because academic studies can help Seafarers be more proficient in their work at sea, the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education offers such instruction in addition to vocational courses. Two unlicensed apprentices recently took advantage of the center's GED program, and they received diplomas during the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. GED graduates Steve Pollard (second from left) and Phillip Hartline (right) are pictured with SIU SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel (left) and SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez. Apri/2000 officials at headquarters and at Piney Point. I can't thank you enough. Keep up the good work." Roldan, 30, whose home port is New York, described the course as "very rewarding. I thank everyone involved." Among other studies, the course included various lessons in the galley labs, training at the new fire fighting and safety school, a trip to AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. and a visit to SIU headquarters. Boeing Strike Ends Workers Approve 3-Year Pacts Union engineers and technical workers at Boeing Corp. declared "a huge victory" as they returned to work last month in Puget Sound, Wash., following what is believed to be the largest whitecollar strike in U.S. history. The workers on March 19 approved separate three-year contracts covering 22,352 members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). SPEEA is an affiliate of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. The contracts, each approved by more than 70 percent of those voting, call for annual wage increases and health benefits for dependents, among other gains. The union also triumphed when Boeing dropped its demand that workers pay part of their health insurance premiums. "We plan to march back in just as we left- as a group together," the union said in a statement. "This is a huge victory for SPEEA. We thank every person who played a part in making our strike work-the members on the picket line, the volunteers, the staff, other labor unions and the community at large." AFL-CI 0 Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, who led the crucial final days of bargaining before the settlement, stated that because of this outcome, "Millions of white-collar and professional workers in our country now know they can build a better future for their families by joining and forming unions." An estimated 17 ,000 workers walked off their jobs on February 8, following nine months of contract negotiations. In a resolution supporting the workers, the AFLCIO pointed out that Boeing "refused to engage in meaningful negotiations on economic items despite the company's record profits and aggressive acquisition strategy. Boeing (also) threatened to retaliate against employees who engage in their right to strike .... Boeing disciplined the engineers' bargaining chairman for expressing the employees' point of view to the press." The company's penultimate contract offer included major concessions on employees' benefits and was rejected by a nearly unanimous vote. A subsequent offer was rejected, largely because of wages. Days before the strike began, federal mediators intervened and brought the parties back to the bargaining table. However, the company flatly refused to improve its offer and the mediator halted negotiations. Under terms of the settlement agreement, union members will return to the same jobs they held prior to the strike. Boeing and SPEEA "mutually pledge to return all operations back to normal at the earliest possible time," the union noted. The new contract also includes a "partnership agreement" aimed at "rebuilding the relationship" between Boeing and the workers. Seafarers LOG 7 �ITF: Stop Blacklisting Filipinos SIU Backs Mariners at Manila Demonstration More than 1,000 mariners along with 118 International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) inspectors marched through Manila to protest the blacklisting of Filipino seafarers who report ill treatment, dangerous working conditions and unpaid wages. The late-February rally coincided with the biennial seminar for ITF inspectors from around the world. Don Thornton, the Sill's ITF inspector on the Great Lakes, represented the union at the five-day session. The protest against the practice of blacklisting highlighted the ITF assembly. Despite sweltering temperatures, it lasted five hours and covered three miles, including a lengthy stop at the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA-often the lone official source for seagoing jobs). Several Filipino mariners told the crowd about the severe and unjust treatment they have endured because of blacklisting. lTF officials pointed out that the disreputable practice is widespread, but particularly acute in the Philippines. A global federation of more than 500 transport-related unions (including the SIU), the ITF reported that the Philippines "is the world's largest supplier of Among the participants in the ITF meeting were (from left) Arthur Petipas, Don Thornton, Rick Esopa and Jose Ybarra. Thornton is the SIU's ITF inspector on the Great Lakes; the other three men are ITF inspectors for the NMU. labor to the global merchant fleet, with some 200,000 individuals. Every year, ITF inspectors assist many thousands of Filipino mariners in recovering millions of dollars in unpaid wages, ensuring that the vessels they sail on are safe and that they are being fairly treated. "However, more often than not those who contact the ITF for help are labeled as 'troublemakers.' Their names are added to blacklists held by manning agencies and watch-lists held by the POEA. As a consequence, many frightened mariners keep silent, leaving the way clear for unscrupulous shipowners to ignore even their most basic rights." As one ITF representative put it, "When seafarers rightfully complain about safety standards, poor working conditions or unpaid wages, they should not be punished for life. Yet if a seafarer appears on a blacklist, their maritime car~er, often the only job open to them, is over. "This immoral and illegal practice must be stamped out." The ITF further charges that such blacklisting violates not only the rules of the International Labor Organization, of whlch the Philippines is a member, but also the Philippines Constitution itself. According to press reports, Philippines Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who spoke at the seminar, promised to investigate the ITF's complaints about blacklisting. Crewing agents also pledged their cooperation. Upon learning of a strike by workers at the Manila Hotel-originally scheduled to host the five-day gathering-the ITF moved its seminar to a different location in the city. Above, Abdulgani Serang, a member of the National Union of Seafarers of India, blocks a truck from approaching the Manila Hotel. Some of the U.S.-based ITF inspectors who attended the seminar gather for the rally. · Crew Member Confirms Threat of Blacklisting More than 1,000 mariners marched through Manila to protest the blacklisting of Filipino mariners. The lateFebruary event, conducted by the ITF, elicited promises from the local government and manning agencies to cooperate in solving the problem. Lucio Degal knows all about the fear of being blacklisted. He was part of the Filipino crew aboard the runaway-flag Evangelos late last year when the ship delivered foreign steel to Cleveland. The crew sought ITF assistance when the ship arrived in Ohio in October. Inspectors quickly discovered that the mariners were owed more than $100,000 in unpaid wages and were suffering from a severe lack of stores. But the crew members, reportedly afraid of being blacklisted, rescinded their initial complaints asking for the ship's arrest. In fact, ITF inspectors Don Thornton and Jim Given were told the captain of the Panamanian-flagged, Greekowned ship ordered the mariners to sign papers indicating they already had been paid "if they wanted to continue sailing." Only Degal refused to back down. He received $5,000 in back wages, plus repatriation. At the ITF rally in Manila, Degal recognized Thornton and shared new details about the Evangelos case. Degal, who repeatedly thanked the ITF for its assistance, insisted that the others withdrew their grievances because they were worried about blacklisting. Lucio Degal (right) , received his back wages, thanks to help from ITF · inspectors Don Thornton (left), Jim Given and others. But the rest of the Evangelos crew members, afraid of being blacklisted, withdrew their complaints. B Seafarers LOG Apri/2000 �When representatives from the Paul Hall Center were in Guam last January to run a seminar aimed at establishing a system to boost enrollment by Chamorros (the people of Guam) in the unlicensed apprentice program at Piney Point, Md., they also took time to visit SIU-contracted ships stationed nearby-both on Guam and Saipan, two U.S. territories in the Western Pacific. Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan and Bart Rogers, the center's admissions coordinator, updated crew members on the latest union news, including the SIU-NMU elections and brought them recent copies of the Seafarers LOG. The photos on this page show some of the meetings held aboard the 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, SPC5 Eric G. Gibson, PFC Dewayne T Williams and the 1st Lt. Jack Lummus. Above: Seafarers " discuss Uf~aboard the Bobo in Saipan with VP Don Nolan. Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan poses with (above left) SA Richard Gegenheimer and (above right) Bosun John Davis on Right: Chief Steward Robert Firth (right) gets the latest union news when the Wifliams in Saipan. Admisstons Coordinator Bart Rogers visited the GUDE AU Mohamed, left, and QE Kenneth Couture, right) Hsten to SIU representatives 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo. aboard the Williams. Left: Two of the crew members on board the 1st Lt. Jack Lummus in Saipan are Chief Cook Eric Loret and AB Robert Butler. Right Preparing lunch for Bobo crew members is Cook/Baker Danelle Harvey. Apri/2000 Seafarers LOB 9 �Global J,ink Finishes Flurry of Five Repain The SIU-crewed Global Link recently concluded a busy stretch of five consecutive cable repairs lasting three weeks apiece. Chief Steward Willie Crear reports that the vessel completed jobs near Florida, New York, the Bahamas and the mid-Atlantic shelf, "with more than 90 people on board for each trip. Whew! That was a lot of work." The ship returned to its home port of Baltimore in late January - just in time for a spate of snow and ice that paralyzed the region. Meanwhile, crew members in early March congratulated OS Mary Bado on successfully concluding her first voyage. A graduate of the unlicensed apprentice program at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Bado signed off the Global Link and headed back to the school in Piney Point, Md. to upgrade to AB. "We all love Mary and she has come a long way from apprentice to OS," noted Crear. "She is furthering her career by continuing the union tradition of improving oneself." The steward department gave Bado a warm sendoff, preparing a banana-chocolate ganache cake with kirschwasser and chocolatedipped strawberries. The Global Link is operated by Transoceanic Cableship Co. VIEWS FROM ABOVE: The SIU-crewed Sea-Land Explorer and SeaLand Voyager tie up in Long Beach, Calif. while Electricians Daran Ragucci and Allen Pasik work on a head block and bar. On tlieJob in Long Beach Seafarers in Long Beach, Calif. recently met with the SIU's Wilmington, Calif. port agent, John Cox, to discuss the proposed SIU-NMU merger and other union news. The camera-toting port agent provided these photos. The Global Link's steward department had its hands full but got the job done during a recent stretch of five consecutive cable repairs. The ship carried more than 90 people for those voyages. Pictured from left to right (standing) are Chief Steward Willie Crear, SA Ali Akmar, SA Marcial Avila, Above: Electricians Van Phan (left) and Jim Dryden are pictured at the end of a boom. (kneeling) Cook/Baker Radames Toro and SA Mauricio Martinez. Photo right: On behalf of the entire crew, Chief Steward Willie Crear (left) presents OS Mary Bado with a cake to commemorate her first voyage. "She has come a long way from apprentice to OS," Crear observed. ATTENTION: SEAFARERS ',, ,,, ,,, '~ \ ' Being in California in January has its advantages-such as riding with the top down. Shown here returning to the Sea-Land Express are AB Dan Porter, SA Ali Mohamed, QMED Alfred Lane and DEU Aguilo Llorente. SA Ali Mohamed heads to the galley on the Sea-Land Express. \ CQNfKllUTF 'ta TllE SEAFA~E~S POL.tTICA'AOTroN OONAT\ON 10 Seafarers LOB Apri/2000 �Stories Won't End Because Bosun Cain's Come Ashore Mobile Member Calls It a Career After Nearly 50 Years With the SIU Anyone who has spent any time with recent pensioner Hubert Cain knows he is a man who likes to pass along stories. Not your typical sea stories, which he can do as well as anyone else, but real life stories about his nearly 50-year career as a Seafarer. Perhaps the most well known is the one immortalized by an old "Ripley's Believe It or Not" cartoon about an eel plugging a leak in a cargo ship_ "That really happened because I was on the ship when it happened," recalled the retired recertified bosun in an interview with the Seafarers LOG. "I still have the cartoon." (A copy is reprinted with this article.) The vessel was the Alcoa Pioneer. Cain and shipmates were trying to bring the vessel to Mobile, Ala. because it was taking on water. When the cargo ship came into drydock, the eel was discovered in the hole where water had been seeping. "I never saw anytlllng like it before or since." Cain received his mariner's document while he was in the eighth grade_He said that was a normal thing to do in Mobile, the southern Alabama community 4·8-MOBILE PRESS BELIEVE IT OR NOT By Ripl~y .....~-~ .' ."... . . ..... . ..,, . · -~· . TlfAT HAD I\ LEAIC D UP BY AN EEL! The S.S. ALCOA PIONEER, 'TAlaMG ON WATER IN ITS HOO>, LWffD INlt>- ORYDOQ( AT tl()BIL;, ALABAMA, NBElrMU~ 711AT A HOLE IN TUE '801'7tM1 OF 11/E $11/P NAO BEEN EFFECTIVELY BY AN EEL·! • rtl/G661> ._............ ".... ~ ..... : !. DR~ THOMAS MAHTON '"20.-.n>" DELIVIPEO $0 SflfMON$ OIJ : THE .SUBJECT OF 'P.Slfl./rf I/SJ . , HIS PUBLISHED SERMONS ON PSAlM-'19 COMPRISE .A eooK OF UOQOOO ~ - NEARLY ·~Cf THE ~U"'f. ·:· . OF THE &NTfR& 8181;1 ···~• •·· 1 This reprint from 1961 tells about the eel that plugged a hole on the Alcoa Pioneer while Hubert Cain was aboard_ where he and his brother John (another SIU bosun) grew up. They stayed in school but would sail during the summers Being one of the biggest kids in the neighborhood, he played center on his high school football team and earned all-city honors. Also on that team was his next door neighbor, Vince Dooley, who eventually became the head football coach at the University of Georgia. When graduation time came, Cain recounted his teammates saying what colleges they were headed for_"I'm going to the union hall" was Cain's reply, where he caught the Fort Jackson. " Sailing really is my life. I'm retired, but I'm still SIU!" He started in the deck department and worked his way up to recertified bosun in 1975 _Over the years, not only did his job change, but so did the working conditions for Seafarers_ When asked what was the biggest change he had witnessed. he could not list one because he believed there were several. Cain said many of the changes regarding the shipment of cargo can be traced to Malcolm McLean for introducing containers. Prior to the arrival of the boxes, cargo was handled as best as possible. Cain remembered being aboard a C-2 Waterman vessel with five hatches, 22 booms and one jumbo boom in the days before containers. "It was fun to rig, but we don't do that now," he noted . When he started sailing, fo ' c's'les could have as many as five mariners occupying them and no air conditioning. "Conditions kept getting better. We went to two in a fo ' c's' le with a shower at the end of the hall. Then, private rooms with baths and phones_ " I call them floating condominiums" he added with a chuckle. ing without a wait to allow them to build up 90 days' sea time. 1963 Under the arrangement with the Coast Guard, The SIU-manned Floridian became the first Seafarers who pass the examination at the end American merchant ship fired on by Cuban of their lifeboat training will be automatically MIG jet airplanes when she was attacked last given their lifeboat tickets after they have Thursday, March 28, sailed for the required rr.:===============================:;i 90 days to gain certiby two Russian-built fication. aircraft about 50 miles north of Cuba. The jets first circled 1980 the ship for 20 minMembers of the SIU utes before opening joined picket lines in up with their machine San Francisco recent· guns. u==:::::::::::::=::=::==::::=::=::=::=::=::=::=::=:::!l ly, to show solidarity The attack came in with unions striking the same waters between Cuba and Florida local TV station KRON. Local unions belongwhere Cuban MIGs attacked the American ing to the American Federation of Television shrimp boat Ala with rockets and machine and Radio Artists {AFTRA} and the guns on February 20. Seafarer Jack Nelson, an International Brotherhood of Electrical AB, took pictures of the attack from the deck, Workers (IBEW) have been on strike for nearly which he handed over to U.S. intelligence three months, seeking improved wages and sources when the ship docked in Miami. working conditions. The management of the TV station had pub1967 The United States Coast Guard recently grant- licly claimed that the striking unions did not have the support of organized labor in San ed approval of the lifeboat certification trainFrancisco. The SIU's response was to publicly ing at the Harry Lundeberg School of demonstrate that the IBEW and AFTRA cerSeamanship: In the future, examinations for tainly did have labor's support by joining the lifeboat certification will be given to seamen who attend the school after their lifeboat train- picket line. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG Marking Hubert Cain's retirement recently are (from left) his brother John (an SIU bosun) , SIU President Michael Sacco. Cain and Bosun Tom Soresi. But Cain quickly pointed out these better conditions were gained by the SIU through negotiations . "Union leaders got these conditions. The companies didn't offer them! " The Mobile native also listed automation of the wheel house and engine room among the alterations that influenced all manners. Even after 50 years of sailing, the bosun is proud of the facts "I never met a seaman I didn't like, and I never brought a beef into port We always settled it before tying up." Cain provided some advice for those entering the SIU: "The union is not offering a job, it's offering you the opportunity to be somebody. You can go places and be what you want to be." He urged all members to keep upgrading and learning because the industry will continue to change. Cain plans to stay active in union causes. He still attends membership meetings in Mobile and is involved politically for candidates that support maritime issues_ He said he may not be making ships, but he has no intention of slowing down. Credit Chief Cook, Too The steward department aboard the President Jackson went the extra mile to provide special meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas days, as noted on page 10 of the March issue of the Seafarers LOG. However, in a recent note to the LOG, Assistant Cook/Utility Mary Lou Lopez said the department overlooked one thing: a photo of Chief Cook John Bennett (pictured here). "His photo inadvertently got left out, but he did a great job on his holiday relief trip," wrote Lopez. "Everyone enjoyed his great personality and cooking skills_" Doubling Up at Paul Hall Center 1 . JS C> · I . JU HJSTC> April2000 Other students at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education may have thought they were seeing double when, in fact, they saw identical twins Shannon (left) and Shaun Bonefont at the school in Piney Point, Md. Shannon is upgrading to FOWT, while Shaun is completing the third and final phase of the unlicensed apprentice program. Numerous other members of the Bonefont family also sail with the SIU. Seafarers LOG 11 �Vacati()n at the Vaul llall tenter As many Seafarers, pensioners and their families have already discovered, the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. offers just about everything one could possibly want to help make a memorable summer vacation-and at a great value. Just ask the people pictured on this page. They were among the many vacationers who took advantage of this SIU benefit last summer-and had a great time! For up to two weeks this summer, SIU members and their families can enjoy a dream vacation of their own, spending their hard-earned time off doing exactly what they want. The center offers affordable accommodations and three meals a day plus a health spa, tennis courts, Olympic-size swimming pool, a maritime museum and beautifully landscaped grounds. There also are plenty of opportunities for fishing, boating, jogging and sunbathing at nearby beaches. The summer months in Southern Maryland are filled with festivals, celebrations, fairs and Cl'aft show5, and that doesn't even begin to take in all the museums, historic sites, haseha.11 games and other activities in Washington, D.C., Alexandria and Arlington, Va., and Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.-all within an easy hour-and-a-half drive from Piney Point. As a benefit of membership in the SIU, Joe Vazquez, who works on the shoregang in Philadelphia, took advantage of the summer vacation opportunities for himself and his family at the P11ul H11ll Center. Enjoying th~ pool 11rea are members of his family-Kathryn, J ~nnif "r and Kothy Vazquez-as well as Anna, Jessica, David and George Marusiak and Roy Erdman. While QMED Rand . summer, his wife y McKenzie was attendin . him at the schooi Deb, a~d daughter, Shawn~ upgrading courses last and still be on vacation. , were able to stay with Retired Bosun John Aversa and his wife, Shirley, spent part of last summer's vacation at Piney Point. John now has his own embroidery business-Ship's Wheel Nautical Crafts. He made the caps that both he and Shirley are wearing. If you missed out on the Paul Hall Center in 1999, then don't let your summer holiday be a repeat of last year's. Start a new tradition ... in Piney Point. Everyone in your family will love it and want to keep coming back. The first step is to decide when you want to arrive. Then, fill out the reservation form at right and mail it to the Paul Hall Center. That's all there is to it. Happy vacation! PAUL HALL CENTER TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information Name: Social Security number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Paul Hall Center is limited to two weeks per family. Book number: Address: Telephone number: Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Member $40.00/day Spouse $10.00/day Child $10.00/day Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of Date of arrival: 1st choice: 2nd choice: _ _ __ 3rd choice: _ _ __ (Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks) Date of departure: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ age or younger. The prices listed above include all meals but do not include tax. 12 Seafarers LOG Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. 4100 Apri/2000 �What You Need to Know About STCW Certificates The information on this page is reprinted from previous issues of the Seafarers LOG in order to clarify which unlicensed mariners need an STCW certificate, the differences between 1978 and 1995 certificates, and how to obtain them _ Who is required to carry an STCW certificate right now? Any mariner sailing in international waters who is required to hold a lifeboatman 's endorsement Any rating forming part of a navigational watch. All tanker personnel who are assigned cargo duties (such as ABs and pumpmen, for instance). Whether they carry a 1978 certificate or a 1995 certificate depends on when they entered the industry and when they may have upgraded. _ _ _ _ _u_n_i_te_d_S_t_a_te_s_o_f_Am_e_r_ic_a__ ENDORSEMENT ATI1!SI1NG THB ISSUB OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER 1HE PROVISIONS OF THE INTI!RNAnONAL CONVENI10N ON STANDARDS OF TRA1NINO, CERTIFlCATlON AND WATOIX1!l!PINO JIOll SJ!AJIAJU!RS, 1978 ~~":~of the Uniled Stalel of America catiliel that Certificate No-,!=..::6:.=:!_.!.:.7.~::,:::6..:::.:6!...oo~3:.__dul_y_qualificd_ . _in UMlJ'A'IlONS APPLYING 1" ANY) CAPAoTr consider timing their application for the 1995 certificate so it coincides with renewal of their z-card. By doing so, the 1995 certificate will be valid for five years. Rating forming part of tl navigationa1 watch Proficient in the use of aurvi val. craft What if I am an AB sailing on a tanker in international waters, but currently don't have an STCW certificate? "THIS CERTIFICATE EXPIRES 31 JANUARY 2002." No one fitting that description is supposed to sail. If you were unaware ot the requirement (which dates to 1996) and somehow "slipped through the cracks," then you should immediately make arrangements to acquire your STCW certificate. What's the difference between the two certificates? Date of isaue ofthW endonement Who is required to cany an STCW certificate as af February 1, 20027 Th@ mi!!in chi!lng@ i!IS of that dat«:! i$ that vvatch$tand· ing members of the engine department are required to carry a 1995 STCW .;;ertificate (as of February 1, 2002) . So, the requirements apply to all watchstanding personnel (including engine department members), all tanker personnel who are assigned cargo duties, and all lifeboatmen on passenger vessels (that is. those crew members who are required to hold a lif@boat !!!!ndor~'='m~nt). Also, the 1978 certificate is obsolete as of February 1, 2002. If I currently must carry an STCW certificate, which one should I possess? It depends on when you began sailing and when you may have upgraded your rating. Mariners who started their sea service or training before August 1, 1998 must meet the requirements of the 1978 convention. Those individuals may carry ex ires on February 1, the 1978 certificate, hi 2002 (regardless of when it was issued). Mariners who began their sea time or training after August 1, 1998 must meet the requirements of the 1995 STCW amendments-and , therefore, must carry a 1995 certificate. One potentially confusing issue is that it is permissible for mariners who began sailing or training before August 1, 1998 to carry a 1995 certificate, even though it's not presently required. For those individuals, the 1995 certificate supersedes the 1978 document. In other words, there is no reason to carry both. However, the 1995 document is not considered superior or more desirable for those mariners. Either one satisfies current regulations for affected ratings. Keep in mind that the 1978 certificate cannot be used on or after February 1, 2002. What if I upgraded after August 1, 1998? If you began both the required sea time for the upgrade and also the training itself after August 1, 1998, then you need a 1995 certificate. If any of the required sea time or training took place prior to August 1, 1998, then you only are required to have a 1978 certificate (though, again, you may apply for a 1995 document, provided you meet the Chapter VI requirements). What if I applied for my first z-card after August 1, 1998 and had no prior sea time or training? You need a 1995 certificate, which would have been issued when you acquired your z-card if you satisfied the requirements of STCW Chapter VI: Basic Safety Training. How do I get an STCW certificate? Through Coast Guard regional exam centers (RECs). To get a 1995 certificate, Seafarers must present evidence of meeting the requirements of STCW Chapter VI: Basic Safety Training. These requirements are for documentation of training and assessment for personal survival techniques, fire fighting and fire prevention, elementary first aid and personal safety/social responsibility. Mariners also may apply by mail to the REC that issued their license or document. The 1995 certificate expires on the same date as the individual's z-card, regardless of when the certificate is issued. With that in mind, mariners may want to Apri/2000 of the a1xwe c..m:ntion, '°-in :-::::;·;.th~~~ ilM~Jion. illdiCaiedO Thia cndoracmcat ii DOI valid wilC8 ICCOlllpOilicd by a Yl1id US Merclwlt Marinen' lic:cmc or doc:umellt. The lawful bok!Dr of this cndoracmcnt may ltrVC in the following capacity or capKitica apecified. The main differences are that the 1995 certificate has a space for a passport-size photo (the 1978 certificate does not): and the 1995 certificate uses d@scriptions thi!!t are germane to particular coun· tries. instead of wider-ranging terminology from the International Maritime Organization . An example of the terminology differences'. Under the "capacity" description, the 1995 certificate may say, WAble seaman, any waters, lifeboatman," whereas the 1978 document says "Rating forming part of a navigational watch" and "Proficient in the use of 18 APR 1997 25 AUG 1945 L. M. HYMAN (O.. ........ I0..1) sample of a 1978 certificate surviv~I cr~ft." It's also worth noting that the 1995 certificate features spaces marked "function," "level" and "limitations applying (if any)." However, these areas intentionally are left blank. They were added to the certificate solely to aid port state control officials by providing some uniformity between U.S. certificates and those used in other signatory nations. United States of America ENDORSEMENT ATTESTING THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAi. CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAJNING, ceRTIFICAnON AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, 1978, AS AMENDED IN 1995 The Gov.,.,,,ent ol the U"ted States of Amaica cettiftes Iha! Cer!ificata No.(s) _,,,,46"-'-7"-"92-""12"""23 "--------has " - Issued lo _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___,whoho> be<n ""'1d dtJy~ollod in accaaancew1111111eprovismsolragu:atlor(s)_,_,VI'"-'/Z,,___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ o1111eaoovecooventim, to serve In the How did this all start? And why is it so confusing? This casiaeil\I or capacities fisted below. endors.,,,.,,t is not vajid unJess The lawful - ABLE SE.AMAN, ANY WATERS LIFEBOATHAN BASIC SAE"ETY TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION COMPLETED 11 DECEMBER 1998. Endo<semontNo.: 467921223 U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 455 Commercial Street Boston, MA 02109-1045 Phone: (617) 223-3040 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center iHued"' ll FEBRUARY 1999 ot~HO~US~TO:::.:,:N_ _ _ __ 2 2 NOVEMBER 5 3 Oatootbffthollhoholdo'otlhoccrtlllGoto photo DEPT. OF TRANS .. CG 5611 (1Q.!16) Contact your nearest REC, your port agent or the Paul Hall Center. You also may check the Coast Guard's STCW web site, located at: http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/ U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center U.S. Custom House 40 South Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202-4022 Phone: (410) 962-5132 """""ed. LIMITATIONS APPLYING (IF ANY) S1gnot1nolcertitlcate- U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 510 L Street, Suite 100 Anchorage, AK 99501-1946 Phone: (907) 271-6736 LIMITATIONS APPLYING (IF ANY} of this onlarsamant may servo In the following capacity or capocitles CAPACITY I have more questions. U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center Bldg. 14, Rm. 109, Coast Guard Isl. Alameda, CA 94501-5100 Phone: (510) 437-3092 _.l'-'J'-"'UN,,_,,E.....!!2""-'00;.:.3_ _ _ _ _~ LEVEL FUNCTION STCW stands for International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for mariners. The original STCW convention, ratified in 1978, is a multi-national agreement which sets minimum standards for certification, training and skills needed by deep-sea mariners worldwide. The U.S. didn't sign onto the original convention until 1991. At that time, the U.S. was given five years to reach total compliance. Here's where things became more complicated: In 1995, more than 100 nations-including the U.S.ratified amendments to the original convention. In some cases, the dates for compliance with the original pact and the amendments overlapped. Essentially, that is how the U.S. ended up with two different STCW certificates (not to mention other requirements). subject lo '"'Y limitations indiealod '-"til accompanied by a valid U.S. M#chant Mariner's license er docu'nanl sample of a 1995 certificate with space for photo U.S. Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers (Updated as of 9/30/99) 196 Tradd Street Charleston, SC 29401-1899 Phone: (843) 724-7693 U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 433 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96813-4909 Phone: (808) 522-8264 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center 8876 Gulf Freeway, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77017-6595 Phone: (713) 948-3350 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center 2760 Sherwood Lane. Suite 2A Juneau, AK 99801-8545 Phone: (907) 463-2458 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Ofc Regional Examination Center 165 N. Pico Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone: (562) 980-4485 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Memphis Regional Examination Center 200 Jefferson Ave. , Suite 1302 Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: (901) 544-3297 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center Claude Pepper Federal Building 51 SW. 1st Ave. 6th Floor Miami, FL 33130-1608 Phone: (305) 536-6548/6874 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 9820 Lake Forest Blvd, Suite P New Orleans, LA 70127-3077 Phone: (504) 589-6183 U.S. Coast Guard Activities New York Regional Examination Center Battery Park Building New York, NY 10004-8545 Phone: (212) 668-7492 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 6767 North Basin Avenue Portland, OR 97217-3992 Phone: (503) 240-9346 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 1519 Alaskan Way South Seattle, WA 98134-1192 Phone: (206) 217-6115 U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Regional Examination Center 1222 Spruce Street, Suite 8.104E St. Louis, MO 63103-2835 Phone: (314) 539-3091 U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center Federal Building, Room 501 234 Summit Street Toledo, OH 43604-1590 Phone: (419) 259-6395 Seafarers LOG 13 �- A VOYAGE TO INDIA-1940 Pensioner James M. Smith joined the SIU in Baltimore as a charter member, first sailing in 1939 following a four-year stint in the US. Marine Corps. After having spent a cold and hungry winter in the port of Savannah, Ga., he shipped as an ordinary seaman on Isthmian Line's SS Steel Age, an old Hog Islander built during the First World War. During a voyage to India, the 21-year-old Smith kept a journal of his observations and impres- course to escape enemy submarines. At 1600 we raised land off the starboard bow with the mist shrouding the mountainous coast of North Africa. At 1800 we entered the Strait of Gibraltar with the city of Tangier on our starboard side. We were through the strait at 2200 and received a signal from a British warship to heave to and prepare for a boarding party. As stood by f o r the kling off the port quarter and the lights of Ceuta, Spanish Morocco off the starboard quarter. East to Suez Sun and wind and beat of sea Great lands stretching endlessly Where be bonds to bind the free All the world was made for me. Author? by J. Melford Smith and lives as he pleases with no gold braid around to dampen his enthusiasm for his chosen profession. Tuesday, February 27Rigged cargo booms and stood wheel watch. Got haircut from my watch partner last night, my first in two months. Wrote letters this evening. Am drawing $10 from my $55 a month pay but will endeavor to save part of it. Last year I was mak- sions. This is the first of several installments of that journal. W e sailed from the port of New York about the middle of February 1940 bound for Gibraltar. The war in Europe had started in September of the previous year with the German iltta~k l'.'ln Pt'.'>land1 but as we were a socalled uneutral" country1 we painted a big American flag on the side of the ship and sailed with all our lights on. Our captain was from Denmark and was worried about his family there. He said he knew the Germans would invade his country sooner or later. As it turned out, his worst fears had been realized before the voyage was over. At Sea Monday, February 19-1 am the ordinary seaman on the 12 to 4 watch along with two able seamen. We share a room with three bunks. It is spartan but comfortable. During the day we each stand an 80-minute wheel watch while the other two do routine ship maintenance under the supervision of the bosun. On the night watch, it is another 80minute wheel watch, the same on lookout and the same on standby. The lookout stands his watch on the bow and is required to report any lights he sees by ringing the ship's bell: one ring for port, two for starboard and three for dead ahead. He also checks every 30 minutes to see if the running lights are all working, then shouts at the bridge through cupped hands, "Lights are bright, sir." At sea aboard a merchant ship, the routine is eat, work and sleep. On the mid-watch you go to bed at 0400 and get up at 1130, so your breakfast is the same as lunch for the rest of the crew. Soup, meat and vegetables for breakfast take some getting used to! Tuesday, February 20--Sure will be glad to go ashore when we arrive in Alexandria, Egypt, our first port. Maybe find me a Cleopatra! Hope to take a trip to Cairo if we have enough time in port. The weather was warm today and the sea smooth. Passed a ship on the morning watch- the first since leaving New York. I am enjoying this. Wednesday, February 21Steaming steadily toward Gibraltar at the magnificent speed of 10 knots (quite a change from last year on a 33-knot Navy cruiser). The weather is fair and warm. We passed an Allied ship about noon that was making a zig-zag 14 Seafarers LOB inspection party, the light of a brilliant full rtlOt'.'>Il revealed the majestic rt'.'>ck rising abruptly from the water, entirely devoid, to my great disappointment, of the Prudential Life Insurance advertisement I had always seen emblazoned upon it. Gibraltar: the ancients' "Pillars of Hercules," the impregnable lord of the Mediterranean, the universal symbol of indomitability. Gibraltar: the romantic place where Tarik, the frrst Moorish chieftain, launched his invasion of Spain, and the place from which the last of his race returned to Africa 700 years later. The scene of 14 long sieges dating from Phoenician times to the Napoleonic wars. Gibraltar is a British colony and the headquarters of the Ninth Army Corps. There is an indifferent harbor with the town of Gibraltar plastered on the side of the rock, perched expectantly above the sea. The rock itself soars 1,300 feet above the Mediterranean and consists of Jurassic limestone overgrown with cactus and infested with monkeys. There are no lights to indicate that here is the greatest and most significant fortress in the world, but any student with military experience knows that, in keeping with its grim appearance, the rock is studded with heavily camouflaged guns such as the nineinch fieldpiece on Rock Gun Point, the northernmost peak. This is the British "Mount Olympus," this corner of two continents (Africa and Europe) and two oceans (the Atlantic and Mediterranean). At 2300 the armed boarding party comes alongside in a launch-two officers and six men. They proceed to inspect the ship's papers concerning cargo. They were very courteous. I asked a British sailor how he was enjoying the war. "What war?" was the answer. Until now there has not been much action on either side. As the moonlight turns the Strait of Gibraltar to silver, the boarding party leaves the ship and we begin creeping out into the star-studded Mediterranean night. Bright moonlight with the lights of Algeciras, Spain twin- Thursday, February 22Windy and cool. Routine day at sea. Passed several ships. Didn't get up until noon. George Washington's birthday. Friday, February 23-1,450 miles to Alexandria. Our position is just off the island of Sardinia. I asked the 2nd mate if this was where sardines come from. He must have thought I was serious and just about choked laughing. This afternoon I stood watch, washed clothes and went to bed. Read "The First Hundred Thousand" by Ian Hay-an interesting history of the Scottish Highlanders during the war. Most seafarers are voracious readers. It's been said that we will read anything with printing on it. Fortunately, the Seamen's Church Institute runs an exchange library so we can exchange our reading material in almost any port. Saturday, February 24-The blue Mediterranean, warm weather, smooth seas and a clear blue sky. A really enjoyable life. Haven't had a thing to do all day except for watches, so a siesta is indicated. Just lying about the deck and reading. There is a full moon these nights; it is so brilliant it seems to flood the ocean with a white ethereal light. Last night on my 12-4 watch, the lost love of my teenage years was haunting me for the fust time in many months. It must be the romance of the Mediterranean. Fire and boat drill today. Sunday, February 25-0ff the coast of Sicily today. In 1912 there was a disastrous earthquake here in which many thousands died. The weather is hot with a wind blowing off the African desert. It is called a "sirocco." Norman Douglas, in his novel "South Wind," describes the effect it has on people. I see what he meant because I have been in a black mood all day. Four more days to port. Monday, February 26Weather warm, wind shifted to northeast. Routine watches and maintenance. On a freighter (unlike on a passenger ship or Navy cruiser), a man's life is his own. The ship belongs to him: its decks, its bridge, its holds. He brooks no repression. He dresses $42 a month as a corporal, USMC. Progress. \Vednesday, February 28-Routine day at sea. More wind. water and stars. Expect to arrive in port in the morning. Passed a British destroyer squadron at about 0200. They were really making knots, and l wondered about their mission. Thursday, February 29And so we sailed for eight days on to the land of Egypt. Sunny days and starry nights with a full moon. What vagabond could ask for more-the ship almost to myself, good quarters, excellent food and balmy weather. As the white walls of Alexandria begin to peep over the horizon, I realize that Egypt is only 10 miles away. Alexandria, Egypt Arrived in port at I 000. Customs and immigration officials came aboard. We were cleared for entry at about 1130. Went ashore with my watch partners Bill Marks and Bud O'Conner at 1700. Five piasters for the boatman. Searched by police three times before leaving the dock-a blatant shakedown for bribes. They seem to have one price for the natives, one for Europeans and one about 500 percent higher for Americans. Left Bud and Bill and shoved off alone through the narrow streets of Alexandria past dark alleys, evil-looking natives and a horrible stench. Soon met two Coldstream Guardsmen, Morton Hinds and George Hesse, who were out on the town. Had a good time. Back to the ship at 0300. Friday, March 1-Woke up with a bad hangover (can't imagine having a good one). Worked all day. Went ashore at 1800 in the dress blues uniform of a U.S. Marine corporal. Entertained at dinner at the Coldstream Guards' mess. Drank a considerable amount of wine and got lost in the narrow streets of a native quarter on the way back to the ship. Saturday, March 2-Got underway for Port Said about 1400. Set sea watches. Arrived early Sunday morning and tied up to buoy at entrance to Suez Canal. Numerous British merchant ships mounting one five-inch and one three-inch gun aft. Battery on shore fired 21-gun salute for someone. City looks interesting but can't go ashore. At 1800 we were underway to transit the canal. Unlike the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal is just a ditch. There are no locks throughout its 90-mile lengthjust sand dunes on both sides. We passed nine ships during our transit and had to tie up to the bank each time. Turned in at 0400. Monday, March 4--Got up at 1030. We are anchored at the town of Suez at the southeastern end of the canal. We are anchored about three miles from shore, discharging some cargo on to a barge. Can't go ashore--broke anyway! The scenery here is a remarkable blend of subtle colors: high blue mountains of barren rock, plains of dazzling white sand reaching from the mountains to the sea, and the light blue waters of the harbor sparkling in the blazing sunlight. It was very hot today but is cold enough for an overcoat tonight. Expect to get underway by noon tomorrow. Tuesday, March 5-Able Seaman Jack Hollrock's 22nd birthday today. We played the victrola and drank Scotch in lieu of a celebration. We are now cruising slowly through the Red Sea to Jidda, Arabia, about 600 miles down the coast. The sea is like a mirror this evening and the sunset very beautiful. Wednesday, March 6---Calm sea and very hot weather. Just came off 12 to 4 watch. Have been feeling rather ill todaychills and fever. Didn't do any work but read "The Complete Mariner" by Nason. Thursday, March 7-Feeling much better today. Weather is beastly hot with absolutely no breeze. Last night I had the fust wheel (midnight to 0120). The wheelhouse was hot and the smoke from the stack was going straight up. There is very little current in the Red Sea and the desultory clicking of the autopilot along with the heat caused old Morpheus to take over and I suddenly found myself on the deck. The third mate said, "What the hell happened?" I said, "I don't know, I guess I went to sleep." The old saying "asleep on his feet" is not true. When you go to sleep, your knees buckle and you fall down. Jidda, Saudi Arabia Friday, March 8-Arrived in Jidda this morning. The harbor here is very shallow with many sand bars. Three hundred yards from us is an old Turkish freighter lying partly on her port side, hard aground on a sand bar. Her superstructure and decks have been charred by fue and are rusting away with age. She has been lying here for 15 years, according to the customs officer. The view from our ship is very good-low rugged mountains and heat-burnished plains making a fine setting for the gray walls and minarets of Jidda. This port city is the gateway to Mecca, the "Forbidden City," which lies about 40 miles inland and which Christians are not allowed to enter under penalty of death. To be continued in future issues of the Seafarers LOG. April 2000 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 2000 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonvi1le San Francisco ~ilm,~gt~~": Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston . S.t.. L9'1h·. · .Piney :P~int Algonac Totals 25 8 6 8 14 17 40 20 21 24 7 14 23 4 2 2 235 16 5 3 9 7 3 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 20 2 8 2 l 10 4 10 7 14 3 7 3 17 10 13 IO 12 15 3 28 12 16 8 9 5 27 23 6 6 7 6 4 13 8 2 4 24 14 3 2 0 l 1 1 0 94 198 85 11 6 7 2 5 16 l 5 0 122 Trip Reliefs 7 0 51 10 8 3 2 22 19 5 30 61 2 5 4 6 7 14 2 0 2 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 22 10 8 5 17 1 4 10 17 18 11 6 10 24 18 11 13 7 8 5 12 3 3 23 IO 6 9 9 6 1 12 43 36 37 13 15 45 3 2 8 0 4 I 0 54 0 0 I 2 2 7 0 74 401 180 5 3 4 10 0 115 May & June 2000 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point .............Monday: May 8, June 5 Algonac .................. Friday: May I 2, June 9 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 1I, June 8 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: May 17, June 14 Honolulu ................. Friday: May 19, June 16 Houston .................. Monday: May 15, June 12 Jacksonville ............Thursday: May 11, June 8 Jersey City ...... ~ .......Wt'dn,es~y: May 24, June 21 Mobile ........... ;....... ~Wednesday; May 17, June 14 New Bedford ..........Tuesday: May 23t June 20 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: May 16, June 13 New York. ...........·....Tuesday: May 9 June 6 1 Port ·: : N¢:W·Y9rk · . · ·. "Philadelphia · ENGINE DEPARTMENT 2 u 9 2 2 14 5 .9 2 1 0 0 5 .Z 3 2 Norfolk 6 4 6 10 12 3 I 7 2 0 1 Mobile 5 1 6 4 12 1 0 Saltirpore 14 New Orleans 9 ·:. ")a'bksb"vtlle · 19 S~n Fr~ncisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston . St. Louis Piney Poi.pt I o ac 6 .4 " ·..... to:L:·: . 15 3 3 15 1 3 1 4 11 ' 5 '·.·:.: ·" 7 4 4 8 ' 4 11 7 14 2 2 2 . ''• .. ?.: 4 ' 4 0 1 1 120 86 47 13 6 4 0 12 6 8 2 1 4 4 6 0 0 Jacksonville 16 4 Totals Port e Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans 6 2 Ho-qston St. Louis Piney Point 11 0 3 Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Totals All Departments 0 9 2 0 4 1 l 0 140 0 50 28 6 26 14 0 1 2 0 28 8 2 7 3 1 4 1 14 8 7 6 11 3 4 10 24 45 8 5 6 33 29 6 1 2 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 6 2 1 57 0 0 2 2 1 5 I 3 2 0 243 68 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 7 8 0 0 0 0 9 50 37 0 2 2 15 11 15 2 I 15 21 18 20 20 7 1 7 0 4 0 4 5 11 12 6 9 13 1 15 14 11 2 20 3 4 0 4 0 71 14 10 0 0 9 6 7 9 5 0 8 0 0 6 0 18 4 l 21 17 0 10 1 155 0 176 0 0 82 268 2 3 8 3 5 4 6 46 6 0 19 0 119 228 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 148 l 0 0 6 3 15 7 7 3 12 4 30 8 36 24 0 3 0 0 0 68 899 Please contact Edwin H. Hagedorn at 615 Braeside Road, Baltimore, MD 21229-2113. PETER CZECH Please get in touch with Wayne Hardesty at Box 3692, Erie, PA 16508; or telephone (814) 454-7852. 9 45 0 Personals LEONARD PAUL *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. Apri/2000 4 7 23 4 5 St. Louis · .':~·.. .'::·: ~:.::;·::.: :Friday: May 19, June 16 . · Wilmington ...............Monday: May 22, June 19 31 2 May 11, June 8 5 2 2 '6 2 0 29 0 0 453 1 2 0 0 6 I SanJuan~-.~ ............... Thursday; Tacoma ....... ~ .. :.· .~:... :.Frid.~y: May 26, June 23 0 6 4 0 124 28 0 4 San Francisco .........Thursday: May 18, June 15 '' (;'' 0 0 0 345 0 29 0 0 12 413 0 32 2 0 1 527 129 1 l 8 6 8 32 187 70 2 1 0 0 12 0 0 5 5 2 0 0 0 7 0 1 2 19 17 0 4 0 0 5 0 ., 5. ' 4 5 2 0 15 ? 0 1 0 9 2 "8 ' 9 9 3 .2 1 12 1 13 20 1 11 '7 .0 2 3 Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu 18 ' 9 7 19 19 2 4 -·-------- 5 12 4 3 11 26 0 4 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore 7 15 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 9 5 1 3 2 20 4 8 15 6 2 4 14 0 20 0 0 103 '6 6 5 8 3 ·o San Francisco Algonac Totals 19 :· 1 I ..o Wilmington 1 7 2 5 5 11. 7 8 9 8 4 16 2 268 645 11 2 1 2 16 21 19 6 101 13 3 19 0 280 481 AUTHOR SEEKS INTERVIEWS WITH FORMER MARINERS Did you work on the America or United States? I am a writer looking for information on these great ships. Please contact me: Larry Driscoll P.O. Box 676 Seneca Falls, NY 13148-0679 or e-mail elaurensl@yahoo.com. LOG-A-RHYTHMS Nikita's Journey at Sea by Roslyn Nikita Brooks With the sea in mind, things are not as bad as they seem. With the sea in mind, I can fill my wildest dreams. With the sea in mind, I can do anything, I know I can. The stars above speak to me as though they are aware of the most inner secrets of my heart. I can look for the best in life. I shall not be dismayed by the wickedness around me, because the angels of the sea surround me. With the sea in mind, I can find the shape of my soul. I shall not flee, I shall continue ... to be a sailor of the sea. (This poem came in a dream to Chief Cook Roslyn Nikita Brooks while sailing aboard the Sea-Land Hawaii. She hopes it will be an inspiration to her fellow shipmates.) Seafarers LOG 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Sealal'IN'S lntemallonal Union Oireototy FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 2000 Michael Sacco President CL - John Fay :E-x~c:Utive Vice President David Heindel Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez Vice President Contracts Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters DeanCorgey Vice President Gulf Coast . Nicholas J. Marrone · .· Vice President. West Coast Kermett Mangram Vice Prei:iident Government Services .. . lIEADQUARTERS S20 I Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 Al..CO~AC 520 St. Clair Ri"er Dr. Algonac, Ml 4800 I (810) 794-4988 L-Lakes NP - *TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SIDPPED All Groups All Groups Class CL Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Company/Lakes Class L Class CL Class NP 0 19 7 0 7 1 0 4 3 0 19 Class L Non Priority **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP 0 19 3 0 6 0 0 3 3 DECK DEPARTMENT 4 0 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 l ENTRY DEPARTMENT ·o 3 0 L Totals All Depts 0 49 24 0 3 4 0 46 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 9 ANCHORAGE Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters 721 Sesame St.. #lC Anchorage. AK 99503 (907) 56 r-4988 FEBRUARY 16 - BALTIMORE 1216 B. Baltimore St. *TOTAL REGISTERED A.II Group~ Class A Class B Class C Ilaltirt'lorc, MD 21202 (41 O} 32H~UU J:>ui.•tra ' 70~ Medical Arts .Buil<11ng MARCH 15, 2000 **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C DuJuth, MN 55802 .. ' (218) 722-4110 Region HONOLULU Atl~tl.ti~ : Go~$t~· . 606 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845~5222 .• . HOUSTON J221 ·eierce·st ;:: ·· · Houston, TX 77002 (713} 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 331S.Liberty St. · Jacksonville, FL 32206 {904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY ~9 Montgomery St Jersey Cify, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 164() Dauphin Island Pk;wy. . Mobile, AL 36605 . (334) 478-0916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 391 l Lapako Blvd. Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St Nor.folk, VA 23510 (7$7) 622-1892 :PHILADELPIDA 2604 S.4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301} 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division - (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop l 61h Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 - ST. LOUIS 45&1 Gravois Ave. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 5l0 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4-000 16 Seafarers LOS . Gulf.Coast .....· .3 .2 Lake$, Inland Waters 0 2 5 0 0 2 0 4 0 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Cdast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals 0 0 DECK DEPARTMENT .:: O•··. ·.<) 2 . 2 "· ·. o · ff 0 6 10 ENGINE 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 .o 0 0 0 0 0 o .,o .· 0' 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT :·,. o D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 ()··· ..,: 0 0 1 1 1 Totals All Depts 5 3 10 10 3 5 9 3 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 2 1 29 PIG-FROM-THE-PAST This copy of an old photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by H. Pensioner Hubert "Red" House of Mobile, Ala. It was taken in the late 1950s aboard the SS Alcoa Clipper, and from the looks of it, fishing was pretty good. House, who was a dayman on this voyage, is pictured fourth from left. Others he identified in the photo are Dayman Frank Cotchot (left) and OS Berry Hill (second from left). Brother House, now 72, worked in the deck department, both inland and deepsea. He began sailing with the SIU in 1945 and retired in 1987 (interrupted by a twoyear stint in the U.S. Army from 1952-54). April 2000 �Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard US.-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. hree recertified bosuns are among the 25 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Representing 86 combined years of active union membership, Recertified Bosuns T Luis E. Guadamud, Vagn T. Nielsen and Ramon L. Quiles graduated from the highest level of training available to members in the deck department at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Including the three recertified graduates, 16 of those signing off shipped in the deep sea division, eight sailed the inland waterways and one plied the Great Lakes. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of this month's pensioners. DEEP SEA JOSEG. last worked aboard the Sea-Land Enterprise. A native of Canada, he has retired to Montreal. ABRAHAM CARBAJAL, 63, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1969 aboard the Overseas Explorer. A native of Honduras, he became a U.S. citizen and worked in the engine department. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the Robert E. Lee, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. Arabi, La. is home to Brother Carbajal. LONDON CURRY, 65, with the Seafarers in 1970. His first ship was the Steel Rover, operated by Isthmian Lines. Born in the Philippines, he worked in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Sea~ farers Harry Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Challenger. Brother Bagat makes . e-in s-te ' graduated from the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) training school in 1972 and joined the MC&S in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Brother Curry worked in the steward department, last sailing in 1997 as a chief cook aboard the Sea-Land Defender. From 1955 to 1957, the Oklahoma native served in the US. Army. He makes his home in Los Angeles. HANSM. BANG, 62, joined the SIU in 1965 in the port of San Francisco. The Transhudson, a Hudson Waterways vessel, was his first ship. Born in Denmark, Brother Bang sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. He last worked aboard the Sea-Land Voyager. He has retired to Monte Rio, Calif. FUfil,65, first sailed with the SIU in 1966 aboard the Overseas Rose. A native _....-::c..___._ _ of Oregon, he started working in the engine department and later transferred to the deck department. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Fujii last sailed in 1980 aboard the Stuyvesant, operated by Bay Tankers. He has retired to Woodland, Calif. BAGAT, 64 1 began sailing HUSSAIN A. BUBAKR, 65, started his career with the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of Detroit. Brother Bubakr began working in the Great Lakes division. He later transferred to deep sea vessels and upgraded his steward department skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the Great Land. Born in Yemen, he became a U.S. citizen. He makes his home in Seattle. WILLIAM H.BURKE, 68, joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of Detroit. He first sailed aboard the J.A. Kling, a Great Lakes vessel, and later transferred to the deep sea division. Brother Burke sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. He April2000 TADATO LUISE. GUADAMUD, 65, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1961 and joined the Seafarers in the port of New Orleans. His first ship was the Del Mar. Born in Ecuador, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification class in 1975. A resident ofMetairie, La., he last sailed in 1978 aboard the Overseas Vivian. WILLIAMD. HATCHEL, 62, graduated from the Andrew Furuseth Training School in 1961 and joined the SIU in the port of New York, first sailing aboard the Michael, a Mayflower Steamship Corp. vessel. A native of Louisiana, he sailed in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. From 1955 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Navy. Prior to retiring, Brother Hatchel sailed aboard the Sea-Land Tacoma. He has retired to Starks, La. MOHAMED M.HUSSEIN, 59, began his SIU career in 1971 in the port of New York. Born in Yemen, he sailed in the steward department and upgraded frequently at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Hussein last worked aboard the !TB Philadelphia, operated by Sheridan Transportation Co. Dearborn, Mich. is where he calls home. GEORGEO. KHULAGI, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of New York. The Ames Victory, operated by Victory Carriers, was his first ship. Brother Khulagi worked in the deck department, last sailing in 1986 aboard the Sea-Land Venture. Born in Yemen, he became a U.S. citizen and makes his home in Buffalo, N.Y. VAGNT. NIELSEN, 66, started his career with the SIU in 1962 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Kathryn, operated by A.H. Bull Steamship Co. A native of Denmark, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1974. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. He is a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brother Nielsen last worked aboard the JTB Philadelphia. --~ JAMES A. PEACOCK, 60, graduated from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School's entry level training program in 1968 and joined the union in the port of New Orleans. Born in Georgia, he first shipped aboard the Pecos. Brother Peacock worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the SIU's training school. A resident of Jacksonville, Fla., he last sailed aboard the Nuevo R, Inc. San Juan, operated by From 1957 to 1960, he served in the U.S. Army. RAMON L. QUILES, 55, graduated from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School's entry level training program in 1967 and joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. The Steel Recorder was his first vessel. Born in Puerto Rico, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the SIU's training school, where he graduated from the bosun recertification program in 1980. Prior to retiring, he worked aboard an NPR vessel. Brother Quiles has retired to Cliffwood, N.J. ANTONIO M.RODRIGUEZ, 62, began his career with the SIU in 1964 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Elizabethport, a SeaLand Service Vessel. Born in Cuba, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Rodriquez makes his home in Santurce, P.R. JEAN R. SAVOIE, 65, started his career with the SIU in 1973 in the port of Norfolk, Va., after a 20-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard. The Massachusetts native began working in the inland division, sailing as a member of the deck department. He later transferred to deep sea vessels and worked in the steward department. During his career, Brother Savoie upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. His last ship, before retiring, was the Cornhusker State, operated by Interocean Ugland Management. Portsmouth, Va. is where he calls home. INLAND ROBERTM. CROFT,40, first sailed with the SIU in 1976 aboard the C.H. Masterson, operated byG&HTowing Co. A native of Texas, he worked in the engine department and upgraded frequently at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Boatman Croft last sailed aboard a Moran Towing Co. vessel. He makes his home in Hitchcock, Texas. VICTOR V. DANIELS, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in North Carolina, he worked in the deck department. Boatman Daniels last sailed aboard the tug Roanoke, operated by Maritrans, Inc. He has retired to Wanchese, N.C. ISAIAH JENKINS, 62, began his career with the SIU in 1975 in the port of New Orleans. The South Carolina native worked as an engineer and sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Whiteman Towing. Boatman Jen.kins makes his home in Harvey, La. JAMESR. LUPTON, 62, first sailed with the SIU in 1970. Born in North Carolina, he worked as a captain, most recently aboard a Mariner Towing Co. vessel. Oriental, N.C. is where Boatman Lupton calls home. JOHN H. OTTINGER, 62, started his career with the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of Philadelphia. The New Jersey native worked in the deck department, last sailing aboard an Interstate Oil Co. vessel. From 1955 to 1959, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Boatman Ottinger has retired to King of Prussia, Pa. STEPHEN M.PLASH III, 41, joined the Seafarers in 1976 in the port of Houston, sailing aboard the tug Atlas. A native of Texas, he worked as a tugboat captain. Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the Francis E. Haden, operated by G&H Towing Co. Boatman Plash makes his home in League City, Texas. HERBERTP. THOMPSON, 63, started his career with the SIU in 1975 in the port of Houston. Boatman Thompson worked as a captain and attended an education conference at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. A resident of Houston, he last sailed aboard the Scout, operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. From 1956 to 1959, he served in the U.S. Army. HOLLISR. WILSON, 59, first sailed with the Seafarers in 1961. The Alabama native worked as a captain, last sailing aboard a Crowley Marine Service vessel. Boatman Wilson makes his home in Perkinston, Miss. GREAT LAKES ALI A. MUSLEH, 66, began sailing with the SIU in 1966 from the port of Detroit. Born in Yemen, he became a U.S. citizen. Brother Musleh worked in the steward department, last sailing aboard the J.A. W. Iglehart, operated by Inland Lakes Management. He makes his home in Dearborn, Mich. Seafarers LOG 17 �final DeN~ures DEEP SEA VALENTIN ACABEO Pensioner Valentin Acabeo, 83, passed away December 12, 1999. A native of Puerto Rico, he joined the Seafarers in 1940 in the port of New York. During his career, he sailed in the deck department and was active in union organizing drives. Prior to retiring in February 1978, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Anchorage. Brother Acabeo was a resident of Bayamon, P.R. WILLIE H. CHESTNUTT Willie H. Chestnutt, 61, died February 20. Born in Arkansas, he started his career with the SIU in 1970 ifi the pon of New Orleans. His fll1lt '--.........::'---'~---' HALIM Y. HAMBOUZ - Pensioner HalimY. Hambouz, 73, passed away February 10. He began sailing with the SIU in 1949. Born in Egypt, he worked in the engine department and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. Prior to retiring in March 1995, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Value. Brother Hambouz was a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y. ALLISON I. HEBERT Pensioner Allison I. ship was me Kyska, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Chestnutt sailed in the deck depanment and upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. From 1955 to 1964, he served in the U.S. Navy. A resident of Gretna, La., he last worked aboard the Liberty Star. ROBERT J. DAWSON Pensioner Robert J. Dawson, 73, passed away January 7. He first sailed with the Seafarers in 1958. The California native worked in the deck department and upgraded his skills at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Prior to retiring in March 1994, he sailed aboard the Sea-Land Kodiak. Brother Dawson made his home in Seattle. JEREMIAH W. DONOVAN Pensioner Jeremiah W. Donovan, 72, died October 22, 1999. Brother Donovan joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S) in 1945. The California native sailed as a member of the steward department and began receiving his pension in July 1974. From 1951 to 1953, he served in the U.S. Army. Brother Donovan made his home in Mesa, Ariz. BERNARD F. FIMOVICZ Pensioner Bernard F. Fimovicz, 77, passed away February 22. Born in Ohio, he started his career with the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of San Francisco, sailing in the deck department. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives and attended an education conference at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. Prior to retiring in April 1979, he worked aboard the Ultramax, operated by Westchester Marine. Wheeling, W.Va. was his home. NILS E. GRONBERG Pensioner Nils E. Gronberg, 84, died January 30. A native of Finland, he first sailed with the SIU in 1942. 18 Seafarers LOS Brother Gronberg worked in the deck department and began receiving his pension in June 1972. He made his home in Sea Level, N. C. Hebert, 75, died February 3. Brother Hebert joined the - Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. Born in Louisiana, he worked in the engine depart· ment and upgraded his skiJls at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. He last sailed aboard the OM! Pla11e, a Titan Navigation vessel. A resident of Abbeville, La., he started receiving his pension in July 1985. BERNARD R. HIREEN Pensioner Bernard R. Hireen, 67, passed away December 16, 1999. Born in Canada, he began his SIU career in 1964 ..................:s............__.,,___Llili>i!I from the port of New York. His first vessel was the Robin Locksley. He worked in the engine department, last sailing aboard the Walter Rice, operated by Reynolds Metal Co. From 1960 to 1964, he served in the U.S. Navy. Brother Hireen lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and retired in August 1997. TONY E. INSON Pensioner Tony E. Inson, 94, died January 8. He joined the MC&S in 1944 in the port of San Francisco. Born in the Philippines, he sailed as a member of the steward department and started receiving his pension in July 1968. Brother Inson made his home in San Francisco. CHOCK S. JONG Pensioner Chock S. Jong, 75, passed away November 6, 1999. Brother Jong began his career with the MC&S in 1947 from the port of San Francisco. A native of California, Brother Jong sailed in the steward department and began receiving his pension in November 1978. San Francisco was his home. SANFORD KEMP Pensioner Sanford Kemp, 73, died August 18, 1999. A native of Georgia, he began sailing with the Seafarers in 1951. Brother Kemp worked in the steward department, last sailing as a chief cook. A resident of Register, Ga., he retired in May 1980. From 1948 to 1951, he served in the U.S. Navy. of New York. Brother Nuttal sailed in the steward department and retired in May 1974. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. San Francisco was his home. JOHN A. KICSAK EDDIE A. PARR John A. Kicsak, 37, passed away December 20, 1999. Brother Kicsak graduated from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School's entry-level training program in 1984 and joined the union in Piney Point, Md. His first vessel was the LNG Virgo, an Energy Transportation Co. vessel. Born in Pennsylvania, he sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the school. He was a resident of Norfolk, Va. Pensioner Eddie A. Parr, 89, passed away February 3. A charter member of the Seafarers, he joined the union in 1939 in the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana native sailed as a bosun in the deck department. During his career, he was active in union organizing drives. Brother Parr was a resident of Wells, Maine and started receiving his pen· sion in January 1973. JOSEPH LAN ISAAC ROWEL Pensioner Joseph Lan, 88, died December 27, 1999. Born in China, he joined the MC&S in 1942 in the port of San Francisco. He sailed in the steward dep~ent and began receiving his pension in September, 1974. Brother Lan made his home in San Francisco. Isaac Rowel, 50 died December 2, 1999. A native of Louisiana, he began his career with the SIU in 1969 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Rowel worked in the engine department, last sailing in 1994 aboard the Carolina, operated by Puerto Rico Marine Management. He was a resident of New Orleans. EDWARD E. LINDBERG Pensioner Edward E. Lindberg, 76, passed away December 5, 1999. He began his career with the Seafarers in 1941 in the port ...,..;..:.__~ of New Orleans. A native of Iowa, he sailed as a member of tlie deck department. Brother Lindberg was a resident of Long Beach, Calif and started receiving his pension in December 1986. PAUL D. MARRA Paul D. Marra, 42, died Jan 22. A native of California, he graduated from the Seafarers Harry Lunde berg School's entrylevel training program in 1974 andjoined the union in Piney Point, Md. The Potomac, operated by Ogden Marine, was his first vessel. Brother Marra sailed in the deck department and upgraded at the school. Sacramento, Calif. was his home. EDWARD G. MORALES Pensioner Edward G. Morales, 87, · passed away February 15. , Brother Morales · first sailed with the SIU in 1952 : aboard the Wacosta, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Born in Hawaii, he worked in the engine department. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He was a resident of Winter Haven, Fla. and started receiving his pension in January 1977. WILLIAM NUTTAL Pensioner William Nutttal, 94, died January 19. Born in the Philippines, he joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port ARTHUR W. RUMMEL Pensioner ArthurW. Rummel, 86, passed away • December 11, 1999. He first sailed with the , · Seafarers in 1946 in the port of New ~York. Born in Germany, he worked in the steward department. During his career, he was active in union orga1 nizing drives and attended an education conference at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. Brother Rummel resided in Sea Level, N.C. and began receiving his pension in August 1976. THOMAS S. SCRUGGS Pensioner Thomas S. Scruggs, 86, died January 13. Born in Oklahoma, he joined the MC&S in 1954 1 in Portland, ~L.J.JLl-~~~:::J...11 Ore. Brother Scruggs sailed as a member of the steward department. A resident of Seattle, he retired in July 1979. JOHN A. SMITH Pensioner John A. Smith, 75, passed away January 27. A native of West Virginia, he began his career with the Seafarers in '-----"'""-------' 1949 from the port of Tampa, Fla. Brother Smith sailed in the engine department. Prior to retiring in February 1988, he worked aboard the Sea-Land Oakland as a chief electrician. He made his home in Elkton, Md. INLAND LOYD G. ARMANTROUT Pensioner Loyd G. Armantrout, 77, passed away January 30. Born in Florida, he joined the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of Houston. L..._~---"""""":..bL=-----1 Boatman Armantrout worked as a chief engineer, last sailing aboard a G&H Towing Co. vessel. From 1944 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. A resident of Galveston, he started receiving his pension in August 1987. ANTONIO ATILES - - - . Pensioner Antonio Atiles, 72, died Jariuaryr l9~ He started his career with the SIU in 1976 in his native Puerto Rico. Boatman Atiles sailed in the deck department and attended an education conference at the Sill's training school in Piney Point, Md. Prior to retiring in June 1991, he worked aboard a vessel operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation. Carolina, P.R. was his home. ARANTIC FISHERMEN SANTO G. FARINA Pensioner Santo G. Farina, 87, passed away January 31. Born in Italy, - he joined the Atlantic Fishermen's Union before it merged with the AGLIWD. A resident of Gloucester, Mass., he started receiving his pension in April 1979. CORRECTION RAYMONDE. SHARP Raymond E. Sharp, 66, passed away October 19, 1999. Brother Sharp joined the Seafarers in 1952 in the port of New Orleans. A native of Indiana, he worked in the deck department, last sailing in 1978 aboard the Cape Washington. LEROY SIMMONS Pensioner Leroy Simmons, 75 , died December 3, 1999. He joined the MC&S in 1955 -~) in the port of San Francisco. Born in South Carolina, he sailed in the steward department. Brother Simmons was a resident of Daly City, Calif. and began receiving his pension in July 1976. The biographical sketch of inland member Robert F. Hudgins that appeared in the February Final Departures was incomplete. It should have read: ROBERT F. HUDGINS Robert F. Hudgins, 54, died December 3, 1999. Boatman Hudgins started his career with the Seafarers in 1962 in the port · of Norfolk, Va. '----'""'-'-~"""""""""---"-'-' For many years, the Virginia native worked as a captain, sailing from Norfolk to Texas aboard vessels operated by Moran Towing Co., Interstate Oil Transport, Sonat and Maritrans. He also attended an education conference at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. A resident of Mathews, Va., he last sailed in 1985 aboard a Moran Towing Co. vessel. April2000 �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests ()f union shipboard minutes as possiblel On occasion, because of space limitations, some wlll 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. CHALLENGER (CSX Lines), December 19-Chainnan Roy L. Williams, Secretary James E. Harper, Educational Director Lowell R. Lemm, Engine Delegate Teddie H. Carter. Chainnan discussed president's report in LOG reflecting on past decade. He reminded everyone that upgrading skills is vital to maritime industry. Clarification requested on cleaning cargo holds and tanks and on number of hours needed for sanitation by DEU; also on water blasting for deck department, which is not in current contract. Secretary urged crew members to participate in upcoming merger vote and advised tMm t6 check expiration dates on STCW and z-cards. Educaticinal director dre~~~d need to stay current with all issues concerning uruQn. Crew asked for text of Jones Act. V6tt of thanks given to stew· ard department for job well done. Next ports: Long Beach and Oakland, Calif. EL YUNOUE (IUM), December 31-Chairman Paul J. Latorre, Secretary Milton M. Yournett. ' Educational Dir~ctor Orlando Cancel, Deck Delegate Ronald Mena, Engine Delegate Jimmie R. Graydon, Steward Charles B. Collier Jr. Chairman announced He reminded crew members to vote for merger of SIU and NMU, noting strength in unity and better bargainin osition. He also . stresse 1mpo nee o co · uting to SPAD for preservation of Jones Act and job security. Secretary echoed sentiments and urged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. for better future. Recommendations made to ask contracts department to consider lowering seatime required for retirement and pension and fully fund medical and prescription plans for dependent family members. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Jacksonville. EXPEDITION (CSX Lines), December 5--Chairman Norberto Prats, Secretary Edgardo M. Vazquez, Educational Director Oswald N. Bermeo, Engine Delegate Pablo Albino, Steward Delegate Michael A. Harris. Chairman announced everything running smoothly with no beefs or disputed OT. Secretary advised crew members to upgrade skills and help union by contributing to SPAD. Educational director spoke about benefits of upgrading at Piney Point. Discussion held on upcoming SIU-NMU merger vote. Vote of thanks given to SA Luis Rivera for maintaining clean ship and to steward department for delicious Thanksgiving Day dinner. HAWAII (CSX Lines), December 19-Chairman Billy G. Hill, Secretary Edward P. Herrera, Educational Director Tracy J. Hill, Deck Delegate Evan J. Bradley, Engine Delegate Mark E. McNabb, Steward Delegate Jorge R. Salazar. Chairman announced payoff in Oakland, Calif. He thanked all crew members for successful Russia-aid shuttle. He also reminded everyone to fill out paperwork for coll).pleting tour of duty. Educational director asked that crew members have mate sign TRBs. Beef reported by engine Apri/2000 delegate regarding no day's pay for those flying to Far East. Suggestion made to lower age of retirement. Job well done in all departments. Bosun asked crew to take care of videotaped movies. AB watchstanders thanked Capt. Barry for chair on bridge during long periods of hand steering. OHIO (ATC). December 13Chairrnan Gregory A. Agren, Secretary Jeff Smith, Educational Director Rudolph Lopez, Deck Delegate Winston D. Thompson, Engine Delegate Marvin Lambeth. Chairman reminded crew members to vote on SIUNMU mtrger by January 3 L Educational director suggested everyone take advantage of educational opportw1itits at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT repcrt~d. Communication received from VP Contracts Augie Tellez regarding changes when daymen become watchstanders. Suggestions made to lower eligibility for vacation pay and increase benefits for dental care. Steward department given vote of thanks for job well done. OVERSEAS JUNEAU (OSG Ship Mgmt.), December 5--Chairman Benedict B. Born, Secretary Thomas Wybo, Educational Director Christopher J. Kirchhofer, Deck Delegate Steve Brown, Engine Dele ate ona Lucas, Steward Delegate Vickie Haggerty. Chairman led discussion of SIU-NMU merger. Many questions brought up regarding merger, for which clarification requested. He also talked about money purchase pension plan and told everyone to keep abreast of personal statements. He requested crew members turn in keys and leave rooms clean at end of voyage. Secretary reminded members to check shipping documents for expiration dates. Educational director urged everyone to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for contracts department to look into direct deposit of allotments twice a month. Mail service needs to be checked and new curtains and crew lounge/mess hall furniture ordered. Chairman gave vote of thanks to all for hard work throughout voyage and keeping house clean. Deck gang also thanked for smooth operation of tank cleaning, and steward department given A+ for food and sanitation. Steward, in turn, thanked bosun and deck department for help with barbecue, Steve Brown for extra help and master for providing specialty items for holiday meals. Emergency relief supplies given to crew aboard foreign-flag ship (Panamanian flag, Greekowned, Ukrainian-crewed), Delos #1, who have been without pay for months. Next port: Portland, Ore. OVERSEAS PHILADELPHIA (OSG Ship Mgmt.), December 12-Chairman Lawrence L. Kunc, Secretary Dorothy S. Carter, Educational Director Kenneth Spivey, Engine Delegate Adrian Davis, Steward Delegate Jasper Jackson. Chairman noted ship out of yard and will load jet fuel in Singapore for delivery to West Coast. Secretary advised crew that captain is checking on whether crew members can call families from ship during holidays. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading skills and keeping STCW endorsements updated. TRBs to be filled out by chief mate. No beefs reported in deck or engine departments. During safety meeting, crew members reminded to secure all work areas and rooms, to stay off deck during bad weather and heavy seas, and to always wear hard hats and overalls. Anyone needing goggles, earplugs or safety belt should see mate or bosun. Next ports: Honolulu and Los Angeles. 2nd LT. JOHN P. BOBO (AMSEA), December 6--Chairman William L. Bratton, Secretary Kristin Krause, Educational Director Charles J. Betz, Deck Delegate Darryl S. Atwood. Discussion held about SIU-NMU merger. Chairman asked that anyone with problems see department delegate. If problem remains unresolved, take it to ship's committee, which meets weekly. Secretary noted cola machine not working; will be repaired soon. Volunteers needed to help with Christmas decorations. Educational director advised crew members to upgrade at Piney Point He ncited that with possible NMU merger, classes may be mere crowded, so get in early. Treasurer announced $1,955 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Money purchase pension plan discussed. Satellite system is on the way. Contract for . upcoming year to be published soon. Steward department given vote of thanks for enjoyable Thanksgiving Day dinner. Next ports: Barcelona. Spain; Haifa, Israel. SPIRIT (CSX Lines), December 26-Chairman Robert T. Grubbs, Secretary Angel B. Correa, Educational Director Mohamed N. Alsinai, Deck Delegate Frederick C. Me· er, Engine De egate J · Reyes, Steward Delegate Miguel A. Robles. Chairman talked about SIU-NMU merger vote and asked everyone to participate. Secretary spoke about benefits of upgrading at Paul Hall Center and stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. Treasurer announced $60 in movie fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made and forwarded to contracts department to lower seatime needed for vacation and retirement. Thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next port: San Juan, P.R. DEVELOPER (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), January 9-Chairman James L. Carter, Secretary Robert A. Castillo, Educational Director David B. Hamilton. Chairman said trip went well with good crew. He stressed importance of contributing to SPAD and announced arrival in Long Beach, Calif. January 14 with payoff following day. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep vessel clean. Educational director reminded everyone of necessity of obtaining TRBs in order to register. Crew members also need to have STCW endorsements by 2002. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for next contract to have same vacation time as MMP and MEBA. Vote of well deserved thanks given to steward department. EXPLORER (U.S. Ship Mgmt), January 30--Chairman Edward M. Cain, Secretary William R. Burdette, Educational Director Ernest Gibson, Deck Delegate Horst Baetjer, Engine Delegate Larry D. Thompson, Steward Delegate Michael R. Briscoe. Chairman announced arrival in Long Beach, Calif. February 2. U.S. Coast Guard inspection drill to take place there. Chief mate sent out notice of time off for unlicensed crew. Suggestion made to send letters to union and company regarding Coast Guard inspections and drills taking place on only full day in port (day off). Request that drills and inspections be held on sailing day, when all crew members are aboard. Secretary noted that any issues concerning food quality or service should be addressed to him. Educational members of upgrading at Paul Hall Center whenever possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on shipping rule violations and equalization of overtime. MAERSK TEXAS (Maersk), January 10--Chairman Dirk W. Adams, Secretary Theodore E. Gilliland in the Gulf While the USNS Gilliland was in the Persian Gulf recently, SIU members continued to perform their jobs in a professional manner. At right aboard the Bay Ship Management Co. vessel are QMED Octovianus Pariama (left) and GUDE Ezell Jordan. Below, Roberto Rodriguez works on the diesel generator from above. director urged everyone to attend upgrading courses at Piney Point. Treasurer announced $1,500 in ship's fund. Everyone enjoying new video rewinder, thanks to chief cook. No beefs or disputed OT reported. GOPHER STATE (IUM), January 27--Chairman Nathaniel Leary, Secretary Winston E. Marchman, Steward Delegate Wayne D. Webb. Chairman announced payoff on January 31 in Guam and urged crew members to continue attending upgrading courses at Paul Hall Center when time permits. Everything running well with no beefs or disputed OT reported. HM/ DIAMOND SHOALS (IUM), January 29-Chairman Ramon Castro, Secretary Leticia Perales, Educational Director Nestor V. Martinez, Deck Delegate Randall R. Shearer, Steward Delegate Isabel Miranda. Chairman announced ship arriving January 30 in El Segundo, Calif. to anchor. Payoff scheduled next day. He thanked deck department for good, safe job. Secretary stated linen always available. If anything else needed, let steward department know. Educational director spoke of upgrading skills at Piney Point. Treasurer announced movie fund of $150/ month. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Two suggestions made and forwarded to contracts department. First, that crew receive one hour weekly for sanitary and delegates, chairman and secretary get one hour weekly for union business. Second, that crew members be allowed to collect vacation pay after 80 days employment. Thanks given to all department for job well done. MAERSK COLORADO (Maersk), January 23-Chairman Andrew B. Barrows, Secretary Hugh E. Wildermuth, Educational Director Floyd J. Acord, Steward Delegate Allan D. Bright. Chairman discussed upcoming SIU-NMU merger vote and misinformation being spread via internet about merger. Educational director reminded crew Quammie. Chairman announced everything running smoothly with arrival in Charleston, S.C. January 11. Still awaiting arrival of lounge furniture and new motor for washing machine. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or .disputed OT reported. Thanks given to steward department for job well done . PFC EUGENE A. OBREGON (Waterman Steamship), January 13--Chairman Henry Bouganim, Secretary Patrick D. Helton, Educational Director Robert A. Farmer, Deck Delegate Juan Torres, Engine Delegate Maximo D. Dising, Steward Delegate Rudolph A. Xatruch. Educational director stressed benefits of upgrading at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Everyone asked to make sure STCW certificates are up to date. Request made to look into availability ofreliefs and also to be sure hiring halls let Seafarers know of pay scale on this vessel. Thanks given to steward department for great voyage, especially holiday meals. Port of expected payoff: Souda Bay, Crete. ROBERT E. LEE (Watennan Steamship), January 23Chairman Eugene T. Grantham, Secretary Miguel A. Pabon, Deck Delegate Quintin S. Herrera, Steward Delegate Fernando R. Guity. Chairman announced watchstanding changes in deck department. Educational director noted those crew members who took hazmat test this trip should receive validation card from chief mate. Treasurer reported $602 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on penalty rate OT. Job well done given to Capt. William Dunford, engine department and ABs for safe operation after ship hit bad weather while entering port of Morehead City, N.C. Damage was done to bridge and other places in house. Port of expected payoff: New Orleans. Seafarers LOG 19 �I lctlcn to the Editor (Editors note: the Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writers intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) Remembering The Good Times lam writing to let you know my dear friend of nearly 30 years, Wally Lau, passed awaym February. Steward/Baker Wally Lau aboard the Gus W oamelf in 1987. He was 78. We met on the Martposa in San Francisco. He was a great tMk/bilker and got along well ith illl the ~hipmates . Wally made very attractive ornaments for the passenger tables, which pleased the guests very much. He is survived by a daughter, Elaine. Jeanie L. Sartup Rochester, Wash. (Pensioner Jeanie Sartup first sailed aboard the Monterey in November 1969. She retired in 1983.) Remembering The Good Times II Once an SIU member retires after countless years with the best union ever, and the excitement dies down after fishing, vacationing and doing all the other things you couldn't do when you were sailing, you' 11 start thinking of all the amazing sights you've seensome good and some bad. As an oiler aboard the Robin Kirk on the South African run, I remember seeing Tabletop Mountain and Lion Head Mountain as we neared the port of Capetown-both ef which I had read of in geography and history books in my grade school days. Two wipers and I went to the top of Tabletop by cable car and could watch the city getting smaller and smaller. Once on top, it was a. beautiful sight, and I haven 't forgotten it to this date. Then there was the time on the Steel Surveyor as we were heading toward Hawaii for a full load of sugar after discharging military cargo in Saigon. As we neared the Hawaiian coast, I saw the most beautiful sunset everpicture-perfect. Another memory: as a second electrician aboard the Cosmo Trader, we were going to Saigon with military cargo, but due to an emergency, we had to pull into Manila, in the Philippines, for repairs. A company gangway man told us of an unusual sight at a cemetery there. The man was right. After entering through a gate, the chief electrician and I noticed a stone wall encircling the place. As we went in deeper, it was truly a sight to behold. Every deceased person was interred in a marble monument above ground, each one with a huge painting of him- or herself enclosed in glass. One of the monuments was huge and must have housed many generations. The entire cemetery was spotless and a sight to be seen. I have tried to find the pictures I took, but can't locate them. I was an SIU member from 1951 until 1986, and I owe everything I have to the SIU. Members will never realize what a great union they are with until they retire or go somewhere else. Walter Karlak Woodside, Queens, N.Y. Remambarlng The Good Timas Ill Russians have told me that everybody in Russia has read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Around 1953, I spent a month in Russia. I sailed aboard a cadet training stiip in Talin, Estonia and on a Russian ship out of Odessa1 then l l days aboard the Alexander Pushkin from Rostov on the Don to Kazan. With this experience, I wrote a short story, "Bernard Overall, The Russian Tom Sawyer." Rev. Charles H. McTague Harrison, N.J. (Charles McTague joined the S!UonFebruary2, 1939andlater studied for the priesthood at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has been a priest for the past 53 years.) Procedure for SIU Absentee Ballots Elections for the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are scheduled for later this year. As in past SIU election years, a comprehensive guide will be published in the Seafarers LOG prior to the balloting. In the case of members eligible to vote who believe they will be at sea during the November 1 through December 31, 2000 voting period, absentee ballots will be available. The SIU constitution ensures that members who are eligible to vote and who find themselves in this situation may vote. Procedures are established in the SIU constitution to safeguard the secret ballot election, including the absentee ballot process. Here is the procedure to follow when requesting an absentee ballot: 1. Make the request in writing to the SIU office of the secretary-treasurer, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 207 46. 2. Include in the request the correct address where the absentee ballot should be mailed. 3. Send the request for an absentee ballot by registered or certified mail. 4. The registered or certified mail envelope must be postmarked no later than midnight, FREE 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. AD~ISSION November 15, 2000 and must be received at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 no later than November 25, 2000. The secretary-treasurer, after confirming eligibility, will send by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the address designated in the request, a ballot, together with an envelope marked "Ballot" and a mailing envelope no later than November 30, 2000. Upon receiving the ballot and envelope, vote by marking the ballot. After voting the ballot, place the ballot in the envelope marked "Ballot." Do not write on the "Ballot" envelope. Place the envelope marked "Ballot" in the mailing envelope which is imprinted with the mailing address of the bank depository where all ballots are sent. Sign the mailing envelope on the first line of the upper left-hand corner. Print name and book number on the second line. The mailing envelope is self-addressed and stamped. The mailing envelope must be postmarked no later than midnight December 31, 2000 and received by the bank depository no later than January 5, 2001. • F.AA&ILY FUN! ~D:i[]~ @D~~ D [])!]10~~ [].QJ@)G8~~l][]@)G8~ ~©we3 ~ D@B []m80IBDlS0 cu:Dl:18l~~~ Friday, May 5 -12 111• t• • 1-•. lat. - 1u11. - Man.• May 1-1 11 •••• ,. , ,_._ 20 Seafarers LOG 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 expendihrres 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chainnan Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 sheis denied the equal rights to which he or she is entitled, the member should notify union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2000 �-~;.: Start Date Date of. Completiop April 3 Mayt · May29 April21 May19 June 16 Basic Fire Fighting April 24 May22 April 28 May26 morning Advanced Fire Fighting April 3 May29 April 14 June 9 Seafarers who have .MY questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at th~:.,r~. . :· ....~J.: m~~~!·: ~y- cail the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Government Vessels May8 May22 May26 June9 x-~r h: \~~ _ -: .;_ _ . ; ;·. -~::. · - .;, : . <.~-.;;:_._.}( , .{. , S}A :··. ·\.-:,. .'~ _ ./~: - ~hefQJt~~itJ,gi~. ~b~.·~gli,~9ul~ fo('das~~~~~~niting between April through Tanker Familiarization/ ~sistant <;;argo (DL)* June ZOQ()jlfthe ~,aulHa~fCenter fQr Marii1me training and Education in Piney ,' Poirit, :Nld._AlLprdgrafus ate geared to improv~ thejob skills of Seafarers' an4 to . (*fnusthave basic fue fighting) promote the American maritime industry. · Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the iµatjtime inuustry and-in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students atte11ding any of these classes should check in the Saturday before · theit course's start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the Qf the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reserva,· :"#oits· sh~uid be made for Saturday. oeok Upgrading Courses . April 7 STCW Basic Safety (refresher) \ Date of Completion Start Date ". April 28 Mayl6 April 7 ::.May26 . :. Tankerman (PIC) Barge* (~must l1gve b«Sic ./irf!.flghliflg) .: · . April 28 (pre-AB) General educati~rl iij·~J:::;~~lli!~'. :¢~....r:§.~: ~~ j\f~ll~lite· ~i~~~fle~~ Iniddition, ·:.:<ba,;c .v~cational support progra.1rFcoqrses are otfererl throughout the year, ].1~:·:.W.~·ek prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Th.i rd Mate, Tanker Assistant :: :: ::"· : ~~: .. :: J.',.'. Su~~i,:Y.~l ~~µ_rs~; ·:.~P J'1.~9:~.~~p9.~ : :t~:. ~O.:ipll.~~ers .coµrse .will be . · /' . ;!@~:,;n 3; io;'11, ~· _ Mayl, 8, 15, 22, 29 June 5, 12, 19, 26 April 3; 17 May 1, 15, 29 June 12, 26 Check next, month's LOG for·; additionf!I Paul Hall Cent~r co4PseS Tor the second half of the year. ·, ...::.·-~·-·-·-·-·- .....:~·.-. .·..:.:·:_.;:..., ___ ___ ·-·-·-·-·-·- · -·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·- ~-·-·--··-·-·-·-·-·;._·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·, UPGRADING APPLICATION With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty (120) days seatime'for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime .for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and QMED applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $280 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only. payable to LMSS. COURSE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member BEGIN END DATE DATE Date of Birth _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ D Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ Seniority _ _ _ _ _- - ' - - - - - - - - Department _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held ----'---- - - - - - - - - - - - -- - LAST VESSEL: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ Rating: _ _ __ Date On: _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? D Yes D No If yes, class# - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? D Yes D No If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? 0 Yes 0 No Firefighting: 0 Yes 0 No CPR: 0 Yes 0 No Primary language spoken _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ Apri/2000 Date Off: SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ DATE NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only ifyou present original receipts and successfally complete the course. If you have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETED APPUCATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Admissions Office, P 0 Box 75. Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (30 I) 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, of 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. 4100 Seafarers L06 21 - �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes - ARPA - Completing the course in automatic radar and plotting aids on February 4 are (from left) Jeff Lagana, Bill Hough, Edgard Martinez, Tim Johnston, Chris Edyvean, Raymond Henderson, John Astad, Dennis Hurley and Mike Smith (instructor). Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 599 - Unlicensed apprentice class 599 graduating from the water survial course are (from left, kneeling) Peter Pamepinto, Normar'I ArquillaM, Ryan Humphreys, Quinton Washington, Elijah Huff, (st~nding) Brian Fifer, Jesus Martinez, Ray Hebert. James Brosher, Donna Sylvia and Jam~I Somerville. Welding Marine Electronics Technician - Members of the engine department earning their certificates of achievement from the welding course on March 3 are (in no particular order) Conrado Martinez, Peter Sternberg, Lino Remorin, David Kloss, Marino Callejas, Sotero Berame, Rhonda Koski and Faustino Pereira. Thei~ instructor was Buzzy Andrews. Graduating from the marine electronics technician course on March 31 are (from left) Frank Bakun, Mohamed Alsinai, George Collier, Douglas Felton and (seated) Jay Linx. Their instructor, not shown, was Russell Levin. At left are the same students on a tour of high tech exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The museum displays helped the upgraders understand the rapid changes that have occurred in technology. Recertified Stewards - Students completing the steward recertification program on March 6 learn the art of ice carving as part of their requirements for graduation. Members of the class (not all in the photograph) are (in no particular order) Richard Riley, Anthony St. Clair, Robert Haggerty, Kevin Marchand, Randy Stephens, Abraham Martinez, Martin Buck, William McGee, Jeanette Montgomery and William Bryley. Able" Seaman - Upgrading Seafarers earning their AB endorsements on February 18 are (in alphabetical order) Ronald Ammar, Arvell Brown, Michael Brown, David Burnham, Paul Cuevas, Randy Diaz, John Durfee, Miguel Guity, Frank Hall, Douglas Hemphill, Mark Hummel, Walter Lichota, Patricia McNulty, Nelson Montoya, Michael Moore, Chad Noda, Phillip Noto, James Stimage and Justin Vonsprecken. 22 Seafarers LOG Aprl/2000 �Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes Tanker Assistant Cargo (DL) - Among those completing the tanker assistant cargo (DL) course on January 28 with instructor Jim Shaffer are (in no particular order) Shannon Bonefont, Alfred Mcintyre, Europa Tuivati, Keolamauloahawaiiloa Mowat, David Green, Blaine Harkins, Randy McKenzie, Adam Williams, Brandon Scalzo, Robert Parker, Charles Larson, Secundino Arzu, Romel Holand, Kenneth Jones, Michael Mayo, Tyler Laffitte Jr., Erik Nappier, Reggie Donaldson, Thomas Komenda, Lino Remorin, Barry Verbois, John Astad, Enrique Crespo, Roy Williams, Steven Cook, Abdulla Saeed, Jason Dew, Bobby Ellis Jr. , Frank Iverson and John Palughi. Tanker Assistant Cargo (DL} - on February 25. another group gradu~ted from thA tanker assistant cargo (DL) cour~e with instructor Jim Shaffer (far right). They are (in no sp@· eifie order) Roy Jerue Jr., Brock Booker, Carlton Hendley, Vincent Sanchez Ill, Fr@d McGauley IV, Derrin Juul, M~rk P@sola , Hectcr Frederick. Judith MJ::rwin, St@v@n Kniola , Miehael Kachele, Jo$eph Saeger', Antheny Brown. William Lough, Donovan Christie, Edgardo Ong, Johnie Chavis, Maxw911 HassQll-EI, John WMg, David Fricker, Kenji Hoffman, Ernie Gay, Jerome Wong, Adel Shahter, Bernard Hutching and David Heavey. •\:. ' SEAFARERS P!»t-HA.U~. !EKTER LIFEBOAT CLASS 6Q.0_ ' "" ·'·~ ~ .. .. :(t~}· ~-·, Unlicensed Apprentice Class 600 - Completing the water survival course are members of unlicensed apprentice class 600. They are (in alphabetical order) Travis Astbury, Joseph Brasher, Shannon Berry, William Colson, Todd Curry, Paul Hagan, Blake Horton, Michael James Jr., Andrew Linares, Michael-Shawn Logotaeao, Jessica Lorusso, Bradford Lowry, Harry Oglesby, William Schuchardt and Leonard Shuman II. FOWT - Earning their FOWT endorsements on February 18 are (in no particular order) Calvin Mcfield, John Miracle, Jason Mixson, Alex Oliva, Eldon Palmer, Eric Rodgers, Mark Savage, Lawrence Sherinski, Hector Solis, Samuel Taylor, Mark Vidal, Antuan Barnes, Shaun Bonefont, Cole Bridwell, Kevin Bullen, Elvin Fontanilla, Timothy Apri/2000 Galley Operations - Finishing one of the required two-week modules in the galley operations curriculum are (from left, front row) Kameron Kamaunu, Lisa Marie Kitashima, Daniel Dillabough, (second row) Chef Ed White (instructor), Larry Jolla, Terry Allen, Richard P. Mata and Roy Fairfield (assistant instructor). Flynn, Manuel Hernandez, Mohamed Jamsheedi, Anthony Jones, Carlos Majao, Nelson Martin, Alexander Williams, Dawn Williams and Jeffrey Wise. Their instructor was Mark Jones (far left). Seafarers LOG 23 �Volume 62 Number 4 Vacation at Piney Point Now is the time to start thinking_ about a summer vacation. The Paul Hall Center can provide you and]OUT family with all the ingredients for a memorable summer holiday. For additional information and_rates, see page 12. NATCO Crews 'Always Picking Up' Safety Stressed in Round-the-Clock Assignments Captain Phil Kleinebreil describes dredging as "probably the most dangerous part of the maritime industry. There's a lot of moving equipment and the work is nonstop. There are a lot of overhead dangers." SIU crews on NATCO dredges meet the challenge by constantly emphasizing safety. From basic precautions such as wearing hardhats and steel-toed shoes, to more elaborate protective measures like meticulously rigging equipment for dredging and beach-replenishment jobs, the mariners work safely. "I'd say that the union, the company and the crews are well-equipped for doing safe work," says Kleinebreil, who has spent 13 years on NATCO's SIU-crewed dredges. Adds Captain Mike Horn, a 17-year veteran of the industry, "It's fa ·r1y specialized work. In order to do it properly and safely. you can't put just anybody out there." SIU members crew the NATCO hopper dredges Dodge Island, Sugar Island, Padre Island, Manhattan Island and Northerly Island, plus another dredge (the Long Island) operated by NATCO parent company Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. And, as reported in the January issue of the Seafarers LOG, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is building a new 315-foot dredge at a union yard in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.-the Liberty Island, tentatively slated to sail in 2001. "We work all over the place:· notes Hom. "We work most of the major ports on the East Coast and some of the lesser ones. I've also worked jobs in Oregon and California." Routine dredging, channel maintenance and beach renourishment are the most common jobs for NATCO 's fleet. Last month, the five Seafarers-crewed dredges handled assignments in Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and Puerto Rico. No matter the task, the vessels operate 24 hours day, seven days a week. Despite that relentlessly demanding schedule, Kleinebreil says the NATCO mariners have found their niche. "I like dredging. The work is hard, but the time goes by fast when you're out here," he observed last month while aboard the Northerly Island. "You get quality time at home, and the money's not bad, either." The crews also keep a sense of humor about their industry. They jokingly describe their work with slogans such as, "Dredging is always picking up," or "Dig it." "And there are a few others, too, but we don't want to go there," Kleinebreil chuckles. Chief Steward Sidney Guidry whips up a delicious lunch for fellow crew members aboard the Northerly Island. Ready to meet with Pat Vandergrift, SIU safety director from the port of Norfolk, Va., are (from left) Asst. Engineer William Quick, AB Brad Brunette and Steward/Cook David Strickland on the Sugar Island. A visiting photographer is the only thing that briefly slows (from left) QMED Brett Sallee, QMED Rickey Pettaway, AB Joe Conlin and Chief Engineer Joseph Kadak aboard the Northerly Island. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2000 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES STRANDED CREW FINALLY GOES HOME ITF AIDS MARINERS ON RUNAWAY-FLAG SHIP; TAMPA TRIBUNE ARTICLES BARE FOC ‘PRISON’ CARNIVAL TAXED BY PROPOSAL RANK-AND-FILE FINANCIAL COMMITTEE APPROVVES UNION RECORDS FOR 1999 AMERICAN CLASSIC ANNOUCES ‘MILESTONES’ IN REVITALIZATION OF U.S. PASSENGER FLEET FIRST ORCS- CLASS RO/RO EXPECTED BY SUMMER 2002. ADMINISTRAIVE TASK FORCE FINDS USCG MISSIONS VITAL FOR COUNTRY. BUILDING NAMES IN LEONA HALL’S MEMORY. NATCO CREWS RATIFY 3-YEAR CONTRACT SIU BOAT OPERATOR RESCUES FISHERMAN SUPREME COURT RULES STATE OVERTSTEPS JURISDICTION REGARDING TANKER REGS AFL-CIO CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR GLOBAL ECONOMIC FAIRNESS HVIDE MARINE FOUNDER DIES RECERTIFIED STEWARDS ENCOURAGE APPRENTICES BOEING STRIKE ENDS WORKERS APPROVE 3-YEAR PACT ITF: STOP BLACKLISTING FILIPINOS SIU BACKS MARINERS AT MANILA DEMONSTRATION CREW MEMBER CONFIRMS THREAT OF BLACKLISTING GLOBAL LINK FINISHES FLURRY OF FIVE REPAIRS ON THE JOB IN LONG BEACH STORIES WON’T END BECAUSE BOSUN CAIN’S COME ASHORE MOBILE MEMBER CALLS IT A CAREER AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS WITH THE SIU A VOYAGE TO INDIA- 1940 BY MELFRD SMITH Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2000 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. 62, No. 4 2000 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/ffa394d47d4ca67399023321d02022e7.pdf e495e8d363844caffed1a0d798c7e909 PDF Text Text Volume 63, Number 4 -.seafarers.org April 2001 Runaway- ag cam Hits Another Low Panama Sells Mariner's License To ITF General Secretary Cockroft . REfUBLICA DE PANAMA, ·'. RB!'.UBUCOJ' P•l'f\M" · . AUToRIDAI> MARmMA DE ~ANAMA, .. PAl<A~ ... MAR!T!MEAl'T!lORITY In one of the most blatant examples of the fraud that is runaway-flag shipping, the Republic of Panama last month sold a first officer's certificate and "sea book" to the head of the FECHA DE NACIMIE!l.'TO ' l).);7£ Oi' 8\RT!f " ... I International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)-a I I respected official, but one with no shipboard training or experience. Despite that greenness, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft now possesses paperwork authorizing him to navigate a vessel, thanks to Panama. Page 2. 34673 Merger Agreement Presented SIU, NMU Memberships Scheduled to Vote in May - SIU Crews Cable Ship .-- Baltimore-Based Wave Sentinel Joins Seafarers-Contracted Fleet _ ---~._____~ Recertified Bosun Dave Kalm and other SIU members are the first Seafarers to sail aboard the newly contracted Wave Sentinel, a cable ship based in Baltimore. Page 24. Page 3 �1 Meet '1st Officer Cockroft President's Report History on the Horizon Can you believe it? After more than 60 years of sailing toward the same port, the members of the SIU and NMU are almost there. We are all gathered on the bridge, looking past the bow, and we don't need binoculars! The dock is in sight! We are coming home. Next month, Seafarers and their counterparts in the National Maritime Union will Michael Sacco have an opportunity to finalize a truly historic event: the merger of the NMU into the SIU. Details, including the full text of the proposed agreement, are printed on page 3 of this issue of the Seafarers LOG. As the formal merger agreement is presented to both memberships, I am more convinced than ever that this unification is the right move at the right time, for all concerned. Members already are benefiting because our respective unions no longer work against each other, as we often did throughout the past six decades. As one union, we can concentrate on more job security aboard new ships built in U .S. yards. We can fight for better benefits and safer working conditions. The rest of the industry will gain from this merger, too. First and foremost, the merger will help build a bigger, more qualified manpower pool. In fact, those benefits already have begun materializing since we first welcomed our NMU brothers and sisters at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Another advantage-less obvious but very important-is that instead of consuming our respective resources while battling each other, the SIU and NMU instead will be betterequipped to take on the enemies of the American-flag fleet. We will settle for nothing less than the true revitalization of our merchant marine. I have been overwhelmed by the positive responses from SIU and NMU members since we started working together. The good news has come from the school as well as the vessels on which SIU and NMU members have sailed together. Seafarers have accepted and welcomed the NMU because we are all mariners, dedicated to the same task. Such camaraderie and cooperation is refreshing. As many of you know, merger talks between our two unions date back all the way to the 1960s, but none of those discussions produced an alliance. Conflicts between us date back even further, to the late 1930s. It's an interesting history that has been told many times. But now, a new chapter is being written. Throughout the multi-step process involved in this merger, the great majority of our members (and those of the NMU) have made it clear that now is the time to come together. I couldn't agree more. The merger means increased security and stability for both memberships. It means we'll be better equipped to meet the changing times that inevitably lie ahead. It will help set a solid foundation for us in this new century. The merger is an exciting, overdue step. I thank the members of both unions for their foresight and support throughout the process. Let's bring the ship safely into our home port by approving the proposed formal agreement next month. Volume 63, Number 4 April 2001 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright© 2001 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOS Panama Sells Phony Credentials; ITF Further Exposes FOC Scam For sheer size, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) exhibition ship Global Mariner may have been the ultimate visual aid in the fight against runaway-flag shipping. The converted cargo vessel early last year concluded a 20month, worldwide voyage that attracted nearly three-quarters of a million visitors to its shipboard presentation on runaway flags. Last month, however, the ITF dramatically further exposed the flag-of-convenience (FOC) rip-off with a single sheet of paper. The federation's general secretary, David Cockroft, bought a first officer's certificate (and "sea book") issued by the Republic of Panama. The paperwork authorizes Cockroft to navigate a vessel and "deputize for its captain, despite his complete lack of marine training and skills," the ITF noted. "This is one of those situations where you don't know whether to laugh or cry," said SIU SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel, who serves as second vice chair of the ITF Seafarers' Section. "Obviously, it's ridiculous that anyone could buy an officer's license. Yet, that's the reality of runaway-flag shipping." Cockroft's documentation didn't come cheap. It reportedly took about $4,000 to secure his paperwork. "This just proves- if more proof is needed-that it is time to eliminate the culture of greed and corruption rooted in the FOC system," Cockroft stated. "However good international conventions look on paper, they will never guarantee standards until ship registers which exist solely to make money are driven out of business." VllDUINll.Tfn/l..<'\.I ~l'\--Of~ ' ---~----~~ ... ~• Panama issued this first officer's certificate to ITF General Secretary David Cockroft, despite his complete absence of marine training and skills. Cockroft displays his newly bought mariner's credentials. "It is time to eliminate the culture of greed and corruption rooted in the FOC system," he says. He further described runaway-flag shipping as "an under-policed system that encourages bad operators to undercut good ones .... It is courting human and environmental disaster." The SIU is one of 570 unions affiliated with the London-based ITF. Altogether, those affiliates represent more than 5 million members. For more than a half-century, the ITF has fought against runaway-flag or FOC shipping. An FOC vessel is one that flies the flag of a country other than the country of ownership. Shipowners who participate in the runaway-flag scam typically do so to avoid taxes and regulations while employing cheap, often unqualified labor. Panama is the world's largest shipping register as well as "one of 29 FOC countries that flag ships owned by foreign businesses purely for profit," the ITF reported. "Almost none of the 6,000-plus ships registered in Panama are owned by genuine Panamanian companies, staffed by Panamanian crews or commanded by Panamanian officers. Its ship registry has nothing to do with assuring safety and responsible shipping, and everything to do with making money." Although Cockroft's licensing escapade contains humorous undertones, it mainly highlights the potential dangers of FOCs. Cockroft likened the incongruous issuance of his officer's certificate by Panama to "awarding a good-conduct medal to Attila the Hun .... Do you want someone like me, with no practical seafaring experience, steering a ship full of dangerous chemicals or radioactive materials off your coast, or plowing through the same sea lanes as oil supertankers and crowded passenger ferries?" The Seafarers' International Research Center at the University of Wales is investigating the issuance of fraudulent qualifications worldwide. Preliminary findings revealed more than 12,000 cases of forgery, the federation pointed out. 'Slavery' at Sea? Year-Long Research Yields Grim Evidence A new report by the International Commission on Shipping (ICONS) describes "slave conditions" faced by thousands of mariners worldwide. Titled "Ships, Slaves and Competition," the report is based on a year-long, global investigation in which virtually every component of the maritime industry had input, noted ICONS Chairman Peter Morris, former Australian transport minister. "The obscenity is that the beneficiaries of the suffering include some of the wealthiest individuals and corporations on earth," Morris said in a news report. "They need to be held accountable for the way their cargoes are transported just as every other industry is." The commission said it gathered evidence that "tens of thousands of seafarers in 10 to 15 percent of the world's ships work in slave conditions, with minimal safety, long hours for little or no pay, starvation diets, rape and beatings. [ICONS] has been told of crew who have disappeared after complaints to officers, and employer practices of blacklisting sailors who complain to unions." Substandard shipping "operates because of a veil of secrecy on ship ownership and support from cargo owners seeking lower freight rates at the expense of the majority of quality ship operators," the commission stated. Along those lines, Morris cited studies by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and De- velopment (OECD) which indicate that a given vessel's annual operating costs can be slashed by 16 percent by dodging international safety requirements. The commission offered numerous recommendations, including stronger supervision of classification societies by the European Commission and tougher policy application by the societies to their clients; tighter port state controls and implementation of reward systems for quality ships; severe penalties for charterers and major shippers using sub-standard ships; improved flag state performance, and many others. Morris said those proposals won't increase prices for most shippers and consumers. "In fact there is considerable evidence to suggest that best practice will result in cheaper prices through reduced insurance costs, simplified port inspections and shorter turnaround times," he observed. The full report is available via the internet at www.icons.org.au. ApTil 2001 �SIU-NMU Merger Pact Presented May Votes Slated for Both Unions The SIU-NMU merger agreement will be presented for votes at the May membership meetings of the respective unions, following the document's completion in late February. If the agreement is approved, then this will be the final step in merging the NMU into the SIU's Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. In that event, it is anticipated that the merger's effective date will be sometime in late spring or early summer. If the agreement is not approved, then a new one will be negotiated and presented to the memberships. The full text of the agreement is printed on this page of the Seafarers LOG. The May votes-which will include NMU members voting on whether to accept the SIU constitution- represent the third step in the merger process, as previously detailed in several issues of the LOG. The process being used is similar to the one implemented during 1977-78 when the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) merged into the SIU. Like the MC&S was in 1977, the NMU is an autonomous union within the Seafarers International Union of North America. From Dec. 1, 1999 through Jan. 31 , 2000, SIU and NMU members voted by secret ballot on whether the unions should proceed with merging. SIU members approved the resolution with 86 percent voting in favor of full merger talks; in the NMU, 93 percent of those voting approved the resolution. During the most recent SIU general election, from Nov. 1Dec. 30, 2000, Seafarers ap- proved two constitutional amendments related to the proposed merger. Eighty-four percent of those voting, approved the amendment adding "NMU" to the union 's full name; 87 percent approved the amendment calling for the addition of two executive board slots. Those results were affirmed by the Sill's rank-andfile tallying committee, whose report in tum was approved last month at SIU halls throughout the country. Text of SIU-NMU Merger Agreement to Be Voted on by the Memberships AGREEMENT OF MERGER WHEREAS, the Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD (hereinafter referred to as "SIU") and the National Maritime Union (hereinafter referred to as "NMU") both represent unlicensed seamen working aboard merchant vessels on the seas, the lakes and inland waterways; and WHEREAS, over the last several decades, the commercial maritime industry in the United States has been in a state of flux which has impacted upon the employment opportunities of the collective membership of the SIU and the NMU; and WHEREAS, due to the unique nature of the maritime industry, both the SIU and the NMU have, over the years, maintained separate union/hiring hall facilities at various locations in the United States, some of which are located in the same geographical areas, and have negotiated separate and distinct collective bargaining agreements with the employers for whom their respective memberships are employed, to enable each union to represent its members; WHEREAS, such a duplication of resources and efforts does not efficiently serve the needs of either membership; and WHEREAS, as a result, the Executive Boards of both the SIU and the NMU met on several occasions to discuss the possibility of merging and/or consolidating operations and reached agr~ement to pursue the matter; and WHEREAS, the concept of merger was presented, via referendum votes, to the membership of both unions; and WHEREAS, the membership of both unions voted overwhelmingly in favor of such a merger and authorized their respective Executive Boards to negotiate a merger agreement which would set forth the proposed terms and conditions of a merger between these two unions; and WHEREAS, the Executive Boards of these unions have met and have reached agreement on the essential terms of a merger and now wish to codify and formalize such agreement into a document for the purpose of presenting such document to the respective memberships of the SIU and the NMU for their action; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, UPON MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL, THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO AND APPLIED TO THE MERGER OF THE SIU AND NMU AND WILL GOVERN THE NEW MERGED ENTITY: 1. NMU shall merge into and become an integral part of the SIU. 2. The name of the merged entity shall be the Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD/National Maritime Union (hereinafter referred to as "SIU/NMU"). 3. The terms and provisions of such merger and of the continued existence of the SIU/NMU, except as specifically elaborated herein, shall be as set forth in the Constitution of the SIU, as amended by membership vote effective March 2001 , and which shall be the Constitution of the merged organization and shall be in the name of the SIU/NMU. A complete and accurate copy of the Constitution of the SIU, to be submitted for approval to the membership of SIU in March, 2001 , has been April 2001 provided to the Executive Board of the NMU prior to the signing of this Agreement of Merger and shall be published to the membership of the NMU in connection with their vote to approve and accept this Merger Agreement. 4. The Constitution of the SIU/NMU, as amended, shall govern and set forth rights and obligations to all such members. All NMU full book members in good standing, possessing such status under the pre-merger NMU Constitution shall, subsequent to the merger, become full book members of the SIU/NMU. [Editor s note: Full book membership has nothing to do with seniority. They are separate issues. For an explanation of the proposed seniority system, see No. 8, in the next column.} All SIU full book members in good standing, possessing such status under the pre-merger SIU Constitution shall, subsequent to the merger, become full book members of the SIU/NMU. Nonfull book members of the SIU/NMU who are not eligible to become full book members as of the date of the merger shall have their membership rights subsequently determined by the provisions of the SIU/NMU Constitution, provided, however, that such non-full book members shall receive credit toward full book membership for all days of service which they have accrued prior to the effective date of this Merger Agreement. Any and all moneys paid to NMU or to SIU by non-full book members towards the pay ment of the Constitutionally mandated initiation fees as set forth in the respective Constitutions of both unions, shall be credited to such person's initiation fee obligation to the SIU/NMU as provided in the SIU/NMU Constitution. 5. For all purposes of the SIU/NMU Constitution, the terms "good standing or continuous good standing in the Union" shall include such status of members in the SIU and the NMU prior to this merger. 6. Subsequent to the merger, the SIU/NMU will commence a procedure by which they will gain recognition for the SIU/NMU from their various signatory employers as the exclusive bargaining representative for all SIU and NMU collective bargaining units existing as of the effective date of this Merger Agreement. However, the pre-merger job and seniority rights of SIU and NMU members will not be affected by the merger prior to the expiration of the existing NMU Collective Bargaining Agreement. (see paragraph 8 herein). The terms and conditions of all SIU and NMU collective bargaining agreements in effect on the effective date of this Merger Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until their expiration dates. Subject to Article X of the SIU/NMU Constitution, contract enforcement with respect to collective bargaining agreements possessed by NMU prior to the merger shall be, for the duration of said contracts, under the direction and supervision of the VicePresidents at Large referenced in Paragraph 19 hereof. 7. The SIU/NMU shall, upon approval of this Merger Agreement, succeed to any and all SIU and NMU rights in and to all NLRB certifications and shall become the exclusive bargaining representative of all individuals employed on former NMU and former SIU contracted equipment. If deemed necessary, motions will be submitted to the NLRB for amendment of certification to reflect the merger of these unions. 8. The job and seniority rights of both SIU and NMU members are currently contained in the shipping rules of each union and are incorporated in the aforementioned collective bargaining agreements. Until such time that the Executive Board of the newly formed SIU/NMU decides otherwise, but no sooner than the expiration dates of the existing NMU collective bargaining agreements, both sets of such shipping rules shall continue to be maintained and shall continue to be applied to employment aboard the same vessels as they were prior to the merger. Accordingly, the job rights of all SIU members as presently contained in the SIU shipping rules shall, subject to the provisions of such rules, continue in full force and effect. Likewise, the job rights of all NMU members as presently contained in the NMU shipping rules shall, subject to the provisions of such rules, continue in full force and effect. The SIU's current contracted employers shall constitute a separate unit for purposes of determining job or shipping rights and the NMU's current contracted employers shall constitute a separate unit for purposes of determining job or shipping rights. Former NMU members, who by virtue of the merger become SIU/NMU members, may register for employment aboard former SIU contracted vessels and will be treated as any other individual possessing C seniority under the existing SIU shipping rules. Likewise, former SIU members, who by virtue of the merger become SIU/NMU members, may register for employment aboard former NMU contracted vessels and shall be treated as any other individual possessing Class 3 seniority under the existing NMU shipping rules. Seniority shall then accrue in accordance with the particular shipping rules under which the individual works. 9. The parties agree that, subsequent to the merger, they will recommend to the respective Boards of Trustees of their existing pension, welfare and vacation benefit plans that such plans shall not be merged or combined in a manner that would have an adverse impact on the present participants of these plans (the "Plans")' prior to June 15, 2007. The parties further agree to recommend to these Boards of Trustees to expeditiously initiate a study to determine the feasibility of establishing and implementing reciprocity agreements between the respective Plans to enable individuals working under SIU/NMU contracts to accumulate and combine credits received under these Plans regardless of their particular job assignment. I 0.The parties also agree that, subsequent to the merger, they will recommend to the respective Boards of Trustees of their existing "hiring hall organizations" 2 that such Trustees should act towards merging these funds to reduce and/or eliminate duplication of expense and effort and to more effectively serve the needs and interests of the combined membership of the newly created SIU/NMU. In no event, however, shall such merger take place prior to the expiration dates of the existing NMU collective bargaining agreements .. Upon the effective date of this Merger Agreement all funds transmitted to the NMU by the NMU Joint Employment Committee will be transmitted to SIU/NMU. 11. The parties agree that subsequent to the effective date of this Merger Agreement, they will work toward coordinating and combining the activities of the Transportation Institute and LaborManagement Maritime Committee. 12. The parties agree that subsequent to the effective date of this Merger Agreement, they will work towards merging SPAD and NMU PLOW. 13.During the discussions leading up to this merger agreement, the parties acknowledge that they have each submitted to the other certified statements of their assets and liabilities, current as of December 31 , 1999 and that both parties now represent that for the period of time following such date, to the date of execution of this Agreement, there have been no appreciable changes in their assets and liabilities; except as otherwise previously disclosed. In addition, the NMU represents that it has no contractual liabilities except as set forth in the aforementioned certified statements or as listed in Schedule A to be provided and attached hereto. 14. The NMU further agrees that it will not incur any liabilities or make any expenditure without the SIU 's consent, except those that are necessary to continue the routine and ordinary business of the NMU during the period of the vote on this Merger Agreement. The term "routine and ordinary business of the NMU" shall include the following items of expenses and any other items similar thereto: • Salaries, withholding taxes and employee fringe benefits • Reimbursement of travel and other legitimate business expenses • Rent • Telephone e Per capita (SIU, AFL-CIO Maritime Committee, SMART and ITF) • Real estate and personal property taxes • Utilities • Building maintenance • Office supplies and postage • Office equipment, supplies and stationary, maintenance and repair • Automobile • Reproduction and printing • Subscription and periodicals • Interest expenses • Newsletter publication costs • Professional expenses including, but not limited to legal and accounting • Leases of office equipment • Office furnishings • Conference, seminar, convention and meeting expenses IS.In the event of approval of this Merger Agreement, the NMU agrees that such appro al will constitute an assignment to the SIU/NMU of all of its right, title and interest in and to all of its assets (both real and personal property) including but not limited to accounts receivable and union monetary obligations due from members and that the NMU will act as soon as is practical subsequent to the merger to take any and all necessary actions to transfer such rights and title to the SIU/NMU. Upon approval of this Merger Agreement, SIU/NMU shall assume full responsibility for all financial obligations of NMU including, but not limited to, all expenses associated with the administration and enforcement of all NMU collective bargaining agreements in effect on the effective date of this Merger Agreement. 16.For the purpose of executing any and all documents on behalf of the NMU which may be required by any person, firm , association, corporation or governmental agency subsequent to the effectuation of this merger for all NMU acts and matters prior to such merger, the authorized signators for NMU shall be two current NMU officers as designated by the present NMU President. 17. For the purpose of executing any and all documents on behalf of the SIU which may be required by any person, firm, association, corporation or governmental agency subsequent to the effectuation of this merger for all SIU acts and matters prior to such merger, John Fay and David Heindel, current SIU officers, or the survivor, shall be and are so authorized. 18. This Merger Agreement shall not become effective unless and until a majority of those SIU members so voting and a majority of those NMU members so voting, vote to approve and accept this Merger Agreement. In the event that such approval is not granted by a majority of each of the respective voting members of the two unions, then this Merger Agreement shall be deemed cancelled, null and void and of no force and effect. Constitution of the 19. The SIU/NMU shall create two VicePresidential positions to be known as 'Vice-Presidents at Large'. Upon approval of this Merger Agreement, as specified in Paragraph 18 hereof, the SIU/NMU National President shall appoint two current elected NMU officers, as recommended by the present NMU President, to fill the newly created NMU Vice-President positions. Thereafter, such individuals, or their successors, shall continue to serve in such capacity until the regularly scheduled election of SIU/NMU officers held in 2004. All other current elected NMU officers shall continue to be employed by SIU/NMU, in such capacity as the General Executive Board shall determine, for the balance of their current NMU term of office. 20. It is hereby agreed and understood that all parties to this Merger Agreement have negotiated its terms in good faith with every intention to fully comply with all provisions herein. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and executed this Agreement this 21 day of February 2001 . ational Maritime Union Seafarers International International Union, AGLIWD 1 The terms "existing pension, welfare, vacation and training and education plans" or "the Plans" refers to the following entities: NMU Pension Trust (NMU Pension Plan); NMU Welfare Trust (NMU Welfare Plan); NMU Vacation Trust (NMU Vacation Plan); NMU Rivers Pension Trust (NMU Rivers Pension Plan); NMU Rivers Welfare Trust (NMU Rivers Welfare Plan); NMU Upgrading and Training Plan; Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan; Seafarers Pension Plan; Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan; Seafarers Vacation Plan; Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship 2 The term "hiring hall organizations" refers to the following entities: NMU Joint Employment Committee; Seafarers Joint Employment Fund. Seafarers LOG 3 �Tacoma Hall Withstands Earthquake Senior members of the Page's SIU crew were on hand for the ceremony. Pictured from left to right are Chief Steward James Okidd Jr., Bosun Michael M. Moore and Chief Cook McKennly Jones. Newark Bay Renamed Ammunition Ship Conversion Complete The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), during ceremonies Feb. 21 at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Norfolk, Va., renamed the SIU-crewed Newark Bay to the Lt. Col. John UD. Page, in honor of a Korean War hero. The vessel has been undergoing conversion from a commercial container ship to a self-sustaining ammunition transporter at the shipyard since October 2000. With all required modifications complete, it was delivered to MSC March 1. Patricia T. Holder, wife of MSC Commander Vice Adm. Gordon S. Holder, was the ship's sponsor. She broke the ceremonial bottle of champagne on the vessel's hull, officially naming it. Adm. Holder was the keynote speaker. As previously reported, the conversion was part of a transaction in which the SIU is gaining two ships. Col. Page, an Army officer, posthumously was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10, 1950, near Chosin Reservoir, Korea. The colonel received the mission of establishing traffic control on the main supply route to the Chasin Reservoir Plateau. After completing his mission, he had two opportunities to vacate the combat zone. But rather than leave, he remained in the area to assist an isolated signal station, which had been cut off from a U.S. Marine division. Col. Page trained a reserve force of assorted troops-Army and Marines-to defend an improvised airstrip. He continued to fight courageously until he was mortally wounded. "Today, we again honor that heroism, that patriotism, as we name this great ship," said Adm. Holder during his keynote address. "I am sure she will live up to her name, going in harm's way if necessary, to deliver the ammunition the Army needs to carry out its worldwide mission." The Page and its sister ship, the SIU-crewed Sgt. Edward A. Carter Jr.-scheduled for delivery to MSC in June-will carry all of the Army's containerized prepositioned ammunition by the end of this year. Each vessel will carry a total of2,500 20-foot containers-2,230 under deck and 270 in a cocoon above deck. Both cargo areas will be air conditioned and dehumidified to protect the ammunition. The Page has four cranes on deck that allow the vessel to load and off-load ammunition without shoreside cranes. According to MSC, this critical feature gives the Page the flexibility to offload in undeveloped ports. The 949.8-foot vessel is owned and operated by Maersk Lines Ltd. ofNorfolk, Va. under a five-year charter to MSC. The Page will operate from the Diego Garcia area in the Indian Ocean. The Page was one of two foreign-flag cargo vessels which were reflagged under the Stars and Stripes in mid-2000 and tagged for conversion to use as ammunition ships under a fiveyear operating agreement to Maersk by MSC. The OOCL Innovation was the second vessel. After being reflagged, the Innovation initially (Aug. 6, 2000) was renamed the Sealand Oregon. Today it is the Sgt. Edward A. Carter Jr. Maersk Line Limited, based in Norfolk, operates about two dozen SIU-crewed vessels for MSC and in the Maritime Security Program. Its Seafarerscrewed fleet includes containerships, roll-on/roll off prepositioning vessels and T-AGOS ships. While many residents of the Pacific Northwest were being shaken into a frenzy by a Feb. 21 earthquake, which sent debris crashing to the ground in some areas, it was pretty much business as usual at the SIU hall in Tacoma, Wash. "We did evacuate our building," said Jamie Overby, safety director at the West Coast hall. "But we did not experience any damage at all to our facility, and no one was injured. "We were fully staffed that day, and I think we actually were pretty fortunate because our building is not located around any high-rise structures," Overby continued. "The other thing is that everyone responded very well. They all got out of the building and assembled in the parking lot just like they were supposed to. They all knew exactly what to do." The SIU's Tacoma hall is located at 3411 South Union Ave. It opened in 1996. Previously, the union operated a hall in Seattle. The February quake hit at 10:55 a.m. and measured a 6.8 magnitude, officials at the U.S. Geological Survey said. The rumble's epicenter was 35 miles southwest of Seattle, according to data released by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, and was felt as far away as Portland, Ore. Published reports say following the quake, a crack was visible in a column at the capitol dome in Olympia, about 10 miles from the epicenter. "We are located about 15 miles from Olympia," said Overby. "But still it shook us around pretty good, the whole building was shaking. To me it felt like the bow of a ship hitting a big wave and shaking the house." Brenda Belia, an administrative specialist at the Seafarer Brian Burchett completes paperwork at the SIU Hall in Tacoma, Wash., shortly after the Feb. 21 earthquake. 4 Seafarers LOG hall, shared Overby's appraisal of the event and added, "It scared the living daylight out of me! I was born and raised here and have always felt the small tremors, but this one really was bad. It kept going and going- it lasted for about 20-30 seconds. "But the building held up great," she continued. "The pictures on the wall were crooked, but other than that, we had no problems." A pair of aftershocks agitated Olympia and Tacoma twice more Feb. 22. The first- a 3.4 magnitude quake-occurred at about 1: 10 a.m., while the second came around 6:23 a.m. The latter aftershock was a 2.7- magnitude rumble. Both were centered near the location of the original quake. While no one was killed during the original quake or aftershocks, Washington state officials say the underground eruptions were responsible for 300 injuries, some serious. Utility officials estimated that 17 ,000 of its 3 50,000 customers in Seattle were without power. Damage to property in the SeattleTacoma-Olympia area was estimated in the billions. 1 Health Plan ID Cards Slated for Distribution New identification cards soon will be in the hands of Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan participants. Intended to better serve the needs of eligible members and their families, the cards will be made of a high-quality plastic composite. They will be packaged and mailed out in much the same fashion as credit cards, according to Plan Administrator Lou Delma. The new forms of identification will contain routine data such as bearers' names, Social Security numbers, and insurance contacts. Health providers typically require such information to verify coverage. The cards were scheduled to be mailed in early April. The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plans is the new name for the Seafarers Welfare Plan. The name change was announced last year by the plan's board of trustees. Eligible SIU members will receive medical identification cards like the one pictured at right for themselves and their families. The remaining SIU crewmembers joined Bosun Michael M. Moore, left, following the ceremony. Pictured with Moore (from left) are AB Carlos Perrilla, AB George Mareo, AB Ed Jaynes, AB Steve Westfall and AB Don Manrick. The SIU Hall in Tacoma, Wash. withstood the fury of the Feb. 21 earthquake, which measured 6.8 in magnitude. Qii This card does not guarantee coverage or confirm eligibility. Member's Name Printed Member's SSN • Red Cross Honors Jim Hanson . . . . . . .......... Page 9 • More on STCW Requirements .................. Page 11 • Upcoming Paul Hall Center Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 April 2001 �Dangerous Mexican Trucks Threaten U.S. Road Safety Texas Safety Official: 'We Only Inspect The Ones That Look Really, Really Bad' Yet another regrettable aspect of the so-called North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is at the fore as Mexico presses for complete access to United States highways. The U.S. did not meet the NAFTA-imposed March 8 deadline for opening all U.S. roads to Mexican trucks, but U.S. officials reportedly are working toward a policy on the issue. The AFL-CIO executive council (on which SIU President Michael Sacco serves) recently spelled out the myriad safety issues related to Mexican crossborder trucking. The federation insisted that American lives will be imperiled by completely opening U.S. borders. As Teamsters President James P. Hoffa wrote March 13 in a nationally published op-ed piece, "With 4 million (Mexican) trucks crossing the border with sub-par equipment, overworked drivers struggling to support families on often-meager wages, and the U.S. able to inspect fewer than 1 percent (of those trucks), it won't be long before an unsafe Mexican truck kills a U.S. family." On Feb. 6, a NAFTA dispute resolution panel ruled that the United States must end its current moratorium on considering Mexican applications for crossborder trucking privileges and must consider these applications on a case-by-case basis. Failure to do so could result in compensating Mexico through higher tariffs on goods or services going there. However, as pointed out by the labor federation, Mexican truck, bus and driver safety standards are still significantly below those in the United States, and U.S. inspection and enfor9ement programs are not adequate to assure the safety of American highways. A report last month by the Associated Press highlighted the problem's scope. For the past six years, Mexican rigs have had access to U.S. border states, up to 20 miles. Millions of foreign trucks enter the country each year, with the vast majority completely uninspected. A spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety told an AP reporter, "We only inspect the ones that look really, really bad. Like, 'Oh my God, how's that gonna stay together?' We're only taking the worst of the worst." The newspaper story further states that only one of every 100 rigs is checked. Nearly half of the vehicles inspected last year were removed from service because of various mechanical flaws, unsecured loads and other safety issues. Hoffa noted that cross-border trucking carries numerous concerns, starting with drivers' Not Over Yet Steelworkers Steadfast In NAnA Court Battle The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) on March 2 vowed to take their federal court fight against the constitutionality of the socalled North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Their pledge followed a ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta rejecting the union's suit against the pact. The court described NAFTA as "a non-justiciable political question" that courts should not manage. The USWA, which first challenged NAFTA in court in the summer of 1998, contends that the agreement's ratification didn't meet the United States Constitutional requirement of two-thirds support by the U.S. Senate. Article II, Section 2 requires that "two thirds of the Senators present [must] concur" with any treaty negotiated by the executive branch of government. President Clinton formally labeled NAFTA an "executive agreement." According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Labor, more than a half-million U.S. workers have been certified under one NAFTA unemployment program - meaning they lost their jobs due to NAFTA. Those workers represent only a fraction of the total U.S. jobs lost because ofNAFTA. Merchant Marine Panel Named Chairman Bob Stump (RAriz.) and ranking member Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) of the House Armed Services Committee last month announced the members of the Special Oversight Panel on Merchant Marine. Chairing the panel in the 107th Congress is Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). Other Republican members are Reps. Curt Apri/2001 Weldon (Pa.), Jim Saxton (N.J.), Walter B. Jones Jr. (N.C.), Andrew Crenshaw (Fla.) and Jo Ann Davis (Va.). Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) is the panel's ranking member. Other Democrats serving on the panel are Gene Taylor (Miss.), Adam Smith (Wash.), and James Maloney (Conn.). rights. "Mexican drivers have no basic worker protections," he wrote. "U.S. drivers keep log books and are limited to driving 10 hours a day. Mexicans have no such rules and often pull shifts of 18 hours or more. U.S. drivers are also subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals and random drug tests, while employers in Mexico offer no such protection for workers or the public." Another key facet of this issue is drug trafficking, the Teamsters president asserted. "Drug lords are salivating with anticipation of an open border, buying up Mexican truck firms and dreaming of tractor-trailers full of heroin and cocaine making deliveries across our heartland." In a resolution issued in February, the AFL-CIO executive council cited studies by the DOT and the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) which "concluded that far too many safety hazards remain unresolved, and that the United States is ill prepared to handle the massive influx of foreign traffic that would result from opening the border. A substantial majority in Congress has publicly expressed serious concerns over safety and strong opposition to implementing the NAFTA crossborder transportation provisions until these safety concerns have been effectively addressed." The 1998 DOT report concluded that the agency lacks a consistent enforcement program that provides reasonable assurance of the safety of Mexican trucks entering the United States. There are numerous problems across the border, too. The report also stated that Mexico did not have in place: regulations or practices for hours of service; a drug and alcohol testing program; a program to conduct safety inspections of commercial vehicles at the roadside and on carrier property; a carrier/driver database with economic and vehicle licensing information; a drivers' licensing module with dri'ver licensing data; and a safety module with accident, infraction and inspection data. Further, Mexico had not announced a time frame for implementation of a safety management oversight program for Mexican motor carriers with U.S. operating authority. The federation concluded by calling on the Bush administra- Teamsters President James P. Hoffa warns that the combination of inadequate inspections and unsafe Mexican trucks entering the United States threatens the safety of U.S. citizens. tion and Congress "to keep the border closed to unsafe truck and bus traffic until comprehensive safety standards are agreed to and enforced by both nations, comprehensive and adequately tested enforcement programs are in place, and financial resources have been committed to establish dedicated border inspection facilities and to staff them adequately with full-time personnel.... The safety of American highways should take precedence .... Whatever sanctions the United States may face as a result will be a small cost to protect American lives on our highways." Legislation Introduced in House To Rescue U.S. Steel Industry In an effort to stem the tide on foreign-subsidized steel exports to the U.S., which already have sent 16 steel firms into bankruptcy and threaten other firms and more than 200,000 American jobs, a steel rescue package has been introduced in the House of Representatives, where it has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. The legislation (H.R. 808), introduced March 1 by Reps. Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.), Jack Quinn (RN.Y.) and other members of the Congressional Steel Caucus, is aimed at providing certain safeguards for the domestic steel industry, including rolling back the high levels of foreign-subsidized steel that are being imported-and dumped-into this country. "The steel industry and its workers have been fighting for their lives for the past three years," stated new United Steelworkers of America (USWA) President Leo Gerard at a recent press conference with lawmakers. He demanded that President George W. Bush, a staunch advocate of free trade, take the necessary steps to impose quotas, tariff surcharges and other necessary actions to alleviate some of the more damaging effects of the govern- ment's trade policies allowing "offshore dumping" of steel. He stated that a "comprehensive policy to prevent the industry's collapse and ensure its future in a global economy" is needed, and named his immediate predecessor, George Becker, to head the lobbying effort. Labor productivity in steel has increased by 174 percent since 1980, Becker noted, while real wages have remained the same. The package, backed by more than 80 House Republicans and Democrats, is designed to: • Limit steel imports for five years, setting them at pre-1998 levels; • Establish a trust fund, paid for by a 2 percent surcharge on all steel sold in the U.S., to pay retiree health benefits; • Establish a $10 billion load fund, with government loan guarantees, to let the industry revitalize; and • Provide grants to pay for environmental compliance costs for plants that maintain target levels of employment and production. On Paper, MarAd Tests RRF Crewing Personnel from the SIU's manpower office and union halls will participate this month in a drill conducted by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) to test the procedures, people and communications equipment involved in Ready Reserve Force (RRF) activations. MarAd's "Command Post Exercise Breakout 0 I" is scheduled for April 16-27. In a letter to SIU President Michael Sacco requesting the union's "strong support" for the experiment, Acting Deputy Maritime Administrator Bruce J. Carlton noted, "As in the past, this will be a paper exercise only and mariners will not be required to actually report to their ships." Carlton indicated the overall objective of the exercise is "to test the procedures and coordination necessary to activate the RRF to meet strategic sealift requirements.... Using their existing collective bargaining agreements and manning scales based on the current contract, MarAd's RRF ship managers will call out full crews to be assigned to specific RRF ships during the exercise period .... It is my desire that Breakout 01 will once again serve to confirm the effectiveness of civilian crewing of reserve sealift assets." This is the ninth in a series of similar exercises conducted by MarAd. For the SIU, the task means frequent contact between the manpower office and the union halls. For MarAd employees, the assignment will provide refresher training (for experienced staff members) or orientation (for newcomers) for activation procedures. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, May 28, 2001 for the observance of Memorial Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Seafarers LOG 5 �Sealarers Seek Good-Faith Negotiations With ITT Navy Base Unit Informational picket lines went up around the U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads last month as Seafarers showed their support for SIU members working for ITT on that base, located at the eastern edge of Puerto Rico. ITT is refusing to renegotiate their contract. The 48 MOE (Marine Ocean Engineering) Seafarers at the ITI unit work on torpedo recovery vessels. They set the targets for naval exercises and, after the Navy has fired at the targets, reset them. They also perform maintenance on the vessels. ITT is refusing to honor the present contract, which has already been extended several times, nor will they pay a Christmas bonus or negotiate a new agreement. " ,fil Seafarers working for ITT at the U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico are joined by other SIU members in a peaceful, informational picket line. ITT has refused to honor the workers' contract or to negotiate a new one. One of the signs reads "ITT: The Grinch That Stole Christmas,'' referring to the fact that the company did not give the employees their Christmas bonus. Scholarships Announced for ASC Mariners In SIU's Unlicensed Apprentice Program In an effort to recruit well trained and highly qualified mariners to serve aboard the vessels operated by SIU-contracted American Steamship Co. (ASC) on the Great Lakes, the company has set up a new scholarship program. The scholarships are designed to help disadvantaged, worthy candidates attend the unlicensed apprentice program at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. While there is no tuition for this program, and room and board are free, other expenses (transportation to and from the school, clothing costs, the U.S. Coast Guard fee and routine pre-entry medical screenings) typically amount to around $1,000. These are the costs that will be covered (up to 80 percent) for each selected applicant. For ASC, the scholarship program is an important recruitment and retention tool. ASC's scholarship will cover students in all three phases of the program. The Unlicensed apprentices honor the U.S. flag at the end of the day. Great Lakes 2001 Season Off to an Early Start Thawing out from a frigid winter, the Great Lakes are once again seeing the start of a new shipping season as SIU members begin boarding the vessels and readying them for their loads-a process known as fitout. Inland Lakes, a company that manages a fleet of bulk cement carriers hauling products for the Lafarge Corp., notes that the Alpena came out of winter layup March 1 and already is carrying cement from Alpena to South Chicago. Another Inland Lakes vessel, the J.A. W. Iglehart, is expected to sail April 1, and the Paul H Townsend, which wrapped up its season last November, will sail shortly thereafter. The early starting dates for the 2001 season are due to higher customer demand, according to Walter Watkins, fleet captain from Inland Lakes. 6 Seafarers LOG The tug Susan W Hannah and barge Southdown Conquest were upbound in the St. Clair River early last month, and four of American Steamship Co. 's (ASC) boats scheduled their fitouts in early March as well: the Indiana Harbor, Walter J McCarthy, John J Boland and American Republic. Other ASC vessels (H Lee White, Buffalo, A.E. Cornelius, American Mariner, Sam Laud and St. Clair) have tentatively scheduled their fitouts later in the month. (By the time this issue of the LOG has been printed and mailed, most of these boats will already have started sailing.) According to SIU Algonac Port Agent Don Thornton, the ice covering the lakes dissipated quickly. He noted that Lake Erie, which was frozen in January, was ice-free by early March. company additionally will help the SIU in recruiting candidates for the program, but ASC will select the scholarship recipients. ASC's direct involvement increases the likelihood that the scholarship recipients will eventually work aboard ASC vessels. The unlicensed apprentice program includes an initial 12week training session at the school covering the basics, followed by a 90-day practical training and assessment period that takes place aboard a U.S.-flag ship (aboard an ASC vessel in the case of the scholarship recipients). Finally, students return to the center for department-specific training that prepares them to begin sailing aboard SIU-contracted vessels. In a letter from ASC Senior Vice President David A. Schultz to SIU President Michael Sacco, the vice president notes that this program is a "joint company/ union partnership leading to a continued developing workforce where labor and management are working hard together for our combined futures." Last summer saw low water levels on the lakes, and this year is not going to be any better, experts say, even though the snowpack around the Great Lakes is thicker this winter than a year ago. Thornton noted that the water level is already 15 inches lower outside the union hall on the St. Clair River than it was this time last year. Helping distribute informational materials pertaining to ITT's refusal to negotiate a new contract for the MOE Seafarers are (clockwise from top left) AB Joseph Hubert, Pensioner Luis Roman, OMU Orlando Herrera and AB Victor Pacheco, SIU Port Agent Victor Nunez and AB Noel Otero. • • , . Right: OS Robert Said and AB James Werda tie up the Alpena in Detroit. Left: Securing the self-unloading system on board the Alpena are Assistant Conveyorman Fred Hart, AB Dan Hart and AB Roland Lindemuth. Right: AB Dan Hart, Conveyorman Josh MacNicol and Assistant Conveyorman Fred Hart connect the self-unloading system at the Lafarge Cement Terminal in Detroit. April 2001 �Stewards: Upgrading Is Essential The SIU's newest class of recertified stewards graduated last month at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Each of the dozen Seafarers in the class offered strong praise for the school, with several describing it as vital to the long-term success of fellow members. Graduating at the March membership meeting were Pablo Alvarez, Stephen Avallone, Joseph Birke, Joseph Gallo Jr., Carlton Griffm, Michael Kozak, Stanley Krystosiak, Robert Mensching, Susan Moe, Benedict Opaon, Scott Opsahl and Robert Wilcox. The month-long course is considered the Paul Hall Center's top curriculum for steward department Seafarers. Among other studies, it includes fire fighting and basic safety training, various lessons in the galley labs, a trip to AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. and meetings with SIU department representatives at the union's headquarters. Alvarez, who sails from the port of Houston, said he appreciates the opportunities he has enjoyed in the SIU. The native of Honduras told the audience, "If you work, it doesn't matter where you come from-you're welcome in the SIU." Like his classmates, Avallone has upgraded numerous times at Piney Point. "The advantage we have as a union involves our training and professionalism," he said. "We must to continue to meet and exceed the training [requirements] of the global market. "My hat is off to our instructors and officials for the stand-up job they have done," added Avallone, whose home port is Wilmington, Calif. "Their visionary path has given us as members, choices in our careers." Birke, from New Orleans, encouraged the unlicensed apprentices in attendance. He said that, by utilizing the school and doing a good job aboard ship, they can enjoy bright careers as Seafarers. Gallo delivered heartfelt and impassioned remarks describing his feelings about the union. "There's no greater love than a man who will lay down his life for his brother. That is the SIU," said Gallo, who sails from the port of New York. On behalf of the entire class, Gallo also presented Paul Hall Center Executive Chef Romeo Lupinacci with an honorary plaque, thanking him for his guidance. A Seafarer for more than 20 years who sails from the port of San Francisco, Griffin said he recommends upgrading because "the more information we have, the better we'll be able to do our jobs aboard ships." He said the fire fighting and water survival training were the most interesting parts of the recertification class. "My overall experience was very informative and enjoyable." Kozak, whose home port is New York, said he is "very proud to be a part" of the union and the school. "The level of education in our industry is soaring. It's important to keep up," he added. Another class member who sails from New York, Krystosiak, said he particularly enjoyed "learning about the inner functions of the union and the various plans." Recertified stewards and SIU officials meet on stage after last month's membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. Pictured from left to right are Robert Wilcox, Scott Opsahl, SIU Plans Administrator Lou Delma, Stephen Avallone, Benedict Opaon, Michael Kozak, SIU VP Contracts Augie Tellez, Joseph Gallo Jr., SIU Asst: VP Contracts George Tricker, SIU President Michael Sacco, Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan, Joseph Birke, Susan Moe, Pablo Alvarez, SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, Carlton Griffin, and Stanley Krystosiak. Not pictured is Robert Mensching. He described the school as "the best training facility in the world. The classes were helpful and the instructors were great .... Upgrading is no longer optional. We must continue to hone our skills in order to maintain a competitive edge in the shipping industry." From the port of Honolulu, Mensching said, "I always seem to learn something new at the school. And I recommend upgrading to my fellow Seafarers, to further their careers as well as their education." He added, "I was pleased to find out there are so many people working behind the scenes to benefit the maritime industry. It looks like they are succeeding, as the potential for growth is great." Moe, also from Honolulu, said the curriculums as well instructors greatly have improved during the past 10 years. "I'm sure in the coming years, it will just get better and better.... Upgrading at Piney Point is essential to the industry to better yourself and keep abreast of new industry standards." Opaon, whose home port is Wilmington, said that hearing about the upgrading programs at Piney Point encouraged him to join the SIU in 1984. Now, having upgraded four times at the school, "I am very confident and ready to face the challenges of the future. "I strongly suggest and recommend these courses to all my brothers and sisters, for their personal improvement," he continued. "Take advantage of the good intention of the SIU leadership." Opsahl, who sails from the port of Tacoma, Wash., said he "enjoyed coming back and seeing the progress the school has gone through, and its plans for the future." He said there is ample motivation for upgrading. "You have to keep current with your endorsement or you'll be left behind, especially with STCW. You also increase your opportunity to ship out on ships that require certain endorsements. And, while upgrading, you have a chance to bump into an old friend and maybe collect that $20!" Joseph Gallo Jr. says he strongly believes in the Brotherhood of the Sea. From Jacksonville, Fla., Wilcox said the course contained numerous highlights, including menu planning, CPR and first aid, sanitation, and computer training. "I'm proud to be a member of the SIU," he said. "Our school is state-of-the-art with its training facilities and staff. I am thankful that our leadership has had the foresight to keep expanding our training facilities." 'Mysterious' Cook-Off Unfolds at Piney Point During their stay at the Paul Hall Center, the recertified stewards took part in a "mystery basket cookoff' Feb. 9 designed to test and enhance their respective skills. According to the guidelines for the friendly contest, a mystery basket is "a container of set ingredients from which each team will be writing a menu and preparing a meal. Everyone receives the same ingredients and has the same amount of time to work, so this is a true test of your creativity, skill and teamwork." The Seafarers divided into six teams of two apiece. They each had three hours to prepare a menu and fullcourse meal. Judging was based on finishing time, flavor, appearance and originality. "Any of the dishes would make you proud of our people's abilities and creativity," said one observer. "This is what makes the steward department the main source of a happy crew." The team of Joseph Gallo Jr. and Michael Kozak won the extremely close competition. Students participate in, and observe, CPR and first aid training. April 2001 With the ingregients they were given, the team of Stanley Krystosiak and Pablo Alvarez begins work on their four-course meal. Seafarers LOG 1 �'Thanks, Seafarers!' Longtime SIU Member Credits SARC For 'Tremendous Boost, New Life' Editor s note: This article was written by an SIU member who joined the union in the early 1970s. In keeping with the spirit of recovery, it is anonymous. The Seafarers Addiction Rehabilitation Center (SARC) formally began operating in early 1976. Any SIU member who meets the eligibility requirements for the Seafare rs Health and Benefits Plan (formerly named the Seafarers Welfare Plan) also is eligible for treatment- at no cost-at the SARC. The first step is to contact your port agent. Your confidentiality will be respected. An estimated 2, 000 SIU members have participated in the SARC program. It is with total gratitude that I write this open letter to both the leadership, and as importantly, the membership of the Seafarers International Union. In an effort to say thank you to the union for what they have given me, I've decided to reflect back over the past 25 years and take an honest look at the changes that have come over me. On April 12, 1976, I reached out to the Seafarers for help with my drinking problem. I had finally reached such a low that there really was no other way for me to go. My days were filled with a constant effort to stay under the influence of alcohol primarily, but on occasion any other drug that was available to help me escape. No one has asked me or told me that I should share with all of you my story, but I feel compelled to do so. There's a very good chance that some of the people that started to read this letter have already turned the page and moved on to something else. Some people just aren't interested. Then, there are those other folks that just don't want to hear about it. They are my kind of people. That's exactly what I would have done. It's also the most natural reaction to liave if you have the disease that I have. The most common symptom of the disease is the denial of the disease. Believe it or not, I was the last one to know that I had a drinking problem. My behavior at times was very unpredictable, and I frequently discovered that I was in one kind of trouble or another. At age 18, a judge suggested very strongly that I get help with my drinking B Seafarers LOB problem and he recommended that attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous might be a good place to start. His suggestion came in the form of a court order, so I figured maybe I should check it out. I surely was relieved to learn that I wasn't as bad as those folks . I mean I had never lost a wife, or a home, or a business. I had never even gotten fired from a job because of my drinking (I'd quit before they could fire me). After listening to all their tales of woe, I felt a tremendous sense "There is no shame in needing and asking for help. The real shame is in needing help and not asking for it. " of relief. I mentioned to one gent on my way out the door that, fortunately, I wasn't as bad as they were, and how my drinking problems were very minor compared to the people I had just listened to. His response to me wasn't quite what I was expecting. He suggested that if I was in fact an alcoholic, all that I needed to do was keep on drinking and all the things that hadn't happened to me yet, would in the course of time. Less than two years later, I had arrived. At that point in my life, my biggest consequences from drinking were an occasional night in jail, a car accident, or a break-up with a girlfriend if she nagged me about my drinking (I'd dump her before she could dump me). I always focused on the problems other people had with their drinking, minimizing my own. This allowed me to justify a continuance, and shifted the focus away from me. I heard some time ago that over 2,000 people have had the opportunity to go through the Seafarers Addiction Rehabilitation Center (SARC) since its inception. I've often wondered if I was the only beneficiary of this wonderful facility who was lucky enough to have received the gift of a fresh start. I know better. Without the strong foundation, and the education about my addictive personality, coupled with the active involvement with area AA groups, my chances of continued sobriety would have been significantly reduced. I can't emphasize enough the tremendous boost the SARC gave to me when it was time for me to start my new life. The professionalism of the staff, the comfortable and peaceful facilities, and the first class support of the union officials are benefits and luxuries only offered to a small percentage of people contending with the disease of alcoholism. Most people don't have the opportunity to receive treatment. The SIU has, in my opinion, settled for nothing less than the best in the administration and staffing of the SARC. The devotion to the whole person, and the utilization of all the important resources, substantially boosted my ability to make the needed changes in my lifestyle. Also, I know how important confidentiality is to the continued success of this treatment center and that is precisely the reason I am choosing to remain anonymous in my letter. I don't think I'm any better than anybody else, I don't think I'm any worse either. I do believe that I'm better than I used to be. In other words, I'm not the man I want to be, I'm not the man I ought to be, but best of all, I'm not the man I used to be. I don't know how many people I have heard speak over the years about their alcoholism. Many talk about the effect their occupations had on its severity. I always chuckle to myself and wonder if they would believe me if I told them some sailors have also been rumored to drink a bit more than their fair share .... Washer-Dryer School, Spin Dry, The Farm-no matter what the uninformed people call this wonderful facility, the SARC, I know the percentage of people that go through a treatment facility and remain clean and sober for any length of time is very small. When you add to this the fact that a merchant mariner is, by the very nature of his/her job, required to be in an almost constant state of motion, it can also serve to erode the odds. When you are given a good base to build on, and you walk out the door with your dignity restored, your chances of success are greatly increased. With AA spread all over the world, contin- ued involvement at meetings greatly increases the likelihood of a sober life. At 21 years of age, the thought of not drinking for the rest of my life seemed to me quite impossible. I couldn't imagine how I would fill such a void. Drinking consumed a significant amount of time. The reality was that the way I was heading, my life probably wasn't going to be much longer anyway. I was taught to just live one day at a time and worry about tomorrow if I woke up. Now it seems that I never have enough time, and believe me, I'm always up to something. A short time ago, I watched one of my shipmates go down the ladder because he didn't pass a drug test. I can only imagine the emptiness he must have felt inside. How do you explain the loss of your very livelihood? How do you convince the people depending on you that it was worth it? How do you convince yourself? The SARC taught me more than about my addictive personality. They showed me where I needed to go in order to maintain some semblance of sanity in my life. There is no shame in needing and asking for help. The real shame is in needing help and not asking for it. They gave me the tools, now it's up to me whether or not I use them. Time and space won't allow me to describe accurately enough the wonderful friendships that I have developed in sobriety, all around the Great Lakes, or the relationships that I enjoy with each and every member of my family. I've been blessed with a very supportive and beautiful woman that I'll celebrate a silver wedding anniversary with in October. We have three healthy and great children that have never seen me drink. Because of that, the first and second born have been put through college, and the youngest only has a couple more years before she will graduate. By no means do I wish to imply or suggest that my life has become perfect. What I have now are the tools to help me cope with life as it keeps coming at me. I've dealt with the loss of both my parents and a younger sister to cancer. At no time did I feel that a drink was needed to help me get through it. Sobriety is the single greatest gift that I have ever received, because without it, everything else would have only been temporary. By keeping it my # 1 priority, I am able to make rational decisions and choices in all aspects of my life, minimizing problems that can be avoided. It's not so important how far away I get from my last drink; the only thing that really matters is how close am I to the next one? That's what I have to think about. School Gets New ATM An upgrader makes a withdrawal from the new ATM machine in the lobby area of the Training & Recreation Center Hotel at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. The apparatus was installed Feb. 9 to meet the needs of students and staff members alike at the facility. The machine accepts ATM cards from all major banks, and customers using it may withdraw up to $300 per transaction. Officials at the school say the machine is very popular so far and users seem pleased to have it on board. Apri/2001 �Red Cross Honors Hanson This photo of the first group from Guam to enroll at the Paul Hall Center includes recent unlicensed apprentice graduates Ryan Legario (fourth from left) and Joe Benavente Jr. (second from right), plus new GED owner Jerald Martinez (third from right). Others in the group are enrolled in the program's final phase and are scheduled to graduate soon. Trio from Guam Achieves Goals Less than a year after first arriving at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, three unlicensed apprentices (Class 603) from Guam have earned a proud place in the territory's history. In late February, Joe Benavente Jr. and Ryan Legario became the first students from Guam to complete the unlicensed apprentice program. Around that same time, their classmate Jerald Martinez earned the distinction of being the first student from the territory to earn a GED at the Paul Hall Center. Jerald Martinez is all smiles shortly after receiving his GED at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. The school is located in Piney Point, Md. "I had a lot of fun," said Benavente, who plans to sail in the engine department. "It's something I wanted to do-go to a school that's mostly hands-on. I really enjoyed the classes and I have nothing bad to say about this program." The unlicensed apprentice program begins with a 12-week segment in Piney Point covering the basics. From there, students embark on a 90-day shipboard stint (known as phase 2) during which they rotate through each department. Finally, the apprentices return to the Paul Hall Center for department-specific training. Benavente said the school's first-rate facilities and instructors helped prepare him for the second component of the program. "When we went out for phase 2, we realized we were well-prepared in phase l," he recalled. "People (on the ship) were really into safety. The whole experience was fun." He quickly noted one exception: "I was scared I would get seasick, and I did once, in a storm. But others have, too, so I didn't feel so bad." SMPPP Statements Mailed in March Annual statements from the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan (SMPPP) were mailed to Plan participants during the last week of March, according to SMPPP Administrator Lou Delma. Based on year-end reports received from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, SMPPP investment manager, the Plan continues to perform well despite recent and ongoing market volatility. Since its inception through year-end 2000, the Plan bas earned 43.85 percent of its original value for an average annual earning rate of 11.14 percent. The year-end 2000 earnings checked in at 9.31 percent. The SMPPP originated in 1996, as the SIU successfully negotiated the new benefit into standard freightship and tanker agreements. The SMPPP subsequently has been included in other SIU contracts. Approved by the Internal Revenue Service, the SMPPP is an individual interest-earning investment account funded by a daily contribution made by an SIU-contracted company on behalf of a Seafarer who is working for that employer. SIU members may make voluntary contributions to their respective accounts through a vacation plan deduction. The SMPPP is completely separate from a memrer's defined benefit pension. Under the SMPPP. a Seafarer is immediately vested from the fiIBt day money is ApTil 2001 received on his or her behalf. Unlike the Seafarers Pension Plan, there is no minimum amount of seatime needed to receive the money from an SMPPP account. Seafarers can collect the funds from their SMPPP account when they reach retirement age, become totally and permanently disabled, or leave the industry. Widows/widowers may collect the funds in the event of their spouse's death. The annual statement includes the following information: • Member's name, address and Social Security number (which is also the participant's account number); • Statement date; • The opening balance for 2000 (which was the year-end 1999 closing balance); • Contributions received through Dec. 31, 2000 (listed individually and in total); • Interest earned and administrative expenses charged; • Any payouts made to the member in 2000; and • The closing balance for 2000 (which will appear as the opening balance on next year's annual statement). Members who have questions about their accounts may call 1800-485-3703. The American Red Cross' CJara Barton Volunteer Leadership Honor Award has been bestowed upon Jim Hanson, safety director at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Hanson received the award Feb. 15 during a luncheon at the school. Given by the St. Mary's County, Md. Chapter of the American Red Cross, the award recognized Hanson for his more than 36 years of volunteer service to the organization. He also received a pin in acknowledgment of his contributions. Hanson began working as a volunteer with the Red Cross in 1963. In that capacity, he trained several thousand individuals through the years. In addition to other subjects, he has trained people in basic and advanced first aid, CPR, swimming and life guarding. Hanson currently chairs the local chapter's health and safety committee. He also serves as an advisor to the chapter staff in health and safety matters. According to the citation, which accompanied his award, Hanson's expertise, guidance and leadership enabled the chapter to make valuable service contributions to the citizens of St. Mary's County. The citation reads in part: "Jimmy's [Hanson's] advice, counsel, dedication and efforts have enhanced volunteer performance and Chapter success. His cooperation and guidance with the staff and volunteers has resulted in the development and implementation of effective solutions in a resourceful and productive manner to all health and safety challenges encountered by the Chapter." Despite his many contributions to the Red Cross, Hanson never considered formal recognition. "It was kind of a shock for me because I don't do it [volunteering] for that," said Hanson Jim Hanson, right, receives the American Red Cross' Clara Barton Volunteer Honor Award from John L. Zimmerman. Hanson is the safety director at the Paul Hall Center. Zimmerman is chairman of the St. Mary's County Chapter of the Red Cross. in reaction to receiving the award. "I do it because I enjoy working with different people. "Still, it was a surprise," he continued, "And a very nice one. It made me feel really good that other people appreciate my efforts and realize that I have been volunteering so long." At 16, Hanson became certified in first aid and CPR. He received his instructor certification a year later, and by his 18th birthday was teaching classes for the Red Cross and Heart Association. He has been teaching ever since. "My family members have always been involved in volunteer fire departments and rescue squads," he shared. "So when I turned 16, I was old enough to get in. The reason I stick to it [after so many years] is because I still like doing it." Hanson has been employed at the Paul Hall Center since 1968, shortly after it first opened. During his tenure at the school, he has served in many capacities including fire chief, instructor, and supervisor of health and safety. Currently, he serves as director for both the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School and the school's farm facility. The Clara Barton Volunteer Leadership Honor Award may be given to a volunteer for service in a number of leadership positions maintained through a period of years. It may be presented at any level of the organization and by any sector to a volunteer meeting the following criteria: • Service in a number of leadership positions and personal expertise that has enabled the Red Cross to contribute valuable service to the community. • Leadership in identifying and assessing volunteer performance and organizational concerns. Cooperation with other paid and volunteer staff in developing and implementing effective solutions in a resourceful and proactive manner. • Constructive guidance to co-workers in the efficient performance of assignments. A volunteer can receive the award only once in a unit, but may receive it from more than one unit. Crusader Safety: 3 Years and Counting Seafarers and officers aboard the CSX Crusader in late February celebrated a milestone, as the vessel surpassed three years of accident-free sailing. "Safety is something we take seriously," stated Recertified Steward Joe Emidy, who joined the SIU in 1980. "At every safety meeting, which we have every two weeks, we discuss any safety issues that may exist aboard the vessel. If there are ever any unsafe conditions, they're report- ed immediately. Every once in a while, our record is discussed, too." In recognition of the threeyear achievement, CSX supplied company jackets for everyone aboard. The Crusader, a containership, sails on the Gulf-Atlantic express run, calling on the ports of Houston; San Juan, P.R.; and New Orleans. SIU members pictured in Houston aboard the CSX Crusader, along with officers, are Bosun Robert Diaz, ABs Frank Caceras, Jose Osorio, Jose Canalas, John Walsh and Ken Baker, Electrician Tom Priscu, Engine Utility Everett Henry, Oilers Joel Encarnacion, Valentine Martinez and Norman Barbosa, DEU Eusebio Zapata, Recertified Steward Joe Emidy, Chief Cook Bill Blees, SA Tom Mccurdy and Unlicensed Apprentices Shawn Waring and Robert Stellon. Left: Crusader crew members are proud of their safety record, as shown by this sign. Seafarers LOG 9 �Survivor Torpedo SBJJk SS Leliigb, But Not Pete Bartlett's Spirit Although he spends a lot of time on the golf course these days, National Maritime Union (NMU) retiree Pete Bartlett, 85, has plenty of memories from his adventurous days at sea. None, however, can rival a chilling and now historic episode which occurred Oct. 19, 1941. "I'll never forget that day," shared Bartlett, who started his career with the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1936. "I'll remember it for the rest of my life." On that fateful date, the then24-year-old Bartlett and two of his shipmates aboard the SS Lehigh were wounded during the dawn of World War II. Their vessel, which sailed out of New York and was operated by United States Lines, was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine some 75 miles northwest of Freetown, Sierra Leone. "I was an ordinary seaman at the time and had been going to sea for about four years," Bartlett recalled. "It was only the second time I had made that particular run. "We were sailing empty down to West Africa," he continued. "We had already taken a full cargo of grain over to Spain and were headed to West Africa to pick up a load of ore to take it back to Philadelphia." The Lehigh departed port for what would be its last time during the week commencing Oct. 12, 1941. "We left port probably in the middle of the week," Bartlett said. "I remember because about three days at sea on a Saturday morning, we were down cleaning the hold. The bosun came down and shouted for us to get out of there because German planes were flying overhead." The next day, the Germans struck the vessel- but not from the air. "We had just finished breakfast and I was on deck pulling the 8 to 12 watch," said Bartlett. "Me and another guy were on the stem just shooting the breeze and all of a sudden we got hit [torpedoed]. "I don't really remember what it felt like," Bartlett noted. "I must have been in some kind of shock because when I finally realized what was happening, the guy that was sitting opposite me was already gone. His reflexes were faster than mine were because he got the hell out of there in a hurry. "Everybody was scurrying all over the ship," he continued. "They knew it was time to grab their valuables and get off the ship." The Lehigh was torpedoed at about 8:55 a.m., Bartlett said. Surprisingly, no lives were lost. The attack, however, left Bartlett devoid of the four smaller toes on his right foot. The vessel's bosun and third engineer also sustained injuries, but not nearly as serious as Bartlett's. 10 Seafarers LOG After the initial pandemonium subsided, crew members scrambled to save themselves and whatever rations they could. "We launched all four of our lifeboats," Bartlett said. "There were about 11 or 12 people in the boat with me; the other crew members were pretty evenly distributed in the rest of the lifeboats. After getting off, we all got roped together just before the ship sunk," Bartlett said. The Lehigh sank at 10: 15 a.m. "It was one hell of an empty feeling to see her go," Bartlett stated. "You just felt like there goes everything .... It was almost like losing your house. It's not there anymore and all of your possessions are gone." The torpedo's impact prevented the crew from sending an SOS. "It was basically us, the ocean and no place to go," Bartlett said. "We pretty much had an idea where we were because we shot the sun earlier to determine our position. But, it did not really matter, because we could not row against the currents. We tried for a while but it did no good. We basically just drifted for three days." The only provisions they had were water and hard flour biscuits called "hard tacks" Bartlett said. "The biscuits were so hard that you could not bite them," he said. "You just sucked on them until your saliva softened them up so you could bite them." The water situation was even worse. "I believe we got maybe a little more than a thimbleful at a time," recalled Bartlett, "you ' d get another thimbleful a little later on in the day." He and his shipmates were picked up the following Tuesday evening. "An observation plane spotted us in the morning three days after our ship sank," he said. "A boat was sent out in the morning, but it did not get to us until late that afternoon. The vessel that picked us was something like a PT or patrol boat." After being rescued, Bartlett and his shipmates were quartered aboard a British hospital ship berthed in Freetown. " I was aboard that ship approximately three weeks. We later were picked up by the Octavia, a coastal passenger ship that usually ran between Boston and New York." Bartlett subsequently was hospitalized for two months, primarily in Baltimore. He had multiple surgeries on his injured foot. Following a long recovery, Bartlett stayed on shore for a while, but soon found himself yearning to rejoin the war effort. "Back in those days, they had those big recruiting posters wherever you went," he said. "They all encouraged people to get involved and support the country. "I especially remember one that had an old merchant seaman on it with the sea bag over his shoulder. It said 'You Bet I'm Going Back to Sea.' They had to be in every bar throughout the country. "Seeing those posters probably had something to do with my going back to sea," he added. "I really did not have to go back because I was classified 4-F after getting my foot injured." Bartlett returned to sea in the late summer of 1942. He contin- ued to sail through World War II. "I finally quit and got married in 1951 ," he said. These days, he spends a lot of time on the golf course when the weather permits. When it rains, he stays indoors and reads. His home in Columbia City, Ore. sits on the shores of the picturesque Columbia River. "I can look out of my kitchen window and see three miles up Pete Bartlett river towards St. Helen's and Portland," he said. My dining room is the same and my living room gives me even more of a view of the river. "The only sad part is that most of the ships I see go by are foreign flagged," he concluded. The Lehigh sinks after being destroyed by a German torpedo as Pete Bartlett and his fellow crew members watch from their lifeboats. Instructor Casey Taylor Dies of Heart Failure at 53 Kenneth "Casey" Taylor, a highly regarded instructor at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, passed away March 11 in Lexington Park, Md. following a long illness. Taylor, who died of heart failure, was 53. A decorated veteran (U.S. Navy) of the Vietnam War, Taylor sailed as an AB and uninspected towboat operator, mainly with Crowley. Beginning in 1987, he taught a wide range of classes at the Paul Hall Center, located in Piney Point, Md. A partial list includes oil spill containment and other hazardous-materials classes, bridge management, AB, limited license, and lifeboat/ water survival. Taylor also worked as a technical writer at the school. "He was very well-liked, very dedicated, and he was deck department through and through," stated Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan. "He wants his ashes sprinkled off the back of a Crowley tug, which tells you much he was into this industry." Eric Malzkuhn, engine department instructor at the Paul Hall Center and a very close friend of Taylor's, remembered him as totally committed to whatever task he tackled. "Anything he did in life, he did with gusto and gave it his all," recalled Malzkuhn. "One of the things that made him special here was, he was a former merchant seaman. He connected and bonded with the students so well Casey Taylor (standing at right in both photos) taught at the Paul Hall Center since 1987. because he was one of them." Malzkuhn added a point that anyone who knew Taylor surely realized. " His intellect was awesome. If you looked at his personal library, you'd be astounded at the breadth and depth. Yet, he could have a rapport with anybody." A native of Glen Cove, N.Y., Taylor earned numerous teaching certificates and also was a nationally published writer, on topics ranging from the environment to the internet. He was an ally of the SIU communications staff, and his behind-the-scenes support helped the union establish its on-line presence beginning in 1997. Paul Gelrud, another of Taylor's longtime friends and a steward department instructor in Piney Point, noted that Taylor enjoyed playing golf, following the New York Yankees and reading about the Civil War. "He had that gravelly voice and the big moustache, and he was as ornery as could be when he got into an argument with you," Gelrud recalled with a chuckle. "But everybody loved him. He was an extremely intelligent man, he had a good way of getting lessons across to the students, and he could go from one component of society to another without missing a beat. Really, he was loved throughout the county." In an anonymous evaluation of a course taught by Taylor in 1996, one student summed up the instructor's skill by writing, "If Casey Taylor could teach all small children, we wouldn't have a dumb adult in the world. Personally, I think he's the best." A memorial service took place March 20 at the Paul Hall Center. April 2001 �Mariners sailing aboard deep sea or near-coastal vessels must comply with the amended STCW convention as of Feb. 1. 2002. If a mariner doesn't complete STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) or acquire the 1995 STCW certificate, if required, by Feb. 1, 2002, then that mariner cannot sail aboard ·deeg sea or near-coastal shigs. All SIU members who sail on these types of vessels are asked to contact the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education at this toll-free number: 1-800-7322739. Please contact the school even if you already have completed basic safety and you have an STCW certificate. TllB clack ia ticking/ Ban~t/Btit ran oat an yaa! April 2001 Seafarers LOG 11 �Aboard SIU-Crewed Tanken A good mix of seasoned professionals and old friends makes sailing aboard the SIUcrewed tankers HMI Diamond Shoals, Blue Ridge and Coast Range a safe and enjoyable experience, according to crew members. In addition to the pride and professionalism that abounds in all departments of each vessel, the scenic splendor of the great Northwest adds to the experience. The three vessels currently shuttle between the loading port of Cherry Point, Wash. and the discharge port of Portland, Ore. Interocean Ugland Management operates the HMI Diamond Shoals. Both the Blue Ridge and Coast Range are operated by Crowley Petroleum Transport. AB Steve Kastel, left, OMU member Sam Montana, right front, AB Don Deflorio and AB Eddie Martinez enjoy a meal in the galley. Recertified Chief Steward Laura Lee, right, joins Chief Mate Kimberly Borges during a Halloween outing. Recertified Bosun Ramon Castro services a lifeboat during the annual U.S. Coast Guard inspection in Portland, Ore. OMU Michael Snow, left, helps a fellow crew member repair equipment. Chief Cook Bagio S. Wibisono, left, poses for a photo with Dee Poitenien while sailing through the Columbia River. Crew members perform fire fighting drills during an annual U.S. Coast Guard inspection in Portland, Ore. OJpt. Wadord Calls It A Career An SIU tug captain recently came ashore for the last time following nearly 40 years at the helm of inland waterway vessels. Capt. Steve Warford, who began sailing in 1961, called it quits Feb. 28 after spending his entire career with Crowley Towing and Transportation in Wilmington, Calif. A U.S. Army veteran and Arkansas native, he joined the Seafarers Aug. 1, 1978. "There's no way that I won't miss going out on the waterways again," he said. "After doing it every day for 39 years, it becomes a part of your normal routine, a part of you." His first contact with the maritime profession came in the Pacific Northwest while living with his brother. "When I got out of high school in Arkansas, nothing much was happening there so I came out here to visit my brother who lived in Washington State," Warford said. "I liked it up there so I stayed." He worked in various capacities on dredges while living in Washington. "When I came down here [to Wilmington], I worked for about one year on a fishing boat," Warford said. "I decided then that the fishing industry was not for me, but I still wanted to be around the water." Pictured at a party for Capt. Warford in Wilmington Feb. 17 are Engineer Jim Gray, Mate John Zarolli, Engineer Deso Haboka, AB Henry Salles, Engineer Dave Walblom, Engineer Hugh Wain, Capt. Jim McNutt, Mate Ed Brooks, Capt. John Rakyta, Capt. Warford, AB Mike Privette, Capt. Rick Cavallier, Port Agent John Cox, Cook Larry Jamieson, Pilot Levi Levinson, Mate Chad Macauley, Pilot Alan Reid, AB Dragi Odak, AB Hernam Moningka, Engineer Willie Gardner and AB Vladimir Salamon. f2 Seafarer.; LOS Warford became an inland deckhand and sailed on boats that traveled up and down the Pacific Coast from North Alaska to Mexico. As the years passed, Warford honed and expanded his skills. He worked his way up to captain in the late 1960s. "I've had my license for about 30 years now," he said, "so as best I can remember, I became a captain in 1966 or 1967." "I have done all different types of towing during my career," he continued. "I even towed parts and cargoes associated with the production of the stealth bomber. I had to have top-secret clearance to work on the vessel at the time." Warford's final voyage was aboard Crowley's Sea Robin in February. Looking back over his career, he is amazed at how much has changed in his profession. "You can't compare the life of merchant mariner today versus what it is used to be like when I started," he said. "To begin with, vessels have gotten bigger and more powerful than they used to be." Warford said his first vessel had about 1,500 horsepower. Another on which he sailed topped out at 1,600 - and these were the most powerful vessels on the coast at the time, he shared. "The other thing is that training is much easier to come by these days," he said. "Unless you were an able bodied seaman, you got very little work back in them days. "Before the SIU school (Warton attended the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. for radar training), you learned Captain Steve Warford, right, retired Feb. 28. Warford was a captain for Crowley Towing for more than 30 years. your skills on your own while you were working," he said. "You either learned it on your own or you did not learn it at all. You either sank or swam if you wanted to go higher." Warton concluded by describing unions as essential for today's mariners. "I don't know what they'd do if it were not for unions .... You've got to have them regardless of where you work or the business you are in. Without them, the companies would do what they dam well please to you. It's [a union is] the only way that workers can get backing and have their voices heard." April 2IJIJ1 �US#S Watkins De ivered to MSC The SIU-crewed USNS Watkins (TAKR 315) was delivered to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) last month-ahead of schedule -from the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego, where it was constructed. Representing the SIU at the March 5 delivery ceremonies were SIU President Michael Sacco, Executive Vice President John Fay, Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez and SIU Wilmington Port Agent John Cox. The 950-foot prepositioning ship, a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessel, was launched July 28, 2000. Seafarers climbed aboard the gangway in December and, following some additional work to the ship, assisted in sea trials. The vessel is named in honor of Army Master Sgt. Travis E. Watkins, A look up the stern ramp of the USNS Watkins is evidence of the large tanks and tractor-trailers it can accommodate. In inset is a display about Army Master Sgt. Travis E. Watkins, for whom the ship is named. Capt. Kurt Kleinschmidt (left) receives a framed photo of the ship from Steve Eckberg, the project manager at NASSCO. who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in the Korean War. The Watkins is one of 14 new builds and six converted vessels comprising a government-mandated initiative known as the Strategic Sealift Program. It is the sixth new construction ship completed by NASSCO under the program. The seventh, the USNS Pomeroy was launched March 10. The ships in the prepositioning fleet carry U.S. Army tanks, armored personnel carriers, tractor-trailers and other equipment and supplies to potential areas of conflict around the world. They also provide surge sealift support of remote military actions. Their multi-use capabilities make these cargo ships among the most flexible ever built. Ready for the cutting of the ceremonial cake are (from left) SIU Wilmington Port Agent John Cox, Steward/Baker Chris Hale and Capt. Kurt Kleinschmidt. Recertified Bosun Edward Cain meets with SIU President Michael Sacco. Posing on deck are (from left) SIU Exec. VP John Fay, VP Contract Augie Tellez, AB Robert Stenehjem and SIU President Michael Sacco. Notice to SIU Civil Service Mariners In September 2000, representatives of the Afloat Personnel Management Center (APMC) and the union met to discuss a number of items affecting the working conditions of civit service mariners sailing aboard MSC vessels. The agency wanted to implement a new policy concerning -m ariners who report for duty with expired Coast Guard docu;ments. Initially, the APMC intended to implement this policy in November 2000. After lengthy negotiations in which the union $ought a number of protections and certain administrative ~ssistance for mariners, it was determined that beginning July 1) 2001, mariners who report to duty with expired Coast · Guard documents will be ineligible to receive subsistence and quarters payments. Please take the necessary steps to renew your documents early. The ship's purser has all the forms and wiU send your paperwork to the Coast Guard for renewal. Please keep proof of mailing your documents for renewal. Home of record must ,pe the United States. If you renew early enough, your documents should be waiting for you when you complete your tour ;:of duty. The APMC and the union also have information to · help you. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance. Remember to '~r~new early to remain eligible for subsistence and quarter .siPRYr.J1ents. /t;:#f} ·~ Apri/2001 Left: With VP Contracts Augie Tellez (left) and SIU President Michael Sacco is QMED Charles H. Kennedy. Chief Cook Claudia Kammeyer shows off a slice of freshly baked salmon. Membership Approves Tally Committee Report During the March membership meetings, Seafarers approved the report of the rank-and-file tallying committee, which detailed the results of the recently concluded SIU general election. The report noted that there were two or more candidates in each of the following five races for office: president, secretary-treasurer, vice president contacts, vice president West Coast, and vice president Great Lakes and inland waters. In those respective elections, the committee reported the following results from eligible votes cast: • President-Michael Sacco received 91 percent of votes cast. Robert J. Clinton III received 6.5 percent; Charles Burdette Collins received 2.4 percent. • Secretary-Treasurer-David Heindel received 81 percent of votes cast. Michael D. Murphy received 12 percent; William Parker received 7 percent. • Vice president contracts-Augie Tellez received 89 percent of votes cast. Larry Frank Phillips received 11 percent. • Vice president West Coast-Nick Marrone received 88 percent of votes cast. Kevin Bertel received 12 percent. • Vice president Great Lakes and inland waters-Thomas Orzechowski received 82 percent of votes cast. Woodrow Shelton received 18 percent. The committee also reported that the membership approved each of the five proposed constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot. In order, the amendments pertained to a dues increase; an increase in officials' working dues; membership meeting quorums; a name change to reflect the merger of the National Maritime Union (NMU) into the SIU; and the addition of two executive board slots, also in consideration of the SIU-NMU merger. In that same order, the amendments were approved with the majority of eligible votes accounting for 76, 77, 84, 87 and 91 percent, respectively. As reported in previous issues of the Seafarers LOG, voting took place via secret ballot from Nov. 1 through Dec. 30, 2000. The tallying committee was composed of 20 Seafarers (two members elected from each of the SIU's 10 constitutional halls). Seafarers LOB 13 �PINEYPOIJ T The essential piece to your family vacation puzzle/ Here it is ... already April. The kids will be out of school within the next couple of months, and they are busy thinking of things they would like to do this summer. You are probably thinking of ways you would like to spend your vacation, too. How to solve the problem of satisfying each member of the family? Everyone can do the activities they enjoy most by taking advantage of the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Let the facilities at Piney Point be the final piece to a memorable summer vacation. Ideally situated on the banks of the St. George's Creek in Southern Maryland, all the ingredients for a fun-filled holiday can be found on the grounds or within driving distance of the center. Entertaining day trips throughout historic Maryland and the Washington, DC. metropolitan area can fill time between fishing trips or tennis matches right on the center's facilities. The Paul Hall Center, which houses the largest training facility for deep sea merchant seafarers and inland waterways boatmen in the United States, is composed of a number of administrative and educational buildings as well as a library and maritime museum and a six-story training and recreation center on more than 60 acres of waterfront property. A number of the rooms in the training and recreation center are set aside during the summer months for vacationing SIU members and their families. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped, and in the lobby is the Sea Chest, where personal items, magazines, snacks and SIU souvenirs are sold. Your stay at Piney Point, which can last up to two weeks per family, also includes three delicious meals each day. At the center are a picnic area with grills and tables, outdoor tennis and basketball courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a health spa (including Nautilus, free weights, universal gym, sauna and steamroom) and plenty of space for walks or jogs on the beautifully landscaped grounds. This peaceful setting provides the opportunity for both waterand land-based expeditions. The center has a marina where vacationers may take a boat out for the day to sail around the region or look for a good fishing spot. With Member $40.00/day Spouse $10.00/day Child $10.00/day A drive of less than two hours will bring you into the nation's capital. The Washington Monument reopened late last summer after a 30-month, $9.4 million restoration and affords a great view of the city. And at the National Zoo are two pandas, recently brought over from China, as well as a baby giraffe-not to mention hundreds of other rare animals, living in their natural habitats. Or you can catch an Orioles' ball game at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The choices are unlimited, depending on your interests. And the Paul Hall Center is the link to all of them. To take advantage of this unique benefit to SIU members and their families, send in your reservation form now. 4/01 PAUL HALL CENTER TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Paul Hall Center is limited to two weeks per family. 400 miles of waterline surrounding St. Mary's County, waterborne activities are abundant. But there is plenty to do outside the gates of the Paul Hall Center as well. In Southern Maryland alone are lots of places of historical significance as well as other attractions, including seafood festivals, art exhibitions, antique and craft shows and theater productions. Name: Social Security number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book number: Address: Telephone number: Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed above include all meals but do not include tax. 2nd choice: _ __ Date of arrival: 1st choice: _ __ (Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks) 3rd choice: _ __ Date of departure: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. Apri/2001 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 *TOTAL REGISTERED AU Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Algonac Baltiinore Guam TOTAL SHIPPED AJI Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 I 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 8 19 18 4 11 1 3 4 0 8 10 4 0 17 0 3 4 9 4 7 5 5 2 3 3 20 New Orleans 12 25 16 10 3 7 22 3 3 3 19 10 230 11 12 133 '.Alg~ti~c · · o o o. Baltllpore 2 3 .~· J1•,J~Qt Honolulu Houston Jacksonville 0 0 1 fl, 5 18 17 7 2 10 2 2 20 7 5 4 0 3 2 1 0 3 7 4 2 3 Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point , PuertO Rico San Francisco St. L-Ouis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Port Mobile ,New Orleans Ne~York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point . pueop Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Port Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Port r AtgOJ;laC Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile 30 15 . 4 3 2 6 lo.>· I 8 9 112 68 9 2 8 7 20 21 9 9 2 3 3 3 5 4 0 2 6 5 7 0 0 2 18 2 23 28 179 6 1 8 9 95 2 8 5 41 0 0 3 8 0 8 3 53 z}. 2 0 4 3 8 4 4 10 2 2 2 4 ·10·· · 7 4 2 l 3 'J 3 ·. 12 1 0 1 6 6 77 11 9 40 14 9 96 1 3 4 57 0 0 0 0 0 0 l 0 3 0 3 7 l 1 0 2 2 Piney Point ............. Monday, May 7, June 4 25 15 16 24 22 29 15 4 13 36 5 19 8 14 10 6 4 2 4 4 3 3 8 6 2 46 34 17 13 12 16 414 197 110 0 6 0 7 26 l 25 54 2 0 1 0 0 T 0 1 0 7 5 24 6 0 22 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0 6 6 13 2 3 2 0 0 3 11 0 1 12 4 2 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 19 5 2 5 7 9 11 4 6 7 6 2 1 0 0 2 3 1 18 0 19 16 132 1 1 1 0 0 5 40 1 0 0 0 I 3 30 2 (j Q 0 6 4 17 1 15 14 108 5 29 Algonac .................. Friday: May 11, June 8 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 10, June 7 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: May 16, June 13 Honolulu ................. Friday: May 18, June 15 Houston .................. Monday: May 14, June 11 Jacksonville ............Thursday: May 10, June 7 Jersey City ..............Wednesday: May 23, June 20 Mobile ....................Wednesday: May 16, June 13 5 New Bedford -~~ ......;.1)iesday: May 22, June 19 New Orlea~l:.,..... ?:.;Tuesday: May 15, June 12 New York ................Tuesday: May 8, June 5 6 0 3 0 Norfolk ...................Thursday: May 12 4 6 16 7 7 4 0 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: May 9, June 6 10~ June 7 San:Erancisco ...·~....,.Thursday!.May V1, June 14 & San Juan ..................Thursday: May 10, June 7 4 St. Louis .... ~ ............Friday: May 18, June 15 2 3 Tacoma .................. :Fnday: May 25;1'.Jiine 22 1 0 1 0 0 13 2 2 1 3 0 3 4 6 11 3 19 6 188 11 6 5 3 6 6 5 15 11 15 142 8 64 2 5 11 0 4 4 0 3 1 1 0 0 3 0 16 24 23 14 12 30 10 3 8 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 7 3 8 4 10 10 8 24 2 4 0 3 0 4 0 0 3 3 2 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 43 I 0 10 7 5 43 27 7 1 5 50 261 72 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 0 44 0 0 0 9 2 10 I 5 10 0 3 1 163 12 21 7 11 931 Wi~ngton +·w ...,....Monday: May ~li,June 18 Eadl port's meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personal JACK SWEENY SIU Pensioner Eugene Soyring would like to get in touch with 2nd Cook Jack Sweeny, a friend with whom he worked on the Great Lakes. Anyone with information about Brother Sweeny should contact Eugene Soyring at 1625 Maryland Avenue, Superior, WI 54880. Burial at Sea for Chief Cook Grant ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 4 3 0 0 l 0 0 0 5 17 10 7 4 1 3 1 0 7 102 6 9 5 5 I 2 0 13 6 10 5 19 18 11 3 4 2 14 1 16 17 3 23 3 8 0 17 5 0 10 2 1 4 Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco 2 0 1 5 5 St. Louis 0 6 0 0 4 5 108 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 183 125 1 9 1 7 9 5 1 0 4 9 8 0 2 6 0 6 4 43 131 225 29 1 2 0 13 6 91 517 381 363 412 272 12 19 3 6 3 0 43 20 18 10 14 40 21 2 28 27 2 25 27 6 8 4 27 2 24 19 68 276 46 23 387 687 610 1 5 7 0 7 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April2DD1 2 1 0 3 6 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0· 3 0 5 14 New Orleans New York Totals All Departments 9 9 54 55 22 2 3 3 11 18 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 1 3 6 Tacoma Wilmington Totals **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 Mobile ~ew York Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT l 1 I 10 24 26 6 16 16 10 17 13 14 2 2 4 6 Honolulu Houston Jacksonville MARCH 15, 2001 May & June 2001 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters 7 3 The remains of Chief Cook Willie Grant were committed to the deep last December from aboard the CSX Hawaii. At latitude 27 degrees 14 minutes north, longitude 69 degrees 22 minutes west, the crew mustered on the stern of the vessel (top photo). Bosun Jim Hassan, far right, sent the photos to the LOG. The Lord's Prayer was read, followed by a moment of silence. His friend and shipmate AB Roberto Feliciano (left) scattered the ashes over the sea. Others of the crew who knew and sailed with Chief Cook Grant, who died Dec. 9, 2000, were Ronald Bleacher, Anthony Rosa and Nevelle Hughes. Seafarers LOG 15 �Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes Seafarers International Union Directory FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 2001 Michael Sacco President John Fay Executive Vice President CL - Company/Lakes Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez NP - Non Priority TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP David Heindel L-Lakes **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP Vice President Contracts Jack Caffey Vice President Atlantic Coast Tom Orzechowski Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone Vice President West Coast Kermett Mangram .. .. Vice President Government Services DECK DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac Port Algonac 0 19 9 0 4 2 0 8 3 0 17 31 0 0 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 3 1 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 3 0 0 19 8 0 1 1 0 7 3 0 14 31 HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 4800 l 41 Totals All Depts 0 48 45 0 7 1 0 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 43 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #IC, Anchorage. AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St, Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 FEBRUARY 16 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building, Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 GUAM 125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301-E Tun Jesus Crisostomo St. Tamuning, Guam 96911 (671) 647-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St., Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (334) 478...()916 NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328·7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PHILADELPIDA 2604 S. 4 St, Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215)336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S.AndrewsAve., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522· 7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415) 861 -3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16Y2 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST.LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 {253) 272-7774 - WILMINGTON SION. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals Region Atlantic Coast Gulf Coast Lakes, Inland Waters West Coast Totals 0 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MARCH 15, 2001 TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 0 0 0, ·-:·.;. 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 3 0 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 0 0 0 0 Q. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~:·f 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 0 7 0 Totals All Depts 3 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. 0 5 0 22 27 0 0 0 0 0 Ir " I 0 0 0 0 0 27 PIG-FROM-THE-PAST The photo at right was sent to the LOG by Pensioner Mike Carlin of Ship Bottom, N.J. It was taken in July 1956 aboard the SS Steel Seafarer, an Isthmian Steamship Co. vessel. The ship was en route to Saigon with a full load. "After two weeks we backloaded for Kaohsiung," Carlin wrote in a note accompanying the photo. ''Then to Yokohama and Hawaii to load for North Europe. We were the first 'Steel' ship to enter Antwerp since the old Steel Traveler hit a mine and sank in 1945. We were in Bremerhaven loading for the Persian Gulf when the Suez War broke out, closing the Canal and sending us back to the U.S." From the left are AB Mike Carlin, AB Gunnar Hansen, OS Harold 'Knobby' Eustace, Bosun Horace 'Rudy' Mobley, AB Leo Doucette and (in front) AB Vic Carravello. Brother Carlin joined the SIU in 1949, first sailing on the Liberty Ship Irene Star. He retired in 1997. "Looking back," he wrote, the trip during which this photo was taken ''was the best trip I ever made." Apri/2001 �Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-jlag 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. ive captains are among the 14 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Inland members Percy P. Doucet, James C. Hudgins, Herman L, Ireland Jr., Richard C. Morris, and Ernie E. Watson sailed the inland waterways at the helms of their respective vessels for a combined 134 years. One of the retirees sailed in the deep sea division. Three plied the Great Lakes, and the remaining 10, which include the former captains, navigated the inland waterways. Eleven of the retirees worked in the deck department, two shipped in the engine department and one sailed in the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. HOWARD HEROLD, 57, joined the SIU in 1968. Brother Herold first sailed aboard the Huron F DEEP SEA FAGALILO MALIGA, 58 started his SIU career in 1978, joining in the port of San Francisco. . Brother Maliga first sailed aboard Delta Steamship Lines' Santa Magdelena. Born in American Samoa, he shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Maliga last worked aboard the Sea-Land Innovator. He lives in Long Beach, Calif. GREAT LAKES KENNETH GLASER, 61, joined the SIU in 1975 in the port of Detroit. Prior to starting his career with the Seafarers, Brother Glaser served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1959. He was born in Monroe, Mich. and first sailed aboard an H&M Lake Transport vessel. Brother Glaser shipped in the deck department, upgrading his skills at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, Md. in 1978, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Brother Glaser last sailed aboard a Luedtke Engineering Co. vessel. He lives in Unionville, Mich. Portland Cement, operated by Inland Lakes Management, Inc. He shipped as a member of the deck department. Brother Herold upgraded his skills in 1978 at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. He last sailed aboard American Steamship Co. 's American Republic. Brother Herold calls Evergreen Park, Ill. home. MOHAMED A. OMER, 64, hails from Yemen. Brother Omer joined the SIU in 1987 in the port of Algonac, Mich. He first sailed aboard the Southdown Challenger, operated by Cement Transit Co. Brother Omer shipped as a member of the engine department. He last sailed aboard American Steamship Co. 's Walter J. McCarthy. Brother Omer resides in Dearborn, Mich. INLAND CHARLES COLLINGS, 62, hails from Philadelphia. Boatman Collings started his SIU career in 1960 in New York. He sailed as a member of the deck department. Boatman Collings sailed primarily aboard Crowley Liner Services, Inc. (Crowley TMT) vessels. He lives in Philadelphia. ¥ PERCYP. DOUCET, 62, started his career with the SIU in 1967, joining in Port Arthur, Texas. Born in ...___.....11m..._J Louisiana, Boatman Doucet shipped as a captain. He worked primarily aboard Hvide Marine Towing Co. Politically Active in Virginia Supporting pro-maritime political candidates is a constant endeavor for retired Seafarer Max Simerly (left), an officer in the Hampton Roads, Va. chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. He is pictured during a campaign event last year in Williamsburg, Va. with U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R), whose district includes Newport News Shipbuilding, and U.S. Sen. John Warner (R), who cosponsored the Maritime Security Program. Apri/2001 vessels. Boatman Doucet calls Welsh, La. home. WILLIAM M.HOEY, 68, started his SIU career in 1982, joining in the port of Philadelphia. Amember of the deck department, Boatman Hoey sailed primarily aboard Crowley Liner Services, Inc. vessels. A native of Philadelphia, he now calls Wilmington, Del. home. =----=""'JAMES C. HUDGINS, 62, began his SIU career in 1961, joining in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in Virginia, Captain Hudgins first sailed aboard the Steel Architect, operated by Isco Inc. He last shipped on an Allied Towing Co. vessel. The captain calls New Point, Va. home. L _ _ _ _ ...................__ __J HERMANL. IRELAND JR., 61, joined the SIU in 1970 in the port of Piney Point, Md. Born in Lowland, N.C., Boatman Ireland first sailed aboard an Express Marine Inc. vessel. A member of the deck department, he shipped as a master. He last sailed aboard a Mariner Towing (Maritrans) vessel. Boatman Ireland lives in Bayboro, N.C. in the engine department. Boatman Nguyen sailed primarily aboard Crowley Towing and Transportation Co. vessels. He lives in Huntington Beach, Calif. ROBERSON F. IRELAND, 45, hails from Fairfield, N.C. Boatman Ireland began his SIU career in 1974 in "' Norfolk, Va. • ERNIE N. WATSON, He frrst sailed aboard a Steuart 62, joined the Transportation Co. vessel. BoatSIU in 1968 in man Ireland shipped as a member the port of of the deck department. He Philadelphia. upgraded his skills at the SIU's Prior to training school in Piney Point, becoming a Md. in 1978 and 1998. Boatman Seafarer, the Ireland last sailed aboard the North Carolina native served in Diplomat, operated by Maritrans. the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 He resides in Engelhard, N.C. to 1959. A captain, Boatman Watson sailed primarily aboard RICHARD C. Mariner Towing Co. vessels. He MORRIS, 57, resides in Pantego, N.C. was born in Giles County, EARNESTE. Va. He started WYATT, 58, his SIU career hails from in 1966, joinHopewell, Va. ing in the port Boatman of Norfolk, Va . ....___......__..... Wyatt began A captain, Boatman Morris sailed his SIU career primarily aboard Allied Towing in 1960, joinCo. vessels. He upgraded his ing in the port skills in 1993 at the Seafarers of Norfolk, Va. He sailed in the Harry Lundeberg School of deck department, first working Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. aboard a Gulf Atlantic Transport Captain Morris lives in Corp. vessel. Boatman Wyatt Morehead, N.C. upgraded his skills at the SIU's training school in Piney Point, JIMMY NGUYEN, 62, hails Md. in 1992, 1994 and 1997. He from Vietnam. Boatman Nguyen last sailed aboard an Allied joined the SIU in 1989 in the port Towing Co. vessel. Boatman of Wilmington, Calif. He worked Wyatt lives in Prince George, Va. the Peter Larsen Memorial Oinic, drew an audience of more than ·5 00 guests from 1946 ..the industry, various government agencies Voting on the ships of the Isthmian including tile U.S. Public Health Service Steamship Company in the National Labor and the Coast Guard, the medical profesRelations Board election commenced on sion and the trade union movement, plus March 29. The first ship to be voted was Seafarers. The Brooklyn center is the first the SS Mobile City in New Orleans, on of four planned. The other three will be Saturday, Jvlarch rr;:::::==========================~ located in 29. Within a few Baltimore, New days, baHots were Orleans and Mobile. cast on the Wm. N. Byers in Galveston, 1965 the Nicaragua The SIU sharply Victory and the protested another Mandan Victory in by the effort Baltimore, the Secretary of Thomas Cresap in New York and the Agriculture, Orville L Freeman1 to underMarine Fox in Seattle. All reports indicate mine the 50· 50 laws by attempting to a favorable SIU vote. (Editor's note: The end the requirement on the use of NLRB later certified the SIU as the bargainAmerican-flag vessels in the export of ing representative of the company's unlifarm products to Soviet bloc countries. censed mariners.) Under federal regulations in effect since 1957 the first wheat safes to Russia were negotiThe Seafarers Welfare Plan medical cenated by the Kennedy administration in ter, the first seamen's health center in 1963, at least half of these cargoes must maritime, was officially opened in be carried in U.S. ships. SIU's criticism Brooklyn on April 16. The next morning was voiced in a letter signed by SIUNA the center was functioning, giving comPresident Paul Hall, and sent to members plete physical examinations to Seafarers of the President's Maritime Advisory and recommending treatment where necCommittee as well as to the chairmen of essary by private physictans or the Public the appropriate House and Senate comHealth Service. Dedication of the center, mittees. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG THIS MONTH IN SIU HISTORY Seafarers LOB 17 - �f' ~nal Departures • DEEP SEA CHESTER ALLEN Pensioner Chester Allen, 81, died Dec. 12, 2000. Brother Allen started his career with the SIU in 1953 in the port of Bal'----"-"----.!..4.---- timore. A member of the engine department, he first sailed aboard the Oremar. Brother Allen, a native of Illinois, last shipped aboard Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. 's Bayamon. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1941 to 1942 and began receiving his pension in 1982. Brother Allen lived in Baltimore. PERRY BURNETTE Pensioner Perry Burnette, 78, died Nov. 14, 2000. Brother Burnette started his SIU career in 1969 in Tampa. Born in New Port Richey, ' - - - - - = " " " " " ' L . - - - ' Fla., he sailed as a member of the deck department. Brother Burnette first shipped aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. He last sailed on Crowley American Transport's Diplomat. Brother Burnette served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1943 and began receiving his pension in 1982. Lake Panasoflkee, Fla. was his home. LESLIE COVERT Pensioner Leslie Covert, 72, passed away Dec. 12, 2000. Brother Covert began his career with the SIU in 1967, joining in the port of L~~~~~'.:_J Seattle. Born in Pennsylvania, he first sailed aboard the Inger, a Reynolds Metals Co. vessel. Brother Covert shipped in the deck department. He last sailed aboard the Great Land, operated by Interocean Ugland Management Corp. Brother Covert served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954. He began receiving his pension in 1994. Brother Covert lived in Seattle. LOUIS DURACHER Pensioner Louis Duracher, 66, died Oct. 21, 2000. Brother Duracher began his SIU career in 1951, joining in the port of New Orleans. A '---"""""'""......_-'-"• member of the deck department, he first sailed aboard the Alcoa Partner. The Louisiana native last worked on a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother Duracher began receiving his pension in 1984. He resided in Metairie, La. RICHARD GUERIN Pensioner Richard Guerin, 77, passed away Dec. 19, 2000. Brother Guerin began his career with the SIU in 1953, joining in the port of New ::::..__--..i York. The New York native shipped in the deck department. He last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Oregon. Brother Guerin served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1945 and began receiving his pension in 1991. He lived in Las Vegas. ANTHONY GUILIANO Pensioner Anthony Guiliano, 76, 18 Seafarers LOS died Nov. 21, 2000. Brother Guiliano started his SIU career in 1947 in the port of New York. Born in Elizabeth, N.J., he sailed in the deck department. Brother Guiliano served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He began receiving his pension in 1969 at bis home in New Jersey. LUCIEN GUMM Pensioner Lucien Gumm, 65, passed away Dec. 16, 2000. Brother Gumm began his career with the SIU in 1967 in the port of Seattle. He first sailed aboard the Seatrain New Jersey. Born in Washington state, Brother Gumm shipped in the deck department. Brother Gumm served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1972. He began receiving his pension in 1994. Brother Gumm resided in Tacoma, Wash. FLOYD JENKINS Pensioner Floyd Jenkins, 72, died Dec. 13, 2000. He joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of New York. Born in Florida, Brother Jenkins first shipped aboard a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. The engine department member last shipped aboard the Overseas Washington. He began receiving his pension in 1984. Brother Jenkins resided in Shelbyville, Texas. RICHARD KOCH Pensioner Richard Koch, 84, died Nov. 3, 2000. Brother Koch joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of New York. Born in Newark, NJ., he sailed in the engine department. Brother Koch's first ship was the Chiwawa, operated by Interocean Ugland Management Corp. He last sailed on the Connecticut. Brother Koch began receiving his pension in 1978. He called Piney Point, Md. home. ROBERT MACKEEN Pensioner Robert Mackeen, 72, passed away Nov. 11, 2000. Brother Mackeen joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S) in 1953 in Portland, Ore. Born in Boston, he shipped as a member of the steward department. He first sailed aboard the President Jefferson, and his last ship was the President Pierce, both American President Lines vessels. Brother Mackeen served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He began receiving his pension in 1989. Brother Mackeen resided in Oregon. DOMINGO MILLA Pensioner Domingo Milla, 77, died Dec. 2, 2000. He started his SIU career in 1968 in the port of Seattle. Brother Milla first sailed on the Enid Victory, operated by Columbia Steamship Co. Born in Hawaii, he shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Milla last sailed aboard the SeaLand Express. He started receiving his pension in 1994. Bay Point, Calif. was his home. RUBEN NEGRON Pensioner Ruben Negron, 79, passed away Dec. 16, 2000. Brother Negron joined the SIU in 1951 in Miami. He first sailed aboard the Stonewall Jackson, operated by Waterman Steamship Corp. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Negron worked in the steward department. He last sailed on Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. 's Borinquen. Brother Negron began receiving his pension in 1982. He lived in his native commonwealth. MASAYUKI OHIRA Pensioner Masayuki "Harry" Ohira, died Sept. 27, 2000. Born in Hawaii, Brother Obira began his career with the SIU in 1956 in the port of San Francisco. As a member of the steward department, he shipped primarily aboard American President Lines vessels including the President Kennedy and the President Wilson. He began receiving his pension in 1985. Brother Ohira resided in San Francisco. AUBREY RANKIN Pensioner Aubrey Rankin, 78, passed away Dec. 12, 2000. He began his SIU career in 1942,joining in the port of Mobile, Ala. Born in Alabama, he shipped in the steward department. Brother Rankin first sailed aboard the Alcoa Runner. He last worked on the Cove Navigator. Brother Rankin, who lived in Mobile, began receiving his pension in 1984. WILLIAM SMITH Pensioner William Smith, 88, passed away Nov. 17, 2000. He started his SIU career in 1951,joining in the port of New York. Brother Smith first sailed on the Yorkmar. Born in Apoka, Fla., he shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Smith last sailed aboard a Cove Shipping Co. vessel. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945 and started receiving his pension in 1982. Brother Smith lived in Houston. JOHN SULLIVAN Pensioner John Sullivan, 77, passed away Nov. 18, 2000. Brother Sullivan started his SIU career in 1951 in the port of New York. Born in Massachusetts, he sailed in the engine department. Brother Sullivan last worked on the Sea-Land Tacoma. He began receiving his pension in 1986. Brother Sullivan lived in Shelton, Wash. GLENN WINCHESTER Pensioner Glenn Winchester, 65, passed away Aug. 29, 2000. Born in Colorado, he started his SIU career in 1963 in New York. A member of the engine department, he first sailed aboard the Beauregard. Brother Winchester last worked aboard the Sea-Land Hawaii. He began receiving his pension in 1994. Brother Winchester lived in San Jose, Calif. NORMAN WROTON Pensioner Norman Wroton, 70, died Jan. 9. He .began his SIU career in 1948, joining in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Wroton shipped as a member of the engine department and sailed primarily aboard Waterman Steamship Corp. vessels. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1950 to 1952 and began receiving bis pension in 1985. Brother Wroton resided in Chesapeake, Va. FERNANDO ZAVALA Brother Fernando Zavala, 76, died Oct. 15, 2000. He joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of New York. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Zavala sailed in the steward department. His first ship was an Intercontinental Transportation vessel. Brother Zavala last worked aboard the San Juan, operated by Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. He called Bronx, N. Y. home. INLAND JACK CHAPMAN Pensioner Jack Chapman, 84, died Nov. 11, 2000. Born in North Carolina, he joined the SIU in 1957 in Philadelphia. A member of the deck department, he shipped as a tug captain. Boatman Chapman last worked aboard a McAllister Towing of Virginia vessel. He began receiving his pension in 1978. Boatman Chapman lived in Kitty Hawk, N.C. IRVIN CUTRES Pensioner Irvin Cutres, 83 passed away Oct. 9, 2000. Boatman Cutres began his career with the SIU in 1958, joining in the port of New ~...____, Orleans. Born in Louisiana, he served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1947. The deck department member worked primarily aboard Dravo Basic Materials Co. vessels. Boatman Cutres began receiving his pension in 1982. He resided in Marnmond, La. WAYNE KNAPP Boatman Wayne Knapp, 74 passed away April 4, 2000. He joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of Detroit. Boatman Knapp served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1947. A member of the deck department, he first shipped aboard an H&M Lake Transport vessel. Boatman Knapp last worked on a Bigane Vessel Fuel Co. of Chicago vessel. Manitowoc, Wis. was his home. GIOVANNI MENNELLA Pensioner Giovanni Mennella, 71, died Oct. 24, 2000. Boatman Mennella began his career with the SIU in 1980, joining in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He served with the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1951. A member of the steward department, he worked primarily aboard Crowley Towing & Transportation vessels. Boatman Mennella started receiving his pension in 1997. He lived in Fontana, Calif. LOUIS P. ROLLO Pensioner Louis P. Rollo, 77, passed away Oct. 28, 2000. Boatman Rollo joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of Philadelphia. A member of the steward department, the New Jersey native worked primarily aboard Moran Towing of Philadelphia vessels. He began receiving his pension in 1992. Boatman Rollo lived in Philadelphia. JOHN SHAW Pensioner John Shaw, 88, died Nov. 18, 2000. He began his career with the SIU in 1961 in Philadelphia. Boatman Shaw shipped as a member of the steward department. The Pennsylvania native sailed primarily aboard Moran Towing of Philadelphia vessels. Boatman Shaw began receiving his pension in 1977. He resided in Tampa, Fla. GREAT LAKES JACOB HAJOSTEK Pensioner Jacob Hajostek, 79, passed away Jan. 31. Brother Hajostek began his career with the SIU in 1962 in Cleveland. A member of the :....-....:s..---.... deck department, he worked primarily aboard Great Lakes Towing Co. vessels. Born in Cleveland, Brother Hajostek served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945. He started receiving his pension in 1983. Brother Hajostek called Lakewood, Ohio home. JOSEPH KEELAN Pensioner Joseph Keelan, 88, died Jan 22. Brother Keelan started his SIU career in 194 7 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Born in -i.....-Jo....._~ Pennsylvania, Brother Keelan shipped as a member of the deck department. He started receiving his pension in 1977. He lived in Tampa, Fla. Apl'il 2001 �Digest of ~ipboard n. ~ pnioli 'Meetings The "8eatarenLOG attempts to print as many digests at union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion~ because of space limflallons, 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 tor publication. CONSUMER (CSX Lines), Jan. 24----Chairrnan Redentor G. Borja, Secretary Terry L. Allen, Educational Director Ray L. Chapman, Steward Delegate John Bennett. Chairman announced payoff Jan. 30 on arrival in Oakland, Calif. He led discussion of company policy against harassment and encouraged crew members to read policy and follow it carefully. Secretary announced vessel going into shipyard in Singapore for approximately 35 days beginning in February. Educational director advised everyone to check expiration dates on seamen's documents and be ready for Feb. 1, 2002 STCW compliance. No beefs reported. Some disputed OT noted by deck and engine delegates. Crew members in engine department listed repairs needed to pumps. Suggestion made for health plan to issue identification cards to family members and improve dental and optical coverage. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland; Honolulu. DEFENDER (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), Jan. 31-Chairman George B. Khan, Secretary Jasper Jackson Jr. Ship to pay off Feb. 7 in Long Beach, Cali£, according to chairman. Secretary noted smooth voyage. Educational director reminded crew members to keep STCW and Coast Guard documents up to date. Treasurer announced $260 in ship's fund. Some beefs and disputed OT reported in engine department. Request made for second washing machine and repair of dryer. Suggestion made to check if company will supply summer or lightweight overalls. HM/CAPE LOOKOUT SHOALS (IUM), Jan. 4----Chairman Peter R. Hokenson, Secretary Alan W. Bartley, Educational Director Salome Castro, Steward Delegate Christopher Amigable. Chairman noted washer and dryer received on board in Alaska and now waiting to be installed. Two new refrigerators also received and installed in each mess room. He thanked steward department for holding meals for deck department members who were docking vessel. Secretary thanked all engine and deck personnel for help given him since he returned from vacation. He also thanked DEU Amin Ali for fme job. Educational director informed crew about need to have STCW certificate by Feb. 1, 2002. He also suggested upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. as often as possible. Deck delegate reported problems with working hours in Alaska, and engine delegate requested water fountain for lower engine room. Recommendation made to have SA aboard ship to take heavy workload off steward. Suggestions made to increase dental coverage and reduce time needed for retirement. Clarification needed regarding pay raises. Next ports: Anacortes, Wash.; Valdez and Kenai, Alaska. HM/ DEFENDER (Hvide Marine), Jan. 29-Chairman Juan Castillo, Secretary Steven R. Wagner, Educational Director George H. Bixby, Deck Delegate Frederick C. April2001 Meier, Engine Delegate Robert Young, Steward Delegate Peter Crum. Chairman announced ship payoff in Lake Charles, La. Everyone advised to use extra precaution on deck where work is being done. Secretary asked for help keeping pantry area clean at night. He also mentioned that crew should leave fresh linens in rooms for reliefs. Educational director stressed importance of going to Piney Point to upgrade skills and ratings. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Effective Jan. 1, 2001, IUM no longer in charge of personnel and transportation. Hvide Marine has their own personnel staff, and payroll will come from Texas. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next ports: Lake Charles; Tampa, Fla. /TB JACKSONVILLE (Sheridan Transportation Corp.), Jan. 30Chairman Timothy J. Jackson, Secretary Brenda M. Kamiya, Educational Director Stanley M. Sporna, Deck Delegate Allan C. Davis, Engine Delegate Gary Boyd, Steward Delegate Eugene N. Perez Jr. Chairman has copy of Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 for those interested in reading it. He announced payoff scheduled for Feb. 1 in Houston. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep mess hall clean and orderly and noted great crew aboard vessel. Educational director advised crew members to keep up with maritime industry by taking courses at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made for prescription and dental coverage for dependents and for one day off or extra day's pay for one month worked. Also requested that cost of living be added to pension benefit. Thanks given to steward department for extra food preparation and baking to help make voyage pleasant. Great job by DEU Boyd for keeping passageways in house spotless. OVERSEAS JOYCE (OSG), Jan. 2-Chairrnan Ralph G. Broadway, Secretary James E. Willey, Educational Director William E. Scott, Deck Delegate Richard L. Thomas, Steward Delegate Jack A. Hart. Chairman advised everyone to read LOG to keep updated on union and maritime activities. He also reminded crew to be sure seamen's documents are current and of importance of contributing to SPAD for job security. Payoff scheduled in Long Beach, Calif. Educational director talked about SIU benefits to help individuals improve themselves: the scholarship for seafarers and their dependents and the facility at Piney Point for upgrading skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to increase vacation pay and raise <layman's wages. Crew thanked steward department for barbecues and spectacular holiday meals. Bosun said he had never seen anything like the the great food in all his years at sea. Next ports: Long Beach; Portland, Ore. OVERSEAS JUNEAU (OSG), Jan. 12-Chairman Benedict B. Born, Secretary Charles Atkins, Educational Director Vladimir Babenko. Chairman sent fax regarding transportation policies of OSG. He noted Captain William T. Orr's letters of commendation to crew and to chief cook for excellent jobs. "You have performed in a professional manner and in this you may be proud," the captain wrote. Educational director urged everone to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and keep up with STCW rules and regulations. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made for health plan to provide prescription coverage for family members. Request made for new water fountain for crew mess hall. Next port: Portland, Ore. PETERSBURG (IUM), January 22-Chairman Peter Funk, Secretary George J. Borromeo, Educational Director David Bodah, Deck Delegate Michael R. Merrell, Engine Delegate Jessie U. Ulibas, Steward Delegate Riyadh K. Shabi. Chairman expressed gratitude to VP Contracts Augie Tellez for great contract. "It has fully enriched our lives and pockets." Also thanked Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel for visiting ship in Guam, where it is stationed. Secretary stressed need for crew to meet STCW requirements by Feb. 1, 2002. Beefs reported in all three departments. Request made for clarifications of vessel's manning scale and shipping rules. Suggestion made to use some of ship's fund to subscribe to several magazines. Crew also asked for status of retroactive pay, if any, and expressed need for new ice machine in crew's mess hall and additional dryer(s). RELIANCE (CSX Lines), Jan. 7Chairrnan Timothy J. Fitzgerald, Secretary Thomas M. Wybo, Educational Director Orlando Cancel, Deck Delegate Norman Tourtellot, Engine Delegate Omar Sharif, Steward Delegate Abdulla M. Baabbad. Chairman noted new mattress should arrive in Oakland Jan. 16. He asked for cooperation in putting trash in laundry room, not in small bags on deck. He also suggested everyone show consideration for others when doing laundry at night (e.g., items with metal buckles or large snaps create loud noise in washer and dryer). Secretary commended all for teamwork and for helping keep house clean. He requested that anyone departing ship see steward for clean linen for next person. Educational director advised crew members to take advantage of upgrading facilities at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to reduce time needed to receive vacation check. Request made for new VCR tape rewinder. Vote of thanks given to steward department for variety of good food and clean house. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu. SAM HOUSTON (Waterman Steamship Corp.), Jan. 14----Chairman Mark S. Downey, Secretary Roderick K. Bright, Educational Director Donnell C. Tagart, Deck Delegate Robert Stevenson, Engine Delegate Dominic V. Whitty, Steward Delegate Stanley J. Krystosiak. Chairman noted toaster being replaced and new washer on order. He stated sickness and accident benefit now $25 per day and new name for Seafarers Welfare Plan is Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. He also advised everyone to be sure their sailing documents are updated and that they are STCW compliant by Feb. 1, 2002. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made to increase manpower aboard ship for cargo operations. Suggestion also made for transportation after 180 days and increased vacation. Next ports: Morehead City, N.C.; New Orleans, La. SPIRIT (CSX Lines), Jan. 28Chairman Edward J. Stoetzel, Secretary Edgardo G. Ombac, Deck Delegate Stanley W. Parker, Steward Delegate Blaine R. Amundson. Chairman announced payoff in Tacoma, Wash., possibly sailing for Oakland, Calif. the next day. Everyone should check sailing board before going ashore. He advised crew not to go out on deck in bad weather. Educational director James D. Palmquist, Engine Delegate Warren H. Wright, Steward Delegate Thomas E. Kleine. Chairman stated ship pulled into Okinawa, Japan Dec. 6 for four days, then again Dec. 24 for one day to put injured crew member ashore and pick up new member as well as fresh vegetables, fruit and ice cream. He recommended that new crew members be instructed at union hall what gear to bring with them- Working on the Prince William Sound Chief Cook Christopher Amigable (left) and Chief Steward Alan W. Bartley take time out to pose for a photo before serving dinner aboard the HM/ Cape Lookout Shoals. The IUM vessel was on a stopover in Kenai, Alaska at the time, where crew members were waiting for a new washer and dryer to be installed. advised crew members to upgrade at Piney Point and check out new courses. Treasurer stated $165 in ship's fund to be used for purchase of movies in Taiwan and new VCR head cleaner. Some beefs reported in deck department. Clarification requested from patrolman on why transportation is taxed. Crew also would like new mattresses, bed sheets, pillows and pillow covers. Steward department given vote of thanks for good food and clean mess hall. USNS ABLE (T-AGOS 20), (Maersk Line, Ltd.), Jan. 14-Cbairman Patrick A. Vandegrift, Secretary William F. Farmer, Educational Director Ken Carter. Chairman led discussion on new contract and answered all questions. Educational director suggested unlicensed crew members take advantage of Paul Hall Center to upgrade skills and better themselves. No beefs or disputed OT reported. All members expressed gratitude for new contract and gave vote of thanks to SIU officials for job well done. USNS BOWDITCH (Dyn Marine Services), Jan 7-Chairman Ed Nelson, Educational Director Rahul Bagcbi, Deck Delegate Donald L. Kelly, Engine Delegate David W. DeHart, Steward Harry Kimble. Chairman announced vessel leaving Singapore for Okinawa, Japan and asked everyone to practice safety at all times. Educational director noted everyone needs STCW certificate by Feb. 1, 2002. Those without STCW basic safety and basic fire fighting endorsements should attend courses at Piney Point as soon as possible. Several beefs reported relating to lack of overtime. Requested clarification on shipping rules. Suggestion made for medical identification cards for members and their families as well as coverage for family members living outside U.S. and territories. USNS EFFECTIVE (Maersk Line, Ltd.), Jan. 6--Chairman Ronald H. Corgey, Secretary Howard G. Williams, Educational Director Paul E. Worthington, Deck Delegate including steel-toed shoes, buck knives, work clothes. Secretary thanked VP Contracts Augie Tellez for great job on contract and wage increase. He noted everyone very happy with results. Everything running smoothly with no beefs or disputed OT reported. Engine delegate stated "you can work all the overtime you like, if you want to." Request made for new gym equipment. Treadmill broken for several years and rest of equipment fairly old. Officers and unlicensed crew very pleased with great job by steward department. USNS KANE (T-AGS 27) (Dyn Marine Services), Jan. 24-Chairman Jay C. Dillon, Secretary Todd Easley, Educational Director Kenneth Koontz, Deck Delegate Kenneth H. Smith, Engine Delegate Curtis Thornton, Steward Delegate Jonn Noel. Chairman announced NavOps should fmish late Jan. 24 or early Jan. 25. Docking will be on the 29th with a draw after money arrives and is counted. Ship's turnover to foreign service still stands as briefed by captain. Educational director reminded everyone of benefits to upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center. Suggestion made that clarifications on all contracts be sent to company ships, faxed to union halls and printed in LOG. Next ports: Singapore; Istanbul, Turkey. MAYAGUEZ (NPR, Inc.), Feb. 4-Chairman Russell F. Barrack Jr., Secretary Edward P. Dunn, Educational Director Kevin DeSue, Deck Delegate Charles Wright, Steward Delegate Jorge Mora. Chairman announced Feb. 9 payoff in Philadelphia. Everything running smoothly. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep ship clean and orderly. Educational director urged crew members to practice safety at all times, especially on deck and around reefers. No beefs or disputed OT. Suggestion made to increase number of vacation days and raise monthly pension rate. Request made for more light bulbs, and all crew members were asked for ideas for new contract. Thanks given to steward department for good food. Next port: San Juan, P.R. Seafarers LOG 19 • �Ldtars to the Editor (Editor s note: the Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writers intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) .. The Makings Of a Seafarer What makes a member pick the sea for a career? Here are my reasons. While growing up on the north side of Brooklyn, I-and others -would go down to the docks two blocks away with my homemade wagon in search of wood and coal for my apartment to burn in a belly stove for heat and cooking. There was no steam heat in those days. In doing so, I'd stop and watch ships of all shapes and sizes pass by with sticks (booms) raised in the air and with foreign flags flying at the rear. Once home, I'd look in an atlas of the world and locate the flags I remembered and see what country they were from and think of how far the ships had come. Sometimes I'd see crew members pass by talking a funny language and I'd wonder what it would be like in their country. There was a long pier in which the Brooklyn Navy Yard could be seen-where Navy ships were built before and after WWII. When the battleship North Carolina was launched before WWII, I saw it and wondered what it would be like to sail on it. Once WWII had started and America joined in, my older Brother, Steve, joined the maritime service and was trained at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. He gave me and my brother, John, a sweatshirt with a logo of a shield and "U.S.M.S.T.S" - United States Maritime Service Training Station. We were so proud of him and showed it by wearing the shirts and telling everyone about him sailing in dangerous waters aboard the troopship Thomas A. Berry. His letters would describe life aboard the ship and the ports he'd ~ ~ ~ ~ ,• ~ ~ ~ ~ f ~ ~ • •~ ~ , "" •• • ~ """ ~ ~ , ~ • FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters I recently was asked to fill the District makes specific provision for chief steward position aboard the safeguarding the membership's MV Fidelio. It is always a won- money and union finances. The conderful experience to be able to stitution requires a detailed audit by work aboard different types of certified public accountants every year, which is to be submitted to the vessels. I would like to thank Carl Peth membership by the secretary-treasurfor his encouragement during my er. A yearly finance committee of time upgrading at Piney Point. I rank-and-file members, elected by would also like to enclose a poem the membership, each year examines that I wrote while serving on the the finances of the union and reports fully their findings and recommendaFidelio. I have witnessed that tions. The annual financial commitpositive changes always come tee will be elected during the May 7, about when kindness is present. 2001 headquarters membership meeting to review the 2000 records. Members of this committee may Kindness is like a precious make dissenting reports, specific recflower, dripping from the mornommendations and separate findings. ing rain. Kindness Doesn't Cost Anything Kindness is coming a long way from nowhere. Whenever we get lost, kindness is always there. Kindness doesn 1 cost anything. Kindness is daring ourselves to dream, only to find peaches and cream. Kindness is praying for, hoping for, and looking for that rainbow. Kindness doesn 1 cost anything. Every day, there is a broken heart, a tear is cried, a wish is made that never comes true, but kindness will always see us through. The things we do, the things we say, are gentle rays of hope that touch us every day. Kindness is a great big expression of happiness. It is important to keep in our hearts. Kindness doesn 't cost anything. Roslyn Nikita Brooks Norfolk, Va. .. Chief Steward Roslyn Nikita Brooks (center) enjoys working aboard the Fidelio with SA Eric Hernandez (left) and Chief Cook Elizer Saintvil. Indomitable Crew Assists All Denizens of the Sea ~ •~ • • .. been in. Once home, there were all his pictures to look at. He continued sailing and would write from ports all over the world, causing me to decide to sail also. So I went to a city maritime high school (Metropolitan Voe.). My last year before graduating, the school was given the Liberty Ship John W. Brown aboard which we could study. Everyone had a real pride in the ship. We wore a khaki uniform with a logo on the collar-an anchor for the deck department and a propeller for the engine department. The first day aboard, I got the feel of the deck under my feet. Entering the engine room, the smell of steam and oil convinced me that this was the life for me. Graduating in 1948 with my seamen's papers, I'd go to steamship companies only to be refused a job because I had no rating. I tried countless times, going to the SIU at Beaver Street, never able to get past Pete Larson, the doorman. I held odd jobs, but continued to go to the union hall until 1951. I guess Pete got tired of looking at me and sent me to the third floor, where I was given a trip card, meaning it was good for one foreign trip or 60 days coastwise. After the first trip on the Greeley Victory as a wiper going to the Persian Gulf, I was given a permit and sailed on it for eight years before getting a full book. There is no better job in the world than with the SIU-seeing all parts of the world, getting paid for it and enjoying the best benefits. To this day, I often dream of being on an SIU ship again. Walter Karlak Woodside, N.Y.- ~ .., SIU crew members aboard the USNS Indomitable (T-AGOS 7) recently got involved in a couple tasks that were "a litt~e out of the o~dinary," according to the ship's captain, Bruce E. Sonn. In a letter (with accompanymg photo) to the Seafarers LOG, Sonn states, "During an afternoon watch, AB James Hornby spotted what turned out to be a tangled clump of discarded fishing nets. "After maneuvering for a closer look, we noticed a loggerhead sea turtle hopelessly caught in the tangle. Bosun Robert Taylor, AB Adeeb Saleh and OS Clyde Wynne volunteered and launched the rescue boat to free the turtle. It took them about 40 minutes to cut away the nets. . "They mentioned that the turtle seemed to know that they were helping it and was actually cooperatmg. When Clyde unwrapped the last line from around the turtle's neck, it took off in a flash, obviously healthy and, I'm sure, quite happy." The trio also recovered the nets and disposed of them ashore to prevent any similar problems from occurring. This was not the first good deed performed by the Maersk ship's crew, according to Capt. Sann. The day before, the same three men brought MDR Martha "Ellen" Bye over to a Costa Rican fishing boat where she treated the captain for a shark bite. 20 Seafarers LOS Know Your Rights 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ge graphic ori~ gin. If any member feels that he or she is denied the equal rights to which he or she is entitled, the member should notify union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate egregated 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 bas been denied the constitutional right of access to union records or information, the member should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is: Michael Sacco, President Seafarers International Union 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April2001 �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule for classes for the months of April through July 2001 at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and-in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course's start date. The courses listed here wil1 begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made/or Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-00 I 0. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Able Seaman (including simulator steering assessments) April 7 June 2 June 30 July 28 May4 June 1 June29 July 27 August 24 LifeboatmanJWater Survival April 21 May19 June 16 July 14 Mays June2 June30 July 28 Radar (simulator) April 7 April 20 Radar (one-day renewal) July 6 July 27 Radar (three-day renewal) July3 July 23 July 5 July 26 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) (simulator) April 21 June 16 July7 April27 June 22 July 13 Ap,ril 14 Mayl2 June 9 July 7 April 27 May25 June 23 July 21 June 23 July 14 June29 July 20 Mays (*must have radar unlimited) GMDSS (simulator) · ge Resource Management Date of Completion Arrival Date Fireman/Watertender & Oiler May 19 July 14 June 29 August 24 QMED - Any Rating April 30 July 20 Welding April 28 June9 July 21 May 18 June 29 Au.g ust 10 Date of Completion Start Date Course Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week beginning January 8. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning January 6. Bosun Recertification April 7 May7 Steward Recertification July7 August 6 Safety Specialty Courses ... _ Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Basic Fire Fighting April 14 May12 June9 April 21 May 19 Jone 16 Advanced Fire Fighting (one week) May5 May12 Advanced Fire Fighting - First Aid May 19 Jone2 Government Vessels April 14 April 28 May12 May26 June9 June 23 July 7 July 21 May4 May 18 June 1 June 15 June 29 July 13 July 27 August 10 STCW Basic Safety April 21 May12 April 28 May19 STCW Medical Care Provider May19 June 9 May26 June 16 Basic Fire Figbting/STCW Basic Safety April 14 April 28 May12 May26 June2 June9 June 23 June30 July7 July 21 July 28 April 27 May 11 May25 June8 June8 June 16 June 29 July 6 July 14 July 27 August 3 Ta ker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* pril 28 May26 June 23 July 21 May12 June9 August4 June 16 June 23 Tankerman (PIC) Barge* .. July7 (*must have basicfll'ejighting) Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. q ---~---·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·- · -·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty (120) days seatimefor the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, US MMD (z -card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and OMED applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $280 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order onlv. payable to LMSS. UPGRADING APPLICATION COURSE Telephone _ __ __ _ __ _ __ Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member Date of Birth D BEGIN END DATE DATE - - -- - - - - - - Inland Waters Member D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security# _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ Seniority _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ Department _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ Rating: _ __ __ Date On: Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? D Yes DNo If yes, class# - - - - -- - - -- - -- - - -- - - -- - -- - Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? D Yes DNo If yes, course(s) taken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes 0 No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes DNo Primary language spoken _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Apri/2001 • Recertification (*must have basic fire fighting) Engine Upgrading Courses Course Steward Upgrading Courses ~----------- Date Off: SIGNATURE - - - -- -- - -- - -- -- DATE NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only ifyou present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETED APPUCATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Admissions Office, PO. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/01 Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes Limited License - Phase ID Unlicensed Apprentices - Unlicensed apprentices from classes 603, 604 and 605 are in the third phase of their training, having completed the government vessels course as well as the DEU and tanker assistant cargo classes in February and March. They are (in alphabetical order) Emilio Abreu, Christopher Dionio, Paul Gohs, Michael Herrera, Jason Hudkins, Kevin Ignacio, Haven lussig, Justin Johnson, Roderic Kelly, Ralph Martin Jr., Jerald Martinez, William Mcintyre, John Rochez, Darren Rollins, Timothy Squire Jr., Damion Straughter, Daryl Thomas and David Vaughn. Captain Brad Wheeler (left) helped prepare students to take the limited license exam. From the left are Wheeler, John Daunoras, William Schuppman and James Anderson Ill. Wheeler graduated from Piney Point and later sailed as a hawsepiper before getting his master's license. Unlicensed Apprentice Class 612 - Completing the CPR portion of their training are members of class 612. The full class roster includes (in no particular order) Kareem Joseph, Ronald Carney Jr. , Jermaine Williams, Machavellia Bagsby, Justin Koger, Jason Frank, Paul Simpson, Tremaine Shamlee, Gary Martin, Melvin Espaillat, Eugene Burke II , Maynor Castro , Lisa Harewood, Juanita Christia, Manolo Cruz, Marlene Cunningham , Angelo Bottoni, Harry Morales and Rafael Costas. . Bridge Resource Management - Captain Herb Walling instructs Cro captains in the new bridge resource management course, which uses the school's full m sion bridge simulator. Completing the course Feb. 16 are (in no specific order) James Tank, Roger Horton, Robert August Sr., Steven Mitchell , William Callahan, John Jackson, Ronnie Harrington and Kenneth Griggs. Chief Cook- Basic Fire Fighting/STCW Basic Safety - Crew members who will be working aboard American Classic Voyages' new cruise ships recently completed the basic fire fighting course required for STCW certification. They are (in alphabetical order) Paulina Bigting, Gustavo Bolanos, Richard Jackson, Cheri Johnstone, Ronnie Kirby, Jason Musmeci, Heidi Pehrson, Kenisha Talbert, Linda VanNieuwenhuyse, Kristi Wickline, Chad Wistey, Melissa Gaskill, Tracy Ciavarelli and Michelle Kavlitzke. Their instructors were Joseph Zienda and Jennifer Lankford . Good food doesn't just happen! The efforts of SIU members like (from left) Marcus Rowe, Chris topher Boronski , Louis Hyde Sr. and Jeanette Higgins, under the direction of the school chef/instructors, account for the healthy and tasty food served in the galley. Galley Operations- Completing one of the required two-week modules in the galley operations curriculum are (foreground, from left) Virginia Panocillo, Marlon Flores and Ronaldo Torres. Their instructors are (back, from left) Jeff Nelson , Anitra Mccleod and Chef Ed White. Any student who has registered for a class and finds-for whatever reason-that he or she cannot attend, please inform the admissions department so that another student may take that place. 22 Seafarers LOB Basic Fire Fighting/STCW - This group of Seafarers who sail aboard NY Waterway vessels recently completed the STCW-required fire fighting course at the school. In no particular order are Dawn Burns, Tim Byam , Pepe Carumba , Tony Finn , Gabriel Joza, Keven Lohr, Mike Minnuies, Chris Mitchell, Tony Moyet, Anthony J. Rinkus Ill , Lenny Roman , Anthony Ryan, Mark Summers and Paul Ward . Apri/2001 �• Paul Hall Center Classes ... Breakfast, Anyone? ..... Army Corps of Engineers - Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently took advantage of the facilities at the Paul Hall Center for training in fire fighting and water survival for STCW compliance. Those attending the course, which ended Jan. 18, include (in no specific order) Peter Sutton, Donald Brown, Wray Sweatt, Larry Watts, Lloyd Stock, Frank Gray, Kevin Combs, Lawrence Williams, Gualberto Salaria, Daniel Mccready, James O'Connor, Douvall Smith, Bob Childs, Bill Birch, John Rank, Arthur Rubolino, Joseph Layden, Andre Black, Don Dilley, George Cruzen Jr., Mark Trepp, Kevin Penrose, Joseph Conlin and Sam March. Unlicensed apprentices and staff members at the Paul Hall Center are the smiling faces who serve hundreds of meals to their SIU brothers and sisters and other staff and guests. The UAs rotate through the galley as part of their training. From the left are Matt Himes (class 613), staff member Chidi J. Ezeakolam and Michael King (class 613). ESL - Instructor Peggy Densford (standing in photo at left) works with unlicensed apprentices and upgraders to significantly improve their English language skills. From the left are Ali Alhaddad and Raul Napoles. ·- Computer Class - Computer literacy is required in all departments on today's modern ships. In photo at right, Alex Aguinaldo (left) and Leon Pulley (right) receive help from instructor Richard Prucha. First Group Completes Medical Training in New STCW Course Nine SIU members on March 2 completed the Paul Hall Center's first-ever medical first aid provider course. Conducted by instructors at the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School in Piney Point, Md., the three-day, 21-hour module is the second level of medical training required by the amended STCW convention. It is designed to enhance the medical first aid provider skills of SIU members. "It's a very good course," offered AB Peter N agowski, a graduate. "I have had prior first aid training during my career, but I learned quite a bit more this time around. My skills were especially enhanced in the areas of trauma care, splinting and critical patient care. I definitely think this training will benefit me in the future should the need arise." Nagowski's frrst aid skills previously were put to task while at sea. The Buffalo, N.Y. native came to the aid of a shipmate who sustained major cuts aboard a vessel. "Thanks to my previous first aid training, I was able to stop the bleeding and provide care for him until we got him off the ship," recalled Nagowski, who joined the SIU in 1976. "Now that I have had this course, I will be able to provide better care to injured crew members while on ships. I would definitely recommend it for everyone in the mariner community. April 2001 "The instructor was very good," Nagowski concluded. "She (Jennifer Lankford) always listened to our questions and suggestions. I also think that the course time was adequate for the material presented." Massachusetts native AB Brian Wynn shared a similar assessment of the course. "I have had first aid and CPR training in the past, but I definitely am more knowledgeable now," he said. "This course is perhaps the most informative for mariners where rescuer safety is concerned." In addition to teaching what to do when injuries occur at sea, this training affords instruction on how to perform procedures safely so that victims and providers are not subjected to further injuries, Wynn said. "Injuries are common on ships, but often people don't know what to do from a safety perspective while caring for the injured," he said. "Through this training, I'm now a lot more knowledgeable of what to look out for as well as well as what to do when injuries occur." Wynn joined the SIU in 1987 and currently sails out of San Francisco. "We covered a lot of material in a short time during the course, but I think the instructor did an excellent job," he concluded. QMED Dennis Keenan regards the course as a stepping- stone in his career, and he looks forward to increased responsibility. "My mate is the medical person in charge on my vessel and he needed someone to assist him," the native New Yorker said. "This is one of the reasons why I took the course. I can now help him out as well as render assistance to other people aboard ship on the spot if needed." Keenan began his Seafaring career in 1998, joining in California. "I think it's a very beneficial course," Keenan continued. "Although I previously had EMT, first aid and CPR training, my skills have been greatly improved since taking this course. "Among many other things, I learned how to look up medications and their properties. This is very important if you are not sure about which medications to give," he said. Keenan himself needed immediate medical attention while at sea earlier in his career. "I got hit in the back with a line and block," he said. "No one really knew what to do at the time.u As it turned out, his injuries were not life-threatening. Eventually, he received proper care and now is fine. "When you are on watch and someone gets injured, you're supposed to get the mate before doing anything," Keenan said. "But now I can help someone needing assistance while the mate is getting there. I definitely can use the new skills I have acquired." In addition to Nagowski, Wynn and Keenan, the SCTW medical first aid provider class was completed by ABs Albert Austin, James Hoffman, Jerry Martinsen, David Rankin, Carlton Richardson and Stella Zebrowski. During the course, the nine mariners underwent a comprehensive review of the following topics: • Cardiac and airway management; • Rescuer safety; • Body structure; • Examination of trauma victims and medical patients; • Head and spinal injuries; • Treatment of burns; • Musculoskeletal injuries; • Medical care of rescued persons; • Obtaining radio medical advice; • Medication administration, and e Sterilization techniques. Instructor Lankford was pleased with the efforts put forward by members of the class and expressed pride at their respective accomplishments. "This was the first class, but it seemed to go great from my perspective," she said. "The students were genuinely interested in the materials we presented and they asked some very pointed questions. "As a group, they had many good ideas on things we could do better the next time around, and we 're always receptive to that. We appreciate the feedback," Lankford said. Seafarers LOS 23 �Attention Seafarers: Let the Paul Hall Center solve your vacation needs. See page 14 for additional Information. Based in Baltimore, the Wave Sentinel signifies new shipboard job opportunities for the SIU. The Sill recently gained new shipboard jobs when Seafarers climbed the gangway to the cable ship Wave Sentinel. Built in 1995, the 415-foot vessel is based in Baltimore. It is owned by Global Marine Systems of Chelmsford, England, and flies the British flag. U.S. immigration laws require the ship to utilize American citizens in the unlicensed positions and in some of the officers' posts. "This was a case where the ship was going to carry American mariners in the unlicensed ranks, so we organized it," said SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. "It's a fairly unique situation and it's always gratifying to see a ship sail with a union crew instead of going non-union. We welcome the new jobs." The contract covering wages and benefits on the Wave Sentinel basically parallels the agreements covering other Sill-crewed cable ships. Recertified Bosun Dave Kalm reported smooth operations since Seafarers first signed on to the vessel Dec. 18, including during the ship's most recent cable repair job--a three-week assignment off the Florida coast in February. "The crew has done a tremendous job," stated Kalm. He added that Sill Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz "deserves recognition also, because he's been here quite often to help us make the adjustment to working aboard a newly contracted ship." Kalm noted that the interaction between the vessel's senior officers, who are British, and the SIU crew has been positive. "The officers have been great. They're really pleasant and we've all gotten along well with them." The Wave Sentinel has a top speed of 19 knots and can carry up to 2,600 tons of cable. It has a beam of 69 feet and a maximum draft of 20.6 feet. The steward department includes (from left) SAs Richard Jefferson and Justin Van Pelt along with Chief Cook Harry Galdeira. Right: SIU hawsepiper Matthew Sandy recently began his first assignment as a third mate, on the Wave Sentinel. With Seafaren in Baltimore • • • Recent stops during a drizzly Friday in Baltimore found SIU members typically active aboard commercial ships, military support vessels, and tugboats. Also evident was the membership's continued enthusiasm for the new SIU hall on Essex Street, which opened last summer. These photos were taken March 16. Getting the job done aboard the USNS Fisher are Chief Cook James Kelly (left) and Chief Steward Robert Brown. The Baltimore hall features modern decor (left) blended with historical furnishings from previous SIU halls (right) in that city. Deckhand Joe Schrack (standing) and Engineer Billy Epps are part of the crew on the tug Cape Romain. Right: Storekeeper Joe Tegiacchi (left) welcomes SIU Port Agent Dennis Metz aboard the USNS Fisher. Deckhand Dave Green is pictured on the tug Mora Moran. IT FRIENDLY FACES: Retired Bosun Roland "Snake" Williams (top photo) and Administrative Assistant Lisa Clark (right) help keep the Baltimore hall operating smoothly. SUPER CELEBRATION: Enjoying the spirit of the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl victory are (from left) Bosun Brian Fountain, Retired Bosun Roland "Snake" Williams, Lisa Clark and AB William Thomas. Left: Changing a filter on the tug Cape Romain is Engineer Billy Epps. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2001 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MEET ‘1ST OFFICER COCKROFT’ PANAMA SELLS PHONY CREDENTIALS ITF FURTHER EXPOSES FOC SCAM YEAR-LONG RESEARCH YIELDS GRIM EVIDENCE SIU-NMU MERGER PACT PRESENTED TACOMA HALL WITHSTANDS EARTHQUAKE NEWARK BAY RENAMED DANGEROUS MEXICAN TRUCKS THREATEN U.S. ROAD SAFETY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN HOUSE TO RESCUE U.S. STEEL INDUSTRY STEELWORKERS STEADFAST IN NAFTA COURT BATTLE ON PAPER, MARAD TESTS RRF CREWING MERCHANT MARINE PANEL NAMED SEAFARERS SEEK GOOD-FAITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITT NAVY BASE UNIT SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED FOR ASC MARINERS IN SIU’S UNLICENSED APPRENTICE PROGRAM GREAT LAKES 2001 SEASON OFF TO AN EARLY START ‘MYSTERIOUS’ COOK-OFF UNFOLDS AT PINEY POINT LONGTIME SIU MEMBER CREDITS SARC FOR ‘TREMENDOUS BOOST, NEW LIFE’ RED CROSS HONORS HANSON TRIO FROM GUAM ACHIEVES GOALS SMPPP STATEMENTS MAILED IN MARCH CRUSADER SAFETY: 3 YEARS AND COUNTING TORPEDO SANK SS LEHIGH, BUT NOT PETE BARTLETT’S SPIRIT INSTRUCTOR CASEY TAYLOR DIES OF HEART FAILURE AT 53 USNS WATKINS DELIVERED TO MSC INDOMITABLE CREW ASSISTS ALL DENIZENS OF THE SEA FIRST GROUP COMPLETES MEDICAL TRAINING IN NEW STCW COURSE CABLE SHIP WAVE SENTINEL GOES SIU Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2001 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. 63, No. 4 2001 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/bb0c1b95e2de884de659c54c7101df2e.pdf a17dd3e7cfc5df6e772e830bd998a973 PDF Text Text Volume 64, Number 4 Seafarers Crew Up New Dredge Seafarers are sailing aboard the new dredge Liberty Island, which is in service near Palm Beach, Fla. Page 3. MTD Executive Board Meetings Powerful Case Made for Extending, Expanding Maritime Security Program Port, Shipboard Security Among Other Key Topics THE SIGN displayed by Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton (top photo) says it all: Safe development and exploration of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will create good jobs for Americans. Part of the president's proposed energy plan, ANWR exploration also will lessen the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Seafarers took that message to Washington, D.C. last month, where they were joined at demonstrations by (among others backing the plan) President Bush (pictured at left, greeting SIU Sec.-Treasurer David Heindel), U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) (lower left, with Unlicensed Apprentice Felipe Zepeda) and U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) (lower right, with more apprentices, including some from his state). Page 3. Supporting Steelworkers Members of Congress and the administration voiced strong bipartisan support for the American maritime industry when they addressed the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board Feb. 21-22 in New Orleans. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka (top photo, second from right) also expressed the federation's backing for the U.S. fleet. Greeting Trumka are (from left) MTD VP Ernie Whelan, MTD Pres. Michael Sacco and MTD Executive Sec.Treasurer Frank Pecquex. In the other photo (from left), SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd, U.S. Rep. David Vitter (R-La.) and SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey discuss the U.S. Merchant Marine's role in national defense. Pages 3, 6, 7. Dozens of Seafarers turned out Feb. 28 for a massive rally near the White House supporting the U.S. steel industry. Days later, President Bush enacted interim tariffs ranging from 8 to 30 percent on most varieties of steel imported into the United States from Europe, Asia and South America. Page 2. �President's Report Pensioners Get $1,000 Bonus Bonus Is Well-Deserved Last month, I had a chance to spend time at the Paul Hall Center with a number of SIU pensioners and other retirees from the industry who were involved in meetings of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. What a terrific group! Chatting with the AMMV members reminded me of catching up with retired Seafarers at our various union halls throughout the country. By and large, those union brothers and sisters are bright, funny and engaging. Sure, some of them may have tough exteriors-but, once the ice is broken, they're as friendly and helpful as anyone Michael Sacco you'll ever meet. That's one reason why I'm so pleased with the announcement that eligible SIU pensioners this month will receive a bonus check for $1,000. Talk about Christmas in April! In past years when bonuses have been approved, they usually have been sent around the end of the year. I trust that no one will mind the early "present" this time. And I'm hopeful and confident the pension plan will continue its successful performance at levels which, at least periodically, permit bonuses in future years. Speaking of SIU pensioners, here's something else I've noticed: They stay involved with their union long after retiring. They care about this organization. They care about their country and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Without a doubt, their presence at the halls-and their willingness to pitch in with whatever project is next-has helped the SIU remain strong, despite the serious challenges confronting our industry. So I thank our retired brothers and sisters, and I strongly encourage their continued involvement. Their experience and knowledge are assets we cannot afford to waste. Along those lines, I recommend to our younger members that you take advantage of the chances to learn from more experienced Seafarers, both active and retired. Whether you're on a ship or at a hall or at Piney Point, get to know the people who helped lay the groundwork for many of the opportunities and benefits you now enjoy. Ask questions, and soak up as much of their wisdom as you can. Strength Through MTD This issue of the LOG contains several articles about the recent meetings of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board. The topics covered at those meetings should greatly interest Seafarers because they directly impact your livelihood. Naturally, one of the main themes involved new security measures for ensuring protection at U.S. ports and aboard vessels entering the country. It is, to say the least, a giant task. It's also being duly recognized on Capitol Hill and in the press (including a segment last month on "60 Minutes") as an urgent matter which requires decisive, thorough action. The SIU is working with the Coast Guard and its National Maritime Center, the Maritime Administration, the National Defense Transportation Association, the U.S. Transportation Command and other segments of the industry to help ensure that realistic, effective steps are taken to improve port and shipboard security. This is a huge issue for our entire nation, not just our industry. The SIU will continue to work as a part of the solution. Another major theme at the MTD meetings was the need to expand and extend the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP). Although it contains the word "security," the MSP predates America's war on terrorism by five years. Nevertheless, the MSP specifically was designed with U.S. national and economic protection in mind. It was crafted to help ensure that America could call upon U.S. crews and U.S.-flag vessels to carry out its missions, whether in peacetime or in times of conflict. In the tragic circumstances of September 11, and to some extent during the ensuing months, we as a nation were reminded that we cannot automatically rely on support from others. We'd better be prepared to stand alone, if necessary. As noted by many of the MTD speakers, a strong U.S. fleet is a vital part of our arsenal. It's worth remembering that the SIU's affiliation with the MTD significantly boosts our capacity to promote an effective U.S. fleet. Altogether, MTD affiliate unions represent about 7 .5 million members. When so many voices unite behind a cause, they cannot be ignored. With that in mind, I ask the membership to participate in local MTD port councils. It's a great way to learn more about the U.S. maritime industry and to help advance not only the merchant marine, but also related industries including shipbuilding, steel, stevedoring and others. Volume 64, Number 4 April 2002 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright © 2002 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOS Eligible SIU pensioners will receive a bonus check of $1,000 this month. The Seafarers Pension Plan Board of Trustees recently approved the payment after union representatives to the group recommended the bonus. This bonus check will be sent to all SIU pensioners who currently receive monthly benefit checks for normal, early normal or disability pensions from the Seafarers Pension Plan. The board of trustees, consisting of representatives from the SIU and its contracted companies, decided to issue the bonus after reviewing the plan's successful investment performance. "They're really taking care of the retired people," stated SIU pensioner Gerard Cifarelli, who lives in Baltimore. "I don't know of another union that would do something like this bonus. It feels really good." Cifarelli sailed in the inland and coastwise trades for 33 years, both in the deck and engine departments. He said the bonus is just the latest example of "how the union has done wonders for me. I can't say enough good things about the SIU." More information about the Retiree Gerard Cifarelli (top photo, second from left) said the bonus is an unexpected but welcome surprise. He is pictured with {from left) SIU President Michael Sacco, SIU Sec-Treasurer David Heindel and SIU Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz. bonus or the pension plan in general may be obtained by contacting any union hall or by calling a plan representative at l-800CLAIMS4. Members and pensioners also may write to the plan at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Right: SIU President Michael Sacco (right) is thanked by pensioner Gerard Cifarelli for the bonus checks being sent to all eligible SIU retirees. Steel Industry Receives Some Relief Seafarers Support USWA at Massive Demonstration President Bush on March 5 enacted interim tariffs ranging from 8 to 30 percent on most varieties of steel imported into the United States from Europe, Asia and South America. The tariffs- some of which were scheduled to go in effect March 20--will last for three years and are intended to afford the ailing American steel industry an opportunity to modernize operations and halt layoffs. Since Dec. 31, 1977, 31 U.S . Steel companies have filed for bankruptcy protection, 16 companies have closed down and nearly 47,000 steelworkers and iron ore miners have lost their jobs. Bush ruled that the tariffs would start March 20 on many steel products. The nations expected to be most affected by the new taxes are Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Germany and Brazil. There will be no duties on steel from Mexico, Canada and developing nations. According to a release by the United Steel Workers of America (USWA), steel imports subject to the tariffs include flat steel, semi-finished steel, hot and cold bar steel and some tubular steel and specialty steel. SUPPon ' CJn1tQ11 StceJwork Among the SIU members who supported their fellow union brothers and sisters during the rally were (foreground, from left) Leticia Perales, James Willey, Veronika Cardenas, Ed Tully and Rolando Lopez. The president referred to the levy measures as "temporary safeguards to help give the steel industry and its workers a chance to adapt to the large influx of foreign steel. This relief will help steel Financial Committee Okays 2001 Records Seven Seafarers serving on the union's annual financial committee have reviewed the SIU's financial records for the year 2001 and found them in good order. The committee of rank-andfile members, elected by their fellow Seafarers at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md., consisted of John Bukowsky, Patrick Farley, James Kidd Jr., John Smith, Edward Tully, Gregory White and Cecil Williams. "We have examined the procedure for controlling the funds of the union and have found that the system of internal control is adequate to safeguard them properly," the committee noted in its report. "We find that the headquarters of the union is taking all steps possible to safeguard union funds and to see that the disbursements of the union are in accordance with the authority delegated to them and that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to Continued on page 4 increase day-to-day efficiency of our operation." Article X, Section 15 of the SIU Constitution stipulates the use of an annual financial committee. It reads: "The Annual Financial Committee shall make an examination for each annual period of the finances of the Union and shall report fully on their findings and recommendations." Reviewing the union's financial records for 2001 are (from left) Pat Farley, James Kidd Jr., SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, John Smith, Gregory White, Ed Tully, C.J. Williams and John Bukowsky. Apdl 2002 �War on Terrorism Heightens U.S. Merchant Marine's Value National Defense Role Emphasized to MTD With the war on terrorism accentuating the merchant marine's vital role in national defense, the executive board of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) during its winter meetings spelled out strategies to strengthen the U.S. fleet. Members of Congress and the administration also voiced strong U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert (left) and Vice Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.), who served as head of MarAd during the Clinton administration, both called for an extended, e~­ panded Maritime Security Program. bipartisan support for the American maritime industry when they addressed the board Feb. 21-22 in New Orleans. Throughout the sessions numerous speakers stressed the need to immediately extend and expand the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP). Shipboard and port security also were prime topics. MTD President Michael Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, opened the meetings by urging all concerned to advance the industry's causes as well as those of all working families as the nation regroups from the economic hardships caused by September 11. "As we move further along in the year 2002, I think we're coming out of our mourning period, to some extent," he stated. "Obviously, we'll never forget what happened. And clearly, our nation has changed in more ways than we could have imagined. "But it's time to roll up our sleeves and move forward," he continued. "We owe it to all concerned, especially those who have suffered through the economic decline that is gripping this country. As our good friend and leader, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney put it: Let us pay tribute to our heroes, but also let us forge a memorial to their sacrifice by translating our grief and anger into action." Board members, representing the 30 unions and 24 port maritime councils that compose the MTD, approved 11 policy statements covering subjects including the MSP, the fight against terrorism, shipbuilding, cabotage laws, runaway flags, port and shipboard security, organizing and other labor issues. Addressing the executive board were (in alphabetical order) CFDT Maritime Union of France Secretary General Jean Marc Barrey, Louisiana AFL-CIO President John "Red" Bourg, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), former Maritime Administrator Vice Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.), U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (DLa.), U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.), U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Director Capt. Tony Maritime Regalbuto, U.S. Administrator Capt. William Schubert, Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Workers Union Vice President Torbjom Teigland, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and U.S. Rep. David Vitter (R-La.). Jefferson, in remarks echoed by others during the meetings, stated that the MSP "has delivered for our nation by keeping the U.S. flag on the high seas and helping maintain a presence in international commerce while strengthening our pool of skilled marine workers and marine crews. I want to make sure that it is not only extended, but it is also expanded-that it gets extended perhaps not just for 10 years but for a longer period. That includes MTD Pres. Michael Sacco more ships and more workers and a more secure nation for us in the future." SIU Hits the Hill For Energy Plan The Liberty Island is the newest dredge in the SIU-contracted fleet. New Dredge Joins SIU Fleet Seafarers are sailing aboard the newly built Liberty Island, the eighth hopper dredge in the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. fleet. Touted by the company as "the most efficient dredge of its kind in operation in the United States," the new addition is in service near Palm Beach, Fla. with a crew of 16. "The Liberty Island is a state-of-the-art vessel signifying new jobs for SIU members," said SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. "It is a welcome addition." According to the company, the Liberty Is land "can dispose of material by bottom-dumping, and can also discharge material through its on-board bow pump-out system. The dredge is well-suited to work in harbors and inland waterways as well as offshore. Her maneuverability and hopper capacity make her an efficient and flexible dredging tool for both capitaJ and maintenance projects involving excavation with disposal either at sea or ashore." The dredge's potential uses include harbor development, channel maintenance and beach replenishment, among others. Manufactured by Bay Shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the Liberty Island is 315 feet long, with a beam of 59 feet and a 25.5-foot draft. The vessel's total horsepower is listed as 16,566. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock reports that the Liberty Island is classified as an ABS@Al Dredger, ACCU, and can carry 5,000 m3 of dredged material. Other SIU-crewed dredges in the company's fleet include the Long SIU members and officials took part in rallies at the White House and at Teamsters headquarters March 7 in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their support for a national energy plan that includes the safe exploration and development of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Immediately after the rallies, Seafarers individually delivered letters on Capitol Hill to senators from their respective states, asking them to support such an energy plan. The letters pointed out that safe development of ANWR will mean good news for the U.S. Merchant Marine by helping "provide strong, good-paying job opportunities aboard new double-hulled tankers for people like me to support a family in years to come. I would appreciate your support for this important issue for America's future and mine." President Bush spoke at the White House rally, which also featured Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card. The event at Teamsters headquarters included remarks by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (RTexas ), Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) as well as Laborers President Terence O'Sullivan. The Senate is considering passage of the president's energy plan, which includes provisions for exploring ANWR. White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card Laborers Pres. Terence O'Sullivan U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) Soresi Appointed SIU Atlantic District VP The union's executive board recently approved SIU President Michael Sacco's recommendation Island, Northerly Island, Padre Island, Manhattan Island, Sugar Island, Dodge Island and Victoria Island Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, May 27, 2002 for the observance of Memorial Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. Joseph Soresi Apri/2002 Listening to President Bush during a March 7 gathering at the White House are (from left) Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, SIU Sec.-Treasurer David Heindel and Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton. that Joseph Soresi become the vice president of the SIU's Atlantic District. The appointment was made in accordance with Article X of the union's constitution. It followed the retirement last year of Jack Caffey, who had served as Atlantic District vice president since 1988. Soresi had been the SIU's port agent in Philadelphia since 1996. He worked as a patrolman in Philadelphia in l 993, then was active in organizing campaigns in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana involving the SIU-affiliated Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union (SEATU). Soresi, 32, is a native of Staten Island, N.Y. He joined the SIU in 1990 and sailed until March 1993, when he signed off the !TB Groton. An AB, he upgraded several times at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. Beyond his work with the SIU, Soresi has been active in other parts of the labor movement. He is a vice president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and serves on the executive board of the Philadelphia Central Labor Council. He also is the secretarytreasurer of the Delaware Valley and Vicinity Port Council of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department. Seafarers LOii 3 �U.S. Steel Industry Gets Relief Continued from page 2 workers , commumttes that depend on steel and the steel industry adjust without harming our economy," he said. Reactions to the president's decision generally have been mixed. For the most part, Americans backed the action as being an appropriate and longoverdue relief for the steel industry. Abroad, however, reaction was harsh with many nations billing the Bush decision as a setback to so-called free trade. Steel Industry Grateful U.S. Steel industry management, union officials and politicians from steel-producing states by and large applauded the chief executive's action despite the fact that it fell short of what they wanted (40 percent tariffs had been asked for). Bush 's move was the most forceful taken by the executive branch to shield a domestic industry from unfair imports since the Reagan administration levied restraints on steel imports in the mid-1980s. USWA President Leo W. Gerard said the president's decision "raises our hopes that America's steel industry can be saved and set the stage for legislation necessary to protect the health care benefits of 600,000 steelworker retirees whose benefits remain at risk. "While the decision is not as comprehensive as we hoped," he continued, "it certainly is the first time we've seen some light at the end of a long dark tunnel." Gerard attributed the president's action to grassroots activism, noting, "Literally tens of thousands of citizens from steel communities throughout the nation's industrial heartland made it crystal clear that the day is done when American workers will stand for being victimized by violations of our trade laws. We congratulate President Bush for hearing that urgent message and on taking another crucial step toward leveling the playing field in steel trade." Members of the Lake Carriers' Association partly were pleased with the president's plan, but were disappointed that it did little to address the import of steel slabs. The association represents 12 American corporations that operate 58 U.S.-flag vessels exclusively on the Great Lakes. These vessels-many of which are crewed by Seafarers-and others on the Great Lakes were carrying about 125 million tons of cargo each navigation season before the dumping of foreign steel and declining water levels slashed cargo totals. Last year, U.S.-flag carriage totaled 102.02 million net tons of dry-bulk cargoes. "Every ton of slabs imported into this country takes cargo off the Great Lakes," said George l Ryan, president of the association. "The production of one ton of raw steel in a blast furnace requires 1.3 tons of iron ore, plus quantities of flux stone and coking coal." Ryan continued, "The president's plan not only allows imports of slabs to stay at their current high level, but also actually permits increased imports in the second and third years of the tariff program and reduces the tariff in those years for imports in excess of the quota." Ryan said the association supports efforts to return America's steel industry to profitability and sanctions the tariffs imposed on various steel imports, "but we feel our valid concerns were not addressed. It is doubtful that the president's plan will increase Great Lakes iron ore shipments." International Reaction Elected representatives from around the world-many of them U.S. allies-have taken turns voicing what they regard as Bush's employment of double standards by mandating the tariffs. The U.S. 's largest trading partner-Europe-has threatened retaliation by imposing its own tariffs. Choosing not to be left out of the trade brawl that's brewing, Japan, Australia, South Korea and Brazil all have stated their intentions to seek legal action against the United States. The Geneva-based World Trade Organization likely will act as judge during the proceedings, should they occur. Bush signed the memorandum sanctioning the tariffs on the heels of a Feb. 28 massive rally at the Ellipse on the south side of the White House. Forty-two Seafarers were among the estimated crowd of30,000 steelworkers and their union supporters from around the country. Upgraders attending the rally -all recertified stewards- were Veronika Cardenas, Darryl Goggins, McKinley Jones, James Kidd Jr., Rolando Lopez, Thomas Milovich, Nelson Morales, Leticia Perales, John Notices NMU Vacation Apps As of April 1, there is a new vacation application for the NMU vacation plan that includes authorizations for working dues and the vol~ untary Seafarers Political Activity Donation (SPAD). Members who were in the NMU when that union merged into the SIU last year, now are eligible for the first time to participate in SPAD. The authorizations need only be signed once each. Additional SPAD contributions also may be authorized by the individual member. (For more on SPAD, see page 11 of this issue of the LOG.) Registration. Manpower Offices As of April 1, members who sait under the NMU shipping rules will register electronically and be integrated into the SIU system. This is expected to result in quicker registration and better record-keeping. NMU shipping rules and separate SIU shipping rules will continue. Additionally, the NMU manpower office will move from Washington, D.C. to Piney Point, Md. The move will further ensure that the union can answer the call to surge sealift. 4 Seafarers L06 Platts, Edward Tully and James Willey. ed Other students who participatwere Daniel Amesbury, Austin Ayers, Christopher Bartholmey, Jade Belt, Jonathan Carter, Trevor Cohn, Shareef Dahlan, Beato Diaz, Raul Duarosan, Harold Gerber, Javier Gonzalez, Robert Grable, James Grasseth, Larry Howard, Autumn Kippen, Thomas Lovern, Aaron Matuszny, Brian McAllister, Joshua McDaniel, Jill McGeorge, Gregory McKinon, Antonio Mendez-Cruz, Brent Midgette, Lon Molnar, Jayson Ray, Jerry Solangon, Ahsha Staiger, Kevin Steen, Kenneth Taylor, Jeffrey Thomas and Demorio Wilcox. Several of the Seafarers shared their impressions about the plight of the Steelworkers and what attending the rally meant to them. " I participated to demonstrate support for my fellow union brothers and sisters," said Kidd who sails out of the port of Baltimore. "I'm a union man through and through, and I think it's good for unions to unite behind a common cause to show those in power that we mean business. "As a union member, I personally am affected by the plight of the Steelworkers," the Seafarer of 10 years added. "They, like us, are trying to keep our jobs here in the United States ... . It's really kind of funny when you think if it. Politicians always want our support for one thing or another, but when we as unions need theirs .. . it takes rallies like this to get their attention." New Jersey native Tully shared Kidd's sentiments. "I felt good supporting the Steelworkers and really hope the president signs the legislation they want. The rally made me realize how foreign companies are coming into the U .S., adversely affecting the economy and taking away jobs," he said. "The bottom line is that if they [the administration] don't defend our industries, we're all in trouble Unlicensed Apprentices Beato Diaz, left, and Antonio Mendez-Cruz proudly display the American flag during the rally. because that opens the door for foreign countries to come in and make huge profits at the expense of American workers. We all know that foreign labor is cheaper and some companies get richer because they take advantage of it. Look at the companies who are going with foreign crews under FOCs. They do it because they can get off without paying us the wages we demand when sailing under the American flag," Tully concluded. "This whole situation should teach us that we have to stay strong as a union," offered Kippen, an unlicensed apprentice. "That way we'll be in a better position to protect our interests if confronted by similar circumstances." The 20-year old native Hawaiian has experienced firsthand what it's like to be laid off. "I used to work on a cruise ship (the Patriot), but was laid off following the events of Sept. 11 ," she said. Gerber, a 26-year old apprentice from Port St. Lucie, Fla., also supported the Steelworkers' cause. "This rally was my first, but I really wanted to take part so I could experience what it's like when unions come together and show their strength," he said. "Our presence as Seafarers showed the Steelworkers as well as other unions that we are behind them. "Without their steel, we can't build our double-hull vessels, we can't ship our cargo, our containers, fuel, etc.," Gerber said. "That all translates into my not having a job as well as them not having their jobs. So their standing up for themselves really means that they are standing up for us all as union members." The Feb. 28 event also was Grable 's first rally. The 29-yearold trainee participated "because it was for a good cause: supporting our brothers and sisters of the United Steelworkers. The last time I was home in East Pawas, Mich. , I saw a lot of Steelworkers picketing on the Sinclair River because 50 percent of their jobs had been cut. The cause the Steelworkers currently are fighting for definitely is good because it will create more jobs for us and them in that area," he explained. "A lot of the steel that I will be working with in the future will be shipped on the Great Lakes," he added. "My presence at the rally made a difference because mine was another voice, my sign another sign, and my face was another face. And that's what its about- power in numbers." "I was proud to read in the papers that the bill has passed and that the Steelworkers at least got some of what they wanted, "Grable concluded. "It made me feel good that I was there, a part of what was going on and that the president heard our words of protests and took positive action." Arnold, Luedtke Seafarers Approve New Contracts "Significant strides were made in providing the highest benefit levels to members on the Great Lakes," noted Tom Orzechowski, SIU vice president Lakes and Inland Waters, in announcing the recently approved contracts with Arnold Transit Co. and Luedtke Engineering Co. The three-year agreement with Arnold Transit Co. (which operates the second oldest ferry company in the United States) runs from Feb. 1, 2002 through Jan. 31 , 2005. Ratification of the pact, which was negotiated by Orzechowski and SIU Rep Todd Brdak, was unanimous. Highlights include an increase in wages for each year of the contract, a raise in the health and benefit plan level, and maintenance of the uncapped wage-related pension plan contributions. Additionally- and for the first time-contributions were secured to allow SIU members to attend training and upgrading courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. "The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship was an issue for the members as well as the company," noted Orzechowski, "due to increased regulations that may soon apply to the Great Lakes. Training at the school will keep Arnold Transit Co. one of the safest and most efficient passenger ferry companies in the United States." The three-year pact with Luedtke Engineering Co. , which performs dredging and marine construction, runs from Jan. 1, 2002 through Dec. 31, 2004. A number of gains were negotiated by Orzechowski and SIU Algonac Port Agent Don Thornton. Seafarers will see a 3 percent wage increase for each year of the contract as well as a raise in the level of their health and benefit plan. "Luedtke Engineering, work- Keith Dufton is a pilot aboard the Straits Express, an Arnold Transit Co. passenger ferry, which runs between Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, Mich. ing in a specialized industry," stated Orzechowski, "sees the benefit of utilizing all aspects of the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship to keep Luedtke Engineering ahead of the curve in the industry." Apri/ 2002 �Container Security, Employee IDs Receive Congressional Attention Passed by the Senate in January, the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 was scheduled for mark-up by a House of Representatives panel late last month. Meanwhile, representatives from the White House, transportation industry and labor are continuing their march forward addressing concerns about the protection of America's maritime assets from terrorist attacks. Transportation employee credentials and marine container security were the focus of three recent congressional hearings in which representatives from this consortium participated. The House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on Feb. 13 investigated the implementation of a nationwide security system which requires transportation workers to hold secure identity cards. U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) chaired the proceedings. Secure Credentials "Our goal is to fashion a nationwide transportation worker identification solution that verifies the identity of transportation workers, validates their background information, assists transportation facilities in managing their security risks, and accounts for personnel access to transportation facilities and activities of authorized personnel," U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. James Underwood told the subcommittee as he gave details on the administration's objectives. Underwood serves as director of the Office oflntelligence and Security for the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Senate-approved Port and Maritime Security Act also mandates investigations and criminal history checks of certain individuals and prohibits a person from being employed in a security-sensitive position at a waterfront facility if previously convicted of certain crimes during a specific period. John Bowers, president of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), told the gathering that his union supports increased security on the waterfront, but cautioned against measures that would harass or harm innocent, honest employees. "The overwhelming majority of ILA-represented longshorepersons are hard-working, responsible family members and loyal citizens," he testified. "The standards for restricting access to facilities in this as in other industries must not be crafted in terms of any prior run-ins with the law that in essence have no realistic relationship to an individual's proclivities for committing terrorism or crimes of opportunity on the waterfront." The Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information's Feb. 26 hearing explored waging war against terrorism by pre-screening marine 'Emp/Oyinent Report Sends Mixed Signals AFL-CIO President Sweeney Cites 'Contradictory Economic Reality' The head of the AFL-CIO said that the U.S. employment report issued March 8 is a mixed bag. The document "continues to show the contradictory economic reality for working families," stated AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "There is good news in the drop in the February jobless rate to 5.5 percent and the slight rise in payroll employment. But the number of part-time workers who would rather work full time but cannot find full time jobs went up. The number of discouraged workers who stopped looking for work because they believe AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney says the nation's workers do not yet have confidence in an employment recovery. no jobs are available went up as well. And manufacturing continued its abysmal decline-1.3 million manufacturing jobs lost from a year ago." Sweeney added that other recent economic news has "painted a similarly mixed picture. Some indicators show a turnaround, such as a reduction in the pace of announced layoffs, rising factory orders, and a [slight increase] in construction spending. On the other hand, consumer confidence has dipped even with these reports." The federation president noted that the true measure of economic recovery is good jobs that pay enough to support families-jobs that provide stable benefits and promote economic security. "For families out of work or struggling to find full-time work, abstract indicators do not decree a real economic or employment recovery," he concluded. "Those workers need a reversal in the decline in manufacturing, an increase in the minimum wage, a national budget that improves worker protections and benefits, a functioning unemployment insurance system and affordable health care. The recession will be over for them when they feel it on the job and in the pocketbook, and when politicians put working families first." containers at foreign ports of origin rather than at destination ports. Committee Chairwoman Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) voiced concerns that bribes accepted abroad could invalidate the prescreening process at nonU. S. ports. "Our protection lies in our own port structure," she said. U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert endorsed origin-point prescreening as an avenue for preventing destructive devices from reaching ports in the U.S . "We are working jointly with U.S. Customs, exporters, importers, carriers and governments to establish business and security practices which will push the nation's virtual borders outward to the point of loading of the containers," Schubert said. "Security must be established before the vessel carrying the container or cargo begins its international travel." Bonni Tischler echoed Captain Schubert's position on originpoint prescreening during her address to the committee. Tischler is assistant commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service. "As the primary agency for cargo security, I believe U.S. Customs should know everything there is to know about a container headed for this country before it leaves a foreign port . . . for an American port," she said. "Customs wants that container prescreened there, not here." Several other officials from different segments of the industry also testified. More on Containers The House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation heard further container security testimony March 13. Photo by James R. Tourtellotte Containerships account for almost one-third of the estimated 60,000 annual U.S. port calls. World Shipping Council President Christopher Koch told the committee that there must be a unified, coordinated strategy to address container security. The real challenge with container security, he said, is to build on the efforts of the Coast Guard and Customs Service in the postSeptember 11 environment to create a more complete, unified and permanent set of security procedures and systems that can better ensure the safety of America's foreign trade. Koch said America should lead the way in building a permanent system but of course cannot extend security to foreign ports and places without the participation and agreement of other nations. Concurring with Koch, Brian Maher told the committee, "The best method of achieving better container security is to have the port of origin or shipper certify the contents of the container before it is loaded on a ship bound for the United States." Maher is president of Maher Terminals, which represents the National Association of Waterfront Employers and the United States Maritime Alliance. "In return," he continued, "this country would have to implement a similar system for our cargo destined for foreign markets." The involvement of shippers, marine terminals or other designated entities may be required for this type of arrangement, he testified. Adm. Collins Cont irmed to Direct USCG Vice Admiral Thomas H. Collins has been chosen to become the next commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. President Bush on Feb. 6 revealed the nomination, and Collins last month was confirmed by the Senate. He becomes the 22nd individual to occupy the Coast Guard's highest post. Collins, who had his confirmation hearing March 19 in the Senate, served as the agency's vice commandant, a position he has held since June 2000. Previously, the Stoughton, Mass. native worked for two years as the agency's commander of both the Pacific Area and the Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, Calif. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta applauded the nomination. "Admiral Collins reflects the best leadership traits of the dedicated men and women of the United States Coast Guard. He is the right person to lead the modern Coast Guard through today's challenges to tomorrow's promise of a safer, more secure American coastline and maritime transportation system," Mineta stated. "Tom Collins brings a combination of scholarly intelligence, practical experience at sea, and Washington policy expertise to the critical job of commandant at a time when the Coast Guard is facing a host of new missions," Secretary Mineta continued. "I look forward to working with . " hlill. Collins will relieve the current commandant, Adm. James M. Loy, who has served in the post since May 1998. A change-ofcommand ceremony is planned for May 30 in Washington, D.C. Loy-a 42-year Coast Guard veteran-plans to officially retire during the ceremony. Collins graduated from the Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., in 1968 and served as a faculty member there from 1972-76. He earned a master of arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1972 and a master of business administration from the University of New Haven, Conn., in 1976. The admiral began his Coast Guard career in 1968. During his first assignment, he was a deck watch officer and first lieutenant aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. Later, he completed a two-year tour as commanding officer of the patrol boat Cape Morgan in Charleston, S.C. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thomas H. Collins From 1980-83, Collins served as deputy group commander in St. Petersburg, Fla., and he was captain of the port, Long Island Sound, from 1987-90. Collins served as chief of the office of acquisition at Coast Guard headquarters from 1994-96. The admiral's military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (three awards). Seafarers LOS 5 �MlETRADESDEPARlMENf Key Support Voiced For MSP, Jones Act Members of Congress and the administration, expressing strong backing for the U.S. maritime industry, described the merchant marine as practical and vital to national defense. During the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meetings in New Orleans, U.S. Reps. William Jefferson (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La. ), Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert and former Maritime Administrator Vice Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.) explained how the nation benefits from a strong U.S. fleet. They particularly were adamant about the need to extend and expand the Maritime Security Program (MSP), which helps ensure availability of militarily useful U.S.flag commercial vessels in times of war or national emergency. 'The Maritime Security Program has been a success," stated Jefferson. "MSP has delivered for our nation by keeping the U.S. flag on the high seas and helping maintain a presence in international commerce while strengthening our pool of skilled marine workers and marine crews. I want to make sure that it is not only extended, but it is also expanded -that it gets extended perhaps not just for 10 years but for a longer period. That includes more ships and more workers and a more secure nation for us in the future." Jefferson also focused on the U.S. Rep. David Vitter (R-La.) 6 Seafarel'S LOB need "to make sure that our tax laws that pertain to U.S.-flag commercial vessels are modernized and rationalized and that they give opportunity for U.S. crews and the U.S. merchant fleet to be competitive." Among other steps, he supports "granting American merchant mariners working on U.S.-flag vessels in the foreign trade the same exclusion from taxation on the first $80,000 of income as is available to every other U.S. citizen working overseas." Jones Act, 11lle XI Other maritime agreements also are valuable for our nation, noted Vitter, including the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program and the Jones Act, which requires that goods transported between domestic ports are carried aboard vessels that are built, flagged, crewed and owned U.S. "The Jones Act is important on the economic side, but it is also vitally important for national defense because we need to maintain that industrial base," Vitter stated. "It allows us to maintain, throughout peace time, that key industrial base which we need in times of crisis like today. It also bas a positive national economic benefit of over $15 billion annually (contributed to the economy)." Title XI, he said, has received undue criticism. "The program has a very strong financial record," Vitter pointed out. "It Former Maritime Administrator Vice Adm. Al Herberger (USN-ret.) has one of the lowest default rates of any government loan program: 3 percent. It is a tremendous help to the maritime industry and maritime workers, and it's crucial for small and medium-size ship operating companies to secure commercial financing on reasonable terms." He reported that applications are pending for six double-hull tankers and a chemical tanker, and described "potential for 20 to 40 double-hull offshore shuttle tankers, along with many, many other opportunities that · significantly depend on the Title XI program. "Since fiscal year 1993, over $4 billion in commercial ship construction has been generated through commercial loan guarantees under Title XI," he concluded. "It's vital to helping preserve the industrial base which we need, even in peace time, in case we need it in war time for national defense." Jet-Fuel Inell nfty Schubert illustrated the challenge of revitalizing the U.S. fleet. During America's current military engagement in Afghanistan, foreign-flag tonnage bas been chartered to carry jet fuel ultimately bound for American military planes "because there weren't any product tankers available in that part of the world. We're talking about moving jet fuel into some of the most secure places in the world on foreignflag ships with unknown crew members on board, in terms of where they came from." Citing the security risk, MarAd and the Coast Guard "worked together, and we're going to be announcing, very soon, steps to make it a lot less bureaucratic and less expensive MTD Pres. Michael Sacco (left) welcomes Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert to the MTD executive board meetings last month in New Orleans. Schubert said U.S. maritime unions provide "a key voice in the industry." to reflag some ships to fill that gap," Schubert said. Sizing up the U.S. fleet, he stated, "We cannot change the worldwide shipping recession facing fleets across the globe, but we can help to level the playing field for our U.S.-flag operators so that we can encourage the profitability of our fleet." The maritime administrator, who described U.S. maritime unions as "a key voice in the industry," said that while extending the MSP is important, "we also need to address the manpower issues that could potentially cripple a large-scale, sustained overseas conflict like the Persian Gulf War. Addressing this problem is one of my highest priorities and we bope rto soon release more comprehensive and fully accurate databases of licensed and unlicensed mariners." Equal Treatment Herberger served as maritime administrator during the Clinton administration, and since then has remained an ardent backer of the nation's merchant marine. Last month, he said the maritime industry deserves greater support in Washington. "We are a proven defense industry. We should get the same attention that some of the others get," he stated. "There's little hesitation to continue subsidies for the farmers, airlines, other defense industries. But we start talking about the maritime industry, and somebody pops up and says, 'That's corporate greed.' Nobody looks behind it to see how valuable it is in terms of our ability to stay both in the economic and in the defense arena." Herberger also reminded the audience that America's national defense requires maintaining a strong U.S. fleet, because "there will not be time to build additional ships, recruit and train mariners or shipyard workers or skilled dockworkers" in times of conflict. "The success of future battles or campaigns will depend upon the U.S. capability to project major military forces, just as it has been throughout our history," be contin~ed. "The lJ1§ ~e~- j chant Manne-all parts o It -Is the fourth arm of defense. That title was given by General Eisenhower himself, right after the World War II victory in Europe, and it still applies today." He added that America needs "a new and larger MSP. The commercial fleet portion of our strategic sealift is the only element that can provide, in an efficient and cost-effective way, the sustainment capability [required for military success]. And it's also the only element that provides the most important element: the skilled mariner manpower. There are no other sources for that. It's just so apparent to me that the value is there." The AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department consists of 30 affiliate unions (including the SIU) representing an estimated 7 .5 million members. Those unions participate in 24 port maritime councils located throughout the U.S. and Canada. The articles on this page and page 7 are based on remarks presented Feb. 21-22 during the MTD executive board meeting in New Orleans. Apri/2002 �<. . . . . . . . . . . ES DEPARTMENT Port, Shipboard Security Take on New Urgency MTD Pres. Michael Sacco (left) greets Coast Guard Port Security Director Capt. Tony Regalbuto. It has been said again and again that "everything changed" on September 11, and while the literal application of that twoword phrase is open to quibbling, there's no doubt that the maritime industry faces major shakeups. In broad terms, the task is to ensure security in U.S. ports, including aboard the vessels that account for approximately 60,000 annual port calls in this country. -.~ al6rtg i appen 1s both complex and urgent, according to several speakers at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meetings in New Orleans. "It doesn't take a lot of imagination to think what could happen with the kinds of materials that we know come in and out of our ports in thousands and thousands of ways, through containers as well as other ways," stated ·u.s. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). "Our technology has not really caught up yet, nor has, I think, our political will or our vision with meeting that challenge." Landrieu urged the MTD and its affiliates to" stay involved in the process of identifying and implementing new security methods-an undertaking that began almost immediately after the attacks on America. "There are challenges as well as opportunities for this industry in this post 9-11 world, with security front and center on all our minds," she noted. "I hope that this industry and all of you-the labor leaders and other leaders who understand the maritime industry- will realize that there are some tremendous opportunities (for input with the government). And I am going to do my very best to make sure that whatever decisions are made, you all have a seat at the table and your voice is heard." U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (RTexas) pointed out that port security legislation already has passed in the Senate and is being considered in the House. The Port and Maritime Security Act has been referred to three House committees- Armed Services; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Apri/2002 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation-because certain provisions fall within their respective jurisdictions. He said that the bill seemingly would improve communication between the many maritime entities. "We've got a hundred different Washington and federal agencies to deal with maritime, in one way or the other, plus the state, plu~ _ the port, plus the local agencies," Brady stated. t'This bill sets up port security committees to coordinate better between all these agencies. These committees would hopefully help everyone work together better." Another key component of the legislation, he said, "would mandate that all ports have a comprehensive security plan. It requires that ports limit access to securitysensitive areas and that includes an evacuation plan and background checks on everyone that works in those areas. "It also requires ships to electronically send their cargo manifest to port before they gain clearance to enter and prohibits unloading of improperly documented cargo," he continued. "The bill improves the reporting of crew members, passengers and imported cargo to better track suspicious activity. It creates a sea marshal program that more specifically .authorizes the Coast Guard to board and deter hijackings and other terrorist threats. It directly grants about $700 million to help the ports build new infrastructure [and gain] new inspectors, agents, screening and detection equipment." U.S. Coast Guard Director of Port Security <;apt. Tony R~gal­ buto detailed his agency's actions U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) since Sept. 11 aimed at improving security. They included requiring longer advanced notice of ship arrivals and more information about crews, as well as implementing boarding parties, among many other steps. Regalbuto said that it will take international cooperation to effectively address maritime security. "We want to work in partnership in developing regulations throughout the world. We're going to have better success in some parts of the world than others, but if they don't set the bar high enough, internationally, then we will unilaterally do the right thing for our country." He referred to newspaper reports which estimate that al Qaeda is operating anywhere from 13 to 20 ships, yet "internationally, we don 't have a good indicator as to who is the owner and (front) operator of those ships. Ideally, what we want to do is link the people, the cargo and the vessels, and even the shippers, back to terrorist groups and criminal activity." Nevertheless, Regalbuto underscored the need for strong efforts beginning in the U.S. "Fourteen out of every 15 ships coming into the United States are foreign flag. So, in my mind that raises some concerns right off the bat," he said. "Because we really don't know about the people, the cargo and the vessels that are coming into our country. "We need everybody to be a sensor out there and to report any suspicious behavior. This is not one person's job, it is everybody's job in the United States." Emphasis on Organizing Gulf Campaign Illustrates Importance, Challenge Delivered in a region that is home to an intense campaign involving "oil patch" mariners, labor officials' comments about organizing and solidarity seemed especially resonant during the MTD meetings in New Orleans. Echoing the need to organize were AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka; Louisiana AFL-CIO President John "Red" Bourg; Torbjorn Teigland, vice president of the Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Workers Union; and Jean Marc Barrey, secretary general of the CFDT Maritime Union of France. "I commend you for your efforts," Trumka said to those involved in the Gulf mariner campaign, including U.S. maritime unions and delegations Jean Marc Barrey, secretary general, CFDT Maritime Union of France Louisiana AFL-CIO Pres. John "Red" Bourg (right) had a simple message: "Organize, organize, organize!" MTD Pres. Michael Sacco (center) and MTD VP Ernie Whelan applaud his arrival. from overseas. "I think you have done a marvelous, marvelous job. It's hard work. There's no shortcut to it. It costs literally tons of money. And you're up against some of the nastiest anti-union companies and anti-union law firms anywhere in the world." Teigland and Barrey said the Gulf mariners who are seeking union representation can count on their continued support. "We share our solidarity with your struggle for trade union rights," stated Teigland. "Trade unions have long traditions of giving support to each other across the seas and national borders. We would like to build on those long traditions and underline the importance of stronger interna- tional trade union ties and solidarity in a world that becomes smaller and smaller." Barrey noted that, during a tour of Houma, La. the previous day, the foreign group was "shocked'' by anti-union billboards "saying that unions are the source of all evil .... Simply, you should know that on an international level, the organization I represent stands by you in this campaign." Bourg's colorful speech included a recap of the long, ultimately successful fight to organize workers at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans. Though the latest effort began in the early 1990s, other attempts date much further back. "The first project I Torbjorn Teigland, VP, Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Workers Union had as a staff member of the state AFL-CIO was to organize Avondale. That was in 1967," Bourg said. The triumphant outcome provides hope for those involved in Continued on page 10 Seafarers LOS 7 �Coming Full Circle What a Difference 15 Like many high school graduates, Chris Fox headed straight for college. But after hearing from a couple friends who had been through the trainee program at Piney Point, Fox suspended his studies and headed for the southern Maryland training facility. It was there, in 1979, that he graduated from class 293. He was scheduled to catch his first ship in January 1980. But one month before that- Dec. 16, 1979, to be exact-there was a GSU opening out of Boston. The ship was the LNG Virgo, and Fox was on it. For the 19-year-old native of Waltham, Mass., working in the galley wasn't his idea of a real good time. A rotation in the deck department, however, changed all that, and Fox was hooked on the life of a Seafarer. He took advantage of the upgrading opportunities available at Piney Point and completed his AB endorsement and then, in 1988, got his third mate's license. He credits Bobby Selzer (now New York port agent) with always being there to help and point him in the right direction, even after he got his license. After his SIU days were over, he joined the American Maritime Officers union and worked as a third mate, second mate or chief mate aboard tankers. In 1994, after only 15 years in the indus- try, Fox captained his first vessel, the Cove Trader. "It's good to be king," Fox kidded, when asked how it felt to captain his first ship. But having worked his way up from the bottom, he knows both sides of shipboard life. "Everybody has a job to do," he stated, "but we try to have fun, too." Fun includes such things as organized softball games with the crew members of other vessels in the Indonesia-to-Japan run. Just recently, Fox, now 42, was captain aboard the LNG Virgo, the very ship on which he made his first voyage. It used to be operated by Energy Transportation Corp. and is now operated by Pronav- but the vessel is the same. After a short vacation of skiing and relaxing on Cape Cod, Fox will rejoin the LNG Virgo or the LNG Libra in Indonesia. Fox is grateful to the SIU for opening the door to his seagoing career. He is proof of the results of the excellent programs available to all Seafarers at the Paul Hall Center and urges SIU members to take advantage of the school every chance they get. "We must all keep a close watch on American shipping," the captain stated, "as we are being attacked from all angles. American seamen are the best in the world, and we should be proud of it." Deter1nined Seafarer Earns Mate's License Earning a mate's license is a notable accomplishment, but it is particularly worth mentioning in the case of one Philadelphia Seafarer who recently passed the test. That's because, in securing her license, Stella Zebrowski joined a select few women who have advanced that far in the merchant marine. "There are some female mates, but not too many," notes Zebrowski, a 1982 graduate of the trainee program at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. "It's a small percentage, though it's starting to grow. And there certainly are more women in the industry, compared to when I started. It's not uncommon now to have two or three women sailing on a ship." Zebrowski has sailed in both the inland and deep sea divisions, including time working for Maritrans, Crowley and McAllister. She has upgraded numerous times at the Paul Hall Center (including all of the prep work for the mate's exam) and plans to stick with the SIU, sailing inland. SIU Retiree Stanley Zebrowski, Stella's father, also sailed in the union's deep sea and inland divisions for more than 30 years, from the early 1950s until 1983. He is understandably pleased by his daughter's most recent accomplishment and her overall career. "I'm very proud of her, so proud. She learned more than I ever did," Stanley Zebrowski, 80, said with a chuckle. "If the opportunity is there, you might as well take advantage. I know the school has good teachers, and you can learn anything you want to." Stella Zebrowski says she has stuck with her chosen profession "because of the money and the benefits, and the opportunities to upgrade and advance. The opportunities are there-the union B Seafarers LOB Years Makel gives them to you, and the school gives them to you." Studying at Piney Point for the mate's license reinforced her already strong belief in the school. "It was tough, but the instructors helped me a lot. They do a really good job." She adds that she hopes her experience may give confidence to other women as they enter the industry. "I've advanced, and I know other women can do it, too. It may be a little intimidating, but you've got to put your mind to it. "I'd also like to thank (SIU President) Mike Sacco for having faith in me," Zebrowski adds. "He motivated me, and without him I wouldn't be where I am today." Stella Zebrowski has advanced from trainee to mate. "I know other women can do it, too," she says. Captain Chris Fox (right) accepts the gift of a lucky doll from a Japanese representative after taking the LNG Virgo into the port of Kawagoe, Japan for the first time in the history of the LNG vessels. A reception on the bridge helped commemorate the new port of call. Recertified Steward Gamen New Honor, Credits Piney Point As Recertified Steward Brandon Maeda steadily climbs upward on the culinary ladder, he appreciates more and more the steadying influence of the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Augmenting his vocational training with the SIU, Maeda recently earned recognition from the highly regarded American Culinary Federation (ACF) as a certified chef de cuisine. This is believed to be the first time that the ACF awarded such an endorsement to a mariner working solely on commercial cargo vessels. In any case, Maeda says the support he has received from Paul Hall Center instructorsparticularly Chef Ed Whitegreatly aided him throughout the long process of becoming acertified chef. "Using the tools and opportunities provided by this union to construct a better life for myself and family has been the greatest reward." "His support was invaluable," Maeda said of White, who initially encouraged the Seafarer to join the ACF in 1992. "There were college-level books, exams to study for, and of course the big 'C.C.C.' test itself. Chef White was always there to coach and assist me whenever it was necessary." The hard work paid off. Using a shared system that essentially functions as a ranking mechanism, culinary associations assign a wide range of categories for chefs and cooks. Experience, skill and knowledge are factors in attaining the various designations (such as third cook, specialty chef, executive chef, etc.). Certified chef de cui- Recertified Steward Brandon Maeda (right) credits Chef Ed White, a Paul Hall Center instructor, with helping prepare him to earn the certified chef de cuisine credentials displayed in this photo. sine, the rank achieved by Maeda, is one of the uppermost titles. Maeda notes that he is hardly the only Seafarer to secure certification through ACF or through other professional culinary associations. "Many come into the SIU with certifications, and still more earn them on cruise ships. Still, I'm happy to finally get this little piece of paper." While Maeda sets his sites on another goal-becoming certified as an executive chef--even as he continues sailing with the SIU, he remains thankful for the times he has upgraded at the Paul Hall Center, based in Piney Point, Md. "All of the instructors have my undying respect and gratitude," he declares. "They are a credit to their profession. "I have always thought highly of the school and its purpose for being," he continued. "Mainly, training and educating those who would otherwise have no such opportunities. For myself, using the tools and opportunities provided by this union to construct a better life for myself and family has been the greatest reward. We should all keep learning, growing and upgrading." The ACF was founded in 1929 in New York City. It is a non-profit association which bills itself as "the largest and most prestigious organization dedicated to professional chefs in the United States today." April2002 �Diverse Group Discovers Common Path to Success Stewards Say Union, School Are Winning Combo One by one, the union's newest class of recertified stewards accepted their graduation certificates at the March 4 membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. As they addressed their fellow Seafarers, the graduates described how they had seized the career opportunities available through the SIU and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Diverse in many ways, the group nonetheless shared the belief that the union and the school offer viable means to worthwhile vocations at sea. Successfully completing the one-month course were Veronika Cardenas, Darryl Goggins, McKinley Jones, James Kidd Jr., Rolando Lopez, Thomas Milovich, Nelson Morales, Leticia Perales, John Platts, Edward Tully and James Willey (who provided several photos accompanying this story). The class is the Paul Hall Center's top curriculum for members of the steward department. It includes fire fighting and basic safety training, a range of lessons in the galley facilities, meetings with SIU department representatives, and other studies. Turning Point Tully, who sails from the port of Baltimore, said that joining the school's unlicensed appretice program in 1992 marked a turning point for him. "Before then, I was lost in life, had no job and no future," he recalled. ''Now I have a new car, a house and other things. The SIU helped me get where I am today, and I give thanks for it." For Perales (port of Houston), sailing has been a good fit from the beginning. A 1979 graduate of the trainee program, Perales summarized her time with the union this way: "It's been fun, it's been great, I have no complaints!" She also noted the numerous improvements at the school that have taken place throughout the years. Addressing the membership next was Morales (San Juan, P.R.), a Seafarer for the past 28 years. He complimented the Paul Hands-on training is a key part of most Paul Hall Center courses, including steward recertification. In these three photos, students hone their skills at the fire fighting and safety school, in the galley and in the computer lab. Hall Center staff, and described the overall facilities as "among the best in the world. My experience in Piney Point was good and very interesting." Jones (Norfolk, Va.) described himself as "living proof that this is the best school in the nation." He said he has upgraded six times in a 14-year career, "and each time I'm here, there's something new, whether it's the fire fighting school, the new hotel (annex) or some other improvement." Like Morales, Jones also urged his fellow Seafarers to contribute to SPAD. The union's newest class of recertified stewards joins SIU officials after last month's membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. (top photo) and, earlier in the course, takes a quick pause in the lecture/demonstration galley (below). 1 Great Organlzatien' Cardenas (Tacoma) began sailing in 1983. "It has been a pleasure to work for this great organization," she stated. "Our union will be even greater with the hard work we must put into it. As for the school, it is wonderful, and everyone helps a lot." Goggins (Jacksonville, Fla.) said he especially enjoyed the computer classes and learning more about the SIU. A frequent upgrader and 22-year Seafarer, Goggins said the Paul Hall Center "is a great school for maritime and for young people. I definitely would recommend it." Lopez (San Francisco), a Navy veteran, said the recertification class "made me more aware of the inner workings, how the SIU functions-everything from contracts to the health, vacation and pension programs. It also made me more knowledgeable about dealing with shipboard emergencies." He added that Piney Point "offers a relaxed environment. It's a good place to get away from the rigors of sea life. The facility and the curriculum are all excellent." Platts (Jacksonville) went more than 30 years between visits to Piney Point, but he, too, said the initial trip helped put him on the right course. "I came to this school in the late 1960s, and I was a bad boy then," he said. "Before, I was always in trouble. Now, I have a family and I'm doing just great. I thank the SIU and the school officials and staff. The union truly helped me change my life." Encouraging Words Nearly all the stewards directed some of their respective comments toward the unlicensed apprentices in attendance, encouraging them to stick with the program. The remarks of Willey (Tacoma) were representative of the others'. "This is the greatest opportunity for you to go as far and as high as you set your sights in this industry," he declared. "From OS to captain, from wiper to chief engineer. Study hard, ask questions when you are at sea during phase II-and if you don't understand the answer, ask again." He added, "The union has always been there for me, and I have always had a job. I thank the SIU, its officers, the school and its staff for their efforts." Also addressing the apprentices, Milovich (Brooklyn, N.Y.) stated, "Remember that this is a union-a whole from the sum of its parts. The SIU is a testament to strength and diversity, and the school has been the biggest part of my success. I appreciate all the opportunities and thank our officials for looking out for our best interests." Wrapping up the graduation was Kidd (Baltimore), who completed the trainee program in 1993. Speaking to today's apprentices, he said, "Listen to your supervisors, do the best job you can and ask questions. And then get back here and upgrade." Finding time to support fellow trade unionists, James Willey (center, with sign above head) and other Seafarers demonstrate in Washington, D.C. for Steelworkers. Apri/2002 Seafarers LOS 9 �Merchant Mariners Included in Veterans History Project The varied contributions of thousands of U.S. Merchant Mariners, including those chronicled by multitudes of veterans from the armed forces during our nation's wars, soon will be given the praise they merit, thanks to an endeavor led by the U.S. Library of Congress. Hailed as the Veterans History Project, the effort's aim is to afford veterans-and those who served in support of them and with them- the recognition they are due by creating a lasting legacy of their wartime service, memories, accounts and documents for future generations. The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) on Feb. 12 became part of the venture. The project will cover World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War. It will include representation for all participants of those hostilities-men and women, civilian and military. "We are pleased to endorse the Veterans History Project and become a partner with the Library of Congress and its American Folklife Center in this important effort," Maritime Administrator Capt. William G. Schubert said. "It is important to all veterans, but especially so to merchant marine veterans of World War II whose heroic service is too often overlooked." Including merchant mariners, there are 19 million war veterans living in the United States today, according to the Department of Veterans' Affairs . Every day, however, 1,500 of them die. Motivated by the urgent need to collect the stories and experi- First-Time MMD Applicants Must Take Oath in Person First-time applicants for merchant mariner's licenses and merchant mariner's documents (MMDs) now must be sworn in before a designated U.S. Coast Guard official before being issued their credentials. According to Coast Guard Policy Letter 05-02 dated Jan. 14, this new requirement became necessary in light of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Individuals must appear in person for validation of their identity. The guidance emphasized that the change applies only to applicants seeking MMDs or licenses for the first time. Oaths are not required for renewals or upgrades. In another change, certified notary publics no longer may administer the required oaths for original licenses or certificates of registry. Oaths to applicants for licenses and certificates of registry may be administered by: • Officers m charge, Marine Inspection ences of war veterans while they are still alive, the United States Congress on Oct. 27, 2000 unanimously passed legislation to create the Veterans History Project. Public Law 106-380-sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind (D-Wis. ), Amo Houghton (R-N.Y.) and Steny Hoyer (DMd.) in the House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland (D-Ga.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)-charged the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to collect and preserve audiotaped and videotaped oral histories, along with documentary materials such as letters, diaries, maps, photographs and home movies, of America's war veterans and those who served in support of them. According to the Library of Congress, the goals of the project are: Offices (OCMI) • Commissioned and warrant officers of the U.S. Coast Guard assigned to duty in a regional examination center, and • Other officials employed by the Coast Guard, either civilian or military, who are authorized in writing by the OCMI to administer such oaths. Included are Coast Guard auxiliary personnel while they are engaged in official Coast Guard duties. First-time applicants for MMDs must swear oaths in the presence of: • OCMis, or • Commissioned officers of the U.S. Coast Guard authorized to administer oaths under the United States Code, or • Other officials employed by the Coast Guard, either military or civilian, who are authorized to administer oaths. The foregoing modifications will be incorporated into the Marine Safety Manual. • To stimulate opportumt1es for public learning, by inviting, advising, and supporting individuals and groups as participants in the Veterans History Project. • To engage veterans associations, military organizations, institutions of higher learning, historical societies, civic groups, and ongoing veterans' oral history projects as partners in the effort to identify, interview, and collect documents from war veterans and their supporters. • To preserve and present the collected materials to the public, through the National Digital Library Program, exhibitions, publications, and public programs. • To identify existing and ongoing veterans' oral history programs and archives, and recognize and work with them to International Solidarity Voiced to MTD Continued from page 7 the current drive, Bourg noted. Avondale workers secured union representation in December 2000, and early this year "54 people who had been fired because of union activity were put back on the payroll with back pay," he said. "If we're going to move this state in the right direction, we have got to organize, organize, organize!" Bourg added. Trumka pointed out that despite increased emphasis on organizing by the AFL-CIO and many of its affiliates, "we're still barely holding our own as a percentage of the American workforce. The truth is, we need bigger numbers if we're going to help workers speak with a stronger and stronger voice. To NOnCE TO INTERESTED PARTIES I. Notice to: All Participants of the Pension Fund ("the Fund") An application is to be made to the Internal Revenue Service for an advance determination on the quallfica. tion of the Restated Plan of the following pension ben- efit plan: 2. Name of Plan: MCS Supplementary Pension Plan 3. Plan Number: 001 4. Name and Address of Applicant: Board of Trustees MCS Supplementary Pension Plan 520 l Autb. Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 5. Applicant EIN 51-6097856 6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator: Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator MCS Supplementary Petision Plan 520 l Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 7. The application will be filed before February 28, 2002 with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue Service, at: EP Determinations Internal Revenue Service :P.0.Box 192 Covington, KY 41012-0192 For an advance detennination as to whether the plan meets the qualification requirements of section 401 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to the plan's qualification. 8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan are: All employees working in job clas ifications for which contributions are required to be made to the Fund pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. 9. The Internal Revenue Service bas previously issued a determination letter with respect to the qualification of this plan. RIQll1'S OF INYERESTED PAR11ES 10. You have the right to submit to the EP Determinations, at the above address, either individually or jointly with other interested parties, your comments as to whether this pl.an meets the qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. You may instead, individually or jointly with other interested parties, request the Department of Labor to submit., on your behalf, comments to the Key District Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the Department declines to comment on all or some of the io Seafarers LOS matters you raise, you may, individually, or jointly if your request was made to the Department jointly, submit your comments on these mauers directly to the Key District Director. REQUESTS AIR wans " THE DEPAR1llEll1' OF LAIOB 11. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf of the interested parties wi.less requested to do so by the lesser of 10 employees or 10 percent of the employees who qualify as interested parties. The number of persons needed for the Department to comment with respect to this plan is JO. If you request the Department to comment, your request must be in writing and must specify lhe matters upon which comments are requested, and must also include: (a) the information contained in items 2 through 5 of this Notice; and (b) the number of persons needed for the Department to comment. A request to the Department to comment should be addressed as follows: Deputy Assistant Secretary Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration ATTN: 300 l Comment Request U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 COMMENTS TO 111£ lffTERllAL REVEJIUf SERVICE 12. Comments submitted by you to the EP Determinations must be in writing and received by him by April 15, 2002. However, if there are m11tters that you request the Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf, and the Department declines, you may submit comments on these matters to the Key District Director to be received by him within 15 days from tb.e time the Department notifies you that it will not comment on a particular matter. or by April 15, 1995, whichever is l11ter. but not after May 1. 2002. ADDmoNAL INFORMATION Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notification of interested parties may be found in Revenue Procedure 2001-6. Additional infonnation concerning this application (including, where applicable, an updated copy of the plan and related trust; the application for determination; any additional documents dealing with the application that was submitted to the IRS; and copies of Revenue Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices of the Fund, during the hours of9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for inspection and copyirtg. (There is a nominal fee for copying and/or mailing.) expand the Library's Veterans History Project initiative. • To create a comprehensive, searchable national catalog of all oral histories and other documentation collected as a result of this project. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta serves on the Veterans History Project's FiveStar Council, a group of prominent leaders invited by the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington to provide counsel to the Veterans History Project and bring it increased visibility nationwide. MarAd will send information about the Veterans History Project to maritime unions, museums, industry associations, educational institutions and merchant marine veterans' organizations. The agency also will post information on its web site and provide a link to the Library of Congress site. succeed, we're going to have to bring in almost a million members every single year." Trurnka said that the way to advance working families' agenda "is with the clout that comes with far more members working harder, and not just at their jobs but in the legislative and political arenas. The way to slow the tide of good jobs leaving our shore is with the increased clout that it takes to enact trade laws that respect the rights of workers instead of protecting the profits of business. And the way to stop the union-busting tactics of business, to protect workers' pensions from more Enrons, to secure the right of every worker to health care is by mobilizing our numbers and putting in public office people who understand the needs of working people." NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES 1. Notice to: All Participants of the Pension Fund ("the Fund") An application is to be made to the Internal Revenue Service for an advance determination on the qualification of the Restated Plan of the following pension benefit plan: 2. Name of Plan: Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan 3. Plan Number: 001 4. Name and Address of Applicant: Board of Trustees Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 S. Applicant EIN 13-1953878 6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator: Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 7. The application will be filed before February 28, 2002 with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue Service, at: EP Determinations Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 192 Covington, KY 41012-0192 For an advance determination as to whether the plan meets the qualification requirements of section 40J(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to the plan 's qualification. 8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan are: All employees working in job classifications for which contributions are required to be made to the Fund pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. 9. The Internal Revenue Service has previously issued a determination letter with respect to the qualification of this plan. RIGHTS OF INIEREmD PARTIES l 0. You have the right to submit to the EP Determinations, at the above address , either individually or jointly with other interested parties, your comments as lo whether this plan meets the qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. You may instead, individually or jointly with other interested parties, request the Department of Labor to submit, on your behalf, comments to the Key District Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the Department declines to comment on all or some of the matters you raise, you may, individually, or jointly if your request was made to the Department jointly, submit your comments on these matters directly to the Key District Director. REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS BY THE DEPARtllEllT OF LABOR 11. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf of the interested parties unless requested to do so by the lesser of 10 employees or 10 percent of the employees who qualify as interested parties. The number of persons needed for the Department to comment with respect to this plan is 10. If you request the Department to comment, your request must be in writing and must specify the matters upon which comments are requested, and must also include: (a) the information contained in items 2 through S of this Notice; and (b) the number of persons needed for the Department to comment. A request to the Department to comment should be addressed as follows: Deputy Assistant Secretary Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration ATIN: 3001 Comment Request U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 COMMENTS TU THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE 12 . Comments submitted by you to the EP Determinations must be in writing and received by him by April 15, 2002 . However, if there are matters that you request the Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf, and the Department declines, you may submit comments on these matters to the Key District Director to be received by him within 15 days from the time the Department notifies you that it will not comment on a particular matter, or by April 15, 1995, whichever is later, but not after May 1, 2002. ADDmONAL INFORMATION Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notification of interested parties may be found in Revenue Procedure 2001-6. Additional information concerning this application (including, where applicable, an updated copy of the plan and related trust; the application for determination; any additional documents dealing with the application that was submitted to the IRS ; and copies of Revenue Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices of the Fund, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for inspection and copying. (There is a nominal fee for copying and/or mailing.) Apri/2002 �rtOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES 1. otlce to: All Participants Fund") of lhe Ptnsion Fund ("the An application is to he made to the Internal Revenue Service for: an advance deter:mination on the qualification of the Restated Plan of the following pension benefit plan: 2. Name of Plan: Sea.farer& Money Purchase Pension 4. Name and Address of Applicant: Board of Trustees Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 5. Applicant EIN 52-1994914 (a) the information contained in items 2 through 5 of this otice: and 6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator: Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (b) the number of persons needed for the Department to commenl A request to the Department to comment should be addressed as follows: 7. The application wiU be filed before February 28, 2002 with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue Service, at: Deputy Assistant Secretary Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration ATTN: 300 l Comment Request U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 EP Determinations Internal Revenue Service P,O.Box 192 Covington, KY 41012--0192 For an advance determination as to whether the plan meets the qualification requirements of section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to the plan's qualification. 8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan are; All employees working in job classifications for which contributions are required to be made to the Fund pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. 9. The Internal Revenue Service has previously issued a deteanination letter with respect to the qualification of tbisplan. ' REQUESTS FOR COMMQTS BY 1HE DEPAR'IMENT OF LABOR 11. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf of the interested parties unless requested to do so by the lesser of JO employees or 10 percent of the employees who qualify as interested parties. The nwnber of persons needed for the Department to comment with respect to this plan is 10. If you request tbe Department to comment, your request must be in writing and must specify the matters upon which comments are requested, and must also include: Plan 3. Plan Number. 001 .,. matters you raise, you may, individually. or jointly if your request was made to the Department jointly, submit your comments on these matters directly to the Key District Director. COMMfliTS 10 m UMRllAL REVENUE Si8VICE 12. Comments submitted by yon to the EP Determinations must be in writing and received by him by Apri.l 15, 2002. However, if there are matters that you request the Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf, and the Department declines, you may submit comments on these matters to the Key District Director to be received by him within 15 days from the time the Department notifies you that it will not comment on a particular matter, or by April IS, 1995, whichever is later, but not after May I, 2002. RIGHIS OF llTEllES'l'ED PARYIES ADDmOIAl INfORMATIOlt 10. You have the rigbt to submit to the EP Determinations, at the above address, either individually or jointly with other interested parties, your comments as to whether this plan meets the qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notification of interested parties may be found in Revenue Procedure 2001-6. Additional information concerning this application (including, where applicable, an updated copy of the plan and related trust; the application for determination; any additional documents dealing with the application that was submitted to the IRS; and copies of Revenue Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices of the Fund, during the hours of9:-0Q a.m. to ~,:OOp.m. for inspection and copying. (There is a nominal fe~ for copying and/or mailing.) You may instead, individually or jointly with other interested parties, request the Department of Labor to submit, on your behalf, comments to the Key District Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the Department declines to comment on all or some of the NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES 1. Notice to: All Participants of the Pension Fund ("the Fund") An application is to be made to the Internal Revenue Service for an advance determination on the qualification of the Restated Plan of the following pension benefit plan: 2. Name of Plan: Seafarers Pension Plan 3. Plan Number: 001 4. Name and Address of Applicant: Board of Trustees Seafarers Pension Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 5. Applicant EIN 13-6100329 6. Name and Address of Plan Administrator: Mr. Lou Delma, Administrator Seafarers Pension Plan 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 7. The application will be filed before February 28, 2002 with the Key District Director, Internal Revenue Service, at: EP Determinations Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 192 Covington, KY 41012-0192 For an advance determination as to whether the plan meets the qualification requirements of section 40l(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect to the plan's qualification. 8. The employees eligible to participate under the plan are: All employees working in job classifications for which contributions are required to be made to the Fund pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. 9. The Internal Revenue Service has previously issued a determination letter with respect to the qualification of this plan. RIGHTS Of lfflHEmD PARTIES 10. You have the right to submit to the EP Determinations, at the above address, either individually or jointly with other interested parties, your comments as to whether this plan meets the qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. You may instead, individually or jointly with other interested parties, request the Deparunent of Labor to submit, on your behalf, comments to the Key District Director regarding qualification of the plan. If the Department declines to comment on all or some of the matters you raise, you may, individually, or jointly if your request was made to the Department jointly, submit your comments on these matters directly to the Key District Director. REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS BY TIIE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR I 1. The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf of the interested parties unless requested to do so by the lesser of 10 employees or 10 percent of the employees who qualify as interested parties. The number of persons needed for the Department to comment with respect to this plan is 10. If you request the Department to comment, your request must be in writing and must specify the matters upon which comments are requested, and must also include: (a) the information contained in items 2 through 5 of this otice; and (b) the number of persons needed for the Department to comment. A request to the Department to comment should be addressed as follows : Deputy Assistant Secretary Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration ATTN: 3001 Comment Request U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, .W. Washington, D.C. 20210 COMMENTS TO TIIE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE 12. Comments submitted by you to the EP Determinations must be in writing and received by him by April 15 , 2002. However, if there are matters that you request the Department of Labor to comment upon on your behalf, and the Department declines, you may submit comments on these matters to the Key District Director to be received by him within 15 days from the time the Department notifies you that it will not comment on a particular matter, or by April 15, 1995, whichever is later, but not after May I, 2002. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for notification of interested parties may be found in Revenue Procedure 2001-6 . Additional information concerning this application (including, where applicable, an updated copy of the plan and related trust; the application for determination; any additional documents dealing with the application that was submitted to the IRS; and copies of Revenue Procedure 2001-6) are available at the offices of the Fund, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for inspection and copying. (There is a nominal fee for copying and/or mailing.) Arrests Made in Alaska Pollution Case Involving Two Runaway-Flag Vessels The U.S. Department of Justice last month announced that a ship captain and chief engineers of two runaway-flag vessels have been arrested and charged with keeping false log books to conceal the dumping of waste oil and sludge from two ships; obstructing a Coast Guard investigation; and obstruction of justice for allegedly telling crew members to lie to a federal grand jury. The arrests, supported by criminal complaints, were announced March 14 by Timothy M. Burgess, United States attorney for Alaska, and Thomas L. Sansonetti, assistant attorney general for the environment division of the Department of Justice. The defendants are Doo Hyon Kim, captain of the Norwegian-owned, Panamanian-flagged M/V Khana; In Ho Kim, chief engineer of the Khana; and Min Gwen Go, chief engineer of the Panamanian-flagged, Korean-owned MIV Sohoh. According to the criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, the Khana and Sohoh are freighters operated by a Korean company (Boyang, LTD) that carries frozen seafood to Asia. In February, the U.S. Coast Guard detained the Khana, the Sohoh, and two other freighters under common management, in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for possible violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. During Coast Guard inspections, agency officials found oil-laden bypass hoses on the two ships which they believed were used to circumvent the oil-water separator, a required pollution-prevention device. Oil was found by the Coast Guard in the overboard discharge valve where only clean water would ordinarily be located. Special agents from the Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation subsequently executed search warrants on the ships, according to court documents. According to the criminal complaint, not only was oil-contaminated bilge waste and sludge dumped overboard without the use of the separator, but the captain and chief engineers of the two ships conducted meetings at which the lower level crew members were told to lie. This allegedly took place even after the crew members had been served with grand jury subpoenas. Crew members on both ships identified rubber hoses with metal fittings attached on each end that were used to bypass the oil-water separator. The criminal complaints further allege that the defendants maintained false oil record books, a required log in which all overboard discharges are to be recorded and which are relied upon by the Coast Guard. If convicted, the defendants could face up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 criminal fine for the alleged false statements and obstruction of an agency proceeding. The alleged obstruction of justice by ordering subpoenaed crew members to testify falsely, known as witness tampering, carries a maximum term of 10 years. Selecting a SPADSlogan In the March issue of the Seafarers LOG, we announced the start of a contest being conducted to come up with a new catch-phrase that signifies the importance of SPAD to the SIU membership. This new slogan, similar to the "Politics is Porkchops" of the past, will be printed on Tshirts. (Details on the shirts' availability will appear in future issues of the LOG.) But first, we need a slogan to put on the Tshirts. Some very good entries already have been received, but we welcome even more. This contest is limited to active and retired Seafarers, who may submit up to three slogans. Entries must be received no later than June 10, 2002 for consideration. The judges' decision will be final. In case the same slogan is submitted and selected for the new SPAD T-shirt, the entry with the earliest postmark will be declared the winner. The winner will receive an SIU jacket, an SIU cap and an SIU shirt. That individual, along with the winning entry, will be announced in a subsequent issue of the LOG. To enter, please complete the form printed below and mail it to the address indicated. r------- - ---------- - -------- - - - - --- - - - ---- - - - - -- - --- - ------ - - ------- - ---- ---- , NAME THAT T-SHIRT CONTEST Here are my ideas for a new SPAD slogan: (You may submit up to three ideas) 1. 2. 3. Name: Address: Telephone Num ber: D I am an active Seafarer D I am a retired Seafarer Send completed form to SPAD Slogan Contest, Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. -- - -- - -- - ---------------------- - --------------------------- - - -- - ----- - -- ---- ~ April2002 Seafarers LOS 11 �AB Joseph Carrillo (below) has a new-found respect for the jobs performed by engine department members. When he recently joined the Sea/and Florida (USSM) for a 35-day riding gang assignment, he fully expected to do some painting and chipping, but instead was told to report to the first engineer. Along with Wiper Jeremy Duncan (left) and AB Kenneth Carruth (not pictured) , he set to work spray-painting the bulkheads, rolling out the decks, and painting the emergency generator room , as well as the C0 2 , incinerator and purifier rooms. "You have to be tough to withstand the heat in the engine room," he acknowledged. The Moira Smith (above) is one of three new passenger ferries recently christened for the SIUcontracted NY Waterway fleet. Attending the ceremony in New York are (from left) SIU Rep Ed Pulver; SIU President Michael Sacco; Joseph Soresi, vice president Atlantic Coast; and Don Nolan, vice president Paul Hall Center. The boat was named in memory of Police Officer Moira Smith and all her colleagues who perished Sept. 11 , 2002. When the Chemical Pioneer (Maritime Transport Lines) stopped off in the port of Philadelphia recently, the crew members were met by SIU Rep Joe Mieluchowski (signing papers) . With him are Pumpman Utility Floyd Ellis (left) and AB Carl Motley. At the stern of the Sea/and Florida, AB Sirio Centino (left) gives the hull a coat of paint. Above, AB Shaib Juma (left) and Bosun Jerry Borucki perform some maintenance work on the anchor. Borucki sent these two photos to the LOG. STONEWALL JACKSON ~--· · Chief Cook Fernando Guity (who sent these photos to the LOG) rides the launch ashore to do some shopping . : ,- - - 1. Posing on the deck of the Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel are deck department members (from left) DEU Brendan Malone, AB Ato Aikins, AB Finn Jakobsen, Bosun David Leachman and AB Joel Carlson . Recertified Steward Albert Fretta takes inventory aboard the Stonewall Jackson. QMED Julius Williams rolls up the hose following a boat drill on the Stonewall Jackson. The ves- sel was en route to the Suez Canal from a Far East run . Meals are delicious aboard ship, states QMED Ace Kirksey. 12 Seafal'el'S LOB SA Abdul Saleh (left) cleans the mess hall before the next meal while SA Bon Vannaxay prepares ingredients for a salad . April 2002 �Dilf&St of SlliPboard- g.,ion Meetings ' Tile Seafatel$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 ~f the ships' minutes. The minutes are then forwarded ;:\to the Seafarers LOG tor publlcation. CLEVELAND (Sealift, Inc.), Dec. 30--Chairman Fareed A. Khan, Secretary Miguel E. Vinca, Educational Director Rahul Bagchi, Deck Delegate James Browne, Steward Delegate Donald Sneed. Chairman thanked everyone for great job cleaning cargo hold. Secretary added his thanks to all for helping keep mess hall clean. He asked that rooms be left in good order for next person and that plastic refuse be separated from regular trash. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading skills at Paul Hall Center in Piney .Point, Md. and reminded crew members of Feb. 1, 2002 deadline for compliance with STCW training regulations. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on company hiring of Polish nationals aboard ship. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Next port: New Orleans. ITB BALTIMORE (Sheridan Transportation Corp.), Dec. 26-Chairman Jeffrey H. Kass, Secretary Mohamed Nour, Educational Director Brandon T. Purcell, Deck Delegate Allen C. Davis, Engine Delegate Ahmed Salim, Steward Delegate Yussuf Ussi. Chairman reminded crew members about upcoming STCW training deadline, about importance of contributing to SPAD and upgrading at Piney Point. He added that passageways should be kept quiet and that shower shoes are not appropriate attire for mess hall or galley. He also encouraged separation of plastic items, batteries and paper from regular trash. Educational director stated that facilities at Piney Point are for all Seafarers and that they should take advantage of that benefit. Treasurer announced $200 each month for the movie fund (use it or lose it). No beefs or disputed OT reported. TV reception now excellent, following captain's purchase and installation of new television antenna and coaxial cable. Following reading of president's report from LOG, discussion ensued on legislation associated with ANWR. Steward department thanked for excellent job, especially for Christmas dinner. Next ports: Port Angeles and Cherry Point, Wash.; Portland, Ore. Kenneth Whitfield. Bosun reported payoff Dec. 31 in Lake Charles, La. Crew members will find out more about new contract at that time. Educational director reminded Seafarers of STCW training deadline and suggested they upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Report from captain that DirecTV channel will be back on line in Fort Lauderdale. New mattresses received; captain will put them in rooms needing them most. Special thanks given to steward department for super Christmas dinner. USNS POMEROY (Maersk Lines), Dec. 13--Chairman Mark A. Coleman, Secretary Waymond H. Watson III, Educational Director Roy Zanca, Deck Delegate Kenneth L. Cuffee, Steward Delegate Lewis E. Johansen. Chairman talked about fantastic performance of ship's crew during docking and loadout-57 minutes for docking and three days to load. Secretary added his thanks to steward department for great job in Charleston, S.C. loading stores and consumables virtually alone since deck department was busy elsewhere. Educational director reminded crew members about STCW training deadline and importance of upgrading skills and ratings at Piney Point facility. Beef reported in deck department; no disputed OT reported. Bosun led discussion about massive U.S. layoffs but that SIU continues to provide jobs for its members. He stated importance of contributing to SPAD to help in that effort. Everyone advised to keep safety in mind at all times, especially on "B" deck with fork truck tines. "Tremendous vote of thanks" given to steward department for wonderful job and variety of menus. Next port: Diego Garcia. USNS STOCKHAM (American Overseas Marine), Dec. 21Chairman William L. Bratton, Secretary Sergio Castellanos, Educational Director Richard A. Sargent, Deck Delegate Martha A. Wall, Engine Delegate Alan H. Nelson, Steward Delegate Vicki L. Holloway. Chairman led discussion on various aspects of shipboard living. Educational director stated that crew members need to work 60 days before they can get a vacation check. He encouraged everyone to take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at Piney Point. Secretary announced $1 ,025 in ship 's fund. Suggestions on ways to spend it are welcome. Christmas dinner will be held ashore at one of the parks (in Diego Garcia). No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications received from headquarters state that members may be asked at payoff to update their dues-so all were advised to keep dues current. MAERSK ALASKA (Maersk Line, Ltd.), Dec. 29-Chairman Juan Castillo, Secretary Ronald J. Davis, Educational Director Ralph S. Baker. Chairman talked about smooth voyage to and from Beirut. In the wake of Sept. 11 , he didn't know what to expect, but everything went well. Educational director advised crew members to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Communications from headquarters read regarding importance of - ENDURANCE (USSM), Jan. complying with STCW training. 22--Chairman Romeo L. Lugtu, Vote of thanks given to steward Secretary Russell B. Beyschau, department for job well done-and Educational Director Tesfaye best wishes for Merry Christmas Gebregziabber. Chairman reportand happy new year to all Seaed smooth voyage with payoff farers and staff. Next port: Galscheduled Jan. 22 in Long Beach, veston, Texas. Calif. He urged crew members to SEABULK TRADER (Seabulk upgrade at Paul Hall Center and Tankers, Inc.), Dec. 30-Chairman stay current with latest regulations. Christopher J. Kicey, Secretary He also wished nice vacation to Aprl/2002 departing crew. Secretary stressed importance of union involvement aboard ship and ashore. He thanked all departments for teamwork during voyage. It reminded him of when he was a trainee in 1984. He also advised everyone that upgrading skills is the key to a secure future. Educational director talked about necessity of upgrading and of importance of contributing to SPAD. With SPAD donations, the SIU can work hard on Capitol Hill to secure jobs for the future. Beef reported in engine department pertaining to clothing allowance; otherwise, everything running well. Steward reported new chairs for messhall and lounge are due in Long Beach. Crew is looking into some new gym equipment. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great job during voyage. INDEPENDENCE (USSM), Jan. 3--Chairman Jay C. Dillon, Secretary Alan E. Hollinger, Educational Director Donald D. Williams Jr., Deck Delegate Stephen R. Garay. Chairman stated year-end payoff went smoothly. He noted that with Chinese New Year coming up, flight delays to be expected. Secretary and educational director talked of need to take advantage of upgrading opportunities at Piney Point and get necessary STCW training. Treasurer announced $120 in crew fund. No beefs; some disputed OT reported in deck department. Suggestion made to streamline contracts to make them easier for members and officials to understand. Everyone asked to comply with vessel's smoking policy. Request made for launch service. Vote of thanks given to steward department, especially for delicious Christmas meal. Next ports: Singapore and Hong Kong. MAERSK TENNESSEE (Maersk Line, Ltd.), Jan. 6--Chairman James J. Keevan, Secretary Leoncio A. Castro, Educational Director Peter G. Murtagh, Steward Delegate Carlos A. Rosales. Chairman noted several crew members getting off in Balboa, Panama, and he welcomed new GVA, Daniel Beshears from Louisiana, on board. He also said ship is awaiting copies of new contract. Educational director recommended everyone comply with STCW training requirements by Feb. 1,2002. Treasurer announced $600 in ship 's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to lower retirement age to 50; also to have patrolman in Panama stay with crew members at airport until departure to pay travel taxes. MAERSK TEXAS (Maersk Line, Ltd.), Jan 23--Chairman John M. Zepeda, Secretary Donna M. DeCesare, Educational Director Oscar A. Palacios, Deck Delegate Shawn Williams, Steward Delegate Malcolm C. Holmes. Chairman stressed that Maersk Texas is a union ship and everyone should follow union shipping rules. Educational director talked about need to upgrade at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer announced $265 in ship 's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Requests made for new VCR for crew lounge as well as stereo and satellite TV. Would also like to have a couple SIU unlicensed apprentices on board. Suggestions made to increase retirement and health benefits. Vote of thanks to steward department, especially to Chief Cook Holmes and GVA Manuel Daguio for excellent jobs. MOTIVATOR (USSM), Jan. 14Chairman Norman K. Armstrong, Secretary Richard E. Hicks, Educational Director Prescilo P. Zunige, Engine Delegate Sheldon S. Greenberg. Chairman announced payoff Jan. 16 upon arrival in Houston. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep ship clean. Educational director reminded everyone of upgrading opportunities at union's Piney Point facility and of upcoming deadline for STCW training. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Matter of chief mate not signing off on TRBs to be taken up with boarding patrolman. Vote of thanks given to steward department for excellent Christmas dinner. PERFORMANCE (USSM), Jan. 5--Chairman Ross F. Lyle, Secretary Thomas W. Milovich, union agent upon arrival in Tacoma and to leave room clean and with fresh linen for next person. Secretary advised members to upgrade at Piney Point and take advantage of all the courses they have to offer. He also reminded them to help clean ship and keep all documents up to date. Educational director expressed importance of keeping abreast of union and industry business. Reading LOG is good way to get that news. Treasurer announced $256 in cookout fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members who signed on June 16 requested Keeping Current on the Perseverance Tacoma SIU Port Agent Bryan Powell (second from right) reviews STCW training requirements with crew members aboard the Perseverance (Maritrans) in San Pedro, Calif. He also stressed the need for Seafarers to write their elected officials in support of an energy policy that includes development of ANWR, which would create a substantial number of jobs in the maritime sector. Educational Director Nicholas A. Vieira, Deck Delegate Edwin Ortega. Chairman, secretary and educational director spoke about need to upgrade skills at Piney Point and get STCW training. Treasurer announced $140 in ship's treasury. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Dryer has been replaced in crew laundry. Suggestion made concerning procedure for room inspections/searches. Steward department thanked for job well done. Next ports: Newark, N.J.; Houston. PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND (ATC), Jan. 20--Chairman Al L. Caulder, Secretary Gregory G. Keene, Steward Delegate Lucille Ryan. Chairman stated Port Agent John Cox visited ship in Long Beach, Calif He brought new tanker agreements on board and explained some contract changes. Crew members advised that ship's chairman is an elected position and not automatically the role of the bosun. Bosun suggested everyone work together for stronger ship and stronger union and keep ship's business down below, first taking any problems to department delegates. Secretary talked about upcoming STCW training deadline. No disputed OT reported; beef noted in steward department. Deck delegate reminded everyone to get letter from captain for extra day's vacation. Complaint made that prices at Paul Hall Center slop chest are too high. Bosun to discuss disbursement of monies from ATC safety fund with captain. Thanks-and job well done-given to steward department for excellent Christmas meal. Next port: Cherry Point, Wash. PACIFIC (CSX Lines), Jan. 6-Chairman Rufino J. Giray, Secretary Robert P. Mosley, Educational Director Frank J. Bakun, Engine Delegate Knolly T. Wiltshire, Steward Delegate Cecil R. Husted. Chairman read letter from headquarters answering many questions previously posed by crew members. He also talked about importance of contributing to SPAD and how that donation benefits the membership. Bosun advised crew to check in with customs and immigration and with clarification as to whether they are under old or new contract. Clarification also requested on reliefs and tours of duty. Crew members gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. Steward department, in tum, thanked deck department for their help and assistance. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif; Hawaii; Guam, Hong Kong. SEALAND PRIDE (USSM), Jan. 19--Chairman Robert B.F. Lindsay Jr., Secretary Roderick K. Bright, Educational Director Ronald M. Pheneuf. Chairman announced payoff Jan. 21 in port of Houston. New SPAD poster received from headquarters to be put in crew lounge. Educational director talked about need for STCW training by Feb. 1, 2002. Bosun announced $90 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for USSM to return to old rules regarding transportation. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food and service. Before heading to Rotterdam, ship will stop in Houston; Savannah, Ga.; and Norfolk, Va. SPIRIT(CSX Lines), Jan. 13Cbairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Edgardo G. Ombac, Educational Director Roger D. Phillips. Chairman announced payoff Jan. 19 in Tacoma, Wash. He stated that noise heard at night when ship rolls will be fixed in port. He thanked crew for good trip and for following safety procedures and reminded them to read president's report in LOG each month. Secretary stated new mattresses should be on board next trip. Educational director talked about 12-week QMED course for qualified members available at Paul Hall Center. He also reminded them of upcoming STCW compliance deadline. Treasurer announced $530 in ship's fund and $140 in video fund. Plans may include purchase of larger TV and build cabinet to store TV, VCR and DVD equipment. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman to talk to patrolman about getting copies of new contract. Thanks given to steward department for good food and clean messhall. Next ports: Tacoma; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. Seafal'fll'S LOS 13 �T he Piney Point Lighthouse is known as the Lighthouse of Presidents because, beginning with our fourth commander-in-chief, James Madison, many presidents and other notables of American history spent their summers in Piney Point, Md., away from the stifling heat of Washington. It's too bad they didn't have the fantastic facilities available to them that today's SIU members have, namely, the Paul Hall Center. Each summer, a number of rooms in the training and recreation center are set aside for vacationing SIU members and their families. Ideally situated on the banks of the St. George's Creek in Southern Maryland, the Paul Hall Center is the perfect place from which to base a family vacation. The center, which houses the largest training facility for deep sea merchant seafarers and inland waterways boatmen in the United States, is composed of a number of administrative and educational buildings as well as a library and maritime museum and a six-story training and recreation center on more than 60 acres of waterfront property. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped, and there are certainly enough amenities and activities to keep everyone in the family happy. At the center, you will find a picnic area with grills and tables, outdoor tennis and basketball courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a health spa (including Nautilus, free weights, universal gym, sauna and steamroom) and plenty of space for walks or jogs on the beautifully landscaped grounds. This peaceful setting provides opportunities for both water- and landbased expeditions. The center has a marina where vacationers may take a boat out for the day to sail around the region or look for a good fishing spot. With 400 miles of waterline surrounding St. Mary's County, waterborne activities are abundant. But there is plenty to do outside the gates of the Paul Hall Center as well. A drive of less than two hours will bring you into the nation 's capital and all it has to offer- a fabulous zoo as well as museums and monu- • • • ' ' ' ments galore, just for starters. Or you can catch an Orioles' ball game at Camden Yards in Baltimore. But you don't even have to go that far. History is just down the road. The Piney Point Lighthouse- the oldest of four lights on the Potomac River- is located 14 miles upstream from its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay. It was built in 183 6 by John Donohoo of Havre de Grace, Md. and was in operation until 1964 when it was retired by the Coast Guard. The unique brick tower is 35 feet tall and is painted white with a red lantern. Upon its completion, a fixed white light was installed, which was visible for 11 miles. A Fresnel lens was installed in 1855 (it has since been removed). In 1880, a fog bell tower was constructed next to the lighthouse tower. The bell, which was operated mechanically, sounded every 20 seconds on foggy nights. The bell was replaced in 1936 with the installation on the lighthouse tower of a reed horn. The tower was severely damaged in a storm in the mid 1950s and was dismantled soon after. In 1980, the Coast Guard transferred ownership to the St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks. The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum is housed in a separate building. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk to view exhibit panels on the history of the area. The grounds of this six-acre park are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, and the museum offers exhibits related to the history of the lighthouse and of area life in the early 1900s. There are lots of places of historical significance as well as other attractions nearby, including seafood festivals, art exhibitions, antique and craft shows and theater productions. The choices are unlimited, depending on your interests. And the Paul Hall Center is the link to all of them. Your stay at Piney Point, which can last up to two weeks per family, also includes three delicious meals each day. To take advantage of this unique benefit to SIU members and their families, send in your reservation form now. ·The Vacation Spot o Presidents PAUL HALL CENTER TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Paul Hall Center is limited to two weeks per family. Name: Social Security number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book number: Address: Telephone number: Member $40.00/day Spouse $10.00/day Child $10.00/day Number in party I ages of children, if applicable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Date of arrival: 1st choice: 2nd choice: _ __ (Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks) Date of departure: _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 3rd choice: _ __ 4/02 Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed above include all meals but do not include tax. Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. J ·--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~ ·14 -Seafarers LOG Apri/2002 �Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 2002 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C Piney Point ............. Monday: May 6, June 3 DECK DEPARTMENT Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 1 g 3 6 2 0 5 25 6 16 19 6 IO 35 13 15 23 10 5 l 5 16 1 30 25 220 1 0 2 3 5 3 2 2 3 15 19 8 10 9 6 2 20 21 8 6 6 7 8 7 6 2 16 16 12 1 5 8 7 1 9 8 8 2 0 8 7 l 0 7 7 0 0 0 11 6 18 10 4 5 11 10 3 0 6 6 0 145 106 9 12 3 14 2 5 0 3 7 21 6 3 10 0 1 2 12 4 3 1 6 8 5 2 8 12 7 10 123 102 12 13 18 Mobile 7 14 4 5 5 6 New Orleans 14 l N~wYork 14 5 Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point 10 5 3 ~ San Francisco St Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 20 31 18 186 5 3 3 13 8 104 9 1 0 St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals All Departments 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 16 7 1 3 Q' 10 3 2 5 58 "Jr 7 0 2 7 9 9 65 0 0 2 4 7 0 1 1 5 5 7 7 1 4 69 25 36 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 5 5 t 5 3 3 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 1 0 1 7 I l 0 0 2 2 3 2 1 7 4 3 3 7 13 14 18 2 4 I 1 0 0 3 5 9 3 6 7 4 2 6 2 2 0 6 8 l .-~--- 0 8 11 2 3 77 54 0 1 1 0 2 5 2 11 0 1 0 9 1 2 0 2 4 0 0 0 4 0 4 1 0 0 2 ~ 9 2 4 0 12 10 4 22 20 35 11 25 6 30 37 19 8 15 19 13 17 20 22 16 4 2 4 2 14 14 3 36 17 5 23 4 5 14 398 19 232 19 148 2 3 0 7 1 8 25 29 5 0 8 12 Norfolk ...................Thursday: May 9, June 6 29 0 0 6 17 14 8 6 17 3 4 12 Port Everglades .......Thursday: May I 6, June 13 20 4 San Francisco ......... Thursday: May 16, June 13 6 9 3 2 1 2 San Juan .................. Thursday: May 9, June 6 17 8 3 14 7 0 15 16 194 16 7 167 94 48 48 15 17 21 8 4 5 6 12 8 7 6 17 18 27 13 . 6 3 8-- 17 22 13 5 5 3 14 4 19 0 3 I 12 ~~ &.f~ 1 0 6 2 1 9 1 ~~-~ 1 1 2 3 0 20 4 1 4 38 l 1 0 0 0 19 20 163 1 4 0 0 15 3 3 13 53 36 20 119 4 31 0 16 4 48 38 33 253 87 61 l 8 7 0 0 0 8 2 5 3 36 3 4 3 25 23 17 40 19 60 25 77 21 6 18 3 25 8 25 0 10 8 60 3 32 20 324 413 905 810 716 2 13 2 16 3 0 2 4 0 1 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 5 0 9 9 2 3 0 0 17 2 11 10 0 9 2 0 2 0 7 12 2 2 1 5 34 7 1 36 3 0 16 11 0 0 14 3 0 9 3 1 11 0 5 0 11 1 0 4 12 0 4 1 19 4 4 2 21 90 78 403 294 177 6 5 33 9 174 539 474 415 19 ' 0 2 12 0 0 9 16 2 10 1 17 11 219 0 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 l 0 0 3 7 0 0 23 34 30 Honolulu ......... ........ Friday: May 17, June 14 Houston .................. Monday: May 13, June 10 Jacksonville ............ Thursday: May 9, June 6 Jersey City .............. Wednesday: May 22, June 19 Mobile .................... Wednesday: May 15, June 12 New Bedford ..........Tuesday: May 21. June 18 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: May 14, June 11 New York ................Tuesday: May 7, June 4 Philadelphia ............ Wednesday: May 8, June 5 St. Louis ............ .....Friday: May 17, June 14 Savannah ................Friday; May 10, June 7 Tacoma ................... Friday: May24, June 21 0 7 4 6 2 159 o: Personals 3 7 3 0 0 Duluth ..................... Wednesday: May 15, June 12 16 5 24 0 0 4 Boston .....................Friday: May 10, June 7 Wilinin&IDn ................Mon~ay: May 2?• June 17 ·o 0 2 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 9, June 6 47 55 0 0 Algonac .................. Friday: May 10, June 7 Eat:ll port's llllldng starts at 10:30 a.m. 3 0 2 1 7 2 1 0 1 0 9 2 6 3 13 1 o Port Algonac Baltimore ~· 9u~m Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco 0 3 Port . . Algonac · Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville 1 2 2 3 3 13 1 0 8 1 7 0 7 17 12 8 8 5 18 Port Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals ·. Puerto:Rico Trip Reliefs May & June 2002 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters 4 11 58 56 2 JAMES C. DAVIS Please contact Harry McDaniel at 18 Cottonwood Lane, Merrimack, NH 03054; or telephone (603) 424-9483. GLENN BAKER JR. Please get in touch with your friend from 10 years ago, Misty Daubert. You may write her at 6318 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205; or telephone (904) 693-3204. CAPE FAREWELL REUNION Retired Seafarer Chuck Klim is helping coordinate what hopefully will be a reunion of the breakout and first replacement crew of the SS Cape Farewell from the Persian Gulf War. For more information, please contact Klim at: Chuck@DragonAdventures.com. Klim sailed with the SIU from 1963-69 and again from 1990 until 2000. 0 17 10 18 I 39 31 *"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. .April 2/JIJ2 Seafarers LOG 15 �N1'111 Monthly Shipping • Registration Report Seafarers International Union Directory FEBRUARY 2002 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group III John Fay, ExecutNe Vice Pre..sident David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group III Trip Reliefs REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group ID A1Jgttstin Tellez, Vice ]',resident Contracts Tom Orzechowski, J!Jce President Lakes and Inland Waters " J)e~Q Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vwe President West Coast Jo$eplt T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services Ren~ Lioea.njie, Jlice President at Large Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large • • HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs. MD 20746 (301) 899--0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr.. Algonac, Ml 48001 (SJ 0) 7944988 ALTON 325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002 (618) 462-3456 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1 C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 5614988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 3274900 BOSTON 520 Dorchester Ave., Boston. MA 02127 (617) 269-7877 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building, Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722--4110 GUAM P.O. Box 23127, Barrigada, Guam 96921 125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301-E Tun Jesus Crisostomo St., Tamuning, Guam 96911 (671) 647-:1.350 HONOLULU 696 Ka1ihi St., Honolulu, H1 (808) 845-5222 ~6819 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 ~· ~APJ:{SQN)71J,LJ! _f~ .ms Liberty St., J'ack;0:nvllle, p-ift3z206· ·;; .- (904) 3:53-0987 JE..RSEY CITY Q9 Montgotfiery St. 1 Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-091Q NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740 (5-08) 997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 39ll. upalco Blvd., l:Iarvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 6~S NEWYO.RK Fourth Ave,, 8rooklyn, NY 1123:2 (7 I 8) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third-St., Norfolk, VA (757) 622-1892 ~3510 PHlLADELJ>IDA 2604 S. 4 St, Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (3-0l) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft Lauderdale; FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Frt!mont St., San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Govetn:tnent Services Division: (4 L5) 861-3400 SANT URCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752.-6500 SAVANNAH 2220 Bull St-. Savannah, GA 31401 (912) 238-4958 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 wtLMlNGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington. CA 90744 (3.10) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOS Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals DECK DEPARTMENT 8 8 7 12 6 11 3 0 5 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 9 2 0 34 130 28 11 0 2 0 4 0 11 0 19 0 2 55 0 5 3 Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pe<lro Savannah Tacoma Totals San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals 2 4 2 4 0 6 2 21 0 1 0 0 0 A 1 ~~~~- 2 0 l 0 0 0 0 Totals All Departments 2 0 1 <t 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 2 3 2 16 0 3 1 8 4 19 5 0 0 3 5 0 10 -0 ~=O~."""""..-..--~ 0 2 0 0 0 4 4 5 11 23 79 0 9 2 1 36 1 18 0 0 1 0 0 0 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 6 5 2 0 0 0 4 0 tt 1 Q 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 ~.-..-~~~~---9 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 3 3 22 4 0 0 .d~L,.O, . o~ o 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 13 0 Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk San Pedro Savannah Tacoma Totals 12 3 25 17 50 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port Boston Houston Harvey, LA New York Norfolk 30 5 5 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 13 0 0 9 45 11 15 5 3 2 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 4 6 3 I 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 9 1 0 0 1 ~ 1 1 0 3 0 0 1 10 20 0 12 0 1 0 5 108 32 18 64 0 4 3 17 16 7 7 41 21 0 0 14 8 41 12 10 3 2 70 131 97 76 324 206 141 4 Pl CS-FROM-THE-PAST These photos were sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner Gordon P. Driscoll of Warren, Ore. Driscoll has many memories-and a few photos-of his 33 year career at sea. In the far right photo, taken in 1949 aboard the SS Sonoma, he is making friends with Maggie, one of a load of camels being shipped from Australia bound for Los Angeles. He was just 22 at the time. With him is another crew member, Jack Smith. The young boy looking on was one of the passengers aboard the vessel . In the near right photo, Driscoll, now 75, poses at home with his wife, Betty, and dog, Ginger. The large garden, he notes, "keeps the old man going." Driscoll keeps abreast of SIU activities by reading the Seafarers LOG. He is sometimes amazed at all the advances that have been made since he last sailed. "Would you believe that a trip to Australia on a C-2 cargo ship took four months," he stated in a letter accompanying these photos. And he notes that the training he received on the SS Mariposa in the galley "was a great education." Apri/2002 �Welcome Ashore Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their working lives to sailing aboard US.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days ahead. A captain, two recertified bosuns and one recertified steward are among the 13 Seafarers announcing their retirements this month. Captain Harald Sevland worked at the helms of inland vessels for more than 20 years. Bosuns James L. Camp and Edwin G. Gambrel completed bosun recertification programs at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. This program is the highest level of training available to members who sail in the deck department. Chief Steward Kenneth D. Rosieck completed the equivalent program for steward department members. Including Camp, Gambrel and Rosieck, eight of the retirees sailed in the deep sea division. Four others, including Seveland, navigated the inland waterways and one plied the Great Lakes. Six of the retirees worked in the deck department, three shipped in the engine department and four sailed in the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers LOG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. DEEP SEA JAMESE. BILLING- TON, 68, » started his career with the Seafarers in 1976 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Billington served in the U.S Army from 1950 to 1961. He worked in the SIU's deep sea as well as inland divisions, first sailing aboard a Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. vessel. The New Jersey native upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. in 1985 and 1986. Brother Billington shipped in the steward department and last went to sea on Maersk's USNS Charlton. He is a resident of St. Augustine, Fla. JAMESL. BROCK, 57, joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of Baltimore. The Tennesseeborn mariner served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966. He first sailed on an Isthmian Lines vessel. Brother Brock worked in the engine department and upgraded his skills often at the Seafarers school in Piney Point. His last ship was Waterman Steamship Corp.'s Major Steven W Pless. Brother Brock makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. CAMILO CAMARENA, 65, hails from Texas. Brother Camarena began his SIU career in 1981 in the port of Houston. His initial voyage was aboard Delta Steamship Lines' Apri/2002 Del Sol. The steward department member last worked on the SeaLand Discovery. Brother Camarena lives in Houston. the Tyco-operated Globe Senti- nel. INLAND JAMES L. CAMP, 61, was born in North Carolina. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1968 in the port of New York. Brother Camp served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959. The deck department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship on five occasions. He completed bosun recertification training in 1979. Brother Camp last sailed aboard the Chemical Explorer. He calls Mooresboro, N.C. home. ROBERT ENKE, 65, began his SIU career in 1978 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Enke first sailed on the Walter Rice, a Reynolds Metal Co. vessel. Born in Brazil, the deck department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarers training school in 1982 and 1984. His last voyage was on the Overseas New Orleans. Brother Enke is a resident of Kenner, La. EDWIN G. GAMBREL, 48, started his career with the Seafarers in 1973 in the port of Houston. Brother Gambrel worked in both the inland and deep sea divisions. The deck department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarers training school and completed bosun recertification training in 1998. Brother Gambrel last went to sea aboard the Liberty Wave, a Liberty Maritime Corp. vessel. The Alabama-born mariner lives in his native state in the city of Mobile. GEORGEM. COLLIER, 56, is a native of Pasadena, Texas. Boatman Collier started his SIU career L---~~.......... in 1963 in the port of Houston. He worked in the deep sea as well as the inland divisions, initially sailing aboard Isthmian Liness Steel Rover. A member of the deck department, Boatman Collier last worked on a G&H Towing Co. vessel. He makes his home in Cisco, Texas. 1 -,.___j HOMERL. SIDPES, 62, joined the Seafarers in 1965 in the port of Houston. A native of Georgia, Boatman Shipes served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960. The deck department member upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center Last year. He worked primarily aboard Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. vessels. Boatman Shipes is a resident of Odum, Ga. GREAT LAKES NORMAN FITTAHEY, 61, hails from Yemen. Brother Fittahey joined the Seafarers in 1965 in Detroit. He sailed as a member of the engine department. Brother Fittahey last went to sea on the H Lee White, an American Steamship Co. vessel. He lives in Detroit. AMMV Visits Piney Point LEWISS. FARROW, 62, began his career with the Seafarers in 1972 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Farrow was born in North Carolina and sailed in the engine department. He worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Cape Fear Towing Co. Boatman Farrow still resides in his native state in the city of Wilmington. HARALD SEVLAND, 65, started his SIU career in 1979. Born in Germany, he shipped in the deck department as a captain. Boatman Sevland, who resides in Lake Worth, Fla., worked primarily aboard Crowley Towing & Transportation Co. vessels. Members of chapters composing the Valley Forge Region of the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV) conducted meetings last month at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. SIU President Michael Sacco (top photo, right) addressed the group of approximately 75 AMMV members, officials and their families. Valley Forge Region VP Don Trimbath (left) presented Sacco with an AMMV jacket March 12. The garment features a remake of the World War II-era "Battlin' Pete" merchant marine patch. In photos below, Sacco is joined by other AMMV members as well as other officials from the union and the school. GUADALUPEN. GARCIA, 71, hails from Mexico. He joined the Seafarers in 1978 in the port of Wilmington, Calif Brother Garcia first went to sea aboard Delta Steamship Lines' Santa Mercedes. The steward department member last worked on the Independence, an American Hawaii Cruise Lines vessel. Brother Garcia makes his home in Honolulu. KENNETH D.ROSIECK, 65, began his SIU career in 1975 in San Francisco. A native of Pennsylvania, he first shipped on the Santa Magdalena, a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. The steward department member upgraded his skills at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in 1986 and completed the steward recertification program in 1987. Brother Rosieck, who lives in Sparks, Nev., last sailed aboard ) Seafarers LOG 17 �DEEP SEA PIOBLANKAS Pensioner Pio Blankas, 82, died Nov. 12. Born in the Philippines, Brother Blank.as joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1955 in San Francisco. The steward department member worked primarily aboard American President Lines vessels during his career. He began receiving his pension in 1981 and made his home in Seattle. STEPHEN BORESKI lllmll!Cl Pensioner Stephen Boreski, 79, passed away Aug. 9. He joined the Seafarers in 1961 in San Francisco. Brother Boreski served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1945. The engine department member initially shipped aboard the Eagle Traveler, a Sea Transport Corp. vessel. He last worked on the Sea-Land Boston. Brother Boreski began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1987. He lived in Las Vegas. ERNEST CANTU Brother Ernest Cantu, 74, died Dec. 17. The California native joined the Seafarers in 1988 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. Brother Cantu's initial SIU voyage was aboard the USNS Kane, operated bY'Lavino Steamship Co. The · deck department member last worked on the USNS Harkness. El Paso, Texas was his home. FRANK CATCHOT Pensioner Frank Catchot, 92, passed away Jan. 10. Brother Catchot started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in the port ..._____________. of Mobile, Ala. A native of Mississippi, he first sailed on Bloomfield Steamship Co. 's Lloyd S. Carlson. The engine department member last worked aboard Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. 's Del Mexico. Brother Catcbot began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1975. He was a resident of Mobile. EDDIE CHANG Pensioner Eddie Chang, 88, died Oct. 22. Brother Chang started his career with the MC&S. The steward department member sailed primarily aboard American President Lines vessels. He started receiving his pension in 1978 and lived in Honolulu. PHILIP CHOO Pensioner Philip Choo, 82, passed away Dec. 9. The Hawaiian-born mariner started his career with the MC&S in 1958 in San Francisco. Brother Choo served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 194 5 to 1947. He worked primarily aboard Matson Navigation Co. vessels, including the Lurline and the Manukai. Brother Choo shipped in the steward 18 Seafarers LOS department and started receiving his pension in 1985. Honolulu was his home. EDUARDO COLMENERO Pensioner Eduardo Colmenero, 87, died Dec. 4. He joined the SIU in 1961 in the port of Baltimore. Born in Florida, he first sailed on the Alamar, operated by Calmar Steamship Corp. A member of the engine department, he last went to sea on the Bayamon, a Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc. vessel. Brother Colmenero began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1982. He lived in Jefferson, La. JAMES H. COLWELL Pensioner James H. Colwell, 65, passed away Dec. 14. Brother Colwell began his career with the Seafarers in ' 1967 in San Francisco. The Pennsylvania native served in the U.S. Amiy from 1955 to 1957. Brother Colwell's initial SIU voyage was on an Isthmian Lines, Inc. vessel. A member of the deck department, he last sailed aboard the USNS Regulus, operated by Bay Ship Management, Inc. Brother Colwell started receiving his retirement stipend last year. He was a resident of Snug Harbor, N.C. KENNETH CRAFf Pensioner J(eoneth Craft, 61, died Jan. 21 . Brother Craft served in the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1963. He joined the SIU in 1969 in Seattle. Brother Craft first sailed aboard the Raleigh, a Crest Overseas Shipping Co., Inc. vessel. The North Dakota native sailed in the deck department and last worked aboard the SeaLand Innovator. Brother Craft began receiving his pension in 1999 and lived in Winterhaven, Calif. MALCOLM CROSS Pensioner Malcolm Cross, 86, passed away Dec. 18. Born in Minnesota, he served in the U.S. Army from 1938 to 1941. Brother Cross started his career with the Seafarers in 1944 in the port of New York. His initial voyage was aboard Waterman Steamship Corp. 's Yaka. The deck department member, who sailed as a bosun, last went to sea on a Michigan Tankers, Inc. vessel. Brother Cross started collecting payments for his retirement in 1979. He made his home in Torrance, Calif. GUYDEBAERE Pensioner Guy Debaere, 77, died Jan 24. He began his career , with the Seafarers in 1958 in San Francisco. Brother Debaere's first voyage was aboard a Pennsylvania Transport Co. vessel. Born in France, he shipped in the steward department. Brother Debaere's last trip at sea was on Energy Transportation Co. 's LNG Gemini. He started receiving his pension in 1986 and was a resident of Bergenfield, N.J. FESTUS DeLEON 1--;;pl!!'l"ll'•~--i Pensioner Festus DeLeon, 96, passed away Jan. 12. Born in Jamaica, he started his career in 1939 as a charter member of the SIU. Brother DeLeon shipped in the steward department and began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1971 . He made his home in Baltimore. RICHARD GAMBLE Pensioner Richard Gamble, 74, died Nov. 20. Brother Gamble started his SIU career in 1954 in Seattle. He worked primarily aboard vessels operated by American President Lines, including the President Harrison and President Madison. Born in Kansas City, Kan., Brother Gamble shipped in the steward department. He started receiving his pension in 1993 and called Seattle home. CLODUALDO GOMEZ Pensioner Clodualdo Gomez, 67, passed away Nov. 24. He began his career with the Seafarers in 1974 in San Francisco. Brother Gomez first went to sea on the Santa Maria, a Delta Steamship Lines, Inc. vessel. He was born in the Philippines and shipped in the steward department. He last worked ~m Bay Ship Management's USNS Chesapeake. Brother Gomez began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1999 and made his home in San Francisco. ELLIOTT GORUM Pensioner Elliott Gorum, 83, died Dec. 27. Brother Gorum started his SIU career in 1942, joining in the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana native first shipped on Waterman Steamship Corp. 's Hastings. Brother Gorum worked in the steward department and last went to sea on the Sea-Land Express. He began receiving his retirement stipend in 1985 and lived in Bronx, N.Y. MAYNARD JONES Pensioner Maynard Jones, 92, passed away Dec. 28. Brother Jones began his career with the MC&S. The steward department member started receiving his pension in 1978. He was a resident of Carson, Calif. RICHARD KIM Pensioner Richard Kim, 83, died Nov. 8. Born in Hawaii, Brother Kim started his career with the MC&S. The steward department member began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1969. He made his home in Sacramento, Calif. JOHN LASKY Pensioner John Lasky, 74, passed away Jan 4. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946. Brother Lasky began his career with the Seafarers in 1950 in the port of New York. Brother Lasky was born in New York and shipped in the engine department. He last worked on the SeaLand Value. Troy, N.Y. was his home. DOUGLAS LAUGHLIN Pensioner Douglas Laughlin, 69, died Dec. 7. Brother Laughlin served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950to 1953. The Mississippi native started his SIU career in 1967 in the port of Houston. He first sailed aboard an Interocean Management Corp. vessel. The engine department member last worked on the Sea-Land Commitment. He started receiving his pension in 1995 and called Jacksonville, Fla. home. Pensioner Engelbert Lenz, 60, passed away Nov. 11. Brother Lenz joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. The German-born mariner shipped in the deck department and sailed in both the deep sea and inland divisions. He last worked aboard the Sea-Land Innovator. Brother Lenz, who started collecting stipends for his retirement in 1993, lived in Las Vegas. !1 _ I, J ~1 ·• Pensioner Alfredo Mora, 82, passed away Jan. 4. Brother Mora started his career with the MC&S. The steward department member L.L.--_............._~-""'=.....L..-l began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1972. Brother Mora was born in Puerto Rico, but called Bronx, N.Y. home. THOMAS H. O'BRIEN Pensioner Thomas H. O'Brien, 80, died Dec. 27. Born in New Jersey, he served in the U.S. Army from 1939 to 1962. ~~~~LJ Brother O'Brien started his SIU career in 1970 in San Juan, P.R. He first sailed aboard the Mayaguez, a PRMMI vessel. The steward department member last shipped on the Sea-Land Pittsburgh. Brother 0 'Brien started receiving his pension in 1986 and lived in Luquillo, P.R. WILLIE ORR ENGELBERT LENZ lj ALFREDO MORA ~ ESKOMAKILA Pensioner Esko Makila, 70, died Dec. 20. He started his SIU career in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Makila first shipped aboard the Ponce. Born in Finland, he sailed in the deck department. His final SIU voyage was on the Sea-Land Patriot. Brother Makila began receiving his pension in 1988 anp was a resident of Kissimmee, Fla. AMBROSIO MARTIN Pensioner Ambrosio Martin, 85, passed away Jan. 2. Brother Martin started his career with theMC&S in San Francisco. The Philippinebom mariner shipped in the steward department. He started receiving his pension in 1970 and made his home in San Francisco. MICHAEL MOORE Brother Michael Moore, 48, died Jan. 20. He joined the SIU in 1979 in the port of Piney Point, Md. Brother Moore's initial voyage was aboard the Sea-Land Atlantic. The New Jersey native shipped in the deck department. He last worked aboard the Northern Lights, an Interocean Ugland Management vessel. Brother Moore lived in Paulsboro, N.J. Brother Willie Orr passed away Oct. 31. He worked in all three divisions during his career. His initial voyage was aboard a Michigan Tankers vessel. The steward department member last worked on the President Truman, an American Ship Management, LLC vessel. Brother Orr was a resident of San Pedro, Calif. LAWRENCE PORCHE awrence Porche, 50, died Dec. 15. He joined the Seafarers in 1972 in the port of Piney Point, Md. Brother Porche's initial voyage was aboard the Carrier Dove, a Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel. The Louisiana native shipped in the engine department. His final trip was aboard the Overseas Arctic. Brother Porche lived in Baton Rouge, La . RAFAEL RAMOS Pensioner Rafael Ramos, 87, passed away Nov. 6. Brother Ramos started Ills career with the Seafarers in 1942 in the port of New Orleans. Brother Ramos' initial voyage was aboard an A.H. Bull Steamship Co. vessel. Born in Puerto Rico, he shipped in the engine department. He last worked on NPR's Arecibo. Brother Ramos started receiving his. pension in 1978. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Brother Ramos resided in his native commonwealth. ALFONSO RIVERA Pensioner Alfonso_ Rivera, 70, died Nov. 14. He started his SIU career in 1951 in the port of New York. Brother Rivera initially went to sea aboard the Dorothy, an A.H. Bull Steamship Co. vessel. A member of Continued on page 19 April2002 �Continued from page 18 the deck department, he sailed as a bosun. Brother Rivera last worked aboard PRMMI's San Juan. He started receiving stipends for his retirement in 1986 and lived in Bayamon, P.R. STANLEY SAKUDA Pensioner Stanley Sakuda, 82; passed away Dec. 28. Brother Sakuda started his career with the MC&S. The steward department member began collecting payments for his retirement in 1969. Brother Sakuda made his home in San Francisco. JAMES SINIARD Pensioner James Siniard, 78, died Oct. 22. Brother Siniard started his career with the Seafarers in 1951 in San Francisco. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Brother Siniard's first SIU voyage was aboard Isco, Inc. 's Steel Architect. The North Carolina-born mariner shipped in the deck department. He last worked on the SeaLand Defender. Brother Siniard started receiving his pension in 1983. He made his home in Reno, Nev. ADOLF STAHL Pensioner Adolf Stahl, 96, passed away Dec. 19. Brother Stahl started his career with the MC&S. A member of the steward department, he began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1970. Brother Stahl made his home in San Francisco. FIDEVTHOMA Brother Fidel Thomas, 51, died Nov. 3. He joined the Seafarers in 1990 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Thomas first sailed aboard American Hawaii Cruises' Independence. Born in Honduras, he shipped in the steward department. He last worked on the HM! Astrachem. Brother Thomas was a resident of Jacksonville. NATHANIEL THOMAS Pensioner Nathaniel Thomas, 66, passed away Dec. 4. Brother Thomas started his career with the MC&S in San Francisco in 1958. The U.S. Army veteran first shipped aboard American President Lines' President Johnson. Brother Thomas worked in the steward department, last sailing on the Maui, operated by Matson Navigation Co. He started receiving his retirement income in 1992 and lived in San Francisco. GABIER VARGAS Pensioner Gabier Vargas, 70, died July 22. Brother Vargas started his career with the MC&S and shipped in the steward department. He resided in Maywood, Colo. and began receiving his pension in 1978. DOROTHY WILLIAMS Pensioner Dorothy Williams, 74, passed away Dec. 24. Sister Williams started her career with the MC&S. A member of the steward department, she began receiving compensation for her retirement in 1976. Sister Williams lived in Freemont Calif. JOERG WITTE Brother Joerg Witte, 65, died Jan. 28. He started his SIU career in Apl'i/2002 1976 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Witte worked in the deep sea as well as inland divisions during his career, first sailingCarriers aboard a •~-··J Dixie vessel. The deck department member last sailed aboard the Sea-Land Developer. Brother Witte called Seminole, Fla. home. INLAND RUFUS ATWOOD Boatman Rufus Atwood, 58, passed away July 15. He started his SIU career in 1974 in the port of New Orleans. Born in Louisiana, Boatman Atwood worked primarily aboard Crescent Towing & Salvage Co. Inc. vessels. The engine department member was a resident of Loranger, La. JOSEPH BROOKS Pensioner Joseph Brooks, 78, died Jan. 21. Boatman Brooks joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Born in Matthews, Va., he shipped in the deck department and last worked on an Interstate Oil Transportation Co. vessel. Boatman Brooks began receiving his retirement stipend in 1985. He lived in his native state. HENRY COLLINS Pensioner Henry Collins, 70, passed away Dec. 23. He began his career with the Seafarers in 1963 in Port Arthur, Texas. The deck department member was last employed on a Higman Barge Lines, Inc. vessel. Boatman Collins, who started collecting compensation for his retirement in 1988, called Orange, Texas home. WILLIAM DANIEL Pensioner William Daniel, 59, died Dec. 7. Boatman Daniel launched his SIU career in 1967 in the port ofNorfolk, Va. He first worked """"""~_......__........:::.ll on Steuart Transportation Co. vessel. A member of the deck department, the Virginiabom mariner shipped as a captain. Boatman Daniel last sailed aboard a vessel operated by Allied Towing Co. He started receiving his pension in 1998 and lived in Chesapeake, Va. a RAYMOND DEHON Pensioner Raymond Dehon, 80, passed away Oct. 3. Boatman Dehon served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana native first worked for the SIU aboard a Crescent Towing & Salvage Co. Inc. vessel. He shipped in the engine department and last sailed aboard an American Barge Lines Co. vessel. Boatman Debon started receiving his retirement stipend in 1983. He lived in his native state. Dec. 9. He joined the Seafarers in 1978 in the port of Piney Point, Md. Born in Jacksonville, Fla., he shipped in the deck department. Boatman Ferree last worked on a vessel operated by Orgulf Transport Co. He lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. CHARLES HERBERT Pensioner Charles Herbert, 73 , died Jan 19. The Maryland native served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953. Boatman Herbert joined the Seafarers in 1972 in the port of Baltimore. A member of the deck department, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Maritrans Operating Partners, L.P. Boatman Herbert started receiving his pension in 1990. He made his home in Pasadena, Md. passed away Oct. 13. The deck department member worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Luedtke Engineering Co. ROBERT MELWING Brother Robert Melwing, 81, died Sept. 13. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1945. Brother Melwing joined the Seafarers in 1980 in Long Beach, Calif. and sailed in both the Great Lakes and inland divisions. He first worked aboard a Crowley Towing & Transportation-Wilmington/Long Beach vessel. A member of the deck department, the Canton, Ohio native last sailed on the Indiana Harbor, an American Steamship Co. vessel. Brother Melwing resided in Ruskin, Fla. Editors Note: The following brothers and sisters, all members of the NMU and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, passed away during 1001. Their names .appear alphabetically and according to the month in which NMU Pension Trust administrators were notified of their deaths. DATE OF DEA'llt Aug.6 DATE OFl>EATH Aug. 7 Aug.14 Aug.16 July5 June 21 June 19 May17 July 12 Juty24 June4 Aug.3 July22 Aug.2 June 15 JUiy 27 Juae21 9 July 25 J" MICHAEL O'DONNELL July; 19 Pensioner Michael O'Donnell, 58, passed away Dec. 3. He started his SIU career in 1963 in Detroit. Boatman O'Donnell also served in the U.S. Army. Born in Cleveland, he shipped in the deck department and last worked on a vessel operated by Great Lakes Towing. Boatman O'Donnell started receiving retirement payments in 2000. He lived in Cleveland. Ju~17 July 1gJune 30 July 9 July 25 July 15 June 13 M15 """ 2 GREAT LAKES BERT CHAPMAN Pensioner Bert Chapman, 97, died Jan. 27. Brother Chapman began bis career with the Seafarers in 1959 in Detroit. Born in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Gartland, including the Sullivan Brothers and the JC. Miller. The engine department member began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1970. He made his home in Ishpeming, Mich. LEONARD CLARK Pensioner Leonard Clark, 85, passed away Dec. 28. Brother Clark joined the Seafarers in 1961 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Born in Montana, the deck department member worked primarily aboard Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. vessels, including the Lemmerhirt. ·He began receiving his pension in 1978 and resided in Bonita Springs, Fla. HARRYKAWKA Pensioner Harry Kawka, 77, died Oct. 31 . He began his SIU career in 1968 in Chicago. Brother Kawka served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1946. He first sailed aboard the Southdown Challenger, operated by Cement Transport Co. The New York native worked in the deck department and sailed in both the Great Lakes and inland divisions. He last worked on American Steamship Co. 's Charles E. Wilson. Brother Kawka started collecting his retirement in 1990. He made his home in Roosevelt Island, N. Y. CYRUS FERREE III LAWRENCE McCOY Boatman Cyrus Ferree Ill, 46, died Brother Lawrence McCoy, 67, October 2001 August 2001 Felix Alicea Michael Allen George Anderson Osvaldo Baetancourt Jose Barahona Joseph Bird John Blount Theodore Bratsos Ernest Clark Mack Cosby Ernest Curry Melvin Evens Jose Garcia Luis Gatoux Joseph Giaccone Robert Gill James Gillespie Manuel Goncalves Alfred Gottschalk August Harmel Albert Harris Forest Harris Homer Kinman Roland Kirby Louis LaPlace Clifton Lee May7 Aug 8 July 23 Aug 11 Aug4 Aug 2 June 21 July 24 Aug 20 July 25 Aug 20 Aug 18 Aug 12 Aug.12 Aug 12 Aug 8 Aug 4 Aug_14 Aug.10 July 27 Aug.18 Aug_9 July 30 July 8 July 17 June 24 T. Lopez July 15 George Martell Esteban Melendez Stafford Mosley Epifania Nolberto Thomas Puharic Francisco Ramos Collins Redmond Herbert Reeves Aug. 10 July 20 Aug. 7 July 23 Aug.17 April 13 Aug.3 Aug.11 Estanistao Abayan Helge Abrahamson Oelane Atkinson Francis Banks William Beasley Ronald Bender Willie Bergans Zenon Bonilla Robert Boyd Vann Bridgeford Edward Broaster John Broddie Charles Bugelli David Buren Pedro Casco John Crimmins Arthur Cyprien C. Dameron Peter Daraio Harry DeMarco Constantine DeRousset Margarito Estrada Dallas Ford Andrew Gardner Valenti Gowlash William Harper Eddie Johnson John Jones John Khan James King Antero Lopes Jose Luna William Mauri Joseph Mazzei John McDougall Norton Mitchell George Ortiz Pedro Pabon Remi Rosario Albert Seiden Floyd Steele William Thomas Donald Vargas Marvin Venable Oscar Vidal Willtam Warbington Earl West John Wisecup Aug. 11 Sept4 Oct.1 · oct.23 Oct.8 Oct.6 Oct.13 Sept.20 Oct.5 Oct. 17 Sept.5 Sept. 23 Oct. 18 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Sept 15 Sept 29 Oct.25 Sept. 28 Aug.20 .. Oct. 19 Sept. 22 Sept. 7 Oct.9 Aug.20 Oct. 20 Oct.1 Oct.20 Sept. 10 May 1 Sept. 11 Oct 16 Oct.17 Sept 17 Oct. 10 Oct.13 Sept 26 Oct.3 Oct. 22 Oct. 12 Sept26 Sept. 7 ~pt.19 Oct. 22 Feb. 1 Sept. 27 Oct.4 Sept. 25 Seafarers LOG ., 19 > �Letters to the Editor (Editors note: the Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writers intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) SIU Formed Foundation For Good Life at Sea This letter of appreciation is 30 years overdue. I joined the SIU in 1967. From that period on, my life would never be the same. My life took on a very positive approach, not only financially, but also it gave me a sense of adventure that is lacking in most professions today. The men I met aboard ship became my teachers, not only in seamanship, but also in life -men like John Ibraham, Phil Roshee, Gene Nichelson-sailors of distinction. Men like Bosun Scotty Burn and Bill Mortier, who could splice wire like it was string. Many people were led to believe that seamen were ill-mannered and illiterate. But they were wrong. They didn't know that reading was probably the favorite pastime aboard ship. Most seamen could converse on a variety of topics. The financial benefits of being a seaman were overshadowed by the sense of adventure. I left the SIU in 1977 after getting my mate's license, but it was the foundation of my years with the SIU that made me a sailor in the old tradition. Samuel P. Lesko Sarasota, Fla. (Editors note: Samuel Lesko retired from the MM&P in 1999.) •strong U.S. Fleet Yitai to America' This headline, from the January LOG, reminds me of Yogi Berra's "deja vu all over again." The vision of a strong U.S. fleet has been seen for so many years that some people believe it will happen if they think about it long enough. This headline came right on the heels of laying up our last oceangoing passenger ship and adding more foreign-built vessels to our Maritime Security Program. President Eisenhower said the U.S. never again should be caught relying on foreign shipping. President Johnson made an inaugural pledge to draft a realistic policy to revitalize America's merchant fleet. . . . President George W. Bush said, "I will seek to provide the conditions under which the American maritime industry can compete and grow in the 21'' century." These are just a few quotes from the top guys. Many lesser politicians have all had their say about a "strong U.S. fleet." It simply ain't gonna happen unless dedicated people get to the bottom of the problem and rebuild our maritime industry along economic lines. Next year we will read in your paper: "AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department: Strong U.S. Fleet Vital to America." Cal Bourke Walnut Creek, California JFK and the Twin Towers (Editors note: The writer is the medical director at Occupational Health Services in Brooklyn, NY., a facility utilized by SIU members.) 20 Seafarers LOS The event will be remembered better than the date. It will be a date in history like November 22, 1963. Everyone remembers what they were doing and where they were when they heard the NEWS. On that date, John F. Kennedy was shot. I was in the library at Henry Grady High School in Atlanta. Everyone was crying, and th~ country was thrust into a state of shock. This time it was different. Not only one person was brutally murdered on September 11 , 2001. On this ignoble date, thousands were murdered amid airplane crashes, crumbling buildings and shattered lives. No one would have believed the story the preceding day. Two ordinary airplanes could topple the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and a third airline could crash into the Pentagon. We would all say, "IMPOSSIBLE!" It happened. I heard the news while listening to the "eye in the sky" traffic report on the way to work shortly before 9:00 a.m. The helicopter reporter interrupted his report to exclaim, "There appears to have been an explosion at the north tower of the World Trade Center." That this was not an accident was confirmed when about 20 minutes later a second plane crashed into the south tower. Shortly thereafter a third plane crashed into the Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed in a rural area near Pittsburgh. I am a physician in Brooklyn, New York. When I reached my office, the staff was listening to the radio and the patients were no longer interested in their medical appointments. Several of us went to the roof of the building to witness a scene of horror. The first plane appeared to have struck one of the buildings at about the 80th floor and the other at about the 60th floor. Plumes of fire and smoke were billowing from the site. I reached for my camera only to learn of its dead battery. While on the street returning with my new battery, people started shouting on the street and from surrounding buildings. There was crying and successive "Oh my God!" "Oh my God!" When I reached my perch on the roof of the building, I saw only a column of smoke and dust where the south tower formerly stood. I thought only the floors above the crash site toppled over. The news on the radio was unimaginable-the entire 110 stories of the World Trade Center lay in ruins. About an hour later the twin lay next to its mirror image. UNBELIEVABLE! I heard the call for physicians to report to St. Vincent's Hospital to aid in treating thousands of expected injuries. As I am a runner and have jogged to the World Trade Center round trip from my office, it was difficult to rationalize the "I can't get there" excuse. I packed up two backpacks of medical supplies including surgical masks for the incredible amount of dust and smoke I could see from about three miles away. I then called my wife to advise her of my plans. She only voiced a religious objection to my excursion and made me promise that I, a descendent of the priestly family of Aaron (brother of Moses) who should not be in contact with bodies, would call our Rabbi and ask bis opinion. I did call the Rabbi's office; the secretary said he was not in. I was now in compliance with my spouse's wishes. I then went to the fire station next to my office only to find nobody home. Every available squad in the city bad been called to the scene. Next I went into Dixon•s Bike Shop and requested a bike, lock and helmet as I was going to the disaster to render medical aid. These items were happily supplied, despite my admonition of possibly not returning them. "Just go," I was advised. I loaded up my gear and took off for the Brooklyn Bridge. As my bike left the curb, my bookkeeper, a recent refugee from Croatia to the freedom of America, accosted me with tears in her eyes, "We are with you and appreciate what you are doing. Good luck." People covered with white dust and ash were coming from the city as I approached the bridge. I was directed to a bus transporting medical personnel at the foot of the bridge. Most of the people on this bus were attending a convention for emergency medical responders at the Brooklyn Marriott Hotel. They were from Canada, Iowa, North Carolina, Vermont and other serene sounding places. "Welcome to New York," I said. The other side of the bridge was a war scene. Ash and dust two inches thick was scattered about the streets for blocks. Papers and building detritus turned the city streets into a giant junkyard. We were transported to the courtyard of the Solomon Smith Barney Building on Greenwich Street, about four blocks from Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex. About six hours later, I watched as this building also collapsed to the ground, a victim of the twin tower collapse and uncontrolled fires. We had everything we needed at our critical care site. Our "MASH" unit included tables to use as beds, police tape tied to building columns for IV poles, Oxygen cylinders, bandages, bum dressings, and a large array of support personnel, including clergy and crisis counselors. There was only a shortage of survivors. Our critical care area did not have a single patient. More than 25 ambulances were waiting to transport our patients who never materialized. The city sent electricians to provide floodlights for our medical unit. Bottled water by the case was donateq along with fresh deli. The facilities of the Smith Barney building were available for our use. An elderly neighborhood lady came to us with her combination shopping cart/walker to donate clean towels. Our medical unit remained puzzled. Where were all the survivors going? After being "ready" for about eight hours, I was now ready to leave. I grabbed my now empty backpacks and rode my commandeered mountain bike back to Brooklyn over the Manhattan Bridge. The news reports answered my questions about survivors. There were very few presenting themselves four hours after this terror first struck. St. Vincent's Hospital, the primary designated receiving area, only reported two new patients from l 0:00 p.m. the evening of the disaster to 4:00 a.m. the next morning. The following day I learned that 12 firemen from the fire station next to my office were among the 300 missing fire fighters. I watched the horror on TV with the rest of the country. People plunging 80 floors to their deaths. Live video of both planes crashing into the Towers. What a nightmare! Five thousand people missing and presumed dead. Particularly disheartening was the interview with the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a firm that lost 700 employees. The 1,500 children of this firm want to know where their daddies are. The wives want to know where the next paycheck is coming from. Now it is personal. The country wants to know why. JFK advises, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." And the collective conscience of the country sings "God Bless America." Arnold Berlin, MD FACP Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine Weill Medical College of Cornell University 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY - THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. Aprll2002 �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Recertification The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. from May through December 2002. All programs are geared to improve the job skiJls of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritimeindustry and- in times of conflict-the nation's security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course's start date. The courses listed here wrn begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Bosun October 7 November 1 Steward July 8 August 2 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Oiler September 16 November 11 October 25 December 20 QMED - Junior Engineer September 30 December 20 Welding May 6 June 10 July 1 August 19 September 23 October 21 November 18 May24 June 28 July 19 September 6 October 3 Novembers December 6 Marine Electrical Maintenance I June 17 July26 Deck Upgrading Courses Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Able Seaman May 13 September 30 October28 June7 October 25 November 22 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* June24 July 15 August 19 September 23 October 14 June 28 July 19 August23 September 27 October 18 Bridge Resource Management (BRM) ~ Inland Julyl September 30 October 21 November 11 December9 July5 October4 October 25 November 15 Decemberl3 ·• Bridge Resource Management (BRM)- Unfunited* May6 August26 May IO August 30 (*mUJ1 have radar uttlimited) (*prereqJtiSµe r~uired) Safety Specialty Courses Course Arrival Date Date of Completion Advanced Firefighting May6 October 7 December 2 May17 October 18 December 13 Government Vessels May27 July8 September 23 June 14 July 26 · October 11 July 15 December 2 July 26 December 13 August 5 September 23 October 28 August 9 September 27 November 1 May:.:t3 May 17 May24 M.-y,31 June 7 . June 21 June 28 Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* (*must have basic fire fighting) Tankerman (PlC) GMl>ss'/simulator) May31 May20 July8 October7 ··November4 December 2 · .·;~ffeboaiman/Water Survival July 19 October 18 ~ No~~mberlS December 13 Basic Fire Fighting!STCW May20 May27 .June 3 · May13 :May24 September 16 October 14 September 27 October 25 June 10 June14 July 15 August 19 September 36 October 28 July Augnst23 October4 November 1 JuneJ9 . Radar Barge~ (*must have basie fire fighting) August 14 June 17 June 24 . July :1 July 8 July 15 August S STCW Medical Care Provider Steward Upgrading Courses Jan'!~!~. 1. July l2 July 19 ;\.ug.~st .9 · August 12 · _ August 16 (more will be announced next month) June7 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley O~erations modules start ~ eYery week beginni11g ~~nuary 7. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning Ju~<S May20 August 12 October 21 May24 August 16 October 25 Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, ..QMED, ,£0WT,. Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction t~ compl!~~r.s co~rse will be self-study. -···-~£:..:·.:.......... -·-·-·-·-: -·-·-·-·-~-·-·-·-·-··-··-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·:_.,_.-..._,_.,_._,_~·-·-·---·~·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·- UPGRADING APPLICATION With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent_· One hundred and twenty (120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and QMED applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $280 with their application. The Payment should be made with a money order only. payable to LMSS. BEGIN DATE COURSE Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ Deep Sea Member D If the following END DATE Date of Birth _ _ __ __ _ __ Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security# _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ Book# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Seniority _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ Department U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ LAST VESSEL: - - - -- -- - - -- - - - - - Rating: _ _ _ __ Date On: Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? DYes DNo If yes, class# _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? DYes DNo If yes, course(s) taken - -- - - - - -- -- - - - - - - -- -- - Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? D Yes D No Firefighting: Primary language spoken Apri/2002 D Yes D No CPR: D Yes DNo -----------~ Date Off: SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ DATE NOTE.- Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only ifyou present original receipts and successfally complete the course. If you have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4102 Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes Able Bodied Seaman - Seafarers who successfully completed the AB course March 1 are (in alphabetical order) Jeff Bruton, Bernard Clark, Mark Cooper, Hector Cumba, John Daunoras, Christopher Dunn, Trevorous Ellison, Sean Farra, Kenney Gaston, Willie Harrington, Travis Hosea, Harlan Hulst, Ronnie Jackson, Michael Knitter, David Lund, David Martz, Abraham Medina, James Morris, Isaac Spencer, Michael Thomas and Joseph Tier. Able Bodied Seaman - Also in the course which graduated March 1 are (in alphabetical order) Jess Chalker, Christopher Dionio, Paul Gohs, James Hall, Jason Hudkins, Uverna Johnson, William Jordan, Anthony Lieto, Cesar Lopez, Keolamauloaohawaiiloa Mowat, Robert O'Neal, Anthony Pace, Robert Stellon, Gary Toomer, Zachary Toye, Bruce Weathers and Jomo Young. Third Mate - Upgrading Seafarers completing the third mate course in April are (from left, kneeling) Christopher Kalinowski, Eddie Townsend, (standing) John Shivers, Lee Gulley, Mark Stabler, Frank Gray, Stephen Blanchard, Stacy Harris (instructor), Edward Hervias, David Hawkins and William Buhrig. Government Vessels - Graduating from the government vessels course Feb. 22 are (in no particular order) Andy Cukasiewicz, Richard Gould, Niven Hurlston, George Gauggel, Darnell O'Hara, Leander Garrett, Geoffrey Denesse, Mihail Bruck, Tavis Almer, Matthew Kloxin, Anthony Jones, Melvin Espaillat, Jose de Souza Jr., Sidnei Barboza, David House, Dain Medow, Thomas Almodovar, Roger Abramson, Marvin Smith, David Wakeman, Brian Robison, Vicente Magbanua, Charles Lewis , Theresa Ballard, Barry Mccaslin II, Samuel Garrett, Alex Przytulski, Edward Hoover, David Henson, Justo Lino, Erik Lingren and Randall Kramer. ARPA- Upgrading SIU members who enhanced their skills in automatic radar and plotting aids in the course, which ended March 1, are (from left, front row) Phillip Inman, Stella Zebrowski, James Dixon, (standing) William Heu, Lee Henry and Bill Harvell. WeldingInstructor Buzzy Andrews is flanked by his students in the welding class, which graduated Feb. 22. They are Jessie Bongolan (left) and Salvador Baclayon. Any student who has registered for a class and finds-for whatever reason-that he or she cannot attend, please inform the admissions department so that another student may take that place. Computer Lab Classes Recent graduates of the computer lab at the Paul Hall Center pose with their certificates. In the photo at left are (from left, front row) Phillip Wright. a deck department member who sails from Port Everglades, Fla. and Brian Robison, an engine department member from Hawaii. In the back row are their instructor, Rick Prucha, and steward department member Gerhard Schwarz from New York. Both Wright and Schwarz mastered the Computer Basics course as well as Windows 95. Robison completed Windows 95 and Beginning Excel. Also with instructor Rick Prucha in the photo at right are (seated from left) Earl Hicks, who ships from Algonac, and Walter Napper, who sails from San Francisco. Both received certificates for completion of Windows 95 and Computer Basics. 22 Seafanus LOS �Paul Hall Center Classes Amado Abaniel, Hanif Abdul-Hakeem, Mohamed Abdullah, Robyn Anderson, Robert Arana, John Bennifield, Joseph Brown , Richard Cavalier, Robert Coleman, Juan Colon, Angel Corchado, Emilio Cordova, Denis Cossio, Daniel Crawford, Douglas Davies, Ervin Davis, Richard Davis and Geoffrey Denesse. Basic Safety Training Classes James Doyle, Jorge Ellis, James Fisher, Hector Ginel, Tawny Herron, Arthur Horner, Gregory Jackson, Paul Jagger, Claudia Kammeyer, Peter Littman, Warren Lombard, Harvey McClung, Michael McNally, Gloria Melluish , Ali Mohamed, Ramli Mohamed, Abdul Muflihi, Tracey Newsome, Charles Gooch and Thomas Kingsbury. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Gavina Octaviano, Lester Pace, Jeffrey Parsley, Emmanuel Paul, Roger Phelps, William Powell , Osvaldo Ramos, Samuel Reed 111, Philip Reynolds, Franklin Robertson , Roy Robinson Jr., Jimmie Robles, Gincezar Relogo, Luiz Ruiz, Allen Runnion , Hector Sanchez, Walter Schoppe IV, Cecil Scipio and Mark Smith. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Jonny Cruz, Abraham Daif, John Dassel , Sam Fusco. Cristobal Garcia, Michael Gay, Hugh Gibbs, Robert Hardin, Samuel Harris, Jason Haase, John Hayes, Robert Henriquez, Ricardo Hernandez, Joseph Jenkins Jr., Harry Kimble Jr. and Abraham Lagasca. ~ Sjamsidar Madjidji, Ruben Manalansan, Adolfo Maramba, Louis Mastrototaro, Michael McWilliams, Kevin Nolan, John Palmer, Norberto Prats, Hasan Rahman, Reyes Ramos, Ronnie Richardson , Jayson Rosario, Anthony Lenard, Frederick Saffo, Joseph Saxon, Kevin Shelby, Marcio Silva , Phillip Sistrunk, Celedonia Roman, John Nelson and Kaare O'Hara. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Ahmed Abdullah, Mousa Ali, Frank Anonsen , Guadalupe Banda, Joseph Barry 11, Jon Beard, William Belcher, Donald Benjamin, Joseph Brown, Carlos Cacho, Eric Campbell, Jerry Chelle, Harry Claar II, Brett Clark, Charles Collier Jr., Bruce Collins, Charles Dail, Earl Dail, Donald Davis, William Davis Jr. and David Gordius. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Toney Smith , Will ie Smith , William Synan 111 , Jeffrey Treadwell, Bradley Troutner, Jorge Turcios, Rene Turcios, Stephen Valencia, Michael Warren , Billy Watson, Taylor Watson , Lauren Welch , Kevin Williams , Harry Williams Jr., Franz Winiker, Stanley Vane and David Gordius. Thomas Smith , Jerry Squires, Chris Stearns, John Stolberg, Douglas Swets, Eric Taylor, James Tolan Jr., Luis Valerio, Ernesto Villanueva, Michael Vogell , Vernon Wallen, Deralle Watson, Jimmy White Jr., Stanley Williams, Wilbert Wood Jr., Kadatema Yague, Dean Yannuzzi and Kevin Young . (Note: Not all are pictured.) Seafarers LOG 23 �Pension Fund Notlftcatlons: MCS Supplementary Pension Plan - p. 10 Great Lakes Tug & Dredge Pension Plan - p. 10 Seafarers Pension Plan - p. 11 Seafarers Moaey Purchase Peaslon Plan - p. 11 e Since the Gold Rush days of the 1800s, the San Francisco Bay area has continued to expand its varied operations to the point where, today, it can handle just about any type of cargo. During a recent visit to a number of SIU-contracted ships, both in the port of San Francisco, itself, as well as across the bay in Stockton and Richmond, this diversification was in evidence. SIU representatives met with crew members aboard the Admiral William M Callaghan, the Cape Horn and the Cape Hudson (all ea vehicle cargo ships in the Ready Reserve Force), the Liberty Wave (a grain carrier) and the Coast Range (a tanker). Shipboard union meetings and payoffs provided a good forum for Seafarers to be brought up to speed on the latest news from within the union and the maritime industry. These photos highlight a few of the activities on board those vessels. When you're feeling hungry, these are the men to see aboard the Liberty Wave: (from left) Steward/Baker Joseph S. Smith, Chief Cook Jorge Bernardez and Unlicensed Apprentice John Jackson. Captain Peter Grealy (left) poses with SIU Rep Isaiah William aboard the William M. Callaghan. Right: Lowell Lemm (standing) is the electrician on the William M. Callaghan. With him is the 2nd engineer. . Crew members from the Cape Horn and Cape Hudson joined forces for a shipboard union meeting. From the left (standing) are SIU Rep Archie Ware, Electrician John Ropp, SIU Rep Isaiah William, Steward Cordell Braxton, Utility Messman Kenneth Huddleston, (kneeling) Utility Messman Edison lnuman, Chief Steward Clarke William and DMAC Eddie Harrison . • Working aboard deck on the Coast Range are AB Bernard (left) and Bosun John Mossburger. Above: Bosun Paul Borg makes repairs to a block on the boom of the William M. Callaghan. Below: Phillip W. Widmer, an unlicensed apprentice aboard the Liberty Wave, overhauls the steam line. Bosun Rudy A. Santos (left) , just joined the Liberty Wave and is getting a tour of the Liberty Maritime vessel from the departing bosun, Jim Saunder. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2002 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU HITS THE HILL FOR ENERGY PLAN PENSIONERS GET $1,000 BONUS STEEL INDUSTRY RECEIVES SOME RELIEF FINANCIAL COMMITTEE OKAYS 2001 RECORDS WAR ON TERRORISM HEIGHTENS U.S. MERCHANT MARINE'S VALUE NEW DREDGE JOINS SIU FLEET SORESI APPOINTED SIU ATLANTIC DISTRICT VP ARNOLD, LUEDTKE SEAFARERS APPROVE NEW CONTRACTS CONTAINER SECURITY, EMPLOYEE IDS RECEIVE CONGRESSIONAL ATTENTION EMPLOYMENT REPORT SENDS MIXED SIGNALS ADM. COLLINS CONFIRMED TO DIRECT USCG KEY SUPPORT VOICED FOR MSP, JONES ACT PORT, SHIPBOARD SECURITY TAKE ON NEW URGENCY EMPHASIS ON ORGANIZING WHAT A DIFFERENCE 15 YEARS MAKE RECERTIFIED STEWARD GARNERS NEW HONOR, CREDITS PINEY POINT DETERMINED SEAFARER EARNS MATE'S LICENSE DIVERSE GROUP DISCOVERS COMMON PATH TO SUCCESS MERCHANT MARINERS INCLUDED IN VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT FIRST TIME MMD APPLICANTS MUST TAKE OATH IN PERSON ARRESTS MADE IN ALASKA POLLUTION CASE INVOLVING TWO RUNAWAY FLAG VESSELS SPANNING THE GLOBE WITH THE SIU SIU SHIPPING IN THE BAY AREA Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/2002 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. 64, No. 4 2002 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/67253b5c00063c909464187365085ad2.pdf d608563346b453ee9babe0da18af93e7 PDF Text Text Volume 65, Number 4 www.seafarers.org April 2003 Supporting Our Troops Photo courtesy Port of Tacoma More than 2,000 SIU members are crewing military support ships as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At right, the SIUcrewed Cape Intrepid—one of more than 100 Seafarerscrewed vessels involved in the campaign—loads military trucks in Tacoma, Wash. As the war continued, General John W. Handy (inset), head of the U.S. Transportation Command, praised Seafarers and SIU President Mike Sacco in an inspiring letter. Page 3. Gen. John W. Handy More New Jobs for Seafarers The SIU recently gained new shipboard job opportunities with the addition of the cable ship Tyco Decisive (above), plus a newly contracted Keystone tanker. Seafarers also were aboard the new TOTE containership Midnight Sun last month when the vessel successfully completed sea trials. Also, SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Co. announced the keel laying Page 4 for the first in a series of new builds. Page 2. ITF Assists Crew New Privacy Rules Page 2 MTD Charts Course For Continued Revitalization During meetings of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department’s executive board, MTD officials and representatives from Congress, the administration and the U.S. fleet discussed ways to continue revitalizing the industry. Here, MTD (and SIU) President Mike Sacco (left) welcomes U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) to the meetings in Bal Harbour, Fla. Pages 3, 8, 9. �President’s Report 6XSSRUWLQJ�2 2XU�7 7URRSV (YHQ�EHIRUH�WKH�ZDU�LQ�,UDT�RIILFLDOO\�EHJDQ��6,8�PHPEHUV DQVZHUHG�RXU�QDWLRQ©V�FDOO� 7KURXJK�WKH�DFWLYDWLRQ�RI�GR]HQV�RI�5HDG\ 5HVHUYH�)RUFH�YHVVHOV�DQG�WKH�PRELOL]DWLRQ�RI 0LOLWDU\�6HDOLIW�&RPPDQG�VKLSV�LQ�WKH�ZHHNV�DQG PRQWKV�OHDGLQJ�XS�WR�WKH�ZDU��6HDIDUHUV�UHDGLO\ FOLPEHG�WKH�JDQJZD\V��7KH\�PHW�WKHLU�DFWLYDWLRQ GHDGOLQHV�ZLWKRXW�IDLO��'HVSLWH�WKH�SRWHQWLDO�GDQ� JHUV��6HDIDUHUV�HVVHQWLDOO\�VDLG��¦%ULQJ�LW�RQ�§ )RU�XV��WKLV�LV�QRWKLQJ�QHZ��7KURXJKRXW�RXU���� \HDU�KLVWRU\��6HDIDUHUV�DOZD\V�KDYH�GHOLYHUHG�WKH 0LFKDHO�6DFFR JRRGV�IRU�RXU�WURRSV��)URP�:RUOG�:DU�,,�ULJKW WKURXJK�WR�WRGD\��WKH�6,8�SURXGO\�KDV�SURYLGHG YLWDO�VHDOLIW�VXSSRUW¥LQ�WKH�IRUP�RI�OR\DO��ZHOO�WUDLQHG��UHOLDEOH�VKLS� ERDUG�PDQSRZHU��:H�GR�WKH�MRE��ZKHUHYHU�DQG�ZKHQHYHU�QHHGHG� :RUGV�FDQQRW�GR�MXVWLFH�WR�WKH�SULGH�,�IHHO�LQ�NQRZLQJ�WKDW�RXU PHPEHUV�RQFH�DJDLQ�DUH�GHPRQVWUDWLQJ�WKHLU�URFN�VROLG�FRPPLWPHQW WR�SURWHFWLQJ�RXU�IUHHGRP�DQG��LQ�WKLV�FDVH��WR�VXSSRUWLQJ�WKH�OLEHUD� WLRQ�RI�,UDTL�FLYLOLDQV��,©P�QRW�WKH�OHDVW�ELW�VXUSULVHG��DQG�,�WKDQN�HDFK DQG�HYHU\�6,8�EURWKHU�DQG�VLVWHU�IRU�WKHLU�GHGLFDWLRQ� ,�DOVR�ZDQW�WR�H[WHQG�P\�GHHSHVW��PRVW�VLQFHUH�WKDQNV��VXSSRUW DQG�DGPLUDWLRQ�IRU�WKH�8�6��DQG�DOOLHG�WURRSV�ZKR�DUH�ILJKWLQJ�WKH ZDU��&UHGLEOH�SROOV�FRQVLVWHQWO\�VKRZ�WKDW�PRVW�$PHULFDQV�VXSSRUW WKH�PLVVLRQ�WR�GLVDUP�6DGGDP�+XVVHLQ�DQG�IUHH�LQQRFHQW�,UDTLV�IURP WKH�FOXWFKHV�RI�WKLV�WHUULEOH�GLFWDWRU��7R�RXU�WURRSV��PDNH�QR�PLVWDNH� <RXU�FRXQWU\�VWDQGV�EHKLQG�\RX�DQG�SUD\V�IRU�\RXU�VXFFHVV� ,Q�WKH�PLGVW�RI�WKLV�FRQIOLFW��,�UHFHLYHG�D�ZRQGHUIXO�OHWWHU�IURP *HQHUDO�-RKQ�+DQG\��WKH�KHDG�RI�WKH�8�6��7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ�&RPPDQG� WKDQNLQJ�6HDIDUHUV�IRU�WKHLU�FRQWULEXWLRQ�WR�WKH�ZDU�HIIRUW��7KH�IXOO OHWWHU�LV�UHSULQWHG�RQ�WKH�QH[W�SDJH��DQG�,�XUJH�\RX�WR�UHDG�LW� *HQHUDO�+DQG\©V�SUDLVH�RI�6HDIDUHUV�LV�QRW�WR�EH�WDNHQ�OLJKWO\��,©YH EHHQ�DURXQG�ORQJ�HQRXJK�WR�NQRZ�WKDW�KLJK�UDQNLQJ�PLOLWDU\�RIILFLDOV DUHQ©W�LQ�WKH�KDELW�RI�WRVVLQJ�RXW�DUWLILFLDO�FRPSOLPHQWV�WR�XQLRQV�RU FLYLOLDQ�PDULQHUV��<RX�FDQ�EHW�WKDW�KH�PHDQV�HYHU\�ZRUG�RI�SUDLVH�IRU WKH�6,8��+LV�OHWWHU�HDVLO\�UDQNV�DPRQJ�WKH�PRVW�JUDWLI\LQJ�DQG�KXP� EOLQJ�PHVVDJHV�,©YH�HYHU�UHFHLYHG��,W©V�VRPHWKLQJ�HYHU\�6HDIDUHU VKRXOG�EH�SURXG�RI� ,W©V�ZRUWK�QRWLQJ�WKDW�HYHQ�DV�ZH�KDYH�GHYRWHG�ORWV�RI�UHVRXUFHV�WR 2SHUDWLRQ�,UDTL�)UHHGRP��WKH�6,8�LQ�QR�ZD\�LV�QHJOHFWLQJ�RXU�FRP� PLWPHQWV�WR�WKH�FRPPHUFLDO�VHFWRU�RI�WKH�8�6��0HUFKDQW�0DULQH� 7KRXVDQGV�RI�RWKHU�6HDIDUHUV�DUH�KDQGOLQJ�WKH�LPSRUWDQW�MRE�RI�NHHS� LQJ�8�6��IODJ�FRPPHUFLDO�YHVVHOV�RSHUDWLQJ�KHUH�DQG�DEURDG��:H©YH EHHQ�SUHSDULQJ�IRU�WKLV�VLWXDWLRQ�IRU�D�ORQJ�WLPH��WKURXJK�VWHSSHG�XS UHFUXLWLQJ�DQG�WUDLQLQJ��:H©UH�UHDG\�IRU�ZKDWHYHU�OLHV�DKHDG� $ORQJ�WKRVH�VDPH�OLQHV��ZH�KDYHQ©W�UHVWHG�LQ�RXU�RQJRLQJ�HIIRUWV WR�VHFXUH�QHZ�VKLSERDUG�MRE�RSSRUWXQLWLHV�IRU�6,8�PHPEHUV��7KH UHVXOWV�VSHDN�IRU�WKHPVHOYHV��,Q�WKH�ODVW�PRQWK�DORQH��ZH©YH�FUHZHG XS�D�EUDQG�QHZ�FDEOH�VKLS�IRU�7\FR��KHOSHG�VHH�D�QHZ�727(�FRQWDLQ� HUVKLS�WKURXJK�VXFFHVVIXO�VHD�WULDOV��DQG�ZHOFRPHG�QHZ�WRQQDJH�LQ WKH�.H\VWRQH�IOHHW��$OVR�LQ�WKH�QHZV�LV�D�NHHO�OD\LQJ�IRU�D�QHZ�$ODVND 7DQNHU�&RPSDQ\�YHVVHO�WKDW�ZLOO�EH�FUHZHG�E\�6HDIDUHUV� :LWKRXW�D�GRXEW��KRZHYHU��LW©V�VDIH�WR�VD\�WKDW�D�ELJ�SDUW�RI�WKH FROOHFWLYH�FRQVFLRXVQHVV�RI�WKH�6,8�LV�IRFXVHG�RQ�RXU�PLVVLRQ�LQ�,UDT� *HQHUDO�+DQG\�DQG�WKH�UHVW�RI�WKH�PLOLWDU\�DOUHDG\�KDYH�VHHQ�WKH 6,8©V�FRPPLWPHQW�WR�VXSSRUW�RXU�WURRSV��7KDW�FRPPLWPHQW�ZLOO�QRW ZDYHU¥HYHU� 0D\�*RG�FRQWLQXH�WR�EOHVV�RXU�6HDIDUHUV��RXU�WURRSV�DQG�RXU 8QLWHG�6WDWHV�RI�$PHULFD� Volume 65, Number 4 April 2003 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org 7KH� 6HDIDUHUV� /2* �,661� ����������� LV� SXEOLVKHG� PRQWKO\� E\�WKH�6HDIDUHUV�,QWHUQDWLRQDO�8QLRQ��$WODQWLF��*XOI��/DNHV DQG� ,QODQG� :DWHUV� 'LVWULFW�108�� $)/�&,2�� ����� $XWK :D\�� &DPS� 6SULQJV�� 0'� � ������� 7HOHSKRQH� ������ ���� ������ 3HULRGLFDOV� SRVWDJH� SDLG� DW� 6RXWKHUQ� 0DU\ODQG ������������32670$67(5��6HQG�DGGUHVV�FKDQJHV�WR�WKH 6HDIDUHUV� /2*�� ����� $XWK� :D\�� &DPS� 6SULQJV�� 0'� ������ &RPPXQLFDWLRQV� 'LUHFWRU�� -RUGDQ� %LVFDUGR�� 0DQDJLQJ (GLWRU�3URGXFWLRQ�� 'HERUDK� $�� +LUWHV�� $VVRFLDWH� (GLWRU�� -LP� *XWKULH�� $UW�� %LOO� %URZHU�� $GPLQLVWUDWLYH� 6XSSRUW� -HDQQH�7H[WRU� &RS\ULJKW�‹������6HDIDUHUV�,QWHUQDWLRQDO�8QLRQ��$*/,:' $OO�5LJKWV�5HVHUYHG� NOTICE: NEW POLICY REGARDING VACATION APPLICATIONS Effective immediately, original payroll vouchers must be submitted to verify employment—along with any Coast Guard discharges— for all vacation applications. These original documents will be returned to the applicant along with the vacation check. Failure to submit original pay vouchers could delay the processing of vacation benefits. 2 Seafarers LOG SIU Gains More Jobs 0DUFK� ZDV� D� ELJ� PRQWK� LQ WHUPV� RI� QHZ� VKLSERDUG� MRE RSSRUWXQLWLHV�IRU�6HDIDUHUV� 6,8� PHPEHUV� EHJDQ� FUHZLQJ XS� D� EUDQG� QHZ� FDEOH� VKLS� �WKH 7\FR� 'HFLVLYH��� DQG� WKH\� DOVR KHOSHG� VXFFHVVIXOO\� JXLGH� WKH QHZ�7RWHP�2FHDQ�7UDLOHU�([SUHVV �727(�� FRQWDLQHUVKLS� 0LGQLJKW 6XQ�WKURXJK�VHD�WULDOV� $OVR�� WKH� XQLRQ� DQQRXQFHG WKDW� 6,8�FRQWUDFWHG� .H\VWRQH� LV DGGLQJ� QHZ� WRQQDJH� LQ� WKH� IRUP RI�WKH�WDQNHU�'HODZDUH�7UDGHU� )LQDOO\��6,8�FRQWUDFWHG�$ODVND 7DQNHU� &R�� DQQRXQFHG� WKH� NHHO OD\LQJ� IRU� WKH� $ODVNDQ� )URQWLHU� WKH� ILUVW� RI� IRXU� GRXEOH�KXOO� RLO WDQNHUV�EHLQJ�EXLOW�DW�WKH�1DWLRQDO 6WHHO�DQG�6KLSEXLOGLQJ�&RPSDQ\ \DUG� LQ� 6DQ� 'LHJR�� 7KH� QHZ WDQNHU� ZLOO� IHDWXUH� WZLQ�VKDIW GLHVHO�HOHFWULF�SURSXOVLRQ� ¦7KHVH� GHYHORSPHQWV� GHPRQ� VWUDWH�WKH�6,8©V�RQJRLQJ�FRPPLW� PHQW�WR�VHFXUH�QHZ��JRRG�MREV�IRU WKH�PHPEHUVKLS�§�VWDWHG�6,8�9LFH 3UHVLGHQW�&RQWUDFWV�$XJLH�7HOOH]� ¦7KH� UHOLDELOLW\� DQG� RXWVWDQGLQJ SHUIRUPDQFH� RI� 6HDIDUHUV� DERDUG DOO� W\SHV� RI� YHVVHOV� JRHV� D� ORQJ ZD\�WRZDUG�DFKLHYLQJ�WKDW�JRDO�§ 7KH� 7\FR� 'HFLVLYH LV� D� VLVWHU VKLS� WR� WKH� 6,8�FUHZHG� 7\FR 'HSHQGDEOH�� ZKLFK� ZDV� FKULV� WHQHG�HDUO\�WKLV�\HDU�LQ�+RQROXOX� 7KH� 'HFLVLYH�� VFKHGXOHG� WR� HQWHU VHUYLFH� WKLV� PRQWK�� LV� ���� IHHW ORQJ� DQG� ��� IHHW� ZLGH�� ,W� KDV� D UHJLVWHUHG� JURVV� WRQQDJH� RI �������DQG�D�VHUYLFH�VSHHG�RI��� NQRWV� 7KH�0LGQLJKW�6XQ LV�H[SHFWHG WR�HQWHU�WKH�$ODVND�WUDGH�RQ�$SULO ��� The SIU-crewed 0LGQLJKW�6XQ undergoes sea trials off the coast of Southern California. 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Known as “award fees,” the payments were approved after the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) rated the work done by mariners aboard Maersk and Patriot/ASM ships as superior. The companies already have begun mailing bonus checks to eligible mariners who sailed aboard the following USNS vessels in 2002: Bob Hope, Watson, Soderman, Sisler, Dahl, Watkins, Red Cloud, Pomeroy, Charlton, Yano, Shughart, Seay, Mendonca, Gordon, Gilliland, Fisher and Pililaau. For the Maersk ships, crew members must have completed a full 120-day assignment in order to qualify for the award fee. LMSR stands for large, medium-speed, rollon/roll-off vessel. April 2003 �SIU Delivers for U.S. Troops 0RUH�WKDQ�������6HDIDUHUV�&UHZ�8S�6KLSV�IRU�¨,UDTL�)UHHGRP© 8SKROGLQJ� WKH� WUDGLWLRQ� RI WKHLU� XQLRQ� DV� ZHOO� DV� WKDW� RI� WKH HQWLUH�8�6��0HUFKDQW�0DULQH��6,8 PHPEHUV� DUH� SURYLGLQJ� NH\� VXS� SRUW�IRU�DOOLHG�WURRSV�LQYROYHG�LQ 2SHUDWLRQ�,UDTL�)UHHGRP� %\� ODWH� 0DUFK�� PRUH� WKDQ ������ 6HDIDUHUV� ZHUH� VDLOLQJ DERDUG� PLOLWDU\� VXSSRUW� VKLSV LQYROYHG�LQ�WKH�ZDU��7KDW�LQFOXGHV ��� VKLSV� IURP� WKH� 8�6�� 5HDG\ 5HVHUYH�)RUFH��55)��DQG����YHV� VHOV�WKDW�FRPSRVH�SDUW�RI�WKH�8�6� 0LOLWDU\�6HDOLIW�&RPPDQG��06&� IOHHW�� SOXV� DW� OHDVW� ��� VKLSV� IURP WKH� *RYHUQPHQW� 6HUYLFHV� 'LYL� VLRQ� $V� WKH� DFWLYDWLRQV� DQG� PREL� OL]DWLRQV� SURFHHGHG�� 6,8� 3UHVL� GHQW� 0LNH� 6DFFR� VHQW� D� OHWWHU� WR 3UHVLGHQW� %XVK� UHDIILUPLQJ� WKH XQLRQ©V� VXSSRUW� IRU� WKH� SUHVLGHQW DQG�IRU�WKH�RSHUDWLRQ��¦<RX�KDYH PDGH� LW� FOHDU� WKDW� WKLV� PLVVLRQ ZLOO� EHQHILW� QRW� RQO\� WKH RSSUHVVHG� FLWL]HQV� RI� ,UDT�� EXW DOVR�WKH�HQWLUH�IUHH�ZRUOG��<RX�FDQ FRXQW�RQ�WKH�6,8�HYHU\�VWHS�RI�WKH ZD\�§�6DFFR�ZURWH� %\� PLG�0DUFK�� VHYHUDO� VWHSV KDG� EHHQ� WDNHQ� WR� KHOS� HQVXUH ERWK� WKH� VDIHW\� RI� WKH� FLYLOLDQ� FUHZHG� VKLSV� DV� ZHOO� DV� WKHLU FDSDFLW\� WR� VXSSRUW� DOOLHG� IRUFHV� $ ODUJH� QXPEHU� RI� ¦)RUFH 3URWHFWLRQ� 7HDPV§� ZHUH� EHLQJ PRELOL]HG� DQG� VHQW� LQ� WKHDWHU� WR SURYLGH� VKLSERDUG� VHFXULW\� ZKLOH YHVVHOV� HQWHU�� XQORDG�� DQG� GHSDUW WKH� ¦KRW§� SRUWV�� $FFRUGLQJ� WR NQRZOHGJHDEOH�VRXUFHV��WKH�WHDPV ZLOO�GLVHPEDUN�RQFH�WKH�YHVVHO�LV RXW�RI�SRUW�DQG�UHDG\�WR�KHDG�RXW WR�VHD��7KH�WHDPV�DUH�EHLQJ�FUHDW� HG� IURP� 1DWLRQDO� *XDUG� IRUFHV LQFOXGLQJ�RYHU�����IURP�3XHUWR 5LFR� ZKR� KDYH� ODZ� HQIRUFH� PHQW� H[SHULHQFH�� 7KHVH� WHDPV ZLOO� ERDUG� DQG� ULGH� DOO� PHU� FKDQW�VKLSV�HQWHULQJ�WKH�DUHD� $GGLWLRQDOO\�� SURWHFWLYH JHDU� LQFOXGLQJ� FKHPLFDO�� ELR� ORJLFDO� DQG� UDGLRORJLFDO GHIHQVH� HTXLSPHQW� DQG� PHG� LFDO� NLWV� KDYH� EHHQ� VHQW� DQG ZLOO� EH� GHSOR\HG� LQ� IRUZDUG DUHDV� WR� EH� SODFHG� RQ� ERDUG YHVVHOV� HQWHULQJ� WKH� UHJLRQ� 7KH� JHDU� ZLOO� EH� ORDGHG� RQ WKH� YHVVHOV� LQ� WUDQVLW� RU� LQ GHVLJQDWHG�SRUWV� )LQDOO\�� VPDOO� SR[� DQG DQWKUD[� YDFFLQHV� DUH� EHLQJ VHQW�WR�IRUZDUG�DUHDV�WR�FRQ� WLQXH� WKH� LQRFXODWLRQ� SUR� JUDP� LQLWLDWHG� E\� WKH 'HIHQVH�'HSDUWPHQW� 8�6�� 7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ 6HFUHWDU\�1RUPDQ�0LQHWD� FRPPHQWLQJ�RQ�WKH�FXUUHQW PLVVLRQ�� QRWHG� WKDW� VXFK RSHUDWLRQV� DUH� QRWKLQJ QHZ� IRU� WKH� PHUFKDQW PDULQH�� ¦7KH� PDULWLPH FRPPXQLW\� KDV� VHUYHG $PHULFD� ZLWK� JUHDW� GLV� WLQFWLRQ� GXULQJ� HYHU\ PDMRU� FULVLV� LQ� RXU QDWLRQ©V� KLVWRU\�� DQG� WKH PDULQHUV� ZKR� FUHZ� WKH VKLSV� DUH� WKH� FRUQHU� VWRQH� RI� WKLV� HIIRUW�§ VDLG� 0LQHWD�� ¦)URP� WKH� 5HYROX� WLRQDU\� :DU�� WKURXJK� ERWK� :RUOG :DUV� DQG� XS� WR� WRGD\�� RXU PDULQHUV�KDYH�ZLOOLQJO\�GHIHQGHG DQG�VHUYHG�WKLV�QDWLRQ�ZLWK�HQWKX� VLDVP�DQG�YDORU�§ Gen. John W. Handy, the head of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRA1SCOM), offers high praise to Seafarers and to SIU President Mike Sacco in this letter from mid-March. Including Government Services Division vessels, more than 2,000 Seafarers are sailing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the same time, the union also is meeting all of its requirements in the commercial sector. On Brink of War, Merchant Marine’s Defense Role is Obvious, Appreciated 07'�%RDUG�$GGUHVVHV�.H\�0DULWLPH��/DERU ,VVXHV Photo courtesy U.S. Military Sealift Command Helicopters and other materiel are loaded onto the SIU-crewed 8616 %RE� +RSH, one of more than 100 Seafarers-crewed ships involved in the war. Seafarer Mark Canada, pictured aboard the RRF vessel 8616�:ULJKW during a recent activation, is among the 2,000-plus SIU members sailing in support of allied forces. Please be advised that SIU headquarters and all SIU hiring halls will be closed Monday, May 26, 2003 for the observance of Memorial Day (unless an emergency arises). Normal business hours will resume the following workday. 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Bill Directs Bonus For WWII Mariners $ SDLU� RI� ELOOV� VRRQ� PD\� EH FRQVLGHUHG� E\� WKH� 3HQQV\OYDQLD OHJLVODWXUH� ZKLFK�� LI� SDVVHG� ZRXOG�EHQHILW�FHUWDLQ�YHWHUDQV�LQ WKDW� VWDWH�� LQFOXGLQJ� PHUFKDQW PDULQHUV� 6WDWH� 5HSV�� -RVHSK� 3HWUDUFD DQG�-RKQ�0DKHU�DUH�DPRQJ�WKRVH VSRQVRULQJ�WKH�ELSDUWLVDQ�OHJLVOD� WLRQ� WKDW� ZRXOG� DVVLVW� VRPH� RI 3HQQV\OYDQLD©V� IRUPHU� VHUYLFH PHPEHUV�� 7KH\� DUH� DPRQJ� WKH FR�VSRQVRUV� RI� +RXVH� %LOO� ��� ZKLFK� ZRXOG� SURYLGH� PHUFKDQW PDULQHUV� ZKR� VHUYHG� RQ� DFWLYH GXW\�GXULQJ�:RUOG�:DU�,,�ZLWK�D ����� ERQXV� LQ� UHFRJQLWLRQ� IRU WKHLU�VHUYLFH� ¦$PHULFD©V� PHUFKDQW� PDULQ� HUV��ZKLOH�ODUJHO\�UHVSRQVLEOH�IRU RXU� FRXQWU\©V� VXFFHVV� LQ� :RUOG :DU�,,��DUH�RIWHQ�IRUJRWWHQ�ZKHQ ZH� WDON� DERXW� ZDU� YHWHUDQV�§ 3HWUDUFD�VDLG��¦7KHVH�EUDYH�LQGL� YLGXDOV� GLG� QRW� UHFHLYH� YHWHUDQ VWDWXV�XQWLO�������VRPH�HYHQ�KDG WR�ZDLW����\HDUV�EH\RQG�WKDW�§ %HFDXVH�RI�WKH�DEVHQFH�RI�YHW� HUDQ� VWDWXV�� WKH� HOHFWHG� RIILFLDO VDLG�� PHUFKDQW� PDULQHUV� GLG� QRW UHFHLYH� WKH� ILQDQFLDO� ERQXV� DQG RWKHU� EHQHILWV� JLYHQ� WR� PHQ� DQG Notice USSM Ships – Chinese Visas Effective immediately, Seafarers must possess a Chinese visa in order to sign on aboard any USSM vessel that calls on China. This change has been implemented to help ensure that, in the event of an injury or other medical emergency, prompt treatment can be rendered, along with repatriation if appropriate. The company is providing letters to the crew concerning how to obtain the visa. USSM also is reimbursing crew members for the cost of the visa, if applicable. According to USSM, a one-year, multiple-entry visa (C-Visa) is available at no fee to merchant mariners. To obtain a C-Visa, the following are required: visa application; passport-type photo; passport; confirmation letter. USSM will provide the confirmation letter. April 2003 ZRPHQ�LQ�RWKHU�EUDQFKHV�RI�VHU� YLFH�GXULQJ�WKH�ZDU��0RUH�WKDQ�� PLOOLRQ� :RUOG� :DU� ,,� YHWHUDQV FXUUHQWO\� OLYH� LQ� WKH� 8QLWHG 6WDWHV� ¦2XW�RI�DOO�RI�WKH�EUDQFKHV�RI DUPHG�VHUYLFH�GXULQJ�:RUOG�:DU ,,�� WKH� 8�6�� 0HUFKDQW� 0DULQH VXIIHUHG�WKH�ODUJHVW�SHUFHQWDJH�RI ZDU�UHODWHG� GHDWKV�§� 3HWUDUFD VDLG�� ¦2QH� RXW� RI� HYHU\� ��� ZKR VHUYHG�GLHG�IRU�WKHLU�FRXQWU\��7KH OHDVW� ZH� FDQ� GR� IRU� WKRVH� ZKR VXUYLYHG� LV� WR� FRPSHQVDWH� WKHP IRU�WKHLU�VHUYLFH�WR�3HQQV\OYDQLD DQG�$PHULFD�§ 7KH�PHUFKDQW�PDULQH�ELOO�ZDV DOVR�LQWURGXFHG�GXULQJ�WKH������ ���OHJLVODWLYH�VHVVLRQ�DQG�SDVVHG WKH� +RXVH� XQDQLPRXVO\�� 7KH 6HQDWH��KRZHYHU��QHYHU�YRWHG�RQ LW� 0HPEHUV� RI� 3HQQV\OYDQLD FKDSWHUV� RI� WKH� $PHULFDQ� 0HU� FKDQW� 0DULQH� 9HWHUDQV� DUH� HQ� FRXUDJLQJ� RWKHU� PHPEHUV� DQG FLWL]HQV� WKURXJKRXW� WKH� VWDWH� WR FRQWDFW�WKHLU�UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV�DQG DVN� WKHP� WR� VXSSRUW� +RXVH� %LOO ��� 3HWUDUFD�VDLG�KH�DOVR�ZLOO�FR� VSRQVRU� DQRWKHU� ELOO� IURP� WKH SDVW� VHVVLRQ� WKDW� ZLOO� VRRQ� EH UHLQWURGXFHG�� 7KLV� OHJLVODWLRQ� ZKLFK� GRHV� QRW� \HW� KDYH� D� ELOO QXPEHU�� ZRXOG� KHOS� GLVDEOHG 3HQQV\OYDQLD� YHWHUDQV� WR� DIIRUG WKHLU�SUHVFULSWLRQ�GUXJV� U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert (right), pictured with SIU President Mike Sacco during last month’s meeting of the Maritime Trades Department’s executive board, said that while the industry faces many key issues, supporting national defense and security requirements remains the Maritime Administration’s top priority. Notice U.S. Coast Guard Advisory Concerning Merchant Mariner Documents (February 28, 2003) The Coast Guard has implemented more thorough criminal record reviews for people seeking Merchant Mariner Documents (MMDs), and is now issuing the credentials on a more tamper-resistant and accountable card. The new security measures are part of the Coast Guard’s overall efforts to improve port, waterway, and maritime security. “The increased security concerns stemming from the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks have led us to scrutinize merchant mariner document applicants more closely, and change to a more secure type of card,” said Capt. Joe Brusseau, Director of Field Activities for the Coast Guard’s office of Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection. “We’ll be working closely with the maritime industry and individual mariners to implement these changes as smoothly as possible,” he said. The new MMDs—sometimes called “Z-cards,” or by their form number “CG-2838”—will be similar in appearance to the old cards but include several improvements for increased security including features to deter counterfeiting. Mariners with new applications or renewal requests already submitted will automatically be processed under the new system and will be notified if any additional information is needed. Mariners should know that while application procedures are essentially the same, mariners must now appear in person at a Coast Guard Regional Exam Center (REC) to prove their identity and provide fingerprints at some point in the process before receiving their new MMD. RECs, which issue MMDs, have been given guidance on prioritizing requests to ensure the fastest possible processing for mariners with a critical need for an MMD such as those directly involved in military loadouts and those actively engaged in sailing. The change to a more tamper-resistant card will provide both U.S. and foreign officials with greater confidence that the credentials are genuine, and ensure that any expired or fraudulent cards will be more easily spotted. Changes to the MMDs complement recent modernization and security changes made to Coast Guard issued merchant mariner licenses. Licenses are generally issued for ship’s officer positions such as master, mate, or chief engineer. MMDs are typically issued for crew positions such as qualified member of the engine department, able-bodied seaman or ordinary seaman. Both types of credentials are important for ensuring the safe and secure operation of U. S. merchant vessels. Over 123,000 people hold MMDs, but not all of them are actively working aboard ships. Note: As of February 4, Regional Exam Centers are prioritizing applications and requests for MMDs as follows: 1. Mariners who are, or are about to be, employed on a vessel directly involved with a military operation. A letter from the shipping company, labor union, ship management company, or government agency attesting to the ship’s military purpose and the mariner’s position is needed for this priority. 2. Mariners who are actively sailing. Evidence of current or scheduled employment on board a vessel, such as a letter or recent certificate of discharge is needed for this priority. 3. All other transactions based on date of receipt. For additional information on the new MMDs please contact the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center at (202) 493-1006. 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by the April 14, 2003 deadline. The privacy rules issued under the law (HIPAA) give certain rights to participants regarding their personal health information. These rights were detailed in the mailing’s Privacy Notice to Participants. Also included in the mailing were a cover letter explaining the contents, a statement by the Board of Trustees regarding privacy, copies of optical and other amendments to the NMU Welfare Plan adopted in 2002, revised claims and appeals procedures for the NMU Welfare Plan, authorizations for phone inquiries, a blank beneficiary form to update our records (if necessary) and a new Pension Summary Plan Description (SPD). Internally, procedures have been established to insure compliance with the privacy regulations. William J. Dennis, administrator, and Miriam Bove, benefits director, have been assigned the responsibility for administering the new procedures and providing training to staff and plan representatives. These changes have been implemented as mandated by the U. S. Government and will not affect the processing of claims or other administrative functions. 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The check goes to the 1ew York Firefighters 9�11 Disaster Relief Fund. Crew members from the two cruise ships unanimously voted to donate all of their crew funds (totaling ��0,000) to the IAFF fund and the 1ew York State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Foundation. The FOP check was presented late last year. Seafarers LOG 9 �LNG Crews Aid the Needy 6HDIDUHUV� DQG� RIILFHUV� DERDUG 3URQDY©V�/1*�YHVVHOV�KLVWRULFDO� O\�KDYH�SURYLGHG�FKDULWDEOH�DVVLV� WDQFH� WR� SRRU� DQG� QHHG\� SRSXOD� WLRQV�QHDU�SRUWV�RI�FDOO�ZKHUH�WKH\ DQFKRU�� 0HPEHUV� RI� WKH� 6,8� DQG $PHULFDQ� 0DULWLPH� 2IILFHUV �$02��DERDUG�WKUHH�/1*�YHVVHOV RQ� )HE�� ��� ZHUH� UHFRJQL]HG� IRU WKHLU� KXPDQLWDULDQ� HIIRUWV� DQG FRQWLQXHG� VXSSRUW� RI� WKH� ORFDO SHRSOH� ZKR� OLYH� QHDU� WKH� SRUW� RI %RQWDQJ� LQ� %RUQHR�� ,QGRQHVLD� $FFRUGLQJ� WR� &KLHI� 0DWH� -RKQ *RPDUG�� DQ� 6,8� KDZVHSLSHU DERDUG� WKH� /1*� 9LUJR�� 6,8� DQG $02� PHPEHUV� IURP� WKH� /1* &DSULFRUQ�� /1*� 7DXUXV DQG� KLV YHVVHO� FROOHFWHG� GRQDWLRQV� WRWDO� LQJ� ������� IRU� GLVSHUVDO� WR� WKH SHRSOH� RI� %RUQHR��7KH� IXQGV� DUH EHLQJ� GLVWULEXWHG� WR� DVVLVW� UXUDO VFKRROV��SXEOLF�KHDOWK�FHQWHUV�DQG WR� SURYLGH� IRRG� DQG� FORWKLQJ� IRU WKH�SRRU� *RPDUG�UHSUHVHQWHG�WKH�FUHZV IURP� WKH� WKUHH� YHVVHOV� DW� D� FHUH� PRQ\�ZKLFK�WRRN�SODFH�DW�D�ORFDO SXEOLF� KHDOWK� FHQWHU� ZKHUH� IRRG SDFNDJHV�ZRXOG�EH�GLVWULEXWHG��,W ZDV�IROORZHG�E\�D�YLVLW�WR�D�ORFDO VFKRRO� ZKHUH� SUHYLRXV� GRQDWLRQV KDG�EHHQ�VHQW� ¦:KHQ�,�DUULYHG��DW�WKH�KHDOWK FHQWHU��� LW� ZDV� DPD]LQJ� WR� VHH KXQGUHGV� RI� SHRSOH� JDWKHUHG� ž FOLQLF� GRFWRUV�� QXUVHV�� ORFDO� SHR� SOH��D�QHZV�VSRNHVSHUVRQ�DQG�ORWV RI� FKLOGUHQ�§� *RPDUG� VDLG�� ¦, FRXOGQ©W� KHOS� EXW� QRWLFH� WKDW PDQ\�RI�WKH�FKLOGUHQ�ZHUH�ZHDU� LQJ�2VDPD�ELQ�/DGHQ�7�VKLUWV�§ 6KRUWO\� DIWHU� KLV� DUULYDO�� KH WRXUHG� WKH� IDFLOLWLHV�� ¦,� KDG� WKH SOHDVXUH�RI�KDQGLQJ�RXW�DERXW���� IRRG� SDFNDJHV� WR� WKH� SRRU� DQG QHHG\�§� *RPDUG� VDLG�� ¦(DFK� EDJ Dority Stresses Organizing &RQWLQXHG�IURP�SDJH�� VWRUH�ZKHUH�KH�ZDV�ZRUNLQJ�DV�D FOHUN¥'RULW\� H[SODLQHG� WKDW :DO�0DUW�WRGD\�¦LV�VHWWLQJ�D�GLI� IHUHQW� NLQG� RI� VWDQGDUG�� <HDUV DJR��VRPH�RI�WKH�ELJJHVW�HPSOR\� HUV�XVHG�WR�EH�OHDGHUV��7KH\�ZHUH XVXDOO\� WKH� OHDGHUV� EHFDXVH� WKH\ ZHUH�RUJDQL]HG��<RX�ORRN�EDFN�DW *HQHUDO� 0RWRUV� ZKHQ� WKH\� ZHUH WKH�OHDGLQJ�FRPSDQ\�LQ�WKLV�FRXQ� WU\��7KH�SHRSOH�DW�*HQHUDO�0RWRUV PDNH� JRRG� PRQH\�� $QG� WKH\ PDNH�JRRG�PRQH\�EHFDXVH�RI�WKH 8QLWHG�$XWR�:RUNHUV��7KH\�VHW�D �IDLU�� VWDQGDUG�� DQG� RWKHU� SHRSOH PRYHG�WRZDUG�WKDW�VWDQGDUG�§ 1RZ�� :DO�0DUW©V� VL]H� DQG LQIOXHQFH� PDNHV� LW� DQ� HVVHQWLDO RUJDQL]LQJ� WDUJHW�� ¦7KH\©UH� VXFK D�WUHQG�VHWWHU�WKDW�WKHUH©V�QR�TXHV� WLRQ� WKH\©UH� JRLQJ� WR� GHILQH� WKH ZDJHV�LQ�WKH�UHWDLO�IRRG�LQGXVWU\�§ 'RULW\� VDLG�� ¦7KH\©UH� JRLQJ� WR GHILQH� WKH� KHDOWK� EHQHILWV� 7KH\©UH�JRLQJ�WR�GHILQH�WKH�SHQ� VLRQ� EHQHILWV�� 7KH\©UH� JRLQJ� WR GHILQH�WKH�ZKROH�VWDQGDUG�IRU�WKH IRRG�LQGXVWU\�DQG�WKDW©V�RXU�SURE� OHP�§ +H�DGGHG�WKDW�GHVSLWH�LWV�UHSX� WDWLRQ� DV� D� GLVFRXQW� RSHUDWLRQ� :DO�0DUW� KDV� EHHQ� TXLWH� SURI� LWDEOH� IRU� LWV� RZQHUV�� :KLOH� WKH DYHUDJH�:DO�0DUW� ZDJH� LV� ����� DQ� KRXU�� WKH� 8)&: SUHVLGHQW VWDWHG�� DQG� RQO\� D� WKLUG� RI� WKH HPSOR\HHV�KDYH�KHDOWK�LQVXUDQFH �IRU� ZKLFK� WKH\� SD\� DQ\ZKHUH IURP� ����� WR� ����� RXW� RI� WKHLU SD\FKHFN���ILYH�RI�WKH�ZRUOG©V��� ULFKHVW�SHRSOH�DUH�:DO�0DUW�KHLUV�� ¦:KDW� ZH� VHH� LQ� RXU� RZQ QHJRWLDWLRQV� LQ� WKH� IRRG� LQGXV� WU\�§� KH� FRQWLQXHG�� ¦LV� WKH HPSOR\HUV�FRPH�LQ�DQG�VD\�:DO� 0DUW�LV�VXFK�VWLII�FRPSHWLWLRQ�WKDW ZH�KDYH�WR�SXVK�RXU�ZDJHV�GRZQ� :H� KDYH� WR� KDYH� FXWV� LQ� RXU KHDOWK�DQG�ZHOIDUH��:H�FDQ©W�FRQ� WLQXH�WR�GR�WKLV�SHQVLRQ�WKLQJ��:H FDQ©W� FRQWLQXH� WR� SD\� SHRSOH RYHUWLPH�� :H� FDQ©W� FRQWLQXH� WR JLYH� WKHP� SUHPLXP� SD\� RQ 6XQGD\�� :H� FDQ©W� FRQWLQXH� WR KDYH� DQ\� UHVWULFWLRQV� LQ� WKH� FRQ� WUDFW�ZKHUH�SHRSOH�RQO\�GR�ZRUN LQ� WKHLU� SDUWLFXODU� GHSDUWPHQW� RU ZKDWHYHU�� :H� FDQ©W� KDYH� DQ\� RI WKRVH�WKLQJV��$QG�WKRVH�WKLQJV�DUH JRLQJ�WR�KDYH�D�VHYHUH�LPSDFW�RQ RXU� PHPEHUV�� %XW� :DO�0DUW� LV GRLQJ� VRPHWKLQJ� HOVH� EHFDXVH FRUSRUDWH� $PHULFD� IROORZV� WKH OHDG��:H©UH�JRLQJ�WR�KDYH�D�VLWXD� WLRQ� ZKHUH� RWKHU� HPSOR\HUV� DUH VD\LQJ�� +H\�� ZH� QHHG� WR� RSHUDWH WKH�VDPH�ZD\�:DO�0DUW�GRHV�§ 'RULW\� XUJHG� XQLRQ� PHPEHUV WR� VKRS� DW� XQLRQ� VWRUHV�� ¦%XW� LI WKH\� FDQ©W� VKRS� DW� D� XQLRQ� VWRUH DQG� WKH\� KDYH� WR� JR� LQWR� :DO� 0DUW�WKHQ�ZH�ZDQW�\RX�WR�JR�LQ�DV SURXG� XQLRQ� PHPEHUV� DQG� ZHDU� LQJ�\RXU�MDFNHWV�DQG�ZHDULQJ�\RXU KDWV� DQG� ZHDULQJ� \RXU� 7�VKLUWV WKDW� KDYH� VRPHWKLQJ� DERXW� WKH XQLRQ�� :H� ZDQW� XQLRQ� PHPEHUV WR�JR�LQ�DQG�WDON�WR�SHRSOH�DW�:DO� 0DUW�DERXW�WKHLU�XQLRQ¥ZKDW�WKH EHQHILWV�RI�WKHLU�XQLRQ�DUH�§ Days after UFCW President Doug Dority urged fellow trade unionists to support the organizing campaign at Wal-Mart, officials from the SIUaffiliated United Industrial Workers in Columbus, Ohio demonstrated at a store there. Pictured at the rally in Columbus are (from left) UFCW Local 10�9 President Becky Berroyer, UIW Asst. 9P Bob Love, UIW 9P Great Lakes Bill Ellis, and Local 10�9 Secretary-Treasurer Greg Behnke. 10 Seafarers LOG FRQWDLQHG� DERXW� �×� SRXQGV� RI ULFH�� �Ø� SRXQGV� RI� VXJDU�� WKUHH EDJV� RI� QRRGOHV�� RQH� TXDUW� RI FRRNLQJ�RLO�DQG�PHDW�IURP�VDFUL� ILFHG� OLYHVWRFN�� 7KH� SHRSOH� DOO ZHUH� YHU\� WKDQNIXO� DQG� WKH� FKLO� GUHQ� ZHUH� DOO� VPLOHV�� ,W� ZDV� D JUHDW� IHHOLQJ� WR� NQRZ� WKDW� ZH �FUHZ� PHPEHUV� IURP� WKH� /1* YHVVHOV�� ZHUH� KHOSLQJ� WKRVH� ZKR KDG�VR�YHU\�OLWWOH�§ $IWHU� WDONLQJ� ZLWK� GRFWRUV� QXUVHV�� VRPH� RI� WKH� ORFDOV� DW� WKH IDFLOLW\� DQG� SOD\LQJ� VRFFHU� ZLWK WKH� FKLOGUHQ�� *RPDUG� ZDV� RII� WR VHH� WKH� VFKRRO�� ORFDWHG� VRPH� �� PLOHV�IURP�WRZQ� )ROORZLQJ� DQ� HYHQWIXO� MRXU� QH\¥ZKLFK� DPRQJ� RWKHU� WKLQJV LQFOXGHG� JHWWLQJ� WKHLU� YHKLFOH VWXFN�LQ�WKH�PXG�RQ�D�GLUW�URDG¥ *RPDUG� DQG� KLV� JXLGH� DUULYHG� DW WKH� VFKRRO�� 7KH\� ZHUH� JUHHWHG ERWK�E\�WHDFKHUV�DQG�FKLOGUHQ��QR FODVVHV�ZHUH�LQ�VHVVLRQ�EHFDXVH�LW ZDV�D�KROLGD\�� ¦7KH\� VKRZHG� PH� WKH� GHVNV� ERRNV� DQG� VXSSOLHV� WKDW� FUHZ PHPEHUV� IURP� WKH� VKLSV� KDG KHOSHG�WR�SURYLGH�DQG�JDYH�PH�D WRXU� RI� WKH� VFKRRO� DQG� FODVV� URRPV�§� *RPDUG� VDLG�� ¦7KH VFKRRO�ZDV�QRW�PXFK�WR�ORRN�DW�LQ FRQWUDVW� WR� RXU� VFKRROV� EDFN KRPH�� EXW� LW� ZDV� D� VFKRRO QRQHWKHOHVV�� :KR� NQRZV� ZKDW ZLOO� EORVVRP� LQ� WKH� VWXGHQWV© \RXQJ�PLQGV�§ 7KH� IRUPHU� 6HDIDUHU� FRQFOXG� HG�� ¦$V� ,� OHIW� WKH� VFKRRO� DQG ZDYHG� JRRGE\H� WR� WKH� WHDFKHUV DQG�VPDOO�JURXS�RI�FKLOGUHQ��,�IHOW YHU\� SURXG� WR� KDYH� UHSUHVHQWHG WKH� /1*� VKLSV� DQG� WKHLU� FRP� ELQHG�DQG�FRQWLQXLQJ�KXPDQLWDUL� DQ� DLG�� ,W� ZDV� UHZDUGLQJ� WR� KDYH VHHQ� VRPH� RI� WKH� PDQ\� SHRSOH WKDW�ZHUH�KHOSHG�§ An Indonesian youth is all smiles as he receives a food bag from John Gomard. Chief Mate John Gomard, an SIU hawsepiper aboard the /1*�9LUJR� gives a food package to a needy elderly citizen in Borneo, Indonesia. Gomard helped local officials distribute the packages—each of which contained rice, sugar, noodles, cooking oil and meat—during a ceremony to honor L1G vessel crew members for their humanitarian deeds. Chief Mate John Gomard, center, kneeling, places leaves and sticks under the wheels of a stuck vehicle in hopes of resuming his journey. Gomard and his party were en route to a rural school near the port of Bontang, Indonesia for a visit and tour. Rural school classrooms near the city of Bontang, in Borneo, Indonesia are crowded and poorly furnished. 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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. 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HYHU\WKLQJ�UXQQLQJ�ZHOO��5HFRP� PHQGDWLRQ�PDGH�WR�KDYH�FRQWUDFWV GHSDUWPHQW�ORRN�LQWR�LQFUHDVLQJ SHQVLRQ�EHQHILWV�DQG�GHFUHDVLQJ VHD�WLPH�QHHGHG��$OVR�VXJJHVWHG KDYLQJ�XQLRQ�ZRUN�ZLWK�FRPSDQ\ WR�EULQJ�DERXW�DOORWPHQW�FKDQJH�RU LQVWLWXWH�GLUHFW�GHSRVLW�V\VWHP� Seafarers LOG 11 �Chief Steward Patrick D. Helton (center) and members of the Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Pfc Eugene A. Obregon relief team take a break as the vessel transits the Suez Canal on its way back from a download in Kuwait. From the left are Carlo Rosales, Jessie Burnett, Helton, Ahmed Elshabassy and Durlas Ruiz. Congratulations to Troy Laureta, the 14-year-old son of Recertified Steward Joseph Laureta. Troy was the first place winner in a recent high school musical competition in Hawaii. Accompanying himself with just a piano, Troy performed a song he wrote entitled, “Where Were You?” and blew the quiet audience into a fiery applause. In mid-May, he will enter a state competition. His proud father, Joseph, has been an SIU member for nearly 19 years. E ven while Seafarers answer the call for Operation Enduring Freedom and the looming war with Iraq, SIU members and representatives around the world also remain involved with other important activities. Upgrading, recruiting, community service, learning about foreign cultures, welcoming new family members and memorializing old ones—all of these actions are part of the routine in the SIU. Of course, and especially lately, nothing has taken precedence over providing skilled, dependable sealift for U.S. forces overseas. The massive activation which started early this year has involved all types of military support ships, and well-trained, loyal SIU members from coast to coast dutifully have answered Matthew D. Smith, who sails on the Great Lakes, has everything under control as he shows off his baby daughter, Elise Katharine, born Jan. 23. the call. Such service is nothing new. From its earliest days, the SIU has delivered the goods wherever and whenever needed—fulfilling its role as a key part of America’s fourth arm of defense. Never was this more evident than during World War II, when the U.S. Merchant Marine (including thousands of Seafarers), despite enduring a casualty rate second only to the Marine Corps, carried the troops and ammunition and other supplies that helped make victory possible. As Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower put it in May 1944, “When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine.” This photo of Bosun Raymond “Skip” Yager, taken Nov. 23, 2002 during a trip ashore from the Sea-Land Explorer, may well be his last. He passed away in early December aboard the ship, bound from Long Beach to Oakland, Calif. Pictured are (from left) AB Frank Cammuso, Electrician Jimmie Robles, Yager, AB Bill Horton, 3rd Engineer Thomas McKenzie and QMED Horst Baetzer. In many a shipboard discussion with Gregory M. Tylawsky, captain aboard the SeaLand Explorer, Yager had said he would like his final voyage to be out on San Francisco Bay—not a somber occasion, but a real salty Irish wake to celebrate his life. Those wishes were carried out Jan. 4, where, with a burial ceremony performed by Capt. “OB” O’Brien, his ashes were scattered in a cove near the Golden Gate Bridge. Seafarers continue to take advantage of the upgrading benefits available to them at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. These students are part of the CBRD (chemical, biological and radiological defense) class that graduated last November. From the left are Kris Piper, Stan Beck (instructor), Chris Sykes (in the suit), Velicia Williams and Charles Miller. 12 Seafarers LOG Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center in Seattle, Wash. recently held a “Maritime Career Day,” which brought more than 1,000 attendees to learn about different job options in the maritime profession (photo above). Trebion Dixon (seated at right), SIU patrolman in Tacoma, staffed a booth, explaining the role of the merchant marine. This was the fifth year that Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center has held its career day, which was given “two thumbs up” by the students, teachers and counselors in attendance. AB Michael McErlean (below right), was waiting to reclaim his job t W W QMED Michael Rueter, a strong union supporter w recently worked aboard the 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, his Labor Council T- shirt at the SIU hall in Guam photo, he helps replace lights in the Red Cross h ters building, an old facility in need of much repa SA Therese Pinaula dr union hall in Guam to vacation. She just g Gopher State. April 2003 �Waiting for a job call at the San Francisco hall are (from left Wilson, Bosun Jeff Libbey, AB Ron Rizzuto and Bosun Daniel Ticer. Steward Donna Taylor works in the galley aboard the Cape Borda Management vessel. the SIU a Ready Crew members attend a union meeting aboard the which was recently in San Francisco. 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0'������������� 14 Seafarers LOG April 2003 �Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea )(%58$5< ���¥�0$5&+��������� 727$/ 5(*,67(5(' $OO�*URXSV &ODVV�$ &ODVV�%���&ODVV�& 727$/ 6+,33(' $OO�*URXSV &ODVV�$ &ODVV�%���&ODVV�& � � � 4 �� �� � � �� 1� � � � 14 1 �� 1� ��� 1 1 � � 1� 1� � 9 19 � � � � 1� 1 �� 1� ��� 3RUW Algonac %altimore Guam +onolulu +ouston -acksonville Mobile New Orleans New <ork Norfolk 3hiladelphia 3iney 3oint 3uerto 5ico San Francisco St. /ouis Tacoma Wilmington 7RWDOV 5(*,67(5('�21�%($&+ $OO�*URXSV &ODVV�$ &ODVV�%���&ODVV�& '(&.�'(3$570(17 � � � � 1� 19 1 � 14 � 1 � � 4 � 11 1� ��� � � � � 1� 1� � � 11 1� � 1� � � � 1� 1� ��� 3RUW Algonac %altimore Guam +onolulu +ouston -acksonville Mobile New Orleans New <ork Norfolk 3hiladelphia 3iney 3oint 3uerto 5ico San Francisco St. /ouis Tacoma Wilmington 7RWDOV 7ULS 5HOLHIV � � � � � 1� � 4 1� � � � � � � 14 � �� � 1 1 � � � � 4 � 11 1 � � 1 � 1� 4 �� 1 � 1 � � 9 � � 9 � 1 � 4 4 � 1� 14 �� � � � 1� 4� �� 1� �� 44 �� � � 1� �1 � �� �� ��� � � � 1� 19 �� � 1� �� �� 4 � � � � �� �9 ��� 1 � � � �1 1� 9 14 �� � 1 � � � � 1� �� ��� � 1 � � � � � � � 1 � � 1 � � � 1 ��� � 4 � � �� �� 1� 9 1� 1� 1 � � 1� 1 14 1� ��� � � � � 11 �� � 9 1� 11 � � 1 4 � 1� 1� ��� � � 1 1 1� 9 � � 11 � 1 � � � � 9 1� �� � � � � � 9 � � � 1 � � � � � � � �� � 4 1 14 �� �� 11 14 �4 11 � � � �9 � �� �� ��� � � � � � � � � � � 1 � 1 � � � � �� � � 1 � � � � � � � � � � 1 1 � 4 �� (1*,1(�'(3$570(17 � � � � 1� �� � � 11 1� � 1 � � 1 � � ��� � � 4 4 4 1� 1 � 1� � � 4 � � � 9 � �� 1 1 � � � � 4 1 � � � � 1 � 1 4 4 �� � � � � 1� 11 � 11 9 � 1 � � �4 � 1� 14 ��� � 1 � � � 4 � 4 � � 1 � 1 � � � � �� � � � 1 � � � 4 � 4 � � � 1 � 1 � �� � � 1 � 1� 1� � � 11 4 � 1 1 19 � 1� 11 ��� Algonac %altimore Guam +onolulu +ouston -acksonville Mobile New Orleans New <ork Norfolk 3hiladelphia 3iney 3oint 3uerto 5ico San Francisco St. /ouis Tacoma Wilmington 7RWDOV � � � � � 1 � � 4 1 � � 1 � � � � �� � 1 4 1� 1� 1� 4 � �� � 1 4 � 1� � 1� � ��� � � � � 1� 1� 1 � �� 1� � 1� � 9 � 1� 9 ��� � � � � � 1 � � � � � � � � � � 1 �� � 1 1 4 � 11 � � 1� � 1 1� � 4 � 9 4 �� � � � 4 9 1� 1 4 9 � � 1� 1 4 � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 4 � � 1 9 1 � � � � � � � �� 1 4 4 �� �1 �� � 1� 4� 14 1 1� 4 �� � �� � ��� � � � �� �9 �4 � 1� �� � � �� � 9 1 �� 1� ��� 7RWDOV�$OO 'HSDUWPHQWV ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� 3RUW Algonac %altimore Guam +onolulu +ouston -acksonville Mobile New Orleans New <ork Norfolk 3hiladelphia 3iney 3oint 3uerto 5ico San Francisco St. /ouis Tacoma Wilmington 7RWDOV � 1 � 4 4 1� � � � � � � � � 1 � � �� � � � � � 11 � � � � � � � � 1 1� 4 �� � � � 1 1 � 1 � 4 � � 4 1 � � � 1 �� 67(:$5'�'(3$570(17 3RUW � � � 4 � � 1 4 4 � � 4 1 � � � 4 �� � � � 1 � 1 1 � � 4 � � 1 1 � 1 1 �� (175< '(3$570(17 “Total 5egistered” means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. “5egistered on %each” means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 2003 May & June 2003 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters 3iney 3oint .............Monday� May �, -une � Algonac ..................Friday� May 9, -une � %altimore ................Thursday� May �, -une � %oston.....................Friday� May 9, -une � Duluth .....................Wednesday� May 14, -une 11 Guam ......................Thursday� May ��, -une 19 +onolulu .................Friday� May 1�, -une 1� +ouston ..................Monday� May 1�, -une 9 -acksonville ............Thursday� May �, -une � Mobile ....................Wednesday� May 14, -une 11 New %edford ..........Tuesday� May ��, -une 1� New Orleans ...........Tuesday� May 1�, -une 1� New <ork................Tuesday� May �, -une � Norfolk ...................Thursday� May �, -une � 3hiladelphia ............Wednesday� May �, -une 4 3ort Everglades.......Thursday� May 1�, -une 1� San Francisco .........Thursday� May 1�, -une 1� San -uan..................Thursday� May �, -une � St. /ouis .................Friday� May 1�, -une 1� Tacoma ...................Friday� May ��, -une �� Wilmington ...............Monday� May 19, -une 1� ................................ Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. 3HUVRQDOV )5,(1'6�2) -$0(6�0��'22/(< -DPHV� 0�� 'RROH\�� UHWLUHG� EXVLQHVV� DJHQW� RI� WKH 6DLORUV© 8QLRQ�RI�WKH�3DFLILF�DQG�D�IRUPHU�ORFDO�RIILFLDO ZLWK� WKH� 0DULWLPH� 7UDGHV� 'HSDUWPHQW�� ZRXOG� OLNH� WR KHDU� IURP� ROG� IULHQGV� DQG� ¦DQ\RQH� DIILOLDWHG� ZLWK� WKH 07'�§�+H�PD\�EH�UHDFKHG�DW�����������������RU�ZULWH WR�KLP�DW� (GPRQGV�5HKDELOLWDWLRQ ��������WK $YH��:HVW (GPRQGV��:$ ����� )5,(1'6�2) -$&.�5��87= -DFN�5��8W]�ZRXOG�OLNH�WR�KHDU�IURP�IRUPHU�VKLSPDWHV IURP�\HDUV�RQ�%XOO��$OFRD�DQG�,VWKPLDQ�YHVVHOV��<RX�PD\ ZULWH�KLP�DW�3�2��%R[����6SULQJ�9DOOH\��,/ �������H�PDLO� DULDQJPDQ#PVQ�FRP��+LV�ZHE�VLWH�LV�ZZZ�DULDQJ�FRP� .1($/$1'�6721( $Q\RQH�NQRZLQJ�WKH�ZKHUHDERXWV�RI�.QHDODQG�6WRQH LV� DVNHG� WR� FRQWDFW� KLV� QLHFH�� 5DPRQD� %HQQHWW�� DW� ��� 0DF'RQRXJK�6WUHHW��%URRNO\Q��1<��������RU�WHOHSKRQH ��������������� 2/0('2�-26(�$/9$5(= $Q\RQH� NQRZLQJ� WKH� ZKHUHDERXWV� RI� 2OPHGR� -RVH $OYDUH]� LV� DVNHG� WR� FRQWDFW� KLV� VRQ�� 'U�� 7UDYLV� *HH� $OYDUH]�ZRUNHG�IRU�,PSHULDO�2LO�RQ�WKH�*UHDW�/DNHV�LQ�WKH ����V�DQG�©��V�DQG�ZDV�ODVW�NQRZQ�WR�EH�LQ�0LDPL��SRV� VLEO\�ZRUNLQJ�IRU�7H[DFR��'U��*HH�PD\�EH�FRQWDFWHG�DW� &HQWUH�RI�1DWLRQDO�5HVHDUFK�RQ�5HKDELOLWDWLRQ� DQG�'LVDELOLW\ 6FKRRO�RI�0HGLFLQH 8QLYHUVLW\�RI�4XHHQVODQG +HUVWRQ��4XHHQVODQG�������$XVWUDOLD H�PDLO��VLJPD[#XTFRQQHFW�QHW]TD %2681�0$5.�:$,1 26� 5DOSKLH�$OYDUH]� UHTXHVWV� WKDW� %RVXQ� 0DUN� :DLQ RI�:LOPLQJWRQ��&DOLI��FDOO�KLP�DW���������������� $/9,1�-$&.�&833 %URWKHU�-LPP\�6WHYHQV�ZRXOG�OLNH�%URWKHU�$OYLQ�-DFN &XSS� RU� DQ\RQH� HOVH� IURP� WKH� JDQJ� ZKR� ZRUNHG� LQ /DIROOHWWH�� 7HQQ�� WR� FRQWDFW� KLP� DW� ������ ��������� &RUUHVSRQGHQFH�PD\�EH�VHQW�WR�6WHYHQV�DW�5XUDO�5RXWH ���%R[������6DQGVWRQH��01������� Seafarers LOG 15 �Seafarers International Union Directory NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report )(%58$5< ���� 0LFKDHO�6DFFR��3resident 727$/ 5(*,67(5(' $OO�*URXSV *URXS�,�����*URXS�,,�����*URXS�,,, -RKQ�)D\��E[ecutive 9ice 3resident 'DYLG�+HLQGHO��Secretary-Treasurer $XJXVWLQ�7HOOH]��9ice 3resident Contracts 7RP�2U]HFKRZVNL� 9ice 3resident /akes and Inland Waters 'HDQ�&RUJH\��9ice 3resident Gulf Coast 1LFKRODV�-� 0DUURQH��9ice 3resident West Coast -RVHSK�7��6RUHVL, 9ice 3resident Atlantic Coast .HUPHWW�0DQJUDP� 9ice 3resident Government Services 5HQp�/LRHDQMLH, 9ice 3resident at /arge &KDUOHV�6WHZDUW, 9ice 3resident at /arge +($'48$57(56 ���1 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD ���4� (��1) �99-���� $/*21$& ��� St. Clair 5iver Dr., Algonac, MI 4���1 (�1�) �94-49�� $/721 ��� Market St., Suite %, Alton, I/ ����� (�1�) 4��-�4�� $1&+25$*( ��1 Sesame St., �1C, Anchorage, A. 99��� (9��) ��1-49�� %$/7,025( ��1� Esse[ St., %altimore, MD �1��4 (41�) ���-49�� %26721 ��� Dorchester Ave., %oston, MA ��1�� (�1�) ��9-���� '8/87+ ��4 W. Superior St., Suite ���, Duluth, MN ����� (�1�) ���-411� *8$0 3.O. %o[ ��1��, %arrigada, Guam 9�9�1 1�� Sunny 3laza, Suite ��1-E Tun -esus Crisostomo St., Tamuning, Guam 9�911 (��1) �4�-1��� +212/8/8 ��� .alihi St., +onolulu, +I 9��19 (���) �4�-���� +286721 1��1 3ierce St., +ouston, T; ����� (�1�) ��9-�1�� -$&.6219,//E ��1� /iberty St., -acksonville, F/ ����� (9�4) ���-�9�� 02%,/( 1�4� Dauphin Island 3kwy, Mobile, A/ ����� (��1) 4��-�91� 1(: %(')25' 4� Union St., New %edford, MA ���4� (���) 99�-�4�4 1(: 25/($16 �911 /apalco %lvd., +arvey, /A ����� (��4) ���-��4� 1(: <25. ��� Fourth Ave., %rooklyn, N< 11��� (�1�) 499-���� Government Services Division� (�1�) ���-���� 125)2/. 11� Third St., Norfolk, 9A ���1� (���) ���-1�9� 3+,/$'(/3+,$ ���4 S. 4 St., 3hiladelphia, 3A 1914� (�1�) ���-��1� 3,1(< 32,17 3.O. %o[ ��, 3iney 3oint, MD ����4 (��1) 994-��1� 3257 (9(5*/$'(6 1��1 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. /auderdale, F/ ���1� (9�4) ���-�9�4 6$1�)5$1&,6&2 ��� Fremont St., San Francisco, CA 941�� (41�) �4�-���� Government Services Division� (41�) ��1-�4�� 6$1785&( 1��� Fernandez -uncos Ave., Stop 1� Santurce, 35 ��9�� (���) ��1-4��� 67��/28,6 4��1 Gravois Ave., St. /ouis, MO ��11� (�14) ���-���� 7$&20$ �411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 9�4�9 (���) ���-���4 :,/0,1*721 �1� N. %road Ave., Wilmington, CA 9��44 (�1�) �49-4��� 16 Seafarers LOG 3RUW %oston +ouston +arvey, /A New <ork Norfolk San 3edro Tacoma 7RWDOV � � 1 � � 9 � �� � 1 � � � � � � � � 1 � � � � � 1 � � � � � � �� 1 � 1 � � 1 � � � 1 � � � � � � 7RWDOV�$OO 'HSDUWPHQWV � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1� � � � 4 1 �� � � 4 � � �9 �� �� � � 4 � � �� 11 �� � �� 1� 19 � � � �� � � 1 � � � � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 � � � � �� � 1 � 19 � �� 19 �� � � � � � �� 4 �� 1 19 � 1� � � � �� � � 1 1 � 1 � �� � � 4 1� � 4� � �� � 1 � 4 � �� � �� � � � 9 � �� � �� 67(:$5'�'(3$570(17 1 4 � 1 � � � �� � � � � � � 1 � � � 1 � � � � � 3RUW %oston +ouston +arvey, /A New <ork Norfolk San 3edro Tacoma 7RWDOV � � 1 9 � � � �� (1*,1(�'(3$570(17 3RUW %oston +ouston +arvey, /A New <ork Norfolk San 3edro Tacoma 7RWDOV 5(*,67(5('�21�%($&+ $OO�*URXSV *URXS�,���*URXS�,,���*URXS�,,, '(&.�'(3$570(17 3RUW %oston +ouston +arvey, /A New <ork Norfolk San 3edro Tacoma 7RWDOV 727$/ 6+,33(' $OO�*URXSV 7ULS *URXS�,��������*URXS�,,�������*URXS�,,,�����������������5HOLHIV 1 � � � 4 � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 � � � � � (175< '(3$570(17 1 1 1 � � 1 � � � � � � � � 1 �� � 4 � � � 1 � �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 � 1 1 � � � � � � � 4 � 4 � �� � 1� 4 �� � 1�1 � ��� 1� �� � �� � �1 1� ��� � �� 1� �9 � �� 1� ��� �� �� �� �� � � �� ��� ��� ��� PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo is from the archives of the 6HDIDUHUV�/2*��It was taken in the port of Seattle during an election of delegates to the Piney Point, Md. Educational Conference, May 12-22, 19�1. Seated at the table are (from left) Dispatcher Ronald A. Eden, Port Agent Steve Troy and Patrolman Harvey Mesford. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with the /2*�readership, please send it to the 6HDIDUHUV /2*, �201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20���. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. April 2003 �:HOFRPH�$VKRUH Each month, the Seafarers /OG 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 /akes. /isted 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 Mob well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days ahead. A recertified bosun and one recertified steward are among the 1� Seafarers who are announcing their retirements this month. %osun 1HOVRQ�6DOD mastered the highest level of training available to Seafarers who sail in the deck department in 19�4 when he completed the bosun recertification course at the 3aul +all Center for Maritime Training and Education in 3iney 3oint, Md.. Chief Cook 6\OYHVWHU 0DVRQ completed the top level of instruction obtainable to steward department members in 1991 when he graduated from the steward recertification program at the 3aul +all Center. Eleven of the retirees—including Sala and Mason—sailed in the deep sea division. The remaining two navigated the inland waterways. Si[ of the retirees worked in the deck department, four shipped in the engine department and the remaining three sailed in the steward department. On this page, the Seafarers /OG presents brief biographical accounts of the retiring Seafarers. DEEP SEA (86(%,2 *21=$/(6, ��, hails from 3once, 3.5. +e started his career with the SIU in 19�� in the port of New <ork. %rother Gonzales initially sailed aboard a 3an Cargo Shipping Corp. vessel. The steward department member upgraded his skills at the 3aul +all Center for Maritime Training and Education in 3iney 3oint, Md. in 19��, ���� and ���1. +e last worked on the Sea-/and Discovery and makes his home in Guayama, 3.5. 1250$1 +$''$', ��, Moined the Seafarers in 199�. The /aCrosse, Wis. native first sailed on the Overseas -oyce, an OSG Carriers Inc. vessel. %rother +addad enhanced his skills often at the Seafarers training school in 3iney 3oint, Md. The deck department member last went to sea on American Overseas Marine’s �nd /t. -ohn 3. %obo. %rother +addad resides in +ernando, Fla. .$5/ +� +(5� 0$16(1, ��, was born in Norway. +e embarked on his SIU career in 19�� in San Francisco. %rother +ermansen first went to sea on the Steel Apprentice, an Isco, Inc. vessel. A member of the deck department, he lives in his native country. 5((9(6�+251%<, ��, launched his profession with the Seafarers in 199� in the port of 3hiladelphia. %efore donning the April 2003 SIU colors, %rother +ornsby served in the U.S. Marine Corps. The 3lainfield, N.-.-born mariner initially sailed aboard the Sgt. MateM .ocak. A frequent upgrader at the 3aul +all Center, %rother +ornby shipped in the deck department. +is final voyage was on the Sea/and Integrity. %rother +ornby is a resident of West Creek, N.-. 0$18(/ 7� 7$1�-5, �4, commenced his career with the Seafarers in 19��, Moining in Seattle. +is initial trip was on the Sea-/and Mobile. %orn in the 3hilippines, he now lives in /ancaster, Calif. %rother Tan worked in the steward department and enhanced his skills at the Seafarers training school in 199� and ����. ',21,6,2 0$57,1(=, ��, started his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in the port of New <ork. %efore Moining the SIU, %rother Martinez served in the U.S. Army. +e worked in all three departments while at sea. +is last voyage was aboard 3uerto 5ico Marine Management’s Northern /ights. %rother Martinez calls %aymon, 3.5. home. $/3+216( 7+20$6, ��, started his SIU career in 19�4. %rother Thomas’ first sea voyage was aboard the Transwestern Associates’ Transyork. %orn in /ouisiana, he worked in the engine department. A frequent upgrader, %rother Thomas honed his skills at the 3aul +all Center for Maritime Training and Education on seven occasions. The Metairie, /a. resident last shipped on Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Atlantic Forest. 6</9(67(5 0$621, �4, Moined the Seafarers in 19�� in San Francisco. %rother Mason first sailed aboard a States Steamship Co. vessel. %orn in %irmingham, Ala., he worked in the steward department. %rother Mason upgraded his skills at the 3aul +all Center and in 1991 completed steward recertification training there. +e last worked on the 3resident 5oosevelt, an American 3resident /ines vessel. %rother Mason lives in 5eno, Nev. $/721�7� 32//2&., ��, began his profession with the SIU in 19�9, Moining in the port of +ouston. %rother 3ollack first went to sea aboard the Overseas E[plorer, a Maritime Overseas vessel. The Arkansas native shipped in the steward department and last worked on the Cove /iberty. %rother 3ollack makes his home in %astrop, /a. 1(/621 6$/$� ��, hails from 3uerto 5ico. %rother Sala Moined the Seafarers in 19�4 in the port of New <ork. +is initial voyage was aboard Moore-McCormack /ines’ 5obin Shrew. The deck department member frequently upgraded his skills at the 3aul +all Center. +e completed the bosun recertification course in 19�4. %rother Sala last sailed on the Sea-/and Discovery. +aledon, N.-. is his home. -2+1�$� <281*� �4, launched his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in the port of +ouston. %rother <oung initially sailed aboard the USNS Algol, operated by 9. Ships Marine, /TD. The Ohio native shipped in the deck department. +is final voyage was aboard the Sulphur Enterprise, a Sulphur Carriers, Inc. vessel. %rother <oung resides in Menard, Te[as. INLAND ($5/ +(5� 0$1, ��, embarked on his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in +ouston. %oatman +erman shipped in the engine department and upgraded his skills in 199� in 3iney 3oint. +e worked primarily aboard vessels operated by G + Towing. %oatman +erman is a resident of Cleveland, Te[as. 5,&+$5'�(� 625(16(1, ��, is a native of New +aven, Conn. %oatman Sorensen Moined the SIU in 19�� in the port of -acksonville, Fla. 3rior to becoming a Seafarer, he served in the U.S. Navy. %oatman Sorensen shipped in the engine department, last sailing aboard a Crowley Towing Transportation Co. vessel. +e lives in Deland, Fla. Editor’s Note� The following brothers and sisters, all former membersof the NMU and participants in the NMU 3ension Trust, went on pension effective the dates indicated� Name Age Date Nicolas Aponte �� Oct. 1 Melvin Dishman �9 Feb. 1 George Farnum �4 Feb. 1 Sergio Giusti �� April 1, ���� Mohamed +adwan 49 Dec. 1 -ames +odge �� Feb. 1 Darden +udgins �4 -an. 1 Caesar /ozada �� Feb. 1 Antonio Monteiro �� Feb. 1 Stella 3ayne 9� Dec. 1 -ohn 3etrus �� Nov. 1 Andrew Webster �� Dec. 1 4GRTKPVGF�HTQO�RCUV�KUUWGU�QH�VJG�5GCHCTGTU�.1) ���� #P�5+7�OCP�CPF�HQWT�EJKNFTGP�QH�5GCHCTGTU JCXG�DGGP�CYCTFGF�HQWT�[GCT��������5+7 UEJQNCTUJKRU�CV�VJG�CPPWCN�OGGVKPI�QH�VJG�5+7 5EJQNCTUJKR %QOOKVVGG��)GQTIG (��,QJPUQP������CP 5+7�OGODGT��YCU�QPG QH�VJG�HKXG�YKPPGTU� ,QJPUQP�JCU�DGGP�UCKN� KPI�5+7�UKPEG������KP VJG�UVGYCTF�FGRCTV� OGPV��*G�KPVGPFU�VQ WUG�VJKU�UEJQNCTUJKR�KP RWTUWKPI�C�OGFKECN�ECTGGT� 6JG�QVJGT�YKPPGTU�QH�VJG�UEJQNCTUJKRU�YGTG /KUU�/GTGFKVJ�4GKF��FCWIJVGT�QH�2CWN�'��4GKF� /KUU�%CTQNG�5��)CTTKIWGU��FCWIJVGT�QH�&CNG�*� )CTTKIWGU��5VCPHQTF�5OKVJ��,T���UQP�QH�5VCPHQTF 5OKVJ��CPF�9KNNKCO�$GUUGNKGXTG��,T���UQP�QH�$KNN $GUUGNKGXTG��6JG�YKPPGTU�CTG�EJQUGP�D[�JKIJ UEJQQN�TGEQTFU�CPF�RGTHQTOCPEG�QP�VJG�UVCP� FCTF�%QNNGIG�'PVTCPEG�'ZCOKPCVKQP�6GUVU� 6JG�COQWPV�QH�GSWKROGPV�UJKRRGF�VQ�VJG /KFFNG�'CUV�JCU�DGGP�UVCIIGTKPI��7PFGT�VJG CWURKEGU�QH�VJG�/KNKVCT[�5GCNKHV�%QOOCPF��VJG 7�5��&GRCTVOGPV�QH�&GHGPUG�CIGPE[�TGURQPUK� DNG�HQT�EQQTFKPCVKPI�VJG�YCVGTDQTPG�ECTTKCIG�QH UWRRNKGU�HQT�VJG�#OGTKECP�CTOGF�HQTEGU��CU�QH #RTKN����OQTG�VJCP�� OKNNKQP�UJQTV�VQPU�QH FT[�ECTIQ�JCF�IQPG�D[ UJKR�VQ�UWRRQTV 1RGTCVKQP�&GUGTV 5JKGNF�CPF�1RGTCVKQP &GUGTV�5VQTO��/5% TGRQTVU�VJCV�UQOG���� UJKRU�CTG�CUUKUVKPI�KP VJG�UGCNKHV�GHHQTV� This Month In SIU History ���� #U�VJG�7PKVGF�0CVKQPU�5GEWTKV[�%QWPEKN�OQXGU ENQUGT�VQYCTFU�CRRTQXKPI�C�TGUQNWVKQP�VJCV�YKNN QHHKEKCNN[�GPF�VJG�YCT�KP�VJG�2GTUKCP�)WNH� #OGTKECP�UJKRU�CPF�#OGTKECP�UGCOGP�EQPVKP� WG�VQ�FGNKXGT�VJG�IQQFUåDWV�VJKU�VKOG�VJG OCVGTKCN�KU�CDQWV�VQ�DG�DTQWIJV�JQOG� ���� 6JG�2CWN�*CNN�%GPVGT�HQT�/CTKVKOG�6TCKPKPI CPF�'FWECVKQP��NQECVGF�KP�2KPG[�2QKPV��/F�� JCU�LQKPGF�C�UGNGEV�PWODGT�QH�QTICPK\CVKQPU YJKEJ�JCXG�CFFGF�XCNWG�VQ�VJGKT�EQWTUGU VJTQWIJ�EQNNGIG�ETGFKV�TGEQOOGPFCVKQPU�CU�C TGUWNV�QH�C�TGXKGY�EQPFWEVGF�NCUV�HCNN�D[�VJG #OGTKECP�%QWPEKN�QP�'FWECVKQPçU� #%'� %QNNGIG�%TGFKV�4GEQOOGPFCVKQP�5GTXKEG� #�VGCO�QH�EQWTUG�EQPVGPV�URGEKCNKUVU��UGNGEVGF HTQO�EQNNGIG�HCEWNV[��TGRQTVGF�VJCV�VJG�EWTTKEW� NWOU�CV�VJG�EGPVGTçU�*CTT[�.WPFGDGTI�5EJQQN QH�5GCOCPUJKR�CTG�EQORCTCDNG�VQ�EQNNGIG�NGXGN EQWTUGU�CPF�OC[�DG�WUGF�CU�VTCPUHGT�ETGFKV�CV OCP[�EQNNGIGU�CPF�WPKXGTUKVKGU� Seafarers LOG 17 �Final Departures DEEP SEA /251�$%%277 3ensioner /orn Abbott, ��, passed away Nov. ��. %rother Abbott launched his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in the port of Wilmington, Calif. The U.S. Navy veteran initially sailed aboard Columbia Steamship’s +HOHQ�'��%rother Abbott worked in the deck department and last went to sea on the &RYH�/LEHUW\, a Cove Shipping Co. vessel. +e lived in San 3edro, Calif. and began receiving compensation for his retirement in 19��. -�:��$//(1 3ensioner -.W. Allen, ��, died Dec. ��. %rother Allen Moined the SIU in 19�� in the port of New <ork. +is initial voyage was aboard an Eagle Carriers Inc. vessel. A military veteran, %rother Allen served honorably in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The deck department member last sailed on the 6HD�/DQG�0DULQHU and began receiving his pension in 19�9. %orn in Tennemo, Tenn., %rother Allen made his home in Gold %ar, Wash. initially went to sea aboard the 3UHVLGHQW�7D\ORU, an American 3resident /ines vessel. The 3ortland, Ore. native worked in the steward department and last sailed on the 6HD�/DQG�.RGLDN. 52'2/)2�&$7$+$1�65� %rother 5odolfo Catahan Sr., ��, died -an �. %rother Catahan began his career with the Seafarers in 199� in the port of Norfolk, 9a. %efore Moining the SIU, he served in the U.S. Navy. %rother Catahan’s first ship was the &DSH�1RPH, an Interocean Management Corp. vessel. The 3hilippine-born mariner sailed in the steward department and last went to sea on the 8616 *LOOLDQG. %rother Catahan was a resident of 9irginia %each, 9a. '$,�0,1*�&+21* 3ensioner Dai Ming Chong, ��, passed away Dec. ��. %rother Chong started his career with the MC S in San Francisco. The +awaii-born mariner worked in the steward department. +e started receiving his pension in 19�4 and made his home in San Francisco. '21$/'�$6+ &+$5/(6�)(',: 3ensioner Donald Ash, ��, passed away Dec. 1�. %orn in Canada, he Moined the Seafarers in 19�� in Detroit. %rother Ash’s initial SIU voyage was aboard an Eagle Carriers Inc. vessel. The engine department member last worked on the 6HD�/DQG�'HYHORSHU. +e lived in his native country and began receiving retirement stipends in 19��. 3ensioner Charles Fediw, ��, passed away Dec. �. %rother Fediw commenced his career with the Seafarers in 194� in the port of New <ork. %orn in 3ennsylvania, he initially shipped for the SIU aboard Metro Steamship’s $WODQWLF�:DWHU. A U.S. Army veteran, %rother Fediw worked in the deck department. +is final voyage was on a Michigan Tankers Inc. operated vessel. %rother Fediw began receiving his pension in 19�� and made his home in Wilkes %arre, 3a. 3$6725�&$0$&+2 3ensioner 3astor Camacho, �9, died Dec. ��. %rother Camacho started his career with the Marine Cooks Stewards (MC S) in San Francisco. %orn in 3uerto 5ico and a former resident of 5eston, 9a., he sailed in the steward department. %rother Camacho began receiving his retirement compensation in 19�9. &$552// &$03%(// 3ensioner Carroll Campbell, 9�, passed away -an ��. +e began his career with the MC S in San Francisco. %orn in 3ortland, Maine, %rother Campbell was a member of the steward department. +e began collecting compensation for his retirement in 19�9. Duvall, Wash. was his home. 0,&+$(/ &$03%(// 3ensioner Michael Campbell, �� passed away -an. �. %rother Campbell started his career with the MC S in 19�� in San Francisco. +e 18 Seafarers LOG '$1�)5$=,(5 3ensioner Dan Frazier, �1, died -an �. %rother Frazier began his SIU career in 1944 in the port of New <ork. +is initial sea voyage was aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s .\VND. The Alabama-born mariner worked in the steward department and last sailed on a Cove Shipping Co. vessel. %rother Frazier lived in his native state and began collecting compensation for his retirement in 19��. %<521�+$55,6 %rother %yron +arris, 44, passed away Dec. �. +e Moined the Seafarers in 19�9 in the port of 3iney 3oint, Md. %rother +arris initially sailed aboard the 'HO�5LR, a Delta Steamship /ines vessel. +e worked in all three departments and sailed in both the deep sea and inland divisions. The /ouisiana native was last employed on a Wilson Shipping vessel. %rother +arris was a resident of New Orleans. -$)$5�-$)$5 %rother -afar -afar, ��, passed away Aug. �9. %orn in /ouisiana, %rother -afar Moined the Seafarers in 19��. +is initial voyage was aboard the 5eynolds Metal Co. (Marine Division)-operated :DOWHU�5LFH. %rother -afar worked in the steward department and last went to sea on the 3UHVLGHQW�-DFNVRQ. +e was a resident of San Francisco. ated by American 3resident /ines during his career, including the 3UHVLGHQW�+DUULVRQ and 3UHVLGHQW 3LHUFH. +e started receiving his pension in 19�� and resided in +ilo, +awaii. 52%(57 /$'' 3ensioner 5obert Mayo, 9�, died Dec. 1�. %rother Mayo embarked on his SIU career in 19�� in Seattle. +is initial voyage was aboard the Olympic Transport-operated +HOHQ. %orn in the 3hilippines, he sailed in the steward department. %rother Mayo began receiving his pension in 19�� and lived in %urien, Wash. +e last worked on a Michigan Tankers Inc. vessel. 3ensioner 5obert /add, ��, passed away Dec. ��. +e commenced his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in Seattle. The U.S. Navy veteran initially worked under the SIU colors aboard a Central 3enn 4uarry vessel. %orn in New +ampshire, %rother /add worked in both the deep sea and inland divisions and shipped in the engine department. +is final voyage was on the 7KRPSVRQ�3DVV, an Interocean Management vessel. %rother /add started receiving compensation for his retirement in 19�� and resided in <ountville, Calif. -26(3+�/$6+/(< 3ensioner -oseph /ashley, �� passed away -an. 1. %rother /ashley started his career with the MC S. %orn in 3anama City, 3anama he worked in the steward department. +e was a resident of Dallas and began collecting retirement stipends in 19�4. '$1,(/ 0$/21(< 3ensioner Daniel Maloney, ��, died Oct. ��. +e started his SIU career in 19�� in the port of New <ork. %rother Maloney first sailed on the 6HD�7KXQGHU, a Colonial Steamship Co. vessel. The Australia-born mariner worked in the deck department. %rother Maloney started receiving compensation for his retirement in 19�4. 3rior to retiring, he sailed on the 6HD�/DQG *DOYHVWRQ. 3lantation, Fla. was his home. 720�¦)5(1&+<§ 0$57,1($8 3ensioner Tom “Frenchy” Martineau, ��, passed away -an. 14. %rother Martineau donned the Seafarers colors in 1944 in the port of %altimore. +is initial voyage was aboard the 5RELQ�*UD\, a Moore-McCormack /ines vessel. %orn in Frankfort, Minn., he shipped in the deck department and was a recertified bosun. %rother Martineau last went to sea on the 6HDOLIW�$WODQWLF. +e began collecting retirement wages in 19�� and made his home in Seattle. 52'5,*2�0$7$ 3ensioner 5odrigo Mata, ��, passed away Dec. ��. %rother Mata started his career with the MC S in San Francisco, Moining in 19�9. %orn in +awaii, he worked in the steward department. %rother Mata sailed primarily aboard vessels oper- 52%(57 0$<2 worked in the deck department and last sailed on the 09 3DWULRW. %rother Smith began receiving his pension in 19�1 and lived in Chula 9ista, Calif. /$:5(1&(�7$</25 %rother /awrence Taylor, ��, died, Dec. �. +e embarked on his SIU career in 19�� in New Orleans. +is initial voyage was aboard the %LJ %HQG, an American Tramp Shipping Development Co. vessel. %orn in /ouisiana, %rother Taylor sailed in the engine department. +e started collecting pension payments in 19�� and lived in /oranger, /a. %rother Taylor last went to sea aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s 6WRQHZDOO�-DFNVRQ. +$52/'�7+206(1 3ensioner Ernest Munson, ��, passed away Dec. 9. %rother Munson commenced his career with the MC S in San Francisco. The steward department member and San Francisco resident started receiving wages for his retirement in 19��. 3ensioner +arold Thomsen, �9, passed away Dec. ��. %rother Thomsen launched his career with the Seafarers in 194� in the port of New <ork. +is initial ocean-going voyage was aboard the 6WHHO�$UFKLWHFW, an Isco vessel. %rother Thomsen lived in Seattle and began receiving his pension in 19�9. 3rior to retiring, he made his final voyage aboard the 6HD�/DQG�7UDGHU. -2+11< 1(77/(6 /28,6�9,'$/ 3ensioner -ohnny Nettles, ��, passed on Dec. 1�. %rother Nettles Moined the Seafarers in 19�� in the port of %altimore. A U.S. Navy veteran, he first sailed aboard Ore Navigation’s %HWKIORU. %rother Nettles shipped in the engine department and was a resident of -acksonville, Fla. +e last went to sea on the &DUROLQD, a 3uerto 5ico Marine Management vessel. %rother Nettles started receiving his pension in 1991. 3ensioner /ouis 9idal, �9, passed away -an ��. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, %rother 9idal Moined the SIU in 19�� in the port of Wilmington, Calif. +e first sailed on the 2YHU� VHDV�-R\FH, an Overseas Carriers, Inc. vessel. %rother 9idal hailed from 3ennsylvania and shipped in the steward department. +is final trip to sea was on Interocean Management’s 7KRPSVRQ�3DVV. %rother 9idal was a resident of Westminster, Calif. +e began receiving compensation for his retirement in 199�. (51(67 081621 $/)5('2�257(*$ 3ensioner Alfredo Ortega, 9�, died Dec. �. %rother Ortega launched his career with the Seafarers in 19�9 in Tampa, Fla. as a charter member of the SIU. A native Floridian, %rother Ortega worked in the deck department. +e began receiving compensation for his retirement in 19�� and resided in his native state. &8//(1�3$<1( 3ensioner Cullen 3ayne, ��, passed away Dec. �. %rother 3ayne initiated his career with the MC S in San Francisco. The steward department member began receiving retirement compensation in 19�� and called San Francisco home. '21$/'�60,7+ 3ensioner Donald Smith, ��, passed away Dec. �. +e commenced his career with the Seafarers in 194�, Moining in the port of New <ork. %rother Smith served in the U.S. Navy before his SIU career. +is initial voyage was on a Sinclair Oil Corp. vessel. The Ohio-born mariner 52%(57 :22' 3ensioner 5obert Wood, ��, died Dec. ��. %rother Wood started his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in San Francisco. The U.S. Navy veteran initially sailed aboard 3an American Tankers’ %RZOLQJ�*UHHQ. The Colorado native shipped in the deck department and lived in Edmonds, Wash. +e last went to sea on the 6HD�/DQG�7UDGHU. %rother Wood started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1994. 5$<021'�<$*(5 %rother 5aymond <ager, ��, passed away Dec. �. %orn in Indiana, he embarked on his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in San Francisco. +e first sailed on the 8616�%DUWOHWW, operated by /avino Steamship Co. A member of the deck department, %rother <ager sailed as a bosun. +is final voyage was aboard the 6HD� /DQG�([SORUHU. %rother <ager called 5eno, Nev. home. -8/,$1�<8 3ensioner -ulian <u, ��, passed away Dec. 1�. %rother <u embarked on his career with the MC S in San Francisco. +e worked in the steward &RQWLQXHG�RQ�QH[W�SDJH April 2003 �Final Departures department. %rother <u started receiving retirement stipends in 19�9 and made his home in San Francisco. GREAT LAKES (':$5'�%$,/(< 3ensioner Edward %ailey, ��, passed away Dec. ��. A native of Sequatchie, Tenn., %rother %ailey Moined the SIU in 19�4 in Detroit. +is initial trip to sea was aboard an American Steamship vessel. %rother %ailey shipped in the deck department and last worked on the 6DLQW &ODLU, a %ell Steamship Co. vessel. +e began receiving his pension in 19�9 and was a resident of Dunlap, Tenn. +2//,6�.,$+ 3ensioner +ollis .iah, �1, died Dec. 1�. %rother .iah launched his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in Detroit. %orn in Ogdensburg, N.<., his first trip to sea was aboard an American Steamship Co. vessel. %rother .iah worked in the engine department and began receiving his pension in 19��. 3rior to his retirement, he sailed on the 6DP�/DXG� another American Steamship vessel. %rother .iah made his home in New <ork. INLAND 521$/'�&5(() 3ensioner 5onald Creef, 9�, died Dec. ��. %oatman Creef began his SIU career in 19�� in the port of Norfolk, 9a. A native of Dare, N.C. and a U.S. Air Force veteran, he worked primarily aboard vessels operated by McAllister Towing of 9irginia. The deck department member began receiving retirement stipends in 19�4 and was a resident of Elizabeth City, N.C. -$&.�.25',&+ 3ensioner -ack .ordich, �4, passed away Dec. �4. %oatman .ordich launched his career with the SIU in 19�� in the port of Wilmington, Calif. The Astoria, Ore. native shipped in the engine department. +e worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Crowley Towing Transportation Co. %oatman .ordich lived in Eugene, Ore. and began collecting his retirement pay in 199�. RAILROAD MARINE /(21$5'�'2:16 3ensioner /eonard Downs, �4, died -an. 1�. %rother Downs started his career with the Seafarers in 19�� in the port of New <ork. 3rior to Moining the SIU, he served in the U.S. Army. %rother Downs initially worked aboard a 3ennsylvania 5ailroad, 3ort of Norfolk, vessel. +e sailed in both the deck and engine departments and was last employed on a McAllister Towing of 9irginia vessel. %rother Downs lived in Matthews, 9a. and started receiving his pension in 199�. April 2003 7KH�IROORZLQJ�EURWKHUV��DOO�IRUPHU�PHPEHUV�RI�WKH�108�DQG�SDUWLFLSDQWV�LQ�WKH�108�3HQVLRQ�7UXVW��KDYH�SDVVHG DZD\� 6$08(/ %5$'< 3ensioner Samuel %rady, �4, died -an. ��. %rother %rady Moined the NMU in 1944. %orn in 191�, he shipped in the deck department as a bosun. %rother %rady began receiving his pension in 19��. +(50$1�&/(9(/$1' 3ensioner +erman Cleveland, �4, passed away -an. 1�. %orn in /ouisiana, %rother Cleveland Moined the NMU in 194�. The engine department member upgraded his skills in 19�1. %rother Cleveland started collecting compensation for his retirement in 19��. '8/&,',2�&58= 3ensioner Dulcidio Cruz, ��, died Dec. 1�. %rother Cruz began sailing with the NMU in 19�1, first shipping out of New Orleans. +is initial voyage was aboard the 7LOO\ /\NHV. %orn in 3uerto 5ico, %rother Cruz worked in the engine department. +e upgraded his skills in 19�� and last went to sea aboard the -HDQ�/\NHV. %rother Cruz started receiving retirement stipends in 199�. 6(&81',12�*,5$/'(= 3ensioner Secundino Giraldez, 9�, died Feb. �. %orn in Spain, %rother Giraldez donned the NMU colors in 194�. +is initial sea voyage was out of the port of New <ork aboard the 66�6LURFFR� The engine department member last worked aboard the 66�8QLWHG�6WDWHV� %rother Giraldez started collecting compensation for his retirement in 19��. *,/%(572�*20(= 3ensioner Gilberto Gomez, ��, passed away -an. �9. +e embarked on his career with the NMU in 194�. +e shipped on several vessels—including the -RHO &KDQGOHU�+DUULV and 66�6DQWD 0DULDQD. %rother Gomez started receiving his pension in 19��. 75<*9(�*5$102 3ensioner Tyrgve Granmo, ��, passed away -an. ��. %orn in %ergen, Norway, he Moined the NMU in 194�. The deck department member initially went to sea aboard the 7LWDQLDQ. %rother Granmo last sailed on the *XOI 6SUD\ and began receiving his pension in 19��. -(66(�-��.($516 3ensioner -esse .earns, �9, passed away Feb. ��. %rother .earns began his career with the NMU in 19�� and initially shipped out of 9enice, /a. The Sisterville, W.9a. native worked in the deck department and last went to sea aboard the 66 $PHULFDQ�3LRQHHU. %rother .earns began receiving his retirement pay in 19��. $PHULFDQ�$SROOR. %rother Morrow started receiving his pension in 19��. )5$1&,6�-��1$< 3ensioner Francis -. Nay, 9�, died Sept. ��. The +artford. Conn. native donned the NMU colors in 194� in New <ork. %rother Nay first went to sea aboard the *XOI +DZN. +e worked in the engine department. %rother Nay began drawing retirement pay in 19��. /$:5(1&(�1(,77(�-5� 3ensioner Charles /isk, �4 passed away -an. 1�. A native of East /iverpool, Ohio, he launched his career with the NMU in 19�9. %rother /isk first went to sea aboard the &ROLFKH. A member of the deck department, %rother /isk shipped as a bosun and started receiving retirement pay in 19�4. 3ensioner /awrence -. Neitte -r., �1, passed away Dec. 1�. %rother Neitte launched his career with the NMU in 19��. A native of New Orleans, he first went to sea aboard the *XOI�0HUFKDQW. %rother Neitte shipped in the deck department and started receiving his pension in 19��. %efore retiring, he went to sea aboard the +RZDUG /\NHV� /8,6�0(',1$ &+5,67$12�1(9(6 3ensioner /uis Medina, ��, passed away Feb. ��. %rother Medina launched his career with the NMU in 194�. %orn in 3uerto 5ico, he initially sailed aboard the 5REHUW�<��+D\L] out of the port of New <ork. %rother Medina worked in both the steward and engine departments. +is final trip to sea was in 19��. %rother Medina began receiving retirement stipends in 19��. 3ensioner Christano Neves, �4, died -an. 4. The 5hode Island-born mariner began his NMU career in 194�. Sailing out of %oston, his initial voyage was aboard the 66 .RSSHUVWRQ. %rother Neves worked in the steward department. +is final voyage was on the 66�8QLWHG�6WDWHV. %rother Neves started collecting compensation for his retirement in 19��. &+$5/(6�/,6. /(52< 0,//(5 3ensioner /eroy Miller, ��, died Dec. 4. %rother Miller Moined the NMU in 19��. Shipping out of Savannah, Ga., his initial voyage was aboard the &DQWHUEXU\�/HDGHU. %rother Miller sailed in the engine department and last went to sea on a /ykes vessel. The Meeks, Ga. native started receiving his pension in 19��. -$0(6�'��0,7&+(// 3ensioner -ames D. Mitchell, ��, died Nov. �9. %rother Mitchell began his NMU career in 19��. +is initial trip to sea was aboard the 7H[DFR�6RXWK�&DUROLQD. The 3ort Arthur, Te[as native worked in both the deck and steward departments. %rother Mitchell last went to sea on the $PHULFDQ 7UDGHU� +e started receiving compensation for his retirement in ���1. :,//,$0�:��02552: 3ensioner William D. Morrow, ��, passed away Nov. 1�. +e started his career with the NMU in 3hiladelphia. %orn in 3ennsylvania, %rother Morrow first worked aboard the $PHULFDQ�3UHVV� +e shipped in the deck as well as engine departments during his career and last sailed on the $1721,2�257,= 3ensioner Antonio Ortiz, �9, died Feb. ��. %rother Ortiz Moined the NMU in 19�� and initially went to sea aboard the 7DODPDQFD, a United Fruit vessel. %orn in 3uerto 5ico, he shipped in the steward department and upgraded his skills frequently. +is final voyage was aboard an E[port Steamship /ines vessel. %rother Ortiz started receiving compensation for his retirement in 19��. +$5',1�35$',$ 3ensioner +ardin 3radia, �1, passed away -an. 1�. %orn in /afayette, /a., he first sailed for the NMU in 19��. %rother 3radia last worked on a /ykes vessel and started receiving his pension in 1994. *5(*25< 52'5,*8(6 3ensioner Gregory 5odrigues, ��, passed away Oct. �. %rother 5odrigues began sailing with the NMU in 19��. +is initial voyage was on the $PHULFDQ�&KDUJHU. %orn in +awaii, %rother 5odrigues worked in the steward department. +is final voyage was on the /\UD� %rother 5odrigues started collecting retirement pay in 19��. 212)5(�6(5$12 3ensioner Onofre Serano, �9, died -an. 9. +e Moined the NMU in 19�� in New <ork. %rother Serano’s initial trip to sea was on the ,QGHSHQGHQFH� +e worked in the steward department and last sailed on the 0DSR�/\NHV. %rother Serano began receiving stipends for his retirement in 199�. ,Q�DGGLWLRQ�WR�WKH�IRUHJRLQJ��WKH�IROORZLQJ 108�EURWKHUV�DQG�VLVWHUV�SDVVHG�DZD\�RQ�WKH GDWHV�LQGLFDWHG� 1DPH -oseph Andre Wilfred Angelety /eslie %abineau[ +orace %lackman +elen %leich +arold %oulingy 5obert %outon -ohnny %rashear -ohn %rendle Ernest %utcher /orenzo Carter /eroy Carthon 5ufus Chase Charley Chatman Ernector Claussell 5icarte Colon Carlos Constanza -ulian Corchado Amos Council Dallas Co[ -ean Davis Florence Dennis Manuel Esteves Alvaro Ferreira 5obert Forrest 5olan Franklin -ohn French +oward Frierson Willie Fryer -ames Fuson -oseph Gaborski Candido Garcia Miguel Gines 5afael Ginorio +enry Glover -ohn Goedig Frank Gonsalves -ulian Green Earl +enderson Genaro +ernandez 5ichard +ogan Edward -ones 5.D.-ones 5obert -ones +an -uan 3atrick .enny +arold .ing -oseph .isler Gloria .night Mohamed Al .usari Otto /arsen 5oger /au -oseph /ashley 9ictor /odge -ohn Markow Sidney Martin .enneth Mathias -oseph Mathlin Frank McGuiness Sidney Montreal Chester Moody Gilberto Negron Eugene Oliver Michael 3aric Donald 3arker Malley 3artain Charles 3heasant Willie 3hillips +erbert 3orter Manuel 3ulido 5aymond 3urnell Donald 4uattlebaum %laine 5embert +ermino 5esto Egbert 5ichards Carmelo 5ios 9irgil 5obertson Eliseo Santiago -osefina Santiago Miguel Seda Adam Sheppard 5obert Sheppard /uther Thomas Enrique Torres Curtis 9anover Silvestre 9argas Claude Walcott +enry Williams Simon Wilson Earl Wise +omer Wright +enry =enor Timothy =ucchi $JH �4 �� �� �� 99 �� �� 91 �� �� �9 �1 �1 �� �� �� �4 �� �� �� �� 9� �� �4 �9 �9 �� �� �� �� �9 �� �� �� �� �9 �� �� �4 �� �� �4 �1 �� �� �� �9 �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� 9� �� �� �� �� �� �9 �� �� �� �� �� �� 9� �1 �1 �� �� �9 �� �� �9 �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �4 �9 �� �9 '2' Feb. 1� -an. � -une ��, ’�� Feb. �� Dec. 14, ’�� Dec. 1�, ’�� Feb. 11 Dec. ��, ’�� Feb. �4 Feb. 1� -an. 1� Nov. 9,.’�� -an. 1� Dec. 1�, ’�� -uly �1, ’�� Feb. �� Feb. �� Feb. �4 Nov. 1, ’�� Dec. ��, ’�� -an. 11 Feb. 1� Feb. 1� Oct. �, ’�� -an. � -an. 1� Feb. � Feb. 1� -an. � Dec. ��, ’�� -an. � Feb. � Feb. 1� -an. 1� Dec. ��, ’�� -an. 4 Aug. �, ’�� Feb. 1� Feb. � -an. � Feb. � -an. 19, ’�� Feb. �� -an. 1� -an. 1� Feb. 11 Feb. �� Feb. 1 -an. �� Oct. 1, ’�� -an. � -an. � -an. 1 -an. 11 -an. �1 Feb. 1� -an. � Nov. ��, ’�� Aug. �, ’�� -an. �4 Feb. 1� -an. � -an. �1 -an. 14 Feb. 1� Dec. 9, ’�� -an. 19 Feb. �� -an. 14 Nov. 14, ’�� -an. �9 Dec. �� Dec. 1�, ’�� Dec. �, ’�� Feb. 1� Feb. �4 -an. 1� -an. �1 -an. �� Dec. ��, ’�� -an. 1� -an. �� -an. �� Feb. � -an. 9 -an. �� -an. 1� Feb. � -an. �� -an. 4 Feb. � -an. �� -an. � Seafarers LOG 19 �Letter to the Editor �(GLWRU©V�QRWH��WKH�6HDIDUHUV�/2*�UHVHUYHV�WKH�ULJKW WR�HGLW�OHWWHUV�IRU�JUDPPDU�DV�ZHOO�DV�VSDFH�SURYL� VLRQV�ZLWKRXW�FKDQJLQJ�WKH�ZULWHU©V�LQWHQW��7KH�/2* ZHOFRPHV� OHWWHUV� IURP� PHPEHUV�� SHQVLRQHUV�� WKHLU IDPLOLHV�DQG�VKLSPDWHV�DQG�ZLOO�SXEOLVK�WKHP�RQ�D WLPHO\�EDVLV�� 6DLOLQJ�7 7KURXJK $�5 5HDO�6 6WRUP Any time there is a significant amount of snow on the East Coast, the news media makes a comparison between “it” and the big one—the blizzard of ’��. I Moined the 6HD�/DQG�%DOWLPRUH as an A% maintenance in the winter of 19��. We left the port of %altimore heading for Norfolk, 9a. by way of the Chesapeake %ay. %altimore was bitter cold, like it always is that time of year. There were ice floes on the %ay, but nothing considered abnormal. At Norfolk, we boarded a federal pilot who stayed for the duration of the trip. This was a handy tool, always ready to dock or clear a ship at a moment’s notice. We got the first inkling of what was in store for us off the coast of New -ersey. A strong easterly wind was rearranging our life boat covers and forming ice on the motors and winch wires. The wind increased, and we were taking heavy sprays over the bow. The pilot pulled us from open waters using /ong Island Sound. We still had to go outside to enter the Cape Cod Canal� however, the respite was not unappreciated. The plan was to drop anchor at %uzzards %ay light, while the captain communicated with the front office. It was welcomed news. The Coast Guard and weather bureau were treating this as a special and dangerous storm. Our Moy was short-lived. We soon weighed anchor and continued toward open waters. After passing by the merchant marine training ship, we again received orders to drop the hook. When we finished, I was e[hausted. I flopped on my bunk without washing or undressing, e[pecting to wake up refreshed, greeted by a bright sunny morning. This did not happen. Talk about a rude awakening. I was thrown from my bed with such force that I landed on the other side of the room. Anything that was not tied down followed. +alf asleep, I tried to make sense of it all. I was sure there had been an e[plosion in the boiler room. I found my life Macket and headed for the mess hall, bumping off both sides of the passageway like a pinball machine. Unaware that we were no longer anchored, I was sure the ship was sinking. Everyone was milling around frightened, many wearing life Mackets. The bosun appeared and looked for the deck crew to help secure the after lines. +e cleared some things up in my mind. We were not at sea. Shortly after, anchoring orders were received to proceed to %oston. At the mouth of the canal, the ship was greeted by a monstrous green sea that pulled the bow deep under water. It finally responded with such force that everybody and everything went airborne. The bad news was that all the forward lockers and circuits controlling the anchors were under water and deemed useless. Most of the forward lines that had not washed overboard were trailing in the water but in no danger of fouling the screw. With the forward deck under water, we were in imminent danger of breaking up. The possibility of hatch flooding was also real. Most of the e[posed containers were being ripped open and their contents strewn over the ocean. It was impossible to turn around. Our situation was serious enough to send an international May Day alert. Nothing could be done but stay a course and wait for a break in the weather. It’s a credit to the bridge that they did that. %y dawn, the storm had 20 Seafarers LOG weakened and ship became manageable. Almost mockingly, a bright sun broke through the clouds. As we approached %oston, none the worse for wear, two tug boats came to our aid. After tying up to the tugs, we had the arduous task of pulling our lines from the frozen water hand over hand. The landscape as far as the eye could see was covered deep in snow. The state of Massachusetts was under a severe storm watch. No one had been able to reach the docks for days. The National Guard was still out rescuing stranded motorists. The city of %oston was shut down. The only ones to take our lines on the docks were the security personnel. They did an admirable Mob. Our last detail for the moment was to secure our lines to the bits the old fashioned way—raw manpower. Other than that, it was Must another day at the office. For days, everyone on the East Coast knew of the severity of this storm—with one e[ception. We have always been able to conMure up a profile of a person who gives orders at a time like this. /ate nights, weekends and holidays, the reins are handed to a person on the lower end of the food chain. +e or she is guaranteed consideration for their loyalty. In the mind’s eyes of those suffering through this ordeal, there is a different view, not without sarcasm. In charge is someone who has never been to sea under any condition, e[cept perhaps in an amusement park. With a drink in one hand and a telephone close by, they ponder their ne[t move using an AAA road map and a ��-cent wooden ruler. After doing the math, there is a final directive� Even at slow speed, you should make %oston for an � a.m. start. It’s as simple as that. $QWKRQ\�1RWWXUQR 9LOODV��1�-� ([SHULHQFH�0 0DNHV 7KH�' 'LIIHUHQFH -ust thought I would write to you about a sailing e[perience I had on the Great /akes a number of years ago. It is hard to believe I am now 94 years of age and have been retired for almost �� years. One incident I remember is about a captain. It was his first year, and he lacked the skill of an “oldtimer.” What every young captain should have at all times is a seasoned captain alongside him. As we approached a bridge, a dense fog set in. There were several boats blowing danger signals. I looked at the captain and he was shaking all over. I was only a wheelsman. +is voice was coming out fast. +e was completely shaken up� I was in a difficult situation as my duty was to take orders from the captain, whether right or wrong. A captain would not stand for a wheelsman to tell him what to do. Near the bottom of the river was a strong current. The captain told me to put the wheel hard right. That was wrong� it should have been left—the course on which we were traveling. Even so, I had to take orders from the captain. When the man on lookout said we were heading for the beach, the captain then told me to put it hard left. It was almost too late. Some of those old boats could not always be depended upon to answer the wheel. I was worried that we might be in deep trouble. If we had beached the boat, we would have cost American Steamship Co. a large sum of money. +ow could you keep such a large boat steady in such a strong current" When we got out of that mess, I was one very relieved wheelsman. I later asked a former shipmate how the thousand-foot boats steer, and he said “wonderful.” I never steered a thousand-footer. The shipmate said they steered as good as any automobile. $QG\�$VSVHWHU ([HODQG��:LV�� Know Your Rights ),1$1&,$/ 5(32576. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, /akes and Inland Waters District�NMU 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 e[amines 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. 75867 )81'6. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, /akes and Inland Waters District�NMU are administered in accordance with the provisions of various trust fund agreements. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these funds shall equally consist of union and management representatives and their alternates. All e[penditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a maMority of the trustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. 6+,33,1*�5,*+76. A member’s shipping rights and seniority are protected e[clusively 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 %oard by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is� Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals %oard ���1 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD ���4� 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 %oard. &2175$&76. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. (',725,$/ 32/,&< ¥� 7+( 6($)$5(56� /2*. The 6HDIDUHUV /2*�traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the September 19�� meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for 6HDIDUHUV /2* policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the e[ecutive board of the union. The e[ecutive board may delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. 3$<0(17 2) 021,(6. 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. &2167,787,21$/ 5,*+76 $1'� 2%/,*$7,216. Copies of the SIU Constitution are available in all union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its contents. Any time a member feels any other member or officer is attempting to deprive him or her of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods, such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, the member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. (48$/ 5,*+76. 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, se[, 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. 6($)$5(56� 32/,7,&$/ $&7,9,7< '21$7,21�¥�63$'. S3AD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its obMects 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 obMects, S3AD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force, Mob 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 S3AD by certified mail within �� days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should support S3AD to protect and further his or her economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. 127,)<,1*�7+(�81,21—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 3resident Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is� Michael Sacco, 3resident Seafarers International Union ���1 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD ���4�. April 2003 �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule of courses at the 3aul +all Center for Maritime Training and Education in 3iney 3oint, Md. through the end of the year. All programs are geared to improve the Mob skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. 3lease note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the 6DWXUGD\�EHIRUH their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. )RU�FODVVHV�HQGLQJ�RQ�D�)ULGD\��GHSDUWXUH�UHVHUYD� WLRQV�VKRXOG�EH�PDGH�IRU�6DWXUGD\� Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the 3aul +all Center may call the admissions office at (��1) 994-��1�. 6WHZDUG�8SJUDGLQJ�&RXUVHV *DOOH\�2SHUDWLRQV�$GYDQFHG�*DOOH\�2SHUDWLRQV�PRGXOHV�VWDUW�HYHU\�ZHHN��&HUWLILHG�&KLHI &RRN�&KLHI�6WHZDUG�FODVVHV�VWDUW�HYHU\�RWKHU ZHHN��PRVW�UHFHQWO\�EHJLQQLQJ�0DUFK���� 5HFHUWLILFDWLRQ %RVXQ 2FWREHU � (QJLQH�8SJUDGLQJ�&RXUVHV &RXUVH $UULYDO�'DWH 'DWH�RI�&RPSOHWLRQ 2LOHU 0D\�� -XO\��� 6HSWHPEHU � 1RYHPEHU � -XQH��� $XJXVW��� 2FWREHU �� 'HFHPEHU �� :HOGLQJ $SULO��� -XQH�� -XO\��� 6HSWHPEHU � 2FWREHU � 1RYHPEHU � 0D\��� -XQH��� $XJXVW�� 6HSWHPEHU �� 2FWREHU �� 1RYHPEHU �� (QJLQH�8WLOLW\��(8� -XQH��� $XJXVW��� 6HSWHPEHU �� 1RYHPEHU �� -XO\��� 6HSWHPEHU � 2FWREHU �� 'HFHPEHU �� 40('�-XQLRU (QJLQHHU $SULO��� 6HSWHPEHU �� -XO\��� 'HFHPEHU �� 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BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB +ave you attended any S+/SS�3+C upgrading courses" o <es o No If yes, course(s) taken BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard /ifeboatman Endorsement" o <es o No Firefighting� o <es o No C35� o <es o No 3rimary language spoken BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB April 2003 SIGNATU5E BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB DATE BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 127(��7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ�ZLOO�EH�SDLG�LQ�DFFRUGDQFH�ZLWK�WKH�VFKHGXOLQJ�OHWWHU�RQO\�LI�\RX SUHVHQW� RULJLQDO� UHFHLSWV� DQG� VXFFHVVIXOO\� FRPSOHWH� WKH� FRXUVH�� ,I� \RX� KDYH� DQ\� TXHV� WLRQV��FRQWDFW�\RXU�SRUW�DJHQW�EHIRUH�GHSDUWLQJ�IRU�3LQH\�3RLQW� 5(7851�&203/(7('�$33/,&$7,21�72��3DXO�+DOO�&HQWHU�IRU�0DULWLPH�7UDLQLQJ�DQG�(GXFDWLRQ� $GPLVVLRQV�2IILFH��3�2��%R[�����3LQH\�3RLQW��0'��������������RU�ID[�WR���������������� The Seafarers +arry /undeberg School of Seamanship at the 3aul +all Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of any race, nationality or se[. The school complies with applicable laws with regard to admission, access or treatment of students in its programs or activities. 4��� Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes 8QOLFHQVHG�$SSUHQWLFH�:DWHU 6XUYLYDO�&ODVV�����— Unlicensed apprentices who graduated from class �3� are (in alphabetical order) Archie Dalton, Christopher Eubanks, John Fain, Jim Farmer, Keith Gibney, Michael Harris Jr., Peter Jensen, Eleazar Lozano Jr., Jesse Lusian, Regis Makowski, Brian McBride, Mchael Myers Jr., David Osterback, Terrell Poole, Stephen Puckett, Jose 4uinones-Ramos, Lucas Ramirez, LaTerrance Ransom, Henry Rivera-Rodriguez, Steven Ruppert, Angelo Schiraldi, 1athan Slack, James Taylor, Marquita Walker and Brett Wilson. 8QOLFHQVHG�$SSUHQWLFH�:DWHU 6XUYLYDO�&ODVV�����— Graduating from the unlicensed apprentice water survival class �3� are (in alphabetical order) Paul Flanagan Jr., Leroy Flores, Sergio Gonzalez-Lopez, Gregory Grove, Claurence Jones III, Todd Keith, Christopher Keshlear, Brandon Leach, James Osbourne, Deverla Parker Jr., Michael Pockat II, Derik Rye, Kenneth Sharp, Edward Tanaka, 1igel Williams and Emmanuel Wilson. 7DQNHU )DPLOLDUL]DWLRQ� $VVLVWDQW�&DUJR��'/� — Completing the tanker familiarization�assistant cargo (DL) course March � are (in alphabetical order) Clinton Betties, Kellie Clark, William Eoff, Bryan Fletcher, Cordrey Goss, 1at Lamb, Darius McCastle, Joseph Romine, Christian Rosado and Ahsha Staiger. Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is at far right. (QJLQH� 8WLOLW\� — Graduates of the Feb. 21 engine utility class are (from left, front row) Ron Oyer (instructor), Reynaldo Lacayo, Aaron Morton Jr., James Buckowski, Baisel Kuvshinikov, Cesar Williams, Ricky Langley, Ben 9ernon (instructor), (second row) Jonathon Stratton, Steven Benavides Jr., John Shea, Demond Williams, Ralph Williams and Degrick McLendon. 1ot pictured is 1adia Wright. :HOGLQJ�— /LIHERDWPDQ�:DWHU 6XUYLYDO� — Earning their lifeboatman�water survival endorsement Feb. 28 are (from left) Bernabe Pelingon (instructor), Johnny Palencia, Paul McDonell, Robert McLendon, Gloria Baker, Douglas Thompson, Johnson Srianosos, Richard Mace and Justino Sanchez. Successfully completing the welding course Feb. 21 are (in alphabetical order) Cordrey Goss, Florencio Marfa, Joseph McCrosky, Alexander Rembert, David Rivera and Anthony Thomas. Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, is in the back row (in plaid shirt). 2LOHU— -XQLRU (QJLQHHU — Upgrading their ratings to junior engineer April � are (in alphabetical order) Mohamad Abdullah, Armando Camacho, Michael Dupee, Michael Hinton, Jerrol Jones, Benjamin Mathews, Romel Reyes, Trevor Robinson and Gerardo 9ega. Their instructor, Jay Henderson, is in back row (with glasses). 22 Seafarers LOG Seafarers who graduated from the oiler class Feb. 21 are (in alphabetical order) Daniel Amesbury, Robert Binder, Chance Chong, Alshea Dixon, Joie Flesner, Christopher Graham, Anthony Hoy, Jeffrey Johnson, Robert 1orris, Walter Rood, Jason Rymel and 4uincy Wilson. April 2003 �Paul Hall Center Classes $GYDQFHG�)LUH�)LJKWLQJ�² 7KH�URVWHU�IRU�JUDGXDWHV�RI�WKH�DGYDQFHG�ILUH�ILJKWLQJ�FRXUVH�ZKLFK�HQGHG )HE�� ��� LQFOXGHV� �LQ� DOSKDEHWLFDO� RUGHU�� 5REHUW� $UEOH�� 'DYLG� %RGDK�� -RVHSK� %URZQ�� -RVHSK� %XWDVHN� 7KRPDV�&OHDU\��&KULVWRSKHU�(DUKDUW��7KRPDV�(DVWZRRG��%DUU\�)UHHPDQ��-RVHSK�)UHLWDV��-DPHV�*UHJRU\� 7KRPDV�*URVH��:LOOLDP�-RKQVRQ��6HDQ�-RQHV��1HERMVD�0LORVHYLF��7]YHWDQ�2YDORY��3HWHU�6FKPLWW��6DPXHO 6HD\��'DYLG�6KDZJODVV��-HQQ\�7HUSHQQLQJ�DQG�0LFKDHO�7KRPDV���1RWH��1RW�DOO�DUH�SLFWXUHG�� 5DGDU ² 7KHVH�XSJUDGLQJ�6HDIDUHUV�VXFFHVVIXO� O\�FRPSOHWHG�WKH�UDGDU�FRXUVH�)HE������7KH\�DUH��LQ QR�VSHFLILF�RUGHU��'DYLG�6KDZJODVV��-DPHV�'H&ODUN� 'HUULFN� /RWW�� 7KRPDV� *URVH�� 1HOV� -RKQVRQ�� 'DQLHO (QJOXQG� DQG� 7]YHWDQ� 2YDORY�� 7KHLU� LQVWUXFWRU�� 0LNH 6PLWK��LV�DW�ULJKW��IURQW�URZ� $Q\�VWXGHQW�ZKR KDV�UHJLVWHUHG IRU�D�FODVV�DQG ILQGV² IRU�ZKDWHYHU UHDVRQ²WKDW�KH RU�VKH�FDQQRW DWWHQG��SOHDVH LQIRUP�WKH DGPLVVLRQV GHSDUWPHQW�VR WKDW�DQRWKHU VWXGHQW�PD\ WDNH�WKDW�SODFH� $53$ ² 8QGHU� WKH� LQVWUXFWLRQ� RI� 0LNH� 6PLWK� �IDU� ULJKW��� VWXGHQWV FRPSOHWH� WKH�$53$ FRXUVH� 0DUFK� ���7KH\� DUH� �LQ� DOSKDEHWLFDO� RUGHU� 6WHSKHQ� %HUVFKJHU�� (ULF� 'REVRQ�� 'DQLHO� (QJOXQG�� %DUU\� )UHHPDQ� 6FRWW�*RUGRQ�DQG�7]YHWDQ�2YDORY� 6726�² 5HFHLYLQJ�FHUWLILFDWHV�IRU�FRPSOHWLRQ�RI�WKH�6726�FRXUVH�0DUFK���DUH�$ODVND�)LVKHUPHQ �LQ�DOSKDEHWLFDO�RUGHU��3HGUR�%DQXVLQJ��.HQQHWK�%D[WHU��*X\�%HHGOH�-U���(ULF�%HUJOXQG��-RQDWKDQ�%RW]� &KULVWRSKHU� %U\DQ�� *OHQ� *DOORZD\�� 7UDYLV� *RRGULFK�� :DOWHU� *UDEDUF]\N�� 0HOYLQ� *UXHOOH�� 'DYLG +DPPLWW�� &KDUOHV� +DUYH\�� *UHJRU\� .QDSS�� 6WHYHQ� 2GRL� 'RXJODV� 3HUU\�� /DQFH� 3LKOPDQ�� :HVOH\ 6ODWWHU\��5REHUW�6WRUUV�DQG�5LFKDUG�7URYLOOR��7KHLU�LQVWUXFWRU��6WDF\�+DUULV��LV�DW�IDU�OHIW� Basic Safety Training Classes 'DYLG� &DUWH�� :LOOLH� &UHDU� -U��� (PPHWW� 'H5XVKD� -U��� .HQQHWK� (QQHQJD�� %HQQLH )UHHODQG�� $EGXOPRNQH� *KDOHE�� &OHYH� +HQGHUVRQ�� 9LQFHQW� ,JQHUL�� -HIIUH\ -RKQVRQ��%DLVHO�.XYVKLQLNRY��-RHO�0DUNOH��&DPHURQ�0LOOHU��%UHQGDQ�0XUSK\��-RKQ 1RULFN��:DOWHU�5RRG��-DVRQ�5\PHO��-DVRQ�6LPRQ��&DGXPXV�7UHDNOH�-U���%HQMDPLQ 9HUQRQ�� .HQQHWK� :HOOV�� -RHO� :KLWHKRXVH�� &\ULO� :LOOLDPV�� )UDQN� :\QQ�� 5RGROIR =HQD�DQG�(XJHQH�3DOHQVDU� $ODVND�)LVKHUPHQ��3HGUR�%DQXVLQJ�,9��.HQQHWK�%D[WHU��*X\�%HHGOH -U��� (ULF� %HUJOXQG�� -RQ� %RW]�� &KULV� %U\DQ�� *OHQ� *DOORZD\�� 7UDYLV *RRGULFK�� :DOWHU� *UDEDUF]\N�� 'DYLG� +DPPLWW�� &KDUOHV� +DUYH\� *UHJRU\� .QDSS�� 6WHYHQ� 2GRL�� 'RXJODV� 3HUU\�� /DQFH� 3LKOPDQ� :HVOH\� 6ODWWHU\�� 5REHUW� 6WRUUV� DQG� 5LFKDUG�7URYLOOR�� �1RWH�� 1RW� DOO DUH�SLFWXUHG�� April 2003 $KPHG�$OL��6DKHU�$OL� 'DYLG�%RGDK��-RKQ %RQLIDV��0LFKDHO %RZHUV��5REHUW &RKHQ��5RQDOG 'DQGUHD��5DPRQD *D\WRQ��5REHUW *HKUHW��-RKQ�+D\QLH� 3KLOOLS�0DUWLQ��%DUU\ 0F1HDO��-HVVH 1DWLYLGDG�6U���-HVVH 1DWLYLGDG�-U���/RUD 3HUH]��:�'��5DQGOH DQG�-RKQ�7RRPH\�,,,� �1RWH��1RW�DOO�DUH�SLF� WXUHG�� 5LFNLH�=HOD\D� :LQVWRQ�&REXUQ� 5REHUW�%UXQLQJ�,,� /HR�1RHO� :RRGURZ�%URZQ� 7RUUH\�1HII��'HDQ 3DUNV�-XVWLQR 6DQFKH]��-RKQ *DEULHO��-RKQ :DOVK�,,,��0RQWH &URVV�-U���DQG LQVWUXFWRU�'DYH 0DUWLQ��IDU�ULJKW��� Seafarers LOG 23 �Volume 65 April 2003 Number 4 Attention Seafarers: Get a head start on planning your summer vacation. See page 14 for more information. I Delegates from Express Marine gather in the Norfolk hall with Port Agent Jim Malone (standing second from right) to review proposals for a new contract. a N While aboard the Manhattan Island, ABM Rich Nicholas and AB Dragtender Nathan Eldridge study proposals for their new contract. The Manhattan Island dredges the coastal shore off North Carolina. t’s business as usual at the SIU hall in Norfolk, Va.—perhaps even a little busier than usual with the current activation of military support ships for Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition to the crewing of vessels for the war against terrorism, SIU officials in Norfolk check on other activities in the area—including the dredging of the channel off the coast of Morehead City, N.C. by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.’s Manhattan Island. The dredge is equipped with state-ofthe-art instrumentation, and the split-hull design permits rapid dumping of discharge material. On this page, photos show some of the more common activities at the Norfok hall, including Seafarers coming in to sign papers, fill out forms, wait for a job call or just pass the time and compare sea stories. Steward/Baker Robert Lee Thomas Jr. (left) and SA William Brainard help keep the crew well fed aboard the hopper dredge Manhattan Island. A H The captain on the Manhattan Island is Jim Fish. Oiler Jim ‘Gypsy’ Bukowsky spreads the word of the benefits of contributing to SPAD. Retirees Randy Archer and Larry Combs share sea stories with DEU John Cooper. OMU Charlie Johnson and his wife, Ada, drop by the union hall in Norfolk to fill out some paperwork. AB Steve Westfall (left) waits on a shipping card from SIU Rep Sam Spain in the Norfolk hall. Mark Paterson is the chief engineer aboard the Manhattan Island. Waiting on a job call are Recertified Bosun Robert Lindsay and Bosun Sean Ryan. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2003 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MTD CHARTS COURSE FOR CONTINUED REVITALIZATION SIU GAINS MORE JOBS PRIVACY RULES TAKE EFFECT THIS MONTH SIU DELIVERS FOR U.S. TROOPS MORE THAN 2,000 SEAFARERS CREW UP SHIPS FOR ‘IRAQI FREEDOM’ ON BRINK OF WAR, MERCHANT MARINE’S DEFENSE ROLE IS OBVIOUS, APPRECIATED ITF, SIU AND OTHERS RALLY TO AID MARINERS SCHUBERT: SUPPORTING NATIONAL DEFENSE REMAINS MARAD’S ‘MOST URGENT ISSUE’ PA. BILL DIRECTS BONUS FOR WWII MARINERS ALASKAN LAMMERS’ GRADUATION IS HISTORIC SPAD MAKES SENSE TO SEAFARER BUCKOWSKI PENSIONER PADU PASSED AWAY NMU BENEFIT PLANS IMPLEMENT PRIVACY REGULATIONS RECERTIFIED STEWARDS LEARN LESSONS IN TEAMWORK ‘SHORT-SEA’ SHIPPING OFFERS MANY BENEFITS UFCW’S DORITY SHEDS LIGHT ON CRUCIAL ORGANIZING DRIVE AFL-CIO LEADERS SWEENEY, TRUMKA, STRESS SOLIDARITY, ORGANIZING, POLITICS THE CASE FOR ANWR YOUNG, MURKOWSKI DELIVER STRONG POINTS FOR EXPLORING COASTAL PLAIN LNG CREWS AID THE NEEDY UNION REACHES AGREEMENT ON MSC CARPENTER DUTIES 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2003 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. 65, No. 4 2003 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/a5715f242f9f637f0483d8e434a5e497.pdf 233302a3669fb414f78d99dff5623331 PDF Text Text 22284_p1,2,6,10,14, 24.qxd 3/30/2004 3:50 PM Page 1 Volume 66, Number 4 April 2004 MTD Speakers Tell It Like It Is: America Depends On U.S. Mariners! The U.S. Merchant Marine’s role as the fourth arm of defense and the worsening U.S. health care crisis were two of the main topics discussed March 4-5 during meetings of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board in Hollywood, Fla. Members of Congress and the administration as well as military officers and labor officials examined those issues as well as port security, workers’ rights, cargo preference, shipbuilding, runaway-flag shipping and more. In photos above, MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (left) welcomes U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (left photo) and U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow to the meetings. Pages 3, 8, 9. Seafarers Continue Sailing in ‘OIF2’ SIU-Crewed Cable Ship Instrumental In Tough Mission SIU members are sailing aboard at least 60 ships that have mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom 2, including the Flickertail State (above). Page 3. U.S. Military Leaders Speak Up for Maritime Puerto Rico Towing Boatmen Join SIU Page 2 Page 4 Stewards Complete Recertification Class Page 7 Seafarers on the Tyco Decisive last month helped in the mission to recover bodies from a water-taxi tragedy that claimed five lives. The accident happened March 6 in Baltimore when a 36-foot boat capsized in a fastmoving storm. Bosun Thor Young (left, top photo) and Bosun’s Mate Tony Sibola were among the many Seafarers who assisted in the recovery. A remotely operated vehicle (bottom photo) deployed from the Decisive proved particularly vital in recovering the last two bodies. Page 3. �22284_p1,2,6,10,14, 24.qxd 3/30/2004 12:33 AM Page 2 President’s Report A Crisis America Must Solve Everyone who cares about America’s working families owes a debt of gratitude to the 70,000 union brothers and sisters from the United Food and Commercial Workers who recently approved a new contract after more than five months on the picket lines. The union members’ courage and determination in the fight to maintain good, affordable health care benefits is admirable by itself. But the fact is those members were laying it on the line for all workers, not just themselves. They Michael Sacco made a stand that had to be made, and while they may not have gotten everything they wanted, I believe they won. Unfortunately, nationwide, the health care crisis isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting worse. And we as a nation must solve it. You’ve probably heard the saying that there are three types of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics. But when it comes to health care, the numbers are frighteningly true. Today, the average family health premium is more than $9,000 a year. When you consider that the national median household income is a little more than $42,000, it’s obvious the cost of health care is out of control. We’re all aware that the price of health benefits normally only goes one direction—up. But did you know that more and more steadily employed workers are losing their coverage, either because their employers take it away or because they simply can’t afford the premiums? For example, the news media recently reported that a new survey by the state of South Carolina revealed that 19 percent of its citizens didn’t have health coverage the previous two years. Well over half of those uninsured people were employed. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney recently reminded us of a bigger, even more disturbing number. Namely, 44 million people in the U.S. don’t have health coverage. “The damage being done to their families is matched perhaps only by the damage being done to union members, union employers and our ability to compete in the world economy,” Sweeney said at last month’s meeting of the Maritime Trades Department executive board. “Who do you think picks up the tab for those uninsured workers—6 million of whom are fully employed? Our union employers do, and we as union members do, through higher premiums and lower benefits and through the taxes we pay.” Look beyond the statistics and you see the real costs of this crisis. Seniors who can’t afford their prescriptions. Parents who agonize over whether they’ll have enough money to maintain their family’s coverage and still save for their children’s education. Hard-working individuals who literally must choose between keeping their insurance and paying other bills. American citizens of all ages who let treatable conditions go unchecked because they don’t have the funds for health coverage. This is a national disgrace. It simply shouldn’t happen in the United States—or anywhere else. America’s unions are leading the fight to ensure good, affordable health insurance for every man, woman and child across the country. But we obviously can’t do it alone. A challenge this big demands full national debate and complete cooperation among labor, government and business. It’s a puzzle that’s long overdue for a solution. I’m proud of the way the SIU supported our UFCW brothers and sisters during the recent strike and lockout. Seafarers marched with them in California, New York and Missouri, and we also donated food and money to help them through a tremendously difficult time. But what I really look forward to is the day when health care is a given for everyone. In working toward that goal—in fighting for our very well-being—America should spare no resource. Volume 66, Number 4 April 2004 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; 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 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne Textor. Copyright © 2004 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Military Leaders Make It Clear: Strong U.S. Fleet Is Imperative Three highly respected U.S. military leaders last month jointly testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee’s Seapower Subcommittee, where they reaffirmed the U.S. Merchant Marine’s importance in national security. Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, commander, Military Sealift Command (MSC); and Maj. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, USA, commanding general, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC—formerly the Military Traffic Management Command), submitted a joint statement to the subcommittee March 10. Chaired by Sen. James Talent (R-Mo.), the hearing pertained to a mobility requirements study. Both in their prepared text and in answering questions from Talent and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), the military officers offered powerful words detailing the merchant marine’s significance. “Our sealift force is vastly more capable than ever before,” the officers noted. “Strategic sealift is critical to our nation’s power projection strategy.” During the discussion with the senators, Brewer described the Maritime Security Program— which helps ensure the presence of up to 60 militarily useful U.S.flag vessels—as “extremely important. We can’t exist without it…. But more importantly, ships don’t run themselves. Mariners run them. The Maritime Security Program is providing us with a U.S.-flagged fleet that will provide us with the mariners to man these particular ships. And I have to commend some of the people sitting behind me who represent the Maritime Trades Department and unions because, without them, we could not have fought this war.” Continued on page 11 Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command Ready Reserve Force Is ‘Great Success’ During last month’s Seapower Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, described the U.S. Ready Reserve Force (RRF) as “one of the great successes. We followed that very closely in this (Armed Services) committee. Their ships have done an extraordinary job.” In a prepared statement, Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, commander, Military Sealift Command (MSC); and Maj. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, USA, commanding general, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, noted, “The increased readiness standards and maintenance of our RRF have made it more efficient and better able to meet lift requirements than ever before. The RRF today is a well-maintained, ready force of 31 surge roll-on/roll-off ships and 37 special-purpose sealift ships.” During the first phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, about 22 percent of the cargo moved to support the war effort was carried aboard U.S.-flag RRF ships, most of them crewed by Seafarers. The U.S. Maritime Administration, which oversees the RRF, described the program as “a key element of strategic sealift. The RRF is specifically structured to transport Army and Marine Corps unit equipment and initial resupply for forces deploying anywhere in the world during the critical period before adequate numbers of commercially available ships can be marshaled.” The RRF made a major contribution to the success of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from August 1990 through June 1992, when 79 vessels were activated and operated to meet military sealift requirements. Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command Maj. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, USA, Commanding General, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Grocery Workers Win Contract Protecting Health Care Benefits Southern California grocery workers on Feb. 29 ratified a new three-year contract that ended the longest grocery strike and lockout in U.S. history. The new pact, which covers some 70,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) at three major supermarket chains— Kroger Co., Albertsons Inc. and Safeway Inc.—was approved by 86 percent of voting members after a two-day tally which commenced Feb. 28. As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, the dispute began Oct. 11 when the UFCW members refused to give in to demands to slash their health care benefits. Kroger’s, Ralphs and Albertsons, bargaining jointly with Safeway, locked out their union workers the next day. Nearly 900 stores were affected by the work stoppage. The five-month dispute centered on health care costs. The supermarket chains asserted that they could no longer afford to pay for the benefits without what many deemed unfairly high con- tributions from workers in the face of competition from nonunion rivals like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Following 20 weeks without paychecks, the union workers won their fight to protect affordable health care, their pensions and job security. Under the new contract, workers won: „ Affordable health care benefits for new and current workers with no weekly employee premiums in the first two years, and only nominal payments, if needed, in the third year. „ Employer contributions of nearly $190 million to rebuild the health plan reserves. „ A combined pension fund for new hires and current employees—ensuring a secure pension fund in the future. „ A wage increase averaging about $500 in the first and third years of the contract. By standing up for affordable health care, the grocery workers SIU Asst. VP West Coast Nick Celona, left, and Bosun Mike Hester join striking UFCW grocery workers on the picket lines in Southern California. kept health care on the national agenda and sent a message to employers everywhere that attempts to eliminate health care benefits will come at a high price. The strike also raised the alarm for national health care reform. Continued on page 11 April 2004 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/26/2004 2:27 AM Page 3 ‘Maritime Is Essential’ Merchant Marine’s Defense Role, U.S. Health Care Crisis Addressed by MTD Insightful discussions about the U.S. Merchant Marine’s role as the fourth arm of defense and the worsening U.S. health care crisis dominated much of the proceedings March 4-5 during meetings of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board in Hollywood, Fla. Members of Congress and the administration as well as military officers and labor officials examined those issues and others including port security, workers’ rights, cargo preference, ship- building, runaway-flag shipping and more. See pages 8 and 9 for full coverage of the MTD executive board meetings. The MTD consists of 29 international unions (including the SIU) and 24 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing 6.5 million working men and women. MTD President Michael McCartney Dies at 72 George McCartney, retired SIU vice president West Coast, died March 19 after battling various ailments that had sharply worsened. He was 72. McCartney retired in 1998 after serving the previous 17 years as an SIU vice president. But anyone who knew him understood that he never really left the union. McCartney remained intensely loyal to the SIU, constantly volunteering his time and always wearing his SIU colors with pride. He attended the March membership meeting in San Francisco the day before his death. McCartney began sailing with the SIU at age 17, joining in 1948. He sailed for a dozen years before coming ashore. When he retired, he noted, “The SIU has always been my life, my main interest, since I was a kid.” Next month’s Seafarers LOG will contain a more detailed remembrance. Seafarers Continue to Sail In Operation to Rebuild Iraq At this time last year, more than 2,000 Seafarers were sailing aboard military support ships providing aid for allied troops involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). They crewed more than 100 vessels used to deliver the troops, tanks, fuel and other materiel needed by coalition forces to achieve victory in removing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime. One year later, SIU members are mobilized for the next phase, OIF2, which is now in full swing as more than 240,000 U.S. military personnel rotate into and out of the Middle East. Pentagon planners anticipate delivering fresh divisions, with all the necessary equipment, to Iraq, while bringing home those divisions that have been there since the start of the military operation. According to the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), the cargo moving into the area aboard ship includes less armored equipment than last year but more combat service support gear for forces trying to stabilize and reconstruct the war-torn nation. Approximately 24 million square feet of cargo (10 million into and 24 million out of the country) belonging to nine units in the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and National Guard are being moved by ship As the Seafarers LOG went to press, 60 SIU-contracted ships already had been activated for OIF2. They include vessels oper- April 2004 ated by Amsea: the Cape Jacob, USNS Algol, USNS Altair, USNS Antares, USNS Bellatrix, USNS Capella, USNS Pollux, USNS Regulus and USNS Stockham. Crowley-operated ships include the Cape Inscription, Cape Intrepid, Cape Isabel, Cape Island, Cape Washington and Cape Wrath. Those vessels operated by IUM are the Cape May, Flickertail State, USNS Chesapeake, USNS Mt. Washington, USNS Petersburg, Northern Lights and Westward Venture. From Keystone Shipping are the Cape Race, Cape Knox, Cape Kennedy, Cape Orlando, Cape Victory and Cape Vincent. Maersk Lines is operating the USNS Charlton, USNS Dahl, USNS Pomeroy, USNS Red Cloud, USNS Sisler, USNS Soderman, USNS Watkins and USNS Watson. Additionally, Seafarers are serving aboard activated ships operated by Mormac: the Cape Decision, Cape Diamond, Cape Domingo, Cape Douglas, Cape Ducato, Cape Edmont, Cape Henry, Cape Horn and Cape Hudson. From MTL is the Cape Trinity. PGM has activated the Cape Farewell, Independence and Resolve. And Patriot contract-operated vessels include the USNS Brittan, USNS Benevidez, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Gilliland, USNS Gordon, USNS Fisher, USNS Mendonca, USNS Pillilau, USNS Seay, USNS Shugart and USNS Yano. Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, opened the meetings by noting that members of MTD unions continue handling important jobs in the current phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, known as OIF2. “Just like last year at this time, the unions of the MTD are playing key roles in the mission,” Sacco said. “Already, thousands of U.S. merchant mariners have crewed up military support ships that are transporting vital cargo and relief troops to the Middle East. They’re also sailing aboard commercial ships involved in supporting our troops. “At the same time, America’s war on terrorism, while full of ongoing challenges, has become an everyday fact of life,” he continued. “Here again, the unions of the MTD are doing our part. MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (left) greets U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow at last month’s executive board meeting in Florida. That’s true on the docks, in the shipyards, on the railroads and highways, in the skies, and on the streets of our cities.” SIU-Crewed Cable Ship Aids in Recovery Operation SIU members aboard the Tyco Decisive last month assisted in the grim task of recovering bodies from a water-taxi tragedy that claimed five lives. The accident happened March 6 in Baltimore when a 36-foot, two-ton pontoon boat, the Lady D, capsized in a fast-moving storm. Local rescuers quickly saved 22 survivors, but five passengers could not be found. It took 10 days to recover the bodies, the last three of which almost certainly wouldn’t have been found without equipment donated by Tyco and another private company for this mission. The Decisive, in addition to offering sonar, an underwater robotic device and other high-tech tools, served as the main staging point for the operation. Seafarers were at once determined, sympathetic, sad and relieved. “We were glad to help. We wished we weren’t out there having to recover bodies, but we wanted to help,” said Recertified Bosun Thor Young. “Once the last body was recovered…. I saw all three of them. It’s just very sad. Yet, we weren’t happy about it, but there was some elation just in the sense that it represented closure for the families.” “The whole atmosphere was, ‘Just get it done,’” noted Chief Cook Walter Schoppe, who submitted photos for this story. “Without Tyco helping, they never would have found those bodies. And we weren’t going back until we found them. Everybody was relieved afterwards—at least the families can bury their loved ones.” The story made international news. Victims included an engaged couple in their twenties; a 6-year-old boy; and a 60-yearold woman and her daughter, age 34. For a while, it appeared the last two bodies (those of the child and the 26-year-old woman) simply couldn’t be located in the murky, near-freezing, 51-feetdeep water, even after an extremely high-powered underwater camera was added to Tyco’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Nine days after the accident, there were no “targets” left, and the search momentarily was called off, according to news reports. Around that same time, the Decisive received an order for a cable repair job near Florida. “But we decided to stay out (and continue searching) for a few more hours,” Young recalled. That’s when the vessel’s equipment located the missing bodies. Baltimore Fire Department personnel, who did 35 dives altogether, recovered the last one on March 15. Both Young and Schoppe, like others involved in the task, said they felt strong mixes of compassion, sorrow and excitement as the mission ended. “To be honest, I was proud to be part of the experience,” said Young, who credited Bosun’s Mate Tony Sibola and the rest of the unlicensed crew for Board members approved 14 policy statements covering topics including the Maritime Security Program; shipbuilding; cabotage laws; support of U.S. troops; short sea shipping; runaway flags; overtime pay; health care; and other maritime and labor issues. Addressing the executive board were (in order of appearance) U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; Lt. Gen. Gary Hughey, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command; Thomas Mackell, managing director of The Kamber Group; Stephen Van Dyck, chairman of Seafarers-contracted Maritrans, Inc.; Vice Adm. David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; Robert Pearlman, president and CEO, Continued on page 5 doing their part. “Maybe someday I’ll tell my grandkids that I assisted in recovering some of the victims. “We assisted in launching the ROV, ran a lot of lines out to the piers,” he added. “The dive boat was tethered to the ship…. We gave full support to the fire department, whatever they needed. The mayor came aboard and the chief of the fire department came aboard. They were very appreciative.” Schoppe and the rest of the steward department—including Chief Steward Ed Tully and SAs German Solar, Francisco Calix and Danilo Achacoso—filled a more behind-the-scenes role but still had plenty to handle. “We worked our butts off,” Schoppe said. “We fed the mayor, fed 20 to 25 (extra) people every day we were out there. But everything went well.” The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident, including whether the captain of the Lady D offered lifejackets to the passengers, but its full report isn’t due for a year. The tragedy may have occurred as little as 100 yards from shore, according to press reports. The Living Classrooms Foundation is the owner and operator of Seaport Taxi, whose fleet included the ill-fated ferry. Rescue and recovery operations in Baltimore lasted 10 days following a tragic accident in which five people perished when their water taxi capsized. The SIU-crewed Tyco Dependable (in foreground) aided in recovering victims’ bodies. Seafarers LOG 3 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/30/2004 12:40 AM Page 4 SIU Fleet Grows Boatmen at Puerto Rico Towing Choose Seafarers The SIU recently welcomed aboard new members when boatmen at Puerto Rico Towing chose to join the Seafarers. Puerto Rico Towing operates five tugs that perform docking and undocking in San Juan Harbor as well as in other ports in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and elsewhere in the Caribbean. The company is a subsidiary of Great Lakes Towing. Negotiations are well under way for a first contract covering unlicensed boatmen at Puerto Rico Towing, who sail aboard the Honcho, Punta Borinquen, Punta Lima, El Lobo Grande II and the Punta Tuna. Victor Nuñez, SIU port agent in San Juan, said that the union had unanimous support among the unlicensed mariners, and the company recognized that support. Seafarers sailing aboard Puerto Rico Towing tugboats provide services to commercial ships and barges and to military-contracted vessels. Longtime ARC Director Rick Reisman Dies at 57 Rick Reisman, longtime director of the Seafarers Addictions Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Valley Lee, Md., passed away March 8 after a long illness. He was 57. Reisman directed the ARC for nearly 28 years before retiring in August 2003. He earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia in 1975 and was a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a member of both the American Mental Health Counselors Association and the American Counseling Association. More than 2,500 individuals have been admitted to the ARC since it opened in 1976. Reisman tried to help virtually all of them. “In a quiet way, he probably touched more people and saved more people than anybody I know,” said Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan, who knew Reisman for 28 years. “He was an administrator and left the day-to-day operation up to his counselors and let people do their job. But he was extremely dedicated, and he did his job with class.” Bill Eckles, clinical director at the ARC and a co-worker of Reisman for 25 years, described Rick as “devoted to the center and the union members. Between us, we brought the center along in the field, to the point where it has become one of the premier treatment centers in the country.” Kerrie Thompson, ARC secretary, worked with Reisman for nearly 24 years. “He was a very dedicated, loyal man,” she recalled. “Not just to the union and its members, but also to his family and friends. He created an atmosphere here where everyone was comfortable, like a team or a family. Teamwork was big to him. It worked. He’ll be missed.” One Seafarer who recovered through the ARC noted, “I remember him telling me, you and you alone know the truth about yourself. Honesty plays a big role in our program. He helped me a lot and he told me, if you can’t make it here, where else you got to go? I really had to think about that. I had nowhere 4 Seafarers LOG else to go. My career was on the verge of being washed out; my family didn’t want anything to do with me. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t focus on recovery. That really stopped me in my tracks. Thank God he told me the truth. He and Bill, they were big milestones. Very powerful instruments in my early recovery, and not only that, I kept in touch with him and Bill.” “We do still have people who call who came through 20 years ago,” Thompson said. “Sometimes 10 years will go by and someone will call us and let us know, ‘Hey, I’ve been sober for 10 years.’” Bud Adams, a consultant at the Paul Hall Center who directed the school’s arts and crafts center for many years, considered Reisman a close friend. “What I’ll miss about him is his friendship, his loyalty to people. He had a calming personality,” Adams said. He and Reisman worked together to start an “art incentive” program for those in recovery. “The idea was to give people a change of pace from therapy, and also help them follow through on things that they’d never done before or never thought they could do,” Adams noted. “We eventually found that the people who weren’t (fully) participating in their recovery also weren’t participating in the art part of it, and we used that discovery to help them.” Deborah Kleinberg of the SIU’s legal department knew Reisman for 20 years. They worked together on specific issues pertaining to the ARC and also beginning in 1989 when new drug-testing regulations for mariners were issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. “Throughout his tenure at the ARC, Rick helped thousands of seafarers during the most difficult periods of their lives,” Kleinberg said. “Seafarers seeking treatment met Rick at a time when they were most vulnerable—emotionally and physically. Rick treated each individual with respect and in a dignified manner. While he believed that each person was responsible for his or her own An avid boater in his free time, Rick Reisman helped thousands of people who enrolled at the Addictions Rehabilitation Center. recovery, Rick offered every client guidance, support and encouragement. Rick worked at the ARC with great dedication to his staff and his clients and he responded to the unique challenges of his work with humor, grace and compassion.” Kitty Eno knew Reisman from when she was the personnel director at the Paul Hall Center. “He was always a gentleman, always very professional and wonderful to work with,” she said. A native of Philadelphia, Reisman was an avid boater throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his only brother, Michael Terry Reisman, and is survived by his wife of 27 years, Liz, and their two sons. A memorial service took place March 12 at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Valley Lee. Reisman’s family thanked those who have sent expressions of sympathy, including those who let them know how he helped them change their lives. Memorial contributions may be made to: Johns Hopkins Cancer Center Head and Neck Cancer Research c/o Arlene Forastiere and Michael Gibson 1650 Orleans Street, Room G-90 Baltimore, MD 21231-1000 or to: Hospice of St. Mary’s P.O. Box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650 Seafarers Mourn Retired Patrolman Paul Warren Retired New Orleans Patrolman Paul A. Warren passed away March 1 following a lengthy illness. He was 91. Born Jan. 4, 1913 in Byhalia, Miss, the charter member joined the SIU on Nov. 16, 1938 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Warren was a key figure for the union during its infancy and worked closely with late SIU Presidents Harry Lundeberg and Paul Hall on a variety of labor and maritime issues. He was believed to be the oldest surviving SIU charter member at the time of his death. Brother Warren sailed in the deck department as a bosun and worked for a number of shipping companies, including Waterman Steamship, Mobile Oceanic Line, Delta Steamship Lines, Calmar Steamship Corp., Seatrain Lines and Alcoa Steamship. Brother Warren initially went to sea when he was 18. His first ship was Waterman’s Kenowie. Brother Warren retired from the union effective Aug. 1, 1973, following 35 years of devoted service. A highly decorated military veteran, Brother Warren served in both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army. He participated in the Battle of Anzio (Jan. 23 to May 25, 1944) in Italy. By all accounts, this was among the bloodiest battles of World War II. Records also indicate that Brother Warren was aboard the merchant freighter Andrew Jackson when it was torpedoed and sunk on July 12, 1942 in the Gulf of Mexico by a German U-boat. Brother Warren was highly respected by his peers, including SIU retiree George M. Milazzo, who said, “Paul was one of the few men that was tough enough to fight for his beliefs.” His personal effort was instrumental in helping to form what is now the SIU, Milazzo said. Capt. Murdock A. Jackson, another of Brother Warren’s longtime friends, also attested to the late mariner’s toughness and determination. “He was on a ship in Anchorage when he enlisted in the Army,” Jackson wrote in correspondence to the Seafarers LOG. “He was in the battle of Anzio Beach in Italy … and was wounded in the neck and leg by a sniper that jumped out of an olive tree. Paul survived, the enemy did not.” Survivors include his wife Antoinette Boscareno Warren; two sons, Jimmy and Paul Earl Warren; and two daughters, Leigh Ella Jane LaForte and Christa Warren Belesimo. Brother Warren also had nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Paul Warren was a hard worker who was 100 percent dedicated to the SIU. In this photo, taken in the mid 1940s, he is shown working aboard the War Shipping Administration’s Haiti Victory. Paul Warren, left, is shown during the union’s early years with Paul Hall, who became the SIU’s second president; Buck Stephens, longserving port agent in the union’s Gulf Coast region; and Bull Shepard, a founder of the school that became the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. All four Seafarers were charter members of the SIU. MC&S Organizer Boschetti Passes Away at 82 Roger Boschetti, a former SIU patrolman and business agent in San Francisco, passed away March 8. He was 82. Born on July 13, 1921 in Italy, Brother Boschetti embarked on his career with the SIU in 1943 in San Francisco. A member of the steward department, Brother Boschetti was instrumental in organizing the Marine Cooks and Stewards (MC&S). He worked with both the SIU and the MC&S from 1956 to 1982 and was an MC&S Official when it merged into the Seafarers in 1978. Brother Boschetti sailed in 1943, 1944 and part of 1945. He shipped primarily aboard vessels operated by APL and Matson Navigation. He served as acting port agent for the port of Honolulu from 1961 to 1962. Brother Boschetti also served as patrolman and business agent for the port of San Francisco. He retired Feb. 1, 1982 and became a restaurateur. Brother Boschetti also was a well-known television host in the San Jose, Calif. area. Brother Boschetti is survived by his wife Rachel and daughters Rogine Couch and Zita Johnson. His step-son, Dino Lopez, preceded him in death. He also had two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A funeral mass was held for Brother Boschetti March 9 in San Francisco. April 2004 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/30/2004 12:44 AM Page 5 Growing Loss of White-Collar Jobs Harms America, Federation Warns The AFL-CIO executive council last month unanimously passed a resolution urging reversal of the growing loss of servicesector and other white-collar jobs in the United States. While the federation unfailingly battles to protect jobs for working families, the specifics of this latest fight include some startling statistics. According to the executive council: „ Forrester Research Inc. predicts that American employers will move about 3.3 million white-collar service jobs and $136 billion in wages overseas in the next 15 years, up from $4 billion in 2000. „ Gartner Inc., a high-tech forecasting firm, estimates that 10 percent of computer services and software jobs will be moved overseas by the end of this year. A survey by Deloitte Research found that the world’s 100 largest financial services firms expect to shift $356 billion worth of operations and about 2 million jobs to low-wage countries over the next five years. The study also revealed that one-third of all major financial institutions in the world are already utilizing offshore outsourcing, with 75 percent reporting that they would be doing so within the next 24 months. „ A recent study by INPUT Research, a market research firm in Reston, Va., projects that outsourcing of state and local government technology contracts will grow from $10 billion last year to $23 billion in 2008. „ A report published by the University of California at Berkeley projects that some 14 million jobs are at risk of being outsourced overseas, and that job losses will likely exceed what the Forrester study reports. In its resolution, the AFL-CIO executive council noted, “Recent studies and analyses predict dire consequences should current trends continue unabated. What these reports make clear is that any work that can be digitized and transmitted through cyberspace is a target for export… The labor movement has fought the flawed trade and tax policies of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that rewarded companies for shipping American manufacturing jobs overseas. Today, we stand united in opposition to outsourcing away our best service-sector jobs as well. “Like Americans everywhere, we believe that American corpo- MTD Meetings Continued from page 3 our economic strength and to our productivity, as well as in the creation of American jobs.” Diabetes Research Institute; U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William Schubert; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; United Food and Commercial Workers President Doug Dority; U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.); U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas); Stephen Cotton, head of the Special Seafarers’ Department for the London-based International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF); and U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow. Most of the speakers commended the unions of the MTD for their respective roles in helping preserve U.S. economic and national security. Many spoke at length about the importance of the U.S.-flag fleet. Secretary Mineta stated, “The maritime industry is essential to The U.S. Merchant Marine’s role in national defense was addressed by numerous speakers including SIU and MTD President Michael Sacco (left) and Vice Admiral David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command. Welcoming New Affiliate Seafarers International Union of North American President Michael Sacco (second from right) recently presented American Maritime Officers National President Michael R. McKay with a charter identifying AMO as an affiliate of the SIUNA. Joining them are SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (right) and AMO SecretaryTreasurer Robert W. McKay. As previously reported, the AMO became an affiliate of the SIUNA in November 2003. April 2004 rations have a moral obligation to create and to keep good jobs in America. We support raising living standards around the world, but we steadfastly reject and resist any notion that improving living standards elsewhere requires sacrificing good jobs and living standards for American workers and their families.” The board cautioned that America is on the verge of repeating mistakes that allowed “two decades of devastation of the U.S. manufacturing sector and the permanent loss of millions of highwage, good benefit, middle-class jobs. America is now threatened with a similar hollowing out of its service sector. Included among the millions of service jobs now threatened are high paying, professional and technical career opportunities which are at serious risk due to the growing offshoring trend.” While recognizing that offshoring by companies wanting to exploit workers in other countries instead of hiring U.S. workers will be difficult to deter, the federation declared, “Public policies that aid and abet runaway corporations must change, and the U.S. must proactively develop a coherent and comprehensive employment policy…. “Other issues also need to be addressed. Our health care system adds significantly to the cost of doing business and makes U.S. products and services uncompetitive, even with the economies of developed nations. Health care reform is long overdue and, if we are to compete effectively in the Questions Surround ISPS Code Deadline Chaos may lurk on the horizon in the global seaborne trade arena, according to industry sources and security experts. Nations are struggling to comply with requirements of the new International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), which goes into effect July 1. Adopted by the United Nations in December 2002 subsequent to the September 11 terrorist attacks, the ISPS Code contains detailed security-related requirements for governments, port authorities and shipping companies as well as guidelines on how to meet them. It specifically requires all ships to be security-certified by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) before they are free to trade. The code regulates all vessels over 500 gross tons engaged in international voyages effective July 1, 2004. By this date, ports that are not ISPS compliant could face sanctions, and shipments from that port may face strict evaluation and be refused entry in all international ports, especially ports in the United States. The European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) has warned that many of its members will struggle to comply with the ISPS Code in time. World Shipping Council President and Chief Executive Christopher Koch said shipping lines and their customers should work together in urging ports to ensure that the new global antiterrorist measures are in place by the July deadline. A survey by the Brussels-based body has revealed a backlog of work throughout the EU which might not be overcome by the time the new international rules are supposed to be in force. Of greater significance, the study showed that the implementation of the anti-terrorism measures is behind schedule in several areas: „ Few authorities have designated “recognized security organizations.” „ A “limited” number of countries have completed their port facility security assessments. „ Development of port facility security plans are “mostly in the early stages of preparation or have not been started.” The assessment’s lone positive item suggests that most countries have appointed port facility security officers. As far as funding for the new security measures is concerned, ESPO said “virtually no government has released or indicated it is planning to release public funding for the measures.” Elsewhere, anxiety also is rising in the global tanker market that a significant portion of the world’s fleet could be excluded from the charter market if the July 1 deadline to improve ship security is not met. United Nations estimates say more than 90 percent of world trade, including key raw materials such as oil, iron ore, coal and grain is conveyed by sea. But according to Andy Easdown, only three percent of the world’s 30,000 ships over 500 gross tons which are engaged in international trade global economy, it is imperative that the problem of sky-high health care costs be fixed.” Perhaps with grim irony, the board pointed out that when U.S. manufacturing jobs started moving overseas in large numbers, “American workers were told by free trade ideologues not to worry, that the U.S. comparative advantage was in services—especially high-tech and other knowledge-based industries. We were assured that the new global division of labor was both natural and benign—we would keep the highpaying, high-skilled jobs, while the workers in developing countries would do the actual work of making things. Displaced workers were smugly told to simply acquire new and better skills and more education in order to succeed in the changing American economy. Many workers did, but now they find that knowledge and talent can’t compete against the chase for higher profits and cheaper labor in the new global marketplace.” have been ISPS certified. He added that of the 6,000 port facilities receiving internationally traded goods, only a small proportion had been approved. Easdown is a maritime training manager at Lloyds Register in London, one of the world’s largest merchant ship classification societies. “We are in a state of panic—there is a very short space of time to comply,” he said in a March 15 article by Stefano Ambrogi of Reuters. “Not everyone is prepared, and there is a complete lack of direction from governments on how it should be done.” A parallel view was voiced in the same article by Gunnar Knudsen of Intertanko, the world’s largest oil tanker owners’ association. “The international axe will fall on July 1 and you are simply either in or out,” he said, “and right now it doesn’t look good.” The U.S. Coast Guard has stated that it will deny entry to any oil tanker lacking a security certificate after July 1, and is planning to monitor the last 10 ports each tanker has visited. It may deny entry to vessels if any of the ports they visited previously are thought to have inadequate security. 4 SIU Officials Appointed To Maritime Security Groups In an ongoing effort to protect members’ interests and to help safeguard U.S. mariners, ships and ports, four more SIU officials recently accepted appointments to separate maritime safety committees run by the U.S. Coast Guard. Receiving five-year appointments from the agency earlier this year were SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi (Port of New York/New Jersey Area Maritime Security Committee, or AMSC); Baltimore Port Agent Dennis Metz (Baltimore AMSC); Hawaii Port Agent Neil Dietz (Central Pacific AMSC); and Boston Port Agent Gerard Dhooge (Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts AMSC). The positions are voluntary. “It’s an honor for SIU officials to be chosen to serve on the safety committees,” said SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who also serves as vice chairman of the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s Special Seafarers’ Section—a body that performs considerable work on maritime security. “They understand the committees will require a lot of time and effort, but there’s no question that the SIU must be involved. It’s another way to protect our members’ rights and to play a role in the ongoing effort to improve shipboard and port security.” As previously reported, SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey late last year was appointed to the HoustonGalveston AMSC. Seafarers LOG 5 �22284_p1,2,6,10,14, 24.qxd 3/30/2004 3:50 PM Page 6 Fire Damages Shughart in Kuwait, But No Serious Injuries Reported The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) credited the “quick thinking and action” of crew members aboard the USNS Shughart for limiting the scope of a shipboard fire that started March 5 aboard the vessel in Kuwait. MSC also lauded “the able assistance from crew members from USNS Red Cloud, USNS Sisler, Cape Ducato and Cape Douglas, and the invaluable help of Kuwaiti fire fighters” in minimizing the fire’s extent. SIU members sail in the steward department aboard the Shughart, a roll-on/roll-off ship operated by Patriot Contract Services for MSC. According to the agency, three crew members from the Shughart were treated for “minor smoke inhalation.” All of the ship’s cargo was safely delivered, but the vessel sustained serious damage—mainly to its electrical system. “It’s a big relief that no one was seriously injured,” Shughart Chief Steward Fernando Guity said from Kuwait. Guity said he recognized some fellow Seafarers from other ships who aided in the fire fighting— ironically, from time spent together in safety courses at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. “It was a big effort from all the ships, and there’s no question the training helped,” he observed. For nearly two weeks after the fire, Guity said the Shughart steward department utilized a barbecue pit for heating everything from coffee to full meals, because the ship had no electrici- Seafarers sail in the steward department aboard the USNS Shughart. ty. The vessel reportedly was scheduled to be towed in mid- to late March, as this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press. “It turned out to be a huge fire,” Guity added. “The steward department did our part. We helped people suit up and provided water and whatever else was needed.” John Reinhart, CEO of Maersk Line, Limited, credited the crew and officers of the Red Cloud and Sisler for their efforts. “You put your own lives at risk to assist your fellow seafarers in the finest tradition of the sea,” Reinhart wrote in a letter to both ships. “We are proud of your actions and recognize that you have helped enhance the reputation of our entire organization.” MSC reported that the fire started while the Shughart was off-loading cargo for the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division. According to an MSC news release, “Although the U.S. Coast Guard investigation continues, it appears that the fire originated in the auxiliary machinery room on the starboard side of the 950-foot large, medium speed, roll on/roll off ship midway between the water line and the main deck. “Shughart was about 75 percent off-loaded when crew working in the area of the auxiliary machinery room area smelled smoke. Upon investigation, they found thick black smoke coming from the auxiliary machinery room and used extinguishers and water hoses to tamp down what they thought was a fire and to cool the area. After about 90 minutes and with smoke still billowing, it was clear the technique was not working. “The crew secured the engine room ventilation system and all other systems they could reach, and left the space to muster for a head count. Once all crew members were accounted for, the ship’s carbon dioxide fire fighting system was activated in the affected spaces. The system floods the area with carbon dioxide which depletes the oxygen in the space and extinguishes the fire…. “About six hours from the time smoke was discovered, the fire was declared to be out, and the spaces were left to cool. Stevedores worked quickly to finish off-loading the remaining cargo. Without warning about 12 hours later, fire flashed again. It appears that the re-flash may have come from fire in the electrical cables that penetrate the decks. Again, crew members and Benavidez Galley Gang Garners Rave Reviews U.S. Military Personnel Credit Seafarers Military personnel who sailed aboard the Seafarers-crewed USNS Benavidez during Operation Iraqi Freedom offered expansive compliments for the steward department. In a handful of recent letters, members of the armed forces commended Recertified Steward Lonnie Jones, Chief Cook Ambrose Gabriel, Assistant Cook James Macklin and SA Tommy Fiorella. “The professional courtesy we Seafarers Appeals Board Approves 2 Actions Amends Standby and Port Relief Jobs; Eliminates 120-Day Rotation for Some The Seafarers Appeals Board (SAB) last month issued two actions which amend the shipping rules. The first deals with extending reliefs when the merchant mariner documents (MMDs) of Seafarers have not been renewed in time; the second modifies tours of duty for rated unlicensed personnel employed on Ready Reserve Force Fleet vessels or other activated MSC ships. Both actions went into effect March 1, 2004. Action number 423 recognizes the additional time needed by the U.S. Coast Guard to process and renew MMDs in the wake of September 11, 2001. Under certain circumstances, it allows Seafarers to extend their reliefs when their MMD renewals have not been processed in time. In an effort to secure and maintain qualified personnel aboard various military vessels, Action number 424 eliminates the maximum period of employment of 120 days for rated unlicensed personnel aboard activated military-contracted vessels that do not have permanent rotations. The SAB is composed of representatives from the union and its contracted operators. The complete text of each of the actions is printed below. Action Number 423 The Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and the various Contracted Employers, hereby takes the following action. 6 Seafarers LOG WHEREAS, by prior action the Board recognized the need for appropriate Shipping Rule adjustments from time to time to accommodate changes in the shipping industry; and WHEREAS, with the change in security measures since September 11, 2001 the application of merchant mariner documents (MMD) has become more in depth, thus taking the U.S. Coast Guard longer to process; and WHEREAS, the Seafarers Appeals Board wishes to make provisions to allow members under certain circumstances to extend reliefs when their MMD renewal has not been processed in time. NOW THEREFORE, the Seafarers Appeals Board wishes to add the following provision to the Shipping Rules: Amend Rule 6. Standby and Port Relief Jobs by adding a new item G. to read: “A seaman employed as a permanent or trip tour rating who has registered, in accordance with rule 2. Shipping Procedure, Item G., 7, and is waiting on the return of his Merchant Mariners Document (MMD) while renewing, and has submitted evidence that a renewal MMD has been applied for within at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date of the MMD, may have a relief period extended until such time as his Merchant Mariners Document has been returned. Once the permanent or trip tour seaman has received the document, he may return to his permanent position aboard the vessel and transportation to the vessel shall be paid by the Company in accordance with the provi- fire fighters sprang into action. Flames were now visible from the starboard side of the ship, the first time actual flames were seen. Smoke had been the culprit during the first battle. “Fire fighters decided that the auxiliary machinery room was the likely epicenter of the fire, and getting foam into that space was crucial to extinguishing the fire. The crew immediately went to work cutting holes through the deck above the room, and the Kuwaiti fire trucks pumped foam into the machinery room. It worked. Twenty-four hours after discovery, the fire was finally out. “Three crew members were treated for minor smoke inhalation. The cargo had all been safely and successfully delivered, but the ship was seriously damaged. “Electrical systems were most affected. An auxiliary diesel generator and an adjacent power pack room were destroyed. The auxiliary switchboard appears to be damaged, and electrical cabling in the fire area must be replaced, but the best news was that everyone was safe.” sions of these rules. The departing relief shall also have his transportation paid by the Company back to his original U.S. port of engagement.” Action Number 424 Ready Reserve Force Fleet and other Military Sealift Command Activation Vessels The Seafarers Appeals Board acting under and pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Union and the various Contracted Employers, hereby takes the following action. WHEREAS, by prior action the Board recognized the need for appropriate Shipping Rule adjustments to secure and maintain an adequate supply of qualified and trained personnel aboard various military vessels; and WHEREAS, the Union acknowledges the importance proper manning plays in the successful operation of these vessels and because of Ready Reserve Force Fleet or other Military Sealift Command (MSC) vessel activations the Board wishes to amend the shipping rules to ensure that every rated unlicensed billet aboard Ready Reserve Force Fleet or other MSC vessels not having permanent rotations established is filled by eliminating the maximum period of employment. NOW THEREFORE, tours of duty shall be modified for rated unlicensed personnel employed on Ready Reserve Force Fleet vessels or other MSC vessels that activate to Full Operational Status that do not have permanent rotations established by eliminating the maximum period of employment of one hundred twenty (120) days. The maximum sixty days off will still be in effect. This SAB action shall remain in full force and effect until modified by future SAB action. have received from the entire crew on the ship has been nothing short of phenomenal,” wrote U.S. Army Capt. Elisabeth J. Collura, officer in charge of the 12-soldier detail assigned to the Benavidez. “Many thanks are due to the steward department. After almost a full year of deployment, the soldiers and I have come to appreciate the simpler things in life—in particular, good food.” Collura added, “The service from the crew in the galley has been exceptional. The food was absolutely amazing at every meal, and the steward’s crew was always willing to put in extra effort to accommodate our needs…. They provided a very refreshing and welcomed atmosphere after a year in the combat environment.” SFC Carlos M. Arzola praised the galley gang for “your outstanding support, professionalism and dedication during our mission. We appreciate your performance and the dedication of your department to maintain high morale in our soldiers. Keep up the good work.” Merchant marine officers aboard the Benavidez also were happy with the steward department. In a joint letter to Jones, five members of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association credited the galley crew for maintaining a positive attitude and delivering great service. “This steward department is to be commended for their efforts to feed around 50 people, maintain the sanitation of the galley, provide the officers with the service they expect, and maintain the sanitation of their areas of responsibility in the house,” the officers noted. Jones said, “Our department worked hard. We did our best, and everyone seemed happy with the department.” The Benavidez is a large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR). It is 950 feet long. April 2004 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 8:25 PM Page 7 Recertified Stewards Stress Pride in Union, Family, Selves As the seven recertified stewards came to the podium at last month’s membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. to receive their graduation certificates and say a few words about their experiences, the overriding theme was that of pride: pride in themselves, in their union, in their families and in the jobs they are performing. Michael Briscoe, Peter Crum, Robert Davis, Michael Gramer, George Maranos, Robert Valentine and Waymond Watson III comprised the latest group of Seafarers to complete the fourweek steward recertification curriculum at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point. Designed to upgrade members of the steward department and impart upon them culinary, social and union leadership skills, the course is considered the school’s top curriculum for members of the steward department. During the month-long program, the seven students were exposed to many different facets of steward department training, including menu planning, sanita- tion, contemporary nutrition, sauces, baking and a variety of culinary demonstrations. It also included computer lab work, fire fighting and small arms training and meetings with SIU department representatives at the Piney Point school, at the headquarters building in Camp Springs, Md. and at the offices of the Maritime Trades Department in Washington, D.C. Many of the graduates particularly enjoyed the small arms training sessions. As members of the steward department, they don’t expect to use a weapon while aboard ship, but they found it a useful experience and were thankful for the self-defense training. George Maranos, who ships from the port of Houston, was the first of the graduates to be called to the podium. When he joined the union in the early ’90s, he had been an unemployed victim of a sluggish economy. The union, he stated, took a chance on him and gave him numerous opportunities to work and support his family. His experiences at Piney Point have been positive ones, and he Waymond Watson III (right) and the other recertified stewards received instruction in the use of small arms, though they hope they never need to use weapons defending U.S.-flag ships. The union’s newest class of recertified stewards joins SIU officials after last month’s membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. at which they each addressed the audience with a few words of thanks and support. encouraged the unlicensed apprentices in the audience to use the chances they have been given to build and promote their lives as well. “Grow with us and keep the SIU to its highest standards,” he told them. “Be proud to be a member.” Robert Valentine comes from a large family of Seafarers. Like many of his classmates, he credits the SIU with helping him turn his life around. Valentine, who sails from the port of Tacoma, met his wife through his merchant marine career. He told the trainees, “If I can make it, you can, too.” The Paul Hall Center has the best teachers, he continued, but the main focus of his advice to the younger generation was “Take pride in what you do.” Another of the recertified stewards sailing from Tacoma, Michael Gramer has been a member of the SIU since graduating from the Piney Point trainee program in 1981. This was his seventh time returning to the school for upgrading. Gramer thanked all the union officials—past and present—for their hard work and dedication to the membership. He noted there are lots of opportunities available within the organization and advised the trainees to take advantage of them. Robert Davis, who joined the union in 1986 in Honolulu, now sails from the port of Houston. This was his sixth visit to the school, and he believes that the skills he learns each time continue to help him be a better crew member and shipmate. He congratulated the unlicensed apprentices on a wise and sound decision to join the merchant marine and stressed the need for them to “participate in Peter Crum and Waymond Watson The mystery basket cookoff allowed the recertified stewards to do what they do best: cook. The Seafarers were paired off randomly into four teams (and since there was an odd number, Michael Briscoe was paired with another student, Chief Cook Pat Davis). Each team was presented with a mystery basket of the same ingredients and was given 15 minutes to write their menus. They were required to have soup, salad and a main April 2004 your safety drills, be informed, know what’s expected of you, and do it well and with pride.” Michael Briscoe told those in attendance at the meeting that he was proud to have them share in his graduation. “Completing my steward recertification course has been a goal of mine since I left the cruise ships in Hawaii,” he said. Now sailing from the port of Tacoma, Briscoe has been a member since 1983 and has upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center five times previously. The SIU, he told the trainees, “has been there for me time and time again, insuring me living wage jobs, safe working conditions aboard our contracted vessels, and the best available medical coverage for my family, which provides me with peace of mind while I am away.” He added that when his children are old enough, they will have an opportunity to become “part of this proud tradition or go on to college with the help of our union-sponsored scholarship program and forge their own dreams and way of life.” In discussing the benefits of belonging to the SIU, Briscoe also spoke about the responsibilities. “Present and future members have and will continue to be there when our country calls to deliver the goods . . . No matter the risks, the SIU membership will proudly and unselfishly take their places in the galleys, on the decks or down in the engine rooms on board our nation’s vessels and continue to sail into harm’s way whenever and wherever we are needed.” This was Peter Crum’s fifth visit to the school for upgrading. A graduate of trainee class 434, himself, the recertified steward was in a good position to advise Robert Valentine and Michael Gramer Michael Briscoe spoke of how the SIU has helped him continue to attain his goals. the future members that by working hard and staying focused, they also could reach the highest level in their chosen department. Crum sails from the port of Mobile, Ala. Waymond Watson III thanked the SIU for the tremendous opportunity it has given him over the years to travel to places that most people only dream of. “Twenty years ago, I was a kid on the street with no college or degree,” he said. Watson was the third of this group of recertified stewards to have graduated from the school’s trainee program. He was in class 387. Watson, who ships from the port of Jacksonville, Fla., told the trainees that when they graduate and become members in good standing with the union, they, too, will become part of a foundation upon which this union is always building. And some of the benefits of their union membership, he noted, are continuous employment, great health benefits and prosperity to afford one’s family the best of everything. Robert Davis and George Maranos course with an accompanying starch and vegetable. After the menus were submitted, the teams were given three hours to prepare four servings of the three-course meal and an additional 15 minutes to serve the meal to a panel of judges. Ultimately, the team of Michael Briscoe and Chief Cook Pat Davis were declared the winners. All the judges agreed that the food was some of the best they had tasted in the four-year competition. Seafarers LOG 7 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/30/2004 12:54 AM Page 8 Cabinet Secretaries Underscore Maritime’s Vital Importance Mariners Credited for Role in National Security U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow and U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William Schubert emphatically stated the administration’s support for the U.S. Merchant Marine during last month’s Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting in Hollywood, Fla. Mineta announced plans to move forward on a proposal he has long advocated. “I have called for a comprehensive marine transportation system/maritime industry initiative—a full-scale review of current policies with recommendations that will seek to increase the competitive standing of our domestic shipping industry,” he said on March 4. “The maritime initiative we envision, known as SEA-21, will complement other transportation efforts.” He explained that the SEA-21 initiative “will emphasize leadership and coordination within the Department of Transportation and across the federal government. It will focus on leveraging funds from federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector, to address the capital needs of the maritime transportation system. “While infrastructure is important, the heart and soul of our maritime system is its merchant mariners—the men and women who make this system work day in and day out,” Mineta continued. “I recognize that America’s merchant marine competes against foreignflagged vessels whose owners and crews pay minimal taxes. For this reason, I am advocating that the Bush Administration should carefully examine the tax burdens on our maritime industry and to our mariners, with the goal of improving our fleets’ and their workers’ ability to compete internationally.” The secretary described the U.S. maritime industry as essential to America’s economic strength and productivity, as well as to the creation of American jobs. “Nor can we afford to take for granted the crucial relationship between our maritime industry and national security,” he added. “I would like to personally thank all of you who have been there on the front lines of democracy and freedom.” Mineta cited the recent extension of the Maritime Security Program (MSP) as reflecting the administration’s “great respect for the role of the merchant marine and tremendous confidence in its future…. The Maritime Security Program, the Jones Act, and cargo preference laws are essential elements of America’s national maritime policy. This administration supports these laws and programs.” Snow, who once served as chairman and CEO of CSX Transportation (parent company of the U.S.-flag CSX Lines), said that passage of the new Maritime Security Program late last year was a good move for the country. “It is hard to overstate the importance of this program to the vital interests of the U.S.,” he declared. “Because of it the U.S. government has continual access to the global logistics system made possible by the modern and sophisticated container shipping industry, which ties the ports of the world together with an intermodal transportation system linking the rail and trucking industries with the U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William Schubert (left) says that the Iraq missions “once again show how invaluable the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine is to our national security.” Listening are SIU and MTD President Michael Sacco (center) and MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow Maritrans, Inc. Chairman of the Board Stephen Van Dyck ocean container ships. These extraordinary logistic capabilities are continuously at the ready in case of any need. “MSP is a vital element of our military’s strategic sealift and global response capability, so it was high time we got a bill through expanding it—because this country needs you more than ever before.” Snow said that the legislative process itself also proved benefi- cial, as “people got a chance to examine the realities of what the Merchant Marine does and how the program actually works. MSP is another example of questionable theory taking a back seat to observable facts and realities. This is a program that serves America well. It is a program that must be and will be preserved.” Turning his attention to the war on terrorism and the continuing mission in Iraq, Snow sated, “This country needs you to protect it, and help us win the war on terror and face the threats to our security wherever they arise. You are part of the legions of working men and women who have responded to the terrorists with guts and determination. Your patriotism and skills have made our response to September 11 as strong as it has been, and I want to thank you for that. You’re showing the enemy that we won’t be beaten or deterred. When we needed to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, you were there. And when we needed to remove Saddam Hussein from power, you were there.” He added a word of praise for the Seafarers-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education and for other vocational schools operated by MTD affiliates. “Through these schools you are giving people the opportunity to learn the skills they need to have good jobs, and that’s exactly what our country needs right now.” Lastly, Snow said he appreciates the cooperative, industry-wide efforts in tackling the enormous task of shipboard and port security. “I know that you and your membership really understand that we are living in a different world since September 11,” he said. “That’s why it’s so good to work with merchant mariners on the huge task of protecting our vessels and ports.” Schubert credited the MTD unions that mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Over a year ago, when we first learned that U.S. armed forces would again be relying on American sealift to bring freedom to the Middle East, we called on you,” he recalled. “We knew there was the potential for danger, but we also knew that the U.S. Merchant Marine would ensure that equipment and supplies would get to where they needed to be and on time. Together, we planned for many contingencies and we coordinated for months before the Army landed in Iraq. We met the challenge—over 7,000 mariners and over 130 U.S.-flag ships brought the military their tanks, Humvees and other critical equipment that led to the freedom of the Iraqi people and the capture of Saddam Hussein. The work continues, and the men and women of the merchant marine remain actively engaged in replenishing equipment and supplies as our troops rotate into and out of Iraq.” Schubert said that the Iraq missions have “once again shown how invaluable the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine is to our national security. We have an opportunity to reinforce support for the merchant marine by demonstrating the economic value of a strong and vibrant U.S.-based maritime industry.” Stephen Van Dyck, chairman of the board for SIU-contracted Maritrans, Inc., also discussed the industry’s importance and future. He noted the vital importance of political action and also singled out SIU President Michael Sacco along with other union officials for their efforts to help maintain a viable U.S.-flag fleet. “My hat goes off to you,” Van Dyck said. “This is not a platitude—this is a fact of life. You guys have dealt with the reality of a very difficult situation in a realistic way. And the kind of working experience that our people have on our equipment today—where they get good pay, they work hard and they are true professionals—is due in no small part to the responsible attitude that you all have taken over the years.” TRANSCOM, MSC Officers Laud U.S. Crews’ Reliability Lt. Gen. Gary Hughey, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); and Vice Adm. David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), offered strong words of praise for U.S. mariners in remarks to the MTD on March 4. Hughey discussed Operation Iraqi Freedom and asserted that the sealift mission was much more efficient than that of the Persian Gulf War. “During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, we delivered a lot of things. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, we delivered combat capability,” he said. He credited U.S. mariners with creating “a steel bridge (of military support ships) that was and is maintained today by this nation’s merchant mariners, who sailed in harm’s way to deliver America’s power on distant shores and who stand ready to repeat that accomplishment anytime, anywhere…. The legacy of the U.S.-flag fleet in deploying and maintaining our war fighters cannot be overstated. OIF would not have happened without you. OIF couldn’t have happened without your vitality, determination and commitment.” Hughey concluded, “We will win the global war on terrorism. We will defeat this new ‘ism,’ just like we defeated fascism in World War II and communism during the 8 Seafarers LOG Cold War. I also know that our merchant mariners will go in harm’s way on a moment’s notice to maintain our war fighters, anyplace and anytime. The U.S.-flag fleet and our merchant mariners will literally carry forth our nation’s strength and resolve.” Brewer described the maritime industry as “America’s greatest and most vital industry.” He explained MSC’s role and said the agency couldn’t get the job done without the “unsung heroes” who are members of MTD unions. The admiral also discussed the USS Coronado “test program,” which marks the first time civilian mariners are deployed on a Navy ship in support of a combat mission (see story, page 24). He is very confident the program will succeed. Lt. Gen. Gary Hughey, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) He cited an old blues song that notes, “‘You don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.’ This industry is the well that pumps the cargo, the commerce, and all of those good things that keep this country running....People in uniform cannot get this job done without you. You are, as far as I am concerned, our right hand in this war on terrorism.” He closed, “My fellow Americans, it’s the soldier, the sailor, the airman, the Marine, the Coast Guardsman, and yes, the maritime team members who understand best that freedom is not free.” Vice Adm. David Brewer says mariners are the U.S. military’s “right hand in this war on terrorism.” Also pictured is MTD Vice President Ernie Whelan. April 2004 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/26/2004 3:40 AM Page 9 Health Care Crisis Only Gets Worse AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the unending U.S. health care crisis hurts all working families but often is especially damaging to union workers and their contracted companies. Addressing the MTD executive board March 5, Sweeney and Doug Dority, the newly retired president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, urged the department’s affiliated unions to win the fight for good health care coverage. A day earlier, Thomas Mackell, managing director of The Kamber Group and deputy chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, also emphasized the devastating effects of America’s current health care woes. Sweeney pointed out that 44 million people in the U.S. don’t have health coverage. “The damage being done to their families is matched perhaps only by the damage being done to union members, union employers and our ability to compete in the world economy,” he said. “Who do you think picks up the tab for those uninsured workers—6 million of whom are fully employed? Our union employers do, and we as union members do, through higher premiums and lower benefits and through the taxes we pay.” For instance, the federation president referred to a new study “documenting how we’re all subsidizing Wal-Mart, which provides so-called health insurance for its employees that virtually none of them can afford to purchase. The study concluded that every Wal-Mart with more than 200 employees requires a $400,000 per year subsidy from the taxpayers, because when those workers need health care, they have to depend on taxpayer-supported medical facilities.” Thomas Mackell, managing director, The Kamber Group AFL-CIO President John Sweeney UFCW President Doug Dority Sweeney suggested that unfair competitive advantages through health care extend beyond U.S. shores. “At a time when trade and our trade deficit are hot topics of discussion, it’s useful to note that employers in other industrial countries have an advantage over American industry, because they all have some form of universal publicly financed health care—in effect, a giant subsidy,” he said. He also praised the 70,000 UFCW members who recently concluded a five-month strike that centered on health care. The strike was “a fight on behalf of all of us, on behalf of all working families. Because what the employer was trying to do was rip the guts out of collective bargaining and undermine a very good health program and a very good retirement security program,” Sweeney said. Dority said that while his union is proud of its members’ courage during the strike—and pleased with the contract it generated—the health care crisis virtually ensures more difficulties in the near future. “Working families in this country are taking it on the chin. I know that this strike in Southern California is not going to be our last strike,” Dority said. “We’re going to have strikes over health care in many areas. But it’s not just our industry, it’s every industry. “We as a labor movement, as people who care about workers, we’ve got to put health on the national agenda,” he continued. “But we’ve got to do more than that. We’ve got to mobilize our members. We’ve got to get our members registered to vote and signed up in our political action committee…. “Health care is an important issue in this country. We had incredible consumer support (during the strike) because they knew our people were out there fighting for something that’s near and dear. Working people in this country should have employer-provided health care, and we should never let them get away with not providing it.” Dority singled out Wal-Mart as the strike’s primary cause. He said that the West Coast grocery chains’ first contract offer was intended to cause a work stoppage. Those companies repeatedly cite their need to compete with Wal-Mart—a blatantly anti-union company—as the reason for driving down wages and benefits. “Wal-Mart doesn’t believe in pension plans, doesn’t believe in health and welfare. They pay the lowest wages in the retail industry,” Dority said. “A Wal-Mart employee that has health insurance—and way less than one-third have it—pay big premiums. They have to spend $6,400 a year before they get anything out of their health and welfare. That amounts to almost half of what they make—their total gross salary.” Mackell said America should strive to be a nation “where health care is a right and not a privilege. Today, health care represents 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And we have 44 million people—by and large who are working—who have no health care coverage. The projections are that by 2008, health care represents 18.2 percent of GDP, and that number of 43 (million) goes to 50 million…. It’s our obligation to thoughtfully develop policies that will make this a better place to leave for our children and their children.” ITF’s Cotton Updates FOC Campaign Stephen Cotton, secretary of the Special Seafarers’ Department for the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), provided a detailed, interesting update on the federation’s campaign against runaway-flag shipping (also known as flag-of-convenience or FOC shipping) during the MTD meetings March 5. Cotton reported that the campaign has progressed well, but much work remains. SIU and MTD President Michael Sacco (left) welcomes U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) to last month’s meeting. Clyburn thanked mariners for their dedication. Port Security Deserves Attention Two members of Congress told the MTD executive board that port security is extremely important and should be addressed accordingly. U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (DS.C.), vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, spoke to the board March 5. Both are keenly aware of port security issues—Clyburn’s district includes Charleston, while Green’s includes Houston. “It’s very important that port security be enhanced—not just what happens once they get there, but that we ensure that proper inspections take place before they leave their point of origin,” Clyburn asserted. Additionally, he noted the importance of dredging, how it impacts local economies, and also credited mariners for their excellent work. “What you do is so important to the future growth and development of our nation,” he said. Green’s district includes a port as well as an airport. He noted that the maritime industry generates far more jobs and commerce than the airlines. “It worries me that we’re not seeing the emphasis on port security that we saw on airports,” Green stated. “It’s a threat. The aviation industry still hasn’t recovered from the attacks. I wonder how long it would take us to respond or recover from an attack on one of our ports. We have to deal with that, and the MTD has provided that leadership.” MTD Holds Annual Meeting The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, consists of 29 international unions (including the SIU) and 24 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing 6.5 million working men and women. The articles on this page and page 8 are based on remarks presented March 4-5 during the MTD executive board meeting in Hollywood, Fla. April 2004 SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey (right) congratulates U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) on his remarks to the MTD executive board. Seafarers LOG 9 �22284_p1,2,6,10,14, 24.qxd 3/29/2004 12:43 PM Page 10 Reliable SIU Boatmen Get the Job Done in Port Arthur, Lake Charles For SIU tugboat crews in Port Arthur, Texas and Lake Charles, La., the routines may not change much, but their approach to the next task also doesn’t vary. “Our union tug crews at Moran and Seabulk are some of the best and most well-trained in the industry,” asserted SIU Houston Patrolman Kevin Marchand, who supplied the photos for this story. “They aren’t always as visible as the deep sea members, but they’re the backbone of the river operations. And they take the same professional attitude, day after day, week after week.” SIU boatmen at Seabulk and Moran perform docking services, pushing vessels to berths or assisting while under way in the rivers. In between, they perform maintenance on the tugs. Seabulk is based in Lake Charles, while Moran works from Port Arthur (and elsewhere). The SIU crews normally maintain a seven-days-on, seven-days-off timetable, sometimes working overtime to ensure the ships stay on schedule. Many have been involved in assisting SIUcrewed military support ships that mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom and OIF2. “With the large movement of cargo and troops during the past year-plus, our tugboat crews have always been there,” Marchand noted. The photos were taken during recent meetings aboard the boats conducted by Marchand and SIU Assistant Vice President Gulf Coast Jim McGee. During those visits, the crews discussed upcoming boats including the contract negotiations as well as Seafarers-crewed Goliath handle important harbor towthe importance of maintaining ing services in Texas and Louisiana U.S. cabotage laws. (and elsewhere). SPARTAN, SAMPSON – Quartermaster Jamie Norsworth, Mate Rick Street, AB Darryl Jones, Assistant Engineer Richard Allen, Quartermaster Brent Goodridge, Assistant Engineer Curtis Abshire, Mate Brian Thibodeaux, AB Kenneth Poole Jr. GOLIATH – Mate James Shipley, Quartermaster James Y’barbo, Asst. Engineer Joseph Matte, Deckhand Gus Leday NIKE – Engineer Mark Phillips, Mate Denis Abshire, Quartermaster Larry DeWitt, OS Eric Moore CAPE ANN, MARY MORAN, GREG TURECAMO – Engineer Gary Davis, OS Eddie Heredia, OS James Bertrand, Captain Alan Self, Quartermaster Andy Ashworth, Engineer Gary Cormier, Engineer Chris Badgett, AB Glenn Dupree, Captain Gustavo Flores. HERMES – Wheelehouseman Bryan Welch, Quartermaster Chris Kibodeaux, Engineer Charles Durgin, OS Buck Shoenaker Seafarers Rally with Flight Attendants Houston-area Seafarers last month joined flight attendants from the Transport Workers Union who are battling to secure a new contract at Southwest Airlines. Negotiations have dragged on for nearly two years. The photos at left and at right were taken at Hobby Airport, about seven miles south of downtown Houston. 10 Seafarers LOG April 2004 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/30/2004 3:01 AM Page 11 SIU Officials Visit Seafarers-Crewed Ships in L.A. Mid-February found SIU President Michael Sacco, Executive VP John Fay and Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel on the West Coast, where they met with some of the membership and took their place on the picket line in support of striking UFCW members. They also had an opportunity to visit crew members aboard the Horizon Consumer pierside in Los Angeles. In photo at left, from the left, are AB Gerry Gianan, Chief Cook Tom Kleine, VP West Coast Nick Marrone, Unlicensed Apprentice Adam Begleiter, Standby Steward/Baker Don Dwyer, Sacco and DEU Editho Barraca. UNITE, HERE Announce Merger Two unions for apparel workers and employees of hotels and restaurants tentatively have given the go-ahead for a merger, the executive boards of the two organizations announced Feb. 23. The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE), and UNITE, the clothing, textiles and laundry union, have unanimously agreed in principle to join forces to create UNITE HERE. Rank-and-file members from both unions are expected to ratify the tentative agreement in July during a special joint convention in Chicago. Should the merger be endorsed, the new organization will be headquartered in New York City and represent 460,000 active members and more than 400,000 retirees throughout North America. Chartered in 1891 by the American Federation of Labor, HERE has 260,000 members through 111 affiliated local unions across the United States and Canada. UNITE represents more than 200,000 workers through joint boards and local unions in the United States and Canada. UNITE was formed in 1995 by the merger of two of the nation’s oldest unions—the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. Bruce Raynor of UNITE will serve as general president of the new alliance, and HERE’s John Wilhelm will be president/hospitality industries. The two presidents will share executive, budgetary and personnel authority. Grocery Workers Ratify New Contract Continued from page 2 SIU officials surprised Seafarers on the Matsonia when they dropped by the Matson vessel in Long Beach. Above, with President Michael Sacco, is Steward/Baker Jennifer Jim. Other steward department members on the Matsonia, posing with SIU President Michael Sacco (right) and VP West Coast Nick Marrone (second from left), are Chief Cook Cleto Lindong (left) and GSTU Sam Rashid. After the Liberator cleared customs and immigration in Los Angeles, SIU President Michael Sacco (left) and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (right in photo at right) speak with crew members aboard the USSM vessel, which had just returned from a 35-day run to the Far East. The support and solidarity of millions of people and organizations across America was essential to the workers, UFCW officials said. From the first day on, customers refused to cross the lines with an average of 75 percent of customers shopping elsewhere, amounting to estimated loses of more than $2 billion for the companies. Workers’ spirits were also lifted by community support including rallies and hundreds of thousands of dollars in food and financial aid. Many national and local political, faith and labor leaders defended the grocery workers and America’s middle class. Seafarers and SIU officials supported UFCW members in Washington, D.C., New York, St. Louis and Southern California. UFCW International President Doug Dority, who postponed his U.S. Military Leaders Reaffirm Importance of U.S. Merchant Marine Continued from page 2 Talent then noted, “It’s an amazing civilian and military synergy. I don’t know if there is a parallel for it in the history of warfare.” Brewer replied, “Yes, sir. Without them, it does not happen. Period.” Highlights of the prepared statement by Handy, Brewer and Dunwoody follow: Operation Iraqi Freedom “We successfully implemented a ‘force packaging’ strategy during OIF that synchronized the movement of combat-ready modules of unit equipment. This strategy allowed units like the Army’s 101st Airborne Division to quickly and coherently assemble upon debarkation overseas. SDDC loaded the entire division, nearly 4,000 vehicles and 250 helicopters, on only five vessels that offloaded overseas in just a 12day period, adding striking power to the combatant commander’s arsenal in a fraction of the time required during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. It ensured the integrity and rapid availability of a combat-effective fighting force far faster than the prior piecemeal movement of unit equipment.” Partnership between Labor, Management and Government “USTRANSCOM relies on its commercial transportation indus- April 2004 try partners and associated labor organizations to provide significant transportation capability during contingencies. Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are no exception.” Value of LMSRs in OIF “The large medium-speed rollon/roll-off (LMSR) vessel emerged as USTRANSCOM’s strategic sealift success story. Procured based upon the lessons of Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, 18 LMSRs completed 38 total voyages during initial OIF deployment operations, lifting more than 5.3 million square feet of cargo. This was approximately 26 percent of the total requirement. “By comparison, one LMSR in OIF carried the equivalent of six commercial charter ships during Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. From another perspective, it requires 300 C-17s to deliver the amount of cargo carried by one LMSR.” Importance of U.S. Crews “Another USTRANSCOM area of concern is the availability of a sufficient number of qualified civilian mariners willing and available to fulfill the additional requirements created by the activation and long-term operation of MSC and MarAd surge sealift vessels. Volunteer commercial mariners crew the surge vessels. The decline in U.S.-flagged fleet size, increased training require- ments, and more attractive shoreside employment have led to a decrease in the number of fully qualified mariners. Fortunately, mariner availability was sufficient to consistently ensure on-time vessel activation of the ships supporting OEF/OIF, to include fast sealift ships (FSS), LMSRs, a hospital ship, and numerous MarAd RRF ships…. “In the future, there are no guarantees that sufficient mariners will be available when needed. USTRANSCOM, MSC, SDDC, and MarAd support the maintenance of a viable U.S. mariner pool through enforcement of cargo preference requirements, support for the Maritime Security Program (MSP), and vigorous maritime training and education. MSC has initiated a collaborative effort with USTRANSCOM and MARAD, in concert with the maritime industry, to revalidate and compare the peacetime/wartime requirements of mariner qualifications and availability in order to specifically identify potential shortfalls…. “We continue to urge the Administration and Congress to support programs to promote the expansion of the U.S. merchant mariner pool.” Maritime Security Program “MSP, another critical element of our commercial sealift program, provides assured access to sealift/intermodal capacity and a readily available, highly trained and qualified work force of merchant mariners employed in U.S.flagged shipping. The recent authorization of the Maritime Security Act of 2003 expands the current MSP fleet from 47 to 60 vessels. This increase allows the opportunity to better assure access to U.S.-flagged ‘low density-high demand’ assets (e.g., RO/RO and heavy lift ships). “MSP provides an underpinning for [the related Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement] by helping to guarantee the continued presence of a minimal U.S.flagged commercial fleet operating in international commerce and that fleet’s availability to provide sustainment of sealift capability in time of war or national emergency. This guarantee is particularly critical should the U.S. find itself in a position where it must act alone. “Additionally, this increase in fleet size should play a critical role in expanding the U.S. mariner base. Currently, the MSP fleet accounts for more than 900 crew billets that provide jobs to roughly 1,800 trained and qualified mariners. “Finally, MSP provides financial assistance to offset the increased costs associated with operating a U.S.-flagged vessel. In return, participating carriers commit vessel capacity and their intermodal transportation resources for DOD use in the event of contingencies.” planned retirement until the strike ended, expressed his approval with the strike outcome. In a statement issued on the verge of the rank-and-file vote on the new contract, he said, “Today, I am pleased to join with the officers of the seven Southern California UFCW local unions in their announcement of a tentative agreement in the longest major strike in the history of the UFCW, the largest and longest strike in the history of the supermarket industry, and the first major strike of the 21st century … “The men and women on the picket lines are genuine heroes. Their sacrifice for affordable family health care has motivated and activated workers across the nation. I am honored to be part of their union, and I am humbled as well as inspired by their dedication, strength and selflessness… “These members will never be forgotten. They will always be honored and respected. We owe them a debt of gratitude. They have sent a message to employers everywhere that attempts to eliminate health care benefits will come at a high price. Workers will not sit idle as their families are denied health care protection. Workers will stand united and fight for health care… “Through their struggle, the striking and locked out workers have performed a service for the whole country. They have sounded the alarm for all of America— your health care benefits at work are at risk. If the supermarket giants—profitable, growing Fortune 50 mega-corporations— can launch an attack on health care benefits, then every employer is sure to follow. They have sounded the alarm that the American health care system is ready to collapse.” Although UFCW employees in Southern California reached agreement for their contract, labor experts say the uncertainty is just beginning for Bay Area grocery workers as well as others from across the country who also will seek new contracts this year. Two separate contracts covering about 50,000 workers in northern and central California expire in July and September, respectively. Contracts in Phoenix, Indianapolis and Chicago, which have already expired, were temporarily extended. The contract covering 29,000 workers in Baltimore and Washington ended March 27. Seafarers LOG 11 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 8:39 PM Page 12 The Steven Bennett is one of MSC’s seven containerships and is part of the 37 vessels in the prepositioning program. Positive, Produc Highlight Overs Seafarers Ably Man M Recertified Steward Manny Basas meets with Guam Port Agent Jeff Turkus aboard the Eric Gibson in Diego Garcia. Seafarers aboard the Bennett confer with Port Agent Jeff Turkus (center) in midFebruary. From left, Frances Booker of the SIU’s Guam office; Tacoma Port Agent Bryan Powell; and Guam Port Agent Jeff Turkus recently serviced vessels together. When SIU officials recently met with Seafarers aboard six U.S. military support ships (along with two other vessels) in Diego Garcia, Singapore and Malaysia, the discussions were wide-ranging—and overwhelmingly positive. “Overall, it was extremely upbeat,” noted SIU Tacoma Port Agent Bryan Powell, who serviced the vessels with SIU Guam Port Agent Jeff Turkus. “There are a few vessels that operate in those areas without returning to the United States very much if at all, and the crews seemed to appreciate the effort to service ships in remote areas. It was a very positive trip.” Powell and Turkus serviced the ships from early to mid-February. In Diego Garcia, they met with Seafarers on the USNS Capable, USNS Chesapeake, Bernard F. Fisher, and Steven Bennett. In Singapore and Malaysia, they serviced the Eric G. Gibson, USNS Invincible, Prince William Sound and Sagamore. All but the latter two of those ships are military support vessels. Understandably, the SIU’s role in both Operation Iraqi Freedom last year and the current OIF2 were prime topics during the shipboard gatherings. Seafarers crewed up more than 100 U.S.-flag ships during the allout combat phase of the war in 2003; they already have mobilized dozens of ships for the enormous sealift component of OIF2 (a mission that includes troop rotations and resupply as well as other cargo that’s needed to help stabilize and reconstruct Iraq). “As always, the members are very proud of their role as the nation’s fourth arm of defense, and very serious about it,” observed Turkus. “That was evident in all of our discussions but, more importantly, in their actions.” In this U.S. election year, political action also proved a Pictured in Diego Garcia, the Chesapeake carries Defense Logistics Agency petroleum products. Aboard the USNS Capable, Port Agent Bryan Powell discusses the vital role of political action for U.S. mariners. Taking on stores aboard the Sagamore in Singapore are Chief Steward Claudia Mauricio and AB Chris Amigable. 12 Seafarers LOG April 2004 m v f i s t e h a S C t I �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 8:40 PM Page 13 uctive Meetings rseas Servicing The USNS Capable is MSC’s only air defense ship. Military Support Ships d ssia h se d It e n s S d d G. e ut y n st e pae g lof y if ross d s dd major subject. The SIU officials and crews discussed the vital role of SPAD, the union’s voluntary political action fund. They also reviewed the importance of laws including the Jones Act and the Maritime Security Program. Other topics included updates, reviews and discussions concerning: NCL America, the new U.S.-flag cruise operation scheduled to begin offering voyages this summer. Numerous new shipboard job opportunities secured for SIU members during the past year. How the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan works. The bidding process for the “RFPs” to operate military vessels. U.S. health care woes, including the fact that many employers have cut benefits while increasing premiums and co-payments. The new agreement between the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan and Prescription Solutions, which has been extremely wellreceived by the membership. Methods of transportation to and from Diego Garcia. “We went away from each vessel with a sense that the crew felt better-informed,” Powell concluded. “The membership signaled their pleasure and high degree of satisfaction with the current SIU administration, particularly (SIU President) Mike Sacco’s leadership and (SIU Vice President Contracts) Augie Tellez’s hard work in securing better and better contracts.” Diego Garcia is home to a U.S. Navy support facility. It is a British Indian Ocean Territory located near India. Steward Lonnie Jones Jr. helps keep the crew well-fed on the USNS Capable. SIU members man the USNS Capable, a T-AGOS 16 vessel. Bosun Michael Habib (left) welcomes SIU Tacoma Port Agent Bryan Powell aboard an SIU ship. s s f s s. ur rr, a Port Agent Jeff Turkus (second from left) meets with the unlicensed crew of the Fisher in Diego Garcia. The Bernard Fisher transports U.S. Air Force munitions. April 2004 Seafarers LOG 13 �22284_p1,2,6,10,14, 24.qxd 3/30/2004 1:13 AM Page 14 E njoy Your Summer Vacation at Burials at Sea Piney Point On the first beautiful day after a fairly rough passage from the Far East, crew members aboard the Liberator mustered on the ship’s stern for a service held by Capt. Douglas T. Fifield as the remains of John David Hanten and Mark Anthony Stevens were committed to the sea. At approximately 60 nautical miles, 230 degrees off the coast of Point Sur, Calif., the ashes of the two mariners were scattered in the ship’s wake, accompanied by a reading of Psalm 107:23-31 (In Praise of God’s Goodness). A mariner’s salute was then sounded on the ship’s whistle. On behalf of the entire crew, Capt. Fifield extended his sympathies to the families and friends of the two Brothers of the Sea. It’s been a long, cold winter, and thoughts of the summer’s warmth are becoming more of a reality. But with the approach of the summer season also comes the perennial question: Where will we spend our summer vacation? Many Seafarers, pensioners and their families have already found the answer. The Paul Hall UNION MEMBER VACATION RATES A vacation stay at the Paul Hall Center is limited to two weeks per family. Member $40.00/day Spouse $10.00/day Child $10.00/day Note: There is no charge for children 11 years of age or younger. The prices listed above include all meals but do not include tax. Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. offers just about everything one could possibly want to make a memorable summer holiday. For those who haven’t yet tried it, take your cue from those who have and make this year the first of an annual summer tradition. For up to two weeks at a time, the center opens its doors to SIU members and their families to enjoy a dream vacation of their own, spending their hard-earned time off in an excellent location—and at a great value. The facility offers affordable accommodations, three meals a day, a health spa, tennis courts, sailboats, Olympic-sized swimming pool, a maritime museum and so much more. There are plenty of opportunities for fishing, boating, jogging and sumbathing at nearby beaches. Southern Maryland also hosts lots of other activities: festivals, celebrations, fairs and craft shows, to name a few. And then, of course, there are the museums, historic sites, baseball games and sightseeing activities in Washington, D.C., Alexandria and Arlington, Va. and Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.—all within an easy hour-and-a-half drive from Piney Point. Are you ready? The first step is to decide when you want to arrive. Then, fill out the reservation form below, mail it to the Paul Hall Center, wait for summer, and kick back and enjoy. PAUL HALL CENTER TRAINING & RECREATION CENTER Vacation Reservation Information Name: ____________________________________________________________ Social Security number: _____________________ Book number: Working Aboard the Cape Kennedy Steward Eddie Taylor mans the griddle on board the Cape Kennedy, whose home port is New Orleans. The Cape Kennedy was activated in February for OIF2. Kent Law is the chief cook on the Cape Kennedy, a RO/RO vessel operated for MarAd by Keystone Shipping Co. ____________ Address:____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Telephone number: __________________________________________________ Number in party / ages of children, if applicable: ____________________________ Date of arrival: 1st choice: ______ 2nd choice: ______ (Stay is limited to a maximum of two weeks) 3rd choice: ______ Date of departure: ___________________________ Send this completed application to the Seafarers Training & Recreation Center P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. 14 Seafarers LOG Members of the deck department are (from left) ABs Leroy Taylor, Michael J. White, Jesley Callum and Willie Howard III. 4/04 April 2004 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 9:47 PM Page 15 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2004 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 1 2 6 11 15 29 1 12 15 12 11 3 4 4 8 2 22 18 176 3 0 1 4 14 16 3 2 11 10 6 0 1 1 4 2 22 10 110 0 3 1 3 19 23 0 7 12 21 10 4 1 7 18 1 21 17 168 0 3 1 6 9 19 0 7 6 10 4 2 2 0 12 2 9 8 100 2 6 3 5 7 22 0 2 7 3 14 1 4 3 8 2 15 3 107 1 1 0 0 2 5 0 1 1 5 5 2 0 1 1 0 8 6 39 2 2 0 2 9 14 0 2 9 7 9 4 2 4 8 1 8 5 88 0 1 1 13 14 20 0 4 4 12 5 2 2 1 13 0 23 12 127 0 1 2 3 3 8 0 3 3 3 12 1 1 1 0 1 3 3 48 0 2 0 2 2 7 0 2 0 5 6 0 1 1 3 0 3 3 37 0 3 0 9 7 14 0 5 5 13 7 3 1 2 18 1 12 11 111 Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 5 21 1 4 5 8 12 10 0 4 2 27 5 1 5 3 8 2 26 7 130 1 6 0 6 14 21 0 1 4 20 11 1 46 3 4 1 19 12 170 0 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 2 18 0 4 2 3 7 4 0 1 4 14 10 1 5 4 6 2 8 4 79 Totals All Departments 442 461 356 385 345 Port 0 4 3 8 8 24 0 7 11 14 13 3 6 6 5 2 22 14 150 1 1 1 1 7 7 2 2 5 4 4 1 0 1 3 2 22 7 71 0 0 1 2 7 10 0 1 9 6 3 2 1 5 7 1 9 11 75 3 9 0 14 30 51 0 14 22 32 19 3 0 12 31 1 45 28 314 1 1 5 13 21 35 1 15 20 16 15 4 3 4 11 1 25 23 214 2 0 2 3 22 21 1 1 11 16 6 2 1 2 2 3 19 15 129 0 3 0 2 4 6 0 2 2 1 4 0 0 4 5 0 10 3 46 0 6 1 9 18 34 0 9 7 16 5 1 3 6 16 2 18 15 166 2 2 2 9 10 28 0 6 10 4 17 2 4 2 11 4 18 7 138 2 1 0 2 7 6 0 1 4 10 4 1 1 1 2 0 11 8 61 1 8 2 2 6 16 0 4 5 2 8 1 2 3 2 1 12 5 80 0 1 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 6 1 1 1 1 8 0 7 5 48 0 1 2 17 26 28 0 7 9 15 9 4 3 1 26 0 30 26 204 0 3 2 2 5 17 0 4 7 6 17 0 1 1 4 0 7 4 80 0 1 0 2 4 9 0 3 1 6 4 0 0 2 2 0 2 6 42 0 8 0 2 7 12 0 1 1 8 11 0 19 1 4 0 13 8 95 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 2 0 2 3 6 0 0 0 2 6 0 5 4 43 1 1 4 12 20 13 1 7 8 30 5 0 5 4 15 1 28 13 168 2 2 0 10 21 23 0 2 5 29 8 1 45 2 6 2 18 19 195 211 169 727 600 427 0 0 1 0 4 8 0 1 1 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 27 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port 0 1 0 5 1 7 0 2 1 5 3 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 36 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 5 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 18 ENTRY DEPARTMENT *“Total Registered” means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **“Registered on Beach” means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 2004 Piney Point .............Monday: May 3, June 7 Algonac ..................Friday: May 7, June 11 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 6, June 10 Boston.....................Friday: May 7, June 11 Duluth .....................Wednesday: May 12, June 16 Guam ......................Thursday: May 20, June 24 Honolulu .................Friday: May 14, June 18 Houston ..................Monday: May 10, June 14 Jacksonville ............Thursday: May 6, June 10 Joliet .......................Thursday: May 13, June 17 Mobile ....................Wednesday: May 12, June 16 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 1 7 0 4 24 28 0 14 9 22 13 1 0 7 17 2 27 18 194 Algonac Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Trip Reliefs May & June 2004 Membership Meetings Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters New Bedford ..........Tuesday: May 18, June 22 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: May 11, June 15 New York................Tuesday: May 4, June 8 Norfolk ...................Thursday: May 6, June 10 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: May 5, June 9 Port Everglades.......Thursday: May 13, June 17 San Francisco .........Thursday: May 13, June 17 San Juan..................Thursday: May 6, June 10 St. Louis..................Friday: May 14, June 18 Tacoma ...................Friday: May 21, June 25 Wilmington ...............Monday: May 17, June 21 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. IMPORTANT NOTICE SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN — COBRA NOTICE HEALTH CARE CONTINUATION Under federal law, a participant and his or her dependents have the right to elect to continue their Plan coverage in the event that they lose their eligibility. This right is granted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as “COBRA.” The COBRA law allows a participant and his or her dependents to temporarily extend their benefits at group rates in certain circumstances where coverage under the Plan would otherwise end. A participant and his or her dependents have a right to choose this continuation coverage if they lose their Plan coverage because the participant failed to meet the Plan’s seatime requirements. In addition, a participant and his or her dependents may have the right to choose continuation coverage if the participant becomes a pensioner ineligible for medical benefits. The participant’s dependents may also elect continuation coverage if they lose coverage under the Plan as the result of the participant’s (1) death; (2) divorce; or (3) Medicare eligibility. A child can also elect COBRA if as the result of his or her age, he or she is no longer a dependent under the Plan rules. If a member and his or her dependents feel that they may qualify, or if they would like more information concerning these rights, they should contact the Plan office at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Since there are important deadlines that apply to COBRA, please contact the Plan as soon as possible to receive a full explanation of the participant’s rights and his or her dependents’ rights. Seafarers LOG 15 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 8:49 PM Seafarers International Union Directory Page 16 NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2004 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group III John Fay, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ALTON 325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002 (618) 462-3456 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 BOSTON 520 Dorchester Ave., Boston, MA 02127 (617) 269-7877 DULUTH 324 W. Superior St., Suite 705, Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 GUAM P.O. Box 23127, Barrigada, Guam 96921 125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301-E Tun Jesus Crisostomo St., Tamuning, Guam 96911 (671) 647-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 Port TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group III Trip Reliefs REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III DECK DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 7 1 4 13 2 0 4 31 0 0 1 3 3 0 0 3 10 0 7 0 3 3 0 0 0 13 Port 0 7 3 3 17 1 0 4 35 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 6 0 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 6 2 8 4 3 5 0 4 4 30 0 14 14 12 37 3 4 13 97 0 2 7 4 6 0 1 5 25 0 18 10 15 0 0 0 2 45 0 3 1 1 1 2 0 0 8 0 10 9 4 16 2 3 16 60 0 4 5 2 3 0 1 7 22 0 17 10 12 0 0 1 0 40 0 3 0 0 1 1 2 0 7 0 4 4 5 14 4 3 12 46 1 2 1 3 10 0 4 6 27 0 15 5 9 0 0 0 2 31 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 6 2 2 6 1 2 10 29 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 7 Port 0 2 3 3 6 0 3 4 21 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 0 1 3 4 1 0 5 14 0 1 0 1 4 0 0 1 7 0 4 1 0 3 0 0 0 8 Port 0 2 2 2 7 1 0 2 16 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 5 ENTRY DEPARTMENT NEW BEDFORD 48 Union St., New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 997-5404 Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 Totals All Departments 74 21 28 72 11 12 46 203 74 119 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 832-8767 PICS-FROM-THE-PAST NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St., San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division: (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG Charles Cvetich in 1943 as a cadet at Kings Point . . . . . . catching salmon on the Columbia River . . . These photos were sent to the LOG by Gordon P. Driscoll. of Warren, Ore. They are of his friend Chuck Cvetich, a former NMU member. Cvetich was a cadet at Kings Point in 1943, but decided to join the war effort as an AB. He sailed on six Liberty ships and a T2 tanker. He says he enjoyed sailing with the NMU so much that he . . . working in his garden today. never bothered to test for his officer’s rating. He further remarked that going to sea was an education one could not learn in college. He left sailing in 1947 to become a teacher, but continued to work aboard tugboats in Alaska during the summer months. Today, at the age of 83, Cvetich enjoys hunting, fishing and the Seafarers LOG. April 2004 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 8:55 PM Page 17 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 YAHYA A. ALHAHJ, 66, commenced his seafaring career in 1972 in Detroit. Brother Alhahj’s first vessel was American Steamship Corp.’s Saginaw Bay. The Arabian-born mariner worked in the deck and engine departments and sailed in both the deep sea and Great Lakes divisions. Brother Alhahj upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. in 1971 and 2001. He last sailed aboard the TOTE’s Northern Lights. Brother Alhahj lives in Detroit. CARLOS E. BONILLA, 65, hails from Puerto Rico. He joined the SIU in 1977 in the port of New Orleans. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Brother Bonilla first sailed aboard the USNS Potomac. He worked in the deck department and enhanced his skills on four occasions at the Seafarers training school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Bonilla last went to sea on the Horizon Navigator. He makes his home in Wilmington, Calif. WILLIAM DEAN, 45, joined the Seafarers in 1978 in the port of Piney Point, Md. Brother Dean first worked aboard the Sea-Land Portland. Born in St. Louis, he shipped in the deck department as a bosun. Brother Dean also worked in the engine and steward departments and upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. He completed the bosun recertification course there in 1992 and last shipped on the Sea-Land Defender. Brother Dean resides in Auburn, Calif. HAMID HIZAM, 57, was born in Arabia. Brother Hizam started his career with the SIU in 1969. His first voyage was aboard American Steamship Corp.’s American Sea Ocean. Brother Hizam shipped in the engine department and sailed in both the deep sea and Great Lakes divisions. His last voyage was aboard the Sam Laud, another American Steamship vessel. Brother Hizam is a resident of Dearborn, Mich. CARL T. LARSON, 68, became an SIU member in 1989 in San Francisco after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. Brother April 2004 Larson’s first voyage was aboard the USNS Harkness. Born in Rhode Island, he worked in the deck department. Brother Larson honed his skills in 2001 when he attended the Seafarers training school in Piney Point, Md. His last trip to sea was on the USNS Mt. Washington. Brother Larson lives in his native state in the city of Middletown. NORBERTO PRATS, 69, commenced his seafaring career in 1968 in the port of New York. Brother Prats’ first voyage was aboard the Merrimac, a Merrimac Transport, Inc. vessel. A native of Puerto Rico, he worked in the deck department as a bosun. Brother Prats was a frequent upgrader at the Paul Hall Center. He attended the institution on four occasions, including in 1981 when he completed the bosun recertification course. Brother Prats last sailed on the Horizon Expedition and lives in his native commonwealth. BLADEMIRO S. SANTANA, 58, began his seafaring career in 1976 in the port of New York. His first vessel was the Sea-Land Boston. Brother Santana sailed in all three departments and upgraded his skills on three occasions at the Paul Hall Center. He last worked aboard the Chemical Explorer. Brother Santana, who was born in South America, makes his home in Rochester, N.Y. INLAND JAMES E. FOSTER, 61, was born in Alabama. Boatman Foster joined the SIU in 1964 in the port of Mobile, Ala. after serving in the U.S. Army. Boatman Foster initially worked aboard a Dravo Basic Materials Co. vessel and was last employed on a Martin Marietta vessel. A member of the deck department, he makes his home in Semmes, Ala. GREAT LAKES ALBERT L. CROPEK, 61, embarked on his career with the Seafarers in 1970 in Detroit. Prior to joining the SIU, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Brother Cropek shipped in the deck department, working primarily aboard Luedtke Engineering Co. vessels. He upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center in 1994 and 2001. Brother Cropek, who was born in Westfield, N.Y., now resides in Girard, Pa. SAIF K. SHAJIRA, 59, began his seafaring career in 1967 in Detroit. His initial voyage was aboard a Bob-Lo Island vessel. Born in Arabia, Brother Shajira worked in the deck department. He upgraded his skills at the Piney Point training school in 1980. Brother Shajira last worked on American Steamship Corp.’s H. Lee White. He makes his home in Dearborn, Mich. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1948 Headquarters of the SIU Atlantic and Gulf District announced this week that two tanker companies, Tanker Sag Harbor Corporation and Petrol Tanker Industries had agreed to wage increases which granted unlicensed seamen in those outfits the highest wages in the industry. The wage boosts ranged from $5 to $25 per month, and overtime rates were also increased. Editor’s Note: The following brothers, all members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, recently went on pension. NAME (last, first) AGE Ali, Mohamed 70 Aurelio, Perez 65 Cyrus, Carlton 69 Manousaridis, Stavros 65 Martinez, Ernesto 80 Maynard, Leroy 65 Price, Egbert 65 Rocker, Steven 56 Shields, Thomas 60 EDP Feb. 1 Feb. 1 Jan. 1 Mar. 1 Feb. 1 Feb. 1 Dec. 1 Jan. 1 Oct. 1 1975 SIU Headquarters Representative Edward X. Mooney was one of three labor representatives who served on the Virgin Islands Minimum Wage Industry Committee last month. The committee, which reviewed minimum wage rates for all industries in the Virgin Islands, met for two weeks on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix. This Month In SIU History 1968 As a result of protest by the SIU and management officials of the unsubsidized sector of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the Maritime Administration has set slightly higher guideline rate ceilings for U.S.-flag vessels carrying full loads of government-sponsored cargoes. They replaced temporary rates in effect since last December and are effective until January 1, 1969. The main objection of the SIU and the industry to MarAd’s method of establishing ceilings for the so-called 50-50 cargo rates has been that they discriminate against the more efficient intermediate-sized vessels—those between 15,500 tons and 39,999 tons—and cater to higher-cost smaller ships. 1991 The head of the U.S. Transportation Command visited the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship to inspect the training facility and to thank the members of the manpower office for their work in crewing merchant vessels for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. “We want to thank all of you for the great work you have done,” Air Force General Hansford T. Johnson told members of the recertified bosun course and other classes at the school as well as the manpower staff. “At the very beginning—on a moment’s notice— we pulled everything together and broke out 17 fully manned and loaded ships in just five days. We appreciate all your efforts. Many said it would not work, but it did work because of you. Many thanks.” Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? In order to help ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month—as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices—a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 or e-mail corrections to kclements@seafarers.org HOME ADDRESS FORM (Please Print) Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone No.: ________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Social Security No.: ________ / ________ / ________ Active SIU Pensioner Book No.: ________________ Other ____________________________________ This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. Seafarers LOG 4/04 17 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 9:09 PM Page 18 Final Departures DEEP SEA JIM ABELLANO Pensioner Jim Abellano, 55, passed away Dec. 8. Brother Abellano began his career with the SIU in 1966 in the port of New York. His first vessel was the Steel Artisan, operated by Isco. Born in the Philippines, Brother Abellano worked in the steward department. He last went to sea on the Sea-Land Patriot and resided in Daly City, Calif. Brother Abellano began receiving compensation for his retirement in 2003. JOHN ADAMS Pensioner John Adams, 76, died Jan. 5. He started his career with the SIU in 1951 in New Orleans. The Louisianaborn mariner worked in the steward department and started receiving retirement compensation in 1980. He made his home in Tyler, Texas. ROSCOE ALFORD Pensioner Roscoe Alford, 85, passed away Feb. 4. Brother Alford joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of Mobile, Ala. A native of Mt. Herman, La., he worked in the steward department and lived in Franklinton, La. He last worked on Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Jefferson Davis and started receiving stipends for his retirement in 1980. PERTWEE ANDREPONT Pensioner Pertwee Andrepont, 76, died Nov. 11. He started his SIU career in 1967 in the port of Houston after serving in the U.S. Navy. His first ship was the Globe Explorer, a Sea Liberties vessel. Born in Louisiana, he worked in the engine department. The Lake Charles, La. resident last went to sea on the USNS Mt. Vernon. Brother Andrepont started receiving retirement stipends in 1992. GUADALUPE BANDA Pensioner Guadalupe Banda, 69, passed away Jan 1. Brother Banda began his career with the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of New York. A native of Sugar Land, Texas, he shipped in the engine department. Brother Banda last worked on Pacific Gulf Marine’s Diamond State and began collecting his pension in 2003. He was a resident of Galveston, Texas. JOHN L. BELLAMY JR. Pensioner John L. Bellamy, Jr., 76, died Nov. 18. Brother Bellamy commenced his career with the SIU in 1969 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. His first vessel was the Buckeye Victory. Born in Florida, Brother Bellamy shipped in the steward 18 Seafarers LOG on pension in 1992. department. His last voyage was on Puerto Rico Marine Management’s Guayama. A resident of Center Hill, Fla., Brother Bellamy went ALFRED BODIE Brother Alfred Bodie, 63, passed away Nov. 27. He joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of New York. Brother Bodie’s first voyage was aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Wild Ranger. The Alabama-born mariner sailed in the steward department and lived in Mobile, Ala. Brother Bodie last worked on American Ship Management’s Cape Breton. BIAGIO CARUSO Pensioner Biagio Caruso, 87, died Nov. 14. Brother Caruso joined the SIU in 1972 in San Francisco. The steward department member worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Michigan Tankers. He started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1980. Brother Caruso, who was born in North Carolina, made his home in Merced, Calif. SHONG LING CHIANG Pensioner Shong Ling Chiang, 82, passed away Jan. 2. He launched his career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in San Francisco. Born in China, he worked in the steward department. Brother Chiang began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1973. He lived in San Francisco. JOHN CONNORS Pensioner John Connors, 82, died Nov. 26. Brother Connors began his seafaring career in 1969 in San Francisco after serving in the U.S. Navy. His first ship was the Sea Georgia, a Seatrain Lines vessel. The Massachusetts-born mariner worked in the deck department and made his home in Seabrook, N.H. Brother Connors last went to sea on Interocean Management Corp.’s Patriot State. He went on pension in 1987. MAURO G. GUTIERREZ Brother Mauro G. Gutierrez, 58, passed away Jan. 22. He joined the SIU in 1980 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Brother Gutierrez was born in the Philippines. He worked in the deck department as a bosun, sailing in both the deep sea as well as inland divisions. His last ship was the Horizon Consumer. Brother Gutierrez was a resident of Norwalk, Calif. THOMAS HARRIS Pensioner Thomas Harris, 64, died Dec. 3. Brother Harris started his seafaring career in 1962 in the port of Philadelphia. His first vessel was Calmar Steamship’s Losmar. Born in Maryland, he worked in both the engine and deck departments. Brother Harris resided in Huntingdon, Tenn. and last sailed on the LNG Capricorn. He went on pension in 1998. ALLEN McKELLIPS Pensioner James Higgins, 69, passed away Nov. 9. He began his career with the SIU in 1967 in New Orleans after serving in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. Brother Higgins’ first voyage was aboard the Oceanic Wave. The Louisiana native worked in the deck department and last sailed on the Sea-Land Achiever. Brother Higgins made his home in Fairfield, Calif. and began receiving compensation for his retirement in 2000. Brother Allen McKellips, 56, passed away Nov. 8. He joined the SIU in 1995 in the port of Honolulu. Brother McKellips first sailed aboard American Hawaii Cruises’ SS Independence. A deck department member, he last sailed on the American Tern. Brother McKellips, who was born in California, made his home in Honolulu. PHILLIP HUSS HARVEY MILLS Pensioner Phillip Huss, 80, died Dec. 24. Brother Huss joined the SIU in 1952 in Boston, Mass. His first vessel was the Sand Captain. Born in Ft. Scott, Kan., Brother Huss shipped in the engine department. His last ship was the Horizon Discovery. A resident of Moorestown, N.J., he began receiving retirement stipends in 1989. Pensioner Harvey Mills, 67, died Jan. 3. Brother Mills began his career with the Seafarers in 1967 after serving in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. His first ship was the Del Alba. The Manchester, Ky.-born mariner shipped in the deck department and worked in all three divisions. He last worked on the SeaLand Quality and started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1998. Brother Mills lived in his native state. JAMES HIGGINS CHEE JANG Pensioner Chee Jang, 84, passed away Jan 3. He started his career with the MC&S in San Francisco. Born in California, Brother Jang worked in the steward department. He started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1970 and resided in San Francisco. JOSEPH KORCHAK Pensioner Joseph Korchak, 75, died Nov. 5. Brother Korchak joined the ranks of the Seafarers in 1951 in the port of New York after serving in the U.S. Navy. The deck department member was born in Pennsylvania and made his home in Ridgefield Park, N.J. Brother Korchak went on pension in 1993. He last went to sea on Liberty Maritime’s Liberty Wave. JOHN LAN Pensioner John Lan, 96, passed away Jan 3. He began his seafaring career with the MC&S in San Francisco. Born in China, Brother Lan shipped as a member of the steward department. He started receiving his pension in 1974 and made his home in San Francisco. JOSEPH McGILL Pensioner Joseph McGill, 77, died Dec. 12. Brother McGill became a Seafarer in 1950, joining in Tampa, Fla. His first vessel was Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Monarch of the Sea. Born in Bay Minette, Ala., he worked in the deck department. Brother McGill lived in Orange Beach, Ala. and went on pension in 1976. TEODULO PADERES Pensioner Teodulo Paderes, 92, passed away Dec. 31. He embarked on his career with the MC&S in San Francisco. Brother Paderes worked in the steward department and resided in San Francisco. He began receiving stipends for his retirement in 1971. ADOLPH RODRIGUEZ Pensioner Adolph Rodriguez, 74, died Nov. 11. Brother Rodriguez joined the ranks of the SIU in 1980. Born in Texas, he sailed as a member of the deck department. The Texas City, Texas resident went on pension in 1994. ALFRED ROY Pensioner Alfred Roy, 75, passed away Nov. 4. Brother Roy joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of Houston after serving in the U.S. Army. Brother Roy’s first vessel was the Sabine. Born in St. Martinville, La., he sailed in the engine department. Brother Roy last worked aboard Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Sam Houston and lived in Lafayette, La. He started receiving his pension in 1993. STANLEY SCHNITZER Pensioner Stanley Schnitzer, 81, died July 31. He launched his seafaring career in 1955 in the port of San Francisco after serving in the U.S. Navy. The California-born mariner sailed in the engine department and last worked on Delta Steamship’s Santa Mariana. Brother Schnitzer went on pension in 1987. He made his home in San Francisco. GILBERT SCHUSTER Pensioner Gilbert Schuster, 75, passed away Dec. 16. Brother Schuster commenced his Seafaring profession in 1959 in New Orleans. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he first sailed for the SIU aboard Pennsylvania Transportation Co.’s Manta. Brother Schuster was born in Iowa and sailed in the engine department. His last voyage was aboard the SS Independence. Brother Schuster began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1996. He made his home in Madison, Wis. NANCY SCOTT Pensioner Nancy Scott, 75, died Dec. 4. Sister Scott began her career with the MC&S in 1978 in San Francisco. She worked in the steward department and made her home in Clovis, Calif. Sister Scott last went to sea on American Hawaii Cruises’ SS Constitution. Sister Scott began receiving her pension in 1980. ROBERT SIPSEY Pensioner Robert Sipsey, 77, passed away Dec. 13. Brother Sipsey embarked on his career with the Seafarers in 1943 in the port of Norfolk, Va. His first vessel was Sinclair Oil Co.’s Robin Mowbray. Born in Massachusetts, Brother Sipsey sailed as a member of the deck department. He last worked aboard the Horizon Spirit. Brother Sipsey, who lived in Vallejo, Calif. began receiving his retirement compensation in 1996. THOMAS SPANGLER Brother Thomas Spangler, 63, died Dec. 29. He joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of Baltimore after serving in the U.S. Army. Brother Spangler’s first voyage was aboard the Transyork. The Maryland-born mariner sailed in the deck department, last working on the OMI Missouri. Brother Spangler was a resident of Baltimore. YOCIE WILSON Pensioner Yocie Wilson, 91, passed away Dec. 12. Sister Wilson commenced her career with the MC&S in San Francisco. She sailed as a member of the steward department and began receiving compensation for her retirement in 1975. Sister Wilson lived in San Francisco. INLAND EUGENIO GESTIDO Pensioner Eugenio Gestido, 83, died Jan. 22. Boatman Gestido launched his seafaring career in 1962 in the port of Baltimore, Md. Born in Spain, Boatman Gestido shipped in the engine department. He last worked aboard a Continued on page 20 April 2004 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/30/2004 1:22 AM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes 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. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Maritime), Jan. 9—Chairman Ronald Charles, Secretary Fausto D. Aranda, Educational Director Lamar A. Parker, Engine Delegate Anibal O. Vega, Steward Delegate William M. Simmons. Bosun announced payoff Jan. 11 in New York. He led discussion of president’s report in Seafarers LOG and advised crew to read LOG to stay informed about union matters. Educational director encouraged crew members to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. whenever possible. He stressed importance of safety on board vessel at all times and asked that any safety problems be reported to supervisor immediately. Some disputed OT reported in deck department. Crew gave thanks for good food and look forward to happy new year. Next ports: Greece and Israel. USNS CHESAPEAKE (IUM), Jan. 27—Chairman David B. Zurek, Secretary Michael E. Hammock, Educational Director Earl M. Macom, Engine Delegate Justin Valencia. Chairman announced ship to start discharging cargo Feb. 20 in Diego Garcia before cleaning up and heading to shipyard in Singapore. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep ship clean. Educational director urged Seafarers to upgrade skills by taking courses at Paul Hall Center and reminded them to check that all documents are up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for new TV. Crew thanked steward department for good job. ALLEGIANCE (Maritrans), Feb. 1—Chairman Philip A. Corl, Secretary Henry E. Manning, Deck Delegate Ray G. Johns, Engine Delegate George B. Lockett, Secretary Sherman Harper. Chairman stressed importance of contributing to SPAD. Educational director said new movies and books have been purchased. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Engine department delegate asked for clarification of wages for absent crew member. Request made for hookup of washing machine expressly for dress clothes and whites. ATLANTIC (USSM), Feb. 15— Chairman David B. Campbell, Secretary Gerald B. Kirtsey, Deck Delegate Carl J. Sands, Steward Delegate Charles K. Fincher. Chairman announced receipt of communications from headquarters. Educational director advised those needing z-cards renewed do so one year in advance. He also reminded crew members of opportunities available for upgrading skills at Piney Point. No beefs reported; some minor discrepancies brought up in deck department relating to overtime. Suggestions made for option of direct deposit of vacation checks and to allow pension with 20 years’ seatime, regardless of age. Request put in for new mattresses, lounge chairs and keys to drawer locks. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Next ports: April 2004 Elizabeth, N.J.; Charleston, S.C.; Miami; Houston. EL MORRO (IUM), Feb. 1— Chairman David I. Murray, Secretary Michael M. Amador, Educational Director Fredrick W. Dougherty Jr. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 7 in San Juan, P.R. Secretary thanked everyone for helping take on stores and reminded them to leave fresh bed linen for relief person. Educational director urged crew members to take advantage of upgrading courses held at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made regarding retirement benefits and money purchase pension plan. Vote of thanks given to steward department for putting out delicious meals, especially over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. GREAT LAND (IUM), Feb. 4— Chairman Ernest J. Duhon, Secretary Antoinette M. Spangler, Educational Director Azeem A. Modak, Steward Delegate Mose Peacock Jr. Chairman reported new prescription plan now in effect. Treasurer noted $240 in ship’s fund. Recommendation made to purchase DVDs instead of videos. Crew voted to buy new DVD/VCR player. No beefs or disputed OT noted. HORIZON CONSUMER (Horizon Lines), Feb. 1—Chairman Lawrence L. Kunc, Secretary Terry L. Allen, Educational Director Donnell C. Tagart Jr., Deck Delegate John T. Emrich, Engine Delegate Eric Campbell, Steward Delegate Thomas E. Kleine. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 10 in Oakland, Calif. Secretary thanked bosun and deck gang for good painting job. He also reminded crew members that this is an election year and to help support maritime industry by contributing to SPAD. Educational director encouraged everyone to attend upgrading classes at Piney Point facility. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made regarding transportation home. Steward department thanked for good service. Crew sends condolences to Gutierrez family for their loss. “Brother Mauro G. Gutierrez was a recent crew member aboard the Horizon Consumer, and he will be missed.” Next ports: Oakland; Los Angeles; Honolulu. HORIZON KODIAK (Horizon Lines), Feb. 8—Chairman Kissinfor N. Taylor, Secretary Melvin E. Morgan, Educational Director David S. Goodpastor, Engine Delegate Ralph D. Thomas, Steward Ahmed Sharif. Chairman announced vessel payoff Feb. 11 in Tacoma Wash. with blanket relief that day. He advised everyone to check with boarding patrolman and be sure to pay dues. Educational director spoke about courses offered at Paul Hall Center and of keeping all necessary shipping documents up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for bosun or steward to accompany captain during room checks. Request put in for locker repair in all departments. Next ports: Tacoma; Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska. HORIZON NAVIGATOR (Horizon Lines), Feb. 15—Chairman William E. Lough, Secretary Richard A. Riley, Educational Director Benny A. Orosco. Chairman stated that special informational meeting was held at request of Wilmington Port Agent John Cox. Information was passed out to crew regarding draws and checks. Chairman noted supply fan now working again. Educational director advised crew members to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center whenever possible. He stated Coast Guard station moved to downtown Oakland; no longer in Alameda, Calif. Beefs reported in engine department. Crew agreed that furniture in crew lounge should be replaced as soon as possible. Suggestion made that DVD player and VHS rewinder be purchased from ship’s fund. Request made for better mattresses and pillows. Vote of thanks to Chief Cook Carlito Navarro for good food. Next ports: Oakland; Honolulu; Long Beach, Calif. INNOVATOR (USSM), Feb. 1— Chairman Stephen R. Kastel, Secretary Charles A. Medeiros, Educational Director Christopher L. Earhart, Deck Delegate James D. Morgan, Engine Delegate Adel B. Irani. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 4 in Los Angeles. He thanked deck department for job well done and asked those getting off to clean rooms for next persons. Secretary noted tax time is near and advised crew members to get necessary documents ready. He also talked about new prescription plan and posted information for all to read. No beefs or disputed OT reported. LIBERATOR (USSM), Feb. 8— Secretary Guillermo F. Thomas, Educational Director Elwyn L. Ford, Deck Delegate Edward F. OBrien, Engine Delegate Si I. Hughes. Chairman posted president’s report from recent Seafarers LOG and advised everyone to read it. Educational director suggested crew members check that all necessary shipping documents are up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made that dinner meal be only 30 minutes while in port. Crew members were asked to help maintain lounge and laundry areas and to keep lounge locked during stays in port. Clarification requested on 90day working rule for emergency trip off. Next ports: Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif. MAERSK VIRGINIA (Maersk Lines), Feb. 1—Chairman Mohamed S. Ahmed, Secretary Hugh E. Wildermuth, Educational Director John A. Collins Jr., Engine Delegate Stephen J. Dillon Jr., Steward Delegate John Padilla. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 9 in Newark, N.J. He noted good trip and thanked crew for outstanding team effort in keeping good gangway security watches in all ports. He reminded crew members to keep up to date on union news by reading monthly Seafarers LOG. He also asked those getting off to be sure to clean room, provide fresh linen for next person and remain on board until properly relieved. Secretary thanked everyone for helping keep ship clean. Educational director reminded crew members about courses offered at Piney Point school. Treasurer stated $1,545.85 in ship’s fund. Beef noted in steward department regarding duties of chief cook; no disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done, including great food and service. Clarification requested on extra days of vacation for completion of assigned tours. Next ports: Newark; Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C. PERFORMANCE (USSM), Feb. 1—Chairman Jimmie L. Scheck, Secretary Gualberto M. Mirador, Educational Director Daniel P. Gibbons, Steward Delegate Joel A. Molinos. Chairman informed crew of payoff upon arrival Feb. 8 urged Seafarers to take advantage of upgrading facility at Paul Hall Center. He also talked about keeping all required shipping documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to have one day’s pay in lieu of day off. Thanks given to steward department for good job. SEALAND ACHIEVER (USSM), Feb. 1—Chairman David N. Martz, Secretary Winston E. Marchman, Educational Director Niko M. Monsales, Deck Delegate Frank L. Thompson, Engine Delegate John A. Osburn Jr., Steward Delegate Obercio M. An Enterprising Mid-Winter’s Barbecue Thanks to the hard work of (from left) Chief Cook Henry Wright, Chief Steward Steve Dickson and SA Abdullah Musaid, crew members (below) enjoy a mid-winter barbecue on the Horizon Enterprise. The vessel was en route from Honolulu to Guam. in New Jersey. He thanked everyone for their hard work and encouraged them to read Seafarers LOG and communications from headquarters. Secretary noted smooth trip. Educational director asked mariners to pay close attention to expiration dates on shipping documents. Treasurer stated $340 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for new linen. Vote of thanks given to all patrolmen and officers. Special vote aboard ship to Steward Mirador, Chief Cook Molinos and Steward Utility Janusz Z. Smolik for great job— and to AB Charles B. Collins for wonderful barbecues. SAMUEL L. COBB (Ocean Shipholding), Feb. 2—Chairman Aristeo M. Padua, Secretary Thomas C. Barrett. Chairman read president’s report from LOG and thanked crew for job well done. He stated vessel will be in shipyard for about 50 days. Secretary noted that with shipyard time coming up, laundry bags will be out for dirty linen. Educational director said that shipyard time would be good time for upgrading at Paul Hall Center. He also advised them to be sure shipping documents are up to date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEABULK MARINER (Seabulk Tankers), Feb. 8—Chairman Ramon Castro, Secretary Abraham M. Martinez, Educational Director Oscar Garcia, Deck Delegate Michael A. Riley, Engine Delegate Gregory A. Grove, Steward Delegate Spencer Moxley. Chairman announced arrival Feb. 9 in Long Beach, Calif. He noted ship will stay on West Coast run for several months. Those crew members getting off ship were asked to leave room clean for next person. Educational director Espinoza. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 10 in Houston. Educational director talked about the importance of upgrading one’s skills at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEALAND COMMITMENT (USSM), Feb. 21—Chairman Kyle F. Schultz, Secretary Douglas A. Hundshamer, Educational Director Ahmet K. Yazansoy, Deck Delegate Greg Johnson, Engine Delegate Mohammed Hadwan, Steward Delegate Ali Hassan. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 22 in Houston with patrolman due aboard upon arrival. He stated trip was good overall and encouraged everyone to keep up with union and maritime matters by reading Seafarers LOG. Educational director encouraged everyone to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for new mattresses, fans in rooms and chairs for crew lounge. Suggestion made that contracts department look into reducing age and seatime requirements for full pensions. VOYAGER (USSM), Feb. 7— Chairman Glenn R. Christianson, Secretary Grady C. Ingram III, Educational Director Morris A. Jeff, Deck Delegate Konstantinos Prokovas, Steward Delegate Ruben Padilla. Chairman reported arrival Feb. 10 in Newark. N.J. He thanked crew for safe trip with no injuries. Secretary and educational director stressed need for Seafarers to improve skills by upgrading at Paul Hall Center. Educational director further advised members to make sure all documents are kept current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made for new vacuum cleaner. Suggestion made to increase pension benefit. Thanks given to entire unlicensed crew members for working well together. Seafarers LOG 19 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/30/2004 1:24 AM Page 20 Letters to the Editor (Editor’s note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) Support H.R. 3729 I’m writing this letter to all active and retired merchant mariners to ask for their support of H.R. 3729 to amend Title 46, United States Code, to provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the United States Merchant Marine (including Army Transport Service and Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R. 3729 was introduced in the House of Representatives on Jan. 27 by Congressman Bob Filner of California. The short title is, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004. H.R. 3729 would pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to qualified merchant mariners who served during the period Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946. Your readers can give us their support by writing to their congressperson and senators requesting they cosponsor Bill No. 3729. Thank you for your help and smooth sailing. James W. Hassett President, American Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII Hudson Valley Chapter Baldwin Place, N.Y. Thanks and a Request First, I and my veteran shipmates would like to thank you and your union for helping get us (U.S. World War II merchant seamen) our veterans’ status. It was a long and tough battle. Thank you for a job well done. Without the union, you don’t have anything. We feel very proud of what the U.S. Merchant Marine is doing today in Iraq and around the world. While there’s nothing we can do for the 238,000 mariners who’ve passed away since World War II, we can do something for the surviving U.S. Merchant Marine veterans—if we can get Bill No. 3729 through Congress. You can help us by contacting your congressman and senators. To write to a senator, address the letter to: The Honorable (Name) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 To write to representative, address the letter to: The Honorable (Name) U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 If your representatives agree to vote for H.R. 3729, please let me know by email at dickwiggins@yahoo.com Here is a sample letter: Regarding H.R. 3729, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act 2004, almost a quarter-million men volunteered to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. In 2004, approximately 5 percent are alive. The Know Your Rights average age of WWII U.S. Merchant Marine veterans is about 81 years. Merchant mariners delivered 85 percent of all goods used by U.S. armed services. They delivered guns and ammunition, bombs, airplanes, aviation gasoline and a lot more. They “delivered the goods”—but not without a cost. Approximately 800 ships were sunk and almost 8,000 mariners gave their lives. They were torpedoed, bombed, shot and taken prisoner. Many ships were hit by Kamikaze planes. They died for their country so we could be free. In 1944 President Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill for the military, and they deserved it. On signing the bill, he said, “It is my wish that our Congress will do the same for our Merchant Marine.” They didn’t and FDR died. Forty-four years later, the U.S. Merchant Marine veterans of World War II were granted veterans’ status. The U.S. Merchant Marine missed out on low-pay education, G.I. housing, medical care and job preference, to name a few. They were forgotten. H.R. 3729 will give them some compensation for lost benefits. Therefore, I am asking for your support and sponsorship of this bill. Since I live and vote in your district, will you vote for H.R. 3729? To our friends in the SIU, God bless you. Thank you very much. Richard Wiggins Kansas City, Mo. Final Departures Continued from page 18 Moran Towing Co. vessel. The Lineboro, Md. resident began collecting stipends for his retirement in 1985. GEORGE NAUGLE Pensioner George Naugle, 75, passed away Nov. 11. Boatman Naugle began his seafaring career in 1969 in the port of Philadelphia after serving in the U.S. Navy. Boatman Naugle shipped in the deck department as a barge captain and worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Interstate Oil Transport Co. Born in Alliance, Ohio, he made his home in Waynesville, N.C. Brother Naugle went on pension in 1989. The following brothers, all former members of the NMU and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, passed away on the dates indicated. NAME (last, first) Alvarez, Justino Anderson, Ernest Ballard, James Bell, George Bentsen, Palle Bergeron, Ronald Chabot, John Cook, William Cruz, Antonio Cruz, Gregorio 20 AGE 86 83 89 81 81 76 76 78 85 99 DOD Jan. 1 Aug. 23 Jan. 21 July 6, ’03 Aug. 21, ’03 Jan. 25 Feb. 8 Feb. 5 Aug. 29, ’03 Feb. 3 Seafarers LOG HENRY PUTEGNAT Pensioner Henry Putegnat, 85, died Nov. 8. He started his career with the Seafarers in 1969 in the port of Houston. A veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard, Boatman Putegnat sailed in the deck department, working primarily aboard vessels operated by G&H Towing. He lived in Galveston, Texas. Boatman Putegnat started receiving his pension in 1986. LLOYD TAYLOR Pensioner Lloyd Taylor, 76, passed away Dec. 1. Boatman Taylor embarked on his career with the SIU in 1970 in the port of Philadelphia. Cruz, Pablo 68 DeSilva, Charles 78 DeSilva, Jose 101 Faughtenbery, Jesse 79 Fernandez, John 89 Foster, Walter 76 Geron, Caldwell 78 Gilliam, Arthur 85 Graves, Allen 73 Griffin, Freddie 86 Harris, Robert 87 Kotch, Stephen 88 Lacombe, Ludger 82 Lazorko, Steve 81 Montgomery, James 80 Murray, Vernon 75 Pequeno, Jose 72 Pitts, William 84 Feb. 18 July 11, ’03 Jan. 1 Feb. 9 Feb. 4 Jan. 19 Feb. 17 Jan. 16 Nov. 1 Jan. 29 Sept. 1, ’03 June 23, ’03 Jan. 24 Feb. 14 July 23, ’03 Feb. 1 Feb. 2 Feb. 3 Born in Genesco, Kan., he sailed in the deck department as a captain. The Mocks Corner, S.C. resident last shipped on a Pennsylvania Maritime Inc. vessel. Boatman Taylor went on pension in 1996. WILLIAM TUCKER Pensioner William Tucker, 63, died Dec. 19. He began his seafaring career in 1967 in the port of Houston. Boatman Tucker shipped in the deck department as a captain, last working aboard a Crescent Towing and Salvage Co. vessel. He was a resident of Chickasaw, Ala. Ponce, Ramon 77 Powell, Warren 80 Rasco, Hermogenes 98 Rathstone, Robert 77 Reeves, Curtis 75 Rodriguez, Isidro 91 Rogers, John 76 Roldan, Vincent 86 Rubin, Bernard 79 Sampson, Samuel 78 Sanza, Miguel 84 Talley, Freddie 76 Taylor, Earl 83 Ventura, Julio Walker, Thomas Warner, Gerald Williams, Charles Zemis, Charles 75 79 72 78 78 Feb. 16 Feb. 17 Feb. 17 Feb. 2 Feb. 1 Jan. 7 Jan. 11 Dec. 23, ’03 Feb. 5 Feb. 6 June 24 Jan. 29 Jan. 31 Jan. 29 Jan. 18 Jan. 17 Feb. 8 May 21, ’03 FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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/NMU 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2004 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/26/2004 3:59 AM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. for the next few months. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Advanced Fire Fighting* April 19 April 30 Basic Safety Training (BST) April 19 May 10 May 24 June 21 July 19 August 2 August 30 April 23 May 14 May 28 June 25 July 23 August 6 September 3 Fast Rescue Boat May 3 June 7 May 7 June 11 Government Vessels April 5 May 17 June 28 April 9 May 21 July 2 Tanker Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* May 17 May 28 (*must have basic fire fighting) Deck Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion April 12 May 24 July 5 Aug. 16 May 7 June 18 July 30 Sept. 10 Lifeboatman/Water Survival May 10 June 21 August 2 May 21 July 2 August 13 Navigation Fundamentals April 26 May 7 Radar May 10 May 21 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman (STOS) April 5 May 31 August 9 April 16 June 11 August 20 Course Able Seaman (*must have basic fire fighting) Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED Junior Engineer, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be selfstudy. Steward Upgrading Courses Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week, most recently beginning March 29, 2004. Engine Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion Engine Utility (EU) May 17 July 26 June 11 August 20 FOWT July 12 September 3 Marine Electrician May 10 July 2 Refrigeration April 12 May 21 Course � UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Deep Sea Member † Lakes Member Date of Birth ______________________ † Inland Waters Member † If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________ Seniority _____________________________ Department _____________________ U.S. Citizen: Yes † No † Home Port _____________________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty (120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All OL, AB and JE applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $140 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only, payable to LMSS. COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________ LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________ _____________________________________________________________________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? † Yes † No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? † Yes † No If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? † Yes † No Firefighting: † Yes † No CPR: † Yes † No Primary language spoken ________________________________________________ April 2004 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. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/04 Seafarers LOG 21 �22284_P3_5, 8, 9, 21, 22.qxd 3/30/2004 1:31 AM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 647 — Graduating from the water survival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 647 (in alphabetical order) Michael Broadway, Christopher Czarske, David Gibson, Jonathan Hardiman, Brian Leach, Douglas Lewis, Michael Maskalenko, Daniel Miller, Jose Nunez, Terry Smith, Michael Snowden Jr., Joseph Waldera, Russell Wall, Joseph Waller Jr., Christopher Wheeler, Richard Wiltison and Christopher Yohe. Celestial Navigation — Completing the six-week navigation course Feb. 6 are (from left) Janet Baird, Joseph Butasek, Arvid Friberg, Vessislav Dyoulgerov and Ian Ferguson. Advanced Fire Fighting — Earning their advanced fire fighting endorsements Feb. 13 are (from left) Joe Grandinetti, Tom Cessna (instructor), Edgardo Plarisan, Abdullatif Ahmed, Chris Waldo, Andrzej Tlalka, Daniel Lovely, Fernando Rigonan, Charles Sadler, Harlan Hulst and Brian Miller. Fundamental Concepts of Navigation — Upgrading deck department members who successfully completed the navigation fundamentals course Feb. 20 are (from left) Brian Miller, Robert Wobil, Fernando Rigonan and Harlan Hulst. ARPA — With their instructor, Mike Smith (right) are Feb. 13 graduates of the ARPA course. From the left are William Powell, Mark Pruitt, Edward Rittenhouse and Daniel Lovely. Medical Care Provider— Feb. 13 graduates of the medical care provider course are (from left) Lawrence Holbert, Alexander Fyodorovykh, Nebojsa Milosevic, Joseph Butasek, Vessislav Dyoulgerov, Kenneth Salgado and Hal Owen. Any student who has registered for a class and finds— for whatever reason—that he or she cannot attend, please inform the admissions department so that another student may take that place. Engine Utility — Seafarers and unlicensed apprentices in phase III of their training completed the engine utility course Feb. 20. They are (in alphabetical order) Michael Alexander, Timothy Belcher, Robert Brady, Rollin Crump, Noland Earl, Elvin Ellis, Jim Farmer, Damien James, Carlo Johnson, Mitchell King, Ryan Krom, James Perkins, Jonathan Scurry and Daniel Smith. Their instructor was Ben Vernon (far right). Computer Lab Class Kenneth Salgado (left) and Wesley Slattery (right) show off their certificates of achievement for completion of computer classes at the Paul Hall Center. With them is their instructor, Rich Prucha. Able Seaman — Working their way up in the deck department are SIU members who completed the AB course Feb. 13. From the left are Roy Logan, Jamie Parker, Tom Gilliland (instructor), Jerry Guglielmello, Ricardo Salazar, Wesley Slattery, Christopher Gustafson, William Mele, Felipe Zepeda and Manuel Davis. 22 Seafarers LOG April 2004 �22284_P7,11_13,15_20,23.qxd 3/24/2004 9:17 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Basic Safety Training Classes STCW — Feb. 9: Antonio Bastidas, Sergio Beldean, Kenneth Click, Ian Corriette, Orozco Delacruz, David Garcia, Robert Gates, Christopher Grant, Renee Hill, Richard Jones, Jeno Koch, Damian Kreipe, Chad Leibner, Thomas Maillelle, Pam Mancilla, Tom Miller, Sean Nakamura, Brian Nash, Jan Payne, Osborn Pinder, Christian Schagerl, Laura Stock, Sean Sullivan, Andreas Tuma, Francisco Valencia, Tore Wiksveen, Douglas Wilson, Terrence Koch, Audrey Brown, Ronald Merfeld, Gill Sickles, Heather Racine, Peter Galia, Lubomir Dvonc Jr. and Etburn Gordon. STCW — Feb. 20: Barbra Allbritton, Otsman Baudin, David Benito, Dominic Carr, David Chairez, Keith Cleary, Dori Cook, Austin Dimmick, Mark Dominiak, Jonathan Fiske, Lauren Grice, Darin Heine, Patrick Helmuth, Robert Horhager, and Thomas Krapil. STCW — Feb. 13: Francisco Arguilla, Khaled Ayad, Dariusz Czepczynski, Juanito Julaton, Maji Musaid, Jose Navarro, David Parker, Ronald Poole, Justin Rodgers, Yadira Rosa, Victor Tayeri, Rose Vasilas, Edward Washington Jr., Jonathan Watkins, Brock Wilson, Marisa Escher, Jose Rojas-Morales and Michael Denny. STCW — Feb. 20: Amber Akana, Robert Baucum, Daniel Biggs, Cliff Broussard, Joseph Butasek, Sixto Carcamo, Leo Curry, Noah Curtiss, Evan de Harne, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Amy Gillette, Kristin Green, David Hicks, Eric Johnson, Michelle Johnson and Daniel Kilimann. Lifeboatman/Water Survival Water Survival — Feb. 20: Khari Hatten, Danilo Ramos, David Smith, Kyle Barril, Ann Ziegler, Kolomona Purdy, Eddie Johnson, Winston Madayan, James High, Guy Traynham, George Ashbridge and Eric Borys. Their instructors were Stan Beck and Tony Sevilla. Water Survival — Feb. 13: Wayne Agustin, Elmer Clemente, Evan de Harne, Leighton Enomoto, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Kristin Green, Michelle Johnson, Daniel Kilimann, Tiana Lau, Edward Lewis, Mindy Napoleon, John Niedbalski, Tiffany Niven, Nathan Ono, Ferindo Renedios, William Schropp and Kenneth Yuret. Water Survival — Feb. 13: Francisco Valencia, Osborn Pinder, Lubomir Dvonc Jr., Christian Schagerl, Andreas Tuma, Sean Sullivan, Etburn Gordon, Jeno Koch, Peter Galia, Brian Nash, Damien Kreipe, Antonio Bastidas, Pam Mancilla, Douglas Wilson, Sergio Beldean, Laura Stock, Heather Racine, Chad Leibner, Robert Gates, Agustin Orozco, Cliff Broussard, Noah Curtiss, Amy Gillette, Robert Baucum, Eric Johnson, James Lines, Daniel Biggs, Christopher Nall, Jonathan Fiske and Roger Mellen. April 2004 Water Survival — Feb. 6: Gary Barnett, Lorenzo Calasicas, Herman Cobile, Christina Costanzo, Desiree Kalankoa, Holly Kiyabu, Stephanie Nieves, Randolf Rabago, Christopher Rosse and Barrett Winning. Seafarers LOG 23 �22284_p1,2,6,10,14, 24.qxd 3/30/2004 11:42 AM Page 24 Volume 66, Number 4 April 2004 Attention Seafarers: Get a head start on planning your summer vacation. See page 14 for more information. Government Services Division Seafarers Make Historic Climb onto USS Coronado Transfer Ceremonies Mark Official Start of Pilot Program Members of the SIU’s The Coronado Government Services carries more Division made history last than 100 CIVNovember when they crewed MARS and is up the USS Coronado for the 567 feet long. U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). The Coronado is believed to be the first Navy command and control ship manned with a largely civilian crew. Normally, significant numbers of senior military officers and their staffs (from each of the armed services) sail aboard such vessels during military operations and exercises. The transfers marked the start of a pilot program which may lead to additional Navy ships joining the MSC fleet. Vice Adm. David Brewer, MSC commander, recently expressed great confidence that the test program will succeed. It is scheduled to run through September 2005. Ceremonies marking the transfers took place on the West Coast Feb. 18 and March 4. At the latter event, a number of SIU Government Services Division members who sailed during Operation Iraqi Freedom received U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals, issued by the U.S. Maritime Administration. During both ceremonies, speakers noted the effective work of SIU Government Services Division Representative Chester Wheeler in leading the successful effort to secure a high-quality habitability agreement for Coronado crew members. Wheeler was credited for keeping the negotiations on track during challenging periods. Highlights of the contract include MSC’s agreeing to follow “prevailing maritime practice regarding wages and working conditions aboard the USS Coronado.” MSC also agreed to pay habitability allowances to specified unlicensed mariners at the rate of $35 per day. Further, the agency committed to utilizing available habitability funds, CIVMARS or others to make necessary habitability improvements whenever possible. Other beneficial provisions address everything from email for the unlicensed crew to the establishment and furnishing of the crew lounge and much more. The USS Coronado was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle. Its keel was laid May 3, 1965, and the ship was launched July 30, 1966. It was commissioned May 23, 1970. The Coronado was designed as an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD), built to transport Marines and their equipment to the scene of an amphibious assault and move them ashore by landing craft and helicopters. The ship is one of seven fitted with additional superstructure for command ship duties. Rear Adm. Deborah Loewer, USN, vice commander of MSC, congratulates Chet Wheeler on the pilot program’s start. Honor for Retired Port Agent Martin Retired SIU Port Agent Jim Martin (left) last month was inducted into the Louisiana State AFL-CIO Hall of Fame. Celebrating the occasion with him were (from left) SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd (who serves on the state AFL-CIO executive board as special assistant to the president on maritime affairs), SIU New Orleans Safety Director Chris Westbrook and SIU Representative James Brown. The ceremony took place March 1 in Baton Rouge, La. Martin still serves as a consultant to the union and as president of the Greater New Orleans Port Council of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO. He also is a vice president on the state federation. Members of the SIU’s Government Services Division await presentation of their U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals last month aboard the USS Coronado. SIU Rep Chet Wheeler (left) and 3rd Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Michael McCabe confer during the Feb. 18 ceremony in San Diego. Pictured at the San Diego event are (from left) SIU Rep Chet Wheeler, USS Coronado Captain Chris Noble, Bosun Billy Bonds and Bob Rosemeyer, director of the West Coast customer service unit of the Afloat Personnel Management Center. Merlin Rescues Mariner As previously reported, the Seafarers-crewed MV Merlin on Jan. 23 rescued Egyptian Second Officer Eslam Hassan Osman Morgan (standing center with arm in sling) near Malta. Morgan’s vessel, the 390-foot Greek-owned MV Kephi, sank in rough seas while carrying some 8,800 pounds of cement from Istanbul, Turkey to a West African port. Moore was the lone survivor of the Kephi’s 17-person crew. Joining Moore on the deck of the Merlin are Seafarers and officers including GSU Terrance Bing, AB Harry Champagne, AB Jules Delgado, AB John Holmes, DEU George Melton, Bosun Michael Nee, AB Joey Pauley, AB Luisito Tabada and OMU Michael Watkins. Eslam Hassan Osman Morgan (center) poses with Steward Prescillano Gamboa, left and Chief Cook Eddie Siplin in the galley of the MV Merlin. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2004 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MILITARY LEADERS MAKE IT CLEAR: STRONG U.S. FLEET IS IMPERATIVE GROCERY WORKERS WIN CONTRACT PROTECTING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS ‘MARITIME IS ESSENTIAL’ MERCHANT MARINE’S DEFENSE ROLE, U.S. HEALTH CARE CRISIS ADDRESSED BY MTD MCCARTNEY DIES AT 72 SIU-CREWED CABLE SHIP AIDS IN RECOVERY OPERATION SEAFARERS CONTINUE TO SAIL IN OPERATION TO REBUILD IRAQ SIU FLEET GROWS LONGTIME ARC DIRECTOR RICK REISMAN DIES AT 57 SEAFARERS MOURN RETIRED PATROLMAN PAUL WARREN MC&S ORGANIZER BOSCHETTI PASSES AWAY AT 82 GROWING LOSS OF WHITE-COLLAR JOBS HARMS AMERICA, FEDERATION WARNS QUESTIONS SURROUND ISPS CODE DEADLINE 4 SIU OFFICIALS APPOINTED TO MARIITME SECURITY GROUPS FIRE DAMAGES SHUGHART IN KUWAIT, BUT NO SERIOUS INJURIES REPORTED BENAVIDEZ GALLEY GANG GARNERS RAVE REVIEWS SEAFARERS APPEALS BOARD APPROVES 2 ACTIONS RECERTIFIED STEWARDS STRESS PRIDE IN UNION, FAMILY, SELVES CABINET SECRETARIES UNDERSCORE MARITIME’S VITAL IMPORTANCE MARINERS CREDITED FOR ROLE IN NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSCOM, MSC OFFICERS LAND U.S. CREWS’ RELIABILITY HEALTH CARE CRISIS ONLY GETS WORSE PORT SECURITY DESERVES ATTENTION RELIABLE SIU BOATMEN GET THE JOB DONE IN PORT ARTHUR, LAKE CHARLES UNITE, HERE ANNOUNCE MERGER POSITIVE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS HIGHLIGHT SERVICING SEAFARERS ABLY MAN MILITARY SUPPORT SHIPS GOVERNMENT SERVICES DIVISION SEAFARERS MAKE HISTORIC CLIMB ONTO USS CORONADO 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2004 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. 66, No. 4 2004 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/f25376ddad7d805eddff4a740845d5d4.pdf 45484e4d7ab3c6d8347c8163c4330f67 PDF Text Text 26893_P01.qxd 3/24/2005 5:49 PM Page 1 Volume 67, Number 4 April 2005 MTD Speakers’ Message: U.S. Merchant Marine More Vital than Ever The U.S. Merchant Marine remains a crucial part of America’s national and economic security, according to representatives from the administration, Congress, the military and the labor movement who spoke at the recent meetings of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board in Las Vegas. Those speakers included (left photo, from left) AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, being welcomed by MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco; U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (above, left), and Gen. John Handy (right), commander, U.S. Transportation Command. Pages 3, 8, 9. Seafarers Crew Up LMSRs SIU members last month crewed up the USNS Shughart in Norfolk, Va., signaling the start of turnover of nine military support ships to SIU-contracted American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA). Below (from left), AB Mark Marcus and Recertified Bosun Mike Presser inspect a First Aid station on the Shughart. Page 3. Car Carrier Christened The SIU last month welcomed new shipboard jobs when the car carrier Jean Anne was christened in San Diego. The vessel is owned by Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, a joint venture between The Pasha Group and Strong Vessel Operators. Page 2. ANWR Update Page 4 Snapshots from Pride of Aloha Pages 12-13 �26893_P2,4,6,12,13.qxd 3/28/2005 6:02 PM Page 2 President’s Report Federation Solidarity When I opened the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meeting in late February, I emphasized the many things that are good about unions and organized labor as a whole. It’s an important message—one that I share with you here in the hopes of setting the record straight when it comes to proposals that are being made to restructure parts of the AFL-CIO, the national federation of trade unions. First of all, I support AFL-CIO President John Michael Sacco Sweeney, along with Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka and Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson. I believe in their leadership and their integrity. They have done a good job on behalf of America’s working families and the federation’s member unions, including the SIU. No one claims that we don’t have room for improvement within organized labor. That’s true of any association, really. But at times like this, I strongly believe that we must stick together and work together for progress. On many fronts, union members and other workers are facing enormous challenges. Our solidarity is one of our greatest resources. The individual unions within the AFL-CIO may not agree on every issue, but I believe we share plenty of common ground and we’re all pulling in the same direction. We’re working to improve. We’re examining ways to become more efficient. We’re all speaking up and we’re all being heard. In our own industry, we know firsthand the value of solidarity. The waterfront battles between the SIU and the NMU were legendary … and costly. Since we’ve come together as one union, we have grown and become stronger. With that in mind, let’s not lose sight of the many great things about the labor movement, and what we’re capable of when we work together. As I mentioned at the MTD meetings, the things that have always made unions worthwhile are still true today. Unions give workers a real voice on the job. We stand up to protect the rights of our members and their families. We give back to our communities. And you better believe we answer the call. And as President Sweeney stated at those same MTD meetings, “Unity is our greatest asset. That does not mean we should avoid debate, but there can be no real solution that undermines the unity of working people.” When you get right down to it, labor’s essential goals haven’t changed. At some point you may have read or heard the words of Samuel Gompers, the first president of the old American Federation of Labor. His memorable answer to the question of what labor wants included “more schoolhouses and less jails, more books and less arsenals, more learning and less vice, more constant work and less crime, more leisure and less greed, more justice and less revenge, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures.” That’s still what unions are all about—improving the lives of members and their families. As the federation works through this period of self-examination, it’s important to also keep an eye on our original—and ongoing—goals. Recognition for Mariners I encourage all Seafarers to read about the MTD meetings in this issue of the LOG. In particular, I call your attention to the many kind words that were said about the U.S. Merchant Marine. It’s always encouraging to know that others understand and appreciate the importance of our role as America’s fourth arm of defense. But when that appreciation comes from high-ranking officials from the military, the administration, Congress and the labor movement, it’s especially uplifting. You have played an exceptional role in helping earn such a good reputation for the entire U.S. Merchant Marine. You deserve the credit, and I know you’ll keep up the good work. Volume 67, Number 4 April 2005 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2005 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG New Car Carrier Jean Anne Joins SIU-Contracted Fleet Seafarers will crew all unlicensed positions aboard the new car carrier Jean Anne, which was built to serve in the Jones Act trades between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Owned by The Pasha Group of Corte Madera, Calif., and operated by Interocean Ugland Management, the vessel was christened March 21 in the port of San Diego’s National City Marine Terminal. “This is a new addition to the The SIU-contracted Jean Anne has 10 decks and weighs 13,000 deadweight tons. The ship can transport 3,000 vehicles plus other rolling stock, household goods and containers. SIU-contracted fleet, and as always I’m completely confident in the dedication and professionalism of the Seafarers who will sail aboard her,” said SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez, who attended the christening along with SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone. “After five years of hard work, Pasha Hawaii is eager to announce the christening and inaugural voyage of the Jean Anne,” George Pasha IV, president of Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, told reporters days before the christening. “The Jean Anne exceeded everyone’s expectations during sea trials…. The Jean Anne is a reflection of the hard work and determination on the part of many people, and we look forward to her ably serving the Hawaii trade for many years to come.” Designed and built to transport more than 3,000 American-sized vehicles and other rolling stock from the West Coast to the Hawaiian Islands, the Jean Anne has a 579-foot roll-on/roll-off platform and can travel at speeds approaching 20 knots. Its stern ramp is capable of handling up to 100 tons as vehicles are driven on and off. The vessel will make stops in Honolulu; Kahului, Maui; Hilo; and Nawiliwili, Kauai, which will reduce about a week of shipping time for the neighbor islands, according to Pasha. The ship was built by Halter Marine at its Pascagoula, Miss. facility. Matson Orders 2 More Ships From Kvaerner Philadelphia Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Co. on Feb. 24 announced plans to purchase two more ships from Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. The vessels are part of a planned $365 million investment in ship, container and terminal assets that will be used to launch a new Guam and China service. The new service is scheduled to start in February 2006. The new vessels will be similar in capacity, speed and operating efficiency to Matson’s Seafarers-crewed MV Manukai and MV Maunawili. Both were built by Kvaerner Philadelphia; they entered service in 2003 and 2004, respectively. According to Matson, the new builds are expected to be delivered and placed in service by July 2005 and June 2006 at an estimated combined cost of $315 million. The company has the option to time charter these vessels in lieu of purchasing them. It also will have a right-of-firstrefusal with the shipyard for up to four other containerships of similar design that are deliverable before June 2010. The company also noted that both new ships by mid-2006 will be deployed in an integrated weekly West Coast-HawaiiGuam-China service together with three of the company’s most efficient diesel-powered containerships. The planned routing will The third ship under construction at Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, the Manulani, is a Philadelphia Class CV2600 containership under contract with Matson. Last month, the ship was floated in preparation for its final outfitting prior to delivery. include port calls at Long Beach, Honolulu, Guam and two ports in China. “These new ships, coupled with our other two new KPSI vessels, will ensure that Matson continues to provide Hawaii with efficient, dependable ocean transportation services for decades to come,” said James Andrasick, Matson president and CEO. Matson in recent years has been modernizing its fleet, retiring older steam-powered vessels to improve fuel and operating efficiencies. With the addition of the two newest ships, the average age of Matson’s active container- ship fleet will be a relatively young 14 years. “Matson is very satisfied with the performance of the first two KPSI-built vessels that are now part of the company’s Hawaii service,” added Andrasick. “We are confident that these additional two KPSI ships will further enhance the overall quality and operating efficiencies of the Matson fleet.” Matson provides ocean transportation, intermodal and logistics services in U.S. domestic markets. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu. April 2005 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/28/2005 6:05 PM Page 3 ‘We Are a Maritime Nation’ MTD Speakers Affirm Need for Strong U.S. Fleet The U.S. Merchant Marine remains a good about the labor movement are still vital part of America’s national and eco- good today. Unions do more good for more nomic security, according to representa- working families than any other organizatives from Congress, the administration, tions out there.” the military and the labor movement who Addressing the executive board were spoke Feb. 24-25 at the meetings of the (in order of appearance) Gen. John Handy, Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO commander, U.S. Transportation Comexecutive board in Las Vegas. mand; John Jamian, acting administrator, Additionally, the guest speakers as well U.S. Maritime Administration; U.S. Rep. as MTD President Michael Sacco, who Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.); Steven Blust, also serves as president of the SIU, cov- chairman, Federal maritime commission; ered other important topics including the U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.); health care crisis, the right Sheila McNeill, president, to organize, support for U.S. Navy League of the United See pages 8 and troops, port security, doStates; AFL-CIO President mestic shipbuilding, fair John Sweeney; U.S. Trans9 for full covertrade, potential reforms portation Secretary Norman within the AFL-CIO and Mineta; U.S. Rep. Norm age of the MTD more. Dicks (D-Wash.); U.S. Rep. executive board The MTD includes 29 Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.); international unions and U.S. Rep. William meetings. (including the SIU) and 24 Jefferson (D-La.). port maritime councils in Secretary Mineta stated, the United States and Canada representing “We are a maritime nation, and the marapproximately 6.5 million working men itime industry is essential to our economic and women. strength, to our productivity and to the creSacco opened the meetings by remind- ation of American jobs.” ing audience members about some of the Board members approved 16 policy labor movement’s key accomplishments. statements addressing issues and programs He noted that despite current challenges including the Employee Free Choice Act, faced by organized labor, “The bottom line the U.S. Maritime Security Program is that the things that have always been (MSP), port-generated air pollution, chas- MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (right in both photos) welcomes U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (left) and Gen. John Handy, commander of TRANSCOM, to the MTD executive board meetings in Las Vegas. Secretary Mineta, General Handy and other speakers noted that America’s national security is enhanced by maintaining a strong U.S. Merchant Marine. sis safety, support for Miami’s truck drivers, the right to collective bargaining, and other labor and maritime topics. Several of the speakers pointed out union members continue playing important roles in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. As President Sacco observed, “During the past three years, at least 20,000 union members have been called up as reservists in the war in Iraq. At the same time, more than 4,000 members of our maritime unions have loaded and transported materiel to support our troops in the Persian Gulf. “No matter our individual feelings about the political aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I know that all of you join me in supporting our troops and particularly supporting our union brothers and sisters who are serving overseas.” Secretary Mineta, President Sweeney and the Congressional representatives all conveyed strong support for the MSP and for other laws that promote a vibrant U.S.flag fleet. More College Credits Approved For Paul Hall Center Courses American Council on Education Okays 24 Classes Students who complete certain classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education may receive college credits, thanks to a recent successful evaluation by the American Council on Education (ACE). The council recently approved 24 Paul Hall Center courses for college credits—by far the largest number of classes approved at once by ACE for the Piney Point, Md.-based school. “This review benefits all of our students by providing increased educational opportunities,” noted Paul Hall Center Director of Training Bill Eglinton. ACE reviewed courses offered in the unlicensed apprentice program as well as classes for mariners sailing in the deck, engine and steward departments, respectively. For the past 30 years the Paul Hall Center has utilized the benefits provided by the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service. Generally, this involves having ACE assess new or rewritten curriculums at the school as they become available. In December 2004, a team of four “content experts,” selected from college faculty, reviewed three courses in the steward department program. Then in January, five college professors reviewed 21 additional courses during a two-day evaluation at the Paul Hall Center. As a result of these ACE reviews, the school has reapproved or added about 85 possible credits to its instructional program. For most of these courses, ACE determined that the training is comparable to college-level coursework and has made college credit recommendations accordingly. Continued on page 6 Seafarers Continue Crewing Up LMSRs SIU Climbs Aboard Shughart; More to Follow Seafarers last month crewed up the USNS Shughart in Norfolk, Va., signaling the start of the turnover of nine military support ships to SIU-contracted American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA). As previously reported, AMSEA last fall was awarded an operating agreement for nine large, medium-speed, roll-on/ roll-off vessels (LMSRs), including the Shughart. Transfer of the operation had been delayed because of protests by the previous operator. However, the protest to the Government Accountability Office was withdrawn, and the Shughart signaled the start of the turnover that is expected to be completed no later AB Emanuel Wabe mans the Shughart’s gangway. Recertified Steward Bobby Brown recently signed on aboard the USNS Shughart. OMU Melvin Grayson enjoys another hearty meal on board the USNS Shughart. April 2005 Pictured at the Paul Hall Center earlier this year following the ACE review are (from left) Bill Eglinton, the center’s director of training; Lois Stephenson, curriculum development, Paul Hall Center; Dr. George DeSain, Western Carolina University; Don Nolan, vice president, Paul Hall Center; Dr. Ronald Johnson, Old Dominion University; Dr. Celeste Sichenze, Northern Virginia Community College; Dr. James R. Sherrard, Three Rivers Community Technical College; Captain Lee A. Kincaid, American Council on Education; and Edward Fitzgerald, academic coordinator, Paul Hall Center. than early this summer. Seafarers already are sailing aboard two other LMRS—the USNS Gordon and USNS Gilliland—whose separate contract award to 3PSC, LLC was announced at the same time as AMSEA’s. “Since the awards were first delivered by the Military Sealift Command (MSC), the union expected all along that SIU members would man these ships,” noted SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez. “That’s exactly what’s happening, and it means additional jobs for the SIU.” AMSEA will operate the seven Bob Hope-class ships and two converted vessels. The Bop Hope ships are the USNS Benavidez, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Brittin, USNS Fisher, USNS Mendonca, USNS Pililaau and USNS Seay. The converted ships are the USNS Shughart and USNS Yano. Both AMSEA’s and 3PSC’s operating agreements in effect are four years apiece. Officially they are four one-year agreements renewable each year. The Seay and the Mendonca tentatively are slated for turnover this month, followed by the Yano, Bob Hope and Fisher in May, and the Benavidez, Brittin and Pililaau in June. The turnover may be moved up. The Bob Hope ships were built at Avondale in New Orleans, with delivery dates ranging from 1998 to 2003. The Shughart and Yano were converted at NASSCO in San Diego, while the Gordon and Gilliland were converted at Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding. The converted vessels formerly were containerships; all were delivered to MSC by late 1997. MSC cites two key missions— prepositioning and surge sealift— for its LMSRs, including eight Seafarers-crewed Watson-class vessels. The ships vary in length from about 900 feet to approximately 950 feet. Seafarers LOG 3 �26893_P2,4,6,12,13.qxd 3/28/2005 6:07 PM Page 4 Safety Training Pays Off For Seafarers on Kenai Safety training and professionalism paid off for Seafarers and officers aboard the tanker Kenai as they quickly extinguished a shipboard fire while the vessel was tied up at the Valdez (Alaska) Marine Terminal. No one was injured in the Jan. 22 incident, which began when a backup diesel generator ignited. “The crew reacted phenomenally well,” said Captain Richard Holman, master of the Kenai. “You couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people to work with.” Bosun Alvin Martin said the fire “was in a potentially bad spot, but everybody mustered on time, suited up and was ready. Everybody was right there. What impressed me was that we had guys who were volunteering to take care of it. It wasn’t like anyone had to say, ‘You go.’ People were really willing.” Every indication is that the fire essentially was unavoidable and that no one was at fault. SIU members sailing on the Alaska Tanker Company vessel at that time were Bosun Martin; ABs Woodrow Brown, Ramon Guimba, Joshua Kirk, Robert Odmark, Estella Synder and Edward Boyd; QMED/Pumpman Odilio Evora; 2nd Pumpman Orlando Guzman; Engine Utilities Romualdas Videika and Criseldo Espinosa; DEUs Emmanuel Bayani and Edward Tanaka; Steward/Baker Dorothy Odoms; Chief Cook Self Salvation; SA Nagi Saeed; and Unlicensed Apprentice Courtney Sacks. Fourteen of those 17 Seafarers have completed at least one safety course at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, based in Piney Point, Md. All of them took part in regular shipboard safety drills on the Kenai. The bosun said the training and drills “definitely” played a big part in the mariners’ efficient response. “We do so many drills out there, we know what we can do and can’t do,” Martin stated. “In this case, we knew right away it was something we could handle. We were in touch with the bridge, and we had a (written) fire plan on board, which was a great assistance. “For that final decision to use the CO2, we just wanted to make sure that when we did it, everything was safe and everything would work,” he added. “It was textbook—kind of like when you go to a fire fighting school and they light off a fire.” The ship had just finished discharging its ballast water and hadn’t started cargo operations Health Care Still a Hot Topic In Negotiations, Job Actions The rising costs of medical benefits remained a prime subject in union contract negotiations and job actions across the nation last month. A small sampling: In Marietta, Ga., 2,800 members of International Association of Machinists Local 709 in mid-March ended a weeklong strike. Their new contract calls for wage increases and a signing bonus but also increases health care and retirement insurance premiums, according to news reports. In Westchester County, N.Y., more than 550 bus drivers who are members of the Transit Workers Union went on strike early last month. The company is demanding that the drivers increase the amount they pay for coverage and health care. Press accounts reported that members already have agreed to boost the amount they pay each week to maintain their premium and also to increase their co-payments for prescription drugs and doctor visits. In Detroit, members of the United Auto Workers were bracing for a possible request by General Motors Corp. to reopen the existing contract covering the workers. A local UAW official told a Detroit newspaper that the union believes its members will be asked to pay more for their health insurance. Last year, the company reportedly spent $5.2 billion on health 4 Seafarers LOG insurance. That figure is expected to jump to $5.6 billion this year. In Collinsville, Ill., the unions representing the town’s police force and civilian workers have asked for mediation to resolve contracts that expired as far back as December 2003. Once again, the rising costs of health care are considered a main point of contention in the effort to secure new contracts. The police officers already share the costs of their coverage. As previously reported, in terms of coverage and cost, the state of American health care is worsening by the day. The labor movement has been an active but hardly isolated voice in pointing out that the health care crisis threatens to crush the U.S. national economy if solutions aren’t applied. According to the most recent estimates, 45 million Americans have no health insurance whatsoever, while on average 6,000 more Americans lose their coverage every day. The costs of insurance premiums alone have increased by double digits every year for the last four years, to say nothing of the expense of actual medical care. Less than a quarter of those Americans who have insurance don’t have to pay out-of-pocket costs simply to carry the coverage. Among those people, only 8 percent don’t have to pay for dependent coverage. when a power failure provided the first indication of trouble. Holman noted that the fire quickly was identified and the alarm was sounded as smoke began coming out of an engine room vent on the starboard side. The ship’s emergency response team was suited up and ready in about five minutes. A local fire fighting crew arrived but basically stayed on the perimeter and served as consultants. Holman said the mariners quickly realized that the fire was “too overwhelming” to initially combat with portable equipment. They then sealed the 15-by-15foot room where the fire was located and used the fixed CO2 system, followed by portable extinguishers. “We attacked the fire in teams of two,” recalled the captain. “There was no apprehension on anyone’s part. They entered the space and extinguished the remaining fire, changed out their equipment and did a great job.” The local firemen complimented the Kenai mariners afterward, noting their focus and proper handling of the equipment. “It’s good to hear that from an outside source,” said Holman. Martin has sailed for 30 years and never had faced a shipboard fire. He said that his confidence in his fellow crew members was reflected in a calm feeling not only during the emergency, but afterward. “If you’ve ever had a close call when you’re driving—you barely avoid being in an accident—you know that your adrenaline really starts pumping right after that, as you’re replaying it in your mind” Martin said. “I didn’t have that feeling at all (on the ship) because I knew from the beginning it was something we could handle.” Senate Votes in Favor Of ANWR Exploration The U.S. Senate last month voted by 51-49 to retain language in the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Resolution calling for oil and gas exploration in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The mid-March vote made front-page news across the country, though additional legislative hurdles must be cleared before ANWR exploration becomes a reality. The Senate’s Budget Resolution now must be reconciled with the House version (which also passed last month). Then, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Resources Committee must approve measures spelling out details for ANWR development. According to news reports, it may take seven to 10 years before oil begins flowing from the Coastal Plain. Nevertheless, the Senate vote was welcomed by the administration and by pro-exploration groups including the SIU and other unions. “The SIU strongly believes that safe exploration of ANWR’s Coastal Plain will create good jobs for Americans and also lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign oil,” said Terry Turner, the union’s political director. “The case for safely opening ANWR is extremely strong, and our union supports energy policies that boost America’s national and economic security.” A week before the vote, citing The Coastal Plain is a relatively small part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as illustrated in this map from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. potential domestic job growth and increased economic independence for America, officers and representatives from several trade unions (including the SIU) reaffirmed their support of energy policies that promote those goals. U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton met with officials from the SIU, Carpenters, Iron Workers, Laborers, Operating Engineers, Teamsters and United Association unions as well as from the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department. They discussed ANWR and other energy-related issues that impact America’s working families. Vincent Giblin, general president of the Operating Engineers, stated, “We in the Operating Engineers support a diverse ener- Benefits Conferences Begin in April Officials from the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) will conduct benefits conferences in April at a number of SIU halls. All active members, pensioners and their spouses are invited to the sessions, which will provide an update on the latest happenings with the various Plans. The locations and dates are as follows: Piney Point (joint conference including Baltimore), April 4 (Monday); New York, April 5 (Tuesday); Philadelphia, April 6 (Wednesday); Norfolk, April 8 (Friday); Wilmington, April 18 (Monday); San Francisco, April 20 (Wednesday); Tacoma, April 22 (Friday); Houston, April 25 (Monday); New Orleans (joint conference including Mobile), April 26 (Tuesday); Jacksonville, April 28 (Thursday). Please note that the conferences in Piney Point, New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Tacoma will immediately follow the membership meetings at those halls. All other conferences will begin at 10:30 a.m. gy bill in order to strengthen America’s energy options, including oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Such legislation would have tremendous potential job growth for Operating Engineers.” According to Arctic Power, a non-profit coalition that favors safe exploration of ANWR, opening the Coastal Plain would create at least 250,000 jobs and possibly as many as 735,000. That’s despite the fact that only 2,000 acres within ANWR’s 19.6 million acres would be considered for exploration. (A typical U.S. airport generally would be about five times larger than the proposed exploration area.) The Interior Department estimates that the Coastal Plain may contain up to 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil, easily making that area America’s most likely location for substantial oil and gas discovery. Following the March 16 vote, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) stated, “I recognize that the vote today is the first of several votes this year regarding ANWR. I will continue working toward the opportunity to develop our greatest onshore oil reserve.” According to government estimates, oil companies would be able to pump nearly 1 million barrels a day from the refuge. The U.S. uses about 7 billion barrels of oil per year. April 2005 �26893_P5,7,15,19,20.qxd 3/28/2005 6:09 PM Page 5 Union Speaks Out About Towing Vessel Inspections In the recently enacted Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004, the Congress directed the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to add towing vessels to the list of craft subject to inspections, and to consider establishing a safety management system appropriate for towing vessels. The USCG, during a series of meetings held recently in selected cities around the country, sought public and industry involvement as they considered how to proceed. SIU Vice President Great Lakes Thomas Orzechowski on Feb. 17 attended one of the public meetings in St. Louis. During that gathering, Orzechowski presented the SIU’s position on the towing vessel inspection issue. “We were the only labor body to make an appearance and make a statement,” Orzechowski said. “About 99 percent of those who attended the meeting represented shipowners and other components of the maritime industry besides labor.” In part, Orzechowski told those assembled, “First and foremost, the SIU welcomes this legislative mandate that has been characterized as the most significant federal action affecting the towing industry since 1972, when towboat operations were required to be licensed. If implemented as intended by Congress, the SIU believes that the inspection requirement will go a long way in improving overall safety on tugs and tows on the inland rivers and coastal waterways. “The SIU unalterably disagrees with the interpretation of the law by many in the towing industry and perhaps, the Coast Guard itself, that the establish- ment of a safety management system will satisfy the requirement for towing vessels inspections. Although we support the establishment of safety management systems for the towing industry as a supplement to vessel inspections, the SIU believes that such a system will not meet Congressional intent and spirit of the law. “This position was recently validated by Representative James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in a trade magazine interview, as he rendered his belief that the inspection of towing vessels will have to meet the same legal standards that govern inspections of other classes of vessels. In fact, he stated ‘in bringing towing vessels under inspection, Congress made no changes to the scope or type of inspection required.’ Further, as reported in the publication, according to the congressman, by law, either the Coast Guard or a classification society with inspection authority will have to inspect towing vessels to ensure compliance and issue a five-year certification of inspection … and in between these inspections, the Coast Guard could oversee a safety management system to make certain repairs and maintenance work are conducted properly.” He continued, “The SIU contends that the level of safety for our members working on uninspected towing vessels must be elevated to the same level found on inspected vessels of comparable size and horsepower. This will certainly occur as all towing vessels begin a physical inspection process. Senator Trent Lott Chairs Maritime Subcommittee U.S. Senator Trent Lott (RMiss.) in early February was appointed chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee under the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Surface Transportation Subcommittee has the most extensive jurisdiction of any of the Commerce Committee’s 10 subcommittees with authority over automobiles, trucks, railroads, Amtrak, maritime and ports, driver safety, transportation of hazardous materials, pipelines and transportation research. Lott, who chaired the Aviation Subcommittee in the 108th Congress, said that he welcomed the responsibility of overseeing improvements in the administration of highway, rail and maritime transportation and safety. “One of our first priorities will be the reauthorization of the trucking and automobile safety titles in the overdue highway bill,” Lott said. “It’s vital that these programs have the stability April 2005 Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) of being renewed in a multi-year reauthorization so that the states can get to work on their implementation.” The senator said the subcommittee also would be looking at freight rail and railroad safety issues early in this Congress. “Port security also continues to be an issue, and we want to make certain that our ports aren’t vulnerable,” he noted. “The SIU will be submitting detailed comments to the docket on this most important issue. We look forward to working with the Coast Guard and the towing vessel industry to develop meaningful, safety-oriented towing vessel inspection regulations that will meet Congressional intent, the needs of the industry and enhance the health and workplace safety of our mariners.” Issues that are of specific concern to the USCG, and for which input was requested, include: Towing vessels of a certain size (300 or more gross registered tons) are already inspected vessels and are subject to a variety of existing requirements. Should the USCG use any of these existing standards (or standards for other types of inspected vessels) for incorporation into the new regulations regarding the inspection of towing vessels? If so, which regulations or standards should be incorporated into these new regulations? Title 46, United States Code, specifies the items covered with regard to inspected vessels including lifesaving, firefighting, hull, propulsion equipment, machinery and vessel equipment. However, the legislation that added towing vessels to the list of inspected vessels, authorized that the USCG may prescribe different standards for towing vessels than for other types of inspected vessels. What, if any, different standards should be considered with regard to inspected towing vessel requirements from other inspected vessels? Towing vessels vary widely in terms of size, horsepower, areas of operation, and type of operation. Under what circumstances, if any, should a towing vessel be exempt from the requirements as an inspected vessel? Should existing towing vessels be given time to implement requirements, be “grandfathered” altogether from them, or should this practice vary from require- SIU VP Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski ment to requirement? Should existing towing vessels be treated differently from towing vessels yet to be built? The same act that requires inspection of towing vessels authorizes the USCG to develop a safety management system appropriate for the towing vessels. If such a system is developed, should its use be required for all inspected towing vessels? Examples of existing safety management systems include the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. If a safety management system is used, what elements should be included in such a system? New National Maritime Security Group Analyzes Port, Shipboard Safety The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) from March 3-4 conducted its first meeting in Alexandria, Va. The conference partly served as a get-acquainted forum for the newly created body’s 20 charter members, including Bill Eglinton, director of training at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Several top officials from Department of Homeland Security agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard also were in attendance. A series of briefings then took center stage. Presentations were given on the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, Sector Coordinating Councils, and credentials. The status of the nation’s ports, towing issues to include towing vessel inspections, and probable agendas for future International Maritime Organization meetings also were addressed. Several noteworthy facts surfaced during the presentations involving U.S. ports: There are 3, 500 different port facilities in the United States. An estimated 9,500 American-flag vessels (inspected and uninspected) utilize these ports annually. Some 8,000 foreign-flag vessels also enter and exit these same ports on a yearly basis. These ports account for about $750 billion to the U.S. economy each year Once each of the gathering’s agenda topics had been ad- USCG photo by PA1 Mike Hvozda The Coast Guard cutter Hawser steams up the East River near lower Manhattan during a Homeland Security patrol last month. dressed, the committee decided to form the following four working groups: credentialing, communications, immigration and consistency The DHS in January established the NMSAC under the U.S. Coast Guard. Its mission is to provide advice to the DHS via the Coast Guard on matters such as national maritime security strategy and policy, actions required to meet current and future security threats, international cooperation on security issues, and security concerns of the maritime transportation industry as mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. USCG photo by PA3 Prentice Danner Petty Officer Frederick Leland and his K-9 counterpart Asia search a tanker vessel for explosives in the Port of Long Beach, Calif. on Feb. 23. Seafarers LOG 5 �26893_P2,4,6,12,13.qxd 3/24/2005 3:40 PM Page 6 USNS Roy Wheat Crew Donates to Marine Charity Crew members and officers from the Seafarers-contracted USNS Roy Wheat recently donated money to a non-profit group benefiting the families of wounded U.S. Marines. The crew donated $1,000 in honor of the ship’s namesake to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a non-profit organization that “provides grants to the families of wounded Marines and Sailors who are struggling to make ends meet while helping their injured loved one recover,” the U.S. Military Sealift Command reported. The USNS Wheat is one of MSC’s 16 civilian-crewed, noncombatant Maritime Prepositioning Ships that boost combat readiness by strategically prepositioning U.S. Marine Corps combat cargo and equipment at sea. The SIU-crewed ship is named for Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, who received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save the lives of two of his fellow Marines while serving in Vietnam. The 864-foot ship is operated by Keystone Shipping Co. for MSC. The crew received a $1,000 cash award from Keystone for conducting accidentfree operations throughout the past year. Instead of purchasing items such as exercise equipment and books to improve the quality of life aboard ship, the Wheat’s 31 mariners voted unanimously to donate the cash award to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. MSC quoted the ship’s captain as expressing “a certain kinship with the Marines we serve.” The decision to donate to the Marine Corps fund was reached while the vessel was in a shipyard in Mobile, Ala., according to the company. Those participating in the decision included the following SIU members: Bosun Charlie Haggins, Electrician Frank Michalski, Storekeeper Anthony Simon, Demac Renee Vasquez and Steward Emmanuel Zephyr. MFOW Announces Election Results The Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association (MFOW) recently announced the results of its election for officers. Anthony Poplawski ran unopposed for the office of president, the union reported. He succeeds Henry “Whitey” Disley, who retired following more Anthony Poplawski is the than 30 years in office. Poplawski and the other newly new president of the MFOW. elected officials began a two-year term of office on March 15. The election ended on Feb. 2 and is subject to membership ratification. The MFOW also announced that William O’Brien is the union’s new vice president. He defeated two other candidates. Like Disley, former MFOW Vice President Robert Iwata retired and did not seek reelection. The MFOW is affiliated with the Seafarers International Union of North America. The SIU-crewed USNS Roy Wheat is part of the Military Sealift Command’s fleet of prepositioning ships. College Credits Approved for PHC Continued from page 3 The Paul Hall Center’s Academic Department reported that eight credits (total) were recommended for five of the unlicensed apprentice courses. The steward department courses reviewed were the Advanced Galley Operations and Chief Steward classes that resulted in the recommendation of 10 additional credits in that department. The Galley Operations and Certified Chief Cook programs were reviewed in 2001. Chef John Hetmanski, an instructor at the school, expressed his pleasure that now all of the courses in the steward department have ACE credit approval and can provide new educational opportunities for members of the department. In the deck department, 19 credits were approved, 10 of which are new. The deck department courses reviewed were Tanker (PIC) Barge (DL), Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman, AB/Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch, and Bridge Resource Management (Unlimited) and Celestial Navigation. Added to the growing list of courses approved by ACE are Fundamentals of Navigation, ECDIS and Tanker Person-inCharge Deep Sea (DL). For many of these courses the review committee recommended credits in Job Well Done on USNS Pomeroy An aerial view of the Paul Hall Center, where college credit is offered for completion of certain classes. Maritime Operations and Technologies. For the engine department a total of 45 credits were recommended for the FOWT, Junior Engineer, Marine Refrigeration Technician, Marine Refrigeration Containers Maintenance, Machinist, Chief Electrician and Marine Electrician courses. Likewise, the review committee recommended that many of these courses receive lower-level college credit in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Marine Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology or Industrial Maintenance Technology. It has long been the policy of ACE that learning outside the classroom can be measured for college credit. Since 1945, ACE’s Military Evaluation Program has assessed formal military courses in terms of academic credit. In 1974, the College Credit Recommendation Service was created to evaluate learning in business and industry settings. The Paul Hall Center called upon ACE in those early years to begin evaluating its courses in order to provide additional educational and training opportunities for its students and to verify the quality of the courses offered to the mariners. Since this initial collaboration with ACE, the College Credit Recommendation Service has saved mariners thousands of dollars in college tuition as students have submitted their course work from the Paul Hall Center to meet college course requirements. Colleges and universities have also been well-served by the program, because qualified adults from the workforce have been motivated to complete their postsecondary education knowing that their previous studies and life experiences can convert into college credits. It is important to note that each college or university determines which of the courses approved by ACE will be accepted toward a certificate or a degree. Students planning to use their Paul Hall Center courses for credit, or wanting information on how ACE-recommended credits could assist them with their continuing education, should contact the Academic Department at the Paul Hall Center prior to submitting their transcript. Any students who have already received transcripts from the center may also want to check with the Academic Department to see if the recent reviews have added additional credits to their transcripts. The school may be reached at (301) 994-0010. Pensioners Get Direct Deposit The master aboard the USNS Pomeroy last month commended SIU members for their work aboard the ship in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “The crew did an outstanding job operating the vessel from the start of cargo operations in Kuwait until the completion of the download operations in Corpus Christi, Texas,” Captain Mike Finnigan noted. After the mission, “lots of crew were looking forward to heading to Piney Point for training and upgrading of their Coast Guard endorsements.” Pictured aboard the vessel are ABs Adrian Jones, Mark Hummel, Miles Janecka, Samuel Morgan and Sacarias Suazo; OSs Isaac Diaz and Asaad Al-Waseem; Storekeeper Christopher Maye; QMED/Electrician John Bouton; Steward/Baker Javier Delosreyes; Chief Cook Toni Johnson; SA Beverly Stevens; and SIU Patrolman Michael Russo. 6 Seafarers LOG The Seafarers Pension Plan last month announced that the Plan’s trustees have authorized implementation of a direct deposit program for SIU pensioners. According to a letter from Seafarers Plans Administrator Bill Dennis to SIU pensioners that was scheduled to be mailed March 28, for those who sign up for the direct deposit program, “Your benefit would be automatically deposited to either your checking or savings account on the last business day of the month prior to the month that you are being paid for, thus guaranteeing that your pension would be available when it is due. We plan to implement this program effective with the June pension payment.” The letter included an enrollment form which also will be available on the SIU web site (www.seafarers.org). The direct deposit program is set up only for banks located in the United States and Puerto Rico. April 2005 �26893_P5,7,15,19,20.qxd 3/28/2005 6:10 PM Page 7 Officials from ITF, U.S. Gov’t Review Treatment of Mariners ITF Inspector Credits Agencies for ‘Joint Effort’ Four individuals from the international maritime labor community and officials from several U.S. government agencies recently met to discuss circumstances surrounding the 2004 detention of 13 Filipino seamen and the allegations which subsequently were levied. SIU International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Inspector Enrico Esopa and fellow ITF Seafarers’ Section colleagues George A. Quick, Jeff Engels and Dwayne Boudreaux on March 2 converged on the Office of the Judge Advocate General at headquarters, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), to converse with officials from the Department of State, Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the USCG about alleged misconduct on the part of the U.S. during the aforementioned incident and what could be done to prevent future occurrences of such episodes. The 13 Filipino crew members last year were detained as material witnesses in a criminal proceeding involving the discharge of oil at sea. They were prohibited from leaving the United States for five months, but were not adequately provided for by U.S. authorities and were reduced to living on charity furnished by the port community in Los Angeles/ Long Beach. Among other issues, four main areas were discussed during the ITF/U.S. Government agency meeting: Security pacts – When shipowners and crew members are charged with crimes, the usual procedure is to release the ship following the investigation and once enough financial assets have been posted as security to cover potential fines or expenses. The terms of such agreements should specify the obligations of the shipowner as well as the circumstances under which the U.S. government will be permitted to take action against the financial assets of the company. In the situation at hand, the agreement only required the shipowner to provide for the crew members until November 2004. When the case was delayed beyond that date, the owner abandoned the crew. It was agreed during the meeting that future security agreements will be negotiated that provide for reasonable lodging, meals, medical care and continuation of normal wages and benefits until the end of legal proceedings and the repatriation of seafarers. No time limits will be instituted, and the responsible ITF coordinator will be included in the discussions for negotiation of security agreements. Protection from retaliation – The ITF was concerned that crew members who cooperate during criminal investigations against shipowners might be blackballed and denied future employment through agencies in their home countries. It was agreed that security pacts should have provisions against retaliation by the shipowners or their agents. Security agreements only can be enforced while financial assets are posted in the United States. These controls are no longer in effect when criminal proceedings are concluded. Since criminal proceedings end with the entering of a plea agreement to the courts, it was agreed that the plea agreements will incorporate the non-retaliation clause to bring them under court jurisdiction. Proper method of arrest – The ITF faction objected to the procedures employed against crew members who are material witnesses. The federation representatives described the use of armed force and handcuffs to remove peaceful mariners from a vessel as “unwarranted and excessive.” The government response was that such procedures were in place primarily for the safety of arresting officers. Arresting officers do not want to be placed in the position of having to decide who may or may not represent a threat to them. Consideration now is being given to a more appropriate procedure for voluntary surrender. Expediting the proceedings – Members of the ITF group pointed out that their primary goal was the timely release of crew members and their return to their vessel or repatriation. They also questioned whether it was necessary to detain mariners when their testimony could be preserved by deposition. The government response was that they are hampered by procedural rules and defense attorneys’ tactics that slow down the system, among other delays. All parties concerned agreed that each agency would benefit from continuing communications through forums such as their meeting. Perhaps Esopa spoke for everyone involved when he noted, “It was a good joint effort. We got a lot of things out in the open. It was a first-rate meeting, and the government deserves credit for being so open to our suggestions.” As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, the Filipino crew members in question on Sept. 14 were detained by the USCG when their runaway-flag vessel, the cargo ship MV Katerina, was boarded and impounded. In addition to finding a host of violations relating to living conditions aboard the ship, officials discovered that the vessel’s oil sludge filter had been disabled and that the captain, chief engineer and second engineer had ordered the crew to dump oil waste and sewage overboard and conceal it from Coast Guard inspectors. One of the ship’s officers allegedly threatened crew members with bodily harm if they cooperated with the Coast Guard. When their vessel was impounded, the crew initially lived in a Holiday Inn in San Pedro, Calif. The shipowner stopped paying the hotel bill before Thanksgiving, so the crew in mid-December was sleeping on the floor of a charity group’s offices in Long Beach. They had no work permits, so they were not allowed to hold jobs. Report Takes Hard Look At Port Vulnerability The United States is using technology, intelligence, international cooperation and other resources in an effort to thwart a potential terrorist nuclear attack on its seaports. Despite these efforts, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report for Congress authored by Jonathan Medalia, the country’s ability to detect a bomb appears limited. Given this state of affairs, Medalia noted in “Terrorist Nuclear Attacks on Seaports: Threat and Response,” a terrorist nuclear attack on a U.S. seaport could cause local devastation and affect the global economy. Medalia is a specialist in National Defense in the CRS’s Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division. Terrorists might obtain a bomb in several ways, the report said. Each method, however, poses difficulties for the U.S, the report noted. Already, terrorists have tried April 2005 to obtain weapons of mass destruction (WMD)—chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. While it would probably be more difficult for terrorists to obtain or produce a nuclear weapon than other WMDs, Medalia warned that an attack on ports using a nuclear weapon warrants consideration because in some ways it would have more significant end result. According to the report, a terrorist Hiroshima-sized nuclear bomb exploded in a port would destroy buildings out to a mile or two; ignite fires, especially in a port that handled petroleum and chemicals; spread fallout over many square miles; disrupt commerce and kill many people. Medalia noted that many ports are located in major U.S. cities. A 10- to 20-kiloton weapon detonated in a major seaport would kill 50,000 to 1 million people. Further, the explosion would result in Meanwhile federal prosecutors forced DST Shipping Co., the ship’s operator, to post a $500,000 bond to ensure that it would respond to any future federal subpoenas and to pay for the crew’s lodging while the vessel was made seaworthy. Once upgrades were effected on the Katerina, however, it sailed away and the company reneged on its promise to pay the hotel bill. Since the crew had agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in their case against the vessel’s officers and had no place to stay, the government intervened. The one option that the U.S. government had at the time, according to a U.S. Attorney office spokesperson in Los Angeles, was to arrest them, detain them as material witnesses and place them in the care of the U.S. government. U.S. marshals consequently took them into custody. They later were released to a charitable group which arranged for their housing and subsistence until the completion of the trial. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Jan. 31 lodged a protest against the American authorities for their treatment of the crewmen prior to the trial. Published reports quote DFA spokesman Gilbert Asuque as saying that the 13 Filipino crew- men were handcuffed and shackled with leg irons after being subpoenaed as material witnesses for the criminal case by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. “These are not defense witnesses. These are government witnesses. They invited these people and they still cuffed them. They should show them some courtesy,” Asuque was quoted as saying during a radio interview. “The Attorney General’s Office said this is standard procedure during criminal cases. We are protesting this,” he said, adding that the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. has sent a note to the U.S. Department of State on the ill treatment. In a related development, Ioannis Kallikis, of Athens, Greece, captain of the MV Katerina on Feb. 16 pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles to charges that he obstructed justice by advising other crew members to destroy and conceal from USGC inspectors incriminating telexes relating to the use of bypass pipes on the vessel. The bypass pipe had been used to illegally discharge oil into the Pacific Ocean. Illegally discharging oil into the ocean can harm fish and other aquatic life. Junior Engineer Program Graduates 1st Female Students The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education’s junior engineer program that leads to receiving U.S. Coast Guard endorsements for junior engineer and deck engineer has graduated its first two female mariners. Lisa A. Harewood (left) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Sharon D. Gilliam of Virginia Beach, Va. completed the 12-week course late last month. Gilliam is a member of the union’s Government Services Division. The class has been taught twice a year since its approval by the Coast Guard in 2002. During that time, 64 mariners have successfully completed the training. The program consists of four courses: auxiliary plant maintenance; basic electricity; basic refrigeration and HVAC; and basic propulsion systems maintenance. The junior engineer program is a prerequisite for all advanced engine department courses. direct property damage of $50 to $500 billion, plus $100 to $200 billion in losses because of trade disruption and indirect costs ranging from $300 billion to $1.2 trillion. Medalia suggested that there are many ways through which terrorists could attempt to smuggle a bomb into a U.S. port. One method would be via containers—metal boxes which can be moved between a tractor-trailer, a rail car or vessel. These boxes normally are 8 feet wide by 8-1/2 feet high by 20 or 40 feet long. Some 9 million of these containers enter the United States per year laden with global cargo. Sheer numbers alone also make containers potential couriers to terrorists. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agents screen data for all containers and reportedly inspect about 6 percent of them. These containers could hold a nuclear weapon, giving credibility to the proposition—held by many—that ports and containers are vulnerable. The report quotes an unidentified FBI official as stating, “The intelligence that we have certainly points to the ports as a key vulnerability of the United States and of a key interest to certain terrorist groups….” CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner believes an attack using a nuclear bomb in a container would halt container shipments, leading to “devastating” consequences for the global economy. …” People can, however, find ways to minimize economic problems, the report said. The main approach to reducing vulnerability to a terrorist nuclear attack is defense in depth, the report noted, using multiple methods to detect and stop a weapon. It would be harder to evade several methods than one. In addition, such an approach seeks to push detection and interdiction far from U.S. shores. While there are a great many national and international U.S.-led programs already on line and in operation, the report concluded that three main issues are at the forefront for Congress with respect to thwarting a nuclear attack: safeguarding foreign nuclear material, mitigating economic effects of an attack, and allocating funds between ports and other potential targets. Seafarers LOG 7 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 5:16 PM Page 8 Merchant Marine’s Vital Role In National, Economic Security Spelled Out by MTD Speakers The U.S. Merchant Marine received overwhelming support from high-ranking representatives of the military, Congress and the administration during the recent meetings of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board in Las Vegas. Offering their solid backing of maritime labor were U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; Gen. John Handy, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); U.S. Reps. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) and William Jefferson (D-La.); Acting U.S. Maritime Administrator John Jamian; Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Steven Blust; and Navy League of the United States President Sheila McNeill. MTD President Michael Sacco chaired the meetings, which took place Feb. 24-25. He described the U.S. Merchant Marine’s role as the nation’s fourth arm of defense, and talked about the efforts of U.S. citizen seafarers in U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and in tsunami relief actions. “As many of you know, during the past three years, at least 20,000 union members have been called up as reservists in the war in Iraq,” Sacco observed. “At the same time, more than 4,000 members of our maritime unions have loaded and transported materiel to support our troops in the Persian Gulf. No matter our individual feelings about the political aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I know that all of you join me in supporting our troops and particularly supporting our union brothers and sisters who are serving overseas.” Secretary Mineta noted, “We are a maritime nation. And the maritime industry is essential to our economic strength, to our productivity, and to the creation of American jobs.” He pointed out that the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) “supports the war on terror by giving us the wherewithal Navy League of the United States President Sheila McNeill MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (right in each photo) welcomes guest speakers to the executive board meetings: U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; Gen. John Handy, commander, TRANSCOM; and U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.). to carry equipment and supplies to those charged with defending our freedom and expanding liberty. This program is one more important measure of the maritime industry’s vital importance to our economic and national security, and our commitment to addressing its needs.” Mineta further pointed out that the MSP fleet later this year will expand to 60 ships from its current level of 47. “When the new MSP begins on October 1 of this year, it will bring greater opportunities and more jobs for U.S. citizens,” he said. General Handy thanked everyone involved in the maritime industry for their efforts in supporting the movement of materiel in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He cited the vast amount of cargo moved during the past three-plus years for those missions: 2.2 million people since October 2001 and almost 4.6 million short tons by sea, not counting 57.1 million barrels of fuel. Handy described the country’s union maritime workers as “incredible Americans” and said that they “stand tall and make you proud as Americans. We couldn’t do it without the incredible support of the nation’s unions.” He noted that 85 percent of the tonnage moved by TRANSCOM goes by sea. “The contribution of our commercial partners and the people you represent is dramatic. We don’t get these jobs done without that very strong tie.” The general further pointed out that the carrying capacity of one LMSR is equivalent to 420 C-17 airlifts. “That is incredible capability, and I wish every single American could understand and appreciate what this nation can do when we team together. But we can’t rest on those laurels. We need to modernize our shipping. We need to modernize our airlift capability.” Berkley said the nation’s cabotage laws are “true national security. I am a supporter of the Jones Act, and I support the Maritime Security Program Fleet.” Dicks echoed those senti- ments, saying that the MSP “is the biggest bargain the government has. This is insurance that saves the government billions of dollars that would be required to build and maintain those ships.” Continued on page 20 U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) Paul Hall Center’s VSO Class 1st with MarAd Certification, Secretary Mineta Announces During his remarks to the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta delivered big news concerning the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The secretary announced that the Paul Hall Center’s vessel security officer (VSO) course is the first such curriculum approved by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd). He then congratulated SIU President Michael Sacco, the union and the Piney Point, Md.based school for the distinction. The VSO course may be useful for unlicensed and licensed mariners alike, because a ship’s master may designate any crew member to be in charge of vessel security. “This was a great team effort on the part of the instructors, administrators and others,” noted Paul Hall Center Curriculum Development Coordinator Lois Stephenson. “It demonstrated a truly coordinated push by the school, the union and its contracted companies on a matter of great importance to the entire industry: vessel security and related 8 Seafarers LOG mariner training.” The Paul Hall Center’s VSO curriculum consists of 12.5 hours of instruction. According to the school, students who successfully complete the class should be able to undertake the duties and responsibilities of a Ship Security Officer as defined in Section A/12.2 of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Among several others, those duties may include handling regular security inspections of the ship to ensure that appropriate security measures are maintained; maintaining and supervising the implementation of the ship security plan; coordinating the security aspects of the handling of cargo and ship’s stores with other shipboard personnel and with the relevant port facility security officers; proposing modifications to the ship security plan; and reporting to the company security officer any deficiencies and non-conformities identified during internal audits, periodic reviews, security inspections and verifications of compliance and implementing any corrective actions. School personnel noted that efforts to attain U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (left) presents MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco with a certificate noting government certification of the Paul Hall Center’s vessel security officer course. the needed certification dated to late 2003, when the center’s curriculum development department was tasked with working out a VSO course to meet the industry’s needs. While awaiting finalization of the government approval process, the Paul Hall Center moved forward with the VSO training beginning last year. To date, approximately 200 students have completed the class, both at the Paul Hall Center and at their respective workplaces. That includes mariners from both the deep sea and inland divisions. U.S. Maritime Administrator John Jamian Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Steven Blust April 2005 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 5:35 PM Page 9 Freedom to Unionize Must Be Protected Several speakers at the MTD executive board meetings examined key issues facing the labor movement, with special emphasis by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on the critical need to protect workers’ rights to join a union. Sweeney, MTD President Michael Sacco, U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) addressed important topics affecting America’s working families that the federation, its member unions (including the SIU) and pro-worker legislators are tackling. The board also passed a resolution supporting the Employee Free Choice Act—legislation designed to end discrimination against workers who try to organize. Additionally, Sacco and Sweeney offered comments on potential restructuring within the AFL-CIO, the national federation of unions. Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, praised the work done by Sweeney and described him as a “great role model for a labor leader. He’s done a tremendous job. Through his leadership and his team, we will continue to move along and do what we must do to protect the job security of our people.” “At a time like this, I think it’s important to remember the many great things about the labor movement, and what we’re capable of when we work together,” Sacco added. As just one recent example, he pointed to organized labor’s united efforts aiding tsunami victims, including the establishment of a relief fund through the Center for International Solidarity and the mobilization of aid workers. Further, he noted that members of the SIU and other maritime unions sailed more than a dozen ships into the disaster area. They carried food, fuel, medical supplies, construction and roadbuilding equipment, power generators and more. “That type of giving and caring—that type of unselfishness and dedication—reflect what the labor movement is all about,” Sacco added. “The bottom line is that the things that have always been good about the labor movement are still good today. Unions do more good for more working families than any other organizations out there.” Sweeney said that workers “need unions now more than ever, and millions would join unions if given a fair chance. That’s a fact. But our unions are struggling to help new workers organize, as more and more jobs are shipped overseas—as employers continue to use an endless variety of legal and illegal tactics to fight us. And as the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) helps them by eroding the protections of the law.” He added that organized labor needs “a strong, coordinated April 2005 AFL-CIO President John Sweeney campaign to restore the freedom of every worker to organize a union and gain a voice at work.” He touched on internal challenges in the movement and the various proposals that have been submitted to restructure the federation. “We all agree on the need and the urgency to change and to grow…. Unity is our greatest asset. That does not mean we should avoid debate, but there can be no real solution that undermines the unity of working people.” MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco greets U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) at the executive board meetings. Sanchez reminded audience members about the labor movement’s many key accomplishments throughout its history. She noted that unions won the eighthour work day, overtime pay, the 40-hour work week, pension plans, health care plans and the Family Medical and Leave Act. “Labor did that for all American workers, whether they were in a union or not,” she stated. “Each of these ideas of labor collectively working together … were an important piece of mak- ing the standard of living of Americans something that every country envied.” Sanchez was one of several speakers who expressed deep distress over the national health care crisis, pointing out that it is a long-term problem. Additionally, she cited concerns regarding government workers losing their collective bargaining rights under the guise of homeland security. She further suggested that the danger extended well beyond those individuals U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) losing their rights: “Where our government workers go, so goes the private sector.” Thompson emphasized the need for unions to continue organizing new members and pledged his ongoing support to America’s working families. He noted that he has a 100 percent voting record for labor, despite representing part of a socalled right-to-work state. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for organized labor,” he said. MTD Board Tackles Key Issues The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, consists of 29 international unions (including the SIU) and 24 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing approximately 6.5 million working men and women. The MTD executive board met Feb. 2425 in Las Vegas, where board members and guests addressed numerous issues of importance to the U.S. Merchant Marine and to all working families. The articles on this page and page 8 are based on remarks and policy statements presented at the meetings. Seafarers LOG 9 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/28/2005 6:44 PM Page 10 Activities Around the Port of Houston Following a meeting on the G&H tug Denia are (from left) Roy Lindley Jr., Charles Barnes, Bradley Albrecht and Forrest Albrecht. Crew members from the Denia and the Manta join forces for a group photo. They include William Ulch, William Ulch Jr., Michael Zepeda, Jacques Mouttet and Jack Gonzalez. In photo at right, Houston Patrolman Michael Russo is surrounded by crew members from the Global Patriot (above) after holding a shipboard meeting aboard the DynMarine vessel. The Global Patriot is the former Buffalo Soldier. When Houston Safety Director Kevin Marchand (right) serviced the USNS Pomeroy in Beaumont, Texas recently, he met up with an old friend, John Kolodziej. The two used to be roommates years ago and are best of friends, even though they had not seen each other in a long time. Kolodziej has come a long way in a short period of time, notes Marchand, by working hard and upgrading at every opportunity. Now he is sailing as a bosun and enjoying life at sea. After meeting with the Houston patrolman, crew members aboard the Charleston gather for a group photo (above right). At left are Steward/Baker Charles Roland (left) and ACU Gamal Asaad. Right: Leoncio Gonzalez, who sails from the port of Houston, just boarded the Lykes Navigator, where he will be the chief cook. These four photos of crew members were taken aboard Sealift’s Wilson. The photo above left was shot on the gangway in Lake Charles, La. before setting sail for Galveston. The others were taken in Galveston following a visit by Safety Director Kevin Marchand. The freighter makes runs to Africa, primarily loaded with grain, but sometimes also is called upon to carry containers. Members of the steward department on the vessel include GSTU Ricardo Arauz, Steward/Baker Arturo Rodriguez, Chief Cook Lizzie Robinson and GSTU Teodoro Flores. The deck department includes OS Melvin Mitchell, AB Miles Souders, AB Christopher Hodder, OMU Antonio Myrick, Bosun Andrew Jones and STOS Angel Manlunas. G&H Towing in Galveston has just taken delivery of a new Z-drive tug, the William M. The tug actually is owned by McAllister Towing but currently is under lease to G&H until their new ones come come out of the yard. G&H Towing is building two new Z-drive tugs for use in the Houston harbor area. 10 Seafarers LOG April 2005 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 7:13 PM Page 11 Happy Holidays at Sea . . . . . . Aboard the Alaskan Frontier The holidays aboard the SIU-crewed Alaskan Frontier were all the merrier with help from the galley gang. From the left are Chief Cook Saleh Ahmed, Steward/Baker Greg Lynch and SA Welington Furment. As the year 2004 came to an end, crew members aboard the Alaskan Frontier were the first to celebrate the holidays on the newly built tanker. Chief Cook Saleh Ahmed considers himself lucky to be among the first to help celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s on the state-of-the-art double-hull oil tanker, commanded by Capt. Richard Beza. He also believes the delicious holidays meals presented to the crew couldn’t have been such a success without the help of Steward/Baker Greg Lynch, Chief Steward John Huyett and the able assistance of SA Welington Furment. The Alaskan Frontier is the first of four Alaska-class double-hull oiler tankers being built for BP Oil Shipping Co., USA and was delivered last August. The environmentally friendly tanker is operated by SIUcontracted Alaska Tanker Company. The Alaskan Frontier and the other tankers in the Alaska Class allow maximum flexibility for oil deliveries from Alaska to West Coast ports, including BP refineries in Los Angeles, Calif., and Cherry Point, Wash. . . . Aboard the PFC Eugene A. Obregon Pre-positioning ships like the SIU-crewed Obregon are chartered by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and carry ammunition, supplies and military vehicles. They are stationed in areas of the world where there is the potential for conflict or a crisis requiring rapid availability of military equipment. As on other ships that are at sea over the holidays, steward department members try especially hard to make the occasions cheerful and festive and with lots of good food, as is evidenced by a copy of the Christmas menu below. Assistant Cook/Utility Chris D’Andrea prepares a plate for one crew member while Chief Cook Jessie Burnett makes up another order. Left: Bosun Bernard “Hutch” Hutcherson enjoys the Christmas dinner with ABs Bill Kratsas, Jason Farr and Angelo Acosta. Chief Steward Patrick Helton applies an egg wash to one of two horns o’plenty before it goes into the oven. It will later be used as a centerpiece for the dessert table. SA Erin Davis stands ready to replenish items on the dessert table as needed. SA Rene Alfaro looks over the salad bar that he and the chief steward put together. The twin turkeys are almost ready, according to Chief Cook Jessie Burnett. April 2005 The assortment of items in the salad bar alone seems to be enough for a meal. Seafarers LOG 11 �26893_P2,4,6,12,13.qxd 3/28/2005 7:22 PM Page 12 Darin Heine Marie Acosta, upholsterer Ryan Arisumi, assistant maître d’ Monica Pratt, senior stateroom steward Kari Moore, restaurant hostess Erwin Villegas at pool barbecue Steven Soltysik, assistant carpenter The “Aloha Spirit” is alive and well aboard the SIU-c Aloha. Taken earlier this year aboard the NCL Amer sailed on one of its seven-day cruises around the Ha these photos show some of the reasons for the ship’s s Whether’s it’s keeping the engines going, the cabins guests well fed and happy—the Seafarers aboard this v of the best trained in their field and have truly helped flag deep sea cruise ship industry a new beginning. Now, more good news is on the way as the com preparations for the launching of the Pride of America and the Pride of Hawaii in 2006. There may be so among the ships, but what remains constant is the positi tude of the Seafarers who make each voyage a safe an Matthew Meehan, assistant waiter Antonio Dayrit The crew galley gang 12 Seafarers LOG Vacuuming hotel deck 5 Yolanda Freeman, stateroom stewardess Deborah Figue April 2005 �26893_P2,4,6,12,13.qxd 3/28/2005 7:24 PM Page 13 Crystal Johnson, junior waitress during a passenger drill Margaret “Maggie” Young, head steward room supervisor The muster leaders: Lisa Robertson, restaurant and Shannon Murphy, cruise staff Jaylin Allen, utility hotel Ernesto Lomboy, AB watch The bakeshop SIU-crewed Pride of America vessel as it e Hawaiian Islands, p’s success. bins spotless or the this vessel are some lped give the U.S.company continues erica later this year, e some differences positive, can-do attie and happy one. The reception crew John Menley, 2nd baker Nikkee Pan Figueroa, Nikkee Pan, Pamela “Sunshine” Woods, Crystal Johnson April 2005 Robert Murray, deck steward/bar department Pacific Heights galley gang Seafarers LOG 13 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 8:11 PM Page 14 In and Around the Mobile Hall B eginning with the expansion of the cotton trade in the 1800s, the port of Mobile has been a major participant in America's waterborne commerce and has contributed to the region's and the nation's economic well being. Depicted in these photos is some of the recent SIU activity around that port. AB Stephen Thompson and his wife, Joyce, look over a copy of the latest Seafarers LOG on a recent visit to the Mobile union hall. PFC EUGENE A. OBREGON — Gathered around a table during the shipboard meeting are (from left) AB Thomas Ward, Bosun Charlie Frisella, AB Michael Long, AB Cleveland West and QMED Mahmoud Khalil. CARIBE PIONEER — Mate Sonny Nguyen (left), OS Steve Kuithe (center) and Cook Ron Gibbs complete another voyage on the Caribe Pioneer, which hauls railroad tanker cars between Mobile and Ponce, P.R. Remembering a Brother MANHATTAN ISLAND — From the left are Floyd Phillips, Nathan Eldridge, Ed Mancke and Daryl Stewart. PFC EUGENE A. OBREGON — Galley gang members on the Obregon include SA Erin Davis, Chief Cook Jessie Burnett, Steward Patrick Helton, ACU Marian Chacon and SA Rene Alfaro. SEAFARERS BENEFIT PLANS NOTICE TO PARTICIPANTS Robert G. Haller of Williamstown, N.J. kneels in prayer for his late brother Charles “Chuck” William Haller at the U.S. Armed Forces burial grounds in Williamstown on Christmas day. With him is the American flag used in Chuck’s burial services. Chuck Haller was a member of the SIU from 1970 until his death in February 2000. He sailed in the engine department. His younger brother Robert also sails as an engine department member. MANHATTAN ISLAND — Carl Sanderson (left) is the mate aboard the Manhattan Island; Fenton Whitlow is the captain. Membership Approves Tally Comittee Report During the March membership meetings, Seafarers approved the report of the rank-and-file tallying committee, which detailed the results of the recently concluded SIU general election. As constitutionally provided, the union tallying committee did not count the votes for those 25 candidates who were unopposed for any office or job, and such candidates were considered elected. The positions include: Michael Sacco, president John Fay, executive vice president David Heindel, secretary-treasurer Joseph Soresi, vice president Atlantic Coast Dean Corgey, vice president Gulf Coast Nicholas Marrone, vice president West Coast Thomas Orzechowski, vice president Great Lakes and Inland Waters Kermett Mangram, vice president Government Services René Lioeanjie, vice president at large Charles Stewart, vice president at large George Tricker, assistant vice president contracts Nick Celona, assistant vice president Atlantic Coast Ambrose Cucinotta, assistant vice president Gulf Coast Don Anderson, assistant vice president West Coast James McGee, assistant vice president Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters Chester Wheeler, assistant vice president Government Services Edward Morris, Piney Point port agent Robert Selzer, New York port agent 14 Seafarers LOG Joseph Mieluchowski, Philadelphia port agent Edward Kelly Jr., Mobile port agent Stephen Judd, New Orleans port agent Anthony McQuay, Houston port agent Vincent Coss, San Francisco port agent Rebecca Sleeper, St Louis port agent Donald Thornton, Detroit-Algonac port agent. The report noted that there were two or more candidates in each of the following two races for office: vice president contracts and Baltimore port agent. In those respective elections, the committee reported the following results from eligible votes cast: Vice president contracts—Augustin Tellez received 86 percent of eligible votes cast; Carl Sands received 14 percent. Baltimore port agent—Georg Kenny received 81 percent of eligible votes cast; Michael Murphy received 19 percent. The committee also reported that the membership approved each of the two proposed constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot. In order, the amendments pertained to amending Article XII, qualifications for officers, assistant vice president, headquarters representatives, port agents and other elective jobs and amending the first sentence of Article XIII regarding the election of a credentials committee. The proposed amendments were approved with the majority of eligible votes accounting for 86 and 89 percent, respectively. As reported in previous issues of the Seafarers LOG, voting took place via secret ballot from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2004. The tallying committee was composed of 20 Seafarers (two members elected from each of the SIU’s 10 constitutional halls). Keep the Plan Informed of Your Address Changes It is important that all participants remember to keep the Plan informed of any change of address. Update Your Beneficiary Designations Keep your beneficiary designations up to date. In the event that your beneficiary predeceases you, you must submit a substitute designation. Inform the Plan of Your Divorce In order for your spouse to be eligible to receive continuation coverage (under COBRA) from the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, you or your spouse must inform the Plan at the time of your divorce. Please submit a copy of the divorce decree to the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. Full-time College Students If your dependent child is a full-time college student, you must submit a letter of attendance every semester in order for your child to be covered by the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan P.O. Box 380 Piney Point, MD 20674 IMPORTANT NOTICE: SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN — COBRA NOTICE HEALTH CARE CONTINUATION Under federal law, a participant and his or her dependents have the right to elect to continue their Plan coverage in the event that they lose their eligibility. This right is granted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as “COBRA.” The COBRA law allows a participant and his or her dependents to temporarily extend their benefits at group rates in certain circumstances where coverage under the Plan would otherwise end. A participant and his or her dependents have a right to choose this continuation coverage if they lose their Plan coverage because the participant failed to meet the Plan’s seatime requirements. In addition, a participant and his or her dependents may have the right to choose continuation coverage if the participant becomes a pensioner ineligible for medical benefits. The participant’s dependents may also elect continuation coverage if they lose coverage under the Plan as the result of the participant’s (1) death; (2) divorce; or (3) Medicare eligibility. A child can also elect COBRA if as the result of his or her age, he or she is no longer a dependent under the Plan rules. If a member and his or her dependents feel that they may qualify, or if they would like more information concerning these rights, they should contact the Plan office at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Since there are important deadlines that apply to COBRA, please contact the Plan as soon as possible to receive a full explanation of the participant’s rights and his or her dependents’ rights. April 2005 �26893_P5,7,15,19,20.qxd 3/24/2005 4:26 PM Page 15 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea May & June 2005 Membership Meetings FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2005 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Trip Reliefs **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 1 0 4 1 3 23 23 0 9 14 28 6 4 1 9 18 0 36 18 2 4 7 7 9 23 31 0 8 12 18 19 1 25 12 8 9 28 12 0 5 1 3 1 23 11 1 2 12 11 6 3 0 1 9 1 13 8 2 0 6 0 10 10 17 0 11 9 16 7 2 1 10 10 0 26 23 0 5 7 7 8 13 12 1 8 11 10 12 4 11 3 3 9 15 16 0 3 1 1 3 7 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 8 6 1 0 1 0 3 9 13 0 5 5 12 6 1 0 1 5 0 13 10 1 0 11 1 10 50 56 0 15 40 54 10 8 1 11 36 1 61 27 5 7 7 8 14 37 53 1 11 23 35 21 4 16 26 16 5 57 32 0 5 2 3 1 36 30 1 6 23 35 10 4 1 1 9 1 29 20 198 235 111 160 155 42 85 393 378 217 Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington 0 0 5 1 4 11 10 1 8 9 8 12 2 0 3 6 0 6 6 0 0 0 3 8 4 16 1 4 14 13 8 3 2 4 5 0 11 14 2 0 0 0 0 5 9 0 1 2 5 2 0 0 1 1 1 6 6 0 0 2 0 5 9 20 1 3 8 5 5 0 0 4 11 0 11 8 0 0 0 1 5 4 13 0 5 5 6 8 1 2 2 5 0 17 8 0 0 0 1 0 4 5 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 3 9 1 1 0 0 2 0 9 3 2 0 9 1 9 13 33 0 14 16 20 11 5 1 4 17 0 12 8 0 1 3 4 9 12 30 1 5 13 20 15 5 2 6 9 1 27 15 3 0 2 0 3 6 12 0 4 4 13 6 1 1 2 4 2 8 8 Totals 92 110 41 92 82 23 35 175 178 79 1 0 1 0 7 15 15 0 3 8 13 10 1 4 1 22 1 10 16 0 0 3 1 4 3 22 1 5 4 6 11 2 3 2 3 1 6 8 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 0 0 1 1 6 0 1 0 1 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 9 12 7 0 3 5 14 10 2 0 1 16 0 12 9 0 0 0 0 3 1 10 0 1 0 4 13 1 1 3 1 0 2 6 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 7 0 0 2 7 4 0 1 2 3 0 1 3 1 0 5 1 10 27 35 0 7 18 30 13 1 5 2 44 2 30 40 1 0 4 2 8 8 30 1 9 6 7 17 2 3 1 9 2 10 15 0 0 1 0 1 5 5 0 0 3 4 5 0 2 1 2 0 7 9 128 85 25 100 46 16 34 271 135 45 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 0 1 2 7 0 0 0 3 2 0 5 1 0 1 4 4 5 13 13 0 7 5 22 11 0 20 0 9 1 16 5 2 8 0 3 8 17 17 0 2 7 21 8 0 20 2 6 1 15 10 0 0 0 0 3 4 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 1 0 2 2 2 4 8 0 2 1 12 4 0 5 0 11 1 13 0 0 0 0 0 7 5 5 0 1 2 0 11 0 31 2 3 2 10 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 4 7 0 1 7 10 0 0 0 4 4 0 10 4 0 5 9 4 14 21 31 0 17 12 55 14 0 18 3 15 2 29 12 6 15 2 4 15 29 37 0 3 19 60 14 3 17 0 19 0 26 25 28 136 147 18 68 83 0 62 261 294 446 566 324 370 351 164 154 901 952 635 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals Totals All Departments Algonac ..................Friday: May 6, June 10 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 5, June 9 Boston.....................Friday: May 6, June 10 Duluth .....................Wednesday: May 11, June 15 Guam ......................Thursday: May 19, June 23 Honolulu .................Friday: May 13, June 17 Houston ..................Monday: May 9, June 13 Jacksonville ............Thursday: May 5, June 9 Joliet .......................Thursday: May 12, June 16 Mobile ....................Wednesday: May 11, June 15 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: May 10, June 14 New York ...............Tuesday: May 3, June 7 Norfolk ...................Thursday: May 5, June 9 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: May 4, June 8 Port Everglades ......Thursday: May 12, June 16 San Francisco .........Thursday: May 12, June 16 San Juan..................Thursday: May 5, June 9 St. Louis .................Friday: May 13, June 17 Tacoma ...................Friday: May 20, June 24 Wilmington ...............Monday: May 16, June 20 ................................. Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. With Seafarers on the Cape Orlando STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Piney Point .............Monday: May 2, June 6 ENTRY DEPARTMENT SIU San Francisco Port Agent Vince Coss (left in both photos above) recently met with crew members (top) on the Cape Orlando in San Francisco. The Cape Orlando (below) is a roll-on/roll-off vessel that is part of the U.S. Ready Reserve Force (RRF). In photo directly above, Coss greets Capt. Frank Johnston, Western Region director for the U.S. Maritime Administration. *“Total Registered” means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **“Registered on Beach” means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 2005 Seafarers LOG 15 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 8:22 PM Seafarers International Union Directory Page 16 NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2005 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group III John Fay, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer Augustin Tellez, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ALTON 325 Market St., Suite B, Alton, IL 62002 (618) 462-3456 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 BOSTON Marine Industrial Park/EDIC 27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 (617) 261-0790 DULUTH 324 W. Superior St., Suite 705, Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 722-4110 GUAM P.O. Box 315242, Tamuning, Guam 96931-5242 125 Sunny Plaza, Suite 301-E Tun Jesus Crisostomo St., Tamuning, Guam 96911 (671) 647-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 832-8767 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St., San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division: (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 12 9 5 3 9 2 0 6 46 3 4 4 3 6 0 0 2 22 0 2 4 3 6 1 1 1 18 REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III 8 11 4 5 13 0 0 5 46 1 2 4 0 4 0 0 2 13 0 3 5 2 6 1 1 1 19 2 3 7 2 5 0 1 1 21 10 32 14 13 39 7 1 8 124 2 5 4 5 7 1 0 5 29 0 23 0 19 2 0 5 0 49 1 1 3 1 1 1 0 1 9 3 15 7 8 11 2 1 10 57 0 1 6 2 1 0 1 1 12 0 16 2 15 0 1 0 2 36 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 6 8 6 11 2 1 5 42 1 5 4 1 15 0 0 1 27 0 17 1 15 0 1 0 0 34 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 3 4 0 1 7 0 0 3 18 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 5 0 0 4 1 1 1 0 1 8 Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group III 4 2 0 1 6 0 0 3 16 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 3 1 1 1 0 2 8 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 9 3 3 0 5 1 0 3 24 1 0 3 1 4 0 0 1 10 0 3 0 2 3 0 0 0 8 Port 8 5 3 5 3 0 0 2 26 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 7 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 5 ENTRY DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals All Departments 88 37 34 88 24 32 32 223 68 119 PIC-FROM-THE-PAST This photo was sent to the Seafarers LOG by Arthur K. Johannessen of Stavanger, Norway. It was taken in the early ’70s aboard the SS Mariposa on a 13-day voyage to Alaska. He is the third from the right in the second row. Brother Johannessen joined the union in San Francisco, sailing as a room steward and waiter. He notes that Matson Line’s Lurline was his first ship. “It was like a home to me,” he stated in a note accompanying the photo. “We always had the same crew, and we got along so well. I miss them all.” He returned to his native Norway after the ship was sold and ran a mink farm until he took a well-deserved retirement. Now 80 years of age and in good health, Brother Johannessen sends his warmest greetings to all his friends. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with the LOG readership, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. April 2005 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/24/2005 5:26 PM Page 17 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 JAMES DAVIS, 55, began his Seafaring career in 1967 in New York. Brother Davis, who was born in Virginia, first went to sea aboard the Petrochem. The deck department member was a frequent upgrader at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Brother Davis most recently shipped on the Achiever. He is a resident of his native state. KASSEM SALEH, 61, joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1967 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Saleh shipped as a member of the steward department in both the Great Lakes and deep sea divisions. He first sailed aboard American Steamship’s Reiss Brothers. Born in Arabia, Brother Saleh enhanced his skills at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. in 2000. He makes his home in Dearborn, Mich. THOR WAAGSBO, 61, joined the SIU in 1967 in Wilmington, Calif., first sailing aboard the Penn Carrier. Brother Waagsbo worked as a member of the deck department and upgraded on two occasions in Piney Point, Md. His last voyage was on the Defender. Born in New Orleans, Brother Waagsbo now resides in Seattle, Wash. SAMUEL WOOTEN, 66, embarked on his SIU career in 1988 in the port of Honolulu. Brother Wooten’s first voyage was aboard the USNS Triumph. The deck department member was born in Louisiana and attended classes at the Paul Hall Center in 2004. He last sailed on the Developer and calls League City, Texas home. INLAND ELTON ADAMS, 62, was born in Texas. Boatman Adams began his seafaring career in 1963 in Port Arthur. He first shipped aboard the Seabulk Tanker in the deck department. Boatman Adams lives in his native state. April 2005 ROBERT AUGUST SR., 65, joined the Seafarers in 1978 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Boatman August was a member of the deck department and upgraded his skills numerous times at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He worked primarily aboard vessels owned by Crowley Towing & Transportation of Jacksonville. Boatman August, who was born in Georgia, now makes his home in Titusville, Fla. LARRY BELCHER, 64, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1987. Boatman Belcher worked primarily aboard Crowley Towing & Transportation vessels. The Texas-born mariner shipped in the deck department. Boatman Belcher upgraded his skills in 2000 and 2001 at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He resides in Runge, Texas. DAVID BREUNING, 62, is a native of Colorado and joined the SIU in 1977 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Boatman Breuning first sailed in the deck department of an Allied Transportation vessel. He upgraded frequently at the Paul Hall Center. Boatman Breuning is a resident of Long Beach, Calif. He last sailed aboard a vessel operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation of Wilmington. JOHN BUNTING III, 56, began sailing with the SIU in 1989. Boatman Bunting worked as a member of the deck department aboard Crowley vessels. Born in Philadelphia, he now calls Franklinville, N.J. home. ROBERT DOUGLAS, 61, became a member of the SIU in 1969 in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman Douglas worked in the deck department and sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Interstate Oil Transportation Co. He was born in New Jersey, which is where he continues to live. JAMES HOPPER, 65, launched his seafaring profession in 1981 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Boatman Hopper was born in New York. He first shipped on the Padre Island in the engine department. He most recently went to sea aboard the Sugar Island. Boatman Hopper makes his home in Troy, Pa. GERALD LABOVE, 62, started his career with the SIU in 1986 in the port of Houston. Boatman LaBove was born in Texas and worked in the deck department. He sailed primarily aboard tugs operated by Moran Towing of Texas. Boatman LaBove is a resident of Sabine Pass, Texas. ROY LOFTON, 62, was born in Mississippi. Boatman Lofton joined the union in 1964 in the port of Mobile, Ala. He was initially employed by Dravo Basic Materials Co., where he worked in the deck department. Boatman Lofton lives in Alabama and last sailed aboard the Martin Marietta. Boatman Wells was born in Texas and enhanced his skills frequently at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. His last ship was the USNS Altair. Boatman Wells calls Nederland, Texas home. Editor’s Note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension and Trust, recently went on pension. EMILIO FLORES, 65, joined the NMU in 1969, initially shipping out of the port of Philadelphia. Brother Flores was born in San Juan and worked as a member of the engine department. His first ship was the Gulf Crest; his last was the American Puritan. Name Age EDP Barbo, Ronald 66 Feb. 1 Harris, Larry 55 March 1 Sanbula, Warren 57 March 1 Trotman, Stephen 59 Jan. 1 WILLIAM SMITH JR., 65, began sailing with the SIU in 1969 from the port of Houston. Boatman Smith first shipped with G&H Towing Co. He attended classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in 2000, 2001 and again in 2004. Born in Texas, Boatman Smith was a member of the deck department. His last trip to sea was on a Crowley Towing & Transportation of Jacksonville vessel. Boatman Smith resides in Bellaire, Texas. STEVE WELLS, 57, became a Seafarer in 1973 in the port of Houston. Boatman Wells first sailed on the Puget Sound. The deck department member shipped in both the inland and deep sea divisions during his career. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1939 After a strike of less than one week’s duration, the SIU reached agreement with the Peninsula and Occidental Steamship Company. The agreement provided for a complete closed shop and all hiring to be done through the union hall. In addition to wage increases, the agreement established the payment of overtime for all work performed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holidays both at sea and in port, including the standing of regular watches. Cuba and Florida where Cuban MIGs attacked the American shrimp boat Ala with rockets and machine guns on February 20. Seafarer Jack Nelson, an AB, took pictures of the attack from the deck, which he handed over to U.S. intelligence sources when the ship docked in Miami. 1992 Persian Gulf sealift operations, which at one point included 205 dry cargo ships and 22 tankers, ended in midApril when the last vessel carrying U.S. military equipment was redeployed from Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the Military Sealift Command announced recently. That ended a process which began in August 1990, immediately after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Since then, more than 15 million tons of cargo and fuel were transported to and from the Middle East aboard U.S.-flag vessels—many of them crewed by SIU members—including Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships, MSC-contracted vessels and privately owned commercial ships. This Month In SIU History 1963 The SIU-manned Floridian became the first American merchant ship fired on by Cuban MIG jet airplanes when she was attacked last Thursday, March 28, by two Russian-built aircraft about 50 miles north of Cuba. The jets first circled the ship for 20 minutes before opening up with their machine guns. The attack came in the same waters between Seafarers LOG 17 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/24/2005 5:37 PM Page 18 Final Departures DEEP SEA GEORGE ANNIS Pensioner George Annis, 74, passed away Oct. 24. Brother Annis began his seafaring career in 1953 in the port of Mobile, Ala. after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He first shipped on the Salem Maritime in the deck department. Brother Annis was born in Philadelphia. His final trip to sea was aboard the Sea-Land Producer. A pensioner since 1988, he lived in Kenner, La. LEONARD BARTLETT Pensioner Leonard Bartlett, 77, died Dec. 26. Brother Bartlett was born in Alabama. He joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of Houston. Brother Bartlett was a member of the deck department in both the inland and deep sea divisions. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he last sailed aboard the Rover. Brother Bartlett resided in his native state and went on pension in 1999. MICHAEL DROST Brother Michael Drost, 36, passed away Nov. 8. He first donned the SIU colors in 1999, initially sailing on the Global Sentinel. Brother Drost was born in San Diego, Calif. and shipped as a member of the engine department. His most recent voyage was aboard the Beaver State. Brother Drost made his home in Shelton, Wash. ELTON HAMATY Pensioner Elton Hamaty, 88, died Dec. 14. Brother Hamaty joined the union in 1944 in New York. The U.S. Army veteran initially worked aboard the Cornhusker State in the deck department. His last voyage was aboard the cable ship Long Lines. Brother Hamaty became a pensioner in 1982. Born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., he resided in Norfolk, Va. JOHN KELLEY JR. Pensioner John Kelley Jr., 56, passed away Dec. 31. Brother Kelley embarked on his career with the SIU in 1969 in New York. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a native of Boston. Brother Kelley initially worked on the Eagle Voyager, where he shipped in the deck department. His final expedition was aboard the Horizon Reliance. Brother Kelley called Puyallup, Wash. home. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 2004. MIKE OHANNESIAN Pensioner Mike Ohannesian, 78, died July 8. Brother Ohannesian joined the SIU in 1947 in the port of Norfolk, Va. His first ship was the 18 Seafarers LOG Alcoa Planter, where he worked in the deck department. Brother Ohannesian was born in Michigan and lived in Long Beach, Calif. Prior to retiring in 1991, he sailed on board the Explorer. EDWIN PARSLEY Pensioner Edwin Parsley, 78, passed away Oct. 4. Brother Parsley started his seafaring career in 1947 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He shipped in both the steward and deck departments. Brother Parsley’s initial trip to sea was aboard a Doric Shipping vessel; his last was on the Liberator. Born in Indiana, Brother Parsley retired in 1983 and made his home in Blue Eye, Mo. ALBERT REEVES Pensioner Albert Reeves, 79, died Oct. 11. Brother Reeves launched his SIU career in 1966 in the port of Houston. The U.S. Navy veteran was born in Alabama and worked in the steward department. Brother Reeves first went to sea aboard the Alice Brown; his last voyage was on the Duchess. Brother Reeves, who went on pension in 1995, was a resident of Houston. STANLEY SCHUYLER JAMES SOTO Brother James Soto, 54, died Oct. 22. He began his seafaring career in 1979 in the port of Wilmington, Calif. Brother Soto was a member of the engine department. His first voyage was on the Overseas Aleutian. Brother Soto’s most recent trip to sea was aboard the Allegiance. Born in San Pedro, Calif., he called Sandpoint, Idaho home. LIONEL STROUT Pensioner Lionel Strout, 83, passed away Nov. 13. Brother Strout became a member of the SIU in 1967 in the port of Mobile, Ala. His first ship was Waterman Steamship Corp.’s Iberville; his last was the Courier. Brother Strout was born in Maine and worked in the steward department. The U.S. Air Force veteran went on pension in 1986. He made his home in Selma, Ala. TEOFILO TORRES Pensioner Teofilo Torres, 86, died Sept. 27. Brother Torres joined the SIU in 1943 in New York. The Puerto Rico-born mariner sailed in the engine department. Brother Torres began collecting retirement stipends in 1968. He called Fajardo, P.R. home. Pensioner Stanley Schuyler, 88, passed away Oct. 7. Brother Schuyler joined the union in 1950 in New York. He first sailed on a vessel owned by Transport Commercial. Brother Schuyler was a U.S. Army veteran and shipped in the steward department. He was born in Portland, Ore. and resided in Palm Beach, Fla. Brother Schuyler began receiving his retirement pay in 1978. His last ship was the Houston. KIRK VANSCOY SUNG SHU BEN WEINBERG Pensioner Sung Shu, 76, died Dec. 30. Brother Shu began his career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1970 in the port of San Francisco. Born in China, he first worked aboard Delta Lines’ Venezuela. Brother Shu’s last ship was the Kainalu. A pensioner since 1994, he called San Francisco home. RONALD SIMS Brother Ronald Sims, 68, passed away Nov. 23. He joined the MC&S in 1972 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Sims was born in Nome, Alaska and resided in Bellingham, Wash. Brother Kirk Vanscoy, 58, passed away Dec. 13. Born in Oakland, Calif., he embarked on his seafaring career in 1978 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Vanscoy initially went to sea aboard the Santa Mercedes. The steward department member last shipped on the Liberator. Brother Vanscoy made his home in Livermore, Calif. Pensioner Ben Weinberg, 95, died July 17. Born in New York, Brother Weinberg joined the union in 1953. He initially sailed aboard the Santa Venetia in the deck department. Brother Weinberg’s final trip was on the Gateway. He retired in 1977 and called Winnetka, Calif. home. ing with the SIU in 1960 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He shipped in the deck department. Boatman Davis was born in Maryland. Before retiring in 1985, he worked aboard an American Towing & Transport vessel. Boatman Davis was a resident of Berlin, Md. WALLACE DELUCA Pensioner Wallace Deluca, 82, passed away Dec. 20. A U.S. Navy veteran, Boatman Deluca was born in Philadelphia. He began his career in 1975 and went on pension in 1983. Boatman Deluca resided in Damon, Texas. Editor’s Note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, have passed away. RANDELL ANDERSON Pensioner Randell Anderson, 60, passed away Dec. 23. Brother Anderson became an NMU member in 1973. Sailing from Galveston, Texas, his first ship was the Marine Dow-Chemical. Brother Anderson was born in Texas City, Texas. A pensioner since 1996, he last sailed aboard the Margaret Lykes. JUAN ARROYO Pensioner Juan Arroyo, 84, died Dec. 13. Born in Puerto Rico, Brother Arroyo began his seafaring career in 1953 in the port of New York. His initial trip to sea was on the Ranger, where he worked in the engine department. Before retiring in 1980, Brother Arroyo sailed in the steward department aboard the Austral Ensign. WILLIAM COOK INLAND Pensioner William Cook, 78, passed away Dec. 22. Brother Cook joined the NMU in 1945 in the port of Norfolk, Va. He was a native of South Carolina and first went to sea on the James Ellwood Jones. Brother Cook’s last voyage was aboard the Ticonderoga. He started collecting his pension in 1972. BRIAN ARNOLIE YOA LOONG Boatman Brian Arnolie, 31, passed away July 27. Born in Louisiana, he joined the SIU in 1993 in New Orleans. Boatman Arnolie shipped aboard Delta Queen Steamship vessels during his career with the union. He resided in his native state. Pensioner Yoa Loong, 93, died Dec. 15. Brother Loong embarked on his NMU profession in 1950. He first shipped from Newport News, Va. aboard the Clarksville. Brother KENNETH DAVIS Pensioner Kenneth Davis, 79, died Dec. 18. Boatman Davis started sail- Loong was born in China and last sailed on the Argosy. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1978. FRANK MARRERO Pensioner Frank Marrero, 80, passed away Jan. 17. Brother Marrero donned the NMU colors in 1945 in New Orleans. His first trip was on the Frank Lever. Brother Marrero worked as a member of the steward department, most recently aboard the Zoella Lykes. He went on pension in 1986. JOHN SHUKIS Pensioner John Shukis, 74, died Dec. 20. Brother Shukis joined the union in 1945 in Seattle. His maiden voyage was aboard the Zoella Lykes. Brother Shukis was born in Centralia, Wash. He began collecting his retirement pay in 1995. Editor’s Note: In addition to the individuals listed above, the following NMU brothers, all of whom were pensioners, passed away on the dates indicated. NAME AGE Baldacchin, Lawrence 84 Blyden, David 84 Boatner, Raymond 68 Brown, Austin 93 Brown, James 68 Caron, Leo 77 Carr, James 74 Chaplain, Dennis 70 Concepcion, Juan 87 Dickerson, Russell 85 DoAmaral, Oseas 92 Duran, Juan 85 Escobar, Nick 94 Estrada, Sancho 82 Forbes, Samuel 89 Frilot, Raymond 77 Gajate, Michael 74 Glenn, Henry 81 Harris, Henry 71 Jacobson, Ray 92 Johnson, Oscar 84 Ledbetter, Paul 79 Litrico, Adriano 80 Martin, Clifford 76 Martin, Gilbert 72 Matlba, Bynun 79 Mazier, Alejandro 82 McElhaney, Gaston 78 Medina, Alfredo 81 Palhao, Domingos 88 Pickens, Maxine 95 Pineda, Juan 84 Robles, Julio 75 Shima, Wilfred 85 Sorapuru, Joseph 82 Steptoe, Jessie 65 Turnbull, Esmond 75 Vlasak, Gustav 85 Waterman, Ervin 82 Woodson, Larkin 81 DOD Dec. 19 Sept. 8 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Dec. 29 Dec. 13 Dec. 6 Nov. 22 Jan. 25 Dec. 20 Dec. 19 Dec. 18 Jan. 15 Dec. 8 Jan. 26 Dec. 5 Jan. 15 Dec. 14 Oct. 2 Jan. 29 Dec. 27 Jan. 12 Dec. 4 Dec. 31 Nov. 11 Jan. 13 Nov. 22 Jan. 22 Dec. 2 Jan. 22 Dec. 18 Dec. 6 Dec. 22 Dec. 25 Nov. 23 Jan. 20 Jan. 13 Dec. 30 Dec. 21 Oct. 29 April 2005 �26893_P5,7,15,19,20.qxd 3/28/2005 7:26 PM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occassion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the uniion’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 publicatiion. CAPE JACOB (American Overseas Marine), Jan. 28— Chairman Robert W. Johnson, Secretary Anthony L. Curran, Educational Director Matthew P. Ditullio. Chairman talked about vacation pay, how it is calculated and how to apply for it. He announced new e-mail procedures posted on bulletin board in messhall and benefit booklets available to all. Seafarers were asked to return VHS movies in timely manner. Treasurer stated $200 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made to raise pension benefits. Bosun asked for diligence in separating trash from plastic items, and thanked steward department for creative menus and great food. ITB PHILADELPHIA (USS Transport), Jan. 31—Chairman William K. Barrett, Secretary Justo R. Lacavo, Educational Director Daniel N. Daligcon, Deck Delegate John N. Favero, Engine Delegate Hussein M. Mohamed, Steward Delegate Ali A. Muther. Chairman informed crew of relief situation during war time. He encouraged mariners to read Seafarers LOG to stay up-todate on issues affecting maritime industry. Secretary thanked everyone for helping keep ship clean. Educational director urged crew members to attend upgrading classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to increase vacation pay and benefits. Request made to get satellite system aboard ship. Vote of thanks given to steward department for great meals. MOTIVATOR (USSM), Jan. 16— Chairman Charles H. Foley, Secretary Anthony J. Houston, Educational Director Oswald N. Bermeo, Deck Delegate Arvid E. Friberg, Steward Delegate Marjorie Mack. Chairmen led discussion on protections that need to be provided by company. Educational director advised crew to look into opportunities available at Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. and contribute to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members requested more information on pension plan. Moment of silence held in memory of departed brothers and sisters, including “the brave U.S. military in Iraq.” PERFORMANCE (USSM), Jan. 27—Chairman Felsher Beasley, Secretary Glenn Williams, Educational Director Morris A. Jeff, Deck Delegate Timothy K. O’Brien, Engine Delegate Lionel Taylor. Chairman requested clarification on penalty meal hours as well as on vacation benefits. Secretary read and discussed communication from headquarters pertaining to SAB actions. Treasurer noted $1,100 in ship’s fund; crew members voted to purchase weight-lifting equipment. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made for Paul Hall Center to offer advanced electronics course for those who work on state-of-the-art digital equipment currently aboard some vessels. April 2005 Request made for new head cleaner for VHS player. Crew members were reminded to clean rooms and put away personal belongings before leaving vessel. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (Sulphur Carriers), Jan. 30— Chairman Neftali Santana, Secretary Darryl K. Goggins, Educational Director Alfred G. Lane. Secretary asked departing crew members to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen. Educational director encouraged everyone to enhance their skills whenever possible at Piney Point facility. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew suggested improvements to medical and dental plans as well as to vacation benefits and contract. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next port: Tampa, Fla. TONSINA (ATC), Jan. 16— Chairman Christopher J. Kicey, Secretary Kenneth P. Mitchell, Educational Director Anthony R. Hulsey. Chairman announced payoff Jan. 18. He thanked crew for working hard through the holidays and reminded them to contribute to SPAD for job security. Secretary thanked everyone for working well together. Educational director advised members to renew shipping documents early and read Seafarers LOG to stay informed of changes in industry,including new document requirements. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on payment of overweight charges on baggage when joining and leaving vessel. Suggestion made to reduce number of days required for full retirement benefits. Next ports: Long Beach, Calif. and Cherry Point, Wash. DEVELOPER (USSM), Feb. 13 —Chairman Joseph Caruso, Secretary Randy A. Stephens, Educational Director Jorge N. Fernandez, Engine Delegate Charles H. Kennedy, Steward Delegate Obencio M. Espinoza. Chairman discussed new safety and security rules for vessel and reported on ship’s schedule for coming months. Secretary informed crew that he has all applications (vacation, health, etc.). In addition, he urged everyone to check document expiration dates and renew if needed. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun explained procedures for written resolutions. Chairman thanked all unlicensed mariners on board for great job during voyage. Next ports: Malaga Spain; Port Said, Egypt; Ningbo, China; Los Angeles. EXPRESS (USSM), Feb. 20— Chairman Trawn D. Gooch, Secretary Frederick L. Saffo, Educational Director Robert J. McMurray, Deck Delegate Konstantinos Prokovas, Engine Delegate James F. Sieger, Steward Delegate Sonia N. Felix. Educational director spoke about courses available at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer spoke about distribution of ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members requested clarification on possible re-flagging of vessel. Special thanks given to steward department. Next port: New Jersey. HORIZON ANCHORAGE (Horizon Lines), Feb. 6—Chairman Daniel W. Seagle, Secretary Amanda F. Suncin, Educational Director William Pinkham, Deck Delegate Christopher Fairfax, Engine Delegate John R. Day, Steward Delegate Thomas M. Kelly. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 7 with arrival Feb. 9 in Tacoma, Wash. Secretary encouraged everyone to check out educational opportunities available at Paul Hall Center. Educational director advised crew members to check expiration dates on z-cards and start renewal process early if necessary. Treasurer noted $200 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew would like satellite TV on all SIU-crewed vessels and internet service in each room. HORIZON ENTERPRISE (Horizon Lines), Feb. 20—Chairman Roger J. Reinke, Secretary James N. Brockington, Educational Director Michael J. Wells, Deck Delegate Gavino A. Octaviano, Engine Delegate Gualberto M. Salaria, Steward Delegate Ely R. Hermano. Chairman announced arrival Feb. 25 in Tacoma, Wash. and requested port agent meet them next day. He asked that everyone turn in videos to proper lockers before leaving. Secretary notified mariners of captain’s sanitary inspection scheduled for Feb. 23. Educational director reminded all mariners about upgrading opportunities available in Piney Point, Md. and suggested they check to see that all shipping documents are current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks to steward department for good food and upkeep of house. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu. HORIZON SPIRIT (Horizon Lines), Feb. 10—Chairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Edgardo C. Ombec, Educational Director Paul D. Hanley, Deck Delegate Michael Penkwitz, Engine Delegate Thomas V. Hastings. Chairman announced expected arrival Feb. 12 in Oakland, Calif. and thanked crew for following safety procedures. Secretary informed crew members there would be one tray of condiments on a table that would be changed often; only salt and pepper to be placed on each table. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade skills at Piney Point facility. He also suggested everyone check documents to be sure they have not expired. Bosun currently holding crew fund of $273 (which will be used to purchase new movies in Tacoma) and ship’s fund of $1,405. Movie locker will be locked while in port. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department was thanked for great job and delicious food, especially freshly baked goodies. Next ports: Oakland; Honolulu; Guam. MAERSK ALABAMA (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 7—Chairman Romeo L. Lugtu, Secretary Marvin T. St. George, Educational Director Tesfaye Gebregziabher, Deck Delegate Chad B. Chivrell, Engine Delegate Enrique Martinez, Steward Delegate Hamdi H. Hussein. Chairman asked departing crew members to clean rooms and empty trash before leaving ship. Educational director advised crew to upgrade at Piney Point and keep documents current; renew early, if necessary. Treasurer stated $61 in ship’s fund. Beef noted in steward department regarding room sanitary; no other beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on seniority status aboard Maersk Line’s vessels in all departments. New full-size dryer needed in laundry room. Steward department requested new oven and grill for galley. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good food and service. Next port: Kuwait. MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 13—Chairman Norman G. Tourtellot, Secretary James H. Rider, Educational Director Kevin M. Cooper, Deck Delegate Abdul Q. Gharama, Engine Delegate Sjamsidar Madjidii, Steward Delegate Chairman Kenneth A. Abrahamson, Secretary Raymond L. Jones, Educational Director Joseph M. Stanford, Deck Delegate Thomas S. Skubinna, Engine Delegate Jose Irigoyen, Steward Delegate Caezer R. Mercado. Chairman reported new ship schedule and reminded seafarers that company contract will be up for bid in June 2005. He announced payoff March 5 in San Diego, Calif. Secretary advised crew of 15-man military security force coming aboard in Long Beach, Calif. on or about Feb. 22. Educational director stressed importance of making sure all nec- Seafarers, Officials Welcomed Seafarers-contracted 3PSC, LLC recently hosted a dinner for crew members of the USNS Gilliland along with SIU officials in Norfolk, Va. Above, SIU Port Agent Georg Kenny (right) chats with (from left) Chief Steward Jose Guzman and Chief Cook Frank Washington. Below, SIU VP Government Services Kermett Mangram (right) and Kenny are pictured with 3PSC VP Susan King. The Gilliland is a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR) that is part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command fleet. Cecilio Suarez. Chairman asked crew to keep non-crew members out of mess hall while in Bombay. Educational director urged everyone to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made to raise pension benefits. Replacement locks needed for broken crew doors. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Newark, N.J.; Malaga, Spain. P&O NEDLLOYD VERA CRUZ (Waterman Steamship Corp.), Feb. 4— Chairman Henry J. Gable, Secretary Charles E. Curley, Educational Director Jan Morawski, Engine Delegate Alton P. Hickman Jr. Chairman announced Feb. 6 payoff in Houston. He asked everyone to clean rooms before leaving vessel. Secretary reported SIU crew just completed second month-long trip to South America since ship was reflagged Dec. 6. Educational director suggested everyone take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at Seafarers affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs reported; disputed OT noted in deck department. Crew requested that shipping cards show rating and dates for each job. New equipment requested includes toaster, ice machine, soda machine, microwave oven and new mattresses. Next port: Houston. RICHARD G. MATTHIESEN (Ocean Shipholding), Feb. 11— essary shipping documents are current and allowing plenty of time for renewals. Treasurer stated $175 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation made to improve medical and vacation benefits. Vote of thanks given to steward department for job well done. Next ports: Manchester and Ferndale, Wash; Long Beach, Calif. SEABULK ARCTIC (Seabulk), Feb. 20—Chairman Christopher J. Kicey, Secretary Alan W. Bartley, Educational Director Salome Castro, Deck Delegate Modesto Y. Rabena Jr., Engine Delegate Ole J. Olsen, Steward Delegate Evelina Barnes. Chairman reviewed ship’s itinerary, including arrival in Anacortes, Wash. Feb. 21. Secretary asked for everyone’s assistance in keeping ship clean. Educational director advised Seafarers not to let documents expire or they eventually would have to retake all exams. He encouraged everyone to contribute to SPAD and explained how vital it is for the union to fight for jobs and job security. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested union check with company about purchasing new mattresses and ice machine. Clarification requested pertaining to seniority on Seabulk vessels. Next ports: Anacortes and Point Wells, Wash.; Valdez and Kenai, Alaska. Seafarers LOG 19 �26893_P5,7,15,19,20.qxd 3/24/2005 6:14 PM Page 20 Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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. MTD Speakers Spell Out Role of Merchant Marine Continued from page 8 He also stated that the Ready Reserve Force is “an important part of our capability” and the Jones Act “remains the cornerstone of our maritime policy. I consider the Jones Act non-negotiable…. We have to have a strong merchant marine.” Jefferson noted that he is a longtime supporter of the U.S. Merchant Marine and believes in “protecting and enhancing the U.S. fleet and providing needed jobs and security for hard-working Americans, for U.S. citizen merchant mariners.” He pointed out that in the port of New Orleans, he sees firsthand the economic importance of the maritime industry. It accounts for $42 billion and 100,000 jobs in and around the region. Jefferson said the tonnage tax which was signed into law last year is of “critical importance” to the industry. He noted that it will benefit U.S.-flag vessel owners and their employees. He was a leading proponent of the legislation. Jamian said that through the years since World War II, some people forgot the history lessons that taught us the great value of the U.S. Merchant Marine. However, that began to change for the better during the first Persian Gulf War. “Today, the importance of these mariners—represented by these labor organizations here in the room—is being reinforced every day in the war in Iraq. More than 8,000 mariners and thousands of longshoremen at our ports have made certain that equipment and supplies for our armed forces in the field arrive safely, where they are needed and when they are needed.” He pointed out that the tragedy of September 11 also underscored the importance of maintaining a viable U.S. fleet. “I believe that we must have a strong U.S. Merchant Marine, crewed by Americans loyal to our nation’s interests, as they have always been, and ready to serve as they have always been.” Jamian called the MSP, the Jones Act and cargo preference laws “the fundamental triad of our nation’s maritime policies,” and said that those programs are “proven essentials” which are critical to U.S. national and economic security. Blust discussed the U.S. Merchant Marine’s history of supporting America’s national defense, from the country’s earli- est days to the present. “The maritime trades are essential to helping support our country and guarantee our freedom. I thank all of you for your patriotic efforts,” he said. McNeill noted, “The Navy League mission strongly supports the longstanding U.S. policy that a viable U.S. maritime industry is a critical part of our national defense and economic security. You can make the case that a viable U.S. maritime capability is more critical today than ever, in this uncertain world of global terrorism. “The rationale for maintaining a commercial fleet under U.S. flag has always been grounded first and foremost in national security.” She added, “The work of the maritime trades is a critical part of this nation’s industrial capacity. Without you, our troops would not have the means to get to the fight, or the equipment and supplies to win when they get there.” She also stressed the need to keep ships on the cutting edge of technology, and praised U.S. mariners for their roles in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as well as tsunami relief. Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? In order to help ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month—as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices—a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 or e-mail corrections to kclements@seafarers.org HOME ADDRESS FORM (Please Print) Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone No.: ________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Social Security No.: ________ / ________ / ________ Active SIU Pensioner Book No.: ________________ Other ____________________________________ This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. 20 Seafarers LOG 4/05 TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2005 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 8:23 PM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Steward Upgrading Courses The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. through the end of this year. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning March 21, 2005. Engine Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion FOWT June 20 September 19 August 11 November 11 QMED - Jr. Engineer June 20 September 8 Welding May 9 August 22 September 19 October 24 October 31 May 27 September 9 October 7 November 11 November 18 Course Deck Upgrading Courses Start Date Date of Completion May 30 July 11 August 22 October 3 November 14 June 24 August 5 September 16 October 28 December 9 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) June 20 August 22 October 24 June 24 August 26 October 28 Bridge Resource Management (Unlimited) May 9 July 11 September 12 November 14 May 13 July 15 September 16 November 18 Celestial Navigation May 16 July 18 September 19 November 21 June 10 August 11 October 14 December 16 June 27 August 29 October 31 July 8 September 9 November 11 May 16 June 27 August 8 September 19 October 21 May 27 July 8 August 19 September 30 November 11 Navigation Fundamentals October 24 November 4 Radar June 6 August 8 October 10 June 15 August 17 October 19 Radar Renewal (1 day): June 27, August 29, October 31 Course Able Seaman GMDSS (Simulator) Lifeboatman/Water Survival Safety Specialty Courses Date of Completion May 16 July 18 September 19 May 27 July 29 September 30 Fast Boat Rescue May 2 June 6 May 6 June 10 Government Vessels May 23 July 4 August 8 August 22 September 26 October 31 November 14 May 27 July 8 August 12 August 26 September 30 November 4 November 18 Medical Care Provider May 30 August 1 October 3 June 3 August 5 October 7 Tankerman Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* June 6 August 1 September 26 June 17 August 11 October 7 June 27 October 17 July 1 October 21 Advanced Fire Fighting* (*must have basic fire fighting) (*must have basic fire fighting) Tankerman (PIC) Barge* (*must have basic fire fighting) Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, one week prior to the AB, QMED Junior Engineer, FOWT, Third Mate, Tanker Assistant and Water Survival courses. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Start Date Course Date of Birth ______________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty (120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All OL, AB, JE and Tanker Assistant (DL) applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $140 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only, payable to LMSS. COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Seniority _____________________________ Department _____________________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ U.S. Citizen: ____________________________ _______________ _______________ 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 # _________________________ Yes No Home Port _____________________________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________ LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________ _____________________________________________________________________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? Yes No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? Yes No If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Yes No Firefighting: Yes No CPR: Yes No Primary language spoken ________________________________________________ April 2005 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. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/05 Seafarers LOG 21 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 8:46 PM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Completing this course Feb. 18 are (in no specific order) Richard Green, Eric Kjellberg, Stephen Berschger, Gerald Butler Jr., Craig Burmeister, Kamin Raji, Curtis Jackson, Charles Clausen Jr., Clay Brown, Tecumseh Williams, Martin Buck, Carl Motley, Charles Petterson, William Riggs, Jeffrey Coble and Cecilio Johnson. Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is at far right. Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 659 — Graduating from the water survival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 6597 (in alphabetical order) Heather Bushey, Francis Gallagher Jr., Richard Gonzalez, Travis Kirkland, Kathy Lakoduk, Nicole Las, James Mahoney, Ian Manthey, Carlos McPherson, Kendrick Mincey, Kevin Moore, Kyle Parson, Karberto Ramos, Randon Robinson, Michael Sherman, Justin Sleator, Nelson Smith, Ignacio Tanguma, Jermeka Williams and Jacob Wilson. ARPA — The six Seafarers completing the ARPA course Feb. 18 are (in alphabetical order) Randy Diaz, Basil D’Souza, John Henry, Steven Kroner, De Gutenberg Poitevien and Shelby Rankin. Their instructor, Mike Smith, is at far left. Machinist — With instructor Steve Haver (right) are students who completed the machinist course March 11. From the left are Charles Sneed, Rahul Bagchi and Quincy Wilson. Government Vessels — Upgrading students in the government vessels class ending March 4 include (in no specific order) Miguel Pizarro, Craig Burmeister, Frank Vogler, Gerald Butler Jr., Patrice Williams, Brook Bowers, David Grasso, Saul Suarez, Godofredo Rufo, Jonas Roninson, Eugene Granthan, David Desrosiers, Kim Gardner, Dana Fischer, Richard Otto, Kyle Bloom, Shelby Rankin, Robert Mensching, Richard Green, Martin Buck, Mario Suazo and Zein Achmad. FOWT — Graduates from the FOWT course March 4 include (in alphabetical order) Adam Begleiter, Jorge Bodden, David Brewster, Nicholas Collins, Jess Cooper, Jeffrey Cornett, Jerome Culbreth, Michael Evans, Jim Farmer, Bryan Field, Loy Frye, Orlando Herrera, Demarco Holt, Gilbert Johnson, Brian Leach, Tomas Merel, Orlando Pabon, Jomar Rodriguez, Michael Sanchez, Dominic Whitty and Brett Wilson. Their instructor, Eric Malzkuhn, is second from right. Computer Lab Classes Instructor Rick Prucha congratulates students for their accomplishments in the computer lab. In the photo at left are Prucha with Kim Gardner and her son, Julien Shelling. In the photo at right are (seated, from left) Elston Yu-Mateo and Darlene Steede. Prucha is standing behind them. Congratulations to all for a job well done. 22 Seafarers LOG Above, Prucha stands with Nasser H. Ahmed, who completed the Excel course. April 2005 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/23/2005 9:09 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes STOS — Small Arms Training — March 4 was graduation day for those in the small arms training class. They are (in alphabetical order) Saif Ali, Thia Banks, Tedrick Blackstone, Timothy Cullen, Latonia Fury Jr., Mark Keblis, Jerome Prince, Perry Schroff, Scott Spilman, Teresa Ward, Evan Werner and Kenneth Williams. Their instructor, Robbie Springer, is at far left. Receiving their STOS certificates of completion Feb. 25 from instructor Stacey Harris (in hooded parka) are (in no specific order) Kenneth Williams, James Ruffin, Ronald Whitlow, Timothy Watson, Hector Ortiz, Jerome Prince, Muguel Pizarro, Brian Saba, Teresa Ward, Perry Schroff and Joshua Smith. Basic Safety Training Classes STCW — NCL, Feb. 18: Dana Anderson, Justin Brown, Robert Daniel II, Jonathan Dubin, Patrick Ehrich, Neil Gerken, Charlotte Greco, Debra Huffman, Lester Jerome, Dennis Kiander, Andrew Moore, Ryan Moore, Lyn Paxman, William Peerson, Maria Sandoval, Robert Schultz, Kyle Siegel, Donald Springfield, Bryan Tranthan, Derek Baron, Benjamin Grier and Adam Martidale. STOS — A second group of students received their STOS certificates of completion Feb. 25. They are (in no specific order) Robert Morrison, Thia Banks, Felsher Beasley, Paul Brown, Ariel Lopez, Stephen Cooper, Tony Fury, Danie Anderson, Muguel Pizarro, James Ruffin, Teresa Ward, Tim Watson, Kenneth Williams and Ronald Whitlow. Their instructor, Tony Sevilla, is fourth from right. STCW — March 4: Ali Alzokari, Noel Corrales, Wilma Diaz, Timothy Hall, Michael Jarvi, Hussein Jinah, Gerald Karl, John Kelly, John Klein, Troy Larick, Henry Peterson, Eissa Saleh, Youssof Saleh and Daniel Tennant. Tankerman (PIC) Barge — Completing the tankerman (PIC) barge course Feb. 25 are (in no specific order) Douglas Crawford, Thomas Henderson, Ronald Freitas, Russell Horton, Sunday Nwankwo, Russell Hudson, Jerry Karl, Daniel Tennant and Michael Voda. Their instructor, Mitch Oakley, is at far right. Chief Cook — Working their way up in the galley department with instructor John Dobson (left), are Darlene Steede and Robert Borro. STCW-Crowd Management — NCL, March 4: Jim Cruz, Jason Cruz, Sharon Crowe, Betty-Jo Dau, Carl Collett, Shanna Bank, Sunshine Gruber, Troy Larick, Wilma Diaz, Timothy Hall, Annelyn Bautista, Marcos Gomez, Damarco Bailey, Timothy Lambrecht, John Del Mundo, Nicanor Dechico and Henry Davis III. Not pictured is Raquel Collins. April 2005 Seafarers LOG 23 �Pg3,8_11,14,16_18,21_24.qxd 3/24/2005 7:49 AM Page 24 April 2005 Volume 67, Number 4 S a y t e S eafarers aboard the USNS Paul Buck earlier this year completed a successful voyage that was anything but run-of-the-mill. The SIU-crewed vessel delivered gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to McMurdo’s U.S. station, a scientific research facility located in Antarctica. The annual resupply mission (which includes a separate delivery of food and other stores), known as Operation Deep Freeze, takes Seafarers to Earth’s coldest, windiest location—but that doesn’t stop crew members from not only doing the job, but doing it well. “The crew of the Buck was one of the finest I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” stated Bosun Phil Corl, who submitted the photos on this page. “The camaraderie and professionalism of every member of the crew made the voyage not only bearable but a pleasure.” Seafarers sailing aboard the Paul Buck during the resupply mission included Corl, ABs Dio Bermudez, Albert Wambach, Carlos Burroughs and Carlos Machado Gomez, QMEDs Joseph Benavente and Orlando Pajarillo, Pumpman Micah Miller, DEUs Romero Jomoc and Terry Linyear, Chief Steward Norman Jackson, Chief Cook Nathalie Norie, GSUs Adolphus Young and Ahmed Hussain and s a Y d u -tt -d d c s t b a n w a t Unlicensed Apprentice John Yi. “I am, and you can be very proud of these people,” Bosun Corl noted. “They represented themselves and the union at the highest standard. We all delivered the goods.” The USNS Paul Buck is operated by Seafarers-contracted Ocean Shipholdings, Inc. SIU member Dio Bermudez mans the wheel during his first trip as an AB. Bosun Phil Corl credited Bermudez for making extra effort to practice steering throughout much of the mission. ‘Deep Freeze’ Data McMurdo Station is Earth’s southernmost ground accessible by ship Annual resupply mission only is possible in January and February, due to weather considerations Seafarers typically deliver fuel, food and other stores to the base Incredible Scenery Ice cutters assist larger ships to and from McMurdo Bosun Phil Corl Seafarers from the USNS Paul Buck earned praise from MSC for their efforts in Operation Deep Freeze. Pictured near the vessel in Antarctica early this year are (kneeling, from left) QMED Joseph Benavente, AB Dio Bermudez, (standing, from left) Unlicensed Apprentice John Yi, AB Albert Wambach, AB Carlos Burroughs, Steward Norman Jackson, AB Carlos Machado Gomez, GSU Adolphus Young, DEU Romero Jomoc, GSU Ahmed Hussain, Chief Cook Nathalie Norie, Pumpman Micah Miller, QMED Orlando Pajarillo and Bosun Philip Corl. i Pumpman Micah Miller is pictured with Beaufort Island in the background. Unlicensed Apprentice John Yi made his first trip aboard the Paul Buck during Operation Deep Freeze. After the voyage, a communication from the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) praised the crew for its “superlative performance during the recent Operation Deep Freeze polar resupply mission. Operating in severe weather conditions, both ship and crew demonstrated the finest professionalism in providing critical logistical support to the men and women at McMurdo Station. “Your responsiveness and spirited cooperation with the three assist ice breaker vessels was most noteworthy and key to the success of this mission,” the MSC letter continued. “Bravo Zulu and thank you for your superb effort.” McMurdo Station (above right) opened in 1955 and is built on volcanic rock at the southern end of Ross Island, which measures 45 miles by 45 miles. It houses anywhere from 1,100 scientists and support personnel to roughly 250 people (from February to late October). The four photos (left and right) show some of the sights seen daily from aboard and around the vessel. It’s not quite walking on water, but Seafarers take advantage of the chance to “go ashore” on the frozen ocean water near McMurdo Station. U.S. National Science Foundation manages the U.S. Antarctic Program and coordinates research at the base Antarctic Program’s goals include understanding the Antarctic and its associated ecosystems and using Antarctica’s unique features for scientific research that cannot be done as well elsewhere � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. 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Title A name given to the resource April 2005 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES NEW CAR CARRIER JEAN ANNE JOINS SIU-CONTRACTED FLEET MATSON ORDERS 2 MORE SHIPS FROM KYAERNER PHILADELPHIA ‘WE ARE A MARITIME NATION’ MTD SPEAKERS AFFIRM NEED FOR STRONG U.S. FLEET MORE COLLEGE CREDITS APPROVED FOR PAUL HALL CENTER COURSES AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATIONS OKAYS 24 CLASSES SEAFARERS CONTINUE CREWING UP LMSRS SAFETY TRAINING PAYS OFF FOR SEAFARERS ON KENAI SENATE VOTES IN FAVOR OF ANWR EXPLORATION HEALTH CARE STILL A HOT TOPIC IN NEGOTIATIONS, JOB ACTIONS UNION SPEAKS OUT ABOUT TOWING VESSEL INSPECTIONS NEW NATIONAL MARITIME SECURITY GROUP ANALYZES PORT, SHIPBOARD SAFETY SENATOR TRENT LOTT CHAIRS MARITIME SUBCOMMITTEE USNS ROY WHEAT CREW DONATES TO MARINE CHARITY MFOW ANNOUNCES ELECTION RESULTS OFFICIALS FROM ITF, U.S. GOV’T REVIEW TREATMENT OF MARINERS ITF INSPECTOR CREDITS AGENCIES FOR ‘JOINT EFFORT’ REPORT TAKES HARD LOOK AT PORT VULNERATBILITY MERCHANT MARINE’S VITAL ROLE IN NATIONAL, ECONOMIC SECURITY SPELLED OUT BY MTD SPEAKERS PAUL HALL CENTER’S VSO CLASS 1ST WITH MARAD CERTIFICAITON, SECRETARY MINETA ANNOUNCES FREEDOM TO UNIONIZE MUST BE PROTECTED ACTIVITIES AROUND THE PORT OF HOUSTON THE WINNING SMILES ABOARD NCL AMERICA’S PRIDE OF ALOHA SEAFARERS STAY COOL UNDER PRESSURE, DELIVER IN OPERATION DEEP FREEZE 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2005 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. 67, No. 4 2005 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/baff9282d60bf2d13ec8d19d5ca85772.pdf 49a00f010f863ddbbb2a519361f67064 PDF Text Text Horizon Lines to Charter 5 New Vessels Volume 68, Number 4 — Page 2 April 2006 MTD Executive Board Meetings Military, Gov’t Leaders Reaffirm Merchant Marine’s Essential Roles Representatives from Congress, the administration, the military and the labor movement offered high praise for the U.S. Merchant Marine during the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting Feb. 24-25 in San Diego. Speakers pointed out that U.S. Merchant Mariners continue delivering the goods whether for hurricane relief operations, national defense mobilizations or routine but important commercial cargo runs. Pictured clockwise beginning at upper left are General Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; Vice Admiral David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and MTD President Michael Sacco; U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.); executive board members and other audience members; and AFLCIO President John Sweeney along with President Sacco. Pages 3, 11, 12, 13. ITF Secures Back Pay For Crew of FOC Ship The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) recently secured more than $200,000 in back pay for crew members from a so-called flag-of-convenience (FOC) vessel that had been detained in Houston. Many of the mariners are pictured at right, aboard the runaway-flag Taxiarchis Sierra. SIU ITF Inspector Shwe Tun Aung helped lead the effort to assist the crew. Page 5. Union Mourns Steve Judd USNS Mercy Preps for Mission Page 4 Page 24 �Horizon Lines Charters New Ships President’s Report Support for Maritime Evident While it’s normal to hear from supportive guest speakers at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meetings, I found the most recent sessions exceptionally encouraging. Talk about good news! Captain Robert Johnston, senior vice president of SIU-contracted Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), announced that his company is strongly looking into investing in 17 new U.S.-flag ships Michael Sacco that would sail in the Jones Act trades. OSG already is scheduled to operate 10 other new ships —the tankers being built at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. General Norton Schwartz, the commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, talked in detail about the U.S. Merchant Marine’s outstanding performance in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He also emphasized the excellent cooperation that exists between our industry and the military, and declared his full support for U.S. mariners. Vice Admiral David Brewer, who served as commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command until his recent retirement, offered similarly powerful and enthusiastic backing for the U.S. Merchant Marine. He said that we have been nothing short of indispensable in helping America fight the war on terrorism. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta discussed another key role filled by U.S. mariners. Namely, supporting hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf Coast for victims of Katrina and Rita. Secretary Mineta couldn’t have been more appreciative or more genuine in commending the U.S.-flag industry. Of course, we were very fortunate to hear from other prominent speakers from Congress, the administration and the labor movement who also discussed not only the U.S. Merchant Marine but also various issues affecting all working families. When you put it all together, it’s obvious that the SIU and the U.S. maritime industry as a whole have done an outstanding job—and we’re looking at a bright, bright future. I’m especially glad that 20 or so rank-and-file SIU members, including members from our Government Services Division, attended the meetings. They heard for themselves the great impression that the MTD unions have made on our military leaders and elected representatives. They got a firsthand look at how grassroots campaigns, combined with their own outstanding work aboard ship, have helped revitalize an industry that some people never believed would flourish again. I’ve always been confident about what lies ahead anyway, but it was impossible to leave those meetings without feeling even more optimistic. We’ve come a long way and we have a lot to look forward to. As I said to the executive board, sometimes it may take longer than others to accomplish our goals, but there is no doubt that we ultimately will come out on top. Tragic Loss About a week after the meetings, we suffered a huge loss when SIU Assistant Vice President Steve Judd died in an accident. For those of you who knew Steve, you already understand that we could fill this whole newspaper with kind words about him and it still wouldn’t be enough. Steve was exceptional. He had such a bright future, and that’s one reason why his death hit us so hard. Steve had a lot of things going for him, but to me nothing stood out more than how hard he worked. He was totally, absolutely committed to this union and this membership. He didn’t take shortcuts. He never gave up and he never complained. We will move forward with heavy hearts—but we will move forward. I think it’s completely true to say that Steve Judd would have wanted nothing less than for us to continue giving our all for the betterment of the Seafarers International Union. He was the kind of guy who always put the union—our team, our SIU family—ahead of individual interests. We can honor his memory by doing the same. Volume 68, Number 4 April 2006 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2006 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Seafarers-contracted Horizon Lines on March 17 announced an agreement in principle to charter five new U.S.-flag ships for 12year terms from Ship Finance International Limited. The five vessels are expected to join Horizon Lines’ fleet beginning in early 2007. In a news release, Horizon Lines described the foreign-built ships as being “of a proven, international design” and noted that each will carry 2,800 20-foot equivalent containers and have 23-knot service speed. “The five new vessels will be deployed in Horizon Lines’ weekly service linking the U.S. West Coast with Guam and Asia, upgrading the current ‘TP1’ service that is being served with five Jones Act-qualified vessels today,” the company observed. SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker described the charters as “certainly a very positive development for our union and for the U.S.-flag fleet. Bringing in new tonnage, whether in the form of replacement ships or outright new additions, is good for job security. In the bigger picture, it’s also good for our country’s national defense capabilities and for economic security.” Charles G. “Chuck” Raymond, CEO and president of Horizon Lines, said, “As we embark on our fleet enhancement strategy, this is a proud and historic day for Horizon Lines. The enhanced service will provide us with additional space and faster transit time ILO Adopts Innovative Maritime Convention The International Labor Organization (ILO) during its 94th International Labor Conference in Geneva realized a momentous achievement when it overwhelmingly adopted a new comprehensive work standard for the world’s maritime sector. In what ILO Director-General Juan Somavia labeled a landmark development in the world of work, the body during its Feb. 7-23 meetings agreed (by a vote of 314-0 with four abstentions) to establish the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention as the worldwide code for countries doing business in the international maritime trades. The vote evidenced the unwavering support by delegates from more than 100 countries representing seafarers, shipowners and governments. Following the vote, some hailed the Convention as a new “Bill of Rights for Seafarers.” “This is a big step in the right direction for our entire industry,” said SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who serves as vice chair of the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s Seafarers’ Section. “An agreement like this will help ensure that the world’s seafarers are less likely to be exploited. The international maritime community is speaking with one voice and sending the message that government, shipowners and maritime unions will not tolerate substandard shipping... This Convention is an important part in raising the quality of life at sea and must be ratified by all governments, including the United States.” “We have made maritime labor history today,” Somavia said of the action taken by ILO. “We have adopted a Convention that spans continents and oceans, providing a comprehensive labor charter for between the U.S. West Coast and Guam, as well as the return voyage from Asia to the U.S. West Coast.” In its press release, the company added, “The introduction of this new tonnage also allows the carrier’s Jones Act vessels to be used as reserve capacity to meet seasonal and dry-dock needs, as well as to respond to potential new opportunities such as coastwise container service.” By July of next year, Horizon Lines plans to operate 17 ships and to have four vessels in reserve status. Currently, the company operates 16 U.S.-flag vessels on routes linking the continental United States with Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. the world’s 1.2 million or more seafarers and addressing the evolving realities and needs of a sector that handles 90 percent of the world’s trade. “What’s more, we have established a socioeconomic floor to global competition in the maritime sector,” he continued. “This initiative can also provide the impetus and support for similarly innovative and balanced approaches to addressing the need to make globalization fair in other sectors of the world of work.” In addition to ILO Director-General Somavia, the Conference also heard statements from four special guests: IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos; Jacques Barrot, vice-president for transport, European Commission; Zuyuan Xu, vice minister, Ministry of Communications, China; and Karin Yrvin, deputy minister of trade and industry, Norway. Each spoke highly of the new convention and its positive international implications. The new Convention clearly sets out, in plain language, a seafarers’ “bill of rights” while allowing a sufficient degree of national discretion to deliver those rights with transparency and accountability, according to the ILO. It also contains conditions which enable it to keep in step with the needs of the industry and help secure universal application and enforcement. The Convention’s specifications will help to meet the demand for quality shipping, which is crucial to the global economy and will apply to all ships engaged in commercial activities with the exception of fishing vessels and traditional ships (such as dhows and junks). The new Convention is designed to encourage compliance by operators and owners of ships and strengthen enforcement of standards at all levels, including provisions for onboard and onshore comContinued on page 8 Financial Committee Okays Records A committee of rank-and-file members, elected by their fellow Seafarers during the March union meeting in Piney Point, Md., has reviewed the SIU’s financial records for the year 2005 and found them in good order. Serving on the committee were Bosuns William Henderson and Norman Tourtellot, ABs Gerard Costello, Walter Harris and Raymond Henderson, Deckhand William Kelly and Oiler Michael Joel. In its report, the committee stated, “All records used in connection with the Union’s financial operations were reviewed fully…. We find that the Headquarters of the Union is taking all steps possible to safeguard Union funds and to see that the disbursements of the Union are in accordance with the authority delegated to them and that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to increase day-to-day efficiency of our operation.” The use of an annual financial committee is required by Article X, Section 15 of the SIU Constitution. It reads: “The Annual Financial Committee shall make an examination for each annual period of the finances of the Union and shall report fully on their findings and recommendations.” Members of the financial committee and an SIU official are pictured last month at union headquarters. Standing left to right in the front row are Bosun William Henderson, AB Gerard Costello, Oiler Michael Joel, Deckhand William Kelly and SIU Assistant VP Ambrose Cucinotta. In the back row are Bosun Norman Tourtellot, AB Raymond Henderson and AB Walter Harris. April 2006 �U.S. Fleet’s Progress, Value Emphasized MTD Speakers Credit Mariners for Defense, Humanitarian Missions Whether it’s in hurricane relief missions or the ongoing war on terrorism—or in routine commercial cargo operations—the U.S. Merchant Marine continues demonstrating its tremendous value to the nation. That message was delivered by many of the guest speakers during the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meetings Feb. 24-25 in San Diego. Representatives from Congress, the administration, the military and the labor movement all cited the merchant marine’s importance to America’s national and economic security. In addition, the guest speakers and MTD President Michael Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, covered other key issues including health care, political action, pension security, job safety, protecting workers’ rights, supporting our troops and more. The MTD is composed of 24 international unions and 24 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing 5.5 million working men and women. In order of appearance, the following individuals addressed the executive board: AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; United Mine Workers Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Kane; U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.); Capt. Robert Johnston, senior vice president, Overseas Shipholding Group; James McGregor, president, Ocean Shipholdings, Inc.; Eugene Magee, chief of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Reserve Fleet Division; Doug MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (right) listens as Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, commends the U.S. Merchant Marine. General Schwartz also noted the effective cooperation between the military and U.S. maritime industry. Dority, retired president of the United Food and Commercial Workers and current head of coalition America’s Agenda; Communications Workers of America Vice President Ralph Maly; U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta; Vice Adm. David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii); Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (DS.C.). Sacco opened the meeting by briefly reviewing some of the industry’s recent accomplishments along with ongoing challenges. He noted that the prior SIU Members Crew Up 3rd NCL America Ship Seafarers already are working aboard NCL America’s newest cruise ship—the Pride of Hawaii, which is scheduled to reach the United States in late April. The Pride of Hawaii—advertised as the largest U.S.-flag passenger ship ever built—is slated to stay in Baltimore for at least a week and then sail to Los Angeles for its christening. The vessel will join its sister ships, the SIUcrewed Pride of America (christened last summer) and Pride of Aloha (2004) in offering sevenday cruises around the Hawaiian Islands. The Pride of Hawaii was floated out of Germany’s Meyer Werft dock Feb. 19 and berthed at the shipyard’s outfitting pier for final touches before sailing along the River Ems to Eemshaven for sea trials March 11. After a series of initial voyages, the Pride of Hawaii will begin its regular inter-island schedule, probably in June. “This is another great development with more new jobs for our union,” said SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez. “SIU members already are doing an outstanding job aboard NCL America’s other ships, and there’s April 2006 no doubt the tradition will continue aboard the Pride of Hawaii.” “Consumers will now have the choice between three different NCL America ships in Hawaii,” noted Colin Veitch, NCL America’s president and chief executive officer, “each with its own personality and style but all delivering incredible inter-island freestyle cruises.” At more than 93,000 gross tons and with a passenger capacity of nearly 2,400, the Pride of Hawaii and its sister ships are creating thousands of American jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits to Hawaii and to the United States in general. In fact, with this third vessel, NCL America is providing employment for some 4,000 shipboard personnel. While all three of the vessels offer seven-night cruises to Hawaii’s four main islands, the Pride of Hawaii will depart from Honolulu on Mondays. And like the Pride of Aloha, which departs Sundays, and the Pride of America, which departs Saturdays, the new ship offers many of the same amenities and “freestyle” options in its choice of MTD meetings had taken place right before the AFL-CIO convention last summer which saw several unions leave the federation. “I thought the disaffiliations were a mistake then and I’m even more convinced they’re a mistake now,” he stated. “Whether it’s a month from now or a year from now or whatever length of time, I hope that the AFL-CIO regains all of the unions that left. That’s the best course of action for everyone, most importantly the rank-and-file members. “But whether or not that happens, our federation will survive,” Sacco continued. “We’re already proving it. In particular, we scored quite a few victories during the elections in November. That was a big test, coming so soon after the disaffiliations, and we passed with flying colors.” He further pointed out that soon after the MTD convention last July, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita battered the Gulf Coast. In response, “Members of MTD unions were among the first on the scene in New Orleans, helping local hospitals and rescue workers even before Katrina was finished. Since that time, thousands of our union members have aided in relief operations. Many thousands more donated money Members of the MTD executive board and guests—including rank-andfile Seafarers—attend the department’s recent meeting in San Diego. restaurants and other shipboard and excursion activities. One of the differences, however, is the expansive suites aboard the newest vessel, each of which includes a private courtyard with pool and whirlpool, concierge service, and much more. Both the Pride of Aloha and the Pride of America have dramatic artwork painted on their hulls. The Pride of Hawaii features a distinctive and equally vivid look. To celebrate its name, the hull artwork features a hula dancer on one side and a conch shell blower on the other. Each is joined by a lei—a welcome symbol of Hawaii, made up of yellow, red and orange hibiscus blossoms. On all three NCL America ships, union members and their families can secure reduced fares through Union Plus, a nonprofit organization founded by the AFL-CIO. In fact, since NCL America and Union Plus first teamed up last summer, thousands of union members have taken advantage of the discounted rates. The toll-free number for this benefit is (866) 867-0593. As previously reported, NCL America faced some relatively brief growing pains in 2004, but since then has successfully refined its product—a fact not lost on professional and amateur critics alike. In the media and on or contributed clothing, food and supplies.” See pages 11, 12 and 13 for full coverage of the MTD executive board meetings. Other achievements and activities since the convention included the christening of new U.S.flag vessels and the continued support of U.S. troops involved in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. “When we’re called upon, we will deliver the goods any time, anywhere,” the MTD president said. Turning toward some of the key goals of not just the MTD but the entire labor movement, Sacco mentioned improving workplace safety, securing affordable health care for all citizens, and reinforcing the freedom to join a union. On the latter issue, the Employee Free Choice Act—proposed legislation with strong bipartisan support—remains a prime focus of the MTD along with the AFLCIO. The freedom to join a union “is a right that has been weakened under mountains of red tape and legal ploys, but it’s a right that must be truly and fully restored,” Sacco declared. “More than any other approach, giving workers a real opportunity to choose union representation may be the quickest and most effective way to organize new members. “It may take longer than we’d like, but we can and will accomplish all of these goals. Together, we won’t be denied.” The SIU-contracted Pride of Hawaii, ready for sea trials along the River Ems, is the newest NCL America vessel. internet message boards populated by passengers, the reviews these days are very favorable. Some of the magazine reviews point to the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center as one reason why things have improved. In 2005, more than 3,000 students successfully completed the Paul Hall Center’s three-week course given to prospective NCL America shipboard employees who fill hundreds of non-marine positions. NCL America Raises Money for Hawaii Charities SIU-contracted NCL America recently reported that the company last year raised $250,000 for local Hawaii charities via a special charity cruise on the Seafarers-crewed Pride of America. The money raised on the charity cruise (which took place last summer) benefits three Hawaii non-profit organizations, according to the company. Those organizations are the Child & Family Service; the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; and the Kapi’olani Children’s Miracle Network. Nearly 1,200 people sailed on the charity cruise, according to NCL America. Guests enjoyed a full evening and morning of culinary delights at the Pride of America’s eight different restaurants and bars. NCL America donated the use of the U.S.-flag ship and all operational, food and beverage services and amenities for the cruise. Seafarers LOG 3 �Steve Judd: Remembering One of the Best New Orleans Official Served the Membership With Integrity, Energy The SIU suffered an enormous loss March 5 when Assistant Vice President Contracts Stephen W. Judd, one of the union’s most dedicated and well-respected officials, died unexpectedly in Metairie, La. He was 45. News of his death caused an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from SIU members and officials alike. Most emphasized Judd’s personal kindness and integrity along with his absolute dedication to rank-and-file Seafarers. Judd, who comes from a family of SIU members, joined the union in 1978 and sailed in the inland division with Crescent Towing. He started as a deckhand and AB, quickly earned a U.S. Coast Guard license and then sailed as an SIU captain before eventually coming ashore as a patrolman in 1991. He served as the union’s port agent in New Orleans beginning in 1997 and was promoted to the assistant vice president’s post late last year. He was a key figure in the SIU’s organizing victory at E.N. Bisso culminating in 1994—a protracted battle and clearly one of the union’s most noteworthy SIU Assistant VP Contracts Steve Judd (left) joins Mobile, Ala. Port Agent Ed Kelly at the SIUNA convention in Piney Point, Md. in 2002. At the time, Judd served as the union’s New Orleans port agent. organizing wins in recent memory. SIU President Michael Sacco said Judd’s dedication, talent and loyalty were second-to-none within the union. “He was devoted to his work and he loved what he was doing,” Sacco stated. “He dedicated his whole life to the SIU. He was appointed as assistant vice president because of the great work he’s done and his leadership qualities. He was trustworthy—it was easy to have confidence in him.” SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez recalled that Judd stood up for every member, regardless of circumstance. “He wanted to make sure everybody got representation,” Tellez said. “A company guy once questioned why he was pushing on behalf of a member whose situation looked like a lost cause, and Steve said, ‘Everybody needs a chance to be heard.’ He was as tenacious as a pit bull in those situations.” SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel pointed out that Judd “was born and bred in the SIU. He grew up on the boats and was always a true believer in the union. He was always looking out for the other guy and never was one to back down…. He was a great boatman, and when he came ashore he carried those same qualities servicing the members. Obviously he’s going to be missed. My sympathies go to his wife and the rest of his family.” Dean Corgey, vice president of the SIU’s Gulf Coast Region, said Judd’s death “is the greatest tragedy I’ve seen since I’ve been with the SIU, losing such a standup guy at such a young age. He had so much promise, such a great future. It was an honor to work with him. He had the heart of a lion and unquestioned integrity. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for the membership.” Seafarer John Bilich, currently sailing aboard the Delta Mariner, knew Judd since 1979. They sailed together and later served on negotiating committees when Judd worked as a union official. “Steve was immediately respected by all his peers when he started as a deckhand,” Bilich said, noting that Judd continued earning the admiration of union and company personnel alike throughout his career. “If you didn’t smile at least once in his company, you didn’t listen well enough. He was a man of his word and a rising star. He will be sadly missed.” Another member, David Merida, knew Judd since they attended the same high school in the 1970s. “Anything he did, he did it 110 percent,” said Merida, who joined the union in 1982. “I’ll always remember his willingness to help people, his unselfishness. His integrity could never be questioned. He might have been small in height and weight, but he was a very powerful official when it came to getting your attention and talking shop.” George Tricker, SIU vice president contracts, said Judd “set the highest standard for representing this membership. Whether he was defending a seaman’s rights or pursuing a grievance, his tireless efforts and tenacity reflected his commitment to this organization. Steve’s knowledge of the issues and the membership’s needs were invaluable during negotiations. I will forever carry his example.” Chris Westbrook, the union’s New Orleans port agent, first met Judd while sailing as an engineer at Bisso. “I knew him from both sides, as a member and (later) as a co-worker, and also as a friend,” Westbrook remembered. “He was a fantastic guy, a great mentor and he passed along a wealth of knowledge. He loved the union and he was a dedicated servant to the membership, to his family and to his friends. Steve was truly an exceptional person.” Ed Kelly, SIU port agent in Mobile, Ala., described Judd as “one of the most thorough individuals I ever met, and also the fairest person I ever met. He was a Appreciation If it’s true that we are best measured under adversity, Steve Judd showed his real colors on the heels of Hurricane Katrina. He couldn’t have shined any brighter. Steve finagled his way back into New Orleans right after the hurricane, while the city was incapacitated. He did so in large part because he wanted to take care of the damaged SIU hall on LaPalco Boulevard, and to help look after family members as well as help in his neighborhood. Throughout the ensuing weeks we often spoke by phone, partly so that I could get updates for the Seafarers LOG but equally because we were friends. As Steve matter-of-factly described the hardships and the devastation—not to mention the endless, difficult work at the start of the recovery—he occasionally would pause and say, “But I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining. Plenty of other people are worse off. I’m grateful just to have food and water.” As always, he was 100 percent sincere. And as always, he was giving all his time and energy to help others, whether they were family members or Seafarers or neighbors or even strangers. Professionally, Steve was a godsend to the LOG office. If we needed a particular type of photo or had to contact members on short notice, I always felt comfortable turning to Steve for help. He not only delivered, he did so with a warm, welcoming attitude that superbly reinforced the notion that we 4 Seafarers LOG really are one big family. Thank heaven I occasionally had chances to reciprocate. Neither of us minded long phone conversations, and that helped enable us to solve most of the world’s problems a few times over, or so it seemed. Steve was especially interested in the health care crisis, specifically because he wanted to help educate the membership about this most serious issue. We discussed it for hours, sharing newspaper articles from across the country, reviewing members’ feedback, taking candid looks at the LOG’s coverage and how it might improve. Personally, Steve was as decent a man as I’ve ever known. There are too many examples for this space, but, just to share one: He preceded me in recovery from nicotine addiction, and proved a helpful but never pushy long-distance mentor. When I finally broke free from tobacco’s clutches, Steve’s positive reinforcement felt priceless. *** Steve Judd’s obituary was written at least 40 years too soon. I don’t claim to have known him better than his contemporaries in the Gulf, but I knew him well enough to submit a first-person tribute for the first time in my nearly 15 years at the LOG. That is my homage to Steve, whose exceptional character remains a powerful reminder of just how much good we can do. Steve Judd (second from left) celebrated the opening of the SIU hall on LaPalco Boulevard in April 1999 along with Seafarers, officials and guests. Here, he is pictured with (from left) SIU President Michael Sacco; Brother Judd’s wife, Nancy; his brother, AB Willie Judd Jr.; and his father, SIU Retiree Willie Judd Sr. unique individual and it was easy to get close to him. You didn’t have to know him very long to know what kind of person he was.” SIU Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Tom Orzechowski credited Judd with being “a consummate professional. There was never a situation where he couldn’t handle himself. He had an answer, and if he didn’t he knew where to go to find it.” SIU Political Director Terry Turner said, “To me, Steve was what the SIU is all about: bright, personable and hard-working. During the Katrina disaster he was the first one back in the hall, shoveling mud and debris so that we could start the operation of getting members out to open up the port. He worked with the federal and state agencies as well as the Coast Guard to help ensure that the port would open and recovery could begin. He was a true hero and I will miss him.” Funeral services took place March 9 at Bultman Funeral Home in New Orleans, followed by interment in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Metairie. An online guest book is available at www.legacy.com. Brother Judd’s surviving family includes his wife, Nancy Lee Nolle Judd; parents William S. Judd Sr. (an SIU retiree) and Esther Boutian Judd; and Brother William S. Judd Jr., who sails with the SIU. Steady as She Goes Written by AB Johney August IV In Tribute to Steve Steady as she goes I heard the Pilot say Just follow my commands I am the Way Fear not rough weather We shall prevail Cause I am the rudder, the tiller, The wind and the sail I’ll steer you to a place Where heaven and oceans meet A place of serenity and happiness Like “Fiddler’s Green Retreat” Steady as she goes I am the lighthouse in the blue abyss That guides you at night When you are troubled I shine ever so bright That’s my voice you hear Calling you near Like a foghorn in the distance So faint yet so clear Hard left? Or hard right? Full ahead? Or full astern? Come to me I am the peace that you yearn I am the ebb and the flow of tide That favorable knot current that you ride I say to you, “I am that I am” As the beginning joins the end So shall the end join the beginning Safe passage…. Calm seas…. Our port of call is near! Steady as she goes — Jordan Biscardo April 2006 �Crews Earn More Kudos for Relief Missions Seafarers from the Cape Vincent, Cape Victory and Empire State recently were recognized for their respective efforts in relief missions following last year’s hurricanes in the Gulf region. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd) on March 9 conducted a hurricane relief cere- U.S. mariners answered the call for hurricane relief beginning immediately after Katrina and Rita. Among those who recently sailed on the Cape Vincent were (from left) Capt. David Scott, GSU Walter Wise, Chief Steward Ronnie Hadnott, Chief Cook Charles Curley, GSU Enrique Agosto, 2nd Cook Bridget Burkhalter and GSU Daniel Miller. Scott also offered special thanks to galley gang members who sailed on the vessel earlier in the relief mission: Francisco Sanchez, Pete Hernandez, Leo Battiste and Reynaldo Bernardez, who helped supply more than 11,000 extra meals. Displaying awards aboard the Cape Vincent are (from left) ABs Brian Jones, Thames Solomon and Anthony Smith, Bosun Darryl Sutton and Capt. David Scott. mony for Empire State crew members, who had just completed a six-month deployment in New Orleans. Mariners received certificates of achievement and commemorative Ready Reserve Force medallions at the ceremony, hosted at the State University of New York. MarAd also donated a plaque to be displayed on the vessel. Both the Cape Vincent and the Cape Victory were honored Jan. 31 by the City of Beaumont, Texas for their relief roles following Hurricane Rita. The ships and crews received a Congressional Proclamation from U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) along with a plaque from the city, a public service award from the Beaumont Police Department and a certificate of appreciation from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. A day earlier, Cape Vincent crew members and other Seafarers were recognized in New Recertified Bosun Jamie Miller (left), AB Kaled M. Saleh and Bosun’s Mate Malek G. Mohamed prep the hull of the Empire State. Orleans during a ceremony jointly sponsored by the port and the Maritime Administration. That ceremony honored mariners involved in Hurricane Katrina relief operations. “The crew has done an excellent job and deserves recogni- Mariners from the Empire State are honored March 9 at the State University of New York. The vessel aided in hurricane relief along the Gulf Coast for six months. Federal Court Says No to NSPS ITF Gets $240,000 In what a coalition of labor orga- the International Federation of In Back Pay for Crew nizations described as a victory for Professional & Technical Engineers Department of Defense workers worldwide, U.S. Federal District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan recently blocked the Pentagon from moving forward on the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). Via a late-February news release, the United DoD Workers Coalition noted the court found that the new rules fail “to ensure even minimal collective bargaining rights.” Specifically, the court determined that DoD regulations allowing the DoD to ‘take whatever actions are necessary to carry out the mission’ by creating issuances to override labor agreements failed to ensure collective bargaining under the statute. In the context of bargaining itself, the court held that subjecting union officials to the same standard as the average employee restricted vigorous advocacy and invalidated this regulation. The court further enjoined the new National Security Labor Relations Board on the grounds that this Board, as DoD envisioned it, did “not satisfy Congress’ requirement for an ‘independent third party’ to review labor management disputes.” The 36 member unions of the United DoD Workers Coalition (UDWC), which includes the SIU and represents the overwhelming majority of DoD’s 700,000 plus workforce, applauded Judge Sullivan’s decision. Gregory Junemann, president of April 2006 tion,” noted David Scott, master of the Cape Vincent, who submitted some of the photos accompanying this story. Altogether, more than 500 Seafarers sailed in the relief missions, aboard no fewer than 14 ships. (IFPTE), said, “I applaud Judge Sullivan for his reasoned and well thought out ruling.” John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), stated, “I’m proud of the work done by our coalition of AFL-CIO unions and independent unions across the country. The judge’s decision is a decisive victory for the coalition. I would hope the DoD would not appeal the judge’s decision but give up the quest to change the personnel system and sit down with unions again to decide on a system which supports collective bargaining.” Rick Brown, national president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, said, “This is a great victory for the unions of the coalition. Judge Sullivan’s decision clearly shows that employee rights in the workplace are not a threat to national security.” UDWC Chair and AFL-CIO Legislative Representative Byron Charlton capped off the comments, stating, “The decision by Judge Sullivan is further vindication of the UDWC member organizations’ position that the DoD had far exceeded its so-called ‘authorization for change’ authority. I want to thank every UDWC member organization for its support in the long struggle to maintain workplace democracy. We recognize that this important decision is a very critical step in this process.” The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) in February secured $240,000 in back pay for 17 mariners aboard the runawayflag vessel Taxiarchis Sierra that had been arrested in the port of Houston. A 21,000–dwt Cyprus-flag bulker/log carrier, the Taxiarchis Sierra on Feb. 10 was arrested by SIU ITF Inspector Shwe Tun Aung, who works out of Houston, for unpaid wages and failures on the part of the mariners’ crewing agencies to forward previously authorized funds to their respective families in Sri Lanka. Built in 1985, the Greek-owned vessel is operated by Argosy Ship Management. Aung on Feb. 8 received a call from Rev. David Wells of the Port of Houston Seafarers Center. Wells had offered to provide phone service for crew members aboard the seized vessel who wanted to contact their families. (Most didn’t have shore passes.) The vessel’s captain refused Wells’ offer, perhaps fearing that the crew would call the ITF. Wells deemed the captain’s refusal suspicious and decided to go aboard the vessel to visit the crew. Once on board, Wells learned, among other violations, that the crew had not been paid in four months. Without hesitation, he contacted Aung. Going immediately to the aid of the crew, Aung boarded the vessel and met several individuals including the captain. He had a U.S. Coast Guard team inspect the ship and later had the Taxiarchis Sierra arrested. During his investigation, Aung discovered that the vessel’s managers had not only failed to pay the crew in accordance with their ITF contract, but also that they had been stealing about $28,000 from crew wages each month. The ITF inspector demanded that the company pay all wages, back pay and repatriation costs. Further, Aung demanded that the owners take no action against the seafarers for seizing the vessel and demanding their contractual rights. According to Aung, the Taxiarchis Sierra master claimed that the unpaid wages were simply a matter of miscalculations. Lawyers retained by the SIU, working in conjunction with the ITF, intervened and negotiated not only the payment of previously earned wages for the crew, but also arranged for repatriation to their home countries and protection from blacklisting by their crewing agencies. Sixteen of the crew members were from Sri Lanka while one hailed from Egypt. Mary Ann Starks, one of the attorneys retained on behalf of the crew, reportedly told Trade Winds that her clients were happy with the terms of the negotiations and pleased that Piraeus, Greece-based Argosy “stepped up to the plate” to do the right thing. The $210,000 recovered in back wages for the crew included some $55,000 that Stark says the owner had advanced in an attempt to halt the arrest. An additional $30,000, which members of the crew initially paid to their crewing agencies, also was secured for a total collection of $240,000. The crew was repatriated Feb. 27. According to Trade Winds, Starks said that crew members paid “deposits” of $3,000 each to their crewing agencies prior to taking jobs aboard the Taxiarchis Sierra. These monies could be forfeited unless the owner provided certification that they had fulfilled their contracts before quitting the ship. Supposedly because of high unemployment in Sri Lanka since the December 2004 tsunami, crewing agencies there demand high deposits for fear seafarers will jump ship in Western ports, Starks said. Seafarers who fear losing the deposit may also be reluctant to protest short wages or poor working conditions. Aung thanked the Port of Houston Seafarers Center, the U.S. Coast and Port of Houston security personnel. “Individuals from these agencies have good hearts,” Aung said. “They tried to help the crew members any way they could including providing food and beverages to the stranded Continued on page 8 Seafarers LOG 5 �Lakes Bosuns Attend Annual Meeting The winter months on the Great Lakes, when ships are often laid up for four to six weeks, has proven to be a good time for the bosuns working aboard SIUcrewed American Steamship Company (ASC) vessels to get together and discuss the important issues of concern to them about their work environments. This year’s annual two-day meeting of the Great Lakes bosuns took place in early March at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Sponsored by the SIU and ASC, the sessions gave everyone an opportunity to confer on certain common issues or problems and clarify contractual questions. Safety discussions, which cen- The bosuns listen to a number of informative presentations including those on safety and the use of synthetic wire. tered around maintaining safe working environments and accident avoidance, were held, led by Laurie A. Montante, risk management assistant at American Steamship Company and Thomas S. Anderson, assistant vice president of fleet operations at that company. This year, a special presentation was given by John Sheehan, director of outside sales at Puget Sound Rope, pertaining to the benefits of using synthetic wire versus the standard rope wire. SIU VP Lakes and Inland Waters Tom Orzechowski and SIU Algonac Port Agent Todd Brdak attended the meeting along with the following bosuns: David Barber, James Joyce, William Mulcahy, David Greig, Charles Neigebauer, Albert Brzezinski, Ron Bochek, Tim Burke, Scott Gallagher, Paul Gohs, Jeff Eckhart and Mike Keogh. Seafarers who attended the annual ASC bosuns’ meeting at Piney Point are (from left, front row) David Barber, James Joyce, William Mulcahy, David Greig, Charles Neigebauer, (second row) Al Brzezinski, Ron Bochek, Tim Burke, SIU VP Tom Orzechowski, Port Agent Todd Brdak, Scott Gallagher, Paul Gohs, Jeff Eckhart and Mike Keogh. MSC Welcomes New Commander Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr. is the new commander of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC). Reilly replaced Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III in the post March 10 during a 1 p.m. change of command ceremony at the historic Washington Navy Yard in the nation’s capital. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen presided at the event while Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, delivered remarks. SIU President Michael Sacco, SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez and SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker represented the SIU at the ceremony. Brewer, an unyielding supporter and vocal advocate of the U.S. maritime industry and the SIU, retired following 36 years of distinguished naval service. He had served as the commander of MSC since August 2001. Reilly, a native of Winnetka, Ill., comes from a family with more than a century of service in the U.S. armed forces. He graduated from the University of Washington and was commissioned in 1975 through the Navy’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program. As the new MSC commander, Reilly will be responsible for a fleet of more than 120 govern- Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr. 6 Seafarers LOG ment-owned and chartered ships, as well as a workforce of more than 10,000 civil service and military personnel—including SIU CIVMARS—operating worldwide. MSC ships transport critical fuel, supplies and ammunition to U.S. Navy ships underway and to U.S. forces ashore around the globe; preposition military equipment at sea to ensure rapid delivery to U.S. forces in support of possible future contingencies; and perform myriad at-sea special missions such as charting ocean bottoms and conducting undersea surveillance. In recent years, MSC has been at the forefront of the global war on terrorism, delivering 85.7 million square feet of combat power and more than 8.4 billion gallons of fuel to U.S. war fighters around the globe. This represents enough cargo to fill a bumper-tobumper line of mid-size sport utility vehicles stretching from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, and enough fuel to fill the Empire State Building more than 30 times. Much of that materiel has been delivered by SIU-crewed ships. Reilly comes to MSC from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., where he reported in June 2004 and served as deputy assistant chief of naval operations for Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III information technology. Throughout his 31-year Navy career, the new MSC commander has served in a wide variety of assignments at sea and ashore. Reilly’s previous commands include: Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, home ported in Norfolk, Va.; Destroyer Squadron Fifty, the Navy’s Arabian Gulf destroyer squadron headquartered in Bahrain; and USS Halyburton. The admiral’s shore assignments include multiple tours on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, as well as tours at the Car Carrier Jean Anne Is Named Magazine’s ‘Ship of the Year’ In its annual American Ship Review issue, the SIU-crewed Jean Anne was named Ship of the Year for 2005 by Professional Mariner magazine. The cargo carrier, owned by The Pasha Group of Corte Madera, Calif. and operated by Interocean Ugland Management, was praised for bringing new and competitive life to the Hawaii-West Coast trade lanes. It is the largest vessel ever built by VT Halter Marine at its Pascagoula, Miss. facility and is the first pure car/truck carrier constructed to meet the requirements of the Jones Act. The 579-foot vessel, which was christened early last year in the port of San Diego’s National City Marine Terminal, can carry cars, trucks and buses and othercargo—including household goods and construction equipment—on a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) platform and can travel at speeds approaching 20 knots. On its 10 cargo decks, the Jean Anne holds 4,300 automobiles, and its stern ramp is capable of handling up to 100 tons as vehicles are driven on and off. There are three hoistable decks to handle larger vehicles like buses, 18-wheel rigs or M-1 tanks, which can be lifted upward in sections to provide greater height on the deck below. Smaller vehicles are driven up a ramp leading to an opening in the ship’s side. VT Halter President Butch King noted that the vessel’s maiden voyage in March 2005 “marked the beginning of a new transportation system that has already changed the way RO/RO cargo is delivered between the West Coast and Hawaii, in that Naval Personnel Command; duties with the operations directorate on the Joint Staff; and at headquarters, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Reilly holds a Master of Public Administration in National Resources degree from George Washington University and is a 1993 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. no other vessel on this route has the car-carrying capacity and the speed of the Jean Anne.” And while every square foot of available space is devoted to the purpose of transporting cars and trucks, there also are 18 staterooms for the officers and crew as well as a hospital, pharmacy, mess, galley, crew lounge and refrigerated space for food. The Jean Anne transports its cargo from San Diego to the Hawaiian Islands, needing only a week to complete a voyage from the U.S. West Coast and calling on the Hawaiian ports of Hilo, Kahului and Honolulu. Named “Ship of the Year for 2005” by Professional Mariner magazine in its annual American Ship Review issue, the SIU-crewed car carrier Jean Anne graced the magazine’s cover. April 2006 �Appreciative SIU Recertified Stewards Share How and Why Union, School Work for Them For the SIU’s newest class of recertified stewards, working their way to the top of their department has proven worthwhile in many ways. The dozen Seafarers in last month’s graduating class briefly shared their respective backgrounds and perspectives with fellow members and unlicensed apprentices at the March membership meeting in Piney Point. While the details varied, the stewards all expressed appreciation for how the union not only helped them find their niche but also enabled them to earn a good living and provide for their families. Many credited the school for helping them advance. Successfully completing the four-week program—considered the top curriculum for mariners in the steward department—were William Churney, Virgilio Donghit, Alphonse Dixon, Charles Fincher, Abdul Hasan, Erik Ivey, Franco Pizzuto, Joseph Jones, Michael Watts, Pedro Ramos-Mena, Dennis Skretta and Fausto Aranda. The recertification course, like most other classes at the Paul Hall Center, blends hands-on training with classroom instruction. It also includes meetings with representatives from the various departments within the union and the Seafarers Plans, along with a trip to AFL-CIO headquarters (including the offices of the Maritime Trades Department). Detailed refreshers in safety training (including fire fighting, highest caliber. I have learned many things here that have helped me in my chosen career. I also learned from the cook/bakers, chief cooks, stewards and other crew members I worked with on the ships. “To the ladies and gentlemen who will be joining this union, I want to say there is a lot of knowledge at this facility and out on the ships at sea. I implore you to take advantage of it all.” Pedro Ramos-Mena “The SIU has been good to my family and me. Almost everything I have is because of the SIU. Our union is like a guide to a better future. “I have learned a lot here at the school, and everything I’ve learned is going to help me guide others…. Apprentices, learn about and support SPAD. Work hard together as a team.” SIU officials are pictured with the union’s newest recertified stewards last month in Piney Point. Standing left to right are Alphonse Dixon, Assistant VP Gulf Coast Ambrose Cucinotta, VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi, Charles Fincher, William Churney, Franco Pizzuto, VP Contracts George Tricker, SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel, Abdul Hasan, Erik Ivey, Pedro Ramos-Mena, Virgilio Donghit, Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan, Michael Watts, President Michael Sacco, Joseph Jones, Fausto Aranda, Dennis Skretta, Executive VP Augie Tellez. first aid and CPR) and sanitary conditions are emphasized. Computer training also is a key part of the course. Other important topics include study skills, communication and nutrition. In every instance, the curriculum is designed to help stewards do an even better job when they go to their next ships. Following are some of the comments shared by the stewards last month, including remarks directed to the unlicensed apprentices at the meeting. They are presented in the same order in which the Seafarers addressed their fellow members. Joseph Jones “I’ve sailed all over the world. The SIU has helped me in a positive way, helped me better my life and my family…. To the apprentices, study hard, ask questions, listen to your supervisors and work together as a team.” Honing their skills during a culinary contest are Dennis Skretta (left), Joseph Jones (below left) and Erik Ivey. Abdul Hasan “I learned a lot during the course and improved my job skills. I like my job and being part of the SIU. I can be a good provider and still spend time with my family. God bless the SIU!” Virgilio Donghit “I was a career Navy man, a steward and cook for 26 years, and when I first retired I didn’t have much luck. Then I realized I still belonged at sea. I joined the SIU in Jacksonville as a messman, starting over. I was advised to upgrade and upgrade, and that’s what I did to once again reach my ambition. “Apprentices, do your best and think of safety first—yours and that of your brethren. Encourage your friends to join this outfit. That’s my message.” Michael Watts “I thank the SIU for opening a lot of doors for me, and I commend my classmates. To the apprentices, there is money to be made, but learn how to manage it. Don’t waste it.” Franco Pizzuto “In the 1980s I was on vacation in Hawaii when I heard about American Hawaii Cruises. I got a job with them, and after 19 years I’m still an SIU member. That says something good about this union. “I’ve upgraded many times, and each time I return to the school I see improvement. The instructors and staff are really dedicated. I hope you apprentices will take advantage of the school, because it’s all here for you.” “Apprentices, we look forward to you being out there with us because you’ll have the right training and skills.” Erik Ivey “I thank the staff here at the school. I also want people to understand that without the union we wouldn’t have any medical benefits for our loved ones. We can never forget our union leaders who go out and fight on our behalf.” Alphonse Dixon “I’ve sailed with the Navy, MSC and the SIU—all over the world, in all positions. I give personal thanks to the school staff and instructors. “To the apprentices, do you have dreams? The opportunity is right here for you. Don’t blow it. You’ve got the best team of officials right here to help you.” William Churney “I’ve learned quite a bit here and really enjoyed the training. We have great instructors, and there is so much to learn. Everyone should upgrade.” Fausto Aranda “The SIU has helped me take care of my kids, and this is a great school for those who want to get ahead in life. I learned a lot during the course and look forward to sharing the knowledge with members on ships. “God bless our apprentices. It’s a great career and a huge opportunity to be part of a great American tradition. Take pride in your learning and you’re going to see the difference the SIU makes.” Dennis Skretta “I have come to this school six times so far. The level of education here has always been of the Alphonse Dixon takes part in the “mystery basket cook-off.” The stewards’ delicacies are shown at various points during the cooking contest. Charles Fincher “This (course) has been highly educational. The Camp Springs (SIU headquarters) staff is doing a wonderful job…. I’ve been doing this for 40 years and I’d say they have some of the best instructors in the world right here at Piney Point. April 2006 Seafarers LOG 7 �ILO Adopts Innovative Maritime Convention Continued from page 2 plaint procedures for seafarers regarding the shipowners’ and shipmasters’ supervision of conditions on their vessels, as well as the flag states’ jurisdiction and control over their ships. The Convention sets minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship and contains provisions on conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection. Among the novel features of the Convention are its form and structure with legally binding standards accompanied by directions given by guidelines. It departs significantly from that of traditional ILO Conventions. Its amendment procedures are rapid and, most importantly, it sets out a system for the certification of seafarers’ labor conditions. Under the new Convention, ships that are larger than 500 GT and engaged in international voyages or voyages between foreign ports will be required to carry a “Maritime Labor Certificate” and a “Declaration of Maritime Labor Compliance.” The declaration sets out shipowners’ plans for ensuring that applicable national laws, regulations or other measures required to implement the Convention are complied with on an ongoing basis. Shipmasters will then be responsible for carrying out the shipowners’ stated plans and keeping proper records to provide evidence of compliance with the Convention. The flag state will review the shipowners’ plans and verify and certify that they are in place and being implemented. This will put pressure on shipowners that disregard the law, but will remove pressure from those that comply. Other innovative features of the Convention include: „ Accelerated amendment procedures to update its technical provisions to address changes in the sector; „ Onboard and onshore complaint procedures to encourage rapid resolution of problems, if possible; „ A complaint and inspection system linked with the wellestablished ILO supervisory system; and, „ A modernized managementbased approach to occupational safety and health. The new Convention consolidates and updates 68 existing ILO maritime Conventions and Recommendations adopted since 1920. Countries that do not ratify the new Convention will remain bound by the previous Conventions that they have ratified, although those instruments will be closed to further ratification. The Convention received strong support from representatives of the ILO’s tripartite social partners. Brian Orrell, the seafarer vice president of the Conference from the United Kingdom, said, “We believe that the agreement we have concluded will make a significant contribution to ensuring decent work at sea and making a real difference to the lives and life chances of many of the world’s seafarers.” Dierk Lindemann of Germany, the conference vice president for the shipowners, said, “It may have seemed a long road, but we have got to the end of it and we have made history. We now have a single maritime labor standards Convention embracing virtually ITF Secures Back Pay for Crew Continued from page 5 crew who had nothing to eat aboard the vessel except potatoes and rice for a month.” Argosy Ship Management and the Taxiarchis Sierra are no strangers to the port of Houston, the ITF or to Aung. As reported earlier in the LOG, Aung in a January 2004 incident secured more than $64,960 in back pay for three crew members (electrician, bosun and AB) who were aboard the Taxiarchis Sierra. Their circumstances were virtual- ly identical to those faced by the 17 crew members in this latest incident. In a related development, it has been reported that Argosy Ship Management is again in trouble and facing a fresh round of problems just days after settling the dispute involving the 17 crew members. This time, the Greek-owned company is being scrutinized by a Singapore-based timber company for allegedly failing to deliver cargoes of logs to their designated ports in India. all we need in order to establish a uniform and acceptable regime for the world’s seafarers.” Bruce Carlton of the United States, who chaired a key committee at the meeting, said, “This Convention is unique in that it has teeth. What is fundamentally different about this Convention is that it is about quality shipping. Beyond improving the working conditions of seafarers, it is also about further marginalizing the bad shipowners who end up costing the entire industry. This is a very sound economic benefit for the entire industry.” Somavia in his closing remarks said that the Convention marked a new departure in the pursuit of a fair globalization by making “the rules of the game fair for everybody. At the same time, the market should have the necessary space to perform its key functions for the economy and for society. In the search for solutions it has become more and more evident that there can be no lasting success with purely national solutions to global problems.” The next step will be the ratification of the Convention. According to senior ILO officials, a great deal of care has been taken to make sure the Convention’s provisions are acceptable to all countries with an interest in the maritime sector. The organization hopes it soon becomes the “fourth pillar” of international maritime regulatory regime, at the side of the three key IMO Conventions: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW); and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The Convention will become effective once it has been ratified by 30 ILO member States which jointly constitute at least 33 percent of world gross tonnage. “What we now need to do is to work together to ensure that the next stages have the same dynamism and the same strength that you have given to the formulation of the Convention,” Somavia concluded. Northern Lights Recognized For ‘Commitment’ in OIF The captain and crew of the SIU-contracted Northern Lights last month was again recognized for the flawless fashion in which it achieved its mission during a February 2003 voyage to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These latest laurels were published in a story in the Defense Transportation Journal titled “SS Northern Nights—A Lesson In Commitment.” Recounting the harrowing events which took place Feb. 20-22, the piece—based on actual verbiage from the captain’s log—affords a vivid account of what the 26-person crew, and 12man U.S. Marine Corps security detachment experienced while in the face of armed conflict. During the course of the two-day period, the vessel and its occupants endured some 10 SCUD/gas alerts. One attack took place while the Northern Lights (recently renamed the El Faro) still was being cleared by Kuwait Customs to enter the port. The remainder was registered when the vessel was tied up in port and while the crew was attempting to discharge its full load of military hardware. As reported earlier in the LOG, Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, in a letter to Seafarers-contracted Totem Ocean Trailer Express, praised the efforts of mariners aboard the Northern Lights. Citing the “superior support” of U.S. troops by unlicensed and licensed mariners as well the company and its officials, the general’s correspondence in part said, “Since 18 February 2003, six weeks after the start of the deployment of forces to Iraq, SS Northern Lights was under charter to MSC. She continuously operated in support of U.S. forces since that time, never missing a commitment. No other ship, government-owned or commercial, has operated as long in support of these critical operations.” The Northern Lights made 25 voyages and 49 port calls during the charter period. The ship carried 12,220 pieces of military gear totaling 81,000 short tons and covering more than 2 million square feet. More GEDs Earned at Piney Point The high school equivalency program at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education had a fairly modest start but has really taken off since the mid-1980s. Since 1984, more than 2,000 students have secured their GEDs through the Paul Hall Center, located in Piney Point, Md. The latest students to join those ranks are pictured at right and below, being congratulated by SIU officials. In the photo at right, at the March membership meeting are (from left) SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez, Unlicensed Apprentices Dennis Rivard and Richard Guerra, Jr., SIU VP Contracts George Tricker and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. The other photo, taken at the February membership meeting, shows VP Tellez, SIU Atlantic Coast VP Joseph Soresi, SIU President Michael Sacco, Unlicensed Apprentices Russell Blanks and Adrian Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer Heindel and VP Tricker. Congratulations to the school’s four newest GED holders. SIU ITF Inspector Shwe Tun Aung (center, wearing guest ID) helped lead the way in securing back pay, repatriation and other benefits for 17 mariners on the runaway-flag Taxiarchis Sierra. 8 Seafarers LOG April 2006 �With the Membership in Ft. Lauderdale Listening to the SIU officials aboard the Perseverance are Seafarers Alfred Polk, Chancie Ransom, Milton Israel, Leonel Lazo, Emily Whitman, Roderick French and Joe Legree. On a recent trip to Florida in mid-February, SIU President Michael Sacco joined SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez and SIU SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel in visiting the hall in Ft. Lauderdale. All three got a chance to meet with the SIU President Michael Sacco (right) and Executive VP members in that port and Augie Tellez talk to members aboard the Perseverance. inform them of some of the latest news in the maritime industry. They also went on board the Perseverance, which was docked in Port Everglades, and got together with the crew members aboard that Maritrans vessel. Right: AB Sheldon Privin (right) has a little one-on-one time with SIU President Michael Sacco. Above left: SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel answers a question posed to him at the Ft. Lauderdale hall by Rich Williams. Above right: AB Regina Ewing listens to what the officials have to say. Port Agent Powell Appointed To State AFL-CIO Committee Bryan Powell, the SIU’s port agent in Tacoma, Wash., recently was appointed to the Washington State AFL-CIO Economic Development and Transportation Committee. The appointment is for a three-year term that expires Jan. 1, 2009. The committee examines the state’s economy and transportation issues and, in cooperation with state agencies and other organizations, examines how best to maintain a viable and robust infrastructure system that promotes a strong economy based on family-wage jobs. Powell also serves on the executive board of the Wash- Wiper Luchi Watson (left) and QMEDs Van Watler and Wendell Wilmoth (above) take an interest in the discussion led by SIU officials at the union hall in February. S.F. Port Agent Coss Retires Vince Coss, the union’s port agent in San Francisco, has retired due to health reasons. Coss joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1976, two years before that union merged into the SIU’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. He later transferred to the deck department and sailed until coming ashore to work for the SIU in 1987. Since then he served in various jobs within the union. Most recently, he was elected San Francisco port agent for the term beginning in 2005. “Vince was totally dedicated to serving the membership,” said SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone. “I wish him nothing but the best in retirement.” “He was well-liked and very committed to his job,” stated SIU Assistant Vice President West Coast Nick Celona. “It was a April 2006 Vince Coss, pictured recently at the San Francisco hall, came ashore in 1987. pleasure working with Vince.” Coss, 58, said he was especially proud to have been elected port agent by the membership. He has retired to Daly City, Calif. SIU, UIW to Participate In Annual Union Show The SIU and its affiliated United Industrial Workers (UIW) once again will participate in the annual Union Industries Show, conducted by the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department. This year’s event is scheduled to take place May 5-7 in Cleveland. Seafarers-contracted NCL America and several UIW-contracted shops already have agreed to donate goods or services for the event, which normally draws hundreds of thousands of guests. The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education also will be represented at the show, hosted at the Cleveland I-X Center. This is the 68th Union Industries Show, and the SIU has participated in the vast majority of them. This year’s event is being promoted under the name America@Work, followed by the tag-line “100% Union-Made, American-Made Products, Services and Jobs.” Admission is free. “This show is living proof that great career opportunities are still available in North America, and here in Cleveland. We invite people to see all the fine products and services that are still made in the U.S. by men and women earning excellent wages and benefits, with their rights and dignity protected by good union contracts,” said Charles Mercer, president of the Union Label and Services Department. “America at Work showcases hundreds Port Agent Bryan Powell ington State AFL-CIO Maritime Section. of successful corporations where management and labor cooperate to provide value to consumers and vital services to our communities. This show is all about the wonderful things that are possible when people work together.” Hundreds of exhibits covering more than 400,000 square feet of floor space will provide a close-up look at the wide range of union occupations and the skills and training required to perform those jobs. Show-goers can chat with skilled workers in many different crafts and trades along with the men and women who serve as instructors in dozens of union apprenticeship and training programs. This year’s show also features airline pilots and travel professionals, air traffic controllers, makeup artists, cake decorators, heavy equipment operators and more. Show producers expect more than 250,000 visitors. Crowds also will be drawn by the promise of more than $1 million in giveaways, including a topof-the-line Harley Davidson motorcycle, new cars from Ford and DaimlerChrysler, groceries, tools, household goods and refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers. Members of the American Federation of Musicians will provide live entertainment for visitors as they participate in interactive displays and demonstrations, learning the secrets of theatrical makeup, glass engraving, sheet metal fabrication, “high iron” construction, electrical installations and other fascinating pursuits. Seafarers LOG 9 �SIU Members: At Sea and Ashore Christmas Aboard the Matej Kocak The Sgt. Matej Kocak was in Diego Garcia over the Christmas holidays where crew members were treated to a festive party. The Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel is part of the Military Sealift Command fleet. These photos were sent to the LOG by Steward/Baker Evelina Barnes. AB Lorenzo Allen and AB Micheal Allain QMED/Electrician Matthew DeWitt and DEU Miguel Castro Bosun Donald Hood and AB Lorenzo Allen Left: QMED Levy Calzado and QMED Dan Amesbury Everyone Must Have a Hobby AB Fritz McDuffie Thomas Larkin shipped out for many years as a QMED with the NMU. He has been retired in Florida since 1994 and plays the bagpipes with the Sarasota Highlanders of Sarasota, Fla. Larkin, who was born in Rosscommon, Ireland, and has been playing the pipes since he was 16, served as pipe sergeant of the Kevin Barry Pipe Band in Boston for many years when he was shipping out of that port. He notes, “Everyone must have a hobby.” (In the photo below, Larkin is second from the left.) Left: The crew of the Sgt. Matej Kocak poses in front of the vessel’s Christmas tree. Around the Port of San Juan This photo was taken during a recent visit to Puerto Rico by the SIU-crewed Horizon Hawaii. From the left are AB Patrick Lavin, Port Agent Amancio Crespo and AB Isaac Vega. Remembering Brother Rivera Funeral services were held Jan. 12 aboard the stern container deck of the El Yunque for SIU pensioner Pedro Juan Perez Rivera, whose ashes were scattered at sea by Bosun George Perry. At the SIU hall in San Juan are (above photo, from left) AB Victor Velez, Port Agent Amancio Crespo and AB Jorge de Santiago. At left are (from left) AB Juan Ayala, AB Joseph Dupre and Bosun Anibal Matos. Aboard the Westward Venture With a tank serving as the background aboard the Westward Venture are (from left) GUDE Flavio Castillo, the chief mate, and AB Mark Smith (who sent this photo to the LOG). The SIU-crewed vessel, which is chartered by the Military Sealift Command, was in the Indian Ocean at the time this picture was taken. 10 Seafarers LOG April 2006 �AFL-CIO MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT – EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MTD Speakers Underscore Jones Act’s Value to America OSG May Invest in 17 Additional Vessels Speakers at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting Feb. 2425 in San Diego were especially strong in backing the Jones Act. Part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act (named in honor of its author, the late Senator Wesley Jones, RWash.) mandates that cargo moving between United States ports is carried on U.S.-crewed, U.S.flag, U.S.-owned and U.S.-built vessels. The cross-section of guest speakers—from labor, manage- ment and government—offered remarks highlighting numerous benefits stemming from the Jones Act. Those plusses include jobs for U.S. mariners and a boost to America’s national and economic security. Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, noted that the Jones Act “generates jobs, to be sure, but what it does fundamentally is it maintains the national defense maritime industrial base.” Perhaps the biggest surprise from the meetings occurred when Capt. Robert Johnston, senior vice president of SIU-contracted Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), told the audience that his company is exploring the possibility of investing in 17 new U.S.flag ships that would sail in the Jones Act trades—in addition to the 10 domestic tankers already being built at the unionized Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. “We believe we can deliver,” Johnston stated. “We believe you can build the ships in the United States. We also believe you can crew and maintain the ships in the United States.” But Johnston also pointed out that his company at one point nearly gave up its U.S.-flag fleet. In this case, political action saved the day—Johnston said the SIU and other pro-U.S.-flag interests helped secure fair changes in tax laws that partly enabled OSG and others to keep an American-flag presence. Now, “We’ve bet $750 million on the Jones Act” in the form of the new tankers, he said. “The Jones Act is here to stay. The other thing we’re betting on is well-trained seafarers. The environment that we’re dealing with today is becoming more and more difficult. The quality of the seafarers has to continually improve. We are very happy with what we see.” Johnston was far from alone in noting the importance of the Jones Act. U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (DContinued on page 12 ‘We Could Not Have Fought this War Without You’ General Schwartz, Vice Admiral Brewer Credit Mariners for Troop Support The head of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and the outgoing commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) emphatically and enthusiastically credited the U.S. Merchant Marine for its ongoing role in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom during remarks given at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting Feb. 2425 in San Diego. Gen. Norton Schwartz, com- mander, TRANSCOM, and Vice Adm. David Brewer, commander, MSC described not only U.S. mariners but the overall American maritime industry as indispensable partners in protecting national security, wherever the mission occurs. Schwartz said that MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco is someone “who has excelled as a partner in matters of national defense with us.” He noted the U.S. Merchant Marine’s centuries of service to the nation and declared that mariners remain vital. “The United States Transportation Command and the defense family depend on your labor. And just as it was true in Roosevelt’s generation, you’re indispensable,” Schwartz said. Additionally, he provided a basic explanation of TRANSCOM’s mission, noting that the agency oversees distribution in the defense supply chain. Through excellent cooperation between the military, other com- ponents of government and private industry, Schwartz said, the distribution process is improving in many ways—not just fiscally, but most importantly in terms of providing materiel where and when needed. “Working together really is the way ahead for each of us,” he observed. “It’s the Defense Logistics Agency, it’s the Department of Defense, it’s the Joint Chiefs, it’s the combatant commands—one of nine of which we have—and of course it includes you in the commercial enterprises that your labor sustains. “Fundamentally, it’s bringing everybody’s best thinking together on one goal, and that is a synchronized, totally visible, simplified end-to-end defense supply chain. This may sound like campaign language, but it’s not. It’s real because people depend on bombs, beans, bullets, medical supplies and so on. People in fact that are in harm’s way.” Continued on page 12 New Course for Health Reform Is State by State America’s health insurance crisis, something that affects every working family, proved a prime topic during the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting Feb. 2425 in San Diego. With health care costs easily rising much faster than incomes each year, it’s a crisis that in the long run threatens to cripple the U.S. economy. Among other efforts related to curbing health care costs and securing coverage for the tens of millions of Americans currently with no health insurance at all, the AFL-CIO is fighting back through a recently launched stateby-state grassroots campaign. The federation also is offering resistance through its support of the newly formed coalition America’s Agenda, headed by retired UFCW President Doug Dority. MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco described the health care crisis as one “that’s not going away. In fact, it’s getting worse. If you’ve negotiated a contract lately—or for that matter, if you’ve gone to the doctor— you know exactly what I mean.” Dority echoed and expanded upon those sentiments. “Every (union) president that I’ve talked to since we set up this foundation has told me that their number one domestic issue is health care— how to pay for the health care when it’s increasing at double digit inflation every year,” Dority said. “It’s something that the employers also have to address, and these are not bad employers that just want to put extra money in their pockets.” He pointed out that America’s Agenda, which includes prominent individuals and organizations from the medical community, is pushing for what is called “universal coverage” throughout the country. “You can’t solve the health and welfare problem at the bargaining table,” Dority insisted. “So we’ve developed a strategy to go out and [campaign in] some more progressive sates. They include Illinois and Massachusetts, and now we’ve reached into Maine and Vermont—all of which are moving to have universal health care in their state. “If we can get it in the state, then the federal government at some point will reach out and wrap their arms around this (by adopting a similar program). It can be done.” For instance, he reminded the audience that Medicare originally was a state-level program eventually duplicated by the federal government. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney noted that the federation last year launched grassroots campaigns at the state level ultimately aimed at securing good, affordable coverage for all. “We need a simple national health care plan that covers everybody,” he said. “If they won’t give us a fair health plan covering all families in all 50 states, we’ll give them hell in all 50 states.” U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie Continued on page 12 U.S. Maritime Industry Praised for Hurricane Relief Efforts Gulf Coast Experience Suggests Value in Separate Fleet for FEMA The American-flag maritime industry’s quick and efficient response to last year’s hurricanes that tore through the Gulf Coast drew appreciative words from several speakers at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting Feb. 2425 in San Diego. As part of the industry-wide effort, SIU members sailed aboard at least 14 vessels that were involved in relief operations following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More than 500 Seafarers sailed in those missions, including inland members. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta said he was “proud of the way the maritime community responded to the tragedies.” April 2006 He pointed out that this marked the first time the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) “has been called to action in response to a domestic emergency. In all we sent 11 (Maritime Administration) ships to our Gulf Coast states to help with relief and recovery operations. On board were hard-working crew members from the Seafarers International Union, MEBA and AMO. In essence they became an instant hospitality industry, hosting operation centers, hosting headquarters offices, providing housing, food and other support for over 1,000 police officers, relief workers, port workers, stevedores and others.” Turning with a smile to MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco, Mineta added, “Mike, I have to applaud your foresight in supporting steward classes for SIU members. The training certainly came in handy as they served up well over a quarter of a million meals, 3,500 meals a day (to relief workers and others on the ships). I had an opportunity to see these tireless crews in action when I toured the port of New Orleans right after landfall and the storm put our fifth-busiest port, the gateway to the nation’s interior out of commission. “But because of the work of all of you, it was only temporary. I’m happy to report that the port is back to 100 percent of preKatrina levels. That is quite a turnaround and our nation owes a profound debt of gratitude to the men and women who played such a critical role in making it happen. So on behalf of President Bush and Vice President Cheney and a very grateful American people: Thank you all. Thank you very, very much for your response to the hurricane relief effort and thanks to all of you for your continued contributions to the prosperity and the wellbeing of this great nation.” Eugene Magee, chief of the Maritime Administration’s Reserve Fleet Division, said that the maritime industry’s response to the hurricanes suggests the need for a reserve fleet specifically designated for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “We are looking to create a new program very similar to the Ready Reserve Force,” he stated. “That means jobs for workers and more ships.” Magee noted that a basic tenet of the new program would see ships arriving at “ground zero” within 12 to 24 hours after a disaster. In some cases—as occurred in New Orleans with two of the Cape ships as well as the USNS Pollux—it also may be possible and even preferable for vessels “to stay and ride out the storm in port. We have a heavy-weather mooring plan that the ship managers use.” Magee indicated that FEMA officials “are very enthusiastic. They are going to take this proContinued on page 12 Seafarers LOG 11 �AFL-CIO MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT – EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MTD Speakers Underscore Jones Act’s Value Continued from page 11 U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra S.C.) got straight to the point when he said, “Thank goodness the Jones Act is still in place to protect domestic shipping interests—otherwise our economic and national security would be in direct threat. I will always stand to protect the Jones Act and our domestic shipping industry. It may be time to expand the Jones Act.” U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie pointed to the Jones Act as a potential foundation for an expanded national maritime policy. He said he is carrying the message in Congress that “maritime has to be the number one security interest of this nation. Not just port security, but shipbuilding and a merchant marine owned and operated Capt. Robert Johnston, Senior VP, OSG under the Jones Act must become a fundamental premise of American policy.” U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (DCalif.) offered a word of thanks to mariners and others in the industry “for keeping it strong despite all the adversity that’s out there. Those of us that believe it’s the people that make our country and our industry strong pledge to you that the Jones Act will be preserved and that we will fight any waivers that are unnecessary.” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney credited U.S. maritime labor for being “so vigilant about keeping the Jones Act strong and enforced. It just makes common sense to make sure that critical ship- U.S. Rep. James Clyb ‘We Could Not Have Fought This War Without You’ Continued from page 11 Vice Adm. David Brewer, Commander, MSC Turning specifically to sealift, Schwartz lauded the value of the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) and also left no doubt that a strong U.S.-flag fleet is a must. “For the hundred or so ships that we have under way in a typical week, 40 percent or so and increasingly more are commercial for multiple carriers,” he stated. “Sealift is essential to victory. America’s capacity to engage its enemies at a distance, to provide humanitarian assistance at home and abroad, depends very, very much on your capabilities and know-how. The vast majority of how we get things done is through sealift. My commitment to you today and to Mike Sacco is that we will continue to work with you and with the Maritime Administration, our nation’s shipbuilders and owners to ensure that the nation’s commercial seapower is there for sustained and surge military operations.” Schwartz was a keynote speaker last year when the Alliance New York reflagged under the Stars and Stripes and enrolled in the MSP. He described the program as “brilliant” and indicated his hope that it may expand “in the not-too-distant future.” He also said that the reflagging ceremony “was truly symbolic of what I think is a rising tide of commitment to further strengthen the American Merchant Marine.” He concluded, “We’re better Gen. Norton Schwartz, Commander, TRANSCOM working as partners than we individuals. America’s capac engage our enemies at a dis depends on a strong and v merchant marine. We need counsel, your continued com ment and, of course, the able tance that you all bring with conviction to the na defense.” Vice Admiral Brewer equally passionate in desc the merchant marine’s impor “I’ve come to love this indu Brewer said. “We could not fought this war without this i try. I tell the American peopl all the time. The Transpor Command has moved the eq lent of the state of Utah durin war. That’s every man, wo New Course for Health Reform Is State by State Continued from page 11 U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) reminded everyone that health insurance was a big factor as U.S. auto manufacturers recently announced the layoffs of “not hundreds, not thousands but tens of thousands” of unionized workers. That’s despite the fact that labor, management and government alike all agree that today’s workers are more productive than ever. “If you’re more productive, you’re supposed to be sharing in the fruit of that production, but we’re not,” Abercrombie said. “We’ve got to band together. And if the American labor movement cannot do it, who is going to do it?” Doug Dority, President, America’s Agenda AFL-CIO President John Sweeney U.S. Maritime Industry Praised for Hurricane Relief Efforts Continued from page 11 gram forward.” James McGregor, president of SIU-contracted Ocean Shipholdings, Inc., related some of the behind-the-scenes efforts that occurred during the 2005 Labor Day weekend to mobilize vessels for the relief mission. He credited the SIU and other maritime unions for helping crew up the ships right away. “You can’t run the business we’re in if you don’t have the trained and qualified (shipboard) personnel and you don’t have them ready quickly,” he said. McGregor also provided a detailed look at each of the ships used in the relief effort—from the type of vessel to the crew complement. James McGregor, President, Ocean Shipholdings 12 Seafarers LOG U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta Eugene Magee, Chief of MarA Reserve Fleet Division April 2006 �burn are as city to stance viable d your mmitassish your ational was ribing rtance. ustry,” t have indusle that rtation quivang this oman, CWA Official Provides Cingular Update ping is done by U.S.-built, U.S.-owned and U.S.-crewed vessels. I wish we had similar laws when it comes to our defense industry, our oil industry, airlines and airports and our sea ports. They are simply too vital and too critical for any of them to be turned over to foreign nations, even friendly ones.” An estimated 70 percent of the oceangoing self-propelled vessels in the Jones Act fleet are militarily useful. This is crucial because when American forces defend our interests on foreign soil, 95 percent of the materiel they require moves in ships. child, all their household goods, all their vehicles, and enough fuel for them to survive for 1,000 years. That’s what you all have been doing. And that’s what the American people need to hear.” Brewer cited a recent trip to Korea and noted the extensive port construction and modernization taking place in that country. “They get it,” he said. “They understand that no nation can be a powerful nation unless you are a powerful maritime nation.” Like Schwartz, Brewer also indicated that a bigger MSP may be on the horizon. He said the current program—calling for 60 militarily useful, U.S.-flag commercial ships—“is not enough, period. I need more than that.” Communications Workers of America Vice President Ralph Maly updated the MTD executive board on the stark differences between union-contracted Cingular Wireless and its non-union competitor Verizon Wireless. Maly observed that because Verizon Communications is a union-represented company, some people are under the mistaken impression that Verizon Wireless is, too. In a resolution adopted by the executive board, the MTD noted, “Not only is Verizon Wireless a non-union company, but it also has a long record of attacking workers’ rights and blocking workers who only want to make a fair choice about union representation.” By contrast, Cingular Wireless—the nation’s biggest wireless company—respects the collective bargaining process. UMWA’s Kane Emphasizes Safety During the MTD meeting in San Diego, United Mine Workers of America Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Kane discussed the recent mine tragedies in West Virginia and the need for improved workplace safety in all industries. “There’s much that needs to be done and this union is determined that whether the accident happens in a union or non-union mine we’re going be there, because we truly speak for all miners,” Kane said. “We will not rest until all accidents are eliminated, all deaths come to an end and every miner in North America has a voice in the workplace.” MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco Brewer also said, “I have gone to the chief of naval operations and convinced him that civil service and commercial mariners are the answer to creating a stronger and better Navy.” He noted that as MSC gains vessels—including rescue ships, submarine tenders and additional prepositioning ships—it will mean more employment opportunities for civilian mariners (including those on the commercial side). With up to 14 new ships joining MSC’s fleet in the near future, “We’re talking about another 2,000 or 3,000 jobs,” he said. Finally, Brewer offered perhaps the highest measure of respect that a military officer can extend. He said that when discussing the U.S. military, “I’m not talking about just the Army or the Navy or the Marine Corps or the Air Force or the Coast Guard. I’m also talking about merchant mariners because merchant mariners are the ones who are carrying the freight. This country does not win wars without merchant mariners. They may take you for granted, but they can’t fight without you…. The maritime industry and the sailors who sail on my ships are just as powerful and just as important to the security of this nation as anybody else.” LEFT: Vice Adm. David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command (fourth from left) gladly posed for this photo with members of the SIU’s Government Services Division along with SIU VP Government Services Kermett Mangram (third from right) and SIU Assistant Vice President Government Services Chet Wheeler (second from left). The CIVMARS were among a number of rank-and-file members who attended the MTD executive board meeting in San Diego. RIGHT: MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (sixth from right) greets SIU members and fellow officials from Southern California following the executive board meeting. Pictured from left to right (beginning second from left) are Jason Stutes, Andrew Linares, Christina Mateer, Angelo Mateer, Robin Ballard, Emilio Palafox, Judy Chester, Warren Lombard, Carlos Solinap, Mike Sacco, Bill Stephens, John Cox, Jesselo Unabia, Sean Leeson and Vern Wallen. Ad April 2006 Seafarers LOG 13 �With Crowley Boatmen in San Diego Left: AB Craig Melwing These photos were taken aboard the Sea Cloud in late February in San Diego, where SIU boatmen employed by Crowley were regrouping after one of many days spent assisting on the much-publicized APL Panama project. The foreign-flag containership has been grounded in Ensenada, Mexico since Christmas and has become something of a tourist attraction while salvage crews and other workers attempt to move it back to sea. The Sea Cloud normally operates in Los Angeles as a general-purpose ship-assist tug but recently has provided much help with the Panama. The Sea Cloud (right) and Spartan are docked in San Diego as crew members prepare for the next assignment. Right: Capt. Ed Brady AB Herman Moningka, Wilmington Port Agent John Cox, Capt. Ed Brady Left: Boatman Jim Tank NMU PENSION, ANNUITY & 401(K) PLANS AND NMU VACATION PLAN IMPORTANT NOTICE: Trustee, Administration and Summary of Material Modifications for the Year 2005 SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN — COBRA NOTICE HEALTH CARE CONTINUATION Under federal law, a participant and his or her dependents have the right to elect to continue their Plan coverage in the event that they lose their eligibility. This right is granted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as “COBRA.” The COBRA law allows a participant and his or her dependents to temporarily extend their benefits at group rates in certain circumstances where coverage under the Plan would otherwise end. A participant and his or her dependents have a right to choose this continuation coverage if they lose their Plan coverage because the participant failed to meet the Plan’s seatime requirements. In addition, a participant and his or her dependents may have the right to choose continuation coverage if the participant becomes a pensioner ineligible for medical benefits. The participant’s dependents may also elect continuation coverage if they lose coverage under the Plan as the result of the participant’s (1) death; (2) divorce; or (3) Medicare eligibility. A child can also elect COBRA if as the result of his or her age, he or she is no longer a dependent under the Plan rules. If a member and his or her dependents feel that they may qualify, or if they would like more information concerning these rights, they should contact the Plan office at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Since there are important deadlines that apply to COBRA, please contact the Plan as soon as possible to receive a full explanation of the participant’s rights and his or her dependents’ rights. SEAFARERS BENEFIT PLANS NOTICE TO PARTICIPANTS Keep the Plan Informed of Your Address Changes It is important that all participants remember to keep the Plan informed of any change of address. Update Your Beneficiary Designations Keep your beneficiary designations up to date. In the event that your beneficiary predeceases you, you must submit a substitute designation. Inform the Plan of Your Divorce In order for your spouse to be eligible to receive continuation coverage (under COBRA) from the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan, you or your spouse must inform the Plan at the time of your divorce. Please submit a copy of the divorce decree to the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. Full-time College Students If your dependent child is a full-time college student, you must submit a letter of attendance every semester in order for your child to be covered by the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan P.O. Box 380 Piney Point, MD 20674 14 Seafarers LOG THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES - Co-Chairmen EMPLOYER TRUSTEES UNION TRUSTEES Thomas Murphy Marine Personnel & Provisioning, Inc. 1083 N. Collier Blvd, PMB #387 Marco Island, FL 34145 (941) 393-0435 David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer Seafarers International Union of N.A AGLIWD/NMU 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 AMENDMENTS & OTHER ITEMS NMU Pension Plan, Annuity Plan and 401(k) Plan: During 2005, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments of significant importance to the membership and the Plans. Generally the amendments: 1. Changed the cash-out provision effective March 28, 2005 to stipulate that in the event of a mandatory distribution greater than $1,000 the plan will rollover the funds into a qualified retirement account. 2. Provided for a 2 percent increase at December 31, 2005 for participants active in 2006. 3. Provided a thirteenth check for every retiree or beneficiary who is eligible to receive a pension benefit with an effective pension date of August 1, 2005 or earlier. 4. Provided a special election of additional pension benefits for Hurricane Katrina victims. NMU Vacation Plan: There were no changes in plan benefits in 2005. ADMINISTRATOR Miriam Bove NMU Benefit Plans 360 West 31st Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10001-2727 A LOS QUE HABLAN ESPANOL Esta noticia contiene informacion importante sobre sus derechos como marinero bajo los planes del Plan NMU Pension, Mantenimiento, y Vacacion. Si tuviera usted dificultades para comprender alguna parte de esta noticia se la explicara la misma en espanol. Esta ayuda podra recibirla en persona en la oficina principal del Plan, ubicada en el numero 360 Calle 31 Oeste Piso 3, Nueva York, NY 10001. O bien, puede comunicarse con el Representante del Plan en cualquier sucursal de la NMU . Las horas de oficina en todas estas sucursales son de 9:00 a.m. a 4:30 p.m. de Lunes a Viernes. Tambien podra escribir o llamar por telefono, si le resultara mas conveniente. No obstante, las cartas en espanol deberan ser dirigidas a la oficina del Plan de Nueva York. Las llamadas telefonicas para solicitar ayuda en espanol deberan tambien ser hechas a la oficina del Plan en Nueva York, cuyo numero de telefono es: 1-212-337-4900, o el numero de llamadas gratis: 1-888-424-4949. April 2006 �Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea May & June 2006 Membership Meetings FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2006 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals 0 0 3 14 2 9 43 27 0 7 25 39 13 5 2 3 18 2 31 23 1 5 8 12 6 14 26 20 1 12 3 29 12 1 18 11 10 2 31 19 0 4 2 4 1 1 15 9 0 3 7 10 9 1 1 0 3 1 11 8 1 0 8 5 0 5 23 18 0 11 6 19 14 5 2 3 18 2 29 20 0 4 5 5 6 8 10 8 1 8 4 15 10 2 6 2 4 5 15 12 0 2 2 2 1 0 6 3 0 2 4 6 5 2 1 0 2 1 7 0 0 2 2 3 1 1 8 9 0 4 6 17 5 3 0 3 11 2 11 7 2 0 7 21 5 19 63 47 1 14 33 77 17 7 1 11 28 1 59 42 5 11 8 33 7 14 49 41 3 13 12 44 28 7 17 17 18 8 58 42 4 4 3 6 1 4 31 18 1 5 8 21 12 1 1 2 5 2 26 17 266 241 90 189 130 46 95 455 435 172 0 0 3 3 1 5 6 12 0 4 4 15 7 1 3 3 9 0 13 12 2 1 5 6 2 3 12 16 0 4 3 10 5 5 1 2 11 3 17 6 0 0 0 4 0 4 13 4 0 3 0 7 6 0 0 0 1 1 5 7 0 0 5 1 0 8 8 11 0 7 5 3 2 1 2 4 8 0 10 8 1 3 4 2 1 5 9 10 0 5 5 3 6 2 0 2 5 1 14 4 1 0 0 4 1 2 7 2 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 3 3 5 1 0 0 1 2 0 3 7 1 0 2 2 9 3 2 1 1 4 1 11 3 1 0 4 7 1 12 22 30 1 9 7 26 13 4 4 4 14 1 21 20 1 0 6 16 4 5 17 29 1 8 7 19 17 8 2 3 16 6 24 10 3 0 1 7 0 5 11 10 0 4 1 13 9 1 1 0 4 0 6 14 101 114 55 83 82 35 53 201 199 90 0 0 1 4 0 15 18 18 1 6 6 14 5 0 4 2 21 2 16 15 0 0 1 9 6 5 6 11 0 4 3 7 16 0 5 2 4 1 9 7 0 0 2 4 0 0 3 6 1 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 1 2 0 5 10 17 1 3 3 13 5 0 1 0 8 1 10 22 0 0 0 5 2 6 2 4 0 1 2 4 12 0 2 1 1 0 4 6 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 3 2 0 1 5 4 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 5 0 5 6 1 0 1 4 1 21 37 27 1 9 14 33 13 4 4 2 46 3 28 41 0 0 2 12 5 8 9 21 0 10 4 14 20 1 5 2 7 1 15 13 0 0 1 4 0 1 5 12 1 2 4 4 6 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 148 96 30 102 52 16 41 290 149 49 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 1 0 0 5 5 1 0 0 0 3 0 4 1 2 4 2 7 2 7 23 12 0 3 5 34 9 0 26 2 15 0 19 10 5 3 2 10 1 10 12 11 1 2 5 18 17 0 18 3 6 0 16 9 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 2 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 5 0 4 1 1 2 1 5 0 5 9 9 0 4 3 17 3 0 5 0 7 0 11 7 2 3 1 2 0 2 6 7 0 1 2 8 4 0 16 1 3 0 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 5 2 0 1 4 8 0 0 0 0 7 0 8 1 1 5 3 12 2 12 41 25 0 8 10 61 18 0 23 3 20 1 31 10 5 9 3 22 3 13 33 24 1 5 6 41 28 0 17 2 12 3 21 21 29 182 149 26 89 67 0 41 286 269 544 633 324 400 353 164 189 987 1,069 580 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals Totals All Departments Algonac ..................Friday: May 12, June 9 Baltimore ................Thursday: May 11, June 8 Boston.....................Friday: May 12, June 9 Guam ......................Thursday: May 25, June 22 Honolulu .................Friday: May 19, June 16 Houston ..................Monday: May 15, June 12 Jacksonville ............Thursday: May 11, June 8 Joliet .......................Thursday: May 18, June 15 Mobile ....................Wednesday: May 17, June 14 New Orleans ...........Tuesday: May 16, June 13 New York................Tuesday: May 9, June 6 Norfolk ...................Thursday: May 11, June 8 Philadelphia ............Wednesday: May 10, June 7 Port Everglades.......Thursday: May 18, June 15 San Francisco .........Thursday: May 18, June 15 San Juan..................Thursday: May 11, June 8 St. Louis..................Friday: May 19, June 16 Tacoma ...................Friday: May 26, June 23 Wilmington ...........Monday: May 22, June 19 ............................................ Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals SUZANNE CASTONGUAY Please contact Tom Christie. You may e-mail him at gizorp1@hotmail.com. LOOKING FOR SHIPMATES Elton “Whitey” Wilde is looking to hear from any of his old shipmates who sailed with him aboard Delta, Waterman and Isthmian vessels, among others. You may write him at 813 Old Highway 11, Countryview Dr., Carriere, MS 39426. ANYONE WHO SAILED ON GLOMAR SHIPS Anyone who said aboard the Glomar Navigator or Glomar Explorer in 1973 is asked to contact John Swain at (616) 776-9920. ENTRY DEPARTMENT *“Total Registered” means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **“Registered on Beach” means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 2006 Piney Point .............Monday: May 8, June 5 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico San Francisco St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Trip Reliefs SDRF Contributions The last few editions of the LOG included lists of individuals who contributed to the Seafarers Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). Since then, additional contributions were received from the following individuals: Hezam Reyme Jason Brown Scott Bowmer Anthony Bartley Robert Stone Pablito Dagsa Mark Scardino Manuel Basas James Buckowski John Walsh Mark Paterson Nekeisha Patrick Otto Kurtz Delores Brown Rubin Mitchell Terrance Bing Arnolfo Bada Seafarers LOG 15 �Seafarers International Union Directory NMU Monthly Shipping & Registration Report FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2006 Michael Sacco, President TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Group I Group II Group III Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Group I Group II Group III Trip Reliefs REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Group I Group II Group III George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 BOSTON Marine Industrial Park/EDIC 27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 (617) 261-0790 GUAM P.O. Box 315242, Tamuning, Guam 96931-5242 Cliffline Office Ctr., Bldg. B, Suite 103 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96931 (671) 477-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 832-8767 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St., San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division: (415) 861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals DECK DEPARTMENT 1 6 2 10 14 1 0 1 35 1 1 2 3 4 0 2 0 13 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 Port Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 2 9 3 4 9 1 0 1 29 0 1 3 1 5 0 2 0 12 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 3 3 1 14 0 2 0 23 17 31 4 17 45 2 1 2 119 10 9 2 9 14 0 1 2 47 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 6 9 16 2 3 16 0 0 5 51 1 7 1 4 8 0 1 0 22 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 7 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 4 5 1 0 3 0 0 2 15 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 Port 0 1 1 1 5 0 0 2 10 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 4 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Boston Houston Jacksonville New Orleans New York Norfolk Tacoma Wilmington Totals 1 1 0 1 5 0 0 2 10 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 4 1 0 6 0 0 1 12 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 6 9 11 4 3 9 1 0 0 37 2 5 1 1 8 1 0 0 18 1 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 8 Totals All Departments 60 19 11 51 18 11 35 207 87 20 PICS-FROM-THE-PAST These photos were sent to the Seafarers LOG by Pensioner Russ Barrack of Jacksonville, N.C. They were taken in the spring of 1975 aboard a Hudson Waterways Corp. T-2 tanker—the first ship on which Barrack sailed. Those were the days of three men to a room and no air conditioning—“but they were great days,” he said in a note accompanying the photos. Above, in the ship’s mess hall, are (seated from left) “Recertified Bosun Gus Magoulas, Bosun Frank Swartz, OS Russ Barrack and OS Danny. Standing are ‘Whitey’ and Bosun Mario Zepeda.” Barrack, who said he hasn’t seen his fellow shipmates since that voyage in 1975, graduated from class 168 at the Paul Hall Center in 1974 and continually upgraded his skills, first to AB and finally to recertified bosun in 1993. He retired in 2002 and moved from Virginia to North Carolina. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with the LOG readership, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. April 2006 �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 WERNER BECHER, 71, became a Seafarer in 1966. Brother Becher, who was born in Germany, worked in the deck department. His first ship was the Connecticut. Brother Becher enhanced his seafaring abilities on two occasions at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. He most recently shipped on the Horizon Navigator. Brother Becher calls Waveland, Miss. home. CHARLES BROWN, 69, began sailing with the SIU in 1962 in New Orleans. Brother Brown initially shipped on the Del Alba in the steward department. In 1962, the Louisiana-born mariner upgraded his skills at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Brown’s most recent voyage was aboard the Inger. He makes his home in St. Louis. OLIVER DOTSON, 65, joined the ranks of the SIU in 1966. Brother Dotson is a Texas native. He first worked on a Delta Steamship Line vessel as a member of the deck department. He upgraded his skills several times at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Dotson last sailed aboard the El Faro. He is a resident of Texas City, Texas. AMERICO GARAYUA, 60, joined the SIU in 1969 in the port of New York. Brother Garayua first shipped on the Robin Kirk. Born in Guanica, P.R., Brother Garayua upgraded a number of times at the Paul Hall Center. His most recent voyage was on board the Horizon Crusader. Brother Garayua resides in Puerto Rico. HANS GOTTSCHLICH, 66, began his seafaring career in 1980. Brother Gottschlich first shipped from New Orleans on the Oceanic Independence. The deck department member was born in Germany. Brother Gottschlich upgraded in 2000 at the training school in Piney Point, Md. His most recent trip to sea was aboard the USNS Brittin. Brother Gottschlich lives in Florida. April 2006 WILBERT HAYWOOD, 67, joined the union in 1998. Brother Haywood’s first voyage was on the 2nd Lt. John Paul Bobo. He is a native of Hampton, Va. Brother Haywood attended the Piney Point school in 2000 and 2001 to upgrade his seafaring skills. His last ship was the USNS Effective. Brother Haywood calls Portsmouth, Va. home. WINSTON MARCHMAN, 70, hails from San Jose, Calif. Brother Marchman became an SIU member in 1991, first sailing aboard the USNS Harkness. Brother Marchman sailed in the steward department. He upgraded frequently at the union-affiliated school. Brother Marchman makes his home in Virginia Beach, Va. Prior to retiring from the union, he worked on the SL Pride. JOSE ORTIZ, 65, joined the SIU in 1977. Brother Ortiz, who was born in Puerto Rico, first sailed aboard a Hudson Waterways vessel. He enhanced his skills numerous times at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Ortiz most recently worked on the Maersk Carolina. He is a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y. MOSE PEACOCK JR., 60, began his seafaring career in 1978 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Peacock worked as a member of the steward department. His first ship was the Santa Maria. Brother Peacock attended classes on three occasions at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He most recently sailed on the SL Lighting. Brother Peacock resides in Bradenton, Fla. ALEX RELOJO, 66, was born in the Philippines. Brother Relojo joined the union in 1990, first sailing aboard the Independence. He upgraded his skills in 1991 and 2000 at the Piney Point school. Before retiring he worked on the Overseas Joyce. Brother Relojo makes his home in San Jose, Calif. LOUIS SANTIAGO, 68, launched his SIU career in 1956. Brother Santiago first sailed aboard the Del Sud, where he was a member of the engine department. The Puerto Rico-born mariner attended classes in 1976 at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Santiago continues to call Puerto Rico home. BENIGNO SANTOS, 62, joined the SIU in 1974 in the port of New York. Brother Santos’ first vessel was the San Juan. He was a member of the steward department. Brother Santos lives in Oviedo, Fla. VINCENT SIGUENZA JR., 61, became an SIU member in 1978 in the port of San Francisco. Born in Hawaii, Brother Siguenza shipped in the steward department. His first voyage was on the Santa Maria; his most recent was on the Grand Canyon State. Brother Siguenza resides in Las Vegas. VAINUU SILI, 62, joined the union in 1974 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Sili’s first ship was the Santa Maria; his last was the Horizon Navigator. He was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Brother Sili, who upgraded his skills often at the Paul Hall Center, worked in the steward department. He is a resident of Ewa Beach, Hawaii. INLAND JAMES RICE, 56, embarked on his SIU career in 1974. Boatman Rice first shipped on a vessel operated by CG Willis Inc. The North Carolina native upgraded his seafaring skills several times at the training facility in Piney Point, Md. Boatman Rice, who last worked aboard a Maritrans Operating Co. vessel, makes his home in Lowland, N.C. PAUL ROACH, 73, started shipping with the Seafarers in 1988 from the port of Mobile, Ala. Boatman Roach’s first SIU voyage was aboard the Energy Ammonia; his most recent was on the Crescent Mobile. The deck department member, who was born in Mobile, Ala., continues to reside in Alabama. GREAT LAKES DENNIS PRIDDLE, 62, joined the union in 1972. Brother Priddle sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Luedtke Engineering Company. He was born in Hazel Park, Mich. and now lives in Frankfort, Mich. Editor’s Note: The following brothers and sister, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, recently went on pension. CARSIE FAIRMAN, 67, began shipping with the NMU in 1965 from San Pedro, Calif. Brother Fairman, who is a native of Mississippi, first sailed on the Pasadena. His last ship was the Kittanning. JAMES DeCLARK, 58, joined the union in 1969 in the port of New Orleans. Brother DeClark Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1946 Voting on the ships of the Isthmian Steamship Company in the National Labor Relations Board election commenced on March 29. The first ship to be voted was the SS Mobile City in New Orleans, on Saturday, March 29. Within a few days, ballots were cast on the Wm. N. Byers in Galveston, the Nicaragua Victory and the Mandan Victory in Baltimore, the Thomas Cresap in New York and the Marine Fox in Seattle. All reports indicate a favorable SIU vote. (Editor’s note: The NLRB later certified the SIU as the bargaining representative of the company’s unlicensed mariners.) was born in Middletown, Pa. He most recently went to sea on the Lykes Navigator. WILLIE POMPY, 67, joined the NMU in 1968 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Pompy’s first voyage was on the Dick Lykes, where he worked as a member of the engine department. He most recently sailed aboard the Delaware Trader. TOM REAY, 56, was born in Lynn, Mass. Brother Reay became a union member in 1973. His first trip to sea, aboard the African Moon, originated from Boston, Mass. Brother Reay worked in the engine department. His most recent voyage was aboard the Keystone Georgia. GUS WEBSTER, 65, embarked on his NMU career in 1966, first sailing from New Orleans. Brother Webster was a member of the steward department. Prior to his retirement, he shipped on the Atigun Pass. In addition to the individuals listed above, the following NMU pensioners retired on the dates indicated. Name Age EDP Floyd, Anthony Hernandez, Pilar 65 66 March 1 Feb. 1 ing will be automatically given their lifeboat tickets after they have sailed for the required 90 days to gain certification. 1979 The LNG Libra, the sixth LNG vessel built by Energy Transport Company, set sail on its maiden voyage to Indonesia on April 18. The 986-foot ship becomes the eighth LNG vessel to fly the U.S. flag. Like all previous U.S.-flag LNG ships, the Libra is manned by SIU seamen. Most of the Libra’s crew has had prior experience on LNG ships. This Month In SIU History 1967 The United States Coast Guard recently granted approval of the lifeboat certification training at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. In the future, examinations for lifeboat certification will be given to seamen who attend the school after their lifeboat training without a wait to allow them to build up 90 days’ sea time. Under the arrangement with the Coast Guard, seafarers who pass the examination at the end of their lifeboat train- 1995 The SIU urged Congress to enact maritime revitalization legislation this year when the House Merchant Marine Oversight Panel held its first hearing on the Maritime Security Act of 1995 (H.R. 1350) on April 6. SIU President Michael Sacco, testifying on behalf of all U.S. maritime unions, told the panel, “Enactment of maritime reform legislation is essential to our nation. Our country’s security, the survival of our industry and thousands of American jobs are at stake.” H.R. 1350 was presented to Congress on March 10 by Transportation Secretary Federico Pena. The legislation calls for a 10-year, $1 billion program that would provide annual funding for approximately 50 U.S.-flag ships. Seafarers LOG 17 �Final Departures DEEP SEA JIM BARBACCIA Pensioner Jim Barbaccia, 83, passed away Dec. 7. Brother Barbaccia launched his SIU career in 1953 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Burbank Victory, on which he worked as a member of the deck department. Brother Barbaccia was born in New York. Prior to retiring in 1986, he sailed on the San Juan. Brother Barbaccia called Riverhead, N.Y. home. AARON FIELDS Pensioner Aaron Fields, 76, died Sept. 16. Brother Fields joined the union in 1956. Born in Louisiana, he first sailed on the Monarch of the Sea. Brother Fields retired in 1987 and made his home in Metairie, La. His last ship was the Venture. PETE HOPELAND Pensioner Pete Hopeland, 77, passed away Dec. 22. Brother Hopeland became a Seafarer in 1961 in New York. His first SIU voyage was aboard the Hurricane. Brother Hopeland, who was born in Poland, shipped in the deck department. His last voyage was on the Patriot. Brother Hopeland went on pension in 1988. He lived in Arizona. AVELINO MENDOZA Pensioner Avelino Mendoza, 67, died Sept. 20. Brother Mendoza joined the SIU in 1979, first sailing aboard a vessel operated by Anchorage Tankship Corp. Brother Mendoza, who was born in the Philippines, worked in the deck department. His last voyage was aboard the Florida. Brother Mendoza settled in Jersey City, N.J., and began receiving his retirement compensation in 2002. RAY MILLER Pensioner Ray Miller, 85, passed away Nov. 1. Brother Miller, a native of Hagerstown, Md., joined the SIU in 1961. He first sailed from New Orleans on board the Lafayette. He most recently worked on the Sealift Caribbean. Brother Miller was a resident of Rockport, Texas. The steward department member started collecting his retirement stipends in 1985. JOHN MOSS Pensioner John Moss, 77, died Sept. 29. Brother Moss began shipping with the SIU in 1966. His first vessel was the Bangor; his last was the Overseas Chicago. Brother Moss, who was born in Wisconsin, worked in the deck department. He became a 18 Seafarers LOG pensioner in 1994. Brother Moss resided in New Orleans. JAMES PRAYTOR Pensioner James Praytor, 80, passed away Sept. 17. Brother Praytor embarked on his seafaring career in 1956 in New York. His first trip to sea was aboard the Madaket. A native of Florida, Brother Praytor shipped in the engine department. He last sailed on the Horizon Consumer. Brother Praytor retired in 1990 and called Harvey, La. home. ALBERTO ROCHA Pensioner Alberto Rocha, 87, died Aug. 29 in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brother Rocha, who was born in Brazil, joined the union in 1943 in the port of New York. His first ship was the Ocean Star. Brother Rocha last sailed on the John Penn. He started receiving his pension in 1973. Brother Rocha made his home in New Orleans. REYNALDO ROSETE Pensioner Reynaldo Rosete, 69, passed away Sept. 30. Brother Rosete began his SIU career in 1970 in Seattle. He first sailed aboard the Steel Executive. Brother Rosete, who was born in the Philippines, made his last SIU voyage on the Mariner. He went on pension in 2002 and continued to live in the Philippines. JAMES SHORTELL Pensioner James Shortell, 83, died Nov. 27. Brother Shortell became a Seafarer in 1952. He first worked aboard vessels operated by Delta Steamship Lines. Brother Shortell was born in New York and worked in the deck department. He retired in 1987 and lived in San Francisco. INLAND DAVID JONES Pensioner David Jones, 74, passed away June 30. Boatman Jones joined the ranks of the SIU in 1951. The Virginia-born mariner last went to sea aboard a McAllister Towing Company vessel. Boatman Jones began collecting his pension in 1994. He was a resident of Chesapeake, Va. LLOYD ORR Pensioner Lloyd Orr, 80, died Aug. 11. Boatman Orr began his seafaring career in 1951, first working aboard American Bridge Company vessels. Boatman Orr was a native of Lecompte, La. His last voyage was on a G&H Towing Company vessel. Boatman Orr became a pensioner in 1987. He lived in Arkansas. GREAT LAKES MARVIN SCHMITZ Pensioner Marvin Schmitz, 71, passed away Oct. 31. Brother Schmitz joined the union in 1973. He first worked on Columbia Shipping Company vessels. Brother Schmitz, who was born in Wisconsin, sailed as a member of the deck department. Many of the vessels on which he shippped were operated by American Steamship Company. Brother Schmitz resided in his native state and went on pension in 1999. Editor’s Note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, have passed away. RAYMOND ADDISON Pensioner Raymond Addison, 74, passed away Oct. 11. Brother Addison became an NMU member in 1951, first sailing from the port of New Orleans aboard the Brinton Lykes. He sailed as a member of the steward department. Brother Addison, who was born in Louisiana, last worked on the Letitia Lykes. He retired in 1973. the NMU colors in 1941. Born in Jacksonville, Fla., he was a member of the steward department. Brother Floyd’s first voyage was on the Dorchester. The Florida native last worked aboard the Independence. In 1966, Brother Floyd began collecting his pension. KEMRON EBANKS Pensioner Kemron Ebanks, 74, passed away Oct. 1. Brother Ebanks joined the NMU in 1957, initially sailing from the port of New Orleans aboard the Gatun. He was born in Honduras. Brother Ebanks’ last sea voyage was on the James Lykes. He went on pension in 1993. DANIEL FEATHER Pensioner Daniel Feather, 82, died Oct. 16. Brother Feather commenced his seafaring career in 1943 in the port of New York. He first worked aboard the Eastern Crown as a member of the steward department. During his NMU career, Brother Feather also sailed in the engine department. He started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1973. HENRY FLOYD Pensioner Henry Floyd, 84, passed away Oct. 25. Brother Floyd donned Pensioner Jearline Porter, 76, died Sept. 25. Brother Porter became an NMU member in 1946, initially sailing from the port of Norfolk, Va. His first ship was the Black Jack; his last was the Chemical Pioneer. Brother Porter went on pension in 1993. PEDRO GIMENEZ Pensioner Pedro Gimenez, 81, died Sept. 18. Brother Gimenez joined the union in 1951 in the port of New York. He was born in San Juan, P.R. and shipped in the steward department. Prior to retiring in 1968, Brother Gimenez sailed on the United States. CARLOS VIRELLA Pensioner Carlos Virella, 86, passed away Oct. 16. Born in Guayama, P.R., Brother Virella began his NMU career in 1952. His first voyage was aboard the Washington. Brother Virella sailed as a member of the steward department. He began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1972. ROBERT MITCHELTREE Pensioner Robert Mitcheltree, 70, passed away Nov. 20. Brother Mitcheltree began sailing with the NMU in 1971 after serving in the U.S. Army. The deck department member was born in Iowa City, Iowa. Brother Mitcheltree retired in 1999 and resided in Houston. MELVIN DAVIS Pensioner Melvin Davis, 77, died Oct. 24. Brother Davis started his NMU career in 1944. He was a native of Virginia. Before retiring in 1983, Brother Davis shipped on the American Lynx. JEARLINE PORTER JOSE MUNDO Pensioner Jose Mundo, 83, passed away Sept. 25. Brother Mundo began his career with the NMU in 1949. He first shipped from the port of Baltimore, Md. aboard the Texas Trader. Born in Panama, Brother Mundo was a member of the engine department. He last sailed on the Adventure. Brother Mundo became a pensioner in 1987. ARTHUR NETTLES Pensioner Arthur Nettles, 79, died Sept. 27. Brother Nettles embarked on his seafaring career in 1949 in the port of Mobile, Ala. The steward department member, who was born in Alabama, most recently worked aboard the Texaco Mississippi. He started receiving his retirement stipends in 1988. WALTER PIERCE Pensioner Walter Pierce, 84, passed away Oct. 22. Brother Pierce started sailing with the NMU in 1970 from San Pedro, Calif. His first ship was the Buffalo Wallow. During his seafaring career, Brother Pierce shipped in the engine department. He last sailed aboard the Kittanning before retiring in 1983. Editor’s Note: In addition to the individuals listed above, the following NMU members, all of whom were pensioners, passed away on the dates indicated. Name Andrew, Charles Aviles, Ricardo Boswell, Lawrence Burns, James Calicchio, Vincent Calvente, Victor Chamorro, Hector Coates, James Crombie, James Cruz, Bernardino Geleta, Zigmund Giraudo, Emma Grucko, Michael Guterrez, Frank Harmacey, Constantine Hazen, Charles Higgins, Haman Johnson, Lawrence Kanazawa, Ken Lawless, Joseph Leon, Pedro Lopez, Ramona Martenez, Victor Martin, Freddy McDonough, Alberto Medina, Arturo Merrill, Edwin Montanez, Francisco Morales, Alberto Nelson, Chapman Padilla, Joseph Pintor, Juan Polete, Thomas Richmond, James Rodriguez, Samuel Scott, Anthony Seifried, John Shackelford, Russell Simon, Joseph Singleton, Joseph Strom, Kenneth Taville, Harley Tenreiro, Julio Valdez, Larry Vigo, Pedro Vilbar, Sofronio Webster, Andrew Williams, Arthur Age DOD 86 90 79 82 81 87 66 94 79 84 85 94 78 83 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Feb. 27 Dec. 9 Feb. 5 Feb. 2 Jan. 11 Jan. 11 Feb. 1 Feb. 13 Jan. 26 Feb. 26 Nov. 18 Jan. 3 78 71 88 79 82 89 95 82 81 81 78 79 71 84 84 87 85 81 88 78 84 70 92 90 78 55 80 80 86 79 86 97 80 84 Jan. 30 Jan. 16 Nov. 10 Feb. 23 Feb. 2 Jan. 29 Dec. 29 Jan. 13 Feb. 5 Jan. 21 Dec. 23 Feb. 22 Jan. 17 Jan. 8 Jan. 21 Feb. 1 Dec. 30 Jan. 31 Dec. 3 Jan. 8 Dec. 22 Dec. 18 Jan. 10 Feb. 19 Dec. 21 Jan. 8 Jan. 13 Dec. 23 Jan 21 Jan. 28 Jan. 21 Jan. 26 Feb. 7 Nov. 12 April 2006 �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occassion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the uniion’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 publicatiion. 1ST LT. JACK LUMMUS (American Overseas Marine), Jan. 30—Chairman William L. Bratton, Secretary Gregory N. Williams, Educational Director Joseph B. Callaghan, Engine Delegate Kenneth L. Couture. Chairman announced arrival of ship in Guam on Feb. 1 and advised crew to be ready for heavy work schedule, including bunkers, stores and military security training. He also discussed new launch time table for Guam and Saipan. Educational director urged mariners to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. List of upcoming courses is in each issue of Seafarers LOG. Treasurer stated $617 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department thanked fellow crew members for their support over last four months. Printer to be installed on crew’s computer and, hopefully, receipt of new copy machine. CHEMICAL TRADER (Intrepid Personnel), Jan. 29—Chairman Michael D. Wittenberg, Secretary Josue L. Iglesia, Educational Director Troy D. Banks, Steward Delegate Manes Sainvil. Chairman stated payoff to take place in Providence, R.I. He also spoke about changes made to health care and prescription benefits. He noted that crew members had lots of questions and requested more information and contact person. Secretary reminded Seafarers of importance to contributing to SPAD. Educational director encouraged everyone to take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer stated $2,414 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions were made to increase wages in next contract and lower age required to retire. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good meals every day. CP LIBERATOR (Marine Transport Lines), Jan. 27— Chairman Zeki Karaahmet, Secretary Alvin E. Major, Educational Director Ronnie L. Day Jr. Deck Delegate Terrell Alston, Engine Delegate Manuel A. Uy Jr., Steward Delegate Alan J. Wolansky. Chairman announced Jan. 28 payoff in Houston. He led discussion of president’s report from latest LOG, and spoke about crucial role SPAD contributions play in livelihood of Seafarers. Educational director advised mariners to check document expiration dates and start renewal process early, if necessary. Treasurer stated $10,241 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request made that transportation be provided from gangway to gate since taxis are not allowed on docks in Charleston. Thanks given to April 2006 steward department for job well done. INTREPID (Maersk Line Limited), Jan. 30—Chairman Frank P. Sena, Secretary Guillermo F. Thomas, Educational Director Elwyn L. Ford, Engine Delegate Erik Nappier. Chairman reported that new washer and dryer had been received aboard ship. Educational director urged members to upgrade seafaring skills at union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He also reminded them to check expiration dates on all documents and keep them current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request submitted for two reclining chairs as well as weight machines for crew and officer lounges. Vote of thanks given to steward department for good work and food. Next ports: Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif. SEABULK TRADER (Seabulk Tankers), Jan. 27—Chairman Robert J. Coleman, Secretary Ronald Tarantino, Educational Director LeBarron West. Chairman notified crew that vessel would anchor Jan. 29 on arrival in Lakes Charles, La. Payoff would take place at the dock with patrolman present. Educational director informed mariners of pullout section of January LOG devoted to Piney Point classes and descriptions of each course. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested washing machine be replaced. Members were asked to help environmental efforts by continuing to separate plastics from trash. Everyone was thanked for assisting in keeping house clean. USNS BOB HOPE (American Overseas Marine), Jan. 27— Chairman Eugene T. Grantham, Secretary Pedro R. Castillo, Educational Director Samuel Deason, Engine Delegate David M. Dunklin. Chairman stated payoff to take place Jan. 31 in Tacoma, Wash. Secretary reported smooth sailing during recent voyage. Treasurer stated $919.12 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members were asked to bring garbage to trash room on A deck before getting off ship and clean room for next person. USNS FISHER (American Overseas Marine), Jan. 22— Chairman William D. Leachman, Secretary Leslie Davis, Deck Delegate Luis A. Valerio, Steward Delegate Tamara A. Houston. Chairman reported good crew. Educational director encouraged everyone to attend upgrading classes at Seafarers-affiliated school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on transportation, which appears to be changing each trip. Thanks given to all three departments for great work. Next port and port of pay- off: Charleston, S.C. ACHIEVER (Maersk Line Limited), Feb.5—Chairman William Henderson, Secretary John G. Reid, Educational Director Christopher M. Devonish, Deck Delegate Craig A. Pare, Engine Delegate Gary J. Timmons, Steward Delegate Bernadette R. Yancy. Chairman thanked crew for a safe trip. Secretary stated stores were replenished in Houston and expressed gratitude to all aboard for a great trip. Educational director advised members to keep documents current and attend Piney Point training facility to upgrade skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested installation of satellite TV and radios in all rooms. GREEN DALE (Waterman Steamship Corp.), Feb. 6— Chairman William R. Britten, Secretary Julio J. Marcone, Deck Delegate William D. Dukes, Engine Delegates Arthur L. Guy, Steward Delegate Bienvenido C. Badillo. Chairman thanked steward department for great food during trip. He advised those leaving ship that yearly pay raise is still due and if they do not receive a check within a month, contact their hiring hall. Educational director informed crew they should take advantage of the many courses available at Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew would like internet access. Fans for rooms also would be appreciated since air conditioning is strained when in Persian Gulf. Clarification requested on OT for sanitary done outside normal working hours. Next port and port of payoff: Tacoma, Wash. HORIZON CRUSADER (Horizon Lines), Feb. 25— Chairman Antonio M. Mercado, Secretary Joseph P. Emidy, Steward Delegate Richard A. Gegenheimer. Chairman announced payoff Jan. 27 in Oakland, Calif. and thanked crew for helping keep ship clean. No beefs; disputed OT reported in engine department. Recommendations made regarding pension and medical plans, and suggestions given for new work rules in next contract. Crew members were advised to bring up all safety issues at safety meetings. Next port and port of payoff: Oakland, Calif. HORIZON ENTERPRISE (Horizon Lines), Feb. 7—Chairman George B. Khan, Secretary William E. Bryley, Educational Director Milan Dzurek. Chairman reported SIU apprentice to leave early due to father’s illness. Crew members pitched in to help offset cost of airline ticket to East Coast. He asked that crew keep him and his father in their prayers and hoped the apprentice will return to vessel, “as he will make a good shipmate one day.” Educational director urged members to keep track of expiration dates of shipping documents and upgrade at Piney Point facility as often as possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Secretary reminded departing crew to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen. Crew thanked steward department for barbecue and bosun for good trip. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. HORIZON RELIANCE (Horizon Lines), Feb. 12— Chairman Kissinfor N. Taylor, Secretary Brenda M. Kamiya, Educational Director David S. Fricker, Deck Delegate Gerald Freeman, Engine Delegate Gualberto M. Salaria, Steward Delegate Abdulla M. Baabbad. Chairman announced payoff Feb. 16. Secretary thanked crew members for being good shipmates and helping keep house clean. Educational director recommended everyone keep upgrading at Paul Hall Center. Treasurer stated $900 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Discussion held con- to utilize resources available at Piney Point school and stay on top of MMDs and passport renewal. Treasurer stated $8,172.08 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made pertaining to health care plan. Next ports: Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va. OVERSEAS HARRIETTE (OSG Ship Management), Feb. 4—Chairman Raymond J. Novak Jr., Secretary George Quinn, Educational Director Michael E. Valdez, Deck Delegate James L. Davis, Engine Delegate Sonny Kongmany, Steward Delegate USNS Yano Stops in Baltimore During a December stopover in the port of Baltimore, these photos of the USNS Yano’s galley gang were taken. The crew members shown are (clockwise, from top left) SA Jouan Jackson, Chief Steward Brandon Maeda, SA Daniel Miller and Chief Cook Tommy Smith. cerning upcoming contract negotiations in 2006. Before voting, Seafarers should make sure to read proposed contract and understand it. Next port: Oakland, Calif. MAERSK ALABAMA (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 14— Chairman Timothy D. Girard, Secretary Osvaldo Ramos, Educational Director Alfredo O. Cuevas, Deck Delegate William P. Foley, Engine Delegate Seller T. Brooks. Chairman encouraged members to renew MMDs before they expire and contribute to SPAD as it is our voice in Washington. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to lower retirement age. Entire crew was commended for good voyage and safe work. Next port: Dubai. MAERSK VIRGINIA (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 4— Chairman Jose F. Cahallero, Secretary Hugh E. Wildermuth, Educational Director Philip R. Ayotte, Deck Delegate Damon Lobel, Engine Delegate Anatoli Vetsinov, Steward Delegate Alexander P. Cordero. Chairman announced Feb. 11 payoff in Newark, N.J. Secretary gave a special thanks to all departments for help in maintaining safe, clean ship. Educational director urged crew Lamberto O. Palamos. Chairman announced Feb. 5 payoff in New Orleans. The next voyage will be to the Far East. He reviewed new requirements needed to maintain health care benefits. Educational director encouraged crew members to take advantage of resources available at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew requested direct deposit for allotment checks. Discussion held about purchase of DVDs, movie locker hours, watchstanding and pension benefits. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (LMS Ship Management), Feb. 26—Chairman Henry J. Gable Sr., Secretary Darryl K. Goggins, Educational Director Alfred G. Lane, Deck Delegate Tibby L. Clotter, Steward Delegate Rocel C. Alvarez. Chairman read and led discussion of president’s report from Seafarers LOG. Educational director encouraged all mariners to enhance seafaring abilities at SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to increase wages and pension amounts. Clarification requested on working dues and what it is used for. Crew members thanked steward department for hard work and great food. Seafarers LOG 19 �Know Your Rights Letter to the Editor Editor’s note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis. Remembering the John W. Brown I would like to inform all SIU members about a book in print that would be of much interest to Seafarers. The title is “Shipmates: The Restoration of the Liberty Ship John W. Brown.” The book is being published in two volumes. The first volume is now available; Volume II will be on sale sometime near the end of 2006. It can be purchased on the ship (located in Baltimore at Pier 1 on Clinton Street) or at a bookstore near you. The author, Ernest Imhoff, was managing editor of the Baltimore Evening Sun and is now a crew member on the ship. Many SIU members have toured the ship while in training at Piney Point, Md. And old timers who are retired and have sailed the Liberty ships certainly would have an interest in reading about the John W. Brown. This vessel was built in Baltimore in 1942 and saw war service, duty as a school ship in New York City and now has been restored to full operating status. The book is interesting and an easy read. Ted Vargas, Oiler SS John W. Brown Seafarer Publishes Memoir As a child of the Great Depression, Cornelius “Buzz” Sawyer was born in Darlington County, S.C. in 1930, the second youngest of 10 children. By the time he finished high school in 1947, he knew he would one day fulfill his dreams of traveling the world. It all started when he dropped out of college at Kentucky State in Frankfort in 1951 and signed on with the Navy. He later joined the NMU and made his first voyage to Australia and New Zealand, stopping briefly in Tahiti and Pago Pago in the late 1960s. Over the years, after a number of voyages to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and the Caribbean, he came ashore briefly between shipping to study history in San Francisco and serve as a substitute teacher in the Norfolk public school system. He also earned a B.A. in 1972 at San Francisco State University. Even while pursuing his education, Sawyer’s first love was the sea. He retired in 1996 and continued substitute teaching for several years before returning to California and Oregon. This book is about two voyages Sawyer made early in his NMU career—in 1966 and 1967—while serving as a messman aboard the Marine Charger. He had a talent for meeting people and learning as much as he could about the places he visited, including Australia, New Zealand and Japan and then into the heart of the Vietnam War Zone. Sawyer writes about not only the crew members and daily life aboard ship, but also about all the sights and sounds of the locations he visited and the life-long friends he made along the way. At every port, he encountered various perspectives when it came to addressing Civil Rights and other relevant issues of the day. He particularly enjoyed Australia and New Zealand, and when asked to come back and stay awhile, Sawyer said, “Thanks, but America is my home. That’s where I was born and I have no intention of living any place else; not even Africa where my roots are. I may visit other parts of the world as part of my job, but America will always be home to me through the best and worst of times.” The book, which sells for $14.95, is available through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 or e-mail corrections to kclements@seafarers.org HOME ADDRESS FORM (Please Print) Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone No.: ________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Social Security No.: ________ / ________ / ________ † Active SIU † Pensioner Book No.: ________________ † Other ____________________________________ This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. 4/06 20 Seafarers LOG TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? In order to help ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month—as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices—a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2006 �SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. for March through June of 2006. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman April 17 May 12 May 29 June 23 April 17 April 21 April 3 April 14 May 15 June 2 Radar April 3 April 14 Radar Renewal (one day) April 24 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops May 22 July 14 FOWT May 22 July 22 Junior Engineer April 3 June 23 Welding May 8 May 26 Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Safety Training - AB April 10 April 14 Government Vessels - FOWT April 3 April 7 May 15 May 19 June 26 June 30 April 3 April 14 June 5 June 16 Tankerman Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (*must have basic fire fighting) (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) Lifeboatman/Water Survival Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, two weeks prior to the beginning of a vocational course. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. Steward Upgrading Courses Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning March 20, 2006. Recertification Bosun April 10 May 8 UPGRADE AT THE PAUL HALL CENTER � UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Deep Sea Member † Lakes Member Date of Birth ______________________ † Inland Waters Member † If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________ Seniority _____________________________ Department _____________________ U.S. Citizen: Yes † No † Home Port _____________________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty (120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All OL, AB, JE and Tanker Assistant (DL) applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $140 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only, payable to LMSS. COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________ LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________ _____________________________________________________________________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? † Yes † No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? † Yes † No If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? † Yes † No Firefighting: † Yes † No CPR: † Yes † No Primary language spoken ________________________________________________ April 2006 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. RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/06 Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 671 — Graduating from the water survival class are unlicensed apprentices from class 671. They are (in alphabetical order) James Alaniz, Wayne Altoonian, Anthony Berry, Steven Blair, Reid Bland, Dominique Calvy, Lewis Coleman, Eutiquio Flores, Ricardo Former, Dallon Garnett, Michael Iverson, Jesse James, Demarius Jones, Ronald King, Derek King, Benjamin Mullis, Casey O’Brien, Dathennile Parker, Algernon Reed, Michael Sedita, Taufiq Wasel and Pavis Whitley. AB — Receiving certificates for completion of the AB class ending Feb. 17 are (in no specific order) Ricky Myers, Timothy Heil, Elliott Del Aguila, Nur Holis, James Roy, Vincent Deguzman, Cory Gardner, Carlo Blaajadia, Timothy Watson, Carlos Gibbons, Sergio Gonzalez, Adam Ramey, Teresa Ward, Karberto Ramos, Joselier Itaralde, Leon Curtis III, Carlos Lucas, Vincent Hamm and Geoffrey Hall. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. Chief Cook— Graduates of a recent chief cook class are (from left, front row) Elba Alfaro, Arlene Thomas, Chef John Dobson (instructor), and (back row) Paul Gelrud (galley staff), James Dewy, John Farreaux, Lisa Farreaux, Larry Bachelor and Syed Mortanza. Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — One group of unlicensed apprentices who graduated from the tanker assistant class ending Jan. 20 are (in no specific order) Christina Earhart, Ryan Tompkins, Joseph Wiegand, José Rodriguez, Gustavo Brown-Costas, Cornell Harris, Martin Hamilton, Dorthea Roxas, David Moses, Conan Leegard, Clifford Cronan, Brian Finney, Francis Miller, Jesse Tornabene, Vadym Gutara, Jimmie Lee Williams Jr., Robert Hayes, Isaac Jackson, Luke Short and Amber Short. Specially Trained OS — The 15 Alaska fishermen who completed the STOS course Feb. 10, as well as the Lifeboat and STCW courses, are (in no specific order) Thomas Bruckman, Edward Chalmers, Holli O’Neal, Stanley Ness, Donald Dix, Theodore Jenks, Paul Hannan, George Slattery, Kevin Stehlik, Glenn Van Dyck, Mitchell Martin, Daniel Coffey, Michael Wolf, Norman Degner and Francisca Guillen. Their instructor, Stacey Harris, is at far right. Computer Lab Classes Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — A second group of Any student who has registered for a class and finds—for whatever graduates of the tanker assistant class ending Jan. 20 are (in no specific order) Perry Anglin, Marvin Porter, Jeffrey Tyson, Russell Blanks, Natalie Tremblay, Robert Light, Richard Pérez, Ryan Wall, Tyson Sherman, David Vandecar, Enrique Defendini, Micheal Williams, LeGarrius Jones, Adrian Taylor, Brian Elam, Ben Hulsey, Michael Callahan, Juan Gonzalez, Terrence Sawyer and Marcus Campbell. reason—that he or she cannot attend, please inform the admissions department so that another student may Holding his certificates of achievement for courses recently completed in the computer lab is Scott Paxton with his instructor, Rick Prucha. 22 Seafarers LOG Welding — Under the instruction of Buzzy Andrews (center) are students who completed the welding course Feb. 10. They are Scott Paxton (left) and Greg Abalos Jr. take that place. April 2006 �Paul Hall Center Classes Tankerman (PIC) Barge — Completing this course Feb. 17 under the instruction of Mitch Oakley (second from left) are (in alphabetical order) John Andrade, James Fekany, Kenneth Graybill, John Lee, Robert Lutz Jr., Frank Monteiro and Jeff Obney Sr. Lifeboatman/Water Survival — Jan. 20 was graduation day for the 12 students in the water survival course. They are (in no specific order) Paul Gross, James Roy, Nur Holis, Budiman Chandra, Timothy Heil, Nagi Musaid, Kevin Stehlik, Rafael Irizarry, Victor Stewart, George Slattery, Ricky Myers and Yjohnzail Mack. Their instructor, Stan Beck, is at far right. STCW — NCL, Feb. 2: Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Upgrading Seafarers who completed the tanker assistant course Feb. 17 are (in no specific order) David Grasso, Ali Ali, Yjohnzail Mack, Tracy Hill, James Pierce, Steve Kastel, Terrance Bing, Miguel Abad, Tawrence Abrams, Christopher Vincenzo, Robert Taylor, David Merida, Arthur Kately III, Eugene Edwards Jr., Joseph Williams IV, Arnold Jackson, Todd Peden, Antonio Arizala, Korron Richardson and Justin VanPelt. (Note: not all are pictured.) Their instructor, Herb Walling, is at far right. Eric Aguilar-Mendelson, Eric Aoyagi, Cris Arsenio, Rita Avila, Daniel Bamba, Michael Barr, Nicholas Beasley, Judith Benjudah, Michael Betancourt, Rolando Cadungon, Keitha Carriere, Richard Charles, Yvonda Chatman, Edgar Cortez, Andy Cosgrove, Edward Cromaz, Christina Davis, Donald Dischler, Mark Dyer, Nicholas Fairbanks and Mari Suzuki. STCW — NCL, Feb. 2: Ashley Goguen, Jason Goldman, Ellyn Groves, Carlos Gutierrez, Darwin Harris, Sehala Headley, Joshua Hefton, Michelle Helms, Desiree Jackson, Marcus Jackson, Oscar Jaime, Angela Jerde, Steven Joseph, Hakki Kavsit, Richard Kier, Mathew Kline, Lloyd Knight, Doreen Latimer, Mike Leccese, Paul Lentini and Tayler Lindsey. Specially Trained OS — Unlicensed apprentices in Phase III of the program completed the STOS course Feb. 24. They are (in no specific order) Robert Hayes, Perry Anglin, Cliff Cronan, Brian Finney, Francis Miller, Juan Gonzalez, Justin Sleaton, David Vandecar, Conan Leegard, Micheal Williams, Jeffrey Tyson, Ben Julsey, Robert Light, Richard Perez and Vadym Gutara. (Note: not all are pictured.) Their instructor, Stan Beck, is second from right. April 2006 Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations — Completing this course Feb. 24 are Phase III unlicensed apprentices (in no specific order) Ryan Tompkins, Joseph Wiegand, Cornell Harris, Christina Earhart, Isaac Jackson, José Rodriguez, LeGarrius Jones, Jimmie Williams, Jesse Tornabene, Brian Elam, Russell Blanks, Michael Callahan, Gustavo Costas, Ryan Wall, Adrian Taylor, Tyson Sherman, Martin Hamilton and Wanda Davis. (Note: not all are pictured.) Specially Trained OS — Under the instuction of Stacey Harris (far left) are students who completed the STOS course Feb. 24. They are (in no specific order) unlicensed apprentices Brian Finey, Perry Anglin, Enrique Defendini, Natalie Tremblay and Clifford Cronan and SIU upgraders Nagi Musaid, Robert Godwin, Dionce Bright, Brian Jackson and Wilbur Williams. Seafarers LOG 23 �Volume 68, Number 4 April 2006 NMU Pension, Annuity & 401(k) Plans and NMU Vacation Plan Summary of 2005 Material Modifications — page 14 USNS Mercy Readies for Next Mission CIVMARS Prep Hospital Ship for Western Pacific Deployment A recent visit to the USNS Mercy in San Diego found members of the SIU’s Government Services Division expertly readying the hospital ship for a humanitarian mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia this spring. SIU CIVMARS sail in all three shipboard departments aboard the Mercy. The vessel’s deployment is expected to last five months and is being coordinated with several nations. Specific locations for the ship’s upcoming operations haven’t been announced, but the mission will be carried out in conjunction with non-governmental relief organizations, according to the U.S. Navy. For this deployment, the Mercy is being configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team of uniformed and civilian health care providers to offer a range of services ashore as well as aboard the ship. Like its sister ship, the Seafarers-crewed USNS Comfort, the Mercy supports medical and humanitarian assistance needs and can rapidly respond to a various situations on short notice. For instance, the hospital ship last year mobilized to help victims of the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in late 2004. That deployment resulted in the treatment of more than 9,500 patients and 19,512 medical procedures being performed in Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. The Mercy normally is based in San Diego. It can support various services such as casualty reception, optometry, physical therapy, burn care, and radiological, laboratory and dental treatments. The Mercy is 894 feet long and has a beam of 105 feet, 7 inches. The ship’s draft is listed at 32 feet, 10 inches; its displacement is 69,360 long tons. The vessel’s top speed is 17.5 knots. AB Oliver Jones blasts the ship’s deck. The Seafarers-crewed USNS Mercy has 12 fully equipped operating rooms, 1,000 hospital beds and a medical laboratory, among other equipment. SIU Asst. VP Government Services Chet Wheeler (right), 3rd Officer (and NMU hawsepiper) Richard Paramore AB Ovido Barongdan sands on deck. Yeoman Storekeeper Benjamin Guinto Jr. Jr. Supply Officer Reynaldo Sansano AB Dale Witham � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2006 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES HORIZON LINES CHARTERS NEW SHIPS ILO ADOPTS INNOVATIVE MARITIME CONVENTION FINANCIAL COMMITTEE OKAYS RECORDS U.S. FLEET’S PROGRESS, VALUE EMPHASIZED SIU MEMBERS CREW UP 3RD NCL AMERICA SHIP STEVE JUDD: REMEMBERING ONE OF THE BEST CREWS EARN MORE KUDOS FOR RELIEF MISSIONS FEDERAL COURT SAYS NO TO NSPS ITF GETS $240,000IN BACK PAY FOR CREW LAKES BOSUNS ATTEND ANNUAL MEETING MSC WELCOMES NEW COMMANDER CAR CARRIER JEAN ANNE IS NAMED MAGAZINES ‘SHIP OF THE YEAR’ APPRECIATIVE SIU RECERTIFIED STEWARDS SHARE HOW AND WHY UNION, SCHOOL WORK FOR THEM NORTHERN LIGHTS RECOGNIZED FOR ‘COMMITMENT’ IN OIF PORT AGENT POWELL APPOINTED TO STATE AFL-CIO COMMITTEE SIU, UIW TO PARTICIPATE IN ANNUAL UNION SHOW S.F. PORT AGENT COSS RETIRES MTD SPEAKERS UNDERSCORE JONES ACT’S VALUE TO AMERICA ‘WE COULD NOT HAVE FOUGHT THIS WAR WITHOUT YOU’ NEW COURSE FOR HEALTH REFORM IS STATE BY STATE U.S. MARITIME INDUSTRY PRAISED FOR HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS USNS MERCY READIES FOR NEXT MISSION CIVMARS PREP HOSPITAL SHIP FOR WESTERN PACIFIC DEPLOYMENT 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2006 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. 68, No. 4 2006 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/122a9f50d2e37ef116533a370068d626.pdf 1e5ff5432e3583d43c86257648d1134b PDF Text Text 41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19x:1545p00 3/27/2007 3:20 PM Page 1 Overseas Shipholding Orders 3 New ATBs Page 3 Volume 69, Number 4 April 2007 MTD Spotlights Progress, Opportunities U.S. Military Officials Emphasize Solid Backing for American-Flag Fleet The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meetings took place March 1-2 in Las Vegas. Representatives from Congress, the administration, the military, the maritime industry and the labor movement addressed the board on a wide range of key topics, including the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine and House passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. Pictured at the meetings, clockwise from upper left are: U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (left) with SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey; U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and MTD President Michael Sacco (who also is president of the SIU); some of the board members and guests; and Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command and MTD President Sacco. Coverage begins on page 3 and continues on pages 11-14. Paul Hall Center Adds Liquefied Gas Simulator SIU-Crewed Cape Washington Saluted for Latest Mission The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education has added a state-of-the-art liquefied gas (LG) cargo simulator. The simulator offers comprehensive training in LG familiarization, LG specialization and LG safety. Below, instructor Jim Shaffer (standing) helps student Nicholas Bridges use the simulator. Page 6. Following a recent deployment supporting American troops in Iraq, the Cape Washington early last month arrived in snowy Baltimore. QMED George Murphy (below right) was among the crew members commended by the U.S. Maritime Administration for their service. The ship is operated by SIU-contracted Crowley Liner Services. Page 24 (back page). TWIC Fees Published House Passes EFCA Page 2 Page 5 WWII Remembrance Page 10 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19x:2007-March 3/27/2007 2:15 PM Page 2 TSA Publishes TWIC Fees President’s Report Working for Working Families Both at the Maritime Trades Department executive board meetings last month and the AFL-CIO executive council meetings that followed, I joined with many other union presidents and other labor officials in helping re-focus and define the key goals of our movement. This is a constant, necessary exercise that helps ensure we’re all on the same page. On the surface, it usually involves routine procedures like adopting resolutions or passing policy statements. But those declarations are just the tip of the iceberg. They’re summaries that reflect detailed plans and deep commitments by our Michael Sacco unions, our state federations and central labor councils and other bodies dedicated to improving the way of life enjoyed by working families. Taking part in those meetings, it can be a lot to digest. Whether we’re tackling maritime issues like the Jones Act and the Maritime Security Program, or broader subjects such as health care and the right organize, it is important work that requires serious attention, planning and action. Nevertheless, a couple of the newest statements that jumped out at me were ones that covered the basics. One was an MTD statement about “outsourcing.” When we first heard that term many years ago, it probably didn’t hold much meaning. Today, of course, we know it’s a dirty word. Outsourcing is a tricky way of describing job losses, lower wages and disappearing benefits. It means class warfare as companies send good middle-class jobs overseas, all in the name of greater profits for CEOs and stockholders. In part, outsourcing explains why we hear rosy reports about the overall economy, while at the same time struggling homeowners try to decide between paying their electric bill and refilling their prescriptions. Outsourcing has cost millions of middle-class workers the livelihood for which they trained. Many of the first factory workers caught up in outsourcing went back to school for new jobs they were told are better suited for the global economy. They took classes to learn about computers and new work in that field. They were part of the high-tech boom of the mid- and late 1990s. Then a not-so-funny thing happened. Companies discovered that those jobs could be outsourced, too. And what advice is being given to those who have been outsourced a second time? Get over losing your job and train for one in the new global economy. It’s a grim picture but not one totally without hope. For instance, you may have read or heard about the fact that when America West completed its takeover of US Airways, the new company’s top officials realized that outsourced overseas call centers weren’t getting the job done. They reversed course and re-opened a call center in North Carolina. The MTD-affiliated Communications Workers represented the workers at the original call center and that union once again represents those women and men. The company noted it may cost more to pay the American workers, but it cost less overall because the job was done right the first time. At the risk of saying, “We told you so,” they could have saved themselves a lot of time and money by listening to those of us in the trade union movement in the first place. Sending jobs overseas to take advantage of workers in lands without labor laws is penny-wise but pound-foolish. Beyond that, it’s morally bankrupt. As we said in our MTD statement, “The great American and Canadian economies were built on the back of the middle class. These working men and women made the cars, appliances, clothing and other goods the world craved. It should be no different today. Companies deserve to make a profit, but the middle class deserves to reap their share of the rewards. They should not be cast aside as an expendable cost of business. They should be respected for what they can and do bring to a company’s bottom line.” In that same vein, the AFL-CIO executive council adopted a six-point plan to promote domestic job creation and keeping good jobs at home. Our position included that good-paying jobs with adequate health care and retirement benefits shouldn’t merely be goals—they should be realities in today’s America. We can get there by promoting true partnerships between labor, management and government. We can get there by ensuring that workers enjoy the fundamental freedom to join unions and by holding corporations accountable for their actions under our laws and standards. We can get there by protecting workers’ rights in all trade agreements and by rebuilding our manufacturing base. We can get there by providing important public services to all Americans, especially education for our children and care for those most in need. We can and will get there through solidarity and hard work. It’s a tall order, but I have no doubt the labor movement is up to the task. Volume 69, Number 4 The Federal Register dated March 20, 2007 includes a rule from the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration spelling out user fees for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The standard fee will be $137.50. The reduced fee for applicants who have completed a “prior comparable threat assessment” is $105.25. The text of the rule appears below. Mariners with a current z-card/merchant mariner document are eligible for the reduced-fee TWIC, but those individuals should note that such a credential may not be valid for the full five years. Rather, it will expire when the “threat assessment” on the z-card/merchant mariner document expires, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Mariners will have the option of applying for a standard-fee TWIC, which would be valid for five years. In other TWIC news, the SIU is scheduled to host a meeting in early April at its headquarters building in Camp Springs, Md. involving the TWIC contractor, other maritime unions and other affected parties. The first part of the TWIC program itself was set to launch late last month, despite a lag in information on applying for the credential. Mariners will be required to carry a TWIC by September 2008. In the meantime a valid z-card along with a second form of identification will be considered as meeting the requirements of the TWIC program. For the latest information, visit the TSA’s TWIC web site at www.tsa.gov/twic and the Coast Guard web site http://homeport.uscg.mil/. Additionally, the union continues to post updates at www.seafarers.org, normally in the “Heard at Headquarters” and Seafarers LOG sections. Seafarers also are encouraged to check with their port agent from time to time for updates. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Transportation Security Administration ACTION: Rule. SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Each year, in accordance with the SIU Constitution, rank-andfile Seafarers are elected by their fellow members to serve on a financial committee. The group is tasked with examining the union’s finances for the prior calendar year and then formally reporting its findings to the SIU secretary-treasurer. Subsequently, the committee’s report is read in all ports at the union’s monthly membership meetings and presented for membership approval. The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org 2 Seafarers LOG SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Background The Department of Homeland Security, through TSA and the U.S. Coast Guard, published a final rule on January 25, 2007 that establishes requirements for merchant mariners and workers who need unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. These individuals must successfully complete a security threat assessment conducted by TSA and hold a TWIC that TSA issues in order to enter secure areas without escort. As required by sec. 520 of the 2004 DHS Appropriations Act, Pub. L. 108–90, TSA must collect user fees to cover the costs of implementing the TWIC program, including the cost to enroll all applicants, complete security threat assessments, provide an appeal and waiver process, and issue biometric credentials. Continued on page 14 Rank-and-File Financial Committee Approves Union’s Records for 2006 April 2007 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 8990675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 20790-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2007 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. Guard, published a final rule on January 25, 2007 that establishes requirements for merchant mariners and workers who need unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. These individuals must successfully complete a security threat assessment conducted by TSA and hold a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) in order to enter secure areas without escort. As required by statute, all TWIC applicants must pay a user fee to cover TSA’s costs to enroll applicants, complete security threat assessments, and issue biometric credentials. With this notice, we announce the user fees as follows: The total standard fee for a TWIC applicant is $137.25 and the reduced fee for applicants who have completed a prior comparable threat assessment is $105.25. DATES: Effective March 20, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Beyer, Office of the Chief Counsel, TSA–2, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202–4220; telephone (571) 227–2657; facsimile (571) 227–1380; e-mail Christine.Beyer@dhs.gov. Last month, seven Seafarers fulfilled this constitutional mandate by reviewing the SIU’s financial records for the year 2006. The committee found those records in good order. Serving on the committee were ABs Jerry Costello, Kim M. Brown, Nick Milosevic and Chris Nardone, QMED/Electrician Dave Sexton and Stewards Jerome Davis and Samuel Raines. “We did a thorough review and found everything in good shape,” said Costello, who chaired the committee. “The committee consisted of a good group of rank-and-file members and they all did very well.” In its report, the committee wrote, “We find that the Headquarters of the Union is taking all steps possible to safeguard Union funds and to see that the disbursements of the Union are in accordance with the authority delegated to them and that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to increase day-to-day efficiency of our operation.” The committee worked at SIU headquarters during the first full week of March. Article X, Section 14-c of the SIU Constitution spells out the duties of the annual financial committee as well as rules and procedures for electing the committee. At right, members who served on the financial committee are pictured with SIU officials last month at union headquarters. Standing from left are Assistant VP Ambrose Cucinotta, AB Nick Milosevic, AB Kim M. Brown, AB Jerry Costello, Recertified Steward Jerome Davis, QMED/ Electrician Dave Sexton, Steward/Baker Samuel Raines, AB Chris Nardone and SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel. In photo above, committee members near the end of their review. April 2007 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19x:2007-March 3/27/2007 2:16 PM Page 3 U.S. Fleet’s Importance, Labor’s Vitality in Focus at MTD Meetings Buoyed by strong words of support from guest speakers and news that the U.S. House of Representatives had passed a key labor-backed bill, the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meetings March 1-2 in Las Vegas were characterized by great energy and wellfounded optimism. Representatives from Congress, the administration, the military, the maritime industry and the labor movement addressed the board. Most discussed the U.S. Merchant Marine’s ongoing role in bolstering national and economic security. Many talked about grassroots political action and how it has helped put the labor movement in better position to promote a pro-worker agenda. Additionally, the guest speakers and MTD President Michael Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, examined other important topics including promoting U.S.-flag LNG vessels See pages 11-14 for full coverage of the MTD meetings and U.S. crews; the U.S. Maritime Security Program; domestic shipbuilding; the Transportation Worker Identification Card program and its related Merchant Mariner Qualification Credential initiative; port dredging; infrastructure development; container taxes; keeping good jobs in the U.S.; MTD President Michael Sacco (right) welcomes AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Richard Trumka. Good News Comes in Threes: OSG Orders Jones Act ATBs The unprecedented Jones Act fleet expansion by SIUcontracted Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), which commenced in April 2005, continues full speed ahead with the recent announcement of additional vessel orders. The New York-headquartered conglomerate on March 6 announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to build three new articulated tug barges (ATBs) for service in the Jones Act market. Each of the new ATBs will boast a 290,000-barrel capacity and be connected to a different 12,000 horsepower tugboat. The units carry individual price tags of $90 million and are slated for delivery from late 2009 through late 2010. Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., in Mobile, Ala. will build the tugboats while its affiliated company, Florida’s Tampa Bay Shipbuilding & Repair Company, will construct the barges. These latest vessel orders come on the heels of, and in addition to, previous orders for three new 335,000-barrel April 2007 ATBs by OSG. Those vessels, which will come from the same builders, will be delivered this year and into 2008. Additionally, OSG officials in February announced that they had signed an agreement in principle under which Aker Philadelphia Shipyard will construct up to six additional Veteran-Class product tankers. This agreement calls for three ships, includes options for three more and came in the wake of a 2005 agreement which had Aker building 10 Veteran-Class OSG tankers with deliveries to be complete in 2010. OSG’s diversified U.S.-flag fleet offers unique, flexible benefits to customers who require different transport options within the U.S. Jones Act market. According to OSG, the three new ATBs will add 148,200 deadweight tons to the company’s U.S.-flag fleet. Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded tanker companies in the world. the Employee Free Choice Act (passed in the House on March 1); support for U.S. troops; trade agreement standards; cabotage laws and more. The MTD consists of 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing approximately 5.5 million working men and women. In order of appearance, the following people addressed the executive board: U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton; Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; Alaska Tanker Co. President and CEO Anil Mathur; Lake Carriers’ Association President James Weakley; U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Devon Brennan; U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (DMiss.); AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Richard Trumka; Lt. Gen. Robert Dail, director, Defense Logistics Agency; U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (DHawaii); and U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.). In his opening remarks, Sacco pointed to orders for new U.S.flag ships to be constructed in Philadelphia and San Diego, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley mixed in some humorous comments along with serious remarks about labor-backed candidates and their responsibilities to advance the interests of America’s working families. MTD President Michael Sacco is seated at right. respectively, as representative of the progress than can be made by MTD affiliates working together. “That’s what I call great news,” he said, while also acknowledging there have been some rough spots along the way. “Union workers building unioncrewed, American-owned, American-flag ships.” SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez (right) is pictured with Lt. Gen. Robert Dail, director of the Defense Logistics Agency. Powell, Ware Appointed To SIU Assistant VP Slots Two SIU officials recently were selected for appointment to the office of assistant vice president. They are Archie Ware, formerly the port agent in Jacksonville, Fla., and Bryan Powell, who previously worked as port agent in Tacoma, Wash. Ware was appointed to the post of SIU assistant vice president for contracts and contracts enforcement while Powell was named SIU assistant vice president of the West Coast. Ware replaces the late Brother Steve Judd who passed away in March 2006; Powell fills the slot vacated by former Asst. VP West Coast Don Anderson who retired in October. Ware embarked on his career with the Seafarers in 1978, joining in the port of New York. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native sailed in all three shipboard departments but eventually chose the deck department, earning his AB ticket in 1982. He completed bosun recertification at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in 1994. Prior to assuming duties as port agent in Jacksonville in 2005, he served in the same capacities at the ports of Houston and San Francisco. “I would like to thank the Bryan Powell Archie Ware entire union membership for everything they have done for me and my family over the years,” Ware said. “I consider everyone in the SIU as my family.” Powell launched his career with the SIU in late 1993 in the port of Piney Point, Md. After graduating from the unlicensed apprentice program at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center, Powell was ready to experience life at sea. His initial years were spent in the engine department; he later moved into the steward department where he sailed for the next six years. During this time, Powell advanced to the rating of steward/baker and in 1999 decided to upgrade his skills at the Paul Hall Center. It was at that junc- ture that he came ashore to work as a union official. Since that time, Powell has worked as a union representative in various ports, including headquarters, Piney Point, Houston, Jacksonville and Wilmington. In 2002, he was appointed port agent in Tacoma. He remained in that post until being tapped for appointment to his current position. “I was honored to receive this appointment, and greatly appreciate the confidence and support I have received from President Mike Sacco, the executive board and the membership,” Powell said. “It is an honor to serve the union.” Powell is working on the completion of his MBA degree from the University of Phoenix. Seafarers LOG 3 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:30 PM Page 4 SIU’s Vincenzo Appointed To State Labor Committee SIU Safety Director Joe Vincenzo recently was appointed to the Washington State Labor Council’s Education, Training and Apprenticeship Committee. Vincenzo, based at the SIU hall in Tacoma, Wash., is scheduled to serve a three-year term on the committee ending Dec. 31, 2009. The council is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The committee meets quarterly, in conjunction with Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council meetings in various locations around the state. The committee concentrates on public and vocational education and statewide apprenticeship programs. Vincenzo started sailing with the SIU in 1991 in the port of Honolulu as a member of the engine department. His first vessel was the cruise ship Constitution. He sailed with American Hawaii Cruises until June 1995 when he returned to the University of Massachusetts in Boston. After completing his bache- SIU Tacoma Safety Director Joe Vincenzo lor’s degree, Vincenzo worked as a legal manager for a few years before returning to sea in 2000. He most recently sailed as a QMED aboard ASMEA’s Jack Lummus, then came ashore in 2003 to work for the union. The Washington State Labor Council represents and provides services for hundreds of local unions and trade councils throughout Washington state. Its core programs are legislative advocacy, political action, communications and media relations, and assistance with organizing campaigns. Notice Anthrax Immunization Program Resumption On March 7, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memo directing the immediate resumption of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program. The SIU has been informed that, effective immediately, the U.S. Military Sealift Command is resuming anthrax immunizations for personnel embarked on MSC vessels, including civilian and contract mariners, until further notice. Seafarers are advised to check with their port agent for additional information. Retired Matson President Mulholland Dies at 65 Charles Bradley Mulholland III, 65, former president and chief executive officer of Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation Co., died Feb. 20 in Oakland, Calif., from complications of cancer. He was 65. “Brad Mulholland had a remarkable career with Matson,” said James Andrasick, president and CEO of Matson, who succeeded Mulholland. “His achievements were impressive and far-reaching. Equally impressive, Brad had a warm, personable style that touched everyone he knew. He was always ready and eager to share his vast knowledge of our industry and he had a natural gift as a teacher and mentor.” Mulholland was respected and liked by SIU officials and members who knew him. He was a fourth-generation Californian and was known as C.B. or Brad. 4 Seafarers LOG He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Seal Beach, Calif. After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, the selfproclaimed “surf bum” went to work at Matson’s offices in Wilmington, Calif. as an assistant booking clerk. Mulholland rose through the ranks of the San Francisco-based shipping line and was promoted to head of the freight division in 1979. He became president of the company’s terminal subsidiary in 1986. Some four years later in 1990, Mulholland was named president of Matson; he became CEO in 1992. By the time he retired in 2004 Mulholland was executive vice president of Alexander and Baldwin (A&B), Matson’s parent company based in Honolulu. He later was board vice chairman of Matson SIU members and officers aboard the LTC John U.D. Page are pictured with a plaque signifying the “Constant Care Award” for safe operations. SIU-Crewed Page Honored Crew Recognized for Consistently Safe Operations The SIU-crewed LTC John U.D. Page recently was recognized for its outstanding record of safe operations. The Page is part of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command fleet and is operated by Seafarerscontracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL), which is based in Norfolk, Va. The honor, the “Constant Care Award,” was established last year to recognize vessels within the MLL fleet that have operated for at least five years without a lost time accident (LTA). According to the company, the award is named after part of a 1946 quote from Maersk founder A.P. Moller, who said, “No loss should hit us which can be avoided with constant care.” It also serves to focus ongoing attention on safety. Maersk reported that on Jan. 28, 2007, the award formally was presented to the Page by Port Engineer Pablito Pakingan while the vessel was at anchor in Diego Garcia, British East Indian Ocean Territory. Captain Kurt Breitfeller, the ship’s master, accepted the award on behalf of the vessel’s crew and officers. The captain challenged his crew to move forward with this safety culture and instill it on each and every vessel on which they serve in the future, according to a written communications from Navigation as well as a director of both companies. Mulholland’s career was marked with new and innovative initiatives, including pioneering the concept of ocean carriers leasing and managing their own terminals to improve shipping services. Matson moved to an “open-top” configuration of its ships during Mulholland’s tenure as a senior executive, according to Honolulu’s Pacific Business News, and the company’s intermodal division, today called Matson Integrated Logistics, was nurtured under his management. “Customers today want more than shipping,” Mulholland told the publication during a 2002 interview when Matson’s logistics operation expanded. “This gives our customers more reasons to use us. It also gives us another chance to make money.” In 1999, he led a joint venture between Matson and Stevedoring Services of America (SSA Marine), a marine terminal operator and stevedore company. The company combined port operations on the West Coast and con- The LTC John U.D. Page the company. The Page is one of two ammunition ships operated by Maersk for MSC. Of course, other Seafarers who sailed aboard the Page during the previous five years also share in the credit, but those on board the vessel when the award was presented were: Bosun Jerry Sobieraj, ABs Eugene Evans, Oleg Pankratov, Jeffrey Pearce, Stephen Snapp, Steve Wilson, Russell Luther and Timothy Heil, QMEDs Carlos Perez and Kevin McArdell, QMED/Electrician Ronnie Day, Steward/Baker Joseph Jones, Chief Cook Gary Ramirez and GUDEs Saeed Alahmadi and Anthony Moore. tinues to be successful today. “He was passionate about Matson and his service to Hawaii,” said Jon Hemingway, chief executive officer of SSA Marine, who has been friends with Mulholland for 16 years. “He was a progressive thinker and a change agent in his industry and company.” Mulholland also exuded integrity, and was straightforward and honest throughout his career, Hemingway said, adding that Mulholland always treated co-workers and service providers with respect, no matter what position they held. In 1996, Mulholland received the Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award from the United Seamen’s Service. He also served as an industry spokesman on key issues such as the Jones Act and the U.S. Merchant Marine’s importance to national and economic security. Mulholland was a lifetime member of the National Defense Transportation Association and served on the boards of the Pacific Maritime Association, the Brad Mulholland was respected throughout the maritime industry. San Francisco Bay Area Council and the National Maritime Museum Association in San Francisco. He also served for 10 years on the Mainland Distribution Committee of the A&B Foundation, the company’s charitable giving arm. Mulholland is survived by his wife, Leslie, and two grown children, Sara and Mark. Funeral services were private. April 2007 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:30 PM Page 5 House Passes Employee Free Choice Act The U.S. House of Representatives, following more than five hours of historic debate, on March 1 passed H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The act requires employers to recognize a union when a majority of workers sign up for representation—a procedure that would eliminate many of the delays and illegal employer abuses that routinely happen in the current union election process. The EFCA also increases the penalties for employers who violate worker rights and provides for the arbitration of first contracts if the employer and union fail to reach agreement after a year of bargaining. The measure passed by a margin of 241-185 with bipartisan support. Labor leaders and congressional supporters hailed the vote as the most important labor law reform legislation in 70 years, an answer to the declining fortunes of middle-class workers and the growing income divide. AFLCIO President John Sweeney said the House vote “…marks a momentous turning point in the growing movement to restore our nation’s middle class. Today, the voices of tens of millions of working people who deserve the right to make a free choice to bargain for a better life have been heard and heeded on Capitol Hill. Because of today’s vote, the future looks a little brighter to all Americans who have watched corporations celebrate record profits, but have themselves been shut out of the party, left with stagnant wages and facing soaring costs. “A union card is the single best ticket into the middle class and, thanks to the Employee Free Choice Act, working people may finally have the chance to be part of a union,” the AFL-CIO president concluded. “Congress today has recognized that collective bargaining is critical in this democracy as it is in every other democracy around FINAL NOTICE Economic Pride Adjustments Crew members employed aboard the vessels named below at any time during the specified dates may be due an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA), as per stipulations in the respective agreements with the ship operators which existed at that time. To verify employment, please forward copies of discharges or pay vouchers to the contracts department at the union’s headquarters: 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Members writing to the contracts department should include their current address. Upon receipt of the employment verification, monies due, if any, will be processed and sent to the address specified in the letter mailed to the contracts department. Please note that the dates listed below—from the late 1980s—are correct. The union published multiple notices concerning the EPA beginning in 1989 and received responses from many but not all eligible crew members. AMSEA MV 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez January 1, 1987-December 31, 1989 MV 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo PFC Dwayne T. Williams MV Jack Lummus MV William R. Button January 1, 1988-December 31, 1989 MAERSK MV 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman MV PVT Harry Fisher MV Cpl. Louis Hauge Jr. MV PFC William Baugh MV PFC James Anderson January 1, 1988-December 31, 1989 OCEAN SHIPHOLDING MV Paul Buck MV Samuel Cobb 1987, 1988 and up to March 31, 1989 MV Gus Darnell January 1, 1989-March 31, 1989 MV Lawrence Gianella MV Richard Matthiesen 1988 and up to March 31, 1989 WATERMAN Sgt. Matej Kocak Pfc. Eugene Obregon Maj. Stephen W. Pless January 1, 1989-December 31, 1989 Please note this is the final notice that will appear and any outstanding claims must be received by June 30, 2007 to be evaluated. April 2007 the world,” said Larry Cohen, chair of the AFL-CIO Executive Council Committee on Organizing. Cohen, who also is president of the Communications Workers of America, continued, “Passage today of the Employee Free Choice Act by the House of Representative is a first step toward restoring the core of the preamble of the National Labor Relations Act passed 70 years ago that commits our government to promote collective bargaining in the workplace, not an endless legal battle with management declaring war on their own employees.” “The Employee Free Choice Act puts democracy back in the workplace so the decision to join a union can be made by the workers the union would represent,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) told colleagues. “This is the standard right that we routinely demand for workers around the world. We should accept no less a standard here in America.” The EFCA has strong bipartisan support with 233 co-sponsors. Some House members made it clear that the purpose of the bill was not pro-union or pro-business, but pro-worker. During the debate on the House floor, House Speaker Pelosi said, “Democrats believe we must make our economy fairer. We took the first step in our first 100 hours, with a strong bipartisan vote to increase the minimum wage. And today, we take the next step, with a strong bipartisan vote to ensure that America’s working families have the right to organize. “The right to organize means a better future for them, and for all of us,” Pelosi continued. “It means a future that is economically and socially just, a future where the workplace is safe, a future where our retirement is secure. Many of the benefits all workers enjoy today . . . are the result of the struggles of organized labor. Their victories have not just benefited union workers, but all workers. Unions have helped make America the most prosperous, most productive nation in the world, with a vibrant middle class so essential to our democracy.” A large segment of America’s business community attacked the bill and lobbied heavily against it. Some called it the “Employee Intimidation Act” and others falsely claimed that the EFCA would eliminate the secret ballot provision that’s currently in place. Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.), who worked for 13 years in a gar- ment factory, called the allegations a smokescreen. The real issue, he said, is whether workers can have the opportunity to improve their lives and the future for their children. “I would not be here today as a member of the United States Congress if it were not for my union,” he said. “My union helped me send my kids to college. It helped me buy a house…. But sadly more and more Americans are seeing these opportunities slip away.” The EFCA is a key priority for working families. The AFL-CIO sent more than 5 million e-mail messages to online activists on the Employee Free Choice Act. During a week of action, workers in more than 100 cities met with members of Congress and community leaders to push for passage of the act. Actions included conferences, worker roundtables, rallies and other gatherings, with workers and union and community leaders meeting with at least 130 members of Congress. The legislation now will move to the U.S. Senate where it faces an uncertain future. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) said he will introduce the bill in the Senate soon, where it will likely face a filibuster. Chaotic Runaway-Flag Saga Reinforces ITF’s Effectiveness The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is worth its weight—if not significantly more—in gold for mariners around the world. That point was driven home once again in February when ITF inspectors in England successfully brought an end to a tense and potentially hostile situation by negotiating the payment of back wages owed crewmen aboard the Merchant Brilliant. The Latvian-owned, Jamaican-registered RO/RO vessel on Feb. 20 was arrested in Belfast, Ireland when ITF inspectors discovered that the vessel owners had failed to make good on a previous payment of more than $150,000 that in December 2006 had been ordered by the Irish Court. The chain of events that followed this discovery would keep many in the worldwide maritime community anxious if not outright jittery for the next several days. While in port, crew members claimed they were owed $200,000 in back pay and sought assistance from the ITF. Irish ITF Inspectors Ken Fleming and Bill Anderson dispatched to the vessel in hopes of negotiating a speedy settlement. The resulting talks between the ITF and the owners of the vessel, ADG Ship Management SIA, ended in dispute. ADG insisted that the previous wages already had been paid while the federation argued otherwise. Norfolk Lines, the company that had chartered the Merchant Brilliant for its freight services, intervened and requested that the crew continue its voyage despite not having being paid. Under protest, the crew—a combination of 20 Russians and Latvians— agreed to leave the Belfast area and sail the vessel to Heysham, England on condition that Fleming and Anderson accompanied them. Upon its arrival at Heysham, however, Norfolk Lines took the Merchant Brilliant off of charter and completely disassociated itself with ADG. Consequently, the harbor master insisted that the Merchant Brilliant leave port to make way for other vessels. After complying with the harbor master’s directives and sailing some three miles out from port, the vessel anchored. Talks then resumed between the ITF inspectors and two owner-appointed Russian representatives. On two occasions, the discussions again proved fruitless. At that juncture, according to reports, 10 of the crew members barricaded themselves into a room after the Russian representatives made threats against them, their homes and families. ITF Inspectors Fleming and Anderson joined the crew, one source said, feeling that their presence might help protect them. An agreement on the back wage issue finally was reached at around noon the following day (Feb. 21), but the promised cash was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, while negotiations had been ongoing, seven of the crew had thrown in the towel, stating that they had had enough. According to Fleming, they were mainly the most recently hired, were owed less and largely were putting on acts because of a mixture of the intimidation to which they had been subjected and their belief that the company was never going to pay them, regardless of what they promised. The remaining crew members were told that if they wanted to get paid, they’d have to return to Belfast, not Heysham where they were first told to collect it. They were then told that another vessel would fetch their money and that it would be in Heysham. Finally, they were told that the owners would return the following day and pay up themselves. Fleming, however, discovered that the owners a day earlier already had remitted the money and further that it was aboard the Merchant Brilliant. Despite its less-than-stellar record of keeping promises in the past, ADG on the afternoon of Feb. 22 finally made good on its obligation and paid the crew members their wages. It took place while the Merchant Brilliant was en route to port in Heysham. Fleming, who witnessed the payoff, said, “This is the first major step in settling this ugly dispute and putting it behind us. The next step is to get all the crew members on their way home.” The crew was flown to Russia on Feb. 23 aboard flights arranged by the ITF. Most of them departed England during the early morning hours; one flew out at around 2 p.m. “This case is over,” said Fleming. “The crew is safe and homeward bound.” According to the British Rail Maritime and Transport Union, a similar dispute arose with ADG in November 2006. The Merchant Brilliant’s sister ship, the Merchant Bravery, was detained in Dublin by the Irish High Court until arrears were paid to the crew. Crew members involved in that episode, however, told ITF inspectors that they were later forced to give the money back. The Merchant Bravery no longer operates in Irish waters. Seafarers LOG 5 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:2007-March 3/27/2007 2:20 PM Page 6 Training Director Eglinton Retires Duties Greatly Evolved During 34 Years in Piney Point When Bill Eglinton first drove to the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. for a job interview, he pulled off the road twice to call and ask if he’d missed the turnoff. He was told to keep driving south. That happened in early 1973, shortly before Eglinton became an instructor at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education (then known as the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship). Since then, the school has grown tremendously—and, for better or worse, many of the pastoral areas nearby have given way to development. One could say Eglinton’s duties underwent an even more radical expansion and change since those first days as an instructor. Between then and his official retirement last month, he became a respected and wellknown representative for U.S. mariners on numerous high-level domestic and international maritime bodies. At the school, he most recently served as director of training—a position he filled since 1980. His commitment to the union, school and industry in general didn’t end upon his retirement. With mariners facing (among other upcoming challenges) the new TWIC and merchant mariner credential programs, Eglinton will remain available for freelance assignments—a development sincerely appreciated by SIU officials. “Bill’s always been a good guy and done a good job, but I Newly retired Director of Training Bill Eglinton says his fondest memories “are from teaching. I truly loved it.” think what really needs to be said is that his duties went far beyond being a vocational director,” stated Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan, who worked with Eglinton for 34 years. “When you think of all those acronyms—MERPAC, NMSAC, ITF and many others —you get an idea of how much he has meant to the school and the union, because he’s served on all of them. We wish him the best, but he’s really not going away. No one could fill those shoes.” SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel often worked with Eglinton on international maritime matters. “He was very instrumental in STCW negotiations, protecting our seafarers during those talks,” Heindel recalled. “He did a great job of educating not only our member- QMEDs Receive Full Books During the February membership meeting in Piney Point, Md., QMEDs Scott Spilman and Antoine Rainey received their full union books. In photo above, SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez administers the oath to Spilman (left) and Rainey. Pictured in the group photo below are (from left) VP Contracts George Tricker, President Michael Sacco, Spilman, Rainey, SecretaryTreasurer David Heindel, Tellez and VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi. ship but the U.S. public in general about compliance. Bill also played a big role looking out for U.S. mariners right after 9/11. Of course, he helped many Seafarers upgrade their skills throughout the years.” Assistant Director of Training J.C. Wiegman pointed to the school’s progress under Eglinton as evidence of his effectiveness. “The accomplishments are many, from tanker safety programs to the TRB (training record book, which Eglinton developed) and the implementation of STCW,” Wiegman noted. “In between regulatory requirements, there were cruise ships and militarycontracted company needs that were met, plus inland programs. The school upgraded by adding a fire fighting facility, full mission bridge simulation, engine room simulation and supporting programs just to name a few of his many achievements as director of training. I wish him fair winds and following seas.” Born in Claremont, N.H., Eglinton graduated from the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School in 1972 and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1983. Since 1991, he has served as a member of U.S. delegations to International Maritime Organization meetings conducted in London. He was appointed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to serve on the Coast Guard’s Maritime and Homeland Security task group. He also has authored marine engineering books. A retired member of the U.S. Naval Reserves, Eglinton continues serving on working groups with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Security Advisory Committee and (separately) Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), among other endeavors. At the Paul Hall Center, he was instrumental in the school’s obtaining degree-granting status (associate’s degrees in nautical science and marine engineering, respectively). He also developed or assisted in putting together the School Adds Liquefied Gas Simulator A cutting-edge liquefied gas (LG) cargo simulator has been installed at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Developed by Transas, a highly regarded company, the simulator offers comprehensive training in LG familiarization, LG specialization and LG safety. “The simulator is a competency- and assessmentbased training system,” noted J.C. Wiegman, assistant director of training at the Paul Hall Center, which is located in Piney Point, Md. “What this means for students is they will learn or hone the ability to load and unload a vessel with liquid gas cargo. This simulator has a lot of features. It’ll help them with system alignment, cargo-pump operation, loading and discharge alignment, the ballast system, inert gas system and all the auxiliary systems necessary to complete the evolution, whatever the operation may be. It also will help students understand the volatility of the cargo.” The LG simulator’s components are wide-ranging but thorough. For instance, there is a segment covering load-control systems with sub-categories as follows: trim, draft, heel and stability; shearing force; bending moment calculation; cargo and ballast-level calculation; oil temperature effect on ullage (unfilled space in a container of liquid); and trend operation. When utilizing the simulator to study cargo plan The simulator, developed by Transas, incorporates all the newest technology. 6 Seafarers LOG center’s curriculums for LNG ships, welding, refrigeration, diesel and third assistant engineer, to name but a few. “My most cherished memories are from teaching,” Eglinton said. “I truly loved it. Watching students suddenly get that ‘Bingo! I got it!’ look on their faces cannot be replaced by any other line of work.” Reflecting on his career, Eglinton mentioned many challenges and some daunting tasks. But there were lighthearted moments, too. His funniest experience took place in the early 1990s while teaching crowd control aboard an American Hawaii Cruises vessel. “I went aboard in Portland, Ore. and had five days to instruct the unlicensed crew—two classes of 25 per day,” he remembered. “On the last day, I walked into the auditorium and there were only about 16 people seated for the class. I did all the lectures first and then started the roleplaying—how to handle drunken passengers, hysterical parents looking for their children, etc. “When I asked for a volunteer to role-play an inebriated passenger, immediately there were 16 falling-down-drunk students in front of me. I then asked for someone to be a distraught parent, and promptly had 16 people giving Academy Award performances. They suddenly stopped upon seeing my bewildered look, as I’m looking around for the Candid Camera, and laughingly explained that they were the ship’s entertainment crew: actors, actresses, singers, band members. Yeah, they got me!” Instructor Jim Shaffer (standing) assists student Mervin Cruzat on the new liquefied gas simulator. overviews, students also will learn about cargo operations planning, cargo type control, cargo data control and alarms in abnormal situations. Additional topics that will be taught by using the simulator include the following (among others): Ballast system (ballast operation, gravity flow, flow animation and valve dynamics); after-peak part of cargo system (discharge, loading, pump activity, striping pumps and emergency procedures); terminal connections (discharge, loading, flow animation, terminal connection, berth, cargo type selection and emergency procedures); inert gas plant (inert gas generation; gas cooling, drying and blowing; gas freeing operation and auxiliary operation); inert gas distribution line (tank inerting, in-tank atmosphere control, and pressure breaker operation); load control system (shearing force, bending moment calculation, cargo and ballast level calculation, oil temperature effect on ullage, and trend operation); cargo plan overview (cargo operations planning, cargo type control, cargo data control, and alarm in abnormal situations); and forepick part of cargo system (discharge, loading, flow animation, pump activity, striping pumps and emergency procedures). Current Paul Hall Center classes that can take advantage of the new simulator include tankerman assistant-LG and tankerman-PIC-LG. April 2007 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19x:1545p00 3/27/2007 2:18 PM Page 7 SIU Stewards’ Recipe for Success Features Hard Work, Persistence been sailing for 26 years and has gone around the world twice. “I want to personally thank the SIU and the school for giving me this opportunity to come and attend the recertification course,” he said. “I’d like to give a special thanks to President Michael Sacco and the staff around him for the hard work they do. Without them we would not be as strong as we are now. To continue to be strong, we have to perform our jobs as professional sailors. “To the trainees,” he concluded, “always do your part and learn to work together as a team. Without teamwork you will fail.” Wehr joined the SIU in 1992 and was a member of trainee class 502. “At that time, I was far away from home and looking for something different to do,” said Wehr, whose home port is Jacksonville, Fla. “After grading from Piney Point, they flew me to Singapore. To say the least, it opened my eyes to the true scope of the world around me.” He then offered his gratitude for his training experience. “This is a tremendous facility. Only through dedication, hard work and loyalty would it stand the test of time. So thanks to all who year in and out make this school the crowning jewel of the SIU.” After telling the trainees how fortunate he was to have had someone to teach him about the inner workings of the steward department and the history of the SIU, Wehr advised them that productivity on the job was key. “The bottom line is getting the job done, professionally and efficiently,” he said. “Effectively doing your jobs reflects well on our work force and our union. The steward recertification course, like most of the other classes offered at the Paul Hall Center, blends hands-on training with classroom instruction. Topics and training components include communications, computer lab, first aid and CPR, fire fighting, small arms training, sanitation, international maritime conventions and much more. As the students approached the culmination of their training, they met with representatives of the union’s various departments at headquarters, including the contracts department, Seafarers Plans and others. They also toured Washington, D.C. and visited the AFL-CIO and the Maritime Trades Department. Vernon Wallen Lewis Johansen Allan Bright Jimmie Reddick Graduates Credit Union, School for Facilitating Advancement Hard work, persistence and sacrifice all were key ingredients extolled by the union’s eight newest recertified stewards as they formulated their individual recipes for advancement up the food preparation and galley supervision ladder. Each of them reached their respective culinary apexes in the union last month when they graduated from the steward recertification course at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Stewards Allan Bright, Jerome Davis, Lewis Johansen, Mohamed Kamer, Jimmie Reddick, Vernon Wallen, Daniel Wehr and Emmanuel Zephyr each completed the program, a four-week curriculum considered top instruction for mariners in the steward department. Five of the eight briefly shared their experiences, respective backgrounds and perspectives on the class with rank-andfile members, upgraders and unlicensed apprentices during remarks at the March SIU membership meeting in Piney Point. The remaining three (Kramer, Reddick and Wallen) departed early and were not available to offer comments. While their details varied, each of the stewards expressed appreciation for how the union not only helped them find their niche, but also enabled them to earn a good living and provide for their families. They also credited the school for helping them advance in their ratings. Davis, who hails from New York, was the first to address those in attendance. “I began my Daniel Wehr Recertified stewards and SIU officials gather for photo at union headquarters in mid-February. Pictured from left to right are Vernon Wallen, Allan Bright, Jerome Davis, Jimmie Reddick, SIU President Michael Sacco, Emmanuel Zephyr, Mohamed Kamer, Daniel Wehr, Lewis Johansen, SIU VP Rene Lioeanjie and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. career in 1977 in Brooklyn with the former NMU,” he said. Davis, who still sails out of the port of New York, has upgraded at the school on two previous occasions. Leadership and its value was the single most important thing he learned from the course, he told fellow members. He also said the course enhanced his appreciation for discipline, teamwork and hard work. “Setting a good example for others is always important in our chosen profession,” Davis said. “And I think it’s important to take time out to share your life experiences with others, especially with unlicensed apprentices and upgraders. “I’ve seen a lot of my childhood friends fall by the wayside over the years,” he said, “I don’t want that to happen to any of you.” Davis concluded his remarks by thanking the SIU and NMU for keeping him “safe, out of trouble and (from) becoming a victim of the mean city streets” over the years. Davis also thanked SIU President Michael Sacco and his staff for recognizing “the importance of getting young as well as older people involved in a profession that yields great opportunities for a lifetime.” Bright joined the union 30 years ago in St Louis and graduated from trainee class 235. Stewards hone their skills at the Paul Hall Center’s culinary lab April 2007 “The SIU has been good to me over the years,” said Bright. “I have ups and down in my life, but knew I could always depend on the SIU to be there for me and get me a job. During my career, I have been on a lot of different ships from the old tankers to the most modern vessels in the fleet. “This whole experience of upgrading has been very educational to me,” Bright continued. “Everything from learning how contracts work to going to Washington D.C. and to headquarters to learn how SPAD works was very interesting.” Addressing the trainees, Bright said, “Things have changed a lot since I came into the union, but the demands are much the same. When you go out there, work hard, ask questions, have fun, save your money and donate to SPAD because it gets us jobs.” The SIU is the second career at sea for Johansen, whose home port is Tacoma, Wash. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he joined the union in 1991 in Seattle, Wash. “One of the careers is still going on and I hope it continues for a very long time,” he said. Johansen thanked the entire Paul Hall Center staff for his upgrading experience and what he learned. “My knowledge has been greatly enhanced and I will always value the things you taught me.” Johansen sent a special thanks to his wife and daughter, and to his son who is serving in Iraq. He concluded by asking all present to keep the people of New Orleans and the armed forces in Iraq in their prayers. Zephyr launched his career as a merchant mariner with NMU. “I think the merger of the NMU into the SIU was the best thing that ever happened to us,” he said. “Everything is much better now and the union is stronger. Zephyr, who sails out of Wilmington, Calif., said he has Seafarers LOG 7 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 2:25 PM Page 8 Government Services Division States Case in Hotel Dispute On Feb. 15 and 16, an arbitration hearing between the SIU Government Services Division and Military Sealift Fleet Support Command took place at the SIU hall in Norfolk, Va. The hearing signaled a continuation of union efforts to help ensure that CIVMARS aren’t required to stay in substandard hotels selected by MSC. Consistent with the normal schedule in arbitration hearings, a ruling isn’t expected until later this spring or summer. “This hearing was an example of the consistent hard work and dedication on the part of the SIU in looking after and aggressively defending the best interests of Government Services Division mariners,” said Bosun’s Mate William Bushey, who participated in the hearing. The following individuals also represented the union at the hearing: Assistant Vice President Government Services Chester Wheeler, SIU Tacoma Safety Director Joe Vincenzo, Patrolman Maurice Cokes, AB Denise Seaman and Union Counsel Deborah Kleinberg. Vice President Government Services Kermett Mangram assisted in the preparation for this matter. CIVMARS typically have to perform certain shoreside functions required by the agency as they rotate on and off ships. During those periods and as they get ready to accept a shipboard assignment, CIVMARS are required to stay at hotels selected Retired NMU President Shannon Wall Dies at 87 Shannon J. Wall, retired president of the National Maritime Union (NMU), passed away Feb. 2 at his home in Sequim, Wash. due to natural causes. He was 87. Wall served as NMU president from 1973 until his retirement in 1990. He was the union’s second president, succeeding Joseph Curran. In addition to advocating for a strong U.S.-flag fleet, he was very active in the long, ultimately successful fight to secure veterans’ status for U.S. mariners who sailed in World War II. “I worked with Shannon since 1959 and he was a personal friend,” noted SIU Vice President at Large René Lioeanjie, who served as president of the NMU from 1997 until that organization merged into the SIU’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District in 2001. “We started organizing in the federal service after President Kennedy signed the order allowing civil servants to join unions (in 1962). We also organized elsewhere.” Additionally, Lioeanjie recalled frequently working with Wall under the auspices of the International Transport Workers’ Federation. “He was a good person to Shannon J. Wall in 1987 work with,” Lioeanjie added. “Shannon was very suave, refined and intelligent. He always used to say, ‘I forgive but I don’t forget.’ I never heard him shouting or cursing…. We went all over the world together.” SIU Vice President at Large Charles Stewart, also an NMU official when the unions merged, worked with Wall from 1954 until Wall’s retirement. “For the most part he kept to himself, but he was intelligent and was respected,” Stewart said. “He knew what he was doing. He was responsible for by MSC. The dispute centers on the agency signing an agreement with a particular hotel in Norfolk. The union charged that the hotel posed substantial health and safety risks to the hundreds of civil service mariners who stayed there at any time during the period from Oct. 1, 2005 to Jan. 18, 2007. Some of those mariners had to stay at the hotel for up to eight weeks. During the hearing, the union noted, “The substantial hours worked aboard a vessel, the high operational tempo that CIVMARS must meet, the stress of the job, limited opportunities for liberty and long stretches of isolation all contribute to the need for CIVMARS to be in top physical many of our organizing campaigns, especially with the Military Sea Transportation Service” (the forerunner to today’s Military Sealift Command). Newspaper accounts of Wall’s life credited him with being politically active on behalf of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Among many other activities, he served on a high-level commission appointed by President Reagan to study and report on the merchant marine’s role in national defense. He also chaired the AFL-CIO Maritime Committee. Wall sailed as a mariner during World War II. He came ashore in 1951 to work as an NMU patrolman in San Francisco. He moved up through the ranks, including stops in San Pedro, Calif., Baltimore and New Jersey, and was elected the union’s national vice president in 1958. He was elected secretary-treasurer in 1966. As president, he was a driving force in the NMU’s controversial merger with District 1/MEBA in 1988. That merger was dissolved in 1993. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lucy; two sons, Sean and Kevin; a daughter, Maureen Hope Wall; and three grandchildren. The family asks that memorials be sent to the United Seamen’s Service, 635 Fourth Ave., Ground Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232. Promoting SIU, Maritime The union recently participated in the ninth annual maritime career day in Seattle sponsored by the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center. SIU Representative Ryan Palmer (above) manned the SIU booth as upwards of 1,000 guests visited the center, located on the city’s central waterfront. Some of those guests are pictured at left. In photo above, left, Rich Berkowitz (left), director of the Pacific Coast office of the Transportation Institute, shares a discussion about U.S.-flag maritime employment opportunities with Odyssey Career Day participants. 8 Seafarers LOG Working together in preparation for the mid-February hearing in Norfolk are (seated, from left) VP Government Services Kermett Mangram, Assistant VP Chester Wheeler, Safety Director Joe Vincenzo, (standing) Bosun’s Mate William Bushey, Union Counsel Deborah Kleinberg, Patrolman Maurice Cokes and AB Denise Seaman. and mental condition prior to leaving for an assignment on a vessel. These are just some of the important reasons that the hotel assignment can make such a difference in personnel readiness.” The union charged that the hotel in question—the Days Inn Military Circle on Chambers Street in Norfolk—posed numerous health and safety problems, including reports of bedbugs, roaches and rats, rooms with mold, unsanitary housekeeping practices and unsafe surroundings. The union is requesting the arbitrator award a monetary remedy for CIVMARS required to stay at the Days Inn Military Circle. As of mid-March, as a result of the advocacy efforts of the union and East Coast CIVMARS, MSC has contracted with new hotels in Norfolk and New Jersey. East Coast CIVMARS will now be assigned to clean, safe and suitable hotels. Those lodgings meet the same standards as the hotels which house West Coast CIVMARS—a major union goal which has now been accomplished. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John L. Beeman The USNS Ericsson (right), crewed by members of the SIU Government Services Division, awaits the guided missile destroyer USS Hopper for an underway replenishment last September in the Pacific Ocean. The Ericsson recently earned an environmental award from MSC. USNS Ericsson CIVMARS Earn Environmental Award Members of the SIU Government Services Division sailing aboard the USNS John Ericsson helped earn an environmental award from the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), the agency announced in late February. Ericsson crew members earned a 2006 Environmental Quality Small Ship award, noted Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Mullen. The 678-foot ship—recently operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii—was crewed by 81 civil service mariners and a military detachment of 23 active-duty Navy sailors. The vessel’s crew was cited for its work in preventing pollution, ensuring readiness in responding to environmental issues, conserving resources and complying with environmental regulations. While the ship voluntarily met standards stricter than required by the Navy, it also ensured that each mariner received special training in environmental management; used environmentally friendly chemicals; and conducted monthly spill drills. As a result, in two years, the Ericsson transferred almost 82 million gallons of fuel in 353 separate fuelings at sea without a significant mishap. The Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Awards recognize ships, installations and individuals or teams for their environmental stewardship. As a result of this selection, the USNS Ericsson will compete in the Secretary of the Navy Environmental Awards, according to MSC. In a message to crew members, Mullen extended his personal congratulations and noted the winners “have demonstrated that our Navy has among the finest environmental programs in the world.” The award is scheduled to be presented at a ceremony in June in Washington, D.C. The USNS Ericsson is one of 14 fleet replenishment oilers that provide fuel to Navy combat ships and jet fuel for aircraft aboard aircraft carriers. April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 2:39 PM Page 9 Maritime Labor Mourns Loss of Tal Simpkins Talmage E. “Tal” Simpkins, who spent more than 50 years promoting both U.S. maritime labor and the entire seafaring community, died March 11 at Fairfax (Va.) Hospital due to injuries sustained in an auto accident the previous month. He was 79. Simpkins served the industry in many capacities, including as an official with the National Maritime Union beginning in 1970. At the time of his death, he was in his 18th year as president of United Seamen’s Service, an organization that provides health, welfare and recreational services to American and international mariners at eight overseas ports. In 2006, he had retired from his position as executive vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based Labor Management Maritime Committee. He also served for many years as the director of the AFLCIO Maritime Committee. SIU Vice President at Large René Lioeanjie (president of the NMU from 1997 until that organization merged into the SIU in 2001) remembered Simpkins as a versatile official with a penchant for organizing campaigns. He particularly cited Simpkins’ strong work in Panama, where he was instrumental in advancing workers’ rights. “He was a great person, and his death is a shock to me,” said Lioeanjie. “He was very wellknown and well-respected in Panama and throughout the rest of our industry. He was always supportive. My condolences go out to his family.” “He was a wonderful man who cared deeply about the maritime industry,” said SIU Government Services Representative Kate Hunt. “He was USNS Shugart Delivers Experimental Navy Ship The SIU-crewed USNS Shughart was diverted from its routine supply mission in early February to help the Navy’s Office of Force Transformation in moving the Stiletto, its experimental “M-ship,” from San Diego to Norfolk, Va. Designed and built by the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation to test the way riverine and coastal operations are conducted, the Stiletto is the first and largest carbon fiber ship built in the United States. The ship’s M-shape and lightweight hull give it the air of a stealth aircraft and make it ideal for navigating shallow waters to detect mines and support special operations missions. Since its launch in January 2005, the Stiletto has participated in joint military training off the coast of California. At 88 feet long and weighing 60 tons, the experimental trimaran is considered too small to make a transoceanic journey on its own power, so the Shughart’s cranes lowered the Stiletto onto specially designed steel supports that had previously been welded to the deck of the Military Sealift Command’s large, mediumspeed, roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) vessel. The supports were capped with soft wood to cradle the hull of the Stiletto during its transport over the ocean and through the Panama Canal. The complex operation also required that the Military Sealift Command build a spreader bar to link the Shughart’s two on-board cranes, which, working as a pair, allowed them to lift more than the 50-ton limit each crane could hoist on its own. “It’s exciting to do something that hasn’t been done before,” said Capt. Albert Earl Bergeron, the ship’s civilian master, as the piggy-backed ship departed Feb. 5 for Norfolk. “Our number one mission was to do the lift safely without causing any damage to the hull.” The USNS Shughart is one of 19 LMSRs owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command to provide afloat prepositioning of equipment and supplies in strategic areas around the world. there for some of the early fights and responsible for a lot of the positive legislation for the guys in the government fleet. Tal was around for a long time, and he truly helped advance the rights of American merchant seamen.” SIU Vice President at Large Charlie Stewart stated, “I hold Mr. Simpkins in the highest esteem. He was a good friend and a loyal part of our organization. He came there when things were rough, and he did an excellent job. He was a great guy—very helpful, very good for us.” John Bowers, president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, said, “Tal Simpkins generously gave of his expertise, time and true dedication to maritime labor during his half-century of commitment to the benefit of our industry. His voice in Washington will be missed as will his leadership of United Seamen’s Service during difficult years of transition.” A native of Goreville, Ill., Simpkins attended school in Illinois and in 1945 enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. After completing basic training at Parris Island, S.C., he received a fleet appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1946, and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps on November 26, 1947 He enrolled at the University of Maryland in 1948, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952. Upon graduation, he worked in advertising Tal Simpkins is pictured in early 2006 attending MTD executive board meetings in San Diego. SIU VP René Lioeanjie is seated at his immediate right; SIU VP Charlie Stewart is at far left. and insurance, until joining the AFL-CIO Maritime Committee in 1956 In 2002, Simpkins was awarded a special United Seamen’s Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award (AOTOS) in recognition of his dedicated career benefiting American seafaring labor. In addition to his long commitment to USS, Simpkins served on the Military Sealift Command’s National Defense Executive Reserve Unit; was a member of the U.S. Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy; was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the National Advisory Council on Continuing Education; and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Load Line Convention in 1966. He also was active on many local government boards in Prince George’s County, Md. for many years. Tal Simpkins is survived by his wife, Heidi. He was preceded in death in 1996 by his first wife, Irene Ann, whom he married in 1947. They had one son, Talmage E. Simpkins, Jr. (Buddy). In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be sent to United Seamen’s Service, 635 Fourth Ave., Ground floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232. Meeting with Political Allies in Austin SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey recently traveled to Austin to attend the Texas AFL-CIO legislative meeting and reception. He also visited the state Capitol to discuss maritime issues. The legislature is currently in session until the end of May. With Corgey (at left in the two photos at left) are (top photo) Rodney Ellis (D), senator for the district in which the union hall is located and a good friend of the SIU, and (bottom photo) Senator John Whitmire (D), dean of the state Senate and an avid union supporter. Directly below with Corgey is Representative Alma Allen (D) of Houston, a great friend of labor. Although the operation was quite complex, it took just a little more than 90 minutes to move the experimental Navy ship from the water onto the deck of the SIU-crewed Shughart. April 2007 Seafarers LOG 9 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:38 PM Page 10 Recollections of the Merchant Marine in World War II Editor’s note: Retired Seafarer Albert Stimac was born and raised in northern Minnesota in an area north of Duluth known as the Iron Range. During World War II, workers in that region supplied more than 600,000 tons of iron ore for the war effort. Stimac grew up around unions, thanks in part to the National Labor Relations Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. Stimac worked one season in the open-pit iron ore mines but was injured. He subsequently joined a friend headed toward the West Coast, where he secured employment at Boeing in a unionized pattern-makers shop. Stimac was too young to join the U.S. Armed Forces when the war broke out, so he went to the Pearl Harbor Navy shipyard and worked in the pattern-making department there for a year. He didn’t weigh enough to get into the service at first—but finally succeeded in shipping out. This is the first installment of his experiences in the merchant marine. They are the best recollections of his training and sea time from the end of 1943 to late 1945, so any inaccuracies in the details need not be brought to his attention. simple triple expansion steam engine. We never seemed to tie in what we learned on one piece to the complete operation of an engine room. When we started, we were informed that we would see it all come together in four, five or six weeks. It all depended on the person we were. Amazingly enough, they were right. Boy, was I proud when it hit me one day how everything worked together. In between learning one’s chosen job, we had to get in shape physically. It was always marching briskly or double-timing in. We only had to jump off the edge of the pool with all this gear on. To demonstrate how safe it was, one of the instructors climbed up 30 feet to the rafters and jumped in feet first. This was to build up our confidence. It was still quite a shock to your mental abilities even when you only had to jump off three feet at poolside. The scary part was when the splash sent a trickle of water from around your neck into the suit and down your body. The last test that we had to pass was jumping feet first off a 20-foot tower. The 1943 – Training I came home from a year in Pearl Harbor weighing 122 pounds. The draft board thought I had tuberculosis and let me stay home for three months to gain weight. No success. On the ship back to the States from Pearl Harbor, however, I had met a deckhand from the Merchant Marine who also was from Minnesota. I had no stomach for the Navy after living in Honolulu for a year. I knew I would be in big trouble if I had to go into the military. Too free-spirited and could see a lot of futility in that kind of living. I was interested in the Merchant Marine way of life with more freedom, independent living and really contributing to the war effort to defeat Germany and Japan. I went down to Duluth, Minn. while recuperating at home and found the Merchant Marine recruiting office. But I couldn’t get up to 132 pounds to be accepted. Since one got weighed with just his shorts on, the recruiter told me to pick up all my clothes and follow him to the next room. On the way, he stopped by a desk. He said his hands were full and would I carry some documents for him that were on the desk. When we got to the room, he turned and said, “Let’s weigh you one more time to make sure.” Sure enough, with all my clothes and the documents I was holding, I weighed well over 132. I was on my way to the Merchant Marine Academy in Sheepshead Bay, New York City! In basic training, one had three choices. Topside or deck as a deckhand; kitchen detail as a messman; and engine room below deck, referred to as “the black gang.” I chose the black gang because I would be sheltered from the weather. I didn’t know a thing about how a ship was provided with machinery to push it through the water. We were divided into groups of 32 or so men. We all learned how to put our left foot forward at the same time. After a couple weeks of marching four to six times a day, we got pretty good and started to take pride in our group. We liked showing off some of the more complex marching maneuvers we had mastered. The first time I saw a real triple expansion steam engine that was set up for training really amazed me. I thought, I’ll never get through this course. I was amazed with the unique system that was set up to train us. It was all piece training. You were given lessons and instructions on a piecemeal basis, whether it was on pumps, pipes, steam, boilers, oiling generators or understanding this 10 Seafarers LOG This old photo was taken of Albert Stimac on a trip from France to New York in rough weather. The ship was riding high with no cargo, only seawater for ballast—and the ship made only four miles in 24 hours. wherever we went. A most funny but satisfying experience was getting nine guys into a lifeboat—a big heavy wooden one with 12 oars. There were four guys on each side and one standing up on the stern giving directions and holding an oar for steering. You learn fast how to work together and forget your problems. Fortunately, we practiced in a calm bay from a dock. But in January or February, that sea water still is really cold when splashed on you or running down your arm. If we thought this was bad, we were surprised to be loaded on a ship one morning and taken out as far as the entrance to the bay. Out there, we could feel the wind and waves. On our abandon ship drill, we had to lower the lifeboat ourselves and climb down a net rope into the boat while it moved up and down in the waves. We had a pretty good crew and didn’t have too many problems. There were a few who lost control and were swept out to open waters. They would get towed back in the captain’s launch. It was a very wet trip if the seas were heavy. A couple guys standing on the stern got swept overboard and had to be rescued. They ended up in sick bay. This happened because rowers on one side were ordered to row and the other side had to hold their oars. All this while they were pulling with all their weight to turn the boat in the opposite direction. This made a temporary catapult out of the steering oar. If you kept hanging on to the oar or didn’t change your stance, over the side you went. Our last major hurdle to pass before we could get approved to ship out took place in the pool. We had to know how to swim. That was easy for me. Then they gave us lifesaving suits—very heavy rubber outfits that encased your entire body with just your head exposed—but not completely! You had a hood that came up and was tied to cover all of your head except your face. The suit weighed about 20 or 25 pounds. First you put on all your clothes. Then a life jacket. And then you had to try and get into the suit and zip it up. The reason for all the clothing was the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. Even with all this gear, you had to be rescued within 15 minutes or so if you fell exact form was with a life jacket on, you held your arms firmly folded against the life jacket. You also firmly held the jacket right next to your chin and had to be in that position when you jumped. If you didn’t hold on tight to the jacket, you would go right through it when you hit the water. It took all I could do to complete this test. There were always one or two in a group of 50 or so who would get to the top of the platform and then refuse to jump. But there were a couple big, husky lifeguards who tossed you off if you didn’t. Our training lasted three months. Then they found a berth for me on an old rust bucket. I went on as a fireman-watertender at $90 per month. (We got double pay in a war zone; half pay in a semi-war zone.) First Trip My first trip was to Trinidad to pick up bauxite ore used to make aluminum. We carried wheat and flour and other basic goods. We sailed down the East Coast and then over to Trinidad to Port of Spain. This ship was a real rust bucket. The engine was one of the first low-pressure turbines. The throttle was stuck and only opened so far. So we had to tie down the pop-off valves on the boilers and get another 20 or 30 pounds of steam to go faster. When we did that, we put bigger tips on the oil burners to get a hotter fire for more steam. Our next problem was not to have the stacks smoke because submarines would be able to spot us. The only problem was that the air fan could not blow enough air to burn clean, and we left a trail of black smoke you could see for 15 miles. We were running with two other rust buckets and, if lucky and wide open, we could make 8 or 9 knots. Being the youngest and last guy on board just before they sailed, I got the top bunk and worst watch. The 12-4, 4 on and 8 off. We had just left the East Coast off the Carolinas, and I was napping after supper so I could stay awake on my night 124 watch. I heard a knock on the door and said “Come in.” I was very surprised to see an officer there. I later found out it was the captain. He told me not to get off the bunk but that he had something to tell me. “Don’t get excited, but look out the porthole and you’ll see a submarine sailing along with the three of us.” I looked out and there was a submarine out there going parallel with us. I could see it very plainly. The captain told me to get my survival gear ready and put on my life jacket. He left. I did put on my life jacket and went back to sleep. I later learned that all the rest of the crew was made up of old-timers and I was the only one out on his first trip. Nobody bothered to talk or associate with me up until that time. I guess that because I didn’t panic and went back to sleep, I was OK. At least after that, they would say hi or comment on the sea or the weather or something. The thing that struck me about Trinidad was the culture and lifestyle. Almost like in the movies. Tropical isle, English in charge and blacks unloading the cargo. The utter poverty struck me the most. One English officer with his riding crop tucked under his arm controlled the whole loading area. The black crews were made up of eight men and they unloaded each hold. They had a leader for each group. When it was time to eat, the leader would hand out food that he had scavenged from our garbage cans. One area spilled a 50-pound sack of flour. It split open and some flour was on the deck. The first mate got the OK to let the workers on the ship have it to bring home. Instead of taking it home, they ate it raw . . . all the time looking about to see if the English officer was around. They would not try to take any home or sneak it off in their clothes. Of course, that would be hard to do as they all wore shorts of some kind and no shirts. We bought new Levi pants to give them, and they would cut the legs off and tie a string around them. Then they would toss them over the side and let the sea water make them look old. The trip back to New York was uneventful. It was a short trip, so $90 a month didn’t amount to very much for a six-week trip. Once we were paid off and left the ship, we used all our own money for living, room, board and travel, as well as clothes, etc., so I grabbed the first ship I could sign on for. I joined a union for seamen called the Seafarers International Union, SIU. When you wanted to ship out, you went to the union hall and signed in. With that, you received a card with your name and date on it. This would specify how long you were ashore since you were last on a ship. When you wanted to ship out, you went to the union hall and looked at the “board.” This was a large black slate board like you had in school. In chalk, there were a number of ships listed that were looking for specific vacancies for qualified men on their ship. They were listed in three categories: Mess—cooks, dishwashers, etc.; Deckhands—men who worked on deck; and the Black Gang—firemen/watertenders, oilers and junior engineers. They usually called jobs on the hour, but if badly needed, jobs were called continually. When they read off a job you wanted for the job class you could perform, you went up to the counter and tossed in your card. If you had been on shore the longest, you got the first pick. You were then informed where the ship was docked and the pier number. The black gang had non-officers from the union. There would be three of each class—three firemen/watertenders, three oilers and sometimes three junior engineers. It would all depend on the type of ship you picked out. Brother Stimac’s wartime recollections will continue in a future edition of the Seafarers LOG. April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 2:44 PM Page 11 MTD Executive Board Meeting Military Leaders: U.S. Mariners Crucial to Defense Capabilities Gen. Schwartz, Lt. Gen. Dail Reaffirm Value of U.S.-Flag Fleet The heads of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), respectively, recently made strong statements reflecting their appreciation for the U.S. Merchant Marine’s key role in national security. Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander, TRANSCOM, and Lt. Gen. Robert Dail, who’s in charge of the DLA, addressed the MTD executive board meetings in Las Vegas. Schwartz spoke on March 1 and Dail offered remarks the next day. Both men made it clear that America’s reliance on sealift isn’t about to change, including dependence on civilian mariners. “It’s all about chartering the direct course to deliver military power in the quickest, most efficient, most businesslike manner wherever and whenever the nation calls on us to serve,” stated Schwartz. “I’m taking no chances at all by telling you that we’re going to continue to depend on you—all of you—to make that projection of American power possible. The vast majority of how we get things done is through sealift.” Dail said that when it comes to sealift, U.S. maritime labor is “absolutely critical to that capability. The work that you have done with the Maritime Security Program, the Jones Act and many of the other national security programs in the maritime industry have given us this capability. We need to continue our commitment between government, labor and industry to underscore this capability, make sure it doesn’t get put on the back burner, and make sure it’s there for us tomorrow.” Dollars and Sense General Schwartz cited practical economic reasons why maintaining a strong U.S. fleet makes sense for the country. “We are counting on you to continue to play this very important role, and we know you’ll always be our shipmates.” —Gen. Norton Schwartz April 2007 combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 has moved via U.S.-flag sealift. “Our alliance is constant and “Every rank-andfile member of your Maritime Trades Department membership has a deep love of country.” —Lt. Gen. Robert Dail Gen. Norton Schwartz credits the U.S. Merchant Marine for its efficiency and reliability. While the need for adequate sealift capability is a given, so too is the desire to achieve that goal efficiently. For example, he noted that 10 U.S.-flag military support ships were underway on missions that very day—seven from the commercial sector, three from the government-owned fleet, all crewed by civilian mariners. “A good way to get our minds around what this implies is that only about 21 percent of the shipping that we use is owned by the U.S. government,” Schwartz explained. “The other 79 percent is present in U.S. flags in American commerce. I think the ships that you sail aboard clearly represent one of the most costeffective of expenditures people have figured out how to make in government.” He pointed to the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) and its related Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) as a prime illustration. If the government were tasked with replicating the vessels and infrastructure now available to the military via the MSP and VISA, it literally would cost tens of billions of dollars, Schwartz stated. Instead, those programs function for a fraction of that cost, and they help ensure the continued existence of a well-trained pool of reliable U.S. mariners along with dozens of privately owned, militarily useful American-flag ships. “The truth of the matter is that in many ways you can do business much better than we can in government and that’s why the teamwork here is so very important and why a fully funded Maritime Security Program is important to the defense community,” he said. Additionally, Schwartz pointed out that more than 90 percent of the materiel that has entered we’re all pulling on the same rope,” he concluded. “The bottom line I hope you will carry away from this is that we are much about being accountable. We are certainly interested in Lt. Gen. Robert Dail (left) is pictured with MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco immediately after addressing the executive board. investing in you as partners in America’s maritime strength. We are counting on you to continue to play this very important role, and we know you’ll always be our shipmates.” Answering the Call Dail noted that he formerly served as deputy commander at TRANSCOM and has long been acquainted with the maritime Continued on page 14 Congressional Reps Point to Free Choice Act, 2006 Elections as Proof of Labor’s Vitality Fair Treatment for Maritime Workers Vowed Three members of Congress spoke at the MTD executive board meetings, and while each representative took a unique approach, they all highlighted the importance of unions and the power of solidarity in addition to expressing support for maritime. Addressing the board March 2 were (in order) U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.). ‘A Friend in Washington’ Rep. Thompson chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. He emphasized his gratitude to the union movement for its consistent support. “I would not be in Congress had it not been for the working men and women of this country,” he stated. “For that, I thank you and I’ll never ever forget you…. You have a friend in Washington.” He spoke about several important maritime matters, including a frank assessment of the myriad regulations affecting workers who must access ports as part of their jobs. “With port security, we plan to fix it but we plan to do it right,” he commented. “With respect to the TWIC card, sooner or later we’ll get it right. We’ll roll out some things to get it right, but I want you to help us get it right. My door is open. We now have a committee that will work with people with respect to what the problems are.” Thompson said that when it comes to American-flag vessels, “you’re preaching to the choir, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (right) showed up early and took in some of the meeting. He’s pictured here with SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (right) welcomes U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to the meetings. whether it’s LNG facilities coming on line and the fact that many of those people ought to be Continued on page 14 Many audience members thanked U.S. Rep. Shelly Berkley (left) for her remarks, including SIU Philadelphia Port Agent Joe Mieluchowski. Seafarers LOG 11 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 3:23 PM Page 12 MTD Executive Board Meeting Maritime Administrator Discusses Agency Reorganization, New Opportunities for U.S. Seafarers In his first formal address to the MTD executive board, U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton—who began serving in that position last summer —wasted no time candidly describing several very newsworthy developments involving the agency. Connaughton spoke to the board March 1, within a few days of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters having approved a reorganization of the Maritime Administration (MarAd). “It’s the first reorganization of our agency in 50 years,” noted Connaughton, a veteran of both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard as well as a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. As part of the restructuring, MarAd this month was scheduled to move into new offices near the Washington Navy Yard. “What that reorganization will entail is essentially focusing on four main areas,” Connaughton said. “The first area is to deal with some of these broader transportation and infrastructure problems at our ports. I think everyone understands that we’re facing greater congestion and we’re facing issues on infrastructure investment, and MarAd needs to play a much stronger role in doing that. “The second area is getting more involved in helping industry deal with the issues of environmental safety and security compliance challenges because right now I think everyone understands that these issues are looming larger and larger for our industry and for our nation,” he continued. “We have a lot of regulatory agencies but we don’t have that many that are out trying to help people get through some of these hurdles and that is what we are going to be focusing on.” He said a third area of focus “is a traditional MarAd function,” namely supporting the U.S. military through the utilization of a strong U.S. Merchant Marine. The fourth endeavor involves efforts to improve an oftenrepeated frustration within the maritime community. “The one area that we really need to focus on is promoting the American industry,” Connaughton asserted. “All of our promotional programs are essentially stand-alone, and the question is how do we get them to work better together— whether it’s supporting shipyards, supporting operators, supporting our labor and training programs, U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton or whether it’s out there doing more work on the Jones Act-compliance issues. “So what were going to be doing is actually consolidating and placing all these programs into one office with one leader whose job it is to go out and advance the American industry and make all our promotional programs work better together. A part of that will be for the first time we’re going to have a workforce development program and we’re going to work very closely with you all…. The issue is for us, what can we do as a government agency to help in the development of the workforce so we make sure that the younger people end up joining our industries and making sure that they end up having a career?” Another key topic Connaughton addressed is the burgeoning liquefied natural gas (LNG) trades. He pointed out that MarAd is responsible for the licensing of offshore LNG facilities, and that in 2006 Congress “provided some statutory provisions that ask that we include consideration of whether they are Americans or not Americans involved in these operations in us actually issuing licenses. It was not a mandatory requirement that Americans be brought on board the vessels, but [the provisions asked] us to take that into consideration.” Since then, he said, MarAd has received commitments from several LNG applicants who will utilize crews consisting—at minimum—of 25 percent American mariners. “They’ve also agreed that 10 percent of the vessels they charter in—even if they don’t own them—will be Americans as well.” He mentioned that the agency opened a Federal Register docket on this issue to ask for comments “and we had over 1,000 comments come in, with 99.9 percent being very supportive of this effort.” (Both the SIU and MTD submitted comments.) Subsequently, MarAd conducted meetings with maritime training facilities including the Paul Hall Center to start or continue developing LNG curriculums and career paths. Turning his attention toward the Jones Act (which mandates that domestic waterborne commerce takes place on vessels crewed, owned, built and flagged American), Connaughton said the longstanding law offers a “great opportunity” for the Department of Transportation to ease highway and rail congestion. “We’ve identified some carriers that will expand the use of the waterways to take trucks off the road and actually start to see more coastwise trades in the future,” he stated. “What’s interesting about this is that the trucking industry is very supportive because they’re having some difficulties because of all this congestion. And we think this is a great growth opportunity for the (maritime) industry in the future, and so we’re very much encouraged by it.” He concluded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong domestic shipbuilding and ship repair capabilities “for commercial and for military reasons.” Trumka: Political Action Vital for Workers AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka covered many topics when addressing the MTD executive board March 2 in Las Vegas, but he particularly emphasized the importance of political action for America’s working families. Trumka spoke to the board one day after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)—legislation that would restore fairness in the process whereby workers may choose union representation. “The first thing I want to do is thank everybody in this room that worked hard to get that done and make it possible,” Trumka said while addressing an audience of approximately 200 people, including presidents of MTDaffiliated unions—among them SIU President Michael Sacco, who also is president of the MTD. “It’s the first time since the fall elections that we’ve been able to flex our muscles just a little bit. We swamped the House of Representatives with phone calls, with faxes, with e-mails, with our shining faces, and we hosted events in 93 cities last week with members of Congress who showed up.” 12 Seafarers LOG AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka Trumka described the grassroots action leading to House passage of the EFCA as a “federation-wide effort with all of our affiliates involved.” But he also said that those activities marked both a continuation of labor’s efforts prior to last year’s elections as well as a portent of the continuous exertion needed leading up to Election Day 2008. “It makes the work that we have to do over the next two years even more important,” Trumka declared. “If we don’t shore up our working family majority in the House and the Senate … then these guys are going to finish wrecking what was the strongest economy in the history of the world. And that is just inexcusable.” He candidly pointed out that after the most recent AFL-CIO convention (summer 2005), “when several of our largest unions disaffiliated, people began whispering about the future of the labor movement. They began to question whether we could get it all together for the most important election that working people have faced in probably the last three or four decades. “Not only did we get it together, not only did we win back the House and the Senate, but we won all six of the state minimumwage initiatives that we sponsored. We took back control of six state legislatures and we won some very tough governors’ races.” Trumka mentioned that although the disaffiliations hurt, the unions remaining the AFLCIO “wasted no time crying crocodile tears. We made the adjustments that had to be made. We initiated a solidarity charter program that brought 2,600 locals of the disaffiliated unions back into our state and local organizations, and we took off running with the most aggressive, well-financed off-year political program that the labor movement has ever had.” The education and mobilization efforts worked. Trumka told the audience that the weekend before last year’s elections, more than 300,000 union volunteers went door-to-door in their neighborhoods to help get out the vote. Additionally, one of every four voters at the polls came from a union household, and 75 percent of them voted for labor-endorsed candidates. “We put down our marker once again as the most powerful single organization in the pro-worker political movement,” he said. The federation secretary-treasurer also shared a compelling personal story reflecting the fact that advancing a pro-worker agenda is far more than a statistical exercise. In May 2006, Trumka said, his son brought home a number of teammates from his college football team for a visit. While working through the daunting logistics of helping prepare breakfast for all those football players, Trumka looked up at them and was struck by “that special sparkle that they have in their eye because they really don’t know what’s about to hit them when they go out the door (after graduation). I’m looking through the door at them—all 14 of them—and I started thinking that my generation isn’t leaving them an America that had the same kind of opportunity as the America that we walked into when we came out of school or came out of the service. And I made up my mind that day that every single minute of the rest of my life I was going to work to change the policies of this country so that that generation can have the same type of America that we did. Not stagnating wages but wages that are growing because productivity is growing and you’ve earned part of the pot. Not 46 million people without health care, but everybody having health care and having a better chance at life. Knowing that I was going to do better than my dad, and my dad did better than my grandpap who came here on a boat…. “I look forward to that fight for that next generation and the generation that’s coming. They deserve better than what is in front of them if we do nothing.” April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 3:23 PM Page 13 MTD Executive Board Meeting LCA President Urges Government Action on Lakes Dredging Crisis As Seafarers prepared to start another sailing season on the Great Lakes, the head of the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) updated the MTD executive board on the growing dredging crisis in that region. If left unchecked by the federal government, the dredging problem will hinder the economic development of an entire region and threaten countless transportation and manufacturing jobs, said James Weakley, president of both the LCA and the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF). The LCA is composed of U.S.-flag shipping companies operating primarily on the Great Lakes, while the GLMTF is an association of maritime organizations, including several MTD affiliates, dedicated to preserving the integrity of the Jones Act while advancing policies aimed at strengthening the Great Lakes maritime industry. Modernizing Great Lakes ports to make them more competitive or even just preserving their long-term viability has proven difficult given the reflexive hostility of some environmental groups. According to Weakley, these organizations fail to realize that without economic advancement, “we cannot make progress on the environment.” Both the LCA and GLMTF are committed to ensuring the viability of the Great Lakes maritime and manufacturing industries. In an era of globalization, these industries, Weakley asserted, “are the last vestige of goodpaying jobs. And good-paying jobs depend on transportation efficiency.” Globalization and the failure of many environmental organizations to understand the importance of economic development are only two components of the crisis affecting the Great Lakes maritime industry. The third one ATC President Stresses Safety, Partnership Anil Mathur, president and CEO of SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company (left), told the MTD executive board that a big reason for ATC’s outstanding safety record is its partnership with maritime labor. Mathur presented SIU President Michael Sacco and MEBA President Ron Davis with plaques commemorating ATC’s recent achievement of five years without a losttime injury anywhere throughout its fleet. “This company is a lot stronger for that partnership,” he stated. is the failure of the federal government to provide the region with a fair share of investment. Part of the problem, he noted, is due to the historical cycle of water levels. Until a decade ago, water levels remained high. This allowed the federal government to ignore port modernization; many dollars that should have gone to Great Lakes dredging projects went to other regions and other modes of transportation. When water levels began to plummet, the government didn’t adjust its capital investment strategy. “I believe our transportation policy favors our land-based modes,” Weakley said. “You can just look at the money where that goes, and our river-based systems. Not that those are necessarily bad things, but I think it puts our business at a disadvantage and it also ignores some of the economics and physics that should promote our marine transportation modes.” The result is that many Great Lakes ships have been forced to sail lighter than fully loaded, which creates an unhealthy economic environment. That means even before they sail, U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes begin with one strike against them. One needs only to look at the following statistics to know what is at stake. The Great Lakes region generates: 70 percent of all domestic steel manufacturing; 70 percent of all North American automobile manufacturing; and 55 percent of all heavy manufacturing. All in all, the Great Lakes region annually generates 200 million tons of cargo. Weakley asked executive Lake Carriers’ Association President James Weakley board members and guests to contact their elected officials and educate them about the fact that waterborne transportation is extremely effective. For instance, one Great Lakes shipload is equal to 700 railroad cars. It takes 2,800 trucks to carry that same amount of cargo. The bottom line is that the Great Lakes region gets shortchanged, he noted. Congress needs to set aside an additional $300 million just to restore Great Lakes channels to autho- rized dimensions that have been mandated. Putting the dredging crisis in context, Weakley stressed, “It’s about jobs. Transportation is about jobs.” Weakley also relayed this quote from late last year by U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), a longtime supporter of the U.S.flag fleet: “It is incomprehensible to me that ships that depart our Minnesota harbors cannot carry full loads of iron ore and low-sulphur coal because the Army Corps of Engineers does not get enough money to maintain the system. This waterway is too important a part of the national transportation infrastructure to be treated like a poor relation. In the next Congress, I will do everything in my power to bring our fair share of federal dollars back to the Great Lakes.” Weakley added, “I happen to believe that those people that have walked away from the manufacturing sector in America are making a tremendous mistake. We won World War II with our manufacturing might, and we’re going to win this war on terrorism with our manufacturing might.” USCG’s Brennan Tackles TWIC Questions It’s probably no overstatement to suggest U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Devon Brennan (right) took on one of the more daunting challenges during the MTD meetings – namely, answering questions from the audience about the Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) program and its related Merchant Mariner Qualification Credential (MMC) initiative. After his formal presentation, Brennan gamely responded to numerous questions and reminded board members and guests that additional, updated information may be found on the internet at www.tsa.gov/twic and http://homeport.uscg.mil/ MTD Board Continues Pro-Worker, Pro-Maritime Agenda The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO consists of 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing approximately 5.5 million working men and women. The MTD executive board met March 1-2 in Las Vegas, where board members and guests addressed many key issues that affect the maritime community and all working families. The articles on pages 11-14 are based on remarks and policy statements presented at the meetings. These two photos show some of the guests. April 2007 Seafarers LOG 13 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:30 PM Page 14 MTD Executive Board Meeting Military Leaders Laud U.S. Merchant Marine Continued from page 11 industry’s role in U.S. national and economic security. He further stated that the labor movement is “critical to our efforts here in the Department of Defense.” Looking back at the merchant marine’s role throughout history, he recalled, “Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt— they’ve all accurately described the contributions that you make to our national defense. ‘Irreplaceable’ was their term. Post-World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Balkans, the first Desert Storm, Desert Shield, then the Persian Gulf. You were there. You made us a success. You were our partner. We could trust you with the very livelihood that our troops needed to conduct the business that the national leaders told us to do. “And since 9/11, maritime and other affiliated memberships have been active in helping us protect our great American life, helping us execute the global war on terror,” he continued. “You’ve also helped us to respond in our greatest role—in our greatest character—and that is our response to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.” Dail called attention to the fact that many trade unionists have answered their nation’s call not only as part of the fourth arm of defense, but through military service. He described them as “great patriots,” noting they have served and continue serving in reserve forces and in the National Guard. “They have deployed overseas. They have seen action. They have served to a very high standard of honor. They have bravely and courageously served their nation. And I thank you for making it so important of a value for the men and women that serve in your ranks that they would want to serve their country in uniform. One thing I have come to know as I have been with you over these several years is that that every rank-and-file member of your Maritime Trades Department membership has a deep love of country. And it’s underscored every time I meet one of them as I move around and go out across the world.” Dail said he has seen firsthand the materiel delivered to U.S. troops overseas that moved by ship, and those sights helped reinforce his belief that America’s maritime capabilities “are critical to our national defense and security. I have seen the trust and confidence that is built between our nation and our Congressional Reps Support Unionism Continued from page 11 American…. At a minimum, you can’t just come to our shores without respecting our workers and the fact that we do good jobs, too.” He described the U.S. maritime industry as “vital to our homeland security,” and vowed that supporters in Congress won’t “let people legislate your members out of business. If you have hard-working people who work every day and have been working that way for a long time, we’re not interested in pushing them out now under the guise of homeland security.” Thompson concluded by noting his “100 percent” voting record in support of labor and added, “I’ll continue to do that…. We have an opportunity to do good. The public voted for it in November. Now it’s our job to carry it out. I look forward to doing that with your help.” ‘Just a Start’ Rep. Abercrombie is chairman of the House Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces. He said that passage of the Employee Free Choice Act in the House a day earlier came about because union members helped elect pro-worker legislators in November 2006. When the bill was approved, “What I thought to myself was, this is just a start,” Abercrombie stated. “This is the first chance that we’ve had in years to be able to actually organize workers and not have them intimidated and shoved around, fired, kicked to the side, smashed under. Yesterday was tangible proof to all the membership and their families that if they get together, they all register, they all vote, we can win.” He emphasized that for working families, political elections should center on critical issues and who will stand up for workers’ interests. “This is about the working men and women of this country and whether they’re going to have their health care, whether they’re going to have their wages and benefits, whether they’re going to have their retirement, whether everything that they worked for is going to be undermined, whether everything that the American labor movement has stood for is going to be compromised,” he stated. Abercrombie assured the board that labor-backed candidates will not forget that support, and also noted the strong turnout at the polls by union families. “We proved in November 2006 that we can win when we stick together. We proved that even though the number of working people organized is at its lowest point, that we’re on our way up, and that the voting demographics are double what the population demographics are when it comes to voting,” he said. “When we double up in the labor movement, we win.” Lastly, he stressed unity as a key to progress. “You’ve got to have organized labor and somebody looking out for you collectively to make sure that the individual doesn’t get done in,” Abercrombie said. “That’s what the Maritime Trades Department is about. It’s a collective endeavor—all of us pulling together.” When the promise of a better job in California surfaced, the family packed all their belongings into a U-Haul connected to their car and started traveling west. Along the way, “we decided we would stop in Las Vegas for the night. We never left.” In part, that’s because her father joined a culinary union through which he secured employment as a waiter at the old Sands Hotel. Union representation made all the difference, Berkley said. “On a waiter’s salary in a union town, my dad made enough money to put a roof over our head. We bought a home, we developed roots in this community, and we belonged here. So he put a roof over our head, food on the table, clothes on our back and two daughters through college and law school. That’s not so bad on a waiter’s salary. And the only reason he was able to do that was because of a strong union in a union town.” Fast-forward the previous day’s debate The Union Difference As stated in the final rule, the fee is made up of three segments: Enrollment Segment; Full Card Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment; and FBI Segment. Most applicants will pay the Standard TWIC Fee, which includes all three segments. However, applicants who have completed a comparable threat assessment, such as the threat assessment TSA conducts on commercial drivers with a hazardous materials endorsement, will pay the Reduced TWIC Fee. These applicants are not charged for the FBI Segment and pay a reduced fee for the Full Card Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment. In the preamble of the final rule, we discussed the potential range of fees that would be charged for each Segment but did not publish specific fees for each Segment in the final rule text because the contract for enrollment and card production services was not finalized at that time. We explained that when the contract was executed and final fee amounts determined, we would publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing them. TSA has executed the contract for TWIC enrollment and card production and, with this notice, announces the final fee amounts. Rep. Berkley serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. She related a personal story that reflects how union jobs help sustain an economically healthy middle class—long considered the backbone of the economy, but currently at risk. Berkley recalled that some 43 years earlier, her father worked as a waiter in upstate New York. His job offered no medical insurance or other benefits and didn’t pay well. “What he made that night was what we spent the next day,” she said. Notice: Hurricane Relief Benefit for Pensioners In September 2005, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a subcommittee of the Seafarers Pension Plan authorized SIU pensioners to apply for a one-time payment of $750 for hurricane relief. Because applications for this benefit have virtually ceased, the Plan Trustees have decided to accept applications only until April 30, 2007. Applications received after that date will be denied. As noted in an earlier communication to the union halls, SIU officials who have eligible pensioners in their respective port areas may encourage them to apply before April 30. If they have already received the benefit, they are not entitled to apply again. 14 Seafarers LOG troops, knowing that wherever they are, we will deliver the goods to them and we will get them there and bring them home.” He concluded, “We all in the military leadership have a strong commitment to labor, government and industry relations, forming a capability that is second to none. Thank you for your leadership, your friendship and your commitment to the partnership.” on the Employee Free Choice Act, and it was clear to Berkley that workers deserve a fair chance to choose union representation. “When I talk about the labor movement and the unions that are sticking up for working men and women across this great country of ours, I think of my dad,” she said. “I think of him making a living and I think of him wanting a piece of the American dream for his children. That is not asking too much. “I have never heard a union member, certainly not my father, begrudge the bosses of the corporations their money,” she added. “All he wanted for his family was good job security, decent wages, good benefits, good health care and to be able to take his family on vacation a couple times a year. That, my friends, is what the union movement represents to me. The very foundation upon which this country was formed—a strong working class country of middle class Americans that do the right thing, care about their families, care about their communities, care about this country, and help build it and will continue to help it grow through the generations to come.” TSA Publishes TWIC Fees Continued from page 2 The Enrollment Segment fee is $43.25, the Full Card Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment fee is $72, and the FBI Segment fee is $22. Therefore, the total Standard TWIC Fee is $137.25 ($43.25 + 72 + 22). For applicants who have completed a prior comparable threat assessment, there is no FBI Segment fee and the Card Production/Security Threat Assessment Segment fee is $62. Therefore, the total Reduced TWIC Fee is $105.25 ($43.25 + 62). As stated in the final rule, the fee for a replacement credential is $36, but we do not believe that amount adequately funds TSA’s card replacement costs. Our calculations indicate that $60 is the correct amount for card replacement costs and invited comment on that issue. The comment period for increasing the card replacement fee closed on February 26, 2007. We will examine all comments received and determine the final card replacement fee. We will amend the rule text to include all of the fees discussed in this notice and the card replacement fee, so that they will appear in the Code of Federal Regulations, at 49 CFR 1572, subpart F, Fees for Security Threat Assessments for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:40 PM Page 15 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea May & June 2007 Membership Meetings FEBRUARY 16 — MARCH 15, 2007 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals Totals **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 2 1 1 9 2 3 11 5 1 1 3 7 10 3 0 0 2 1 7 7 1 1 6 11 0 9 33 29 0 10 7 28 6 11 2 0 7 2 23 29 1 3 5 11 5 2 18 15 3 8 6 14 13 7 1 6 4 5 22 17 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 4 8 5 2 1 0 0 0 8 7 0 0 3 5 1 0 12 19 0 2 7 10 4 5 1 1 3 0 13 9 4 1 10 14 2 12 66 50 1 20 26 78 24 40 5 0 13 4 62 48 9 10 9 23 6 14 52 40 3 14 19 40 28 20 5 17 15 9 55 29 2 4 1 11 2 2 14 11 3 2 4 22 15 4 1 0 3 1 16 12 270 276 76 215 166 45 95 480 417 130 0 0 2 4 0 8 17 20 1 10 4 15 8 4 1 2 0 1 13 9 1 2 5 5 0 5 9 16 1 7 3 8 11 11 1 3 2 3 17 10 2 0 1 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 2 4 1 0 0 2 3 4 119 120 26 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 0 0 2 5 0 5 14 17 0 3 4 11 5 8 2 1 0 0 15 10 1 1 3 6 0 3 11 10 0 5 2 5 11 4 1 1 2 1 9 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 5 1 1 1 0 0 1 7 10 0 0 2 6 1 2 3 0 0 0 13 6 1 0 7 9 0 16 26 31 2 13 10 33 12 12 1 2 2 1 17 16 1 1 8 6 3 7 19 30 2 6 8 17 13 19 1 3 7 5 32 13 2 0 2 4 0 1 8 2 0 2 2 2 3 5 1 0 0 3 6 8 102 86 20 54 211 201 51 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 2 8 1 4 22 12 0 5 7 17 5 23 1 1 1 2 11 17 0 0 1 6 2 4 10 16 0 7 6 2 11 3 0 1 4 1 9 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 3 0 4 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 139 88 18 Port 1 0 1 1 1 5 17 9 1 4 5 16 6 14 0 2 1 0 13 18 1 0 1 4 0 4 2 4 0 5 1 7 9 3 0 0 1 0 5 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 5 6 0 3 2 9 3 6 0 1 0 0 4 2 1 0 5 12 2 9 39 24 0 11 12 32 8 46 3 3 2 2 21 36 1 0 3 9 3 11 14 26 0 6 10 4 15 5 1 2 4 1 11 16 1 0 0 2 0 0 8 3 0 3 1 4 3 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 115 51 13 44 268 142 30 Baltimore..............Thursday: May 10, June 7 Boston ..................Friday: May 11, June 8 Guam ....................Thursday: May 24, June 21 Honolulu...............Friday: May 18, June 15 Houston ................Monday: May 14, June 11 Jacksonville ..........Thursday: May 10, June 7 Joliet .....................Thursday: May 17, June 14 Mobile ..................Wednesday: May 16, June 13 New Orleans.........Tuesday: May 15, June 12 New York .............Tuesday: May 8, June 5 Norfolk .................Thursday: May 10, June 7 Oakland ................Thursday: May 17, June 14 Philadelphia..........Wednesday: May 9, June 6 Port Everglades ....Thursday: May 17, June 14 San Juan ...............Thursday: May 10, June 7 St. Louis ...............Friday: May 18, June 15 Tacoma .................Friday: May 25, June 22 Wilmington...........Monday: May 21, June 18 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Personals LOOKING FOR CONTACTS Edward Soltesz is hoping to hear from anyone who sailed with his cousin, Steven Sheros, or who shipped aboard a Luckenbach Steamship Company vessel in the spring of 1946. You may call Soltesz at (419) 627-8200 or write him at 409 52nd Street, Sandusky, OH 44870. RAY ROBINSON (formerly of Florida) Please contact Ms. Elyse Walters, your daughter. She has been trying to get in touch with you. Her address is 5620 Rushmere Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464; telephone (757) 479-9512 or (757) 724-3976 (cell). Attention Seafarers: ENTRY DEPARTMENT Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 2 0 0 0 12 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 2 5 5 1 8 14 15 1 4 5 43 11 14 1 28 1 1 17 10 5 0 0 4 0 9 8 13 1 3 3 18 10 12 4 18 2 0 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 1 3 0 2 5 18 8 0 1 1 14 6 4 0 8 2 0 9 11 1 0 1 2 0 6 4 7 0 1 1 5 10 1 1 9 1 0 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 5 0 2 3 17 0 7 0 0 0 0 6 1 5 3 4 11 4 13 34 33 1 7 8 68 17 25 1 25 3 1 24 19 8 1 1 14 0 12 23 21 2 7 5 31 20 21 3 16 1 0 13 14 Totals 33 188 121 17 93 60 0 55 306 213 561 672 241 449 396 138 193 1,014 1,066 424 Totals All Departments Piney Point ...........Monday: May 7, June 4 Algonac ................Friday: May 11, June 8 DECK DEPARTMENT 6 7 8 16 4 3 36 26 2 12 11 21 23 11 4 22 7 5 34 18 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Trip Reliefs 2 0 8 6 1 3 42 32 1 12 11 35 19 24 4 0 7 3 33 27 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C *“Total Registered” means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port. **“Registered on Beach” means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port. April 2007 Seafarers LOG 15 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 BOSTON Marine Industrial Park/EDIC 27 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 (617) 261-0790 GUAM P.O. Box 315242, Tamuning, Guam 96931-5242 Cliffline Office Ctr., Suite 101B 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910 (671) 477-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 2:40 PM Page 16 World War II Liberty Ship to Set Sail in August The SS John W. Brown, one of only two World War II-era Liberty ships still in operation, is slated in August to sail from its home port in Baltimore to New England on a series of six-hour day cruises. Additionally, it will hold open houses in three ports in Maine and Massachusetts. (The Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco is the other Liberty ship still sailing.) With an all-volunteer crew (ranging in age from the 20s to the 80s—none of whom ever sailed on the Brown but some who sailed on other Liberty ships during the war), the 441-foot operating museum ship will carry up to 730 passengers as it departs Baltimore Aug. 11 on its “Yankee Adventure Voyage” and returns home Aug. 30. In between, the Liberty ship will stop at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne (on the Cape Cod Canal); Portland, Maine; and Boston. Whether in port or at sea, history lessons are a large part of the self-guided ship tours. Michael J. Schneider, chairman of Project Liberty Ship, Inc., will narrate the trip and preside over the “Living History” cruise atmosphere from his background as a commander of a U.S. Navy frigate and officer on three Navy submarines. (He also does watches as a fireman/watertender in the ship’s engine room.) Capt. George L. Maier is master of the vessel and is a professional deck officer who made 89 roundtrip crossings of the North Atlantic on passenger and cargo ships of the United States Line. The chief engineer is DeLacy L. Cook who sailed on U.S. Line ships in the engine room in all theaters of operation in World War II. It won’t be all narration of historical events during the course of the six cruises. There will be re-enactments: of Army troops, President Roosevelt, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and Abbott and Costello, as well as a Glenn Miller-style band and singing groups that will highlight some of the classic Big Band music of the ’40s. Friendly planes such as a vintage P-51 fighter will chase a Messerschmitt or other Restored to steaming condition in 1991, the World War II Liberty ship SS John W. Brown is scheduled to sail from Baltimore to New England in mid-August. The vessel is crewed entirely by volunteers. replica enemy airplane hired to fly over the deck. The biggest thrill for passengers, however, may just be the knowledge that they are steaming along on a real wartime ship powered by its original triple-expansion steam engine and No 2 diesel fuel oil. During the early years of World War II, enemy U-boats, aircraft and mines seriously crippled the Allied cause by sinking a huge number of merchant ships carrying vital military equipment, supplies and troops. In order to build ships faster than the enemy could sink them, the United States, under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, organized an emergency shipbuilding program which, between 1941 and 1945 produced more than 2,700 Liberty ships. The Brown was built in Baltimore in 1942. About 200 of these Liberty ships were lost in the war to the enemy, weather, error or faulty construction. Many sailed commercially after the war. Some-sixty-five years later, only the John W. Brown survives as an operating ship on the East Coast. The crew and other dues-paying mem- bers of Project Liberty Ship own the nonprofit vessel, named for John Brown, the man who helped establish Local 4 of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. After being rescued in 1988 from a Virginia maritime graveyard by a group of Maryland seamen, the Brown has been on more than 70 voyages since being made ready to sail once again in 1991, including a summer-long tour in 2000 of Lakes Ontario and Erie and the St. Laurence River. The ship’s home is Pier One, Clinton Street in Baltimore. Project Liberty Ship is a non-profit, taxexempt, volunteer organization formed in 1978 to preserve the vessel. To find out more about this cruise (and others), or to become a member or make a contribution toward the preservation of the John W. Brown—write to Project Liberty Ship, Box 25846, Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD 2122-0546, or check out their Web site at www.liberty-ship.com. PICS-FROM-THE-PAST NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG These photos were sent to the Seafarers LOG by Leon Jekot of Jefferson City, Tenn. The one on the left was taken in 1969 when he was the bosun’s mate aboard the Long Lines on a cable-laying operation. “When the cable we carried and laid ran out,” Jekot wrote in a note accompanying the photos, “it was buoyed off, to be picked up later when we had more cable.” Someone had to be lowered over the side onto the buoy to retrieve it. “No one spoke up. It looked like fun...so I said I’d go. What made it interesting was the fact that when the ship pulled away and left me on that buoy, it brought home the reality of being alone, really alone, on that object in the middle of the ocean, not to mention the enormous size of the fish underneath it. I couldn’t believe I did it. Everything turned out all right and we finished the lay, but it was an experience I won’t forget.” The other photo was taken in 1965 aboard the SS Suzanne, a C2 freighter carrying a load of flour to Syria. Jekot was an AB on that vessel. “It’s a type of ship one doesn’t see or work aboard anymore,” he stated. “With all the rigging, I thought it would be interesting to have some of the sailors of today see what we had to work with back then. Things that sailors don’t do much of anymore, like rigging and splicing the lines and wires for the gear, and what I was doing that day in port: cleaning the chain locker. It turned out to be a real nasty mess after we left. The flour got wet, and it took up to a week to clean it off the ship. It was everywhere.” April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:41 PM Page 17 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 ANGEL ANGLERO, 62, began his seafaring career in 1987 in Puerto Rico. Brother Anglero first sailed on the Osprey. He was born in Mayaguez, P.R. On two occasions, Brother Anglero attended classes at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He shipped in the engine department in both the deep sea and inland divisions. Brother Anglero’s most recent voyage was aboard the Horizon Fairbanks. He makes his home in Carolina, P.R. GEORGE BARBER, 62, is a New York native. Brother Barber joined the SIU in 1966. He initially shipped in the Great Lakes division on the Red Arrow, but most of his seafaring career was spent in the deep sea division. He last sailed on the Comet. Brother Barber upgraded his skills at the Piney Point school in 1983 and 2000. He lives in San Diego. EDMUND ERDT, 68, became an SIU member in 2001. Brother Erdt sailed primarily aboard Seabulk Tanker vessels in the engine department. His first ship was the Seabulk Trader; his last was the Seabulk Mariner. Brother Erdt, who was born in Poland, calls Williamsville, N.Y. home. TONY GONZALEZ, 47, began his seafaring career in 1980. Brother Gonzalez first sailed on an El Paso Southern Tanker Company vessel. He upgraded on numerous occasions at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Brother Gonzalez, who was born in New York, worked as a member of the engine department. His most recent voyage was aboard the San Juan. Brother Gonzalez is settled in Puerto Rico. JOHN KONETES, 61, joined the union in 1964. Brother Konetes initially worked aboard the Steel Advocate. The deck department member was born in North Carolina. In 1995 and 2003, Brother Konetes upgraded at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He most recently shipped on the Cape Lambert. Brother Konetes is a resident of Wilmington, N.C. ALLEN LEWIS SR., 65, joined the SIU in 1958. Brother Lewis’s first voyage was aboard the Export Leader. He was born in Pennsylvania and sailed in the deck department. Brother Lewis most recently worked on the Montpelier Victory. He makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. April 2007 JOSE LIND, 62, began sailing with the SIU in 1978. Brother Lind’s first voyage was aboard the Overseas Alaska. He was born in Puerto Rico and worked in the deck department. Brother Lind enhanced his seafaring skills at the Piney Point school in 2000 and 2003. His most recent trip to sea was on the Horizon Crusader. Brother Lind lives in Yabucoa, P.R. ROBERT PABON, 66, became a Seafarer in 1991 in the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Pabon upgraded his skills in 1997 and 2000 at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He sailed primarily aboard Interocean American Shipping vessels, including the Cape Fear and the El Morro. Brother Pabon, who was born in New York, calls Jacksonville home. DENNIS WHALEN, 65, embarked on his seafaring career in 1969. Brother Whalen first shipped aboard the Cape Washington in the engine department. The Yonkers, N.Y. native last sailed on the Philadelphia. He now resides in Portland, Ore. Boatman Golden’s first trip to sea was aboard a Plymouth Towing Company vessel. Born in Wilmington, N.C., he most recently sailed aboard an Interstate Oil Transportation vessel. He now lives in Grantsboro, N.C. DONALD LASH, 62, joined the SIU in 1999. Boatman Lash shipped primarily aboard vessels operated by Allied Transportation Company. The deck department member attended the Paul Hall Center in 2002 to upgrade his skills. Boatman Lash makes his home in Murrells Inlet, S.C. LEVY LAWRENCE JR., 62, began his seafaring career in 1979. He sailed primarily on vessels operated by Allied Transportation Company. Born in North Carolina, Boatman Lawrence upgraded his seafaring skills in 1997 and 2002. He makes his home in Norfolk, Va. WILLIAM McDONALD, 57, joined the SIU in 1969. Boatman McDonald shipped primarily aboard vessels operated by Cape Fear Towing. He took advantage of the educational opportunities available at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. in 2001 and 2002. Boatman McDonald continues to reside in his native state of North Carolina. ALBERT SCHMITT, 58, is a native of Louisiana. Boatman Schmitt became an SIU member in 1967 in the port of New Orleans. He attended classes on numerous occasions at the Piney Point school. During his seafaring career, Boatman Schmitt worked primarily aboard Crescent Towing and Salvage Company vessels. He continues to live in Louisiana. RAYMOND SIMMONS JR., 62, embarked on his SIU career in 1970. Boatman Simmons first sailed aboard a National Marine Services vessel. The Texas-born mariner most recently worked aboard the Seabulk Tanker. Boatman Simmons is a resident of Kirbyville, Texas. DELMAS TYLER JR, 62, joined the SIU in 1987. Boatman Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. DARRYL WHITE, 51, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Brother White joined the SIU in 1978, first sailing on the Cove Leader. He was a frequent upgrader at the unionaffiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother White, who sailed in the engine department, last shipped aboard the USNS Bob Hope. He makes his home in Norfolk, Va. DWIGHT WUERTH, 55, joined the SIU ranks in 1978 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Wuerth enhanced his skills often at the Paul Hall Center. His first trip to sea was on the Santa Mercedes. Brother Wuerth was born in Florida and shipped as a member of the steward department. Prior to retiring, he worked aboard the Overseas New Orleans. Brother Wuerth continues to make his home in Florida. INLAND GEORGE DAVIS, 62, started his seafaring career in 1983. Boatman Davis’s first voyage was on a Steuart Transportation Company vessel. In 1993 and 1997, he attended the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. to upgrade his skills. Boatman Davis was born in North Carolina. He last sailed aboard a Maritrans Operating Company vessel. Boatman Davis is a resident of Davis, N.C. BENDERS GOLDEN, 62, became a union member in 1970. 1953 With just three days to go to strike deadline, the Cities Service Oil Company yielded completely to all SIU demands and signed the standard SIU tanker agreement, retroactive to January 1, 1953. The contract was signed on Friday, April 17, a few hours after the Seafarers LOG came out with news about the SIU’s full strike preparations and pledges of support received from shore-side Cities Service unions such as the Lake Charles Metal Trades Council, AFL, representing Cities Service employees at the Lake Charles refinery and the Louisiana State Federation of Labor. The refusal of the membership and the union negotiating committee to accept anything less than a full settlement paid off after several weeks of negotiations at which the company unsuccessfully argued for special treatment. Tyler was born in Maryland and worked in the deck department. He sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by the Association of Maryland Pilots. Boatman Tyler calls Crisfield, Md. home. BENJAMIN WHALEY, 62, was born in South Carolina. Boatman Whaley began sailing with the SIU in 1976 from the port of Houston. He worked primarily aboard Marine Contracting and Towing Company vessels. Boatman Whaley settled in Wadmalaw Island, S.C. THOMAS ZEHNER, 66, joined the SIU in 2001 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Boatman Zehner initially sailed aboard Crowley Towing and Transportation Company vessels. The deck department member, who was born in New Orleans, now makes his home in Pensacola, Fla. GREAT LAKES LEONARD KAUTI, 65, began sailing with the SIU in 1987, first working on the Charles E. Wilson. Brother Kauti, who was born in Wisconsin, attended classes at the Paul Hall Center in 2002. Brother Kauti most recently sailed aboard the Indiana Harbor. He is a resident of Superior, Wis. fleet, would not only pay dividends to the government in the form of lower cargo preference costs, but would restore our tramp fleet to a position in which, even while carrying cargo at lower rates, it could operate profitably.” 1980 Members of the SIU joined picket lines in San Francisco recently, to show solidarity with unions striking local TV station KRON. Local unions belonging to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have been on strike for nearly three months, seeking improved wages and working conditions. The management of the TV station had publicly claimed that the striking unions did not have the support of organized labor in San Francisco. The SIU’s response was to publicly demonstrate that the IBEW and AFTRA certainly did have labor’s support by joining the picket line. This Month In SIU History 1965 The Seafarers International Union of North America told a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee recently that the cost to the government of shipping government-generated cargoes could be substantially reduced by building new Americanflag bulk carriers which would be able to carry these cargoes at low rates and still operate gainfully. “We believe,” said the SIU in a written statement to the Subcommittee on Federal Procurement and Regulation, “that a vigorous and affirmative policy by the government, to facilitate the construction of a new bulk carrier 1997 In an endeavor described by the U.S. Coast Guard as “an extraordinary display of seamanship” and a “nearly impossible rescue,” the SIU-crewed Sea Wolf saved six people stuck in a disabled sailboat, despite 30-foot seas and 50-knot winds. The rescue happened April 2, approximately 280 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., where the containership maneuvered alongside the 34-foot sloop Allegra and helped its passengers to safety. Seafarers LOG 17 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:31 PM Page 18 Final Departures DEEP SEA RAYMOND FASSLER Pensioner Raymond Fassler, 80, passed away Aug. 26. Brother Fassler joined the union in 1978 in the port of San Francisco. He first sailed on the Santa Maria as a member of the steward department. Brother Fassler was born in California. Prior to retiring in 1992, he worked aboard the Overseas Juneau. Brother Fassler made his home in Huntington Beach, Calif. SHERMAN JONES Pensioner Sherman Jones, 75, died Aug. 13. Brother Jones began his career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1958 in the port of San Francisco. The steward department member called Oakland, Calif. home. Brother Jones started collecting his retirement in 1980. ELI KRALICH Pensioner Eli Kralich, 84, passed away Aug. 8. Brother Kralich became a Seafarer in 1966. He first sailed aboard the Brigham Victory. Brother Kralich was a deck department member. His last voyage was aboard the Beaver State. Brother Kralich resided in his native state of Pennsylvania. He went on pension in 1987. PHILIP MAECHLING Pensioner Philip Maechling, 77, died Sept. 19. Brother Maechling was born in New Orleans. He began his seafaring career in 1947 on a Delta Steamship Lines vessel. Brother Maechling worked in the deck department. His concluding journey was aboard the Edward Rutledge. Brother Maechling settled in Louisiana. He began receiving compensation for his retirement in 1981. RICHARD MANALO Brother Richard Manalo, 62, passed away Aug. 5. He joined the SIU in 1988 initially sailing on the USNS Triumph. Brother Manalo, who was born in the Philippines, sailed in the steward department. His last ship was the Overseas Ohio. Brother Manalo made his home in Shoreline, Wash. EFRAIN MARTINEZ Pensioner Efrain Martinez, 82, died August 30. Brother Martinez started his seafaring career with the MC&S in the port of San Francisco. He shipped as a member of the steward department. Brother Martinez continued to live in his native Puerto Rico. He retired in 1974. TIBURCIO RAGUINDIN Pensioner Tiburcio Raguindin, 87, passed away Aug. 22. Brother Raguindin embarked on his SIU career in 1967. His first voyage was aboard a vessel operated by Hudson Waterways Corporation. Brother Raguindin, who was born in the Philippines, sailed in the engine department. His final voyage was aboard the 18 Seafarers LOG Overseas Washington. Brother Raguindin became a pensioner in 1984 and settled in Carson, Calif. and settled there. Boatman Feagin began collecting his pension in 1982. WILBUR HAUGHWOUT BERNARD ROMBACH Pensioner Bernard Rombach, 72, died Aug. 22. Brother Rombach began his seafaring career in 1969 in the port of San Francisco. His first ship was the Santa Magdalena; his last was the President Truman. Brother Rombach worked in the steward department. Born in Germany, he called San Francisco home. Brother Rombach started receiving his retirement pay in 1996. Boatman Wilbur Haughwout, 62, died Aug. 18. He started shipping with the union in 1960. Boatman Haughwout was born in Elizabeth, N.J. He began his seafaring career working on a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad of New York vessel. Boatman Haughwout most recently sailed on a vessel operated by New York Dock Railway Company. He made Simpsonville, N.C. home. WALTER HENRY ELMOOR STEWART Pensioner Elmoor Stewart, 72, passed away July 3. Brother Stewart joined the union in 1959 in the port of San Francisco. His first voyage was on the Del Mar. Brother Stewart was a member of the engine department. Before retiring in 1959, he shipped out on the Endurance. Brother Stewart was a resident of San Francisco. INLAND EDWARD CLINE Pensioner Edward Cline, 77, died Aug. 12. Boatman Cline joined the SIU in 1967, initially working aboard a Tangier Marine Transportation vessel. He last sailed on an Interstate Oil Transportation Company vessel. Boatman Cline, who was born in Ohio, resided in Baltimore. He went on pension in 1991. ALVIN COOLEY Pensioner Alvin Cooley, 82, passed away July 3. Boatman Cooley was born in Mississippi. He first sailed with Colle Towing Company as a member of the deck department. Boatman Cooley’s last voyage was aboard a National Marine Service vessel. He began collecting his retirement stipends in 1989. Boatman Cooley made his home in Leakesville, Miss. RAYMOND DABNEY Pensioner Raymond Dabney, 82, died July 23. Boatman Dabney joined the union in 1956 in the port of Baltimore. He worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Charles H. Harper and Associates. Boatman Dabney was born in Virginia. The deck department member went on pension in 1982. He lived in Barhamsville, Va. BERRY FEAGIN Pensioner Berry Feagin, 88, passed away June 21. Boatman Feagin became an SIU member in 1964. He first sailed aboard a vessel operated by Inland Tugs in the engine department. Boatman Feagin last worked aboard a Southern Ohio Towing vessel. He was born in Paducah, Ky. Pensioner Walter Henry, 81, passed away July 29. Boatman Henry was born in Ohio. He embarked on his seafaring career in 1979 initially working aboard a Dixie Carriers vessel. Boatman Henry sailed in both the inland and deep sea divisions. His most recent voyage was on the USNS Altair. Boatman Henry started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1991. He lived in Sealy, Texas. NEWMAN JONES Pensioner Newman Jones, 85, died July 9. Boatman Jones began sailing with the SIU in 1970 in the port of Philadelphia. He worked primarily aboard vessels operated by Gellenthin Barge Lines. Boatman Jones was a Virginia native. The Parksley, Va. resident retired in 1984. FLOYD LOLLEY Pensioner Floyd Lolley, 77, passed away July 31. Boatman Lolley joined the Seafarers in 1973. He worked primarily aboard Dravo Basic Materials Company vessels. Boatman Lolley was born in Alabama. He went on pension in 1992. Chickasaw, Ala. was home to Boatman Lolley. HOWARD OCHS Pensioner Howard Ochs, 85, died July 23. Boatman Ochs began his seafaring career in 1956 in the port of Baltimore. Born in Maryland, Boatman Ochs worked primarily aboard Moran Towing of Maryland vessels. He became a pensioner in 1982. Boatman Ochs was a resident of Glen Burnie, Md. ily aboard Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company vessels. Boatman Powell was born in North Carolina. The deck department member went on pension in 1980. Boatman Powell made his home in Hampton, Va. CARMELO SALAMAN Pensioner Carmelo Salaman, 67, died Aug. 2. Boatman Salaman was born in Puerto Rico, which is also where he joined the union in 1976. He sailed primarily on vessels operated by Crowley Towing and Transportation of San Juan. Boatman Salaman was a member of the steward department. He began collecting his pension in 2000 and lived in Bayamon, P.R. JOHN YOUNG Pensioner John Young, 75, passed away July 30. Boatman Young joined the SIU in 1953, first sailing aboard an Alcoa Steamship vessel. He was a Mississippi native. Prior to his retirement in 1993, Boatman Young shipped aboard a Dravo Basic Materials Company vessel. He resided in Mobile, Ala. GREAT LAKES SAID ALTAIRI Pensioner Said Altairi, 74, died July 8. Brother Altairi, who was born in Yemen, launched his seafaring career in 1967. Brother Altairi sailed in both the Great Lakes and inland divisions. The deck department member’s first ship was the American Seaocean. Brother Altairi last worked aboard the Bob-Lo Island. He went on pension in 1997 and called Dearborn, Mich. home. Pensioner Paul Powell, 81, passed away Oct. 22. Boatman Powell joined the SIU in 1960. He worked primar- Editor’s note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust have passed away. VERN ARMSTRONG Pensioner Vern Armstrong, 89, passed away June 23. Brother Armstrong joined the NMU in 1949 in the port of San Francisco. He worked in all three departments during his seafaring career. Brother Armstrong was born in San Diego, Calif. Before retiring in 1975, he sailed aboard the Export Freedom. SAMUEL CABERRA Pensioner Samuel Caberra, 77, died June 1. Brother Caberra was born in Puerto Rico. He joined the NMU in 1960 initially shipping from the port of New York. Brother Caberra’s first ship was the American Scout. The steward department member retired in 1987. JAMES CHEATHAM SR. Pensioner James Cheatham Sr., 77, passed away June 26. Brother Cheatham became an NMU member in 1965 in Seattle, Wash. His first ship was the Texaco Delaware. Brother Cheatham shipped in the engine department. He last sailed aboard the American Trader. Brother Cheatham began collecting his pension in 1987. JOHN FITZGERALD Pensioner John Fitzgerald, 71, passed away Aug. 14. Brother Fitzgerald became a member of the SIU in 1967. He initially worked aboard a vessel operated by Peter Kiewit Sons. Brother Fitzgerald sailed in the deck department. His last voyage was aboard a Luedtke Engineering vessel. Brother Fitzgerald was a resident of Chicago, Ill. He started receiving his retirement compensation in 1996. ALI HUBABI PAUL POWELL vessels as a member of the steward department. Brother Hubabi, who settled in Sanaa, Yemen, retired in 1996. Pensioner Ali Hubabi, 74, died June 21. Brother Hubabi started sailing with the SIU in 1963 in the port of Duluth, Minn. He worked primarily aboard Great Lakes Associates VICTORIO CORRALES Pensioner Victorio Corrales, 85, died June 3. Brother Corrales joined the NMU in 1945. He was born in Costa Rica and sailed in the engine department. Brother Corrales’ last voyage was on the Gulf Merchant. He retired in 1983. ROSARIO RANNO Pensioner Rosario Ranno, 82, passed away June 13. Brother Ranno joined the NMU in 1944, first sailing from the port of New York. The steward department member, who was born in Middletown, Conn., last sailed aboard the Christopher Lykes. He went on pension in 1979. April 2007 �41545_P01-5_7_14_18_19:2007-March 3/23/2007 4:41 PM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted. Ships minutes 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. CHARLESTON (U.S.S. Transport), Feb. 25—Chairman Elkanah B. Ladia, Secretary Michael M. Amador, Deck Delegate Eddie Major, Engine Delegate Philip Diego. Chairman encouraged all members to attend SIU meetings, whether at sea or ashore. They are the proper time to addresses any beefs. Educational director recommended mariners upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. and check to make sure that all required shipping documents are current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made to increase pension benefits and modify prescription coverage. Next port: Houston. CHEMICAL TRADER (Intrepid Personnel & Provisioning), Feb. 25—Chairman Raymond A. Tate, Secretary Rocel C. Alvarez, Educational Director Troy D. Banks, Deck Delegate Francis C. Johnson, Engine Delegate Lebindra B. Mahavaj, Steward Delegate Manes Sainvil. Chairman announced Feb. 28 payoff in Tampa, Fla. He thanked crew for another safe voyage—790 days without a lost-time incident. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Clarification requested on which holidays are observed. Vote of thanks given to steward department. Crew members voted to have HBO put back in line-up of satellite stations. HARRIETTE (Sealift), Feb. 4— Chairman Sean M. Ryan, Secretary George Quinn, Educational Director Joseph M. Tuata. Chairman stated ship to discharge cargo in New Orleans and then pay off in Houston. He thanked crew for enjoyable voyage. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade frequently at union-affiliated school in Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Thanks given to steward department for their hard work. Next port: Durban, South Africa. HORIZON ANCHORAGE (Horizon Lines), Feb. 4— Chairman Daniel W. Seagle, Secretary Amanda F. Suncin, Educational Director Brian S. Leach, Deck Delegate Frank Bermudez, Steward Delegate Joel P. Crow. Chairman announced Feb. 5 payoff at sea and docking two days later in Tacoma, Wash. Secretary advised Seafarers to upgrade skills at Paul Hall Center and urged them to contribute to SPAD, which in turn helps our union leaders fight for better ships and jobs. Educational director reminded crew members to check document expiration dates. No beefs or disputed OT reported. President’s report from January Seafarers LOG read and discussed. Crew expressed appreciation for strong union leaders. HORIZON HAWAII (Horizon Lines), Feb. 7—Chairman Antonio M. Mercado, Secretary Carlos H. Sanchez, Educational April 2007 Director Roy S. Frett Jr., Deck Delegate Isaac Vega, Engine Delegate Keithley Andrew, Steward Delegate George R. Salazar. Chairman announced Feb. 9 payoff at sea and thanked all departments for working well together. He asked crew to have union books and dues ready for boarding patrolman in port of Jacksonville. Secretary thanked deck department and bosun for great job painting main deck. room. Vote of thanks given to entire steward department. HORIZON PACIFIC (Horizon Lines), Feb. 20—Chairman Rufino J. Giray, Secretary Robert P. Mosley, Educational Director Irwin Rousseau, Deck Delegate Julius C. Udan, Engine Delegate Ali Hussin, Steward Delegate Thomas C. Ferrell. Bosun stressed importance of contributing to SPAD and how it benefits the membership. He also urged members to check in with customs/immigration before leaving ship and make sure to stop by the union hall to re-register. Those getting off should leave room neat and supplied with clean linen for next person. Secretary led discussion on new TWIC card and informed Seafarers of on-line site. He also talked about upgrading at Paul Hall Center and of keeping all documents current. Treasurer stated $341.26 in cook-out fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. President’s report in Seafarers this month. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman read and discussed presidents report from latest Seafarers LOG.. Members requested new lamp shades and artwork for common areas and rooms. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. Next ports: Tacoma; Oakland, Calif. HORIZON TRADER (Horizon Lines), Feb. 4—Chairman Gregorio C. Cudal, Secretary Kevin M. Dougherty, Educational Director Joseph H. Brown, Engine Delegate Mohamed M. Abdulla, Steward Delegate Sam K. Rashid. Bosun announced payoff at sea prior to arrival in Oakland, Calif. He informed members of increase in union dues and days of seatime required to keep benefits. Educational director recommended eligible members attend school in Piney Point for recertification. Treasurer stated $700 in crew fund; some money was spent to buy bench press. It was suggested to save toward cost Cape Jacob Seafarers Recognized Two SIU members recently received commendations for their good work aboard Matson’s Cape Jacob. They are SAs David Mohamed (center in photo above left) and Bruce Davidson (second from right in photo above right). According to the company, Mohamed received Matson’s “Inspiration Award” for his outstanding contribution to the vessel’s steward department. “David is a hard worker who demonstrates exceptional thoughtfulness and consideration towards the rest of the crew,” a Matson official noted in a communication to the Seafarers LOG. That same individual said of Davidson, who was named “Steward of the Quarter,” “Bruce is a hard worker and gives special attention to maintaining a safe work environment aboard the ship.” Both Seafarers are pictured with Capt. Tom Stapleton (left) and Capt. Morgan McManus (far right). Chief Steward Jane Altieri is at far left in the photo that includes Davidson. The vessel (right) is part of the RRF but is activated for duty with MSC’s prepositioning program. Educational director encouraged mariners to check out wide variety of courses offered at Piney Point school. He also reminded them to keep documents current or chance losing out on a job. Renewals often take a long time, so Seafarers should start the process well in advance. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions made regarding medical benefit requirements and raising pension benefit. LOG was read and discussed. Crew thanked President Sacco and his staff for their hard work. Steward department was thanked for great menus and cook-outs. Captain congratulated Seafarers for good job on sanitary inspection. All crew members were asked to keep noise down while watchstanders are resting. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Hawaii; Guam; Hong Kong. HORIZON KODIAK (Horizon Lines), Feb. 11—Chairman Christopher K. Pompel, Secretary Wanda J. Glinke, Educational Director Brian J. Sengelaub, Deck Delegate Robert H. Brown, Engine Delegate Ralph D. Thomas, Steward Delegate Thomas M. Kelly. Chairman announced Feb. 11 payoff at sea with arrival in Tacoma three days later. He reminded crew to wear hard hats and safety vests on deck while in port. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members were asked to be considerate of others and not slam doors in laundry HORIZON SPIRIT (Horizon Lines), Feb. 15—Chairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Scott A. Opsahl, Educational Director Robert L. Stafford, Deck Delegate Rene V. Rafer, Engine Delegate Gordon L Hiltbruner. Chairman announced Feb. 17 payoff in Tacoma, Wash. He informed crew of DVD storage space in steward’s office. Secretary expressed gratitude to fellow crew members for helping keep pantry and mess hall clean. Educational director advised Seafarers to check expiration dates on all necessary documents needed to ship. Treasurer stated $30 in ship’s fund of satellite TV system. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Computer monitor was broken during heavy seas; new one to be installed and secured shortly. It was noted that crew lounge does not have TV reception in port. Steward assistant requested everyone put dirty linen in proper bags and not store personal food in crew mess reefer (use refrigerators in rooms). Next ports: Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif.; Honolulu. LIBERTY SPIRIT (Liberty Maritime), Feb. 4—Chairman Jimmie L. Scheck, Secretary Randy A. Stephen, Educational Director David M. Tillman, Deck Delegate Ronald Owens, Steward Delegate Andres L. Caballero. Chairman thanked crew members for safe, smooth voyage and announced Feb. 7 payoff in Portland, Ore. Secretary advised members to keep up with changes in dues amounts and benefit requirements. He informed them he has application forms for all benefits, including medical, dental and vacation. Educational director discussed importance of keeping track of expiration dates on required shipping documents. He also encouraged crew to upgrade ratings whenever possible. Beef reported in deck department; no disputed OT in all three departments. Request made for new washer and dryer as well as new mattresses for crew rooms. Chairman thanked all departments for performing their jobs very well and completing another successful voyage. MAERSK VERMONT (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 3—Chairman James L. Joyce Jr., Secretary Robert J. Bostick, Educational Director Michael T. Gaciala. Chairman led discussion about importance of SPAD. Educational director recommend all members improve job performance by attending classes at Paul Hall Center whenever possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew suggested having vacation checks sent to their homes or deposited directly into their bank accounts. Clarification requested on restriction to ship in Haifa. Vote of thanks given to steward department for being a good feeder. Suggestions given as to improvements in ship’s gym and increase in pension payments. Next ports: New York; Norfolk, Va.; Savannah, Ga. USNS FRED STOCKHAM (Keystone Shipping), Feb. 9— Chairman Andy Barrows, Secretary Robert L. Easley, Educational Director Robert A. Ott, Steward Delegate Vernon S. Thibodeaux. Chairman requested clarification on tour of duty aboard the Stockham as well as manning scale for steward department. Secretary urged Seafarers to upgrade whenever possible at SIUaffiliated school. Educational director advised crew members to stay informed about new TWIC cards and other information. Treasurer stated $3,000 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members would like copy of written evaluation of ship given by Keystone. Crew also requested new mattresses, books, movies and lounge. Next port: Guam. HORIZON RELIANCE (Horizon Lines), March 4—Chairman Douglas Buchanan, Secretary Paula S. Kaleikini, Educational Director Randy D. Clark, Engine Delegate Erwin C. Udan. Chairman announced payoff at sea en route to Tacoma, Wash. He informed crew they will have rough weather most of the way home and asked them to secure everything. Secretary reported new refrigerator for mess hall scheduled to arrive in Tacoma. Educational director thanked both apprentices for working so hard during their time aboard vessel. Treasurer stated $1,000 in ship’s fund. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; Honolulu; Guam. MAERSK NEVADA (Maersk Line Limited), March 3—Chairman Thomas W. Grosskurth, Secretary Dulip Sookhiram, Educational Director Albert Riollano, Engine Delegate Andy F. Iliscupidez. Chairman congratulated crew on no lost3-time injuries and advised them to check expiration dates on all required shipping documents. Educational director urged all mariners to take advantage of educational opportunities available at Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department given vote of thanks for excellent food. Next port: New York. Seafarers LOG 19 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:42 PM Page 20 For Your Maritime Reading Pleasure . . . A number of books recently have been published or reprinted that may appeal to Seafarers and others interested in the seafaring life. Good Shipmates “Good Shipmates, The Restoration of the Liberty Ship John W. Brown, Volume Two: 19952006.” Written by Ernest F. Imhoff with a foreword by Russell Baker (Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist), this is the second volume of history written by the former Baltimore Sun editor and current volunteer on the Liberty ship John W. Brown. Through more than 200 interviews with fellow volunteers on the ship, Imhoff captures their adventures and life lessons in a colorful mosaic of hard work, volunteerism, camaraderie and inspiration. In the process, he carries the reader along on a fascinating voyage, one that describes veterans and others who ignore broken and diseased backs, knees, hips and eyes, and work with never-say-die spirits to help save a piece of American history. The John W. Brown is one of only two remaining Liberty ships of the 2,710 that were built during World War II. It still operates and sails today as a living history museum, a tribute to the American know-how that won the war, and to the “good shipmates” that brought that spirit to their ship, preserving a special part of history for generations to come. Good Shipmates runs 416 pages with more than 100 illustrations and sell for $24.95. Available from your local book store or directly from the publisher, The Glencannon Press, P.O. Box 1428 El Cerrito, CA 94530; tel. (800) 711-8985. A Careless Word “A Careless Word . . . A Needless Sinking.” This is the 8th reprinting of this book, written by Capt. Arthur R. Moore. The book is a treasure of reference material—a documented account, under one cover, of the catastrophic losses suffered by the American-flag Merchant Marine, both in ships and personnel, during World War II. It is a valuable research tool for anyone interested in the American Merchant Marine and the wartime service and sacrifice of our seamen. Capt. Moore has devoted more than 30 years gathering data pertaining to the very important and vital role played by the U.S. Merchant Marine in winning the war. They were a critical part of the “bridge of ships” that supplied our military forces worldwide. It is the story of the valiant seamen and Navy gunners who served and died without recognition and the ships on which they sailed. The names of lost seamen are recorded by vessel along with, in many cases, a photo of their ship and details of the battle action. Additional illustrations bring the magnitude of this tragedy to light. The Dennis A. Roland Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans has produced a limited number of this 8th printing. Copies of the large, fivepound volume are offered at a cost of $85 (plus $5 shipping and handling). Quotes for multiples copies and foreign delivery may be obtained from: American Merchant Marine Veterans—Dennis A. Roland Chapter, P.O. Box 306, Midland Park, NJ 07432. At All Costs “At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II,” written by Sam Moses, published by Random House. This book tells the story of Operation Pedestal, a supply convoy sent to rescue the strategically important island of Malta from surrender to the Axis forces during World War II. It specifically focuses on two American merchant seamen, Fred Larsen and Francis “Lonnie” Dales, who helped repair the anti-aircraft gun on a crippled oil tanker (and its cargo of 13,000 tons of fuel) in the middle of the Mediterranean and led a handful of men in fighting off enemy planes for days. Operation Pedestal involved 14 merchant vessels guarded by 64 warships. Thirteen ships were lost and approximately 350 men were killed. The actions of these two young men earned them the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal “for heroism above and byond the call of duty.” Although both men have since died, Moses talked to their widows and, among other resources, also listened to a taped interview with Larsen about the operation that had been recorded by a Newark chapter of the merchant marine. As of mid-March, the book was available on amazon.com for $17. Life of a Bluenose “Life of a Bluenose” is the first published book written by SIU member Robert Gary Haller. At just 15 pages long, it is an autobiographical account of Haller’s seafaring career, starting with his arrival as a 16-year-old for training at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Haller proudly recognizes the contributions of his family in the Merchant Marine and in service to their country. His three older brothers (Chuck, Joe and John) had gone through the school; his younger brother Mike also joined up. His father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The title comes from the “Bluenose Certificate” which is awarded to someone crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time. The book is dedicated to his brother Chuck who died at the age of 46. His ashes are buried beneath a plaque at the school in honor of his 30 years in the Merchant Marine. The book is published by Dorrance Publishing, (412) 288-4543. It sells for $8. Are You Receiving All Your Important Mail? In order to help ensure that each active SIU member and pensioner receives a copy of the Seafarers LOG every month—as well as other important mail such as W-2 forms, pension and health insurance checks and bulletins or notices—a correct home address must be on file with the union. If you have moved recently or feel that you are not getting your union mail, please use the form on this page to update your home address. Your home address is your permanent address, and this is where all official union documents will be mailed (unless otherwise specified). If you are getting more than one copy of the LOG delivered to you, if you have changed your address, or if your name or address is misprinted or incomplete, please fill out the form and send it to: Seafarers International Union Address Correction Dept. 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 or e-mail corrections to kclements@seafarers.org HOME ADDRESS FORM 4/07 (Please Print) Name: ___________________________________________________________________________ Phone No.: _______________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Social Security No.: ________ / ________ / ________ Active SIU Pensioner Book No.: ___________________ Other _______________________________________ This will be my permanent address for all official union mailings. This address should remain in the union file unless otherwise changed by me personally. 20 Seafarers LOG Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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/NMU 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:42 PM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. for most of 2007. All programs are geared to improve the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Junior Engineer July 16 September 7 Machinist June 18 July 9 July 6 July 27 Marine Electrician September 24 November 16 Pumpman* July 9 July 30 July 20 August 10 Refrigeration Engineer April 23 June 1 Advanced Refrigerated Container May 21 June 15 Welding April 9 May 7 June 11 August 6 October 1 October 29 April 27 May 25 June 29 August 24 October 19 November 16 (*must have tankerman familiarization/ assistant cargo (DL) AND machinist) Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman April 16 May 28 July 9 August 20 October 1 May 11 June 22 August 3 September 14 October 26 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids* (ARPA) (*must have radar unlimited) June 18 October 22 June 22 October 26 Celestial Navigation July 9 GMDSS Lifeboatman/Water Survival Safety Specialty Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Advanced Fire Fighting April 16 July 9 April 27 July 20 Fast Rescue Boat May 21 June 25 July 23 August 27 May 25 June 29 July 27 August 31 August 3 Basic Safety Training Classes are conducted weekly August 13 August 24 Government Vessels April 2 May 14 June 25 August 6 September 17 October 29 April 13 May 25 July 6 August 17 September 28 November 9 May 28 June 25 July 16 August 6 September 17 November 5 June 1 June 29 July 20 August 10 September 21 November 9 Medical Care Provider Radar June 4 October 8 June 15 October 19 April 30 July 23 May 4 July 27 Radar Renewal (one day) June 25 October 29 Tankerman Familiarization/ Assistant Cargo (DL)* April 2 June 4 September 24 November 26 April 13 June 15 October 5 December 7 June 4 August 13 June 8 August 17 (*must have basic fire fighting) Tankerman (PIC) Barge* Steward Upgrading Courses (*must have basic fire fighting) Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations modules start every week. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward classes start every other week beginning April 2, 2007. Recertification Bosun April 9 October 8 May 7 November 5 Steward July 9 August 6 Engine Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops May 21 July 16 September 10 June 15 August 10 October 5 FOWT April 23 June 18 August 13 October 8 May 18 July 13 September 7 November 2 Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, two weeks prior to the beginning of a vocational course. An introduction to computers course will be self-study. UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Date of Birth ______________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twentyfive (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All OL, AB, JE and Tanker Assistant (DL) applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $140 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only, payable to LMSS. BEGIN DATE COURSE END DATE ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Seniority _____________________________ Department _____________________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ U.S. Citizen: ____________________________ _______________ _______________ 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 # _________________________ Yes No Home Port _____________________________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________ LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________ _____________________________________________________________________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? Yes No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________ Yes Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? No If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Yes No Firefighting: Yes No CPR: Yes No Primary language spoken ________________________________________________ April 2007 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. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/07 Seafarers LOG 21 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 3:13 PM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes AB — Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 683 — Graduating from the water survival course are unlicensed apprentices from class 683. They include (in alphabetical order) Fernando Abuan, Francis Brown, Ja’Quaral Carroll, Lawrence Cormier, Peter Dudoit III, Timothy Foster, Andrew Fung, Dominic Gordon, Quince Harrington, Paul Hart, Edward Kelly, Joel Marcano-Lopez Sr., Terrell McMillian, Hussein Mohsen, Renard Murphy, Charles Naze, Tashara Newton, Johnnie Owens Jr., Rodney Payne, Kenneth Sumner, Bradley Wade, Teena Werner, Lee Weygandt and Phillip Ziegert. (Note: not all are pictured.) Receiving certificates for completion of the AB course Feb. 16 are (in no specific order) David Anderson, Shawana Mills, Stephen McGruder, Jeffry Cesvet, Jesse Willard, Thomas Jarrett, Richard Moore, Jeremy Finley, Timothy Kauble, Christopher Vincenzo, Patrick Tucker, Wayne Altoonian, Richard Kight, Brendan O’Brien, John Galatioto, Christopher Bryant, Ryan Scott and Annie Walker. Their instructor, Bernabe Pelingon, is at far right. Advanced Fire Fighting — Government Vessels — Upgrading Seafarers who completed the government vessels course Feb. 23 are (in no specific order) James Callahan, William Burdette, Juan Bernal-Helices, Dorkucho Tanihu, Towfiek Ahmed, Glenn Davis, Patrick Tucker, Richard Moore and Pete Hernandez. Their instructor (not pictured) was Mark Cates. Academic — Rahul Bagchi recently completed two collegelevel courses at the Piney Point school: College mathematics II (Math 102) and American government (POL 101). Bagchi, who ships in the engine department, is the recipient of the 2006 SIU threeyear college scholarship. He has been accepted by the State University of New York Maritime College in the Facilities (Stationary) Engineering Program and expects to start school in New York in the fall. We wish him the best of luck in using this scholarship to further his maritime career. With him in the photo are instructors Peggy Densford (left) and Rick Prucha. Graduating from the advanced fire fighting course Feb. 16 are (in no specific order) Robert Kirk, Cameron Miller, Joseph Murphy, Milton Walters, Anthony Pacely Jr. and Shawn Waring. Their instructor (not pictured) was Mark Cates. Welding — Under the instruction of Buzzy Andrews (center, back row) are March 2 graduates (in alphabetical order) Jaime Colon, Abdulwali Eljahmi, Jason Femminineo, Joseph Krajnik, Yaser Mohamed, Timothy Reiman and Michael Sinclair. Computer Lab Classes With instructor Rick Prucha, standing in each photo, are students who recently completed computer classes at the Paul Hall Center. Showing their certificates of achievement are (from left) Seafarers Domingo Leon Jr.; Rahul Bagchi and Steve McGruder; and unlicensed apprentice Andres Nunez. 22 Seafarers LOG April 2007 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24x:1545p0 3/27/2007 3:13 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Coastal Navigation — Students in the Mates Program recently completed coastal navigation as well as the cargo handling and the stability courses. They are (in no specific order) Adam Emanuel, Robert Stone, Philip Wright, David Lane II, Darrel Konce, Clyde McNatt, Joey Lupton, Jay Templet, Scott Chew, Kesse Kesse and James Raney. Their instructor, Mike Smith, is at far right. Tankerman (PIC) Barge — With instructor Herb Walling (back row, second from right) are Feb. 23 graduates of the tankerman (PIC) barge course. Included are (in no specific order) Lawrence Lewis, Robert Sandman, Owen Gallagher, Joel Patzer, Christopher Vincenzo, Shawn Waring, Roy Carey, Grant Fedukovich, Donald Autery and Reynaldo Bangcob. Specially Trained OS — Two STOS classes that graduated Feb. 23 are pictured here. They include (in alphabetical order) Abdo Ahmed, Paul Amato, Brian Awde, Justin Beal, Cameron Benson, Ja’Quaral Carroll, Lawrence Cormier, William Cruz, Pedro DeJesus, Jarrod Fluitt, Philip Gallagher, Clayton Lupton, James Luttrell, Ryan McElroy, Renard Murphy, Sadeq Nasser, Johnnie Owens Jr., Rolando Salamat, Terrance Shinn, Stefra Strauser, Steven Szymanski, Eric Thomas, Teena Werner, Jake Wheeler and Phillip Ziegert. Their instructors were Stacey Harris (fourth from right) and Stan Beck (far right). Tanker Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) — Upgrading Seafarers who completed this course Feb. 23 are (in no specific order) John Groom, Gary Hirsch, Jeffery Martin, Vincent Hamm, Laurent Abad, Mario Ferrer, Arthur Quinney III, Thaddeus Jalvia, Roger Steel, Thomas McClintock and Shane Mackey. Their instructor, Jim Shaffer, is at far right. Lifeboatman/Water Survival — Upgrading ABs who graduated from the lifeboatman/water survival course March 2 are (in no specific order) Kevin Stehlik, Rolando Salamat, James Orlanda, Joselito Beof, Nicasio Arzu, German Guity, Durlas Ruiz, Chris Christensen, James Donohue, Joseph Brown, Fermin Baltazar, Ernest Bohannon, Corsino Dacruz, Jose Garcia, Charles Bennett, Juan Ortiz and Michael Moody. STCW — NCL, March 8: Corrina Grover, James Hackl, Constance Hall, Reshan Hart, William Hildebrandt, Lauren Hollenstein, Orale Hood, Jeffrey Hubert, Arnold Impat, David Ingram, Bryan Iseli, Derric Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Lamar Jordan, Chelsey Key, Jayce Kielich, Jennifer Kliegl, Jessica Laing, Manuel Lazar Jr., Meryl Levine, Gregory Lindesay and Bryan Mash. April 2007 STCW — NCL, March 8: Fazli Azizi, Zachary Balstars, Jan-Ember Bartolome, Ashley Black, Oreatha Bowman, Jaonte Boyd, Leslie Britts, David Brodowski, Marcialyn Camacho, Keiana Carter, Bentley Cherry, Larry Cuestas, Emiliano DeJesus Jr., Corelle DeChane, Sterling Ellis, Mathias Enderle III, Emily Entley, Kimika Frater, Andrea Fusco and Angel Garcia-Edie. Seafarers LOG 23 �41545_P6_8-13_15-17_20-24qxp:2007-March 3/23/2007 2:44 PM Page 24 Volume 69, Number 4 April 2007 Upgrading at the Paul Hall Center Take advantage of the upgrading courses available at the Paul Hall Center. See page 21 for a schedule of upcoming classes. RRF Ship Returns from Middle East Mission Cape Washington Completes Most Recent Deployment in OIF The SIU-crewed Cape Washington, part of the RRF, successfully completed a recent mission supporting American troops in Iraq. Cape Washington QMED/ Electrician Eric Mentzer proudly displays his full union book, which he received last month. T he SIU-crewed Cape Washington recently returned from a deployment supporting U.S. troops in Iraq. The vessel, operated by Crowley Liner Services, arrived in Baltimore in early March. Representatives from the U.S. Maritime Administration came aboard and issued medals and certificates to Seafarers for their service. The Cape Washington is part of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), a fleet of civilian-crewed ships owned by the Maritime Administration. At least 40 RRF ships have participated in missions supporting U.S. troops in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. A roll-on/roll-off ship, the Cape Washington is 697 feet long, with a beam of 105 feet, 11 inches and a draft of 38 feet. The ship’s speed is listed at 14.9 knots. The vessel has been activated multiple times during Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom. When they aren’t deployed, RRF vessels typically are kept pier-side in reduced operating status, with a skeleton crew on board. The mariners monitor operating systems and help ensure that the ships are ready for smooth acti- AB Mrimri Farah (left) and GVA Michael Alghafeili, like their fellow crew members from the Cape Washington, received U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals and corresponding certificates from the U.S. Maritime Administration after finishing the deployment. vation whenever the call is received. Various RRF ships have different activation periods—anywhere from four to 20 days, although they normally are ready to mobilize ahead of schedule. The Cape Washington has a five-day activation period. Upon activation, RRF ships come under the operational control of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The agency notes that RRF vessels “normally are maintained at ports close to potential military load-out sites on U.S. coasts….” In addition to mobilizations for current and recent missions in the Middle East, RRF ships historically have been very active in many types of deployments including humanitarian efforts. Among other voyages, RRF ships—many of them crewed by SIU members—were activated in the 1990s for the Persian Gulf War; for humanitarian efforts in Somalia and Central America; to support United Nations and NATO actions in Bosnia; and for Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. The photos on this page were taken March 7 in Baltimore. GVA Jaqueline Elsworth Chief Steward McKinley Jones SA Jose Ramos Some of the Seafarers and officers from the Cape Washington are pictured in the crew mess. Right: QMED Justin Van Pelt QMED George Murphy � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2007 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES TSA PUBLISHES TWIC FEES RANK-AND-FILE FINANCIAL COMMITTEE APPROVES UNION’S RECORDS FOR 2006 U.S. FLEET’S IMPORTANCE, LABOR’S VITALITY IN FOCUS AT MTD MEETINGS GOOD NEWS COMES IN THREES: OSG ORDERS JONES ACT ATBS POWELL, WARE APPOINTED TO SIU ASSISTANT VP SLOTS SIU’S VINCENZO APPOINTED TO STATE LABOR COMMITTEE SIU-CREWED PAGE HONORED RETIRED MATSON PRESIDENT MULHOLLAND DIES AT 65 HOUSE PASSES EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT CHAOTIC RUNAWAY-FLAG SAGA REINFORCES ITF’S EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING DIRECTOR EGLINTON RETIRES DUTIES GREATLY EVOLVED DURING 34 YEARS IN PINEY POINT SCHOOL ADDS LIQUEFIED GAS SIMULATOR SIU STEWARDS’ RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FEATURES HARD WORK, PERSISTENCE GOVERNMENT SERVICES DIVISION STATES CASE IN HOTEL DISPUTE RETIRED NMU PRESIDENT SHANNON WALL DIES AT 87 USNS ERICSSON CIVMARS EARN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD MARITIME LABOR MOURNS LOSS OF TAL SIMPKINS USNS SHUGART DELIVERS EXPERIMENTAL NAVY SHIP RECOLLECTIONS OF THE MERCHANT MARINE IN WORLD WAR II MTD EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MILITARY LEADERS: U.S. MARINERS CRUCIAL TO DEFENSE CAPABILITIES GEN. SCHWARTZ, LT. GEN. DAIL REAFFIRM VALUE OF U.S.-FLAG FLEET CONGRESSIONAL REPS POINT TO FREE CHOICE ACT, 2006 ELECTIONS AS PROOF OF LABORS’ VITALITY MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR DISCUSSES AGENCY REORGANIZATION, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. SEAFARERS TRUMKA: POLITICAL ACTION VITAL FOR WORKERS LCA PRESIDENT URGES GOVERNMENT ACTION ON LAKES DREDGING CRISIS WORLD WAR II LIBERTY SHIP TO SET SAIL IN AUGUST RRF SHIP RETURNS FROM MIDDLE EAST MISSION 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2007 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. 69, No. 4 2007 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/7f0546a50ddcb536e814d79f599fe4bc.pdf 4ef2a6d50e170bdee04ed2f163de5bf1 PDF Text Text 47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:21 AM Page 1 Volume 70, Number 4 April 2008 “You deliver and we know we can count on you…. You are that fourth arm of Department of Defense and you are critical to this nation.” —Major General Kathleen Gainey, Commander, U.S. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Guest speakers at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting in late February near San Diego – including Major General Gainey, right – stressed the U.S. Merchant Marine’s vital role in national and economic security. They also emphasized the effective, professional partnerships that exist throughout many segments of the maritime industry. Pictured at the meeting, counterclockwise beginning with the group photo of people applauding, are (front, from left) SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez, ILA President Richard Hughes, MEBA President Don Keefe and GMP President John Ryan; Crowley Maritime Corporation CEO Thomas Crowley; MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco with Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, deputy commander, United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (left) with Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. Coverage begins with President Sacco’s column on page 2 and continues on pages 3, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Crowley Boatmen Approve Contract, Welcome New ATB Crowley will take delivery of by the end of 2010. The vessels christened were the 9,280 hp tug Integrity and barge 650-4. Pages 3, 4. Last month brought good news on multiple fronts for Seafarers working at Crowley. SIU members employed by the company approved a new fouryear contract calling for wage increases and other gains. The agreement covers approximately 200 SIU members based (respectively) in Philadelphia, Pa., Jacksonville, Fla., Lake Charles, La., and Wilmington, Calif., including the five members pictured at right, aboard the tug Defender. Also, on March 19 in Charleston, S.C., the company christened the fourth of 10 new 185,000-barrel Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that List of TWIC Enrollment Centers Page 8 Operation Deep Freeze ’08 Page 24 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:21 AM Page 2 SIU Ships Support Satellite Interception President’s Report Saluting Seafarers’ Support Even while the details still were being sorted out late last month, an incident involving the SIU-crewed Global Patriot near the Suez Canal provided a jolting reminder that the war against terrorism truly is a different kind of war. As some Seafarers may already know, military security team members aboard the Global Patriot – a vessel operating under charter to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command – fired warning shots at Michael Sacco a small boat approaching the ship as it prepared to transit the canal on March 24. The incident was still under investigation as this edition of the LOG went to press. However, the Navy reported that several “warning steps” were taken as three small boats approached. Those steps included use of a signal flare and communication from a native Arabic speaker aboard the Global Patriot who advised the boats to turn away. Despite those warnings, one of the boats continued to approach the ship and received two sets of what were intended as warning shots. One Egyptian man inadvertently was killed as a result. There were conflicting reports about whether other occupants of the boat had been injured. However it plays out, it’s almost impossible to read or hear about this story and not think of the terrorist attack on the USS Cole, which happened in Yemen in the year 2000. I’ll bet the Cole was very much on the minds of Global Patriot crew members and security team members last month as those boats approached. Were the boats simply trying to get near the Global Patriot so they could try to sell cigarettes and other products (a common scene in those waters)? Why didn’t the one boat turn back after first being warned? On the Cole, 17 sailors died and dozens more were injured after a suicide attack launched by a small boat that initially appeared friendly. Without in any way minimizing the unintended loss of life, is it hard for anyone to understand why no one on the Global Patriot would want to take any unnecessary chances? In the SIU, we’re proud of our 70-year record of supporting America’s armed forces. That remains true today as we deliver the goods in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The Global Patriot saga reminds us that our union brothers and sisters constantly answer the nation’s call and willingly assume the risks that go with the territory. As always, I salute your dedication. In the case of the Global Patriot I share in the deep relief of knowing no one aboard was harmed, while at the same time offering condolences to the Egyptian man’s family. MTD Meeting Revisited Appreciation for U.S. mariners was very evident at the recent meeting of the Maritime Trades Department executive board, as reported throughout this edition. If you’re new to the SIU or otherwise unfamiliar with the MTD, I encourage you to take the time and read about the meeting. Check out what some of our nation’s military leaders say about sealift and American mariners. Take a look at the comments from high-ranking representatives of various other segments of the maritime industry and the labor movement. You’ll see that while there’s never a shortage of challenges, we have a bright future as part of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Volume 70, Number 4 April 2008 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland 207909998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Jim Guthrie; Associate Editor, Mark Bowman; Photographer, Mike Hickey; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2008 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Seafarers, including members of the SIU Government Services Division, recently helped make history in an event that resembled something out of Star Wars. Three SIU-crewed military support ships assisted in the U.S. Navy’s interception and shoot-down of a 5,000-pound, non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite over the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) SIU-crewed missile range instrumentation ship USNS Observation Island provided telemetry information. The ship, which can monitor objects in space, tracked the satellite and collected data on it both before and after the missile launch. The guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, positioned west of Hawaii, launched the SM-3 missile to intercept the satellite on Feb. 20. A second Seafarers-crewed MSC ship, the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe, mobilized from San Diego to support the mission. Instead of conducting a two-week repair period, the ship was given short-notice tasking and got under way with enough fuel to replenish the other vessels involved in the operation, according to the agency. Hours after the interception, the Guadalupe provided about 50,000 gallons of fuel to the Lake Erie and 45,000 gallons to the guided missile destroyer USS Decatur. Three MSC fleet ocean tugs were standing by to recover debris. Later, it became known that the SIU-crewed SBX-1 – a unique combination of an advanced X-Band radar mounted aboard an oceangoing, semi-submersible platform – also aided in the mission. “I’m proud that our MSC ships were able to support the intercept on such short notice,” said Capt. David Kiehl, commander of MSC’s Sealift Logistics Command Pacific. In late January, the U.S. government notified other nations that the satellite was unresponsive and would make an uncontrolled reentry in late February or early March. The decision was made to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood U.S. Navy Photos Above, a modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM3) launches from the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Lake Erie, successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 133 nautical miles over the Pacific Ocean. A closer view of the missile is shown in the photo at left. that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas. The Navy modified three SM-3 missiles to strike the satellite. According to the Defense Department, the satellite was travelling at more than 17,000 mph and approximately 133 miles above Earth when it was struck. Committee members are pictured with Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (second from left) and Asst. VP Ambrose Cucinotta (far right, standing) after wrapping up their work last month at headquarters. Financial Committee Approves Union’s Records Each year, in accordance with the SIU Constitution, rank-and-file Seafarers are elected by their fellow members to serve on a financial committee. The group is tasked with examining the union’s finances for the prior calendar year and then formally reporting its findings to the SIU secretary-treasurer. Subsequently, the committee’s report is read in all ports at the union’s monthly membership meetings and presented for membership approval. Last month, eight Seafarers fulfilled this constitutional mandate by reviewing the SIU’s financial records for the year 2007. The committee found those records in good order. Serving on the committee were Seafarers Christopher Nardone (chairman), William Bunch, John Frey, David James, Paa Kwakye, Clay Poore, Rodger Taylor and Tommy Hampton. In its report, the committee wrote, “Representatives of the certified public accounting firm who periodically audit the union’s books and records explained their auditing procedures for the checking of the secretary-treasurer’s financial report of the union’s records. They further discussed with us the overall financial operation of the union. In addition, the secretary-treasurer worked with the committee and made himself and the records of his office available to the committee.” The committee also noted, “We find that the headquarters of the union is taking all steps possible to safeguard union funds and to see that the disbursements of the union are in accordance with the authority delegated to them and that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to increase day-to-day efficiency of our operation…. All records used in connection with the union’s financial operations were reviewed fully.” The committee worked at SIU headquarters during the first full week of March. Article X, Section 14-c of the SIU Constitution spells out the duties of the annual financial committee as well as rules and procedures for electing the committee. April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:21 AM Page 3 MTD Unions Credited as Valued Partners Highly Regarded Speakers Stress Support for U.S.-Flag Shipping “Partnership” is a word that surfaced time after time during the most recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department’s executive board, as guest speakers from different segments of the industry expressed appreciation for the important work performed by unions and their rank-and-file members. MTD President Michael Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, said he has received exceptionally positive feedback about the meeting, which took place Feb. 28-29 in the San Diego suburb of Coronado, Calif. A number of attendees observed that the guest speakers’ respective comments went far beyond courtesies. Instead, representatives from the military, the administration, Congress, the private sector and the labor movement not only detailed the vital roles played by the MTD and its affiliated unions, but also voiced genuine thanks for their reliable, often patriotic performance. The MTD consists of 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than five million working men and women. In order of appearance, the following people addressed the executive board on Feb. 28: Thomas Barrett, deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, deputy commander, United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); Sean Connaughton, U.S. maritime administrator; Gen. Ken Wykle (USA ret.), president, Executive board members and guests focus on a message about the importance of U.S.-flag shipping. National Defense Transportation Command; Fred Harris, president, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO); and Paddy Crumlin, national secretary, Maritime Union of Australia. A day later, the following individuals spoke to the board: Major General Kathleen Gainey, commander, U.S. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command; Thomas Crowley, CEO, Crowley Maritime Corp.; Admiral Thad Allen, and SIU President Michael Sacco discusses the induscommandant, U.S. Coast MTD try’s progress. Guard; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer; and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie gram, port security, the Employee Free Choice Act, and the Re-Empowerment of (D-Hawaii). The board approved a number of state- Skilled and Professional Employees and ments, which reflect much of the meet- Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) ing’s content. Those resolutions covered Act. During his opening remarks, Sacco topics including cargo preference, support for the troops, the Title XI shipbuilding recapped some of the industry highlights program, LNG shipping to the U.S., the and challenges since the prior year’s meetneed for an industrial policy, U.S. Naval ings. He also welcomed two new board shipbuilding, grassroots political action, members: ILA President Richard Hughes and health care. Also adopted were state- and MEBA President Don Keefe. ments on the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP), cabotage laws including See pages 11-14 for full covthe Jones Act, the Transportation Worker erage of the MTD meeting. Identification Credential (TWIC) pro- Crowley Seafarers Approve 4-Year Contract Agreement Increases Wages, Maintains Benefits, Nets Other Gains The quality of life for members working aboard Crowley tugs and barges and at facilities in Philadelphia, Pa., Jacksonville, Fla., Lake Charles, La., and Wilmington, Calif., just improved as Seafarers overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract with Crowley Towing and Transportation. Negotiated with substantial input from the membership, the new contract calls for annual wage increases and also maintains medical and pension benefits. It protects SIU jobs – not a single one was lost. The wage increases, like the contract itself, are retroactive to July 1, 2007. In addition to maintaining medical benefits at the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan’s top level (Core Plus) and securing extra contributions to the Seafarers Pension Plan, the pact introduces the new employee-funded SIU 401(k) Plan to members employed by Crowley. Overall, the contract covers approximately 200 members. Significantly, the contract solidifies transportation reimbursements for Seafarers. “Many challenges needed to be overcome during the course of this negotiation,” explained SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. “But with the help of the membership, elected delegates and SIU officials who served on the negotiating committee, the union successfully secured a fouryear agreement that delivers wage increases that have exceeded any Crowley agreement in the last decade.” Member discussions, contract development and negotiations were conducted by a team of 11 in union halls but mostly on boats. The group included officials and rank-and-file members, spearheaded by Tricker who was assisted primarily by SIU Assistant Vice President Contracts Archie Ware and Wilmington Port Agent John Cox. See page 9 for additional photos of Crowley Seafarers April 2008 Bargaining committee member and rank-and-file participant Todd Smith said, “We went to the negotiations armed with questionnaires of items the members wanted. Company and union negotiators worked well together and hashed out the best package I’ve seen in a long time. Pay raises each year of the contract and especially reimbursement of travel expenses were important. We have a lot of people who travel from all parts of the country and reimbursement will save a lot of us some real money. Folks have to think long-term. A lot of people don’t have what we have – a pension, health care and security.” Also serving on the union’s negotiating team were Seafarers Kyle Sweep, Roger Stewart, Craig Perry, David Lytle, Jake Jarrell, Nicholas Conway and Steve Mitchell. SIU boatmen are pictured on the Monitor. Members of the Crowley contract bargaining teams and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (seated, center), who dropped in for a short presentation, are pictured in Piney Point, Md. Standing left to right are Unlicensed Delegate (from Philadelphia) Todd Smith, Crowley Representative Jim Gillen, Unlicensed Delegate (Jacksonville) Kyle Sweep, Crowley Representative John Ara, Licensed Delegate (Los Angeles/Long Beach) Roger Stewart, Unlicensed Delegate (Los Angeles/Long Beach) Craig Perry, Wilmington Port Agent John Cox, Unlicensed Delegate (Lake Charles) David Lytle, Crowley Representative Jim Penny and SIU Asst. VP Archie Ware. Front row, left to right: SIU VP George Tricker, Heindel and Tony Naccarato of Crowley. Seafarers LOG 3 �47469_2x:January 08 4/1/2008 4:20 PM Page 4 Crowley’s ATB Integrity features the most modern equipment and technology. Crowley Christens Another ATB Seafarers and SIU officials were on hand March 19 in Charleston, S.C., as Crowley Maritime Corporation christened the articulated tug-barge (ATB) Integrity. SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker and SIU Assistant Vice President Contracts Archie Ware represented the union at the ceremony along with rank-and-file Seafarers. The new ATB consists of the 9,280 hp tugboat and the barge 650-4, collectively called the Integrity. It is the fourth of 10 new 185,000-barrel ATB tank vessels that the company expects to receive by the end of 2010. During ceremonies conducted at the Charleston Cruise Terminal on Concord Street, Marcia Bartholme, wife of Rocky Smith, Crowley senior vice president and general manager, Pacific/Alaska region, christened the 135-foot tug Integrity, while Barbara Baldwin, wife of Bob Baldwin, regional director, BP Shipping USA, christened the 587-foot barge 650-4. According to the company, Crowley’s petroleum service is chartering the VT Halter Marine-built ATB from Crowley’s technical services group, and operating it for BP under a time-charter agreement. Crowley already has four 155,000-barrel ATBs and three 185,000-barrel ATBs operating and has announced plans to build three larger 750-series (330,000-barrel capacity) ATBs for delivery by the middle of 2013. Once all vessels are received, the fleet will stand at 17. “The ceremony was very well done and the entire experience was understandably upbeat,” said Tricker. “Whenever we see new, state-of-the-art tonnage entering the SIU-contracted fleet, it’s natural to feel excited.” Captain Buddy Davis described the Intergrity as “the finest piece of equipment afloat. They didn’t cut any corners _ everything is state-of-the-art. Every system has a backup.” He also said the new ATB is “laid out with all the creature comforts. Crowley’s a very good company. They care about their people and they care about their equipment, and it shows.” An ATB has an articulated, or hinged, connection system between the tug and barge, which allows movement in one axis or plane in the critical area of fore and aft pitch. Crowley and VT Halter Marine jointly designed the newest ATB tank vessel. The barge 650-4 was built at Halter’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and the Integrity at its shipyard, in Moss Point, Miss. The new ATBs feature the latest systems technology and double-hull construction for maximum safety and reliability. Not only does the unit have the capability of transporting refined products, but it can also carry heated cargoes and “easy” chemicals, which require special arrangements of vents, stripping systems, pump components and tank coatings above those normally required for product carriers. All of Crowley’s ATBs are built under the ABS SafeHull program for environmental protection. According to the company, this program puts the vessel design through an exhaustive review to identify structural loads and strengthen the vessel structure. The 650-Class barges are 27,000 deadweight tons, 587 feet in length, 74 feet in breadth and 40 feet in depth. The fully loaded draft is 30 feet. There is an electric cargo pump in each of the 14 cargo tanks to assure maximum cargo integrity and segregation flexibility; two anchor windlasses and associated equipment to enable the vessel to accommodate offshore mooring operations; and a vacuum system with three retention tanks to easily handle cargo changes. There is also a nitrogen generator and vapor collection system for maximum safety. A layer of nitrogen covers products in the tanks to make the atmosphere too lean for combustion. An enhanced mooring system features 1,000-foot Spectra-type lines on split drums with a high-speed recovery rate of 100 feet per minute. The tugs meet all SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and ABS criteria, and have a foam capable fire monitor; twin fuel-efficient heavy fuel oil engines; a noise reduction package; and other upgrades to increase crew comfort. The communication and navigation equipment is among the most technologically advanced in the industry today, the company noted. The new tug Integrity is pictured from fore and aft. Crowley President and CEO Tom Crowley (fourth from left among those standing) joins Seafarers and SIU officials at the christening. Also among those pictured are SIU VP Contracts George Tricker (next to Tom Crowley) and SIU Assistant VP Contracts Archie Ware (front row, left). Government Study: Economic Impact Of U.S.-Flag Cruise Ships Runs Deep For backers of the U.S.-flag cruise industry, the timing undoubtedly seemed sadly ironic. Around the same time NCL America announced the upcoming departure of the Pride of Aloha from its American-flag fleet, a government study revealed the enormous economic boost that even a single U.S. cruise ship gives to the islands. The upshot: In a calendar year, one American-flag cruise ship home-ported in Hawaii creates 3.5 times as many shore-side jobs and has 3.5 times the economic impact as the total foreign-flag fleet sailing to Hawaii. The study was put together by Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). It shows that one U.S.-flag, NCL America ship creates more than 5,000 jobs and accounts for a “total economic output impact” of $542 million per year (with the latter figure includ- 4 Seafarers LOG ing, among other things, costs of fuel and food as well as spending by passengers and crew members). By comparison, the entire foreign-flag fleet that calls on Hawaii accounts for roughly one-third the numbers of jobs and spending, according to the study. Both the study and the Pride of Aloha announcement in mid-February occurred against the backdrop of efforts to modify federal regulations in order to level the playing field for U.S.-flag operators that are or would be competing with foreign-flag outfits in the deep-sea cruise industry. The Pride of Aloha is scheduled to reflag in May. (Crew members will be offered jobs on the SIU-contracted Pride of America.) Earlier this year, the Pride of Hawaii also left NCL America’s U.S.-flag fleet. In both cases, the company cited a steep increase in the amount of foreign-flag competition entering the Hawaiian market from the West Coast as a key factor. Foreign cruise ship capacity between those locations has increased by 500 percent in the last five years, according to news reports. Commenting on the reflagging of two ships, an economics and finance professor at Hawaii Pacific University told The Honolulu Advertiser, “It isn’t good news. One is bad, two is twice as bad.” The newspaper also quoted a local business owner (surely representative of others) who said the reduction in U.S.-flag cruise ships sailing to Hawaii will cause “a real vacuum. We’ve been in business 14 years and we’ve gone through many stages of the economy, but we find that the (NCL America) cruise ships have really overwhelmingly improved our local economy,” said Marie Aguilar, president of the Kailua Village Merchants Association and owner of the Eclectic Craftsman in Kona, according to The Honolulu Advertiser. April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:21 AM Page 5 Labor Leaders Spell out Strategy For ‘Economy That Works for All’ During its meeting in San Diego in early March, the AFL-CIO executive council passed a number of statements designed to help set the labor federation’s agenda for the months ahead. One of those resolutions, focusing on U.S. workers and the economy, appears below. The council is headed by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. SIU President Michael Sacco has served on the board since 1991. AFL-CIO Executive Council Statement We may be seeing the end of the first economic expansion since the Second World War in which average family incomes have not recovered their pre-recession levels. A bursting housing bubble last summer and the resulting crisis in the U.S. sub-prime mortgage market have triggered a full–blown credit crisis, which now seems to be dragging the American economy into recession and slowing economic growth globally. Economic growth slowed sharply toward the end of 2007 and the economy began to shed jobs early this year. The unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent in January but would be 6.7 percent if labor force participation were close to pre-recession levels. Even at the peak of a recovery, median family income, adjusted for inflation, was lower in 2005 than in the previous year and economic anxiety was unusually high due to the threat of job loss, the volatility of family incomes, rising health care costs and the continued erosion of pensions. Even before the recent economic slowdown, working families were struggling to maintain their living standards by working longer hours and more jobs, by sending more family members to work and by borrowing against the equity in their homes. In terms of jobs, wages, health care and pensions, the recovery from the 2001 recession has been the weakest of any recovery since the Second World War, weaker even than the jobless recovery of the early 1990s. Debt-financed consumer spending has provided what momentum the economy has shown over the past seven years. Stagnant wages and incomes left consumers borrowing against the expected rise in the value of their homes to maintain their families’ living standards. Household savings fell below 1 percent, levels not seen since the worst years of the Great Depression. The truth is, as weak and unbalanced as the current recovery has been, America’s workers are suffering what is now a generation-long stagnation of wages and rising economic insecurity. The misguided domestic and international economic policies of the past three decades have produced an unbalanced economy that has seriously reduced the role of government in guiding the economy and radically shifted bargaining power from workers to their employers. These policies have benefited our wealthiest families as never before, but working families have been left behind. Corporations are earning record profits and CEOs, on average, are now earning 364 times what workers earn. Productivity has increased 67 percent since 1980, but wages have barely budged. Average family incomes are only 15 percent higher today than they were three decades ago, and only because families are working harder and sending more members into the workforce. Only the top 10 percent of families have seen their income rise at or above the rate of productivity growth. As a result, incomes and wealth are more unequally distributed in America than in any other developed country and are more unequal today than at any time since the 1920s. The American Dream is fading for millions of working families. The bursting of the housing bubble and resetting interest rates on sub-prime mortgages threaten the homes of hundreds of thousands of America’s working families. The credit crisis and financial market turmoil threaten the pensions and savings of millions. And the resulting pull-back of consumer spending and business investment now threatens the jobs of millions more. Housing prices already have fallen 10 percent and may fall another 10 to 20 percent over the next two years, leaving 10 million families with negative equity in their homes, causing more than 2 million foreclosures and destroying trillions of dollars of household wealth. This massive loss of wealth likely will undermine consumer spending and business investment. The Federal Reserve moved aggressively to lower interest rates by over 2 percentage points and is signaling more cuts to come. Congress also passed a $168 billion fiscal stimulus package featuring a tax rebate for families and tax cuts for business. While these steps are helpful in mitigating some of the worst effects of the slowdown, they are insufficient to avert recession, nor do they deal with the fundamental economic imbalances at the root of the current economic crisis…. Working families need, and we demand, additional measures to keep families in their homes by enacting a moratorium on foreclosures and a second stimulus package to extend unemployment insurance, expand the food stamp program and bolster federal aid to states and cities to prevent further cutbacks of vital public services. We should also front-load public investment to maintain our schools and repair crumbling bridges and deteriorating highways. Spending that puts people to work on projects we desperately need is more likely to stimulate the domestic economy than tax cuts that may be saved or spent largely on imported consumer goods. But even these expanded stimulus measures do not address the fundamental imbalances at the root of the current economic slowdown. In addition, we need a bold national economic recovery program to change the policies that produced the imbalances that are now driving the economy into what may become a serious recession. First, we must restore the competitiveness of the United States in global markets to balance our trade with the rest of the world. Currently we must borrow nearly $800 billion a year to pay for the things we consume as a nation that we no longer produce. We have lost 3.3 million good manufacturing jobs since 2000, many the result of our imbalanced trade. Moreover, China and other Asian trading partners are manipulating their currencies to maintain their competitive advantages. The huge trade surpluses of these countries have produced a global savings glut which is fueling asset price inflation in the in the United States. The demand for U.S assets from these countries has fed the unsustainable housing bubble on which our fragile growth has depended over the past seven years. To restore the competitiveness of the American economy, we must change our trade, tax and exchange rate policies to level the playing field for domestic producers. Domestically, we must also greatly expand public investment in the education and training of America’s workers, as well as the information, communication and transportation infrastructure so essential for a competitive American economy. We must also adopt a national strategy to rebuild American manufacturing. We must have national health care reform to level the competitive field for domestic manufacturers. And we must have an approach to climate change focused on domestic investment in new technologies to produce a more environmentally sustainable economy, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and produce good manufacturing jobs. Second, we must have a more robust and coordinated monetary and fiscal policy focused on maximum sustainable growth and full employment. We cannot continue to depend on consumer spending financed by asset bubbles to power the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve and Treasury are mandated by Congress to maintain rapid growth and full employment but they have largely abandoned this mission to serve other purposes…. Third, we must have transparent and more effective financial regulation in the mortgage and credit markets. The failure of regulators to ensure secure mortgage markets and sound financial markets has fostered speculation in both. The promotion of irresponsible mortgages has put millions of working families into homes they cannot now afford. And the financial services industry has engineered these fragile mortgages into exotic securities that we were told would disperse risk to those best able to bear it. Instead, these complex securities have concentrated the risk in the hands of those least able to understand it. The deregulation of financial markets and the financial engineering that produce mountains of unsupportable debt have allowed finance to dominate the real economy, produced turmoil in our capital markets and undermined the stability of the real economy in which our members live and work. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney We must restore effective regulation to ensure transparency and accountability of mortgage lenders, investment banks, hedge funds, private equity and sovereign wealth funds. Fourth, we must restore a fair tax system capable of financing the key public investments necessary for a competitive U.S. economy. The United States is plagued by rapidly rising inequality and a public sector so impoverished we are unable to fund vital infrastructure improvements, educate our children, or deal with the challenge of energy and the environment. At the heart of these problems is a tax system that treats the upper middle class and billionaires the same in terms of marginal income tax rates. We need a truly progressive tax system, one that looks to the superrich to pay their fair share. Fifth, and most important, we must restore a balance of power between workers and their employers to allow workers to share in the prosperity that they help create. We must enact meaningful minimum employment standards, including a minimum wage indexed to one-half the median wage. We must also pass the Employee Free Choice Act to restore the freedom of workers to organize and bargain collectively. And we must extend collective bargaining rights to millions of publicsector workers denied these fundamental rights. America’s workers are the most productive workers in the world. And they work longer hours than workers in any other developed country. America is still the richest country in history. There is no reason that we cannot have a strong and internationally competitive American economy whose prosperity is broadly shared. Economic issues—stagnating living standards, rising economic anxiety and growing inequality—have risen to the top of the nation’s agenda and are the leading concern of America’s voters this year. To win the trust of the American people, candidates for office must show they know and care about the real economic anxieties of America’s working families. Most of all, they must bring forward credible economic policies to produce an Economy That Works for All. Rep. Gene Taylor to Receive ‘Salute to Congress’ Award U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (DMiss.), a longtime backer of the U.S. Merchant Marine, will receive the prestigious Salute to Congress Award later this month. The award’s sponsor, the International Propeller Club of the United States, said Taylor “is being honored for his consistent and strong support of the United States maritime industry.” The 24th annual Salute to Congress dinner will take place April 29 in Bethesda, Md. Hundreds of attendees are expected, including representatives of maritime labor and other segments of the industry, executive branch officials and other congressmen. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, Taylor is the Chairman April 2008 of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces. He also sits on the Readiness Subcommittee. On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he serves on both the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. In addition, Taylor, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, serves as co-chair of the following Congressional member organizations: Shipbuilding Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Caucus, and Coast Guard Caucus. During a National Maritime Day ceremony last May in Washington, D.C., Taylor was a featured speaker. Among other points, he stated it is time for America to demonstrate that it truly values the maritime industry by supporting it. U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) “If we’re really serious about homeland security, we must control our waterways, we must control the Jones Act,” Taylor said. He added that the nation should invest in its shipyards and pointed out the historically proven dangers of exclusively relying on other nations to build and transport material. He said that in order to honor the mariners of World War II, America must commit to the industry’s future. “We have to recognize that 95 percent of everything going to the Middle East (for Operation Iraqi Freedom) goes by sea. In the future it’ll be the same way.” The Propeller Club is a grassroots, non-profit organization with members across the country and around the world. The organization is self-described as being “dedicated to the enhancement and wellbeing of all interests of the maritime community on a national and international basis. The Propeller Club aggressively promotes the maritime industry through many of its programs and partnering with other similar organizations. Our goal is to educate legislators and the public as to the importance and necessity of all waterborne commerce…. The membership comprises a cross section of the maritime industry throughout the United States and in many cities overseas.” Recent recipients of the Salute to Congress Award include U.S. Senator John Warner (R-Va.) in 2007 and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) in 2006. Seafarers LOG 5 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:21 AM Page 6 Seafarers aboard the Horizon Tiger celebrated New Years at sea with a barbecue. In photo at left, meal preparation was in the capable hands of (from the left) SA Munasser Omer, Chief Cook Sal Ahmed and SB Terry Allen. In photo below, Ahmed joins lst Engineer Michael Dumcha who landed this Mahimahi during an anchor near mainland China. According to Ahmed, the fish was a welcomed addition to the feast which included steak. SIU Patrolman Sam Spain (left) presents GUDE James Burke with his first pension check in the Port of Norfolk. Burke last sailed aboard the Flickertail State. At Sea and Ashore With SIU Members AB Brian Gaunt shows off the 40-inch Cobia while his vessel was at anchor off the Texas Coast near Port Aransas, Texas. Gaunt sails aboard the Chemical Trader. OS Rolando Dinouz (above left) and AB Larry Dizon send greetings to their brothers and sisters from aboard the Pride of Aloha. The SIU-contracted criuse vessel was somewhere near Fanning Island when these photos were taken. SIU officials serviced the Patriot recenty while the car carring vessel was was tied up in Bayonne, N.J. In photo above, (from the left) QMED Lee Weygandt, Bosun Chris Sykes and OMU James Tolan Jr., huddle to share their views after reading the Seafarers LOG. Chief Steward Edward Usmauy (photo at right) prepares a meal for his Patriot shipmates. SIU Patrolman Michael Russo, (photo at left, standing fourth from right in dark shirt) recently met with the crew of the Chemical Pioneer while the vessel was in the Port of Houston. Among other topics, Russo spoke to them about SPAD. To show their support for the program, crew members posed for this photo with a SPAD poster. In photo at right, (from the left) Bosun Abdul Hassan, AB Ignatius Muzich and relieving Bosun James Joyce are all smiles after reading the January 2008 LOG. The mariners sail aboard the Maersk Georgia. 6 Seafarers LOG April 2008 �47469_2x:January 08 4/1/2008 4:21 PM Page 7 Advancing Your Career Via the Paul Hall Center The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., offers the most U.S. Coast Guardapproved courses of any maritime school in the nation. The center features top-notch training from experienced instructors and state-ofthe-art equipment and facilities. The school offers courses for mariners sailing in the deck, engine and steward departments. Below is a quick look at one of those classes. For more information about the center and its courses, contact the Admissions Office, Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; call (301) 994-0010; or visit the Paul Hall Center section of www.seafarers.org. Course dates are listed on page 21 of this issue of the LOG and also are carried on the web site. Deck Department Course Spotlight Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch/Able Seaman – Applicants completing the school’s four-week Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch/Able Seaman program satisfy: (1) the training, seagoing service, and assessment requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-3(c) and Section A-II/4 of the STCW Code, Mandatory Minimum Requirements for Certification of Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch;—AND—(2) if presented WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of training, the written examination requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-9 for the “Deck General & Navigation General” and “Deck Safety & Rules of the Road” exam modules for any Able Seaman endorsement and the practical (knot tying) examination requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-9 for any Able Seaman endorsement PROVIDED that all other requirements of 46 CFR Subpart 12.05, including sea service, are also met. The course consists of hands-on training and classroom work covering deck seamanship, rules of the road, marlinespike seamanship, helmsmanship, cargo handling, safety, fire fighting, emergency procedures, first aid, anchoring, and mooring, and aids to navigation. Prerequisites: Sea service, Water Survival (Lifeboatman), STOS. Special: 12 months’ service on deck, 2 months’ sea service under the supervision of the Master, the OIC of the navigational watch, or qualified ratings (STCW). Limited: 18 months’ service on deck, 2 months’ sea service under the supervision of the Master, OIC, or qualified ratings. New Seafarer Sheppard Found Direction Through Unlicensed Apprentice Program Henry Sheppard rose from tough times, chose a career at sea and is sailing toward a promising profession, thanks to his own drive and to opportunities presented by the SIU and its affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Like many if not most 18-year-olds, Sheppard reached a point when he needed to choose his life’s path. Though he didn’t have some of the advantages enjoyed by others his age, he was motivated. His introduction to the Paul Hall Center’s unlicensed apprentice program proved an excellent match – Sheppard recently graduated from the school and shipped out as a wiper. At age 15, Sheppard went into foster care in Seattle. “When I was 17, I was placed in Mary O’Donnell’s home and have been with her since,” said Sheppard. He said that O’Donnell is so loving and caring, he doesn’t consider her “foster Mom, she’s Mom.” What Sheppard needed in his life was a humanitarian with a heart of gold, and one found him. “Henry was placed in a foster home with at-risk youths,” said O’Donnell. “Some of the kids were going through detox and had been in and out of detention. Henry is a great student with lots of drive. I couldn’t let this very special boy stay in that situation.” According to O’Donnell, she worked with social services to have Sheppard moved into her foster home. When he graduated from high school, Sheppard went to community college. But, according to O’Donnell, “Henry’s the type of person who likes to pay his own way through life and was ready to make a decision.” “I wanted a rewarding career now without spending a lot of time in class right away and owing money later to pay for it,” explained Sheppard. “I wanted to make my way now and also have time for education. My brother is in the Air Force and I looked at that, but it wasn’t for me.” Sheppard said he considered many other options until Rich Berkowitz, director of Pacific Coast Operations for the Transportation Institute in Seattle heard about him and showed him a video about the apprentice program and the union. “SIU looked straightforward to me and looked like it would give me a rewarding career with no false advertising,” Sheppard noted. O’Donnell added that Sheppard liked the relatively flexible work schedule enjoyed by mariners because it would enable him to make money and still have time to take college courses. She also said Sheppard liked the idea of being able to work his way from the bottom up. “The apprentice program looked good so I started on my unlicensed apprenticeship at the Paul Hall Center for my first 12 weeks,” said Sheppard. He noted he was so excited about starting his career and receiving training at the SIU-affiliated school, based in Piney Point, Md., he kept a diary of his experiences. “Overall I feel that this program is very well-suit- ed to its intended purpose of preparing trainees for shipboard life. There is nothing you do or learn here that doesn’t directly apply to living and working on an ocean-going vessel. The rules are a bit tedious at times, but are intended to weed out those who wouldn’t be able to handle life on a ship. If you can’t handle the three months you spend at Piney Point (for the first phase of training), the odds are pretty good you wouldn’t last long in a union that requires you to ship Seafarer Henry Sheppard credits the union and its affiliated school with providing straightforward opportunities to rewarding careers at sea. for a [certain minimum amount of time in order to accumulate seniority]. The staff at the school is really concerned with helping out trainees as much as possible and helping them be the best they can be.” Sheppard described the first phase of the program as “a lot of hard work, but also very gratifying because I know that I am working toward a greater goal and what I hope to be a gainful career as a mariner.” “I think he will upgrade at the school every chance he gets,” said O’Donnell. “The Paul Hall Center was perfect for him and I think I would be for other foster kids.” After Sheppard finished the first segment of his apprentice training, he was assigned to serve on the Cleveland, a bulk cargo ship. His mission: humanitarian aid to Africa. “I never thought I’d be on a humanitarian aid mission but it was great to give something back and move forward in my career,” exclaimed Sheppard. “It’s very rewarding… I’m glad I found out about the SIU. I was looking for a career in which you get out of it what you put into it.” “Henry is very excited and his level of self-confidence has grown tremendously. He talks a great deal to his friends about his new life and loves the camaraderie onboard ships,” said O’Donnell. “It looks like a perfect life for not only kids who grew up in foster care but everyone looking to make a difference in their lives.” Sheppard concluded, “All of the help I’ve received from brothers in my union has given me direction and put me on to a great career.” Horizon Kodiak Crew Teams Up to Construct Shipboard Fitness Room Exercise may be little more than an annually unfulfilled resolution for some, but no one needs to sell the benefits of physical fitness to Seafarers aboard the Horizon Kodiak. SIU members and officers aboard the vessel already know the many plusses associated with working out – so much so that they recently pitched in to build a nicely equipped shipboard gym. The workout room is a welcome addition. April 2008 Horizon Kodiak Recertified Steward Brian Burchette (who also has a background as a personal trainer) pointed out that staying in shape is particularly important for mariners “especially with the rigors at sea that we endure on a daily basis. Also, with the newly added pre-employment physicals that Horizon Lines and other companies now utilize, I believe it is imperative that we as Seafarers make a concerted effort to better ourselves. “As we are all aware, unlike a land job, there is no sick leave when on a vessel,” he continued. “You are either fit for duty or not fit for duty. For the most part, keeping ourselves healthy and fit goes handin-hand with being able to provide for our families.” With that in mind, Burchette approached the vessel’s captain and brain- stormed about the feasibility of building an exercise room. Eventually the idea was approved, and everyone aboard did their part to convert a store room into a gym, complete with free weights, a weight machine and a treadmill. Burchette said the new furnishings aren’t being wasted. “As they said in the movie Field of Dreams, ‘If you build it, they will come!’” Only when posing for a LOG photo do Seafarers remain still in the Horizon Kodiak’s exercise room. Pictured from left to right are Bosun Garry Walker, GSU Mike Linus, Recertified Steward Brian Burchette, AB Anwar Alsharif, AB Kareem Ahmed, DEU Mohamed Aboubaker, Chief Cook Tammy Bingisser (seated), Electrician Alfonso Bombita Jr. and QMED Dan Thomas. AB Mark Pesola is taking the photo. Seafarers LOG 7 �47469_2x:January 08 4/1/2008 4:21 PM Page 8 Mariners Need TWIC by Sept. 25, 2008 The following information, available on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) web site, covers the steps necessary to acquire a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). This information has been sent to all SIU halls and will be repeated in upcoming issues of the Seafarers LOG. The deadline for U.S. mariners to obtain a TWIC is Sept. 25, 2008. Therefore, the union urges Seafarers to apply for the new card, which eventually will be required of all U.S. mariners who need unescorted access to secure areas of U.S. ports and vessels. The requirement comes from a federal law called the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Seafarers should check with their port agents and/or utilize the TSA conThis is a list of addresses for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) enrollment centers as of late March, as published by the Transportation Security Administration at the following web address: http:// www.tsa.gov/twic When visiting that site, there are different ways to access the most recently updated list of enrollment centers. There is a link near the top of the home page; there’s also one within the TWIC “FAQ.” As they become available, additional addresses will be published in the LOG and faxed to the union halls. The TSA is expected to announce the locations of many more enrollment centers in the weeks and months ahead. Seafarers should note that while the LOG is publishing an updated list of enrollment centers each month, there are differences from issue to issue besides simply adding new addresses. A number of previously published addresses have been modified or replaced by the TSA, for example (everything from a different suite number in the same building to an outright new facility replacing a previously announced one). Alabama 250 North Water Street Mobile, AL 36602-4000 California Oakland Maritime Support Services (OMSS) 11 Burma Road Oakland, CA 94607-1010 1830 Embarcadero Avenue Suite 104 Oakland, CA 94606-5230 301 E. Ocean Boulevard Suite 500 Long Beach, CA 90802 1931 N. Gaffey Street Suite B San Pedro, CA 90731-1265 Suite 300 13201 San Pablo Ave. Richmond, CA 94806 Suite 103 1025 W Laurel St. San Diego, CA 92101 2000 Marina Vista Dr. Martinez, CA 94553 Connecticut 75 Crystal Ave. New London, CT 06320 Delaware 1 Hausel Road Wilmington, DE 19801-5852 8 Seafarers LOG tact information that follows for the latest information on the TWIC program, including the “TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan,” which is a list of cities where TWIC enrollment centers are or will be located. Updates also periodically appear on the SIU web site (www.seafarers.org, normally in the “Heard at Headquarters” section). Seafarers are advised that although pre-enrollment for the TWIC is optional, both the agency and the first individual SIU members who have applied for the card strongly recommend it. FOR MORE INFORMATION On the web: www.tsa.gov/twic By phone: TWIC Program Help Desk, 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-3478942) By email: credentialing@dhs.gov Florida 955 Tallyrand Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32206-6049 707 Mullet Road Suites 117/118 Port Canaveral, FL 32920-4519 975 North America Way Miami, FL 33132-2004 2604 E. 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605 Port Everglades Badging Office 1030 Taylor Road Dania Beach, FL 33004-2810 Habana Plaza (Rear) 3125 Riviera Dr Key West, FL 33040 Suite 303 2051 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Riviera Beach, FL 33404 Suites 119, 120 5323 W. Hwy 98 Panama City, FL 32401 Georgia 5214 Augusta Rd Garden City, GA 31408-1606 Country Inn and Suites 211 Gateway Center Blvd. Brunswick, GA 31525 Hawaii 1347 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 204 Honolulu, HI 96814-4512 Hilo Hawaiian Hotel 71 Banyan Drive Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4601 Kahului Shopping Center 65 West Kaahumanu Avenue Unit 14 Kahului, HI 96732 970 Kele Street Suite 102 Lihue, HI 96766 Illinois Dixon Building Suite 206 8741 South Greenwood Chicago, IL 60619 Three Rivers Safety Council 1615 W. Jefferson Street Suite TWIC Joliet, IL 60435-6724 Hampton Inn 11 Winners Way East Peoria, IL 61611 Suite 153 1635 W. First Street Granite City, IL 62040 Indiana 200 Russell Street Suite 110 Hammond, IN 46320-1825 3602 Northgate Court Suite 37C New Albany, IN 47150-6417 STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS Pre-Enroll This can save time at the enrollment center itself. To pre-enroll, individuals must first register for an ID starting at https://twicprogram.tsa.dhs.gov/TWIC WebApp/ Applicants will need to supply basic information including their name, date of birth and country of birth. Gather Documentation As part of the TWIC application process, individual applicants must supply documentation verifying their identity. A list of acceptable documents was printed on page 4 of the January edition of the Seafarers LOG and is available on the TSA’s TWIC web site. A valid merchant mariner document/z-card is acceptable, as is an unexpired passport. 700 W. McNeese Street Lake Charles, LA 70605-5532 Port Fourchon Harbor Police 108 A.O. Rappelet Road Port Fourchon, LA 70357-0000 170 James Drive East Suite 104 St. Rose, LA 70087-4005 LaPlace Shopping Center 1933 West Airline Hwy. LaPlace, LA 70068 Maine 236 Oxford Street, Suite 12 Portland, ME 04101-3070 163 Hildreth Street North Bangor, ME 04401 TWIC Enrollment Centers Maryland 2200 Broening Hwy, Suite 220 Baltimore, MD 21224-6623 Suite 204C 212 W. Main St. Salisbury, MD 21801 Enroll Applicants may enroll at any of the agency’s enrollment centers, at which time they must pay the TWIC fee of $132.50 (or the reduced fee of $105.25, if applying for a TWIC that expires in conjunction with a merchant mariner document). Applicants will provide fingerprints and be photographed as well as provide personal information. Pick up TWIC Applicants must return to the same enrollment center to pick up their credential. They will be notified by email or phone (as specified during enrollment) when the card is ready. The individual TWIC will be activated, and the card-holder will select a corresponding PIN number. Holiday Inn 1500 Hwy 71 International Falls, MN 56649 Room B006 34 13th Ave., NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 Mississippi Ergon Refining 227 Industrial Drive Vicksburg, MS 39183-0000 Suite D 1223 30th Ave. Gulfport, MS 39501 New Jersey Northern New Jersey / Bergen County 89 Leuning Street Suite G South Hackensack, NJ 07606-1345 New York 102 Smith Boulevard Albany, NY 12202-1067 Howland Hook Marine Terminal 241 Western Avenue Staten Island, NY 10303-1103 Whitehall Ferry Terminal 4 South Street Room 210 New York, NY 10004-1940 Rhode Island 17 Virginia Ave Suite 105 Providence, RI 02905-5443 South Carolina 4600 Goer Drive, Ste 112 North Charleston, SC 29406-6500 Tennessee 3865 Viscount Avenue Suite 2 Memphis, TN 38118-6000 3200 West End Avenue Suite 510 Nashville, TN 37203-1330 Texas 7433 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, TX 78409 Ford Convention Center Tyler Room 5155 IH-10 South Beaumont, TX 77705-4213 West Gulf Maritime Association 1717 Turning Basin Houston, TX 77029-3003 3800 Highway 365 Suite 123 Port Arthur, TX 77642-7566 1000 Foust Road Brownsville, TX 78521 Suite 9 2680 Grand Island Blvd. Grand Island, NY 14072 1750 FM 1432 Victoria, TX 77905-0000 Suite 2106 3225 Old Washington Rd. Waldorf, MD 20602 One East 2nd Street Oswego, NY 13126-1177 301 Highway 146 N. Texas City, TX 77590-6630 Massachusetts 28 Damrell St. Suite 104 Boston, MA 02127-2775 North Carolina Suite 107 5704 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 411 West Main Street Port LaVaca, TX 77979 300 Tremont Street Unit #5 Carver, MA 02330-1758 311 Atlantic Beach Causeway Atlantic Beach, NC 28512-7359 Michigan Delray Mechanical 667 S. Post Street Detroit, MI 48209-3053 800 East Ellis Road Suite 122 Norton Shores, MI 49441-5622 511 Ashmun Street Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783-1960 863 North Pine Road Essexville, MI 48732 430 S. Water Street Marine City, MI 48039 AmericInn of Silver City 120 Lincoln Ave. Ontonagon, MI 49953 396 N. State Street St. Ignace, MI 49781 Suite 105 1020 Hastings Street Traverse City, MI 49686 Louisiana Safety Council for Louisiana Capital Area Minnesota Suite 104 2161 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114 8180 Siegen Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70810-1914 1310 Port Terminal Road Duluth, MN 55802 Virginia Suite F 814 Greenbrier Circle Chesapeake, VA 23320 Ohio 3100 E45th Street Suite 226 Cleveland, OH 44127-1091 Suite 300, Room 359 11815 Fountain Way Newport News, VA 23606 Star Center One Maritime Plaza 720 Water Street Toledo, OH 43604-1883 Washington 5009 Pac Hwy E Suite 17 Fife Business Park Tacoma, WA 98424-3432 Suites 754, 755 8044 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) AERIE # 1 6205 Corson Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 401 Broadway Avenue Suite D, Office B Lorain, OH 44052-0000 4830 State Road Ashtabula, OH 44004-6214 Oklahoma 5350 Cimarron Road Catoosa, OK 74015-3027 Oregon Suite 100 7025 N. Lombard St. Portland, OR 97203 8327 Summit Park Rd Ste. D Anacortes, WA 98221 Port of Everett Marina Marina Conference Center 404 14th Street Everett, WA 98201-1674 West Virginia Tri-State Fire Academy 4200 Ohio River Rd, Huntington WV 25702 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Regional Port 3460 North Delaware Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19134-6311 Wisconsin Chase Commerce Center 3073 South Chase Avenue Suite 620 Building 28 Floor 1 Milwaukee, WI 53207-2668 701 North Point Drive Suite 104 Pittsburgh, PA 15233-2133 Hotel Green Bay 780 Armed Forces Drive Green Bay, WI 54304 April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:21 AM Page 9 Seafarers from the tug Ensign and SIU Patrolman Ashley Nelson (second from left) SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker (standing) discusses negotiations with crew members from the Pioneer and the Centurion. Crowley Boatmen Approve Contract The Crowley Sentinel reaches its dock after a trip back to Florida from Puerto Rico. As reported on page 3, Seafarers employed by Crowley recently approved a new four-year contract calling for wage increases and other improvements while maintaining medical benefits. Some of the approximately 200 Seafarers covered by the pact are pictured on this page along with SIU officials. Chief Mate Robert Venable (above) aboard the Crowley Sentinel Chief Engineer Willie Pettwa (left) makes his way upward from the engine room. SIU VP Contracts George Tricker (third from left) gets member input aboard the Crowley Sentinel. Crew members of the tug Sea Breeze SIU-Crewed USNS Gilliland Loads U.S. Army Equipment The Seafarers-contracted USNS Gilliland loaded more than 150,000 square feet of U.S. Army equipment March 15-18 in Antwerp, Belgium, according to the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). The Gilliland is a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll- April 2008 Crowley Patriarch crew members are pictured with SIU Jacksonville Safety Director Karl Leiter (far right). off vessel, abbreviated as LMSR. MSC reported that the materiel – trucks, trailers, tanks and other combat support equipment – belongs to the U.S. Army’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. The Gilliland is delivering the cargo to the Middle East to be used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since Sept. 11, 2001, MSC ships (many crewed by SIU members) have delivered more than 101 million square feet of equipment in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. That is enough cargo to fill a line of railroad cars stretching more than 2,400 miles from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas, Nev., according to MSC. “Serving the men and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan by getting their equipment to them on time is one of our key missions here at Sealift Logistics Command Europe,” said Capt. Nicholas Holman, commander of that branch. “These soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen depend on MSC to deliver the tools they need to do their job promoting freedom and democracy in the Middle East and around the globe.” The Gilliland is one of 19 civilian-crewed LMSRs belonging to MSC and is ideally suited to carry oversized military equipment. At 954 feet long, the ship has 380,000 square feet of cargo-carrying capacity, equivalent to almost eight football fields. The Gilliland is named after Korean War Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Charles L. Gilliland who sacrificed his life to cover the withdrawal of his unit from enemy fire on April 25, 1951, near Tongmang-ni, Korea. Seafarers LOG 9 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:22 AM Page 10 Servicing SIUCrewed Vessels In The Port of Tampa Coast Range Editor’s Note: SIU Safety Representative Kevin Marchand earlier this year spent nearly a week servicing Seafarers-contracted vessels as they called on the Port of Tampa. The photos on this page show some of the rank-and-file members in their work environments. Overseas Philadelphia Members of the Coast Range crew off-load equipment from the vessel’s deck (above) while Recertified Bosun Marvin Zimbro (left in inset at left) and AB Travis Stringer II enjoy lunch. Chief Cook Bernard Butts (inset, above right) takes a break from his duties in the galley. Sulphur Enterprise Bosun Michael Brewley (left) and Recertified Steward Justo Lacayo meet in the galley of the Overseas Philadelphia. Members of the Sulphur Enterprise crew gather after a shipboard meeting. Pictured are Bosun Joseph White, AB William Ray Jr., DEU Carl Turner, AB Zsuzsanna Balla, Chief Cook Audrey Brown and SA Nelson Bernardez. Chemical Trader AB Shelby Rankin (above, left) stands watch on the Chemical Trader while DEU Jose Encarnacion (above, right) gives the thumbs up. Chief Cook Jimmy Cordova (below, left) and Steward Exxl Ronquillo take a break in the dining area. ITB Mobile Tug Enterprise Ordinary Seaman /Cook Carlos Taylor (left) and AB Bradley Thomas send greetings from aboard the Tug Enterprise. Steward Virgilio Donghit (left in left photo above) and UA Kenneth LeDeoux complete some paperwork in the galley of the ITB Mobile while shipmates AB Dionicio Mejia (left in photo at left) and GUDE Montree Nakwichet stand cargo watch. In photo above, Bosun Timothy Jackson (left) and AB James McCormick return to the vessel after going ashore. Sea Venture Keystone Texas Members of the Sea Venture crew gather on deck following their meeting with the SIU rep. Pictured (from the left) are Bosun Thomas Mincey, AB George Saltz and AB Courtney Denley. OSG Tug Honour Ordinary Seaman/Cook Michael Hufana (left) and AB Kelly Marsh reported to the stern of the OSG Tug Honour following their union meeting. 10 Seafarers LOG Keystone Texas Bosun Edward McClean runs a stores crane (above) while Steward Roderick Oree (inset above, left) and Chief Cook Elizer Saintvil (inset above, right) prepare to put away stores. AB Eddie Ebanks stands cargo watch (inset at right). April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:22 AM Page 11 MTD Executive Board Meeting Military Leaders Powerfully Declare Support for U.S. Mariners, U.S. Ships With rank-and-file Seafarers in the audience, two key military leaders who addressed the MTD executive board meeting Feb. 28-29 near San Diego left no doubt about the high esteem in which they hold the U.S. Merchant Marine. Major General Kathleen Gainey, commander, U.S. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, and Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, deputy commander, United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), each offered powerful words of support and appreciation for the reliability of U.S. mariners. They also made it abundantly clear that America’s national security is best-served by maintaining a strong American-flag fleet with American crews. Two dozen or so SIU members (including members of the union’s Government Services Division) were guests at the meetings, which altogether drew more than 200 people per day. Speaking not only about mariners but also other members of unions affiliated with the MTD, Gainey stated, “You are critical to our nation. All of us in uniform appreciate you in the maritime trades.” She noted the long history of America’s civilian mariners, literally dating to the country’s earliest days. “The merchant marine has always been there beside us,” Gainey said. “You have always been there when we needed you, and you have always delivered. It doesn’t matter whether it was in harm’s way or whether it was in peace. You’ve always been there. Your partnership has never faltered. Your willingness to be there was never conditional. You’ve always delivered and been there for our service members around the world. There’s no amount of thanks that I could give you, because I’m here to tell you, having deployed twice, I know how critical it is that we get that equipment and those MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco welcomes Maj. Gen. Kathleen Gainey. “The history of the Maritime Trades Department for us is really important. It’s part of what we are as a nation... This is important to us in uniform. Why is that? Because you produce results.” --Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, Deputy Commander, U.S. TRANSCOM supplies on time. You deliver and we know we can count on you.” Gainey said it is important that all segments of the maritime industry “keep the dialogue open on the key issues: port security, strategic sealift, rebuilding our ports … and ensuring that we keep a strong, strong maritime force with American-flag carriers.” She mentioned the relatively new program in which protective vehicles known as MRAPS are being delivered (often by Seafarers-contracted ships) to U.S. troops overseas. Pointing out the efficiency of sealift, she noted that some of the decisionmakers originally advocated airlift for the new military vehicles. “If it was your son or daughter (waiting for delivery), you, too, would have wanted it there the fastest way possible,” Gainey said. “We were able to show them we can deliver” quickly by ship, and those deliveries have reinforced the value of American-flag vessels supporting our troops. Gainey repeatedly referred to the effective “partnership” between the military and the commercial sector. She said deliveries to the warfighter have “significantly improved” because of that partnership, adding that “performance statistics” bear out the speed and reliability of American-flag ships. “We in U.S. TRANSCOM are fully committed to the commercial-first policy,” Gainey declared. “If we don’t, then we will not have the maritime fleet Board members and guests show appreciation for remarks by one of the speakers. April 2008 that we need to support this nation when we would even go to a larger-scale war. You are the backbone and we know that. We always try to utilize the liner service as the first option to meet the required delivery date for our warfighter. And we’re looking to even expand that business…. It’s all about leveraging the strength that you have and the partnerships you have with other organizations. Partnership is what is going to make us strong, keep us strong, and make sure that this nation is free.” She concluded that when she was researching the MTD prior to the meetings, she was very impressed by “how critical you are to the defense of this nation … the value of an organization that brings together all of these specialties. You are that fourth arm of Department of Defense and you are critical to this nation, and this is what makes America great.” Rondeau credited MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco as “a man of his word” who “is a guy that is helping move things forward” for the U.S. maritime industry. She noted that she comes from a union family – a background the helps her appreciate the importance of the MTD. The department’s history and current efforts are “important to us in uniform,” she said. “Why is that? Because you produce results.” Rondeau shared a number of statistics reflecting the large amount of military cargo transported in recent years aboard Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau says U.S. mariners “truly have answered the nation’s call.” U.S.-flag commercial ships as well as civilian-crewed Military Sealift Command vessels. “You truly have answered the nation’s call,” she said. She twice referred to the March edition of the Seafarers LOG – once expressing her agreement with a letter extolling union membership, and then pointing out a quote from SIU Recertified Bosun David James. The bosun, who has sailed on multiple voyages for Operation Iraqi Freedom, recently said, “SIU members are here to support the troops.” After sharing that quote with the audience, Rondeau recalled a scene from just a few days earlier, when 1,000 or so troops in Iraq had gathered to watch a movie. In accordance with protocol, the National Anthem was played before the show – but problems with the sound system kept interrupting. She estimated that if something similar were to happen in a private theater in the U.S. filled with 18-to-22-year-olds, “you’re going to get at the very best some laughter and at the worst some profanity like you haven’t heard in a while. But (back in Iraq) the room was dead quiet on the third time of them trying to run the recoding of the National Anthem. At that point, one voice starts, another voice starts, and (soon) 1,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen sang ‘the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air…’ and they sang to the end. “These are people who have been there for a year or two. So I would say to David James, SIU or MTD union members who are here to support the troops: Those men and women are worth your investment. They’re worth what you give them and you give them a lot, because together we’re not just involved – we are committed.” Seafarers LOG 11 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:22 AM Page 12 Fro Sho U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin (left) addresses the board as MTD President Michael Sacco listens. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka Grassroots Action, November Elections Crucial for America’s Working Families Guest speakers at the most recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department’s executive board urged labor officials and rank-and-file members alike to elect pro-worker candidates in November. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (DHawaii), AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin each noted the importance – and effectiveness – of grassroots political action when it comes to empowering working families. Both Abercrombie and Trumka pointed to the erosion of U.S. workers’ rights and stated that the best way to start rectifying that decades-long trend is by supporting pro-worker candidates. Abercrombie said it’s a plain fact that the majority party sets the agenda in Congress. Therefore, he said, working families must elect and support – and hold accountable – representatives who will look out for their interests. “We’ve got to put American workers back in the center of the political agenda,” said Abercrombie. “Every single vote counts, and the difference in whether or not the working people in this country are going to come back to the center of the agenda is going to be whether labor turns out in this election and sees to it that the Electoral College goes the right way.” The congressman noted he recently read a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Abercrombie said that during World War II and the years that immediately followed, there was strong support for the working class at all levels of government. He said the nation clearly would be best served by returning to that standard. He reviewed the day’s newspaper headlines and explained how the weakening economy hurts working families. Illustrating corporate greed and the weakening of workers’ rights, he mentioned a recent contract negotiation in which newspaper reporters were asked by the company to a accept only a one percent wage increase in conjunction with health care cuts, despite soaring company profits. “If the United States is going to be strong in the world, we have to be strong ourselves,” Abercrombie said. “We have to have a sound economy. We have to have workers that understand not only that prosperity depends on them, but that productivity is going to stay with them when they earn it by their productivity. “The most productive and important thing we can do right now is organize,” he concluded. “Let’s get this movement organized for November so there’s no question in anybody’s mind that America is back. When America’s workers are in charge, America is back. Trumka presented a startling series of statistics showing the enormous (and still growing) income gap in America. He cautioned that this isn’t a new develop- ment, but rather one that dates back to the 1970s. “Our economy was failing working families long before there was a housing crisis and mortgage crisis and a stock market crisis,” Trumka said. “These crises are in fact the direct result of imbalances in our economy that already existed. That has been propelled by neoliberal economic policies that have been grinding down working families for the last 30 years. “Why is it so hard for so many workers to make a decent living in the richest country in history at its most rich point in time?” he continued. “We work more hours than any other developed country, but massive job loss has created widespread economic insecurity. The U.S. economy generates more than 13 trillion dollars a year in income but health care and retirement benefits are vanishing. For the last 30 years wages have been going down and it’s meant longer working hours, higher consumer debt, and a greater reliance on home equities just so that families could keep up with their bills. It doesn’t have to be this way because the economy is not like the weather. The economy is a set of rules; those rules are made by people we elect. Those rules decide winners and they decide losers and it’s up to us to elect people that start adopting rules that make all of us winners.” As he showed the board data reflecting the struggles of working families, Trumka emphasized, “The policies that have been adopted over the last 30 years have two things in common: They shift power from workers to employers and they create fewer jobs. The increased power of employers has allowed them to outsource our work and deregulate our industries. They privatize our government, they deny wage increases, and they walk away from their obligations to provide health care and retirement security for employees.” Among the statistics he shared: Since 1973, household income for richest Americans has increased anywhere from 353 percent to more than 500 percent. By comparison, the poorest Americans’ wages have gone up only three percent; for those squarely in the middle range of earnings, the increase has been 23 percent. “What you’re seeing is where we used to grow together as a nation, right now we’re growing apart economically, socially and politically,” Trumka said. “The productivity-wage relationship was the foundation of the social contract negotiated between labor and employers after World War II. Today the imbalance of power has ruptured that relationship and the social contract with America’s workers is being shredded.” Trumka concluded by saying the labor movement must be at the forefront of efforts to “change the direction of our country…. None of it is possible, though, See Working Families, Page 14 A wide meeting v American challenge Offerin were (in o the U.S. D Administr president, Harris, pr (NASSCO Corporati Guard. Barrett that a stro economic “We ar you are su Referri Barrett ou own d the marit ue to grow Connau remarkabl core marit regulation Security P training an He exp also know year conta program w “Even finally hav wise laws to our tran He add important thorization that they l transporta sibilities… ‘Nuts & Bolts’ of MTD The AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department consists of 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than five million working men and women. The MTD executive board met Feb. 28-29 near San Diego, where board members and guests tackled many vital issues facing the maritime industry and all working families. The articles on pages 11-14 are based on remarks and policy statements presented at the meetings. These photos show some of the board members and SIU VP Dean Corgey (left), SIU VP Nick Marrone guests. Rank-and-file Seafarers and officials 12 Seafarers LOG MEBA President Don Keefe Maersk VP Ed Hanley (left), SIU VP George Tricker SIU of Canada President Roman Gralewicz (right), Executive VP Michel Desjardins Boilermakers VP Warren Fairley ILA President Richard Hughes CWA VP Ralph Maley U.S. R SIU As Port Ag GMP President John Ryan April 2008 R �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 13 rom Many Perspectives, Maritime Industry hows Great Promise, Faces Key Challenges wide array of guest speakers at the MTD executive board ing voiced support, enthusiasm and appreciation for the rican maritime industry while not glossing over the many enges faced by its different components. ffering perspectives from various segments of the industry (in order of appearance) Thomas Barrett, deputy secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Maritime inistrator Sean Connaughton; General Ken Wykle (USA ret.), dent, National Defense Transportation Association; Fred s, president, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company SSCO); Thomas Crowley, CEO, Crowley Maritime oration; and Admiral Thad Allen, commandant, U.S. Coast d. arrett reaffirmed the Department of Transportation’s belief a strong U.S. Merchant Marine is essential to the defense and omic development of the nation. We are committed to supporting American-flag shipping…. If are successful, America will be successful,” he stated. eferring to President Bush’s strong support for the Jones Act, ett outlined the DOT’s vision for the future and expressed his own admiration for the men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Noting that he had served 35 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, Barrett added, “You can’t spend as long a time in the Coast Guard as I did without building an enduring and very deep respect for American mariners. I see it (the contributions they make to American society) every day.” According to Barrett, America’s defense and economic health depends on its maritime industry. The nation’s network of waterways moves 2.2 billion tons of domestic and foreign cargo. Ninety-five percent of our international trade moves by water. International trade will double within the next 20 years. Barrett said the DOT believes America’s economy depends on enhancing systems performance, particularly maritime element. “I don’t think that the economy can contingrow without making seaways more efficient,” he observed. onnaughton noted that the maritime industry has made rkable progress over the past year and gave strong support to maritime programs moving forward. Those initiatives and ations include the Jones Act, cargo preference, the Maritime rity Program, port modernization, shipbuilding, maritime ng and LNG development. e expressed optimism about the marine highway initiative, known as short sea shipping. The energy bill signed late last contains provisions establishing a formal marine highway ram within the federal government. Even though this is something that we’ve been pushing, now, y having statutory recognition about the fact that the coastlaws, coastwise vessels and trades are something that’s vital r transportation system” is key, Connaughton said. e added, “There was one sentence in that law that really is rtant for us as we look forward to a new transportation reauzation bill and funding. For the first time we see in legislation hey look for the waterways as part of our national service portation system. That opens up an enormous amount of posties…. We’re very, very close to several new operations and I think that we’re going to be able to make this all happen and see projects, see (new) jobs and see congestion being relieved because of this new marine highway program.” Wykle also emphasized the abundant possibilities for greater utilization of domestic waterborne transportation. He cited several studies that show the United States is facing a transportation crisis and urged the federal government and the private sector to enter into an historic partnership to better use America’s abundant water resources. The NDTA’s stated mission is “to foster a strong and an efficient global transportation and distribution system.” For years, it has been arguing that the federal government has been promoting air, rail and highways, but not water-based transportation. According to Wykle, there have been two major transportation revolutions since the founding of the nation—the development of transcontinental railways in the 19th century and the rise of the interstate highway system, which was devised in the 1950s. However, the highway system is “old and decaying. Demand is increasing.” Moreover, investment is not keeping pace. Wykle believes that America needs a third transportation revolution. It needs to make greater use of its oceans, lakes and inland waterways. Unlike highways and rails, waterways do not have to be built; they already exist. He said that waterborne transportation is inherently more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly than most other modes of transportation. The most serious challenge in achieving this third revolution is getting out the word, he added. Government officials, labor unions, grassroots organizations and maritime companies need to educate the American public about what’s at stake, Wykle said. “We need to create a (new) generation of U.S.-manned coastal ships,” he stated. “We need to reestablish the United States as a competitive ship builder and create thousands of new family-wage jobs.” Harris is a former licensed mariner who sailed with a number of SIU members. He noted that NASSCO’s parent company, General Dynamics, has “tens of thousands of union workers.” The San Diego-based shipyard, which employs 4,700 people, carries great relevance for the SIU. NASSCO currently is constructing T-AKE ships for the U.S. Navy (vessels that are being crewed up by members of the union’s Government Services Division) as well as commercial tankers for Seafarers-contracted U.S. Shipping. Previously, the yard built vessels for SIU-contracted TOTE and Alaska Tanker Company, respectively. Years ago, it also built the CIVMAR-crewed hospital ships USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort. Harris said the T-AKE vessels are “great ships for the U.S. government. They are multi-capable ships. They carry fuel oil, ammunition and bombs, dry cargo, frozen stores…. We have 11 under contract.” He pointed out, however, that two more of those vessels recently were removed from the federal budget. “We need to work hard – and I would ask for you to work with us – to make sure these ships are put back in” the budget, he told the board. Harris praised the shipyard workers, noting they are doing a great job with quality and turnaround time. “I’m proud of them and this is the best shipyard I’ve ever worked in,” he said. “I can’t tell you enough about the people in the shipyard and what they’ve contributed – not only with the work they do, but the spirit and the culture that they bring.” He needs more of them, though. Harris said that he anticipates growth at the yard and wants to hire hundreds more employees. He concluded by vowing to work with Congress “for as long as See Perspectives, Page 14 S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (center) with U Asst. VP Bryan Powell (left) and SIU ort Agent Joe Vincenzo nt TCU President Robert Scardelletti April 2008 DOT Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton General Ken Wykle (USA ret.), president, NDTA Novelty Workers President Mark Spano Crowley Maritime Corp. CEO Thomas Crowley USCG Commandant Admiral Thad Allen NASSCO President Fred Harris Seafarers LOG 13 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 14 MTD Executive Board Meeting Guest Speakers Voice Political Action Vital Perspectives on Future For Working Families Of Maritime Transportation Continued from Page 13 Continued from Page 12 I’m able, to support the U.S. maritime industry – both in supporting U.S. seafarers at sea and in building U.S. ships.” Crowley described the excellent cooperation that exists not only within his company but among its contracted unions, including the SIU. He gave special credit to MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco, calling him a mentor “and even more importantly, demonstrating unparalleled leadership in our industry with a passion that’s matched by no one.” He added, “Our longstanding relationships with labor have evolved into strategic partnerships based on mutual understanding and respect. We’ve seen how, working together, we can accomplish much more than working alone or against each other. We are all part of the Crowley team.” Crowley said the company continues its unwavering commitment to safety while also contributing to the renewal and growth of the Jones Act fleet. In the last decade, they’ve built 26 manned and 12 unmanned vessels. Currently under contract for construction are 22 additional vessels (11 manned, 11 unmanned). However, he also voiced concern about ensuring adequate shipboard manpower in the years ahead. He discussed the company’s wide-ranging recruiting efforts and complimented the unlicensed apprentice program run by the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. He said that dwindling entry-level positions are taking a toll on the industry. “We need to work with our union partners to develop flexible ways to expand this capacity and pipeline…. I think it’s critical that we reduce barriers to entry. We need to improve and modernize the U.S. Coast Guard’s licensing requirements.” Allen addressed those requirements along with maritime security and the myriad challenges it presents. He said he is an agent of change within the agency and noted he and other Coast Guard leaders are taking an honest look at how to improve all facets of the operation. “We know we’re getting better. We know we’re not where we need to be,” Allen said. “You have my personal assurance that we will attend to this and make it better, and make it the class act that we want to provide you and that you deserve. “Unless we can change to become a more flexible and agile organization, we’re going to risk something that we don’t want to have happen, and that’s the great good will in this country for the Coast Guard.” The commandant said the agency is working with port captains regarding the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. He mentioned an upcoming meeting with the port captains and declared, “Sooner or later, we have to come back and tell the industry, are we on track to meet the date, and are we prepared to do something about the date if we are not on track?” Allen also discussed what he called an “archaic rulemaking process” that affects the industry; he’s got a task force looking into possible improvements. He said he plans to continue dealing with all segments of the industry in a very open manner. unless we do our job in this election and take back control of our government and our elected officials for working families.” Crumlin, whose position with the MUA is equivalent to that of a union president in the U.S., also serves as an official with the International Transport Workers’ Federation – a global organization consisting of nearly 700 transport unions. He focused on a U.S. maritime law (the Jones Act) as an example of why political action is so important for workers. He noted that all segments of the U.S. maritime industry repeatedly have united to stand up for the Jones Act when it has been attacked by so-called free traders whose apparent motivation has nothing to do with security or working families and everything to do with making a quick buck. The law stipulates that cargo moving between U.S. domestic ports must be transported on vessels that are built, owned, flagged and crewed American. It is widely recognized as a regulation which bolsters national and economic security. It also helps preserve tens of thousands of jobs, if not more. Without grassroots support, its status would be in question, at the very least. “The Jones Act really is the global benchmark for maritime cabotage,” Crumlin said. “It underpins all of the regulations and the [protection] of labor but also the national interest in regards to not only labor standards but security, economic development, the ability to develop a genuine economy in the interests of working men and women. The Jones Act really does lead the way, and it’s bipartisan. That’s a very important message.” He credited MTD President Michael Sacco and others for demonstrating the soundness of working with those who support the industry, regardless of political affiliations. “Political cycles come and go. Our industry must remain,” Crumlin observed. He recounted problems faced by Australian workers because of weak or unenforced cabotage laws. However, he noted, the old government regime in that country has been voted out of office, which bodes well for the future. Crumlin wrapped up his comments by stating that bilateral trade agreements remain very important to workers around the world. “We have some big challenges to be able to translate the protection of our own national industries and the development of proper standards and safe minimum manning requirements elsewhere in the world,” he said. “This is where the ITF comes in. For example, we recently developed a consolidated maritime convention that extends protection to mariners who otherwise never would have had it. We had strong U.S. support. That is a remarkable achievement, and it could not have happened without U.S. intervention – and the U.S. intervention could not have been achieved without the strength and the solidarity and the determination of the AFL-CIO and all the labor leaders in this room.” SIU CIVMARS Help Recover 2 Downed U.S. Air Force Jets The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) on March 24 reported that the rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp – manned by members of the SIU Government Services Division – had completed recovery operations for two U.S. Air Force F-15C fighter jets in the Gulf of Mexico. According to MSC, the jets crashed mid-air over the Gulf approximately 50 miles from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 20. Recovery efforts began March 1 when the Grasp arrived in the vicinity of the crash site to locate the wreckage, and ended March 22 when the last recoverable debris from the second aircraft was lifted onto the ship’s weather deck. Salvage operations, which could normally have been conducted within a week, were delayed by severe weather conditions that twice sent the ship back to port. The first aircraft was recovered March 12 from a depth of 177 feet and the second aircraft was recovered March 22 from a depth of 185 feet. More that half of each aircraft was salvaged including their engines, data collecting devices (flight recorders) and main computers. These items are vital to the Air Force’s investigation to determine the cause of 14 Seafarers LOG the crash. The salvage operations were conducted jointly by the Grasp’s crew of 28 civil service mariners and 20 sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. MDSU Two is not permanently assigned to the Grasp, which also carries a detachment of three sailors to per- form communications functions. Since the exact position of the wreckage was unknown, the ship’s civilian crew worked in cooperation with sailors of MDSU Two to locate the debris by combining the vessel’s navigational information with data obtained from the dive unit’s locating equipment. Upon arrival at each site, the Grasp’s merchant Crew members aboard the USNS Grasp use the ship’s 40-ton boom to lift the engine of an Air Force F-15C fighter jet from the ocean floor as part of salvage operations that ended late last month in the Gulf of Mexico (U.S. Navy Photo). mariners anchored the ship directly above the wreckage and the divers submerged to prepare the debris for recovery. The Grasp’s 40-ton boom then lifted the wreckage out of the water using a cable that was attached by the divers. “This recovery operation was extremely difficult,” said the Grasp’s civilian master, Capt. Jose Delfaus. “The wreckage was scattered across a wide area and the divers had to overcome dangerous depths and diving conditions. Some of the wreckage was so entangled that it took several dives to complete the mission.” Four Air Force personnel, including a civilian wreckage photographer, were aboard the Grasp during the salvage operations to conduct the initial research and data analysis about the crash. The mid-air collision claimed the life of one of the two pilots. The jets were assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. The USNS Grasp is one of MSC’s four 255-foot salvage and recovery ships that can deploy rapidly to recover objects from the sea, tow stranded vessels and provide fire fighting assistance. April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 15 NMU Pension, Annuity & 401(K) Plans Trustee, Administration and Summary of Material Modifications for the Year 2007 The Board of Trustees Co-chairmen Employer Trustees Thomas Murphy Marine Personnel & Provisioning, Inc. 1083 N. Collier Blvd, PMB #387 Marco Island, FL 34145 (941) 393-0435 Union Trustees David Heindel Secretary-Treasurer Seafarers International Union of N.A. AGLIWD/NMU 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 Amendments & Other Items NMU Pension Plan, Annuity Plan and 401(k) Plan: During 2007, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments of significant importance to the membership and the Plans. Generally the amendments: 1. Resolution to merge the NMU Annuity Plan and the SIU Money Purchase Plan effective October 1, 2007. 2. Provides an additional hardship provision to individuals who have suffered damage to their principal residence due to Hurricane Katrina to facilitate the repairs. 3. Provides for a 75% Participant & Spouse Pension Option. 4. Resolution to merge the SIU 401(k) Plan into the Seafarers 401(k) Plan effective January 15, 2008. The Board of Trustees also adopted the following Merger Agreements: 1. NMU Annuity Plan into the Seafarers Money Purchase Plan effective October 1, 2007. 2. SIU 401(k) Plan into the Seafarers 401(k) Plan effective January 15, 2008. 3. NMU Pension Plan into the Seafarers Pension Plan effective January 1, 2008. Administrator Miriam Bove NMU Benefit Plans 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 A LOS QUE HABLAN ESPANOL Esta noticia contiene informacion importante sobre sus derechos como marinero bajo los planes del Plan NMU Pension, Annuity, 401(k). Si tuviera usted dificultades para comprender alguna parte de esta noticia se la explicara la misma en espanol. Esta ayuda podra recibirla en persona en la oficina principal del Plan, ubicada en el numero 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Las cartas en espanol deberan ser dirigidas a la oficina del Plan de Maryland. Las llamadas telefonicas para solicitar ayuda en espanol deberan tambien ser hechas a la oficina del Plan en Maryland, cuyo numero de telefono es: 1301-899-0675. Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea February 13, 2008 — March 15, 2008 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals Joliet .........................Thursday: May 15, June 12 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Mobile..................Wednesday: May 14, June 11 Port Piney Point.......................Monday: May 5, June 2 Algonac ..................................Friday: May 9, June 6 Baltimore.......................Thursday: May 8, June 5 Boston ............................Friday: May 9, June 6 Guam ...........................Thursday: May 22, June 19 Honolulu.......................Friday: May 16, June 13 Houston .......................Monday: May 12, June 9 Jacksonville .................Thursday: May 8, June 5 Totals Tacoma ...........................Friday: May 23, June 20 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Wilmington..................Monday: May 19, June 16 Totals New Orleans...................Tuesday: May 13, June 10 New York ...........................Tuesday: May 6, June 3 Norfolk ............................Thursday: May 8, June 5 Oakland .........................Thursday: May 15, June 12 Philadelphia................ Wednesday: May 7, June 4 Port Everglades .............Thursday: May 15, June 12 San Juan .........................Thursday: May 8, June 5 St. Louis ..........................Friday: May 16, June 13 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. April 2008 Totals All Departments **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT 2 10 3 20 3 12 27 20 3 11 13 29 16 9 3 7 9 3 24 24 1 1 2 4 1 2 7 4 0 2 1 6 8 2 0 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 4 9 1 5 32 13 2 7 10 33 10 14 3 0 3 2 22 25 0 2 1 4 2 1 14 10 4 3 8 10 9 10 2 7 3 1 12 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 5 0 5 19 17 0 2 2 15 4 8 1 0 6 0 6 11 3 0 8 18 1 11 63 45 1 22 22 67 6 39 4 1 15 1 56 59 4 10 7 23 9 16 46 32 0 15 12 51 17 15 3 6 16 7 34 45 3 1 3 7 4 3 5 5 1 3 2 8 11 4 2 0 1 0 6 7 254 238 49 228 132 17 98 507 431 84 0 0 3 4 1 5 14 15 0 5 8 19 15 11 3 1 1 1 16 10 0 3 5 10 1 2 14 18 0 5 6 9 11 5 1 1 3 4 13 11 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 2 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 132 122 19 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Port May & June 2008 Trip Reliefs 3 0 7 10 1 9 39 22 0 12 12 40 12 20 1 1 7 2 30 29 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 0 0 2 5 2 5 16 12 0 5 10 10 5 9 2 0 0 0 7 6 0 1 3 4 3 1 5 12 0 2 3 7 3 5 0 0 0 2 12 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 2 0 4 8 5 0 3 5 4 5 4 1 0 2 1 6 5 0 0 6 12 0 13 20 22 0 8 9 30 16 10 6 3 8 1 22 16 2 4 6 11 3 2 13 27 1 8 4 13 17 9 1 2 5 6 18 15 0 0 1 3 2 0 3 2 0 1 0 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 96 72 9 57 202 165 25 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 6 2 13 22 19 0 9 4 23 8 22 1 4 3 0 17 27 0 0 2 11 5 5 11 9 0 2 2 10 9 5 0 1 2 0 9 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 181 91 9 1 0 2 5 1 7 14 15 0 3 8 20 5 15 3 1 1 0 12 26 1 0 1 5 1 2 8 5 0 1 5 5 11 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 8 5 0 2 2 9 2 8 0 0 1 0 12 6 1 0 1 6 2 14 32 22 0 10 4 33 10 39 2 4 4 1 28 31 1 0 2 11 4 6 11 15 0 4 3 12 13 7 1 1 3 0 11 14 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 139 49 6 62 244 119 11 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 2 0 0 0 0 5 3 6 0 0 1 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 3 4 1 3 1 6 2 6 21 14 1 3 6 26 4 14 1 7 2 1 16 12 3 0 0 10 4 6 3 6 0 1 2 4 12 14 1 24 24 2 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 10 8 0 2 5 10 1 8 0 8 1 2 4 6 0 0 0 2 0 1 5 2 0 0 0 1 5 2 0 20 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 7 0 1 2 8 2 5 0 0 0 0 6 5 2 7 1 7 4 8 33 27 1 6 4 40 20 17 1 2 4 1 21 18 4 0 1 9 5 9 3 11 1 2 3 12 18 18 1 25 3 2 9 8 32 149 103 15 70 40 0 48 224 144 608 611 181 448 309 70 229 940 883 251 Seafarers LOG 15 �47469_2x:January 08 4/1/2008 4:21 PM Page 16 Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services René Lioeanjie, Vice President at Large Charles Stewart, Vice President at Large HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 BOSTON Marine Industrial Park/EDIC 5 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 (617) 261-0790 GUAM P.O. Box 315242, Tamuning, Guam 96931-5242 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 The new SPAD T-shirt (modeled above) features the SIU logo on the front pocket and artwork on the back (shown at right). The Shirts are in the Mail – Really Newly Designed SPAD T-Shirts Being Sent Beginning this Month Starting this month, SIU members who contribute to the voluntary Seafarers Political Activity Donation (SPAD) fund will receive a SPAD T-shirt by complet- ing a very brief form available at the union halls. Here’s how it works: Any member who donates to SPAD when they file for a vacation check (and who wants one of the shirts) will be given a form asking for basic information including the applicant’s name, shipping address and shirt size. The port agent then will submit that form along with the vacation application. Shirts will be mailed from the union’s headquarters building, located in Camp Springs, Md. There is a limit of one shirt per member. Shirts will be mailed until the supply runs out (anticipated to happen around mid-year). Seafarers are advised to check with their port agents for additional information. HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 Happy Birthday, Bosun! Captain J.E. Belcourt, master of the SIU-crewed MV Green Point, recently submitted this photo in recognition of Bosun Richard Dobbyn’s 70th birthday. “Bosun Dobbyn has been a true asset on this good ship, and we appreciate all he has done,” noted Belcourt. Standing left to right are Chief Cook Julio Lobo, Belcourt, Deck Maintenance Cordero and Dobbyn. JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 16 Seafarers LOG PIC-FROM-THE-PAST Submitted by retired Seafarer Charles Slick of King George, Va., this photo is of himself (second from left in back row) and some of his shipmates aboard the SS Stoney Creek. The photo was taken in 1950 as the vessel was traveling from Baltimore to South America to pick up oil. According to Slick, oil at that time was selling for $18 per barrell. Others in the photo include John Breene (right in front row), Jack Tomen (left in back row) and Frank Bonna. The identity of the mariner shown second from left is not known. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 17 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 Brother Pierson calls Denham Springs, La., home. JAMES BURKE Brother James Burke, 67, became an SIU member in 1967. He initially sailed aboard the Neva West. Brother Burke was born in Virginia and worked in the engine department. He upgraded his skills in 2001 at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Brother Burke’s most recent voyage was on the Flickertail State. He makes his home in Virginia Beach. ANDREW LOPEZ Brother Andrew Lopez, 60, was born in Houston. He joined the union in 1966. Brother Lopez first shipped aboard the Globe Traveler. The engine department member enhanced his seafaring abilities often at the Piney Point school. Brother Lopez’s last vessel was the Commitment. He continues to live in the state of Texas. MOHAMED MOFLEHI Brother Mohamed Moflehi, 66, embarked on his career with the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) in 1980 while in the port of San Francisco. Brother Moflehi originally sailed on the Santa Lucia as a member of the steward department. He is a native of Yemen and upgraded frequently at the Seafarersaffiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Moflehi’s last voyage was aboard the President Truman. He is still a resident of Yemen. EDWARD MURRAY Brother Edward Murray, 65, first went to sea in 1964 on the USNS Potomac. He was born in Pennsylvania and shipped in the engine department. Brother Murray last worked aboard the Overseas Ohio. He lives in Little Egg Harbor, N.J. LUCIEN PIERSON Brother Lucien Pierson, 70, donned the SIU colors in 1990. His first ship was the Equality State; his last the Westward Venture. Brother Pierson was born in Gonzales, La. He attended the SIU-affiliated school on four occasions. April 2008 STEVEN SUN Brother Steven Sun, 70, signed on with the union in 1972 while in the port of San Francisco. His earliest trip to sea was on the President McKinley. Brother Sun is a native of China. He most recently sailed aboard the Lurline as a member of the steward department. Brother Sun enhanced his skills often at the maritime training center in Piney Point. He resides in Salinas, Calif. JAY THOMAS Brother Jay Thomas, 54, joined the union ranks in 1969. His maiden voyage was with Intercontinental Carriers. Brother Thomas frequently took advantage of educational opportunities offered at the Paul Hall Center. His final voyage was aboard the El Morro. Brother Thomas makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. BRUCE WRIGHT Brother Bruce Wright, 63, joined the SIU in 1961. The engine department member was born in Vallejo, Calif. Brother Wright originally shipped on the Steel Record. He upgraded on numerous occasions at the union-affiliated school. Brother Wright last worked aboard the Alaskan Frontier. He is a resident of San Francisco. SHAIF YAFAIE Brother Shaif Yafaie, 65, became a Seafarer in 1965. His initial trip to sea was on the SS Rambam. Brother Yafaie was born in Arabia and sailed in the engine department. His last voyage was aboard the Charleston. Brother Yafaie settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. INLAND PETER BRYANT born in Maine. He joined the SIU ranks in 1974. Boatman Bryant shipped primarily on Mariner Towing vessels during his seafaring career. He makes his home in Westbrook, Maine. LOREN HAYES Boatman Loren Hayes, 62, started his SIU profession in 1992. The Florida native worked mainly aboard vessels operated by G&H Towing Company. In 2001, Boatman Hayes enhanced his skills at the Piney Point school. He lives in Freeport, Texas. attended classes at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Barber most recently shipped aboard the Buffalo. He resides in Brunswick, Maine. RICHARD BOCKERT Brother Richard Bockert, 71, began sailing with the SIU in 1970. His first vessel was the Steel Age; his last the Walter J. McCarthy. Brother Bockert was a member of the deck department. He upgraded his seafaring abilities on three occasions at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Bockert lives in his native state of Iowa. Editor’s note: The following brothers, former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust, also recently went on pension. WALTER DARENSBOURG Brother Walter Darensbourg, 65, became an NMU member in 1997 while in the port of New Orleans. His initial voyage was on the Zoella Lykes. Brother Darensbourg shipped in the steward department. He is a native of Louisiana. Brother Darensbourg’s final trip to sea was aboard the Lykes Motivator. JAMES VON HAESLER Brother James Von Haesler, 62, was born in San Francisco. He donned the NMU colors in 1983, originally sailing from the port of San Francisco. Brother Von Haesler’s first ship was the Mallory Lykes. Brother Von Haesler was a member of the engine department. His last voyage was aboard the Cleveland. PERRY YARBER GREAT LAKES LAWRENCE CHAPMAN DAVID BARBER Brother David Barber, 56, donned the union colors in 1969. He originally worked on the American Ocean as a member of the deck department. Brother Barber was born in Flint, Mich. He frequently Brother Lawrence Chapman, 63, joined the NMU ranks in 1964 in the port of New York. He first sailed on the Ocean Evelyn as a member of the steward department. Brother Chapman was born in Mobile, Ala. He most recently worked aboard the Cape Kennedy. Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers Log. 1945 A Japanese suicide plane, which hit smack in number 3 hold, could not stop the SIU men on the SS Kyle V. Johnson from participating in the invasion of Luzon. A number of soldiers and the steward were killed, and a hole torn in the side, but after an emergency patch was made in the side of the vessel, it was able to continue in the convoy. The ship was given credit for shooting down six Japanese planes, with the members of the crew helping man the guns. The crew was commended by the Army officers and General MacArthur for their splendid behavior and action during and after the attack. Brother Perry Yarber, 58, began his NMU career in 1965. He initially shipped from the port of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Yarber’s earliest voyage was on the Hess Petrol. He worked in both the steward and deck departments. Brother Yarber was born in Florida. His last ship was the Keystone Texas. vived after being in the weather for 44 hours. They were being approached by sharks when they were spotted by the ship’s bosun. A smooth-running rescue followed and the men were quickly brought aboard. 1978 The latest in what has become a grim history of flag-of-convenience tanker wrecks involves the 233,000 dwt Amoco Cadiz. The foreigncrewed ship, registered under the Liberian flag, went aground off the coast of France. Despite efforts to minimize pollution, several days later the Cadiz broke in two and spilled her entire load of 68 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean. This Month In SIU His tor y 1956 SIU crewmembers of the Steel Advocate who took part in a dramatic rescue of two fliers from shark-infested Pacific waters were awarded a special blue pennant for “meritorious rescue operations” by the National Security Council. The rescue took place about 1,100 miles west of Hawaii. A commercial cargo plane went down with five men, but only two sur- 1999 The SIU-crewed USNS Gordon was prepositioned and anchored when crew members spotted two United Arab Emirates fisherman waving and clinging to a mostly submerged 12-foot boat in high wind and choppy seas. Reacting quickly, the Gordon launched an inflatable boat and saved the two men. The rescue lasted only 28 minutes. Rear Admiral Gordon Holder, commander of Military Sealift Command, described the rescue as “a perfect example of seamanship in the finest tradition.” Boatman Peter Bryant, 65, was Seafarers LOG 17 �47469_2x:January 08 4/1/2008 4:21 PM Page 18 Final Departures DEEP SEA JUAN BARRERA Pensioner Juan Barrera, 58, died Nov. 11. Brother Barrera began sailing with the Seafarers in 1980. He initially worked in the inland division aboard Moran Towing of Texas vessels. Brother Barrera was born in Catarina, Texas and shipped in the deck department. His final trip to sea was on the Maersk Alaska. Brother Barrera was a resident of Naples, Fla. He retired in 1996. JAMES BOONE Pensioner James Boone, 78, passed away Nov. 17. Brother Boone became an SIU member in 1947. His maiden voyage was aboard the Alcoa Roamer. Brother Boone was born in Maryland. The engine department member most recently sailed on the Bayamon. Brother Boone went on pension in 1984 and called Parkville, Md., home. MACK BRENDLE Pensioner Mack Brendle, 79, died Nov. 9. Brother Brendle joined the union in 1951. He originally worked with Delta Steamship Lines. Brother Brendle was born in Bastrop, La. and shipped in the deck department. His final journey was with Michigan Tankers Inc. In 1979, Brother Brendle started collecting his retirement compensation. He resided in Monroe, La. DELPHINE CHICA Pensioner Delphine Chica, 74, passed away Nov. 30. Brother Chica was born in Hawaii. He launched his career with the MC&S (Marine Cooks & Stewards) in 1979 while in the port of San Francisco. Brother Chicas’ first ship was the Manukai; his last the Lurline. He became a pensioner in 1989 and made his home in Pearl City, Hawaii. VIRGIL DOWD Pensioner Virgil Dowd, 81, died Nov. 25. Brother Dowd donned the SIU colors in 1961. His initial trip to sea was with Tankers & Tramps Corporation. Brother Dowd was born in Jefferson, Iowa. The deck department member most recently sailed aboard the Westward Venture. Brother Dowd retired in 1997 and lived in King County, Wash. MARTIN KIMMEL Pensioner Martin Kimmel, 72, passed away Nov. 20. Brother Kimmel joined the union in 18 Seafarers LOG 1969. His maiden voyage was on the Beaugard. Brother Kimmel worked in the engine department. Prior to his retirement in 1996, the New York native sailed aboard the Edward A. Carter Jr. Brother Kimmel called Brooklyn, N.Y. home. JAMES KIRCHNER Pensioner James Kirchner, 81, died Oct. 18. Brother Kirchner was born in Jerseyville, Fla. He became an SIU member in 1944. Brother Kirchner’s earliest trip to sea was on the Achilles. His last ship was the Cape Clear. Brother Kirchner went on pension in 1990. He was a resident of Liberty, Texas. LESTER LARKIN Pensioner Lester Larkin, 87, passed away July 12. Brother Larkin joined the SIU ranks in 1940. The engine department member was born in Lockport, Nova Scotia. Brother Larkin sailed aboard the Alcoa Puritan, Steel Admiral and the Steel Advocate, among other vessels. He became a pensioner in 1968 and settled in Woburn, Mass. CECIL MARTIN Pensioner Cecil Martin, 83, died Nov. 15. Brother Martin launched his seafaring profession in 1950. His maiden voyage was on an Alcoa Steamship Company vessel. Brother Martin worked in the steward department. His final trip was aboard the Eugene A. Obregon. Brother Martin lived in his native state of Alabama. He began receiving his retirement stipends in 1986. WILLIAM MORRIS Pensioner William Morris, 81, passed away Nov. 22. Brother Morris joined the SIU in 1951 in the port of New York. He originally sailed with Interocean American Shipping Corporation as a member of the deck department. Brother Morris was born in New York but called Dundalk, Md., home. Before retiring in 1991, he shipped on an American Overseas Marine Corporation vessel. ROLAND MUIR Pensioner Roland Muir, 80, died Nov. 12. Brother Muir joined the union in 1953. His maiden voyage was on the Steel Record. Brother Muir was born in Maryland and shipped in the engine department. He was last employed on the Inger. Brother Muir made his home in Kinsale, Va. He went on pension in 1983. JOHN PIERCE Pensioner John Pierce, 79, passed away Nov. 12. Brother Pierce donned the SIU colors in 1952. He initially sailed aboard the Marymar; his last vessel was the USNS Wright. Brother Pierce was born in Philadelphia, Pa. and worked in the deck department. He resided in Drexel Hill, Pa. Brother Pierce started collecting compensation for his retirement in 1988. KENNETH RILEY Pensioner Kenneth Riley, 72, died Nov. 4. Brother Riley joined the Seafarers in 1967. His first voyage was with Victory Carriers Inc. Brother Riley was born in Jersey City, N.J. He shipped as a member of the deck department. Brother Riley’s final trip to sea was on the Quality. He was a resident of Jacksonville, Fla. Brother Riley retired in 1998. NAPOLEON RIVAS Pensioner Napoleon Rivas, 85, passed away Nov. 7. Brother Rivas became an SIU member in 1963. He was originally employed aboard an Elie Shipping Company vessel. Brother Rivas sailed in the engine department. His last ship was the Overseas Arctic. Brother Rivas went on pension in 1987 and lived in Edinburg, Texas. JOHN WILLS Brother John Wills, 47, died Nov. 23. He was born in California. Brother Wills launched his seafaring career in 1987, initially shipping on the Patriot. His most recent trip was aboard the Innovator. Brother Wills called Coarsegold, Calif., home. died Nov. 19. Boatman Blazevich joined the union in 1981. He primarily sailed with Crowley Towing & Transportation of Wilmington, Calif., as a member of the steward department. Boatman Blazevich was born in Bosnia. He went on pension in 1990. Boatman Blazevich lived in San Pedro, Calif. PATSY FRANGO Pensioner Patsy Frango, 83, passed away Nov. 4. Boatman Frango joined the Seafarers in 1942 while in the port of Norfolk, Va. He originally shipped in the deep sea division aboard the Atlantic Water. Boatman Frango was born in Virginia. He most recently sailed with Moran Towing of Virginia. Boatman Frango started receiving compensation for his retirement in 1988. He settled in Virginia Beach, Va. JOHN ROSSER Pensioner John Rosser, 48, died Nov. 5. Boatman Rosser donned the SIU colors in 1977. He was born in New Orleans and sailed in the deck department. For the duration of his career, Boatman Rosser sailed on vessels operated by Crescent Towing & Salvage of New Orleans. He was a resident of Harvey, La. Boatman Rosser retired in 2006. CHARLES TUCKER Pensioner Charles Tucker, 74, passed away Oct. 4. Boatman Tucker was born in Alabama. He became an SIU member in 1951 while in the port of Mobile. Boatman Tucker initially shipped with ISCO Inc. He worked in the deck department. Boatman Tucker last sailed with Crescent Towing & Salvage of Mobile. He went on pension in 1998 and called Chickasaw, Ala., home. JOHN ANDERSON Pensioner Joseph Zeloy, 81, passed away Nov. 25. Brother Zeloy began sailing with the SIU in 1951. His first voyage was with Alcoa Steamship Company. Brother Zeloy worked in the deck department. He was born in Mississippi. Brother Zeloy’s final ship was the Flickertail State. He made his home in Gulfport, Miss. Brother Zeloy became a pensioner in 1988. Brother John Anderson, 54, died Nov. 21. He first went to sea in 1979 from the port of Algonac, Mich. Brother Anderson originally shipped aboard the St. Mary’s Challenger. The deck department member’s final vessel was the Adam E. Cornelius. He was born in England and resided in Toledo, Ohio. RUDOLF BLAZEVICH Pensioner Rudolf Blazevich, 82, Editor’s note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU) and participants in the NMU Pension Trust have passed away. Name Age DOD Averella, Louis 80 Sept. 18 Blalock, Barry 88 Sept. 20 Bolden, Frederick 85 Sept. 20 Brennan, Hugh 82 Oct. 16 Bush, Ray 84 Sept. 15 Callaghan, Hugh 83 Sept. 28 Canyon, Willie 81 Oct. 26 Castillo, Hector 94 Sept. 3 Cuffie, Charlie 79 Sept. 22 Dooley, Henry 86 Sept. 24 Ellard, Edward 82 Oct. 3 Evans, Mabel 92 Oct. 21 Felder, Willie 89 Sept. 15 Franklin, Charles 81 Sept. 5 Frazier, Dewey 81 Oct. 17 Frenchwood, Don 65 Sept. 3 Garcis, Romualdo 82 Oct. 1 Gilbert, Joseph 74 Oct. 18 Gillespie, Thomas 79 Oct. 3 Graves, William 89 Oct. 26 Harrelson, George 84 Sept. 2 Higgins, Clarence 81 Sept. 2 Holland, Robert 87 Oct. 19 Jaks, Vernon 82 Sept. 11 Janahi, Anwar 74 Sept. 20 Lester, John 80 Sept. 30 Lieberman, Hyman 82 Sept. 18 Limardo, Carlos 83 Oct. 7 Mandahar, Margaret 62 Oct. 25 Okkonen, Kalevi 76 Sept. 10 Primitive, Morales 86 Sept. 6 Scott, Milton 88 Sept. 12 Spencer, Earl 93 Sept. 14 Tant, James 77 Sept. 21 Utosh, William 78 Oct. 12 Vega, Ismael 82 Oct. 17 Walters, William 84 Oct. 21 Watson, Edward 79 Sept. 4 Wilson, Preston 80 Sept. 21 Attention Seafarers: GREAT LAKES JOSEPH ZELOY INLAND His earliest trip to sea was with American Steamship Company. Brother Lapczynski was born in Alpena, Mich. He was a member of the deck department. Brother Lapczynski most recently sailed aboard the Alpena. He started collecting his retirement compensation in 1993. Brother Lapczynski continued to live in Michigan. FRANK LAPCZYNSKI Pensioner Frank Lapczynski, 79, passed away Nov. 15. Brother Lapczynski joined the SIU in 1963 in the port of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The Seafarers Political Action Donation (SPAD) Helps Us Help You April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings A Show of Loyalty Towards the SIU 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. COMMITMENT (Maersk Line, Limited), Feb. 21 – Chairman Edward J. O’Connor Jr., Secretary Stanley J. Krystosiak, Educational Director Brian J. Sengelaub. Chairman announced payoff on February 24 in Newark, N.J. He thanked crew members for keeping all areas in good order. Secretary reported a smooth, safe voyage and expressed his gratitude for help keeping ship clean. Educational director reminded mariners that the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., is there for them to take advantage of and encouraged them to upgrade whenever possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation was made to lower sea time requirements in order to qualify for benefits. COURAGE (Interocean American Shipping), Feb. 14 – Chairman Philip T. Parisi, Secretary Danta F. Slack, Educational Director William C. Knox, Steward Delegate Sharman Harper. Chairman led a discussion on possible safety issues at sea. Educational director reiterated the importance of upgrading skills for the maritime industry. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate requested clarification of working hours for steward department. President’s report from the January 2008 Seafarers LOG was read and discussed. List of requests was posted for crew purchases. ERIC G. GIBSON (APL Maritime), Feb. 10 – Chairman Joshua A. Mensah, Secretary Rocel C. Alvarez, Educational Director Douglas S. Foley. Chairman reported smooth voyage. Educational director reminded mariners to get TWIC card before September 2008. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Engine delegate stated ladder policy for reefer plug-in needs to be in writing. Crew would like a juice machine in galley. Members discussed concerns over shore passes not being issued in Bombay, India. Next ports: Jebel Ali, Fujairah, UAE, Karachi, Pakistan, and Bombay, India. HORIZON CHALLENGER (Horizon Lines), Feb. 14 – Chairman Antonio M. Mercado, Secretary Mark A. Flores, Educational Director Neil A. Warren. Chairman thanked all departments for safe sailing and for their help in keeping ship clean. Secretary asked departing crew to strip beds and clean rooms for next mariner. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion was made to increase pension benefits. Crew requested additional information on 401K plan. Steward department was thanked for a job well done. Next port: Houston, Texas. HORIZON KODIAK (Horizon Lines), Feb. 6 – Chairman Garry D. Walker, Secretary Brian Burchett, Educational Director Alfonso D. Bombita Jr., Deck Delegate Daniel P. Lovely, Engine Delegate Ralph D. Thomas, Steward Delegate Michael C. Linus. Chairman expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to sail with this group of skilled mariners. He reminded crew members to make sure dues were paid on time to prevent any lapses in medical coverage. Secretary thanked crew for their assistance in helping get the gym up and running. Educational director advised Seafarers to enhance skills at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer reported $70 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Bosun read and posted e-mail in crew lounge regarding 401K plan. Vote of thanks was given to Vern Poulson and his gang for all their assistance. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. HORIZON NAVIGATOR (Horizon Lines), Feb. 17 – Chairman Frank P. Hedge, Secretary Daniel Herrera, Educational Director Benny A. Orosco,Deck Delegate Wilfredo G. Caidoy, Engine Delegate Albert U. Dulig, Steward Delegate Marcus R. Rowe. Bosun thanked crew for a safe and productive voyage. He reminded crew to separate trash, plastic and recyclables. Mariners were asked to secure belongings due to rough weather. Secretary advised Seafarers to keep dues paid up and to get a TWIC card ASAP as the deadline is September 25, 2008. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Treasurer noted $1,300 in ship’s fund. Steward department was thanked for excellent meals. Share your ideas for news and feature items for publication in the Seafarers LOG by calling (301) 899-0675. Simply ask the operator for the Communications Department. Emailed items may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org. April 2008 A large contingent of rank-and-file Seafarers employed at Crowley Liner Service’s Petty’s Island N.J. Terminal (above) on Feb. 22 put their loyalty toward the SIU on display by holding a luncheon to celebrate the union’s 70th birthday. As noted on the cake (right) which the mariners purchased for their celebration, the SIU originally was chartered in 1938. Crowley’s SIU-crewed triple-deck RO/RO vessels offer weekly barge services between the Port of Philadelphia and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Request was made for a microwave in crew mess. Next ports: San Juan, P.R., Jacksonville, Fla., and Elizabeth, N.J. HORIZON SPIRIT (Horizon Lines), Feb. 10 – Chairman Howard W. Gibbs, Secretary Jill M. Prescott, Educational Director Christopher Devonish. Chairman urged seamen to give themselves plenty of time to get TWIC card. Educational director encouraged crew to enhance seafaring abilities at the unionaffiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motion was made to reduce requirements for retirement and increase benefit amounts. Vote of thanks was given to the steward department for keeping ship clean and excellent food preparation. HORIZON TRADER (Horizon Lines), Feb. 10 – Chairman Amante V. Gumiran, Secretary Kevin M. Dougherty, Educational Director Thomas M. Flynn, Deck Delegate Luis F. Alvarez, Steward Delegate Larry L. Griffin. Chairman announced payoff on February 15 upon arrival in Jacksonville, Fla. He complimented the crew on their great response to the unscheduled fire drill. Educational director suggested mariners upgrade their skills at the Paul Hall Center. Treasurer reported approximately $985 in crew fund and $1,000 in satellite TV fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made to have the port of Jacksonville van transport crew members to the main gate as the current system is dangerous and inconvenient. Crew would like clarification pertaining to family emergency leave policy. Concerns were raised over the fact that some crew members still do not have keys to their cabins after several weeks aboard vessel. Crew asked for satellite radio, a new universal remote control and Region 8 DVD player for lounge. Steward department was thanked for preparing great meals. Next ports: Jacksonville, Fla., San Juan, P.R., and Elizabeth, N.J. ITB PHILADELPHIA (USS Transport), Feb. 24 – Chairman Michael A. Eaton, Secretary Dana A. Paradise, Educational Director Willie J. Franks, Deck Delegate Christopher W. Jenson, Engine Delegate Tino Guity, Steward Delegate Farid Zaharan. Bosun stated payoff to take place in Bayonne, N.J., on February 29. He also said he would inquire about contract and retroactive pay. Secretary encouraged all hands to help keep ship clean. Educational director urged crew to take advantage of opportunities available at the SIU-affiliated school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Bayonne, N.J. MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 10 – Chairman Oliver M. Balico, Secretary Billy Gigante, Educational Director Hiawatha J. Williams, Deck Delegate Paul I. Castillo, Steward Delegate Brian T. McEleney. Chairman reported good voyage and crew. He announced payoff in Elizabeth, N.J., on February 12 and went over ship’s itinerary. Educational director advised members to make sure documents were up-to-date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Norfolk, Va., Charleston, S.C., and Port Tangier, Morocco. MAERSK OHIO (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 10 – Chairman Thomas P. Flanagan, Secretary Robert J. Bostick, Educational Director Stephen J. Dillon Jr., Steward Delegate Robert J. Bostick. Chairman reported payoff would take place in New York on February 18 and reminded those departing vessel to leave fresh linen for reliefs. He also encouraged mariners to take advantage of new 401K plan. Educational director urged crew to check out what the Piney Point school has to offer and keep all necessary seafaring documents current. Treasurer stated $1,000 in safety fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward department was thanked for a job well done. Bosun expressed his gratitude to all departments for their continued cooperation during voyage. Next ports: Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, S.C. SEALAND PRIDE (Maersk Line Limited), Feb. 9 – Chairman Frank Lyle Jr., Secretary Edward M. Collins, Educational Director Grant W. Schuman, Deck Delegate Reuben M. Brown. Chairman announced payoff on February 11 in Charleston, S.C. He discussed the importance of working safely and wearing proper protective equipment. He also urged members to pay dues and contribute to SPAD (Seafarers Political Activity Donation) whenever possible. Secretary thanked crew for helping keep the lounge and messroom clean. Educational director advised members to upgrade at every opportunity at the unionaffiliated school. Treasurer reported $1,500 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Mariners were reminded that TWIC cards will be required as of September 25, 2008. Next ports: Charleston, S.C., Houston and Norfolk, Va. SULPHUR ENTERPRISE (Central Gulf Lines), Feb. 4 – Chairman Joseph J. White, Secretary Darryl K. Goggins, Educational Director Glenn G. Barnes. Chairman urged crew members to check the Seafarers LOG or www.seafarers.org for the latest TWIC information. Secretary asked departing crew to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen. Educational director encouraged members to check out LNG courses available at the Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Tampa, Fla., and Galveston, Texas. USNS BRITTIN (American Overseas Marine), Feb. 7 – Chairman Greyson C. Brantley, Secretary Lawrence E. Winfield, Educational Director Antwan L. Legare, Deck Delegate Reed Algernon, Engine Delegate Milton R. Ballard, Steward Delegate Lizzie Robinson. Chairman stated that all departments were doing a great job. He requested all crew members clean their rooms prior to payoff in New Orleans on February 9. Educational director encouraged mariners to enhance seafaring abilities at the Paul Hall Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: New Orleans. Seafarers LOG 19 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 20 Letters to the Editor Editor’s Note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis. Proud SIU Memories As a former member of the SIU from 1982-1997 and a graduate of Paul Hall Center trainee class 367, I have always embraced my seafaring experience with pride and honor. My spirit is often tormented with the desire to return to shipping. Although I’ve gone through many positive evolutions, my core foundation of the man I’ve become today stems from my seagoing family and the great men and women I had the privilege to know and respect during my time sailing the various seas and oceans. I bring this up in order to say: I am a proud American and I am truly proud of the honorable service the SIU provides, not only for this nation but the worldwide community. I continue to read the Seafarers LOG and am always amazed at how this great union with such vision continues to deliver for the military, the economic community and humanitarian interests. The SIU does so in a professional manner that is unrivaled. Yes, I am proud to have had my start and my foundation in the Seafarers International Union, and for that I thank you. May God bless you all! Terrance Reed R-1312 Call for Grassroots Support Please let your readers know that a bill is under consideration in Congress that would provide a monthly payment to U.S. mariners who sailed during World War II. I didn’t know about it until a friend told me. This legislation – the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act – passed the House of Representatives on July 30, 2007, and is now under consideration in the Senate. It’s worth a try to keep checking on it and to keep asking for support. Bruce E. Knight Chesapeake, Virginia Thanks to Port Agent All of us who’ve had the distinct pleasure of having SIU Wilmington, Calif. Port Agent John Cox assist us in any way will understand his decision to “re-join” the industry. But (and that’s a big but) he will be sorely missed. Why? His dedication to his assignments and fellow shipmates, and his going beyond the call of duty. So many times, Mr. Cox’s creativity in assisting us has led the majority of all seamen who have come into association with John to consider him an STES – Specially Trained Extraordinary Shipmate! And, more importantly, a great friend. Aloha, mate, and Godspeed on your new career. AB S.A. Gardner California Carrying the Message This is why members of the maritime community belong with the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV). We have successful battle experience with Congress in gaining recognition and winning against a cold legislature. We are pushing ahead to assure that our younger generation of mariners are given equal respect for their service as all uniformed service members deserve. We will continue to publicize in the American media historical events, emphasizing the dedicated service our brave members gave in the past along with those serving today. Precious few citizens know what you do, why you do it and it what it means for them. They are in the dark and we want to enlighten them. Mariners deserve recognition as the sixth uniformed service providing support for all U.S. armed services. They serve with dedication in peace and wartime as all soldiers and sailors do. Mariners have been doing this continually for our country since 1775, serving George Washington and at every conflict, war and invasion since. The U.S. Merchant Marine flag is increasingly being honored at all national events where service flags are flown, including parades, patriotic events and national cemeteries – because we keep pushing. The U.S. Merchant Marine Medallion will be found in more VA hospitals, parks and public squares around the country because we keep pushing. The dedicated merchant mariner, who served, suffered and died in these wars needs to be remembered for indispensible service. Meanwhile, we continually remind Congress we deliver the goods for military action. During the past four years, merchant mariners, their families and friends have flooded Congress with hundreds of thousands of letters, faxes and phone calls in behalf of merchant marine legislation. Congress knows who we are, and we do not want to let them forget! To strengthen this endeavor of recognizing mariners – and to benefit from it – you are invited to become a part of our history by joining the AMMV now. By sharing in our ambition for full recognition of today’s U.S. Merchant Marine, you will receive our quarterly magazine as well as the monthly email report on current events. A nominal $20 annual membership fee entitles you to the above plus full recognition at all AMMV events. Contact AMMV headquarters at the number listed below for applications and “get acquainted” kits. A.J. Wichita AMMV National President Cape Coral, Florida (239) 549-1010 SEAFARERS HEALTH AND BENEFITS PLAN — COBRA NOTICE Under federal law, a participant and his or her dependents have the right to elect to continue their Plan coverage in the event that they lose their eligibility. This right is granted by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as “COBRA.” The COBRA law allows a participant and his or her dependents to temporarily extend their benefits at group rates in certain circumstances where coverage under the Plan would otherwise end. A participant and his or her dependents have a right to choose this continuation coverage if they lose their Plan coverage because the participant failed to meet the Plan’s seatime requirements. In addition, a participant and his or her dependents may have the right to choose continuation coverage if the participant becomes a pensioner ineligible for medical benefits. The participant’s dependents may also elect continuation coverage if they lose coverage under the Plan as the result of the participant’s (1) death; (2) divorce; or (3) Medicare eligibility. A child can also elect COBRA if as the result of his or her age, he or she is no longer a dependent under the Plan rules. If a member and his or her dependents feel that they may qualify, or if they would like more information concerning these rights, they should contact the Plan office at 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Since there are important deadlines that apply to COBRA, please contact the Plan as soon as possible to receive a full explanation of the participant’s rights and his or her dependents’ rights. Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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. 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. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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. 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. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the union and the employers. Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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. 20 Seafarers LOG If any member feels that he or she is denied the equal rights to which he or she is entitled, the member should notify union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2008 �47469_2x:January 08 4/1/2008 4:21 PM Page 21 SEAFARERS PAUL HALL CENTER UPGRADING COURSE SCHEDULE Course Welding The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., for the first few months of 2008. All programs are geared to improving the job skills of Seafarers and to promote the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman April 14 May 26 May 9 June 20 Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) (must have radar unlimited) April 14 June 16 April 18 June 20 21-Hour Bridge Resource Management (1,600 tons or less) (includes First Aid/CPR) (must have valid radar unlimited certificate) May 12 May 16 Celestial Navigation June 2 June 27 GMDSS April 21 May 2 Lifeboatman/Water Survival May 12 June 23 May 23 July 4 March 31 June 2 April 11 June 13 April 21 June 23 April 21 June 23 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman April 28 May 9 Bosun Recertification Course May 12 October 14 June 2 November 3 Date of Completion May 5 June 2 May 23 June 20 Safety Specialty Courses Advanced Fire Fighting (must have basic fire fighting) May 5 June 30 May 16 July 11 Basic Fire Fighting April 14 June 16 April 18 June 20 Basic Safety Training/STCW April 7 May 12 May 26 June 30 April 11 May 16 May 30 July 4 Fast Rescue Boat May 12 June 16 May 16 June 20 Government Vessels (Week 1) May 19 June 23 May 23 June 27 Medical Care Provider May 19 May 23 Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Tankerman Familiarization/Assistant Cargo (DL) June 2 (must have basic firefighting) June 13 Tankerman (PIC) Barge (must have basic firefighting) April 25 April 21 Steward Upgrading Courses Radar Radar Renewal (one day) Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward These classes start every other Monday. The most recent class began March 31. Steward Recertification Course August 18 September 8 Academic Department Courses Engine Upgrading Courses General education and college courses are available as needed. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, two weeks prior to the beginning of a vocational course. An introduction to computers course will be selfstudy. Advanced Container Maintenance (Refer) June 2 June 27 Online “Distance Learning” Courses Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops May 19 June 13 FOWT April 21 June 16 May 16 July 11 Junior Engineer July 7 August 29 Marine Refrigeration Technician April 21 May 30 Pumpman April 7 April 18 Welding April 7 April 25 In addition to the foregoing courses, the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education currently is offering the following internet-based courses: Environmental Awareness; Hazardous Material Control and Management; Hearing Conservation; Heat Stress Management; Shipboard Pest Management; Respiratory Protection, and Shipboard Water Sanitation. The courses are free to mariners covered by SIU contracts. To register, complete the regular upgrading application located on the bottom left portion of this page, and mail it to: Admissions Office, Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075. Applicants will receive user account information from the center via e-mail. They are therefore urged to provide their e-mail addresses in the space provided on the application. Applicants should also include the word “online” when listing the courses they wish to take. UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________ Deep Sea Member Lakes Member Date of Birth ______________________ Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________ Seniority _____ Department ___________ E-mail ____________________________ Yes No COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Inland Waters Member If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. U.S. Citizen: With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and fifty (150) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested. All OL, AB, JE and Tanker Assistant (DL) applicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard fee of $140 with their application. The payment should be made with a money order only, payable to LMSS. Home Port _____________________________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________ LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________ _____________________________________________________________________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? Yes No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________ Yes Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? No If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Yes No Firefighting: Yes No CPR: Yes No Primary language spoken ________________________________________________ April 2008 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. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/08 Seafarers LOG 21 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 22 Paul Hall Cent er Classes Water Survival —Graduating from the course on Feb. 22 (in no particular order) were: Paa Kwakye, Ali Nabil, Randy Knipfer, Roberto Silva, Adiener Alfaro, Pedro DeJesus, Howard Randle and Larry Bradley. Their instructor, Stan Beck, is far right. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 699 – Unlicensed apprentices from Class 699 recently graduated from the water survival course. Those graduating from the course (above in alphabetical order) were Michael Anderson, Meghan Blocker, William Chamberlain, Daniel Cortez, Hubert Dennis, Louise Digman, Jack Forde, Tonya Gist, Austen Hess, Enchantress Johnson, Joshua Johnson, Matthew Martinson, Algernon Ramseur, Christopher Shivalier, Richard Vega and Pamela Wilson. Welding – The following individuals (in alphabetical order) graduated from this course on Feb. 22: Carmelo Collazo, Kevin Niemiec, Vincent Figuenick and Ed Majesky. Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, is at far left. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Academic, Computer Classes Two students recently completed academic and computer training classes at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. After receiving their certificates for completion of the classes, they posed with their respective instructors. Tanya Bradley (above, center) poses with Rick Prucha and Peggy Densford after completing courses in Mathematics 101 and History 102. Jake Wheeler (below, left) poses with Prucha after finishing training in Windows XP and Excel 2002. Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations – The following individuals (above in alphabetical order) on Feb. 22 completed the basic auxiliary plant operations course: Rachel Alarcon, John Albritton, Haeven Bautista, Ja’Quaral Carroll, James Fells, Abraham Goldberg, Creg Gumanas, Rupert Henry, Sean Keaton, Anthony Irizarry, Joel Jones, Ted Lampke, Christopher Landry, Denise Mendoza, Jeffrey Nicholson, Augustin Paulin, Marcos Ramos, Terry Taylor, Martin Watson, DeAndre Whitley, Pavis Whitley, Robbie Willis and Edwin Arroyo. Their instructor, Tim Achorn, is standing at far left. (Note: Not all are pictured.) AB – The following individuals (in alphabetical order) on Feb. 15 received their certificates for completion of the able seaman course. Completing the class (above in alphabetical order) were Nicasio Arzu, Diego Barbosa, Patrick Brill, Charles Brown, Lawrence Cormier, Arthur Doherty, Cleveland Foy, Paa Dwakye, Edmund Livings, Joel Marcano, Walter Nodora, Garrett Phillips, Jumar Rapuet, Terrance Shinn, Daryl Spicer, Stefra Strauser, David Vandecar, Teena Werner, Jake Wheeler and Melody White. Their instructors were Barnabe Peligon and Stan Beck. Beck is at far right. 22 Seafarers LOG April 2008 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 23 Paul Hall Cent er Classes STCW—(GREAT LAKES-A) The following boatmen (in alphabetical order) from Great Lakes Towing graduated from this course on Feb. 15: Omar Al Asaadi, Abrahem Ali, Ahmed Al Shahloor, Ali Altalheem, Ali Aizawkari, David Andrews, James Beaudry, Michael Cushman, James Davidson, Brian DeMeritt, Jeffery Eckhart, Ali Elmadari, Frank Farnam, Craig Fizhugh, Ahmed Ganah, Sabbah Ghaleb, Albert Hamiel, Jeff Hester, Donald Jaegle and Jeffery Johnson. SIU Port Agent Chad Partridge is kneeling in front row, second from the left. STCW — (GREAT LAKES-B) The above boatmen (in alphabetical order) from Great Lakes Towing on Feb. 15 completed this course: Yehia Kaid, Franklin Kosiboski, Scott Krajniak, Mike Lafcille, Darren Lahale, Charles Lesley, Daniel Lind, Doyle Ling, Mark MacRury, Waleed Mohsin, James Norick, Andrew Nowak, Salem Omer, Daryl Overby, David Rivera, Walter Sipper, Paul Smetana, James Smith, Steven Werda and Mussa Yahya. SIU Port Agent Chad Partridge is standing third from left in the front row. Advanced Fire Fighting – These G&H Towing boatmen on Feb. 15 graduated from the advanced fire fighting course. Members of the class (above in alphabetical order) were Dennis Mariveles, Santos Reyes Jr., Brian Saba, Britt Saha, Jesse Sendejas, Jason Shead, Jeffrey Vanderburg, Gary Watkins Jr., Nathan West and Steve Williams. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Advanced Fire Fighting - The following individuals (in alphabetical order) on Jan. 25 completed this course: Tawrence Abrams, John Benson, Donald Byrd, Kevin Carraby, Alshea Dixon, Arnaldo Fernandez, Vincent Figuenick, Tesfaye Gebregziabher, Pedro Santiago, Scott Sevret, Edward Shamburger, Gary Torres and Barry Williams Jr. Their instructor, Tom Cessna, is at far left. Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so that arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. April 2008 Junior Engineering – Receiving certificates for their completion of the junior engineer course on Feb. 29 (above, in no particular order) were Dario Dizon, Timothy Johnson II, Carlo Johnson, Michael Johnson, Michael Jones, Theodore Gonzales, Martin Hamilton, Sandra Baker Neigebauer, Drew Barth, Michael Lais, Miguel Abad and Dennis Rivard. Their instructor, Jay Henderson, is far right. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Seafarers LOG 23 �47469x:January 08 3/31/2008 10:23 AM Page 24 Volume 70, Number 4 April 2008 TWIC Reminders, Enrollment Centers Page 8 AB Michael Ratigan (right) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Cynthia Casillas, USN, monitor a cargo offload from the American Tern Feb. 8 at the National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The American Tern (right) and icebreaker Oden SIU Ships Deliver in ‘Deep Freeze’ Seafarers Contribute to Success of Yearly Resupply Mission to Antarctica Two SIU-crewed vessels recently delivered vital cargo in Operation Deep Freeze, the annual resupply mission to the National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The ice-strengthened tanker Lawrence H. Gianella (operated by Ocean Ships, Inc.) and the dry cargo ship MV American Tern (Osprey Ship Management) did their respective parts to help ensure the operation’s success. The mission itself was overseen by the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC). According to the agency, the American Tern delivered a year’s worth of equipment and stores. The ship arrived Feb. 8 and, as soon as its brow dropped, 59 U.S. Navy Sailors from a cargo-handling battalion began working around the clock to offload 12 million pounds of equipment and supplies for the 1,500 researchers and support personnel who work on the continent each year. The vessel departed Feb. 12. Earlier, the Gianella arrived at McMurdo’s ice pier Jan. 28 and delivered nearly six million gallons of fuel to power the station’s generators, vehicles, helicopters and research boats before departing Feb. 3. “The pack ice was very thick this year and never opened completely until late February,” noted Captain Robert Lee, master of the Gianella, who forwarded the photos accompanying this article. “Also, the Southern Ocean storms where active as usual, serving up 30-foot seas almost daily. The conditions were harsh, but the AMO-SIU crew members were up to the task. Some appeared a bit green around the gills coming through the storm belt of the Southern Sea, but that’s expected in the roughest ocean of the world. None complained and all continued to do their job in a very professional manner.” He added, “Upon arriving at McMurdo Station, the hectic schedule of discharging cargo, refueling other vessels, cleaning tanks, loading storm ballast and giving ship tours to scientist and local workers all happened efficiently and without incident…. It was a job well done indeed.” “Without the cargo delivered by our ships each year, McMurdo would not be able to function,” said Rick Appling of MSC’s Sealift Logistics Command Pacific. Utilizing Seafarers-contracted vessels, MSC delivers more than 70 percent of the dry cargo and 100 percent of fuel that is taken to the continent each year. Equally important, however, is the cargo that MSC takes off of the continent, the agency pointed out. This year nearly five million pounds of items ranging from precious ice core samples to all the waste that McMurdo Station has accumulated over the past year were loaded onto the American Tern before it departed. On its last day in port, the American Tern successfully transferred fuel to the Swedish icebreaker Oden, which arrived in the area in advance of the two MSC ships and broke a channel through about 18 miles of ice that blocked the ships’ access to McMurdo. SIU members sailing aboard the American Tern during the mission included the following: Bosun Hernando Bansuelo, AB Vincent Hamm, AB Jack Jackson, AB Michael Ratigan, AB Erick Toledo-Colon, AB Chris Wilson, DEU Ali Zaidan, OMU Daniel Amesbury, OMU Jose Deoferio, OMU Joshua McDaniel, Steward/Baker John Gruebel, Chief Cook David Brown and SA Charles Mitchell. The Seafarers-crewed Gianella discharges cargo and refuels the research vessel Nathaniel Palmer. Sailing aboard the Gianella were Bosun Trevorous Ellison, AB Stag Rye, AB Yves Goiset, AB James Hall, AB Clifton Doonis, DEU Victor Stewart, Pumpman Darrell McDonald, QMED Lamar Parker, QMED James Summers, Steward/Baker Mary Brayman, Chief Cook Alfonsa Eligio, GSU Regina Miguel, GSU Ali Salim and Unlicensed Apprentice Christopher Shivalier. Sights near the station include penguins and orca. Seafarers and officers are pictured aboard the Lawrence Gianella. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2008 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIU SHIPS SUPPORT SATELLITE INTERCEPTION FINANCIAL COMMITTEE APPROVES UNION’S RECORDS MTD UNIONS CREDITED AS VALUED PARTNERS HIGHLY REGARDED SPEAKERS STRESS SUPPORT FOR U.S.-FLAG SHIPPING CROWLEY SEAFARERS APPROVE 4-YEAR CONTRACT CROWLEY CHRISTENS ANOTHER ATB GOVERNMENT STUDY: ECONOMIC IMPACT OF U.S.-FLAG CRUISE SHIPS RUNS DEEP LABOR LEADERS SPELL OUT STRATEGY FOR ‘ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL’ REP. GENE TAYLOR TO RECEIVE ‘SALUTE TO CONGRESS’ AWARD NEW SEAFARER SHEPPARD FOUND DIRECTION THROUGH UNLICENSED APPRENTICE PROGRAM HORIZON KODIAK CREW TEAMS UP TO CONSTRUCT SHIPBOARD FITNESS ROOM MARINERS NEED TWIC BY SEPT. 25, 2008 SIU-CREWED USNS GILLILAND LOADS U.S. ARMY EQUIPMENT SERVICING SIU-CREWED VESSELS IN THE PORT OF TAMPA MILITARY LEADERS POWERFULLY DECLARE SUPPORT FOR U.S. MARINERS, U.S. SHIPS GRASSROOTS ACTION, NOVEMBER ELECTIONS CRUCIAL FOR AMERICA’S WORKING FAMILIES FROM MANY PERSPECTIVES, MARITIME INDUSTRY KNOWS GREAT PROMISE, FACES KEY CHALLENGES GUEST SPEAKERS VOICE PERSPECTIVES ON FUTURE OF MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SIU CIVMARS HELP RECOVER 2 DOWNED U.S. AIR FORCE JETS SIU SHIPS DELIVER IN ‘DEEP FREEZE’ SEAFARERS CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESS OF YEARLY RESUPPLY MISSION TO ANTARCTICA 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2008 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. 70, No. 4 2008 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/95d579ec69f48af41d12d223b65c1b7f.pdf 604e03565314a44c538264fe300f15f6 PDF Text Text Volume 71, Number 4 MTD Maps Strategies To Boost Workers’ Rights, American-Flag Fleet During the winter meeting of its executive board, the Maritime Trades Department, AFLCIO, closely looked at pressing issues affecting America’s working families. The board adopted a number of statements designed to establish or reinforce its strategies for the weeks and months ahead. Several prominent guest speakers addressed the board Feb. 26-27 in Miami. Among those participating were (clockwise, starting with photo at top left) (left to right) U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, General Duncan McNabb, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and SIU President Michael Sacco; ITF Maritime Coordinator Stephen Cotton and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel; and other board members and guests. Pages 3, 9-14. April 2009 President Obama, Vice President Biden Reiterate Support For Working Families Reliable SIU Crew Helps Ensure Success of Operation Deep Freeze Seafarers will go to the ends of the Earth to deliver their cargo, as recently evidenced by the crew of the USNS Gianella (above) in Operation Deep Freeze. The annual resupply mission to McMurdo Station in Antarctica went well, according to a report from the crew. Page 7. TWIC Deadline Arrives Page 2 AFL-CIO leaders recently heard strong words of support from President Barack Obama and VP Joe Biden (above, left, with SIU President Michael Sacco early last month). The encouraging messages were delivered during a meeting of the federation’s executive council, on which President Sacco serves. A video address from President Obama kicked off the proceedings. During his remarks, the president reaffirmed his support for labor and voiced his agreement with the union movement’s goals, including health care reform, industrial revitalization and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Page 5. Mariner Credentialing News Page 4 Safety Milestones, Awards for Seafarers Page 6 �President’s Repor t Springing Forward As we move into spring and the second quarter of 2009, there’s no shortage of interesting news for the maritime industry or for the American labor movement. One thing that hasn’t changed with the seasons is discussion about the economy, which remains the number one topic all across the country. Everyone knows times are tough. And while it may seem impossible to fully understand the different stimulus packages and recovery programs, it’s not hard to grasp the reality of massive layoffs and rising unemployment. As I said last month, SIU-contracted companies aren’t immune from this recession and neither is the union. But, we are taking the Michael Sacco steps necessary to help ensure we ride out the storm. We are working cooperatively with our contracted operators, which is the norm anyway. We are working cooperatively with the other maritime unions to help make sure we’re all on the same page. Again, that has also been the norm for a number of years. In the bigger picture, we are remaining very active in the AFL-CIO as the labor federation acts to help improve the economy for America’s working families. Part of those efforts are directed through the AFLCIO’s Maritime Trades Department, which plays a vital role promoting not only shipboard jobs but others related to the industry, such as shipyard and longshore work. Check out this month’s LOG coverage of the most recent MTD meeting and you will quickly get an idea of why our affiliations and the department’s work are so important to Seafarers. New Era in Credentialing As Seafarers undoubtedly know by now, the TWIC deadline for mariners is finally here: April 15, 2009. Both the union as a whole and our individual members continue to make the best of it. We will go on with offering feedback and suggestions to the agencies and contractors involved in running the program. Meanwhile, if for some reason you’ve put off your enrollment, there’s simply no time left to wait. The TWIC is part of what we have to deal with in order to do our jobs. While the TWIC program has experienced a well-documented number of difficulties, the new merchant mariner qualification credential (MMC) seems to offer reason for cautious optimism. The MMC is the new document that will be phased in to replace our old z-cards or merchant mariner documents. The final rule for the MMC was issued last month, and while our industry (including the Coast Guard) is still sorting through and explaining what it all means, it appears that maritime labor’s comments and concerns during the rulemaking process were taken seriously. I am knocking on wood as I say this, but if the MMC program is well-implemented, it has the potential to be a significant improvement for mariners (see article, page 4). When and if the TWIC program starts running smoothly – and I know that’s a big “if” – it could mean in the long run a lighter burden than what our members currently face in terms of credentialing. One step at a time, though. Get your TWIC if you haven’t already done so, and be ready to make the switch to the new MMC when you’re ready to renew or upgrade your z-card. Majority Sign-Up Legislation Now that the Employee Free Choice Act has been reintroduced in both houses of Congress, anti-union factions have ramped up their misleading attacks on this basic legislation. For those who may have missed this point, contrary to what our opposition says, the bill would not eliminate secret-ballot elections in organizing campaigns. Instead, the legislation would leave it up to the workers to decide whether to vote by secret ballot or use the already legal majority sign-up process, which involves pledge cards. I don’t believe for one second that the businesses and other organizations opposing majority sign-up legislation are concerned about workers’ rights. What they want is to continue dominating a system that currently gives all the power to the company. It’s time to level the playing field, and the Employee Free Choice Act will be a great step in that direction. Volume 71, Number 4 April 2009 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFLCIO; 5201 Auth Way; 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 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Jim Guthrie; Associate Editor, Mark Bowman; Photographer, Mike Hickey; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2009 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD. All Rights Reserved. 2 Seafarers LOG Two Chinese trawlers stop directly in front of the USNS Impeccable, forcing the ship to conduct an emergency “all stop” in order to avoid collision. The incident took place March 8 in international waters in the South China Sea. (U.S. Navy photo) Chinese Vessels Shadow, Harass Unarmed U.S. Surveillance Ship A confrontation involving Chinese ships aggressively sailing around the SIU-contracted USNS Impeccable in March provided a stark reminder of how U.S. Merchant Mariners at times are on the front lines of global unrest and political maneuvering when working as part of America’s fourth arm of defense. The Impeccable is an oceanographic surveillance ship operated by Maersk Line, Limited for the U.S. Military Sealift Command. The ship was 70 miles south of Hainan Island conducting routine operations in international waters when five Chinese vessels shadowed and aggressively approached the Impeccable in the South China Sea. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the incident began as the ships surrounded the Impeccable and two craft closed to within 50 feet. The Chinese ships included a Chinese navy intelligence collection ship, a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries patrol vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel and two small Chinese-flagged trawlers. “We view these as unprofessional maneuvers by the Chinese vessels and violations under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean,” said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. Crew members aboard the Impeccable used fire hoses to spray one of the vessels as a protective measure. The Chinese crew members then reportedly disrobed to their underwear and continued closing to within 25 feet. The Chinese vessels dropped pieces of wood in the water directly in the Impeccable’s path, and two of the ships stopped directly in the U.S. vessel’s path, forcing it to stop. Whitman said the Chinese used poles in an attempt to snag the Impeccable’s towed acoustic array sonars. The Impeccable’s master used bridge-to-bridge radio circuits to inform the Chinese ships in a friendly manner that it was leaving the area and requested a safe path to navigate. “These are dangerously close maneuvers that these vessels engaged in,” Whitman said. The incident was the culmination of earlier harassment. On March 4, a Chinese patrol vessel shined a high-intensity spotlight on the USNS Victorious, operating in the Yellow Sea some 125 miles from China’s coast. A day later, Chinese maritime aircraft “buzzed” the ship 12 times. Additionally, a Chinese frigate crossed the bow of the Impeccable at a range of about 100 yards on March 5. Maritime aircraft also buzzed the ship after that incident. Another Chinese ship challenged the Impeccable over bridge-to-bridge radio on March 7, calling its operations illegal and directing the American ship to leave the area or “suffer the consequences,” officials said. The Impeccable is one of six surveillance ships that gather underwater acoustical data, Whitman said. U.S. ships routinely operate in the area. “We expect Chinese ships to act responsibly and refrain from provocative activities that could lead to miscalculation or a collision at sea, endangering vessels and the lives of U.S. and Chinese mariners,” a Defense Department official said. American embassy officials lodged a protest against these actions with the Foreign Ministry in China, and Defense Department officials have protested with the Chinese embassy in the U.S. Time’s Up: Mariners Need TWIC by April 15 All mariners are reminded that the 15th of this month (April 15, 2009) is the deadline for securing a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While informal SIU surveys show that most members were very responsive in getting their cards before the deadline, anyone without a TWIC as of April 15 should know that they won’t be allowed unescorted access on ships or in ports, in accordance with the federal law mandating the credential. TWIC applications must be submitted at TSA enrollment centers. Pre-enrollment is recommended and may be done via the agency’s TWIC web site: www.tsa.gov/twic. The overall process can take 45 or more days, so Seafarers who haven’t secured their cards should get started right away. Meanwhile, the TSA in February reported some follow-up information related to last year’s power outage that took place at the main facility used for processing the cards. According to an agency communication, “The power outage that disrupted TWIC activations on Oct. 21, 2008 only affected our ability to reset PINs on cards activated prior to that date – if a person forgot his or her PIN and subsequently locked their cards by attempting the PIN unsuccessfully 10 times. If your card was activated prior to October 2008 and you remember your PIN, you are fully able to use your card with a reader or entry-system that may require you to enter your PIN. “If your card was activated prior to Oct. 21, 2008 and you have forgotten your PIN (and necessitate a PIN), you may request a replacement card, free of charge,” the communication continued. “However, we recommend you visit an enrollment center to attempt your PIN before you do so. If your card is locked, you can request a replacement by contacting the TWIC Help Desk at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) or at TWIC.Helpdesk@gcrm.com.” The TSA asks cardholders who request a replacement to keep the original card until the replacement arrives, then exchange the old one for the replacement. This must be done at an enrollment center. If the old card isn’t returned, according the agency, applicants will be charged a $60 “lost card” fee. Individuals who activated their TWIC after October 2008 and who have forgotten their PIN may visit the nearest TWIC enrollment center and reset their PIN. April 2009 �MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (photo left) notes that workers have support from President Obama and VP Biden. In the photo above, members of the executive board listen to remarks by AFLCIO President John Sweeney. MTD Charts Course for Strengthening Workers’ Rights, American-Flag Fleet Promoting the U.S. maritime industry and pushing for enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act were two of the main topics discussed during the Maritime Trades Department’s (MTD) recent executive board meeting in Miami. Guest speakers from government, the military, business and labor addressed the board Feb. 26-27. Their supportive comments helped the board map out a promaritime, pro-worker strategy for the months ahead. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as president of the MTD, which is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. The MTD comprises 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than five million working men and women. During his opening remarks, Sacco acknowledged that for America’s working families, times are challenging but not hopeless. He said workers have the support of President Obama and Vice President Biden, and recalled a recent meeting at the White House during which the president signed pro-labor executive orders. He also repeated a public comment made by President Obama concerning unions and the economy: “We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests. I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it’s part of the solution.” With that kind of backing, Sacco stated, workers have reason for optimism. In order of appearance, the following guest speakers addressed the board Feb. 26: AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen; General Dynamics NASSCO President Fred Harris; Overseas Shipholding Group Senior Vice President Capt. Robert Johnston; and International Transport Workers’ Federation Maritime Coordinator Stephen Cotton. The next day, the following individuals spoke to the board: National Transportation Safety Board member Deborah Hersman; U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.); U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.); General Duncan McNabb, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (DHawaii). NY Waterway President and CEO Arthur Imperatore and Seafarer Vincent Lombardi (a captain at NY Waterway) also informally addressed the board after receiving a commemorative ship’s wheel honoring the company’s role in the Miracle on the Hudson rescue. The board approved 16 statements which detail much of the MTD’s focus. (Many of those statements are summarized on page 14 of this edition of the LOG.) See pages 9-14 for full coverage of the MTD meeting Members Approve 3-Year Pact at Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Seafarers overwhelmingly have ratified a new three-year contract at Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD), according to SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. Negotiations took place in mid-February and were followed by ratification aboard GLDD vessels later in the month. The new agreement, which covers more than 100 members, calls for annual wage increases while maintaining “Core Plus” health benefits. The contract also boosts pay for overtime and vacation; secures a yearly stipend for eligible mariners for the U.S. Coast Guard fees associated with renewing and upgrading documents; and increases the clothing and shoe allowances as well as maintenance and cure. Representing the SIU during negotiations were Tricker, Patrolman Brian Guiry and Seafarers Randy Beacham, Phil Kleinebreil, Duane Evans and Patrick Dollard. “We came out of it pretty good, I thought, and that seems to be the sentiments of everybody,” said Beacham. “George did a fantastic job and everyone is happy with what we got. When you look at what we were up against, the way the economy is going, I think everybody was tickled with the contract.” Bosun Mickey Earhart described the agreement as “a real blessing. Everybody’s happy about it. George did a good job, as always. Everyone involved with the negotiations did a good job, both on the union side and for the company.” Tricker commended the bargaining committee’s work. He also noted that prior to the negotiations, “We received lots of input from the membership, which helped. All in all, negotiations resulted in an agreement that met our stated objectives of maintaining benefits, wage increases and job security.” Seafarers operate GLDD vessels primarily on the East and West coasts. April 2009 Clockwise from above, Seafarer Robert Ellingson aboard the hopper dredge Terrapin Island and Seafarer Davic Paradelas are two of the more than 100 SIU members covered by the three-year agreement.Tacoma Port Agent Joe Vincenzo (left) and Seafarer Darrel Hulin discuss key points of the new contract. Those taking part in negotiations in Piney Point, Md., in mid-February were (seated, from left) GLDD Project Site Manager Bill Murchison, SIU VP Contracts George Tricker, GLDD VP Bill Pagendarm, GLDD Dredge Manager David Allen, (standing, from left) Patrolman Brian Guiry and Seafarers Randy Beacham, Patrick Dollard, Duane Evans and Phil Kleinebreil. Seafarers LOG 3 �MSC Accepts Delivery of Ammo Ship USNS Brashear from NASSCO Additional tonnage on March 4 navigated its way into the SIU fold when the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of the USNS Carl Brashear in California. Built by San Diego-based General Dynamics NASSCO and designated T-AKE 7, the Brashear will be crewed by members of the SIU Government Services Division. The vessel is the seventh in the Lewis and Clark class of underway replenishment ships. Like her six sister ships which are already in the Navy fleet, she will be called upon to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to the Navy’s underway carrier and expeditionary strike groups. Collectively, these missions will allow underway Navy vessels to stay at sea for extended periods. The ship honors Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, who joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 and was a Navy pioneer, becoming one of the first AfricanAmericans to graduate from the Navy Diving School and the first to qualify and serve as a master diver on active duty. After being severely injured in a diving accident, Brashear’s leg was amputated. Almost two years later, after strenuous rehabilitation and rigorous testing, he became the first person to be certified or recertified to dive as an amputee. Including the Carl Brashear, NASSCO now has delivered the first seven ships of the T-AKE class and has construction contracts for five additional ships. The Navy has also awarded contracts to NASSCO for the long-lead material for two more ships for a total class of 14 T-AKE vessels. “As we pass the halfway mark for this highly successful, U.S. Navy auxiliary program, the performance of the NASSCO team and the ships have been outstand- ing,” said Frederick J. Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. “As a result of numerous production and process improvements, we are delivering each hull more efficiently and with fewer man-hours than the previous one. And from all reports, the deployed ships have proven their ability to ably serve the fleet in their primary mission and in a variety of other roles.” Construction of the USNS Carl Brashear began in May 2007. NASSCO has incorporated international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features into the T-AKE class ships, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system, to minimize operating costs during their projected 40-year service life. With a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the primary mission of T-AKE ships is to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions from shore stations to combat ships at sea. In a related development which will translate into still more new tonnage for the union-contracted fleet, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard on Feb. 23 cut steel on Hull 014, the tenth product tanker in the series of 12 to be built for SIU-contracted Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG). Production of this latest vessel commenced a few days after the Feb. 19 delivery of Hull 010, Overseas Boston. When completed, the new tanker will be sold to American Shipping Company, and in turn, will be bareboat chartered to OSG America. Like its sister ships, the still unnamed MT-46 Veteran class product tanker will be diesel-powered, boast a length of slightly more than 600 feet and have a beam of approximately 105 feet. It will be able to transport more than 332,000 barrels of petroleum products and feature a “cruising speed” of 14.6 knots. The 46,000 dwt vessel will carry refined petroleum products. The USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) launches into San Diego harbor during her Sept. 18, 2008 christening ceremony at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego. (U.S. Navy Photo) Transition to New Mariner Credential Begins Mid-April Beginning April 15, U.S. seamen who renew or upgrade their Coast Guardissued z-card/merchant mariner document (MMD) will receive the new merchant mariner qualification credential (MMC) as a replacement. The MMC is a passportstyle document that has been in the works for some time. It consolidates the Coast Guard credentials issued to merchant mariners into a single document. The MMC program does not affect the legitimacy of currently valid zcards/MMDs. As previously reported, the MMC will be phased in over the next five years. The program itself has been structured in conjunction with the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) so that, eventually, U.S. mariners will carry two documents: a TWIC and an MMC. It also has been set up to “reduce the burden on mariners by limiting the number of times they need to appear in person to provide fingerprints and proof of identity,” according to the Coast Guard. Indeed, the program eliminates the need for mariners to appear in person at a Coast Guard regional exam center (REC) provided they have applied for a TWIC (though they still have the option to go to an REC). The individual cost of the MMC is $45. The following text is taken directly from the final rule: “Under the current rule, applicants pay a $45 issuance fee for each credential that they apply for. Under this rulemaking the applicants will only apply for a single credential (the MMC) and as a result will only be required to pay one $45 issuance fee regardless of the number of endorsements that they carry. This change is not a reduction in any fee that a mariner must pay, but a reduction in the number of fees that the mariner must pay. Any Union Closes Boston Hall Permanently 4 Seafarers LOG mariner that would, under the current rules, solicit multiple mariner qualifying documents (such as both an MMD and a license), will benefit from this change in the fee structure.” (Besides the issuance fee, there will be an additional evaluation fee and an examination fee if applicable. Those fees vary.) (The cost of a TWIC is $132.50.) Since mid-March, when the MMC final rule was published in the Federal Register, the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center has issued several online communications providing details about the new credential, including sample images. Those bulletins along with the final rule itself are available on the SIU web site (in the “Heard at Headquarters” section) and also should be accessible at the union halls. Members are asked to periodically check the web site and/or contact their port agents for timely news about the MMC. Upcoming editions of the Seafarers LOG will include detailed updates on the program. In one of its announcements from last month, the Coast Guard noted, “Under the previous regulations, the Coast Guard issued up to four credentials to a mariner: a merchant mariner’s document (MMD), a merchant mariner’s license (License), a certificate of registry (COR), and an International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) endorsement. Each credential served a separate purpose, thus creating the possibility that a mariner might need all four. The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 added a requirement for all mariners to obtain a transportation security card, implemented by the Department of Homeland Security as the TWIC. Without a regulatory change, a mariner could have been required to obtain up to five credentials, and to appear in person for duplicative applications. “The Coast Guard is streamlining its mariner regulations and consolidating the four separate Coast Guard-issued credentialing documents into one merchant mariner credential (MMC). In addition to reducing the number of credentials a mariner will need to hold, this rule also eliminates redundant burdens and government processes.” Additionally, the agency offered the following points about the “relationship” between the MMC and the TWIC. Mariners are required to hold a TWIC as of April 15. ■ The Coast Guard will use TWIC data received directly from TSA to determine the status of your TWIC. No mariner credentials will be issued without confirmation from TSA that an applicant has been approved to hold a TWIC. ■ If you are applying for a merchant mariner credential you must have at least applied for your TWIC before the Coast Guard will accept your application. Your credential will not be issued until your TWIC is approved. There may be a minimal delay between the time you apply for your TWIC and the time that data is received by the Coast Guard. Therefore, you should apply for your TWIC in advance of your application for your merchant credential. ■ If you are applying for your TWIC and mariner credential simultaneously, provide a copy of your TWIC application receipt with your credential application. ■ A TWIC is not required in order to apply for or receive a document of continuity. ■ You will need to ensure that the biographical data that you supply to TSA is The SIU’s Boston hall permanently closed as of April 1 due to a lack of shipping activities, including a long decline in the fishing industry. However, the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan will continue to operate the Boston-area clinic for membership use. Boston registration cards are valid at the SIU hall in the same as what you provide the Coast Guard on your merchant mariner credential application. If the Coast Guard cannot reconcile the data provided by TSA, you may be asked to work with TSA to update your information. ■ You will need to be identified as a Merchant Mariner in the TWIC system. This triggers TSA to provide your TWIC data to the Coast Guard. ■ When you enroll/Pre-enroll for a TWIC with TSA you need to select Merchant Mariner as your occupation. ■ For those that have already received their TWIC and did not “Self Identify” as a Merchant Mariner, or do not remember whether or not you self-identified, the NMC is working with TSA to automatically change your occupation field. The NMC anticipates that this will cover the vast majority of current mariners. It is, unfortunately, inevitable that there will not be matching data for every mariner due to variances in the data contained in either system (such as using slightly different name spellings to apply for your TWIC and your mariner credential). Therefore, TSA is setting up a help desk number that you will be able to call in order to manually switch your occupation field. This should only impact a small percentage of mariners and only when applying for their next Coast Guard issued credential. At that point, if the NMC does not have matching data from TSA regarding a valid TWIC you will be asked to call the TSA help desk. ■ If you carry a valid TWIC while serving on a valid Merchant Mariner Credential you will not be impacted while sailing regardless of whether you hold any of the four previously issued credentials, the MMC or any combination thereof. Brooklyn, N.Y., which is located at 635 4th Avenue. Membership records from Boston will be transferred to the Brooklyn hall. A complete list of SIU halls appears on page 16 of this month’s LOG and also is available on the union’s web site, www.seafarers.org. April 2009 �AFL-CIO Executive Council Welcomes Pledges of Support from Obama, Biden A full slate of items highlighted the agenda March 3-5 during the AFL-CIO Executive Council’s annual winter meeting, which took place in Miami. Convening in the union hall of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 349, council members – including SIU President Michael Sacco – during the three-day conference addressed a wide variety of issues relating to reviving the nation’s economy for working families, including growing good jobs, reforming health care, strengthening Social Security and revising the nation’s trade practices. According to union leaders, the economic recovery package is a good start to turning around America and putting workers back on the job. During their executive council meetings, they emphasized that rebuilding the nation’s major economic engine—manufacturing—will require strong compliance with the Buy American provisions in the package. A video address from President Obama kicked off the proceedings. During his remarks, the president reaffirmed his support for labor and voiced his agreement with several of the union movement’s goals, including health care reform, industrial revitalization and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). President Obama told the executive council that his administration has already started to change America on behalf of working people. “With your help, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan—the most sweeping economic recovery in out history,” he said. “I’ve always said that the gauge of our economic progress is clear: are we creating good jobs? Are we creating the kinds of jobs on which you can raise a family, own a home, afford college, save for retirement?” he continued. “That’s why this plan is so important. It will create or save three-and-a-half million jobs over the next two years—and it will do so by putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done.” The president then reiterated his support of labor by stating, “I want to repeat something that those of you who joined us for the Task Force announcement heard me say: I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, and to my administration, labor unions are a big part of the solution. We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests – because we cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement.” Making her first public appearance since being confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis attended the meetings. During her remarks to the council, she vowed to fully enforce the laws that protect workers. The labor secretary, who was one of the first supporters in Congress for the EFCA, also said she would work to pass and then enforce the legislation if it becomes law. Vice President Joe Biden also made an appearance at the meetings. The vice president told executive council members that returning our economy to health means restoring the basic right to join a union and bargain collectively. And the way to do that, he said, is by passing the EFCA. He quoted President Obama by saying, “I don’t buy the argument that providing SIU President Michael Sacco (right) and International Union of Operating Engineers President Vince Giblin serve on the federation’s executive council along with other labor leaders. U.S. Unemployment Rate Tops 8 Percent Nationwide employment and the economy continued on their slippery slope during the first two months of 2009, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment fell sharply during those months – by 651,000 – raising the unemployment rate from 7.6 percent to 8.1 percent. Those figures reflect a net loss of 2.6 million April 2009 Pictured during a break are (from left) AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka, SIU President Michael Sacco, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and United Steelworkers of America President Leo Gerard. workers with collective bargaining rights somehow weakens the economy or worsens the business environment. “If you’ve got workers who have decent pay and benefits, they also are customers for your business,” Biden said. “So let me add to that and say that I have a simple, basic belief, one that we’re going to work hard to put into action: If a union is what you want, a union you’re entitled to have.” The vice president also quoted AFL-CIO President John Sweeney’s recent remarks in his column which addressed basic truths that should guide the AFL-CIO during the upcoming year. “We can’t fix the economy by hurting workers. Rescuing the economy will require investments in jobs, infrastructure, health care,” Biden said. “When you’re in a deep hole, you need a long ladder. Rebuilding our broken economy gives us the opportunity to get it right and reward workers. Progressive, pro-family, pro-worker candidates won. So isn’t it time that we have progressive, pro-worker, pro-family priorities that win, too?” The vice president, who heads the White House Task Force on the Middle Class, told the council the Obama administration is dedicated to rebuilding the nation’s middle class. “You can’t have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement,” he said. “We will judge the success or failure of our administration at the end of our four years, based on whether or not the standard of living of the middle class has increased or not. That’s the bottom-line measure. And guess what? Neither one of us believes it can get better without you getting stronger. “For too long,” Biden said, “we’ve failed to have a White House that puts families front and center in our economic policies. That’s why the Obama economic recovery program focuses on jobs and the administration is pushing for real health care reform.” The vice president concluded by saying that the ObamaBiden team would never have won without the support of working families. The council adopted a number of action statements during the business portions of the meetings. Included was a statement calling for passage of the EFCA to help boost the economy by restoring workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits. The full text of that statement read as follows: “For more than a dozen years, we have worked and struggled to create the environment and the political climate in which we could pass serious labor law reform to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain collectively. “We realized that we could not arrest the decline in living standards, nor save the middle class, nor lift working families from poverty until those freedoms were restored. And now our collective efforts to build support for the Employee Free Choice Act have brought us closer than we have been in a generation to ensuring the freedom of workers to form unions and bargain collectively for a better life. “The next few weeks are critical, as we fight to realize our long-held goal and the dreams of a better life for millions of working families. We share with our new president, the congressional majority and America’s workers the essential goal of building an economy that works for all. “We know this is our time to win back these fundamental freedoms. We cannot wait, defer or equivocate. We must act with the urgency created by an historical opportunity for change. “We also know that those who have always opposed workers’ rights, freedoms and advancement—the radical right wing and corrupt, corporate bullies—will fight us with everything they have and every advantage they can employ. They have spent vast sums and will spend even more—up to $300 million. “But our determination, will and urgency to act will overcome their wealth. We will: Raise the necessary funds for the Employee Free Choice Act media fund, so we can effectively counter the misinformation campaign of the corporations. AFL-CIO affiliates already have raised significant resources. We will endeavor to voluntarily contribute $2.50 per member to counter the corporate onslaught. Commit to ramp up a nationwide grassroots campaign. In each priority state we commit to release staff to work together to meet our ambitious member mobilization goals, coordinate with allies and reach senators in their home states. Build off our very successful Million Member Mobilization to move our members. We commit to engage and activate 1 percent of our membership each month in priority states to make calls and write letters to members of Congress to ensure their support for the Employee Free Choice Act. Executive Council members will reach out to our members and leaders in priority states through calls, letters and visits to achieve our goals. Continue our outreach to our employers to garner their support for the Employee Free Choice Act.” The council also adopted statements on many other issues including financial regulation, senior housing, bank bailouts, job growth, trade with China, health care reform, retirement security and more. All of those statements are available in their entirety on the AFL-CIO’s web site at www.aflcio.org/aboutus/thisistheaflcio/ecouncil/. The AFL-CIO Executive Council meets at least twice a year to consider important union-movement business and policies. The council regularly issues statements on legislative measures affecting the interests of working families, ongoing struggles for justice for workers and more. jobs nationwide in the past four months. Overall, according to government data, 12.5 million Americans were out of work. The scale of many recent layoffs further reflects their severity. The BLS also recently reported that in January, employers took 2,227 mass layoff actions which resulted in the separation of 237,902 workers. Each of those layoffs involved at least 50 workers. These numbers do not reflect the millions of Americans who have faced furloughs and pay cuts since the beginning of the recession. For those remaining employed, the BLS reports an increase in average hourly earnings of .3 percent. However, that gain has been offset by a .3 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in January. The CPI measures the prices consumers pay for goods. Home prices are also taking a hit. The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index shows that the price of homes fell 18.2 percent during the final quarter of 2008, the biggest decline in the index’s 21-year history. (That index measures the change in value of the U.S. residential housing market.) One concern associated with the loss of value on homes is that most Americans have accumulated little or no wealth, or have lost money due to the lack or loss of equity in their homes. Seafarers LOG 5 �Ferry Crews Receive Public Service Awards America Recognizes NY Waterway Mariners for Rescue on Hudson River America recently hailed some of the heroes of the Miracle on the Hudson, as a ceremony took place at a NY Waterway Terminal in New York on Feb. 18. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen were among those who honored more than 100 “Good Samaritan” mariners, many of whom are SIU members employed by NY Waterway. The mariners received U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Awards for their key roles in the overall DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano commends those involved in the rescue. rescue of 155 passengers and crew from U.S. Airways Flight 1549, which crashlanded in the Hudson River on Jan. 15. During the ceremony, Secretary Napolitano said the rescue brought forth a strong sense of community. “The rescue reflects so many of the things we want to build on,” she stated. Captain of the Port of New York Robert O’Brien praised the Samaritans’ training. “It’s their years of getting ready to do what they did to make sure everything happened precisely the way it did,” he noted. He also reflected on the mariner’s rescue efforts during 9/11. “It was not a coincidence that these boat operators were there and knew what to do,” O’Brien said. The Coast Guard awarded the SIU group and NY Waterway its highest civilian honors for rescuing 143 of the survivors. During the presentation, NY Waterway President and Chief Executive Officer Arthur Imperatore said, “It was our people who did the job. They are highly trained and very committed.” Local Representative Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island) added extra emphasis to the importance of the rescuers by saying, “They not only saved lives but reminded us of the goodness in humanity.” Concerning the training and professionalism of the responders, Napolitano said, “The rescue also reminds us of the importance of training and exercising SIU VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi (far left in photo above) is pictured with NY Waterway crew members (left to right), Deckhand Pepe Carumba, Deckhand Honorio Rabanes, Captain Brittany Catanzaro, Deckhand Nestor Martinez, Deckhand Jose Torres, Captain John Winiarski, Deckhand Gregorio Pages, Deckhand Wilfredo Rivera and Captain Vincent Lombardi. In photo at right, VP Labor Relations for NY Waterway Burton Trebour (left), joins Captain Vincent Lombardi and Soresi before the fact. First responders at all levels must know what to do when it comes time to execute a mission – because seconds count. The successful rescue of Flight 1549 is a case in point.” As previously reported, Seafarers involved in the rescue included the following: Captains Vincent Lombardi, Manny Liba, Brittany Catanzaro, John Winiarski and Mohamed Gouda and Deckhands Honorio Rabanes, Wilfredo Rivera, Luis Salerno, Danny Convery, Natale Binetti, Giulio Farnese, Osman Berete, Cosmo Mezzina, Frank Illuzi, Jose Torres, Pepe Carumba and Gregorio Pages. CIVMAR-Manned USNS Bridge Wins Environmental Award A vessel crewed by SIU CIVMARS recently earned recognition for its environmental efficiency. In late February, the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) reported that the USNS Bridge (manned in the unlicensed positions by members of the SIU Government Services Division) is a winner of the fiscal year 2008 Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Quality Small Ship Award. The Bridge is one of MSC’s four fast combat support ships that replenish Navy vessels at sea with fuel, ammunition, food and other cargo. According to the agency, the 754-foot ship, which currently operates out of San Diego and has a total crew of 170, including a small contingent of active-duty Navy sailors along with civil service mariners, was cited for “the crew’s work in preventing pollution, ensuring readiness in responding to environmental issues, conserving resources and complying with environmental regulations.” In announcing the award, MSC noted, “While the ship voluntarily met standards stricter than required by the Navy, each mariner received special training in environmental management, used environmentally friendly chemicals and conducted monthly spill drills. In two years, Bridge, under the command of civil service master Capt. Jeffrey Siepert, transferred 182.7 million gallons of fuel without a significant mishap.” Other accomplishments by mariners aboard the Bridge have included optimizing boiler operations to reduce fuel consumption by 1,000 gallons per day, and managing the ship’s successful programs for solid waste disposal and recycling. According to MSC, “The chief of naval operations environmental awards recognize ships, installations, and individuals or teams for their environmental stewardship. As a result of this selection, Bridge will compete in the secretary of the Navy environmental awards.” John P. Quinn, acting director of the CNO Environmental Readiness Division, extended his congratulations and noted that the winners’ and nominees’ “sustained commitment to environmental excellence is an integral party of Navy operations and is essential to overall Navy mission accomplishment.” The award is slated to be presented at a ceremony in June in Washington, D.C. The USNS Bridge, pictured late last year in the Pacific Ocean with a Sea Hawk helicopter, performs an ammo off-load with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chelsea Kennedy) Maersk Ships Achieve Safety Milestones in Late 2008 The prepositioning ship SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. has operated for six years without a lost time accident. 6 Seafarers LOG Earlier this year, SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) reported that the prepositioning ship LTC John U.D. Page had “marked an extraordinary safety milestone” in the final days of 2008. Specifically, the company noted, “The ship’s crew celebrated seven years of operations without suffering a lost time accident (LTA). An LTA is defined as an accident that results in a crew member sustaining an injury requiring him or her to miss at least one shift of work. The number of LTAs occurring aboard a ship are a maritime industry standard for measuring safety performance.” The Page is named for LTC John U.D. Page, a U.S. Army officer who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War in 1950. In announcing the achievement, Maersk further reported, “Extended time periods operating LTA-free are a key safety goal among the ships in the MLL fleet. Page’s sister ship, SSG Edward A. Carter Jr., the other MLL-operated ammunition preposi- tioning ship in the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s prepositioning program, has been operating for six years without an LTA.” In fact, the Carter and Page are among seven MLL owned or operated ships (all with SIU crews) that have been operating for at least six years without an LTA. That group also includes the USNS Effective at seven years and the USNS Impeccable, CPL Louis J. Hauge, Maersk Rhode Island and Maersk Tennessee each at six years. In a news release, the company noted, “Preventing LTAs through constant care, awareness, and safety education is a key component of MLL’s company-wide safety program, ‘Drive to Zero.’ The program’s name is derived from its stated goal of ensuring shipboard safety by striving to eliminate all accidents.” One component of the program is a series of safety “boot camps” conducted at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, for Maersk crews and shore-side personnel. April 2009 �Research on behalf of the National Science Foundation is conducted at McMurdo Station (above). The USNS Gianella (right) delivers critical supplies to the station. Steward Recalls Antarctic Journey USNS Gianella Delivers Vital Supplies to McMurdo Station Editor’s note: Chief Steward Karl Meyer, assisted by fellow crew members, submitted this article and the accompanying photos. Once again, the USNS Lawrence H. Gianella, operated by Ocean Ships Inc. for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), participated in Operation Deep Freeze 2009. This is an annual resupply mission to the National Science Foundation’s facility at McMurdo Station Antarctica. The SIU-crewed Gianella delivered more than 9 million gallons of fuel needed for the coming year to operate the base’s aircraft, vehicles and power plant. Departing the West Coast in early October, stops included Pearl Harbor; Ulsan, Korea; Guam; Singapore; Diego Garcia; Souda Bay, Crete, Greece. The vessel arrived in the Ross Sea from Fremantle, Australia, on Jan. 22 and was assisted by the Swedish icebreaker Oden through the shelf ice and ice channel into McMurdo. Prior to Fremantle, the ship also had on board a 12-person U.S. Navy “embarked security team” (EST), They provided 24-hour armed security for the vessel during its transit through the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden and also during its two transits of the Suez Canal. The vessel returned to Diego Garcia and the EST disembarked just after Christmas for their next assignment. The steward department showed their can-do spirit and attitude, feeding the expanded crew of 38 including the EST plus an SIU apprentice and two cadets. They also had the privilege of preparing a meal for U.S. TRANSCOM Commander Gen. Duncan McNabb and his staff, who were hosted by the ship’s master, Capt. William Taylor, for a tour and dinner while pier side in McMurdo. The members of the engine department used some down time to perform scheduled maintenance on the main engine and while monitoring the offload also had the opportunity to transfer some much-needed fuel to the icebreaker Oden as it was tied up alongside. Crew members also took advantage of the subfreezing weather to empty and clean out the ship’s freezer. All departments pitched in for this endeavor. On a lighter note, AB Jeff Pearce literally took the plunge when he braved the frigid waters and joined the annual “Polar Plunge” hosted by the New Zealand-operated Scott Base (located nearby). Also, there was ample time to buy some souvenirs, hike up to Observation Hill, and visit the Discovery Hut, also known as Scott’s Hut, which was built in 1901 and is as preserved today as it was then. After departing the ice on the 26th of January, the Gianella stopped in Gladstone, Australia, for bunkers and provisions before heading back to the Gulf Coast to complete its five-month journey to the Antarctic. SIU members sailing aboard the Gianella during the voyage to McMurdo Station included the following: ABs Jay Aki, Clifford Cronan, Jason Devine, Bernard Essiful, Mark Mahoney and Pearce; QMEDs Austin Parker and James Summer; Pumpman Darrell McDonald; DEUs Rodolfo Caldo and Vicente Ordonez; GSUs Budiman Chandra and Luis Valerio; Chief Steward Meyer; Chief Cook Mario Fernandez and UA Jesus Sifuentes. The deck department (photo above, left) included ABs Cliff Cronan, Jason Devine, Bernard Essiful and Jeff Pearce. Chief Steward Karl Meyer (left in photo above right) and AB Jeff Pearce check on stores. The Swedish icebreaker Oden (photo at immediate left) leads the way to McMurdo Station. As evidenced by the photo above, the Gianella sails through some rough weather after leaving the base. Clockwise, from photo at immediate left, members of the engine gang team up for a task while Pumpman Darrell McDonald makes the best of his icy surroundings. Connected to a safety line, AB Jeff Pearce does his part to foster international relations by taking the “Polar Plunge,” hosted by the New Zealand-operated Scott Base, which is located near McMurdo Station. In photo above, Members of a U.S. Navy security team, pictured with a few crew members, help ensure safe transit. April 2009 Seafarers LOG 7 �Union-Affiliated School Tests Electrician Apprentice Program Electrician Apprentice Carmelo Collazo (standing) gets hands-on instruction by USNS Wright Electrician QEE Gary Torres. Seafarers who want to become marine electricians have an opportunity to “fast track” their careers through a program being tested by the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, based in Piney Point, Md. The school has begun testing an electrician apprentice program to move qualified mariners into electrician careers faster while maintaining a quality training regimen after the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) identified a shortage of marine electricians in the industry. Paul Hall Center Director of Training J.C. Wiegman noted, “The electrician program allows someone from our junior engineer program to accelerate by going aboard ship and – upon successful completion of a package of electrician skills while working with electricians – he or she is evaluated. After 90 days and completion of the skills, the student returns to the school for the electrician program. Finally, upon completion of the marine electrician program, the candidate will be able to sail in an electrician capacity.” He added, “Another phase of training is being considered to gain electrician specialties in one of three areas: container electrician, crane maintenance electrician or electronics maintainer.” Paul Hall Center Technical Instructor Jay Henderson explained the selection process to have an opportunity for the program is vigorous. “It’s performance-based and a student must have outstanding course grades and superior performance in the hands-on portion of the course work for consideration,” he said. Carmelo Collazo is the first electrician student so far to go through the new program. He is from Norfolk and spent two Recertified Steward Charles Curley (above) gets a breath of fresh air through a galley portal of the Green Ridge. The Seafarers-crewed vessel (photo at right) recently delivered commercial and military cargoes in the Middle East. Paul Hall Center Course Spotlight AB Aboard Green Ridge Recalls Poignant Moment Editor’s note: The following article and accompanying photos were submitted in late February by Second Mate Miri Skoriak. The SIU-contracted PCTC Green Ridge has just completed a 68-day round trip from the U.S. East Coast to various ports in the Middle East, delivering commercial and military vehicles. The return passage took us around Cape of Good Hope and featured the great summer weather the Southern Hemisphere had to offer. Sunday dinners were served outdoors, bringing all crew members together for a relaxed evening on steel beach. One of our crew members is AB Sheldon “Shel” Privin, who started sailing years ago after serving four years’ active duty in the U.S. Air Force. His first ship was the General Haan, a converted C-4 cargo ship. Since his first days on ships, AB Privin has seen many changes in the industry, but the most welcome and significant ones are the upgrades in living conditions (single rooms) and the improvement of the attitude of shipboard personnel relating to friendliness, courtesy and respect. AB Privin is full of great sea stories but the following is the one he considers the best: years in construction before he answered the sea’s call. While serving recently on board the USNS Wright, Collazo said, “This has been the greatest experience of my life. The apprentice program gave me the opportunity to go right to work with experienced electricians in actual working conditions. I feel like as soon as I shipped out I made a real difference because you don’t just follow behind electricians to watch what they do – you’re expected to roll your sleeves up and work on the ship. I’ve met some great people who would bend over backwards to help and teach if you’re willing to listen and give the job your all.” Collazo gained experience on three separate ships before completing the program’s requirements. He’s now back at the school, well-prepared to complete the marine electrician course. “Aboard the General Haan, we sailed from New York to Bremerhaven to pick up Hungarians who had escaped and received political asylum in Austria in the failed revolt against Communist oppression. The United States and other nations had agreed to a resettlement program. “On the return trip, we sailed into a major winter storm requiring the ship to divert south to the Canary Islands. It was a 14-day hellish crossing for the Hungarians, who had never even seen an ocean. The ship rolled heavily; people were sick and fearful. Finally reaching New York harbor, the passengers arose early at 0400 on a clear, cold winter morning to see the Statue of Liberty. In silence and awe they viewed Miss Liberty with tears streaming down their faces. Remembering that my parents, having emigrated from Europe many years before and having sailed into New York had seen the same sight was a poignant moment, and a reminder how lucky I am to be an American.” AB Privin would like to make a note of the mariners, union officials and company marine office personnel who personally extended themselves and gave him a fair shake. “My thanks and deep appreciation to you all,” he says. On behalf of the crew of the Green Ridge, I’d like to thank AB Privin for the inspiration and his good fellowship and wish him many more years on the oceans. The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, based in Piney Point, Md., offers a wide variety of vocational and academic courses. Classes are available to upgraders and entry-level students. The following is a brief description of an upgrading course offered at the school, which opened in 1967. Turn to page 21 for a list of upcoming course dates. Additional course descriptions were published in the January 2009 edition of the Seafarers LOG; they also are available on the web at www.seafarers.org/phc Conveyorman The course of instruction leading to certification as a conveyorman includes a detailed look at the types of self-unloaders and their development; conveyor belt construction and types; belt adjustments; belt splicing procedures and practical application; reduction gear units; related electrical AC and DC systems; practical troubleshooting; electrical test equipment; power failure testing; hydraulic theory; practical hydraulic troubleshooting; pipefitting and threading; gate construction, maintenance and operation; and oxy-acetylene cutting and electric arc welding practical training. Crew members (photo above) take advantage of good weather by enjoying an outdoor meal. In photo at right, AB Sheldon Privin takes the wheel. 8 Seafarers LOG April 2009 �AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department 2009 Executive Board Meeting U.S. Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (standing at left), tells MTD board members and guests about the agency’s operations. Commander Cites Crucial Labor ‘Partnership’ Sees Relationship Between Transportation Command, Maritime as Valuable to Nation The commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) told the Maritime Trades Department executive board that the effective working relationship shared by TRANSCOM and American maritime labor remains extremely valuable to the nation. U.S. Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb cited the longstanding, positive relationship between the MTD and TRANSCOM. He said that today, as both entities work to ensure the continued viability of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the relationship “couldn’t be better, and I couldn’t depend on it more as the TRANSCOM commander. When I first took over, I said, of all the things I need to protect, it is that U.S.-flag fleet.” TRANSCOM is the division of the military which oversees the global movement of goods and materiel to our troops. Its components include the U.S. Military Sealift Command as well as the Air Mobility Command, and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. On its web site, the agency reports that its “total wartime capability consists of a diverse force: 51,853 active duty; 88,089 reserve and Guard, and 16,606 civilian personnel. Similarly, USTRANSCOM relies on its commercial partners to meet 88 percent of continental U.S. land transport, 50 percent of global air movement, and 64 percent of global sealift.” McNabb gave a detailed presentation in which he described TRANSCOM’s numerous operations. He also repeatedly praised the performance and reliability of the nation’s mariners, and thanked MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco for his support. Gen. Duncan McNabb, U.S. TRANSCOM commander, thanks U.S. mariners for their reliability and dedication. April 2009 The general also offered high praise for the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, which he has visited. Speaking about the Piney Point, Md.-based facility and its people, he said the “professionalism is amazing. This is a world-class education to get the folks up to a certain level, and then you continue that train- the supply chain.” Looking at the big picture where TRANSCOM and the nation are concerned, McNabb said, “The stakes couldn’t be higher.” He recalled being in the Pentagon on 9/11, not far from where the airplane hit. “If they could have killed 30,000 that day or 300,000 or 3 million, they “The ability to immediately surge is based on having trained merchant mariners ready, and you have done that. What a difference that has made….” - - - U.S. Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander, U.S. Transportation Command ing, and I know (it) not only takes care of individuals but also their families.” Addressing Sacco, he said it was an honor to attend the MTD meetings “and not only say thanks to you, but to our great merchant mariners.” McNabb discussed some of the agency’s sealift assets, which include prepositioning ships, Ready Reserve Force vessels and other features available through the voluntary intermodal sealift agreement, abbreviated as VISA. Describing the overall maritime capabilities, he stated, “I can’t tell you how much we as a nation depend on that. You all do superbly, and I just want to say thanks (for) what you do every day.” Illustrating the historic importance of, and sacrifices made by, the merchant marine, the general recalled the Battle of Atlantic, when German Uboats initially had a field day against unarmed American-flag merchant ships. His point: “If you can stop the supplies, you basically can stop the operation. As we think about Iraq and Afghanistan, we have to bring everything to bear to make sure that doesn’t happen…. “We will make sure that we get the forces in. What you all do is the absolute key to all of this. In many cases it is the commercial side in which we can get stuff through in ways that we couldn’t do militarily. You do it day in and day out, and it is awesome. You do it despite attacks on would have done it, and they would still do that, if they could,” he said. “We’ve got to stop them…. It is a battle about the future of mankind.” He also said he definitely counts civilian mariners among those who answered the call following the attacks. Today, he continued, U.S. capability to deploy and sustain troops is unsurpassed. “I would say that it is one of the crown jewels that we have in the nation’s defense.” The same holds true for humanitarian missions including disaster relief, he added. The commercial sector “makes up a large amount of our capability,” McNabb explained. “We depend on it, and it also saves us a lot of money because then we don’t have to own it…. Because we have such great industry partners, we learn from you. We take the best from industry.” He concluded by noting that TRANSCOM’s emphasis is on serving the war fighter, who only cares that the materiel arrives on time and as needed. “The ability to immediately surge is based on having trained merchant mariners ready, and you have done that. What a difference that has made, because when the time is to go, you can’t say, ‘Yeah, I’m going to have that for us in about six months.’ When the president says, ‘I need to go now,’ we’ve got to be ready to go, and the (maritime supply) bridge is the first thing.” Seafarers LOG 9 �AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department 2009 Executive Board Meeting ‘A Time of Great Opportunity’ Congressmen Pledge Continuing Support For Maritime, other Pro-Worker Issues The three congressional representatives who spoke at the MTD meeting covered numerous topics, but each one emphasized opportunities for progress under the new administration. U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie (DHawaii), James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said they will continue supporting America’s working families, including the nation’s mariners. They also said that the elections last November of a pro-labor administration and Congress signal a beginning rather than an ending. Abercrombie, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, went so far as to say it isn’t too soon to look ahead to the next election year. He and other speakers said the reality of today’s Senate is that it takes 60 votes, not 51, to ensure passage of legislation. With that in mind, and pointing to the Employee Free Choice Act, Abercrombie told the board, “I want everybody in here dedicating themselves to 2010 and the elections so that we have an overwhelming majority of pro-labor members of the House and Senate so we can pass this legislation. “This is a time of great opportunity. What we need to do is what labor has always done. What we need to do is what labor does best: cool eye, cool head, organize. Zero in on these next elections so we can get 60-plus votes in there and we don’t have to worry about that in the Senate. Zero in on those states – those elections in those states.” Abercrombie said he believes the government can and should do more to support the U.S. Merchant Marine. Overall, he wants the U.S. to increase its emphasis on creating and sustaining good jobs in all sectors. For example, he asked, “How can you export anything if you don’t have a manufacturing base? How can you export anything if you don’t have an industrial base that you’re going to support? They call it subsidies; I call it investment. I want to see people working.” A sound domestic energy policy is another way out of tough economic times, he stated. “We’re sending $700 billion a year out of the country, to nations around the world, to get our energy – our natural gas and our oil – instead of developing ourselves,” Abercrombie said. “We’ve got to have a comprehensive program that labor has to back, and vote for members of Congress who are going to (support) energy independence in this country.” Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, also focused some of his remarks on energy. “We’ve got to create jobs,” Clyburn stated. “I like one of your mottos: your favorite four-letter word is J-O-B-S. For those of us who are supporters of the labor movement, we’ve got to look at ways to make our economy work by creating new, lasting jobs. And I believe the biggest job creator going forward is to have a comprehensive energy plan. “That energy plan cannot be limited to wind and solar and bio-diesel,” he continued. “I get a lot of flack for this, but I’m a big proponent of nuclear energy. That’s where the jobs are, that’s where the security is, that’s where the safety for our environment is. Working together, we will have a sustainable job creation energy program for the future.” Turning his attention to health care, Clyburn noted, “We want to make sure that nobody falls through the cracks. If you have a plan that says that 2 million people may still fall through the cracks, we have to have a safety net for that. The most expensive health care that you can get is in the emergency room and too many people are going to the emergency rooms for their health care. Let’s broaden, let’s expand, let’s fund these community health centers. The (economic) recovery package makes a big down payment on making sure that happens.” Thompson is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. He noted the numerous difficulties associated with implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program and said, “We’re going to make sure that the readers actually read. We will make sure that whatever problems have come up in the process of getting your TWIC card, we will correct it. We have committed ourselves to doing case work and we’ve been making people open their offices. We’ve heard about your members getting there and the offices are closed, your members sitting there six to eight hours unable to U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) vows to continue backing the Jones Act. 10 Seafarers LOG U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) believes the nation should boost its emphasis on creating and maintaining good jobs. get the card and then being told to come back the next day. We’re correcting all of that. I encourage you to let us know at the committee because we’re here to help.” Speaking about port security in general, Thompson said the most valuable component is people. “Port security continues to be a priority but we need your help,” he stated. “Don’t let anybody tell you that technology is really the answer. You know it’s the eyes and ears of your memberships that work in the ports that’s better security than any technology, because your members know what’s going on. We take the position that port security is a combination of technology and eyes and ears at the ports. “In addition to that, the Jones Act – we’re going to protect it but we’re going to take it one step further,” he added. “We’re going to make sure when times of national emergency happen we won’t let the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA waive the Jones Act so foreign-flag vessels can come in.” He concluded, “My office doors are always open, and every opportunity I get to raise the flag of labor, I do. I want to make sure that management understands that labor is the key to whatever success they have on their side and that partnership should exist.” MTD President Michael Sacco (right) welcomes U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.). April 2009 �AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department 2009 Executive Board Meeting MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (right in photo at left) looks on with pride as Captain Vincent Lombardi recalls parts of the “Miracle on the Hudson.” In photo above, guests and delegates listen attentively to the proceedings. MTD At a Glance The Maritime Trades Department is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. It consists of 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than five million working men and women. The MTD executive board met Feb. 26-27 in Miami, where Don Keefe MEBA President board members and guests examined key issues facing not only the maritime industry but all working families. The articles on pages 9-14 are based on remarks and policy statements given at the meeting. The photos accompanying this text show some of the board members and guests, including rank-and-file SIU members. David Durkee BCTGM Sec.-Treasurer Warren Fairley Boilermakers International VP Bernard Hostein Steelworkers Asst. to President Lynn Tucker Machinists General VP Richard Hughes ILA President John Ryan GMP President Dan Kane Mine Workers Sec.-Treasurer Bill Lucy AFSCME Sec.-Treasurer Michel Desjardins SIU of Canada Executive VP Roman Gralewicz SIU of Canada President Robert Scardelletti TCU President Gunnar Lundberg SUP President Rank-and-file Seafarers took in the meeting and posed for this photo with SIU officials. Members in the photo include Irma Palma, Gazapata Nicholls, Fernando Domenicale, Gerard Rogers, David Marquez, Lester Barclay, Benjamin Wilson, Cesar Collantes, Wilson Peniston, Vasil Cholakovski, Cecil Scipio, Nicholas Vieira, Errol Mullings, Basic McMillan, Dan Brown and Bob Egri. SIU officials in the photo are President Mike Sacco, Executive VP Augie Tellez, Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, VP Contracts George Tricker and Asst. VP Ambrose Cucinotta. April 2009 Anthony Poplawski MFOW President Seafarers LOG 11 �AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department 2009 Executive Board Meeting Tough Times, but New Tonnage Still Coming Despite rough economic times, there’s still positive news about the U.S.-flag fleet’s future, including new tankers being built in Pennsylvania and California. That message was part of separate but similarly heartening addresses given to the MTD on Feb. 26 by Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard, and Capt. Robert Johnston, senior vice president of SIUcontracted Overseas Shipholding Group. Both speakers stressed that cooperation from all segments of the maritime industry remains vital to the Americanflag fleet’s success. Johnston said that positive labor relations and a focus on long-term goals are “cornerstones that OSG has had for many, many years…. Working together, we can build mountains and we can solve any problem put before us. Labor can’t do it alone; management can’t do it alone. We have to work together.” He said that OSG’s strategic business unit is a testament to such cooperation. The company operates vessels in Alaska and on all three U.S. coasts with “good, quality crews – highly competent individuals.” Johnston noted that assistance from maritime labor in tackling a tax question was critical in allowing the company to commit to its current tanker build program. “As a result of hard work by both the union and management together, we solved the tax issue,” he said. “As a result of that, guess what? We made a commitment to Aker in Philadelphia and we put an order in for 10 product carriers” (which has since grown to 12). The vessels are being built by union members, he added, and are state-of-theart ships. “They are great ships manned by great union crews, and for that I want to thank the union leaders that are manning those ships,” Johnston said. “You guys are doing a fantastic job.” Focusing on the Jones Act, Johnston General Dynamics NASSCO President Fred Harris believes support for the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program could lead to a major economic boost across the country. reported that because of strong support for that law from Congress and the administration, OSG “is going to be committed to continue its construction program, continue building its U.S.-flag fleet. We’re going to continue to build tankers and continue to build ATBs, and we may even start going into the tug business. We’re going to continue to increase and expand our U.S.-flag fleet, which means more jobs for the sailors.” Another important component of OSG’s success is training, he said. The mariners sailing aboard OSG ships “are some of the highest trained individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. These seafarers are good. When you talk to them, you recognize how well-qualified and well-trained they are. And that’s only because the unions recognized it. They have fantastic training Capt. Robert Johnston, senior VP at Overseas Shipholding Group, says the world-class training received by American mariners is a big plus for his company’s operations. facilities – some of the most modern facilities in the world, which are turning out some of the most well-trained seafarers in the world.” Of course, Johnston recognizes the difficult economic times, but he said OSG is forging ahead. “We are still looking at new projects,” he stated. “The company is very much committed to the U.S. flag…. We’re going to continue to grow and expand.” Harris, like Johnston a former mariner, heads the shipyard in San Diego. He said NASSCO currently employs 4,600 people and has “a strong backlog of ships to be built and crewed by skilled union craftsmen and skilled seafarers, and I am very happy about that.” NASSCO is in the midst of building and delivering 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships to the Navy, he said. Those are the Lewis-and-Clark class of vessels, abbreviated as T-AKE. The yard also performs repair work and commercial construction, including tankers now being built for SIU-contracted U.S. Shipping Partners. Harris said credit for the yard’s excellent progress in recent years goes to “the people who every day build these ships, and they build them well. They understand that if we’re going to be a shipbuilding nation, we have to be productive…. We have the most skilled craftsmen in the world. What we need to do is continue to give them the tools to be as efficient as anybody else in the world.” To that end, NASSCO officials have thoroughly examined the systems and practices of other yards, including foreign shipyards. The San Diego facility also has heavily invested in training its workforce. Turning his attention to the aging domestic fleet, Harris noted that it’s difficult for shipowners to find money for new construction. In part, that’s why he believes the industry must aggressively get behind the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program, which “provides the U.S. government full credit guarantee for shipowners constructing ships in American yards.” He gave an example of how a $60 million yearly investment through the Title XI program for 10 years quite feasibly could lead to billions of dollars being poured back into the economy. For starters, the $60 million yearly figure would equate to approximately “97,000 man years worth of work over 10 years. That’s unbelievable, and it all gets paid back with interest. It’s one of the few programs that self generates the funding to pay for itself.” In conclusion, he said NASSCO remains “committed to the modernization of the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet, and I mean committed.” NY Waterway Recognized for Rescue on Hudson With the “Miracle on the Hudson” still relatively fresh in the audience’s mind, the MTD meeting on Feb. 27 featured a particularly uplifting moment as NY Waterway’s founder and one of its ferry captains were honored by the executive board. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Deborah Hersman also joined in commending the SIU-contracted company, whose personnel helped save the passengers and flight crew from the downed U.S. Airways jet that crashed into the Hudson River in January (see related coverage, page 6). MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco presented a ship’s wheel (dedicated to all of the captains and deckhands at the company) to NY Waterway founder Arthur Imperatore and to Captain Vincent Lombardi. The inscription reads, “With admiration and thanks for your outstanding actions which were an enormous part of the Miracle on the Hudson. Your lifesaving efforts helped lift the spirits of the entire nation.” The rescue of all 155 personnel from the downed aircraft (including 143 saved by SIU-crewed ferries) is “a great tribute to the union members who saved those people,” Sacco stated. “Virtually every person who rescued the passengers and crew from U.S. Airways Flight 1549 was a union member – and most 12 Seafarers LOG of them belong to MTD unions.” Lombardi was the captain of the first vessel that arrived at the rescue scene. Recalling that moment, he said he urged everyone on board the Thomas Jefferson to maintain their composure, because they didn’t know what they were about to see. He also thanked the MTD and SIU for their support and for the recognition on behalf of all the crews. Imperatore emphasized the commitment of NY Waterway employees, including their focus on safety training – some of which takes place at the SIUaffiliated Paul Hall Center, located in Piney Point, Md. He also saluted the productive working relationship his company shares with the union, citing “the professionalism that we absorbed and we understood from our association.” “I’m proud of our people,” added Imperatore, 83, who founded the company in 1986. “They are highly trained and very, very committed to the work we do.” Hersman discussed various key aspects of shipboard safety and shared some of the NTSB’s most significant findings. She noted that the agency investigates accidents in all modes of transportation, determines probable cause and makes recommendations. She pointed to fatigue as “one of the most insidious” of all transportation issues and said that “long-duty days are associated with fatigue and degraded performance.” Concerning the NY Waterway rescue, she concluded, “When we see accidents and we go to accident scenes, they bring out the best and the worst of equipment, of training, of procedures. But I think that we can all say, on the river that day, we saw the best of humanity. Those who were on that water that day showed us what many of us already know – especially those who are involved in the transportation industry. We are our brothers’ keepers and we have to take care of each other, and those crews did that that day. My hat’s off to you all.” The MTD honored NY Waterway personnel including company founder Arthur Imperatore (left) and Capt. Vincent Lombardi (second from left). MTD President Michael Sacco (right) and Deborah Hersman of the NTSB credited the ferry crews for their fast action. April 2009 �AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department 2009 Executive Board Meeting ITF Maritime Coordinator Steve Cotton notes there is international support for the Employee Free Choice Act AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says the labor federation is “100 percent behind” the MTD’s pro-maritime agenda. EFCA Remains Priority for Organized Labor ITF Official Pledges Support for Legislation, Reports on ‘Flag-of-Convenience’ Campaign Three labor officials who addressed the MTD executive board said the Obama administration indeed has brought hope for working families, but many tough fights lie ahead – including a big one to enact the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which the president has vowed to sign if given the chance. One of those speakers, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Maritime Coordinator Stephen Cotton, said he believes the new administration and Congress seem more likely to improve working conditions not only in America but abroad. Cotton also pledged “100 percent support” from the ITF to the U.S. labor movement, especially when it comes to the EFCA, which also is known as the majority sign-up bill. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen devoted much of their respective comments to the EFCA, which was reintroduced in the House and Senate in early March. The legislation aims to restore fairness to organizing campaigns by truly giving workers the freedom to choose union representation, without the looming fear of management intimidation. Contrary to lies spread by the bill’s opponents, the EFCA would not eliminate the option for a secret-ballot election. It simply would let workers choose whether to utilize secret ballots or instead opt for the already legal cardcheck system (through which a union is recognized as the employees’ collective bargaining representative once a majority of workers has signed pledge cards). This has been organized labor’s top legislative priority in recent years and it remains so in 2009. Sweeney thanked the MTD for its “continued presence in the struggle to restore the rights of all workers to join unions by passing the Employee Free Choice Act. This is a moment when the question is, unions yes, or no? And that affects all of us…. It has turned into a nasty fight, with the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into their campaign to defeat it.” April 2009 He continued, “The EFCA means so much to the future of our movement. The giant corporations and the financial institutions and their overpaid CEOs need to be brought under control, and the only way we can do that is to get bigger and stronger. Labor overall picked up approximately 400,000 new members last year, but that’s barely enough to hold us even as a percentage of the workforce. Let’s keep on working together and sticking together. If we do that, we will be winning together.” The labor federation president also said the AFL-CIO is “100 percent behind” the MTD’s pro-maritime agenda – “especially more American shipbuilding, funding for short-sea shipping, and continued protection of the cabotage laws, all of which create and keep good jobs.” He noted that with the new administration, “We’ve been included in most of the decision-making and, I’m happy to say, the president has been very open and available to hearing our views.” Cohen asked the audience, “Why are we the only democracy in the world that doesn’t have majority sign-up? The important point here is, Europe, South America, Asia, parts of Africa, Latin America like never before – they already have what we’re fighting for…. Why should this be the only country in the world where to have union recognition and bargaining, you have to fight the boss to get it?” He cited the cooperation between labor and management in the maritime trades as a great example of how a unionized work force can benefit all concerned. In fact, he noted that through letters supporting the EFCA, “Thousands of employers have signed on to say to Congress, ‘We work with unions. We know what partnership means. We know what happens when there’s a seat at the table.’” He concluded by saying the trampling of workers’ rights has contributed to today’s economic hard times and reiterated President Obama’s belief that significant recovery isn’t possible unless working families “are rising up in terms of CWA President Larry Cohen asserts that the “trampling of workers’ rights” helped lead to the current economic woes. their buying power. And the single best way to raise buying power is to give workers in this country bargaining power.” Immediately following Cohen’s remarks, he received a donation from five MTD affiliates – the SIU, AMO, ILA, MM&P and MEBA – for use in the EFCA campaign he is helping to lead. Cotton spoke on behalf of the ITF, a global federation of nearly 700 transport trade unions (including the SIU and many other MTD affiliates) which collectively represent 4.5 million workers in 148 countries. (SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel is first vice chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section.) He said the international maritime industry is dealing with threats posed by piracy and a severe global economic downturn. He also reported that the ITF has fared well in its long-running campaign against so-called flag-of-convenience (FOC) shipping, also known as runaway-flag shipping. Stressing that none of these issues can be resolved without the active participation of the American and Canadian governments, Cotton said that those nations have an important role to play in “leading us out of these difficult times.” “We need you,” he told the MTD board. What American and Canadian labor unions have achieved in recent years gives all maritime workers “great hope.” Cotton said the ITF continues to have success in negotiating new contracts and securing back pay with FOC fleets. Last year alone, the organization obtained $20 million in unpaid wages and overtime. He praised the efforts of the North American labor unions, noting that they have substantially increased the number of ITF inspectors. Less encouraging is the news about piracy, Cotton pointed out. Incidents are on the rise, and 10 vessels reportedly were being detained “at this very moment,” he said. “Imagine if 10 airplanes were being held hostage. How would the world community react?” He said that labor unions worldwide have stepped up to try to help solve the problem. For example, European, American, Russian and Indian unions have been urging employers to define high-risk regions and to get more government support. Seafarers LOG 13 �AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department 2009 Executive Board Meeting Statements Adopted by MTD Executive Board implementing the stimulus package…. The American economy depends on the American worker. The vaunted American middle class existed because of good jobs with decent benefits that included health care and retirement provisions – all the things unions have fought for through the years…. We must push to save America’s manufacturing base, then expand it into the new jobs that will be created for the energy and environmental needs of this century. We must fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. We must overturn laws and regulations aimed at shipping jobs overseas, while leading the charge to improve working conditions around the world…. And unlike the banking bailouts of last year which were supposed to ease the credit crunch of workers and homeowners but instead supplied cover for bonus payments to executives while profits tanked, we must make sure the government’s stimulus dollars are used to help those who need them the most – the working men and women of America. Printed on this page are excerpts from some of the statements approved Feb. 26-27 by members of the Maritime Trades Department executive board. Altogether, the board adopted 16 statements aimed at mapping out strategies and reinforcing positions on issues of importance to the MTD, its affiliates and the rank-and-file members of those unions. ■ Support The Troops The men and women who wear the uniform of the United States do whatever is necessary to protect freedom and fight tyranny wherever that call to arms occurs. We know these people are brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, uncles and aunts. We also know many of them are union members…. The men and women who load and crew the U.S.-flag vessels that supply these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines continue to answer the call to duty as well. They realize their on-time delivery of materiel could mean the difference between life and death. That is why the MTD along with our affiliates and Port Maritime Councils again affirm our unqualified support for the brave members of America’s armed forces. May they perform their jobs well and come home safely to those who love and miss them. ■ Commercial Shipbuilding Industry The economic importance of a vibrant shipbuilding industry cannot be overstated. As a bipartisan coalition of 57 Senators and Representatives noted earlier this year, the industry, directly and indirectly, employs an estimated 400,000 people nationwide. Facilities include six major shipbuilding yards, several smaller ship construction and repair yards, and more than 4,000 major manufacturers of ship components and systems. The MTD, its affiliates and its Port Maritime Councils call upon Congress and the new administration to fund the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program. This is a sure way to stimulate the economy with good jobs and need vessels for the U.S.-flag fleet. ■ America’s Marine Highway System Promoted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration, “America’s Marine Highway” seeks to ease congestion on America’s highway and rail systems by making better use of the nation’s waterborne resources. Recent economic studies show the wisdom of this approach. By relieving congestion in other modes of transportation, ocean-borne commerce can improve U.S. productivity rates, ease pollution and create new jobs, including many in the maritime sector. Also known as “short sea shipping,” the approach has won widespread support in the maritime industry, including from many affiliates of the MTD. The Department has long believed that “short sea shipping” has the potential for advancing many important national goals, as long as the integrity of U.S. cabotage laws like the Jones Act is respected. ■ Salute To First Responders Last month, the world witnessed what happens when well-trained workers go from handling their daily tasks to immediate first responders. The lives of all 155 people aboard a crippled U.S. Airways jet forced to ditch in New York’s Hudson River were saved. Did we happen to mention that all those who reacted so quickly without question were union members?! Yes, we have to mention that because you wouldn’t find that fact in any of the major media outlets. From the pilots and flight attendants aboard the jet to the air traffic controllers clearing the skies, from the mariners racing to the scene to the police officers and fire fighters who jumped aboard those vessels as they left port, all involved in the safety of the passengers were union members who had received safety training in case the totally unexpected were to happen. ■ Support For The New Administration Over the past year, President Obama was very clear about the need to preserve 14 Seafarers LOG Maritime Trades Department VP Ernest D. Whelan reads one of the statements during the most recent MTD meeting. America’s maritime industry and the important role that it plays in the defense and economic development of the nation. He has promised to support such vitally important programs as cargo preference, the Jones Act and the Maritime Security Program. Moreover, important members of Congress are urging him to include monies in his stimulus package that would promote port modernization, humanitarian food aid, naval and commercial shipbuilding and America’s Marine Highway…. Above all else, we applaud President Obama’s commitment to sign the Employee Free Choice Act into law. ■ Maritime Security Program The need for rapid response of equipment for the U.S. military remains constant. That is why successful efforts like the Maritime Security Program (MSP) need to be in place and fully funded. The MTD and its affiliated unions have been at the forefront in support for the MSP since its inception immediately after the first Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s. America’s military planners discovered they could not count on foreign-flag crews aboard foreign-flag ships to deliver needed materiel to troops positioned around the globe the way U.S.-flag vessels with well trained and patriotic U.S.-civilian crews did.... The MSP proved to be an unqualified success. Praise has come from both Capitol Hill and the Pentagon…. Now, the MSP runs through 2016 and covers up to 60 ships. However, several times during the life of the MSP efforts have been made to cut its funding. Although the legislation creating, then extending, the MSP is 10 years in length, the program must have its funding authorized each year. The MTD, its affiliates and its Port Maritime Councils call upon the Congress and the new Barack Obama administration to make sure a program as thriving as the MSP remains in place with full funding. American troops know they can count on their Brothers and Sisters aboard U.S.-flag vessels to deliver their goods whenever and wherever duty calls. ■ Fixing The U.S. Health Care System Americans need reforms that will control rising and irrational costs; provide comprehensive, high-quality health care to all; give every family the opportunity and responsibility for preventive care; preserve the right to choose one’s own doctor; require the government to play a strong role in restoring balance to the current system; ensure more fairness and efficiency; lower employer costs and, in return, ask them to pay their fair share, along with government and individuals; and build on what is best about American health care while drawing from what works in other countries. Failure to act will only exacerbate the problem. In 2006, 47 million Americans had no health insurance. Nearly 8.7 million of those were children. Moreover, millions more are underinsured. Union members particularly have been hurt by these developments. Unions have negotiated a national standard of comprehensive health care benefits. As the cost of health care continues to spin out of control, businesses that offer the benefit are hobbled in a global marketplace and are at a competitive disadvantage here at home. ■ Pass The Employee Free Choice Act The hokum being stirred by the massive multi-million dollar campaign funded by Big Business and the Chambers of Commerce that federal labor law will be tossed on its head should the Employee Free Choice Act pass is pure garbage. The act is an effort swing the pendulum toward balancing the power structure currently controlled by business…. As for the argument that America cannot afford allowing workers a chance to improve themselves in these harsh economic times, one only needs to study history. The Wagner Act passed during the Great Depression. Unions began massive organizing campaigns that led to the creation of Social Security, health benefits, overtime regulations, workplace safety, secured pensions – the basic foundations for the great middle class. ■ Stimulate The Economy In the union movement, one four-letter word is all we need to plainly state how to stimulate the economy: JOBS! Americans want to go back to work and Americans need jobs. That is our central focus as it should be for the nation’s elected officials who are ■ Port Dredging Almost all goods that enter or exit the United States do so through a harbor. Waterborne commerce is the umbilical cord to the nation’s international trade. Yet, many of the channels needed by commercial vessels to transit America’s ports are covered with sediment and other debris…. What this means is vessels laden with American-made goods cannot carry all they are capable of holding because they would be too heavy to keep from running aground, nor can ships with imports for the U.S.-market enter due to the same concerns…. The International Union of Operating Engineers calls upon its fellow affiliates within the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO to urge Congress to pass legislation that would compel Harbor Maintenance Tax appropriations to more closely mirror the tax’s annual revenues. Similar language has been passed in previous Congresses concerning the proper use of Highway Trust Fund and Aviation Trust Fund revenues for their designated forms of transportation…. Thousands of good-paying American jobs would be created by expending Harbor Maintenance Taxes for their intended purpose: dredging America’s harbors and waterways. ■ Cargo Preference In letters sent to the presidents of the maritime unions of the MTD last year, President Obama put it best when he wrote: “A strong U.S.-flag commercial fleet needs our nation’s cargo preference laws. Whether it is carrying needed goods to those overseas in distress or moving government-generated cargo, American mariners aboard American ships make sure the job is done. People around the world look to the U.S. flag as a symbol of hope and determination. Ships flying Old Glory with American crews are important icons of our resolve.” The new Commander-in-Chief has it exactly right. Preserving the viability of the nation’s cargo preference laws is critically important. In addition to creating good-paying jobs for middle-class workers and taxes at all levels of government, a strong U.S.flag Merchant Marine promotes many defense interests – most notably, strategic sealift. The SIUNA-affiliated AMO had a strong turnout. Some of the union’s members and officials are pictured with MTD President Michael Sacco (fourth from right). April 2009 �Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea February 16, 2009 — March 15, 2009 *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Port Seafarers ‘Motor’ in Rolling Thunder For U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans Some SIU headquarters officials and employees are trying to determine whether there is enough interest for the union to participate in this year’s Memorial Day weekend “Rolling Thunder” event in Washington, D.C. “We would like to raise awareness concerning those who served our country on merchant vessels during times of war, supplying our troops,” one official noted. “Many of those mariners gave their lives in defense of our country.” Rank-and-file Seafarers, SIU retirees, union employees and family members who may be interested in riding at the May 24 event as part of an SIU contingent are asked to email their contact information to the following address as soon as possible: rollingthunder2009@gmail.com The Washington-based Rolling Thunder event is a yearly demonstration, largely by motorcycle riders, for POW/MIAs and veterans’ issues. According to a communication from Rolling Thunder, Inc., participants will assemble in the north Pentagon parking lot beginning at 8 a.m. They will leave at noon for the ride through D.C. to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “to pay our respect to our brothers and sisters who gave their lives for freedom we enjoy every day and for the full accounting of all POW-MIAs and veterans’ rights. This is a demonstration – not a parade.” More information is available on the web at www.rollingthunder1.com (that’s a number “1” rather than a letter L in the address). According to the web site, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a nonprofit organization “with over 88 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder are veterans, and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite.” April & May 2009 Membership Meetings Piney Point..........................................Monday: May 4, June 8 Algonac ...............................................Friday: May 8, June 12 Baltimore.........................................Thursday: May 7, June 11 Guam.............................................Thursday: May 21, June 25 Honolulu ...........................................Friday: May 15, June 19 Houston...........................................Monday: May 11, June 15 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Totals Totals Totals Jacksonville.....................................Thursday: May 7, June 11 Joliet..............................................Thursday: May 14, June 18 Mobile........................................Wednesday: May 13, June 17 New Orleans..........................................Tuesday: May 12, June 16 New York............................................Tuesday: May 5, June 9 Norfolk............................................Thursday: May 7, June 11 Oakland .........................................Thursday: May 14, June 18 Philadelphia...................................Wednesday: May 6, June 10 Port Everglades .............................Thursday: May 14, June 18 San Juan ..........................................Thursday: May 7, June 11 St. Louis .............................................Friday: May 15, June 19 Tacoma...............................................Friday: May 22, June 26 Wilmington...........................................Monday: May 18, June 22 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. April 2009 DECK DEPARTMENT 10 0 0 2 0 1 5 2 2 0 2 4 4 2 3 0 1 0 2 2 3 1 2 13 1 6 29 18 1 5 8 23 11 21 4 0 4 0 21 19 2 4 2 8 5 2 23 10 2 4 4 6 17 8 6 4 4 1 14 18 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 7 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 11 0 2 17 7 0 1 4 10 4 3 2 6 2 0 9 8 12 1 6 18 2 16 66 57 1 21 27 92 25 44 7 1 13 3 62 54 18 4 6 26 12 13 43 46 11 11 10 35 29 14 7 3 17 12 50 32 25 1 2 6 2 1 13 6 10 2 6 13 5 2 3 1 1 0 8 7 289 216 42 191 136 25 89 541 409 111 0 0 4 9 0 6 13 16 0 7 5 12 11 10 5 0 2 0 15 12 0 3 0 5 3 7 9 15 1 5 0 14 15 6 1 1 5 5 12 10 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 127 117 12 ENGINE DEPARTMENT Totals Totals All Departments 1 0 1 4 1 7 13 13 0 3 4 7 5 3 1 1 2 0 9 6 0 1 3 3 2 4 7 6 0 6 1 8 10 4 0 0 1 1 10 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 9 2 1 1 1 3 3 4 0 0 1 0 7 3 1 0 8 17 2 12 26 37 0 17 11 30 19 17 6 2 4 0 22 20 7 4 3 9 5 7 27 30 2 8 3 23 29 10 2 2 10 6 20 21 7 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 3 0 0 5 2 3 0 0 1 1 2 5 81 71 3 38 251 228 39 STEWARD DEPARTMENT 0 0 3 8 2 7 26 20 0 5 5 29 6 19 3 2 3 0 13 19 2 1 2 6 3 3 7 11 2 3 2 9 10 3 0 2 0 1 4 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 170 76 1 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington **REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C 7 3 5 10 5 3 36 24 5 5 4 16 15 6 5 5 8 5 26 23 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington Trip Reliefs 8 1 6 7 2 7 54 27 1 9 15 45 21 28 3 0 5 2 21 27 Port Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico St. Louis Tacoma Wilmington TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C 1 0 1 4 1 6 21 0 0 6 4 18 9 15 1 4 2 2 12 12 0 0 0 2 0 5 4 12 1 1 2 5 10 3 0 2 1 2 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 12 4 0 2 1 4 3 5 1 0 2 0 7 5 2 0 3 12 5 14 39 27 0 9 13 44 14 31 4 3 4 0 29 37 8 2 3 15 6 5 11 9 2 4 2 13 13 10 1 2 1 2 11 7 7 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 3 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 4 128 55 6 51 290 127 25 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 6 1 3 3 1 6 21 21 4 6 1 16 15 17 0 16 2 0 14 10 7 0 0 5 0 7 8 8 0 2 0 9 12 8 1 24 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 0 3 4 1 3 9 8 0 1 3 7 12 8 0 14 0 1 9 8 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 7 0 1 1 1 6 2 2 17 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 14 3 0 1 1 19 0 7 0 0 1 0 8 5 20 4 7 9 2 14 36 43 6 13 6 39 36 22 0 6 5 1 14 20 19 1 0 15 0 15 12 20 5 6 3 19 22 14 1 19 3 0 5 11 21 163 97 17 93 48 0 55 323 193 607 572 162 417 355 82 178 1137 1087 368 Seafarers LOG 15 �Inquir ing Seaf arer Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 GUAM P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932 Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910 (671) 477-1350 Editor’s note: This month’s Inquiring Seafarer questions were posed to members at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Caroline Thomas, OS Home port: New York Question: What does being a merchant mariner mean to you? “It totally changed my life. I’ve been blessed to meet and make friends of different cultures and colors from around the world. I’ve been given a chance to see the world, and make a good income, all without ever having to drive to work. I’m so proud to be a part of something that means so much to our nation and the world. For me, being a merchant mariner is priceless. I don’t think I could have had these opportunities elsewhere.” HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 Francis S. Brown, OMU Home port: New Orleans HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 Question: Why are the Jones Act and U.S. Merchant Marine important? JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 “It’s about quality. American mariners have to be qualified to do certain jobs and nowhere will you find better-qualified mariners. It’s also about keeping jobs in America. During this recession, none of us can afford to have our jobs outsourced to nations that don’t offer the industry the quality and service we do. This is a great industry. I’ve had the chance to travel on the lakes, inland waterways and on salt waters and see a lot of things and meet a lot of people.” Abraham Goldberg, GVA Home port: Pascagoula, Miss. Question: Why are the Jones Act and U.S. Merchant Marine important? “They’re both vital to the U.S. economy. The U.S. economy and international transportation wouldn’t be as strong. I think without the Jones Act, U.S. competition would fall to the point where companies would turn to foreign labor. Many foreign mariners are willing to accept lower standards of life and lower shipboard living standards. This would turn back the clock in how mariner’s quality of life has improved over the years.” Mark Simpson, Chief Cook Home port: Norfolk, Va. Question: How important is the merchant marine to you? “I was in the Navy for 23 years so I saw firsthand the importance of deliveries by merchant mariners. I missed the sea when I left the Navy and started in the SIU on LMSRs. We carried a lot of tanks, humvees, MRAPs and other equipment and it made me remember how important these deliveries were. When we picked up some of the equipment to take it home, I saw the damage to it such as bullet and mortar holes, remembered how many lives this equipment saved and remembered in the Navy saying thank God for the people who delivered it.” Pic-From-The-Past MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 Engine Utility James Balmy (left) and Stewart Gary Walter in 1971 tested their wits during a friendly game of pinochle in the recreation area aboard the Seafarers-crewed SL181. The newest vessel in Sea-Land’s fleet at the time, the vessel at the time this photo was taken was docked in New York Harbor. Ultra-modern in all respects, SL181was 720 feet long, 95 feet wide and boasted a dead-weight tonnage of 25,515 long tons. Her draft was 34 feet and she had a service speed of more than 23 knots. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org 16 Seafarers LOG April 2009 �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. Welcome Ashore DEEP SEA ALBERT AUSTIN Brother Albert Austin, 65, became an SIU member in 1986 while in the port of Norfolk, Va. His first ship was the USNS Stalwart; his last the Cape Johnson. Brother Austin attended classes on numerous occasions at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member continues to live in his native state of North Carolina. VIRGILIO DONGHIT Brother Virgilio Donghit, 66, joined the union in 1994 in the port of New Orleans. He initially sailed on the USNS Antares. Brother Donghit was born in the Philippines and shipped in the steward department. He frequently visited the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., to upgrade his skills. Brother Donghit’s final ship was the ITB Mobile. He resides in Jacksonville, Fla. RICHARD GIBBONS Brother Richard Gibbons, 65, started sailing with the Seafarers in 1964 while in the port of New York. His first voyage was aboard the City of Alma. Brother Gibbons, who sailed in the deck department, was born in New York. In 1964 and 1979, he enhanced his seafaring abilities at the Piney Point school. Brother Gibbons was last employed on the Golden Endeavor. He makes his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. FREDERICK GROSBEIER Brother Frederick Grosbeier, 66, donned the SIU colors in 1968. He originally shipped aboard the McKee Sons. Brother Grosbeier frequently took advantage of educational opportunities available at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member was born in Wisconsin. Brother Grosbeier most recently worked on the PFC. James Anderson Jr. He is a resident of Paris, Tenn. HENRY HAYES Brother Henry Hayes, 65, joined the SIU ranks in 1990. His first vessel was the USNS Pollux. Brother Hayes upgraded on three occasions at the union-affiliated school. He was a member of the steward depart- April 2009 ment. Brother Hayes’ final voyage was aboard the USNS Loyal. He calls Jackson, Miss., home. SANFORD KLAVANO Brother Sanford Klavano, 64, was born in Portland, Ore. He began sailing with the SIU in 1969 from the port of Seattle. Brother Klavano initially worked on the Columbia Beaver as a member of the deck department. He attended classes in 2000 at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Klavano last shipped aboard the Maersk Tennessee. He resides in Auburn, Wash. RUDOLPH LOPEZ Brother Rudolph Lopez, 60, became a Seafarer in 1970. His first ship was the Peary; his last the Motivator. Brother Lopez visited the Piney Point school often during his SIU career. He was born in Texas and sailed in the engine department. Brother Lopez continues to live in his native state. JOSE RABULAN Brother Jose Rabulan, 65, started his SIU career in 1996 while in the port of Norfolk, Va. His earliest trip to sea was on the USNS Kane. Brother Rabulan worked in the deck department and frequently enhanced his skills at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. His most recent voyage was aboard the USNS Gilliand. Brother Rabulan was born in Sorsogon, Fla., and settled in Virginia Beach, Va. PAUL SHIH Brother Paul Shih, 65, signed on with the SIU in 1989. He was originally employed on the Independence. Brother Shih was born in China. He upgraded his skills in 2000 and 2001 at the Seafarers-affiliated school. Brother Shih’s last ship was the Patriot. He sailed in both the deck and engine departments and now makes his home in Honolulu. RICHARD SMALLWOOD Brother Richard Smallwood, 65, joined the union in 1970 while in the port of New York. He first shipped aboard the Kyska. Brother Smallwood was born in New Jersey. The engine department member attended classes on two occasions at the Paul Hall Center to upgrade his seafaring abilities. Brother Smallwood’s final voyage was on the USNS Wilkes. He is a resident of Neptune, N.J. LONNIE JOHNSON Brother Lonnie Johnson, 62, began shipping with the SIU in 1981. He was mainly employed with Alabama Pilots Inc. as a member of the deck department. Brother Johnson calls Coden, Ala., home. CLAUDIO UDAN Brother Claudio Udan, 65, was born in the Philippines. He donned the SIU colors in 1989, initially sailing aboard the Independence. Brother Udan worked in the deck department and most recently sailed aboard the Horizon Trader. In 1989 and 2001, he visited the Piney Point school to upgrade. Brother Udan continues to reside in the Philippines. INLAND GREAT LAKES ALBERT HAMIEL Brother Albert Hamiel, 58, joined the Seafarers in 1969. His first ship was the Reiss Brothers; his last the Sam Laud. Brother Hamiel was born in Michigan and worked in the deck department. He often took advantage of educational opportunities available at the union-affiliated school. Brother Hamiel makes his home in Manistique, Mich. department. Brother Henderson was born in Phenix City, Ala. His final trip to sea was on the Cape Avinof. GREGORY HOPKINS Brother Gregory Hopkins, 55, became an NMU member in 1977 while in the port of Houston. His earliest voyage was aboard the Gulf Crest. Brother Hopkins was born in Oakland, Calif. He most recently shipped on the Corpus Christi in the steward department. JAMES WILBY Brother James Wilby, 64, was born in Long Branch, N.J. He joined the union in 1966, initially sailing aboard the Oceanic as a member of the steward department. Brother Wilby’s last ship was the Integrity. ANTHONY ENNA Brother Anthony Enna, 55, became a union member in 1981. He sailed primarily with Crescent Towing of New Orleans for the duration of his career. Brother Enna is a New Orleans native. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Enna now lives in Metairie, La. NATIONAL MARITIME UNION CLEVE HENDERSON Brother Cleve Henderson, 55, started sailing with the NMU in 1978 from the port of Norfolk, Va. He originally sailed aboard the African Sun as a member of the steward Editor’s note: The following items are reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG. 1939 After a strike of less than one week’s duration, the SIU reached agreement with the Peninsula and Occidental Steamship Company. The agreement provided for a complete closed shop and all hiring to be done through the union hall. In addition to wage increases the agreement established the payment of overtime for all work performed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holidays, both at sea and in port, including the standing of regular watches. lifeboat training at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. In the future, examinations for lifeboat certification will be given to seamen who attend the school after their lifeboat training without a wait to allow them to build up 90 days of sea time. Under the arrangement with the Coast Guard, seafarers who pass the examination at the end of their lifeboat training will be automatically given their lifeboat tickets after they have sailed for the required 90 days to gain certification. This Month In SIU History 1963 The SIU-manned Floridian became the first American merchant ship fired on by Cuban MIG jet airplanes when she was attacked by two of the Russian-built aircraft about 50 miles north of Cuba. The jets first circled the ship for 20 minutes before opening up with machine guns. The attack came in the same waters between Florida and Cuba where Cuban MIGs attacked the American shrimp boat Ala with rockets and machine guns on Feb. 20. Seafarer Jack Nelson, an AB, took pictures of the attack from the deck. He handed the pictures over to U.S. intelligence sources in Miami when the ship docked. 1967 The U.S. Coast Guard granted approval of the 1994 Seafarers aboard the Sugar Islander helped support humanitarian efforts led by the World Food Program of Rome, Italy, when the Pacific Gulf Marine vessel delivered 20,000 metric tons of corn to the destitute country of Angola, on Africa’s west coast. “It was a very long and hard trip, but we got the job done. The entire trip took a total of 70 days, and 34 of those days were spent offloading,” AB Arthur Machado said. The crew began loading the yellow corn on March 7 in the vessel’s home port of New Orleans. On March 8, the crew finished loading and set sail for the African nation. The Sugar Islander arrived in the Angolan port of Lobito on March 29 and remained docked until April 21 when the last of the cargo was offloaded. Seafarers LOG 17 �Final Depar tures DEEP SEA WILLIAM ANDERSON Pensioner William Anderson, 85, passed away Dec. 7. Brother Anderson was born in Platte City, Mo. He joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards (MC&S) while in the port of San Francisco. Brother Anderson worked in the steward department. He retired in 1968 and made Kent, Wash., his home. KENNETH BLAIR Pensioner Kenneth Blair, 81, died Dec. 20. Brother Blair became a Seafarer in 1947 while in the port of New York. He was born in Tennessee. Brother Blair initially sailed in the deck department of a Calmar Steamship Corporation vessel. Prior to his retirement in 1992, he shipped aboard the Mariner. Brother Blair settled in McMinnville, Tenn. LEROY EDMONDSON Pensioner Leroy Edmondson, 76, passed away Dec. 30. Brother Edmondson started sailing with the union in 1969 from the port of San Francisco. The engine department member was born in Texas. Brother Edmondson’s first ship was the Belgium Victory; his last was the Sealift Antarctic. He went on pension in 1995 and called Manteca, Calif., home. ENRIQUE GARRIDO Brother Enrique Garrido, 54, died Jan. 30. He first donned the SIU colors in 1991. Brother Garrido’s earliest trip to sea was on the 18 Seafarers LOG USNS H.H. Hess. His final voyage took place aboard the Intrepid. Brother Garrido, a member of the steward department, was born in the Philippines. He lived in San Diego. TRAWN GOOCH Brother Trawn Gooch, 57, passed away Feb. 9. He joined the SIU ranks in 1969. Brother Gooch primarily sailed on vessels operated by Interocean American Shipping Corporation to include the Ft. Hoskins and the El Morro. He was born in Baltimore and worked in both the engine and deck departments during his seafaring career. Brother Gooch was a resident of Jacksonville, Fla. RAYMOND HODGES Pensioner Raymond Hodges, 88, died Dec. 28. Brother Hodges began sailing with the union in 1944 while in the port of Baltimore. He initially worked on a Waterman Steamship Corporation vessel as a member of the deck department. Brother Hodges was born in Surry, N.C. Before retiring in 1979, he was employed aboard Sea-Land’s SS Mayaguez. Brother Hodges made his home in State Road, N.C. CLAUDE HOLLINGS Pensioner Claude Hollings, 88, passed away Dec. 27. Brother Hollings was born in Alabama. He signed on with the SIU in 1941 while in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Hollings’ first ship was the Iberville. The steward department member last shipped on the Overseas Valdez. Brother Hollings became a pensioner in 1982 and continued to reside in his native state. SAMUEL JAMES Pensioner Samuel James, 88, died Oct. 4. Brother James, a member of the steward department, began sailing with the MC&S in 1956 in the port of San Francisco. His first voyage was aboard the Santa Magdelena. Brother James was born in Pledger, Texas. His final trip to sea was on the Santa Maria. Brother James started collecting his retirement compensation in 1985. He settled in Wharton, Texas. BILLY LOCKHART Pensioner Billy Lockhart, 69, passed away Feb. 2. Brother Lockhart became a Seafarer in 1981. He originally shipped aboard a Bay Tankers Inc. vessel as a member of the deck department. Brother Lockhart was born in Prattsville, Ark. His most recent ship was the Sam Houston. Brother Lockhart went on pension in 2004 and called Little Rock, Ark., home. WALLACE MASON Pensioner Wallace Mason, 85, died Feb. 1. Brother Mason started his seafaring profession in 1952. His earliest trip was on the Chiwawa. Brother Mason sailed in the deck department. His last voyage was aboard the SLMP 853 Tacoma. Brother Mason was born in Hanson, Mass., but made his home in Adamsville, Tenn. He began receiving his pension in 1982. ROBERT SPENCER Pensioner Robert Spencer, 83, passed away Jan. 11. Brother Spencer first donned the SIU colors in 1948 while in the port of Mobile, Ala. He was initially employed on the Hastings as a member of the steward department. Prior to his retirement in 1994, Brother Spencer worked aboard the Overseas Philadelphia. He continued to live in his native state of Alabama. RUDOLF SPINGAT Pensioner Rudolf Spingat, 79, died Nov. 29. Brother Spingat joined the MC&S in 1966 while in the port of San Francisco. His first voyage was on the Santa Magdelena. Brother Spingat’s final trip to sea was aboard the Chief Gadao. The Germanborn mariner shipped in the steward department. Brother Spingat retired in 1998. He was a resident of Spain. INLAND WILLIAM BURRISS Pensioner William Burriss, 69, passed away Feb. 21. Brother Burriss was born in Cumberland, N.C. He signed on with the union in 1963. Brother Burriss primarily sailed on vessels operated by Cape Fear Towing Company. He became a pensioner in 1994 and settled in Wilmington, N.C. JENETA KUPPE Pensioner Jenetta Kuppe, 77, died Jan. 12. Sister Kuppe began shipping with the SIU in 1987 while in St. Louis. She worked aboard Orgulf Transportation Company vessels for the duration of her career. Sister Kuppe sailed in the steward department. She started collecting retirement stipends in 1997. Sister Kuppe was born in Union City, Tenn., but called Hickman, Ky., home. JIMMY MCNUTT Pensioner Jimmy McNutt, 73, passed away Jan. 10. Brother McNutt joined the union ranks in 1980. The deck department member was mainly employed on vessels operated by Crowley Towing & Transportation of Wilmington. Brother McNutt was born in Alabama. He went on pension in 2004 and called Gulfport, Miss., home. WILLIAM MILLER Pensioner William Miller, 81, died Feb. 4. Brother Miller started sailing with the SIU in 1957 from the port of Baltimore. He was born in Maryland and worked in the deck department. Brother Miller mostly shipped with McAllister Towing of Baltimore. He retired in 1984 and lived in Edgemere, Md. Editor’s note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU), have passed away. Name Baptiste, Audley Centeno, Roberto Cisneros, Jorge Cruel, Julius Dufresne, Alfred Gaspard, Lawrence Henley, Samuel La Forgia, Nicholas La Rocque, Alvan Lewis, William Logston, Von Lopez, Pablo Lopez, Phillip Marrero, George Morgan, Joe O’Connell, Arthur Padilla, Wilfredo Polk, Washington Pope, William Reese, John Richardson, Fred Rolling, Leo Taylor, Thurston Thurman, Willmon Youngblood, Duane Age 94 83 81 95 80 84 92 82 82 87 83 85 93 77 71 75 81 85 91 73 83 79 89 85 61 DOD Jan. 6 Jan. 25 Feb. 5 Jan. 21 Jan. 23 Jan. 18 Jan. 8 Feb. 13 Jan. 8 Feb. 13 Dec. 26 Dec. 31 Jan. 13 Feb. 7 Jan. 18 Feb. 5 Jan. 23 Feb. 11 Nov. 13 Feb. 9 Feb. 8 Jan. 17 Jan. 27 Jan. 15 Feb. 8 April 2009 �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings ALASKAN FRONTIER (Alaska Tanker Company), Jan. 4 – Chairman Christopher J. Kicey, Secretary Jeffery L. Smith, Educational Director Odilio G. Evora. Chairman praised crew for their hard work and positive attitude in the cold and icy conditions while in Valdez, Alaska. He informed Seafarers that 60-day stores would be purchased in Long Beach, Calif. Secretary talked about the coming flu season and the impact it could have on them. He went over ways to reduce exposure and curb the spread of the virus. Crew members were thanked for their positive response to the elimination of paper cups. Educational director advised mariners to take advantage of Piney Point school to enhance their skills. He also reminded them to stay abreast of deadline for document renewals. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew decided on new lounge furniture arrangement and discussed getting satellite internet. CHARLESTON (USCS Transport), Jan. 30 – Chairman Nathaniel Leary, Secretary Abraham M. Martinez, Educational Director David Spaulding, Deck Delegate Eddie L. Major, Steward Delegate George A. Burgos. Chairman urged Seafarers to visit the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., and reminded them to apply for TWIC cards ASAP. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motion was made to increase pension, medical and dental benefits. Seafarers requested the union look into getting cable boxes for each crew member’s room and they could pay a monthly fee. FLORIDA (Maersk Line, Limited), Jan. 20 – Chairman Brian P. Corbett, Secretary Christina Nuttier, Educational Director Jeffery D. Levie, Deck Delegate Jon P. Dillon. Chairman thanked crew for their help, cooperation and understanding during the transition to the new ship. Secretary read and discussed letter from Maersk Line, Limited concerning vessel orientation. Educational director encouraged mariners to upgrade skills often at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. It was noted that some equipment has been stored for transfer onto the new vessel. Next ports: Charleston, S.C., and Houston. LIBERTY STAR (Liberty Maritime), Jan. 26 – Chairman Scott A. Heginbotham, Secretary Pablo C. Alvarez, Deck Delegate Floyd Patterson, Steward Delegate Consulalia M. Oatis. Bosun announced payoff in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Feb. 1. He asked the mariners to leave rooms clean for next crew members joining vessel. Secretary discussed the importance of enhancing seafaring abilities at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He requested crew fill in their completion of rotation form. Educational director advised members to keep up with the latest union news. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendation was made to increase pension benefits. Crew noted the trip went smoothly. MAERSK OHIO (Maersk Line, Limited), Jan. 30 – Chairman Thomas P. Flanagan, Secretary Edvaldo C. Viana, Educational Director Mohamed Y. Abdullah, Deck Delegate Donald Wallerson, Engine Delegate Mike Andrucovici, Steward Delegate Jerry E. Stuart. Chairman stated payoff would take place in Port Elizabeth, N.J., on Feb. 2. He thanked Seafarers for a smooth, safe trip. Members were asked to 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. Golden State Ties up in Wilmington The Seafarers-crewed Golden State in February tied up in the Port of Wilmington, Calif. Port Agent Jeff Turkus, while servicing the vessel, had an opportunity to meet and chat with members of the crew. The photo above captures some of that interaction. Pictured in the back row (from left to right) are: AB Sergey Sitnikov, Pumpman Oscar Garcia, Bosun Burkley Cooper, ACU Cesar Santos and Apprentice Timoth Hess. In the front row are AB Dennis Bracamonte, Oiler Arlyn Fernandez, Recertified Steward Reynaldo Magpale, Port Agent Turkus and Apprentice Monserrate Blass. leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen for relief. Educational director urged all mariners to upgrade their skills at the Paul Hall Center. He also reiterated the need to keep all necessary shipping documents current and noted TWIC deadline coming soon. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Requests were made for new blankets, quilts, pillows and an extra dryer. Vote of thanks given to the steward department for a job well done. Next port: Newark, N.J. MAERSK VIRGINIA (Maersk Line, ITB Jacksonville at Sea Limited), Jan. 25 – Chairman Mohamed S. Ahmed, Secretary Hugh E. Wildermuth, Educational Director Donald M. Christian, Steward Delegate Natividad A. Zapata. Chairman announced payoff on Jan. 28 in Newark, N.J. He thanked crew for doing their jobs well and safely; no lost time injuries in over 2,000 days. Departing mariners were asked to leave cabins neat for arriving crew and put keys on the desk. Educational director suggested crew check out what the Piney Point school has to offer. Treasurer reported $2,300 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motion was made to reduce age required to retire. Next ports: Newark, N.J., and Norfolk, Va. PHILADELPHIA EXPRESS (Marine Personnel & Provisioning), Jan.12 – Chairman Jesse Natividad, Secretary Exxl C. Ronquillo, Educational Director Christopher Eason, Deck Delegate Joseph B. Thielman, Steward Delegate Malcolm Holmes. Bosun noted payoff would take place at sea on Jan. 20 and expressed his gratitude to the steward department for excellent meals. Secretary thanked everyone for their help keeping ship clean, especially stripping and waxing rooms. He urged all Seafarers to contribute to SPAD (Seafarers Political Activity Donation) fund. Educational director advised members to take advantage of educational opportunities available at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed contract provisions pertaining to hazardous cargo, and method by which they should be informed when vessel is transporting such cargo. The union-contracted ITB Jacksonville recently completed a humanitarian voyage to East Africa. During a segment of the return trip, Chief Steward Peter Crum snapped the photo which appears above. Pictured are the vessel’s officers and crew as they celebrate following an on-board cook-out. April 2009 MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Line, Limited), Feb. 15 – Chairman Brian K. Fountain, Secretary Gerard L. Hyman, Educational Director Alan A. Rogers II, Deck Delegate Abdul Q. Gharama, Engine Delegate Alcido Lopes. Chairman expressed appreciation for everyone being safety conscious and looking out for shipmates. Secretary reported stores would be purchased in Virginia. He thanked crew members for pitching in and keeping house clean. No disputed OT reported; beef reported in the engine department which will be taken care of in Newark, N.J., at payoff. Next ports: Newark, N.J., and Charleston, S.C. MAERSK MICHIGAN (Maersk Line, Limited), Feb. 1 – Chairman David N. Martz, Secretary Robert J. Bostick, Educational Director Sheldon S. Greenberg, Deck Delegate Cornelio M. Bartolome, Steward Delegate Charles R. Rumble. Chairman reported new dryers were being installed. He asked everyone to keep noise down and be careful closing doors so they don’t slam. Educational director encouraged mariners to be mindful of their responsibilities and contractual duties. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motion was made to raise pension benefit amounts and lower sea time requirements. Next port: Greece. OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS (OSG Ship Management), Feb. 8 – Chairman Samuel Duah, Secretary Hernegildo Batiz, Educational Director Larry F. Phillips, Engine Delegate James A. McRevy Jr., Steward Delegate Breon A. Lucas. Chairman recommended mariners review contracts and the Seafarers LOG to stay informed on matters that affect them and the maritime industry. Secretary discussed the need for crew members to keep all paperwork up-to-date. Educational director advised crew to attend classes at the union-affiliated school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion was made concerning medical benefits. Members requested satellite TV in everybody’s room and new mattresses. Seafarers LOG 19 �New Law Contains Tax Breaks For Working Families Editor’s note: This article was prepared by the accounting firm Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP. $46,700 for individual taxpayers, and $70,950 for married couples filing joint returns. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law. While many people associate this tax act with bailouts and business stimulus packages, there are numerous deductions and tax credits that affect individual taxpayers as well. This summary will list some of the more common provisions of the act that may affect working families, including mariners. American Opportunity Education Credit Making Work Pay Credit More than 95 percent of working families in the United States will be eligible to receive this refundable tax credit, which can be up to $400 for individuals and up to $800 for working families. The credit is for tax years 2009 and 2010. This benefit can either be claimed on a tax return, or an employer may reduce the amount of Federal Income Tax Withholding that is deducted from each paycheck an individual receives. This tax credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples that file joint returns). Increased Refundable Child Tax Credit For 2009 and 2010, the refundable portion of the child tax credit will be calculated as 15 percent of earned income over $3,000. Previously, the credit was calculated as 15 percent of earned income over $8,500. The total child tax credit remains unchanged at up to $1,000 per qualifying child. Increased Transit Benefits Starting in March 2009, the amount of transit benefits an employee may receive from his or her employer that is free from payroll, federal, and state and local income taxes, has been increased to $230 per month, and will be indexed annually beginning in 2010. This increase brings the amount of tax-free transit benefits up to the amount already allowable for parking benefits issued by an employer. AMT Relief For taxpayers that are subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), the act will provide some relief from the AMT by extending nonrefundable personal credits, and increasing the AMT exemption amount to This credit replaces the old HOPE education credit, increases the number of taxpayers eligible to claim the credit, and increases the maximum amount of the credit. Taxpayers may claim this credit for themselves and their dependents for all four years (up from the first two years) they are enrolled in college. The credit is calculated at 100 percent of the first $2,000 paid during the year for tuition and related expenses (including books), and 25 percent of the next $2,000 paid for these qualifying expenses, for a total maximum credit of $2,500. This credit can be claimed per student. Additionally, 40 percent of the amount of this credit is deemed to be refundable. This tax credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for married couples that file joint returns). Above-the-line Deduction for Vehicle Sales Taxes For new vehicles purchased after February 17, 2009 and before January 1, 2010, a taxpayer may deduct any state and local sales or excise taxes paid that are attributed to the first $49,500 of a new car, light truck, recreational vehicle, or motorcycle. This deduction begins to phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $125,000 ($250,000 for married couples that file joint returns). Tax Break on Unemployment Benefits For 2009, the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits received will not be subject to federal income tax. Additionally, through December 31, 2009, the act continues the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program which provides up to 33 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to workers exhausting their regular benefits, and increases the amount of weekly benefits by $25. Residential Energy Efficiency Improvements Expanded 529 Plan Qualifying Education Credit Expenses For 2009 and 2010, the new act has tripled the tax Distributions from 529 education plans may now be expended on computers and computer technology in addition to tuition, room and board, mandatory fees, and books. Refundable First-time Home Buyer Credit Taxpayers who are first-time home buyers (taxpayers who had no present ownership interest in a principal residence for the three-year period ending on the closing date of the new home purchase), may claim this credit, valued at the lesser of 10 percent of the purchase price of the home or $8,000, if their new home is purchased after December 31, 2008 and before December 1, 2009. Unlike the previously existing $7,500 first-time home buyer’s credit, the new $8,000 credit does not have to be repaid unless the taxpayer sells the home within three years. This tax credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples that file joint returns). Please note that an individual can make a special election to claim this credit on his or her 2008 tax return. If a person has already filed his or her 2008 tax return, an amended return may be filed rather than waiting to receive the credit by filing the 2009 tax return. credit for residential energy efficiency. Taxpayers may now claim a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the amount expended for qualified energy efficient improvements made to existing homes, up to a lifetime maximum of $1,500. Qualified energy efficient improvements include electric heat pumps, central air conditioners, water heaters, wood stoves, natural gas, propane, and oil furnaces and hot water heaters, exterior windows, doors, skylights, and insulation. It is important to note that the efficiency standards used to qualify for the credit have been increased to a higher standard. Please check with the IRS web site (www.irs.gov) for more details. Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Credit Taxpayers who purchase a qualified plug-in electric vehicle after February 17, 2009 and before 2012 may claim a credit ranging from $2,500 up to over $7,000 for the first 200,000 units the manufacturer sells. Once the manufacturer records its 200,000th sale, the credit is reduced in subsequent quarters. This credit is allowed against the alternative minimum tax. Additionally, there is a separate credit valued at 10 percent, up to $4,000, for the cost of converting a motor vehicle to a plug-in electric drive motor vehicle. Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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. The annual financial committee will be elected during the May 4 headquarters membership meeting to review the 2008 records. 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/NMU 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 20 Seafarers LOG between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2009 �Seafarers Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Schedule The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., for the next few months of 2009. All programs are geared to improving the job skills of Seafarers and to promoting the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010. Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Firefighting/STCW May 11 May 25 July 20 May 15 May 29 July 24 MSC Small Arms (Company designees) April 20 May 18 April 24 May 22 Deck Upgrading Courses Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman April 27 June 22 May 22 July 17 Automated Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) April 13 April 17 Fast Rescue Boat June 29 July 3 Government Vessels June 1 July 27 June 5 July 31 Lifeboatman June 8 June 19 Radar Renewal April 20 April 20 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman May 4 May 15 Tank Ship Familiarization/Assistant Cargo DL May 18 May 29 Tank PIC Barge DL May 11 May 15 Steward Upgrading Courses Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward These classes start every other Monday. The most recent class began March 23. Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed at the Paul Hall Center. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, two weeks prior to the beginning of a vocational course. The following opportunities are currently available: Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), a College Program and a Preparatory Course. When applying for preparatory courses, students should list the name of the course desired on upgrading application. An introduction to computers course, a self-study module, is also available. Online Distance Learning Courses Engine Upgrading Courses Five new online “distance learning” (DL) courses now are available to students who plan to enroll in classes at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The online courses are not mandatory, but they are structured to benefit students who eventually attend other classes at the Paul Hall Center, which is located in Piney Point, Md. The new online courses are: Communications, First Aid Preparation, Bloodborne Pathogens, Basic Culinary Skills, and Basic Math Refresher. Also available in the DL program are Hazardous Material Control and Management, Hearing Conservation, Respiratory Protection, Heat Stress Management, Environmental Awareness, Shipboard Pest Management, and Shipboard Water Sanitation (for a total of 12 courses). Students MUST have access to the internet with an e-mail address in order to take the foregoing classes. Each must be taken online, not at the Paul Hall Center. E-mail addresses should be provided on applications (printed neatly) when applying. Applicants should include the letters DL when listing any online course on the form below. Advanced Refrigerated Container June 22 July 17 Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations (BAPO) May 25 June 19 FOWT April 27 June 22 May 22 July 17 Marine Electrician May 11 July 3 Marine Refrigeration Technician May 4 June 12 Machinist June 1 June 19 Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Pumpman June 22 July 3 Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later Welding May 4 June 1 May 22 June 19 Important Notice discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take Safety Specialty Courses their places Basic Firefighting/STCW May 4 May 9 UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested, 1995 STCW Certificate, valid SHBP Clinic Card and TWIC. Street Address _________________________________________________________ City __________________________ State _______________ Zip Code ___________ Telephone _________________________ Deep Sea Member Lakes Member Date of Birth ______________________ Inland Waters Member If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security # ______________________ Book # _________________________ Seniority _____ Department ___________ E-mail ____________________________ U.S. Citizen: Yes No Home Port _____________________________ COURSE BEGIN DATE END DATE ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held _____________________________________ LAST VESSEL: _____________________________________ Rating: ___________ _____________________________________________________________________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off: ________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? Yes No SIGNATURE __________________________________ DATE ________________ If yes, class # __________________________________________________________ Yes Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? No If yes, course(s) taken ___________________________________________________ Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement? Yes No Firefighting: Yes No CPR: Yes No Primary language spoken ________________________________________________ April 2009 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. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/09 Seafarers LOG 21 �Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class – Unlicensed apprentices from Class 714 recently graduated from the water survival course. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Nofoalii Aiaga, Brandon Braam, Joseph Brewer, John Cooper, Carlos Davila, Julian Davila, Devarian Durant, Alejandro Esparza, Kelly Forbis, Lamont Green, Kevin Jenkins, Adam McLaughlin, Anthony Pena, Gary Richards, Jose Rivas Escudero, Ricky Rivers Martinez, Curtis Royal, Cedric Short and Shatina Wright. Their instructor, Stan Beck, is at far right. Marine Electrician – Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class – Unlicensed apprentices from Class 715 recently completed training in the water survival course. Graduating from the course (above, in alphabetical order) were: Brandy Baker-Days, Paul Cooper, Will Dalton, Todd Favaza, Amber Fisher, Jon Garland, Thomas Garland, Charles Harris Jr., Joshua Harris, Antoine Hoggard, James Honaker, Thomas Huminski, Johnny Hunter, Russell Macomber, Sean Mannix, Juan Negron-Miro, Valentine Okei, Luis Ramos-Rose and Jonathan Wilson. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Five upgraders on Feb. 27 completed training in this 280-hour course. Pictured with the members of his class (above, left) is Instructor Jay Henderson. Class members (from left to right) were: Carmelo Collazo, Michael Lais, Charles Sneed, Jerome Culbreth and Christopher Earhart. OSG Cooks (Tugboat) – Five individuals, all employees of SIU-contracted Overseas Shipholding Group, on Feb. 13 graduated from this steward department course. Those graduating (above, from left to right) were Richard Dean, Noah Metzger, Bob Simpson, John Mackey and Richard Edward. John Dobson, their instructor, is at far right. Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. Advanced Container Maintenance – One upgrader on Jan 30 completed training requirements for this course. Graduating from the course (above, right) was Samuel Addo. His instructor, Calvin Beal, is at left. 22 Seafarers LOG FOWT – Eighteen mariners on Feb. 27 completed their requirements for graduation from this course. Those graduating (above, in no particular order) were: Chris Shiralieu, Patrick Milton, Joangel Sierra, George Santiago, Tonya Gist, Mark Merenda, Joshua Johnson, Larry Locke, Spencer Hiruko, Algernon Ramseur, DeMorris Duggins, Marlon Green, Kareem Walters, James Fells, Robert Orloff, Fred Nyarro, Jose Orengo and Ashley Carmichael. Tim Achorn, their instructor, is at far left). April 2009 �Paul Hall Center Classes Tank Ship Familiarization (Phase III) — Two classes of Phase III apprentices on Jan. 23 completed their training requirements in this 63-hour class. Graduating from the course (above, in alphabetical order) were: Bryan Alflen, James Baldwin, Sarah Billingsley, Rashid Body, Ernest Bullock Jr., Larry Byrd, Charlotte Chastain, Erik, Clausen, Prentice Conley, Jack Corn, Scott Daly, Andrew Delutis, Van Dixon, Jarrell Dorsey, Christopher Funderbuck Jr., James Grant, Ian Harding, Byran Howell, Aretta Jones, Byran Howell, Aretta Jones, Ryan Klinewski, Joshua Luna, Celso Maldonado-Rivera, Marqualis Matthews, Devin McCoy, Douglas McLaughlin, Nekesha Miller, Mitchell Newingham, Jeremy Paschke, Thomas Reed II, Maurice Reine, Jonathan Rivera-Rodriguez, Andre Robinson Sr., Chenequa Rodriguez, Yatniel Sanchez-Padilla, Michael Spirit, Jesse Sunga, Richard Vega, Charles Wescott, Devin Wood and Lee Wright. Marine Refrigeration Technician – Four upgraders completed this course on March 20. Graduating (above, beginning second from left) were Jessie Vlibus, Jomar Rodriguez, Mark Ponzatuwsky and Roger Dillinger Jr. Their instructor, Calvin Beal, is at far left. Tank Ship Familiarization DL - The following upgraders (above, in no particular order) on Feb. 20 completed their training in this 63-hour course: Steven Hoskins, Alfred Martin, Oleg Derun, Jethro Powers, Ahmed Ali, Parris Mancuso, Alex Busby, Michael Presser, Donivan McCants, Mauricio Elopre, Bobby Darku, Anita Santos, Charles Horton, John Williamson and Haeven Bautista. Jim Shaffer, their instructor, is at far right. Crowd Management (Hawaii) – The following eight individuals (above, in no particular order) graduated from this course at the Seafarers Training Center at Barbers Point, Hawaii: Mamadou Diallo, John Minutillo, Vincent Atillo, Efren Pahinag, Kelly Stier, Timothy Griffin, Andrew Christensen and Ahmed Omer. Able Seaman – Ten mariners on Feb. 13 completed their training requirements for this course. In photo above, Instructor Bernabe Pelingon (left) joins class graduates (in no particular order) Richardo Grushkin, Winston Franks, Deniel Thompson, Roy Logan, Robert Brackbill, Steven Sidler, Enchantress Johnson, Robert Day, Johnathan McNeil and Matthew Martinson. Marine Electrician – Eight upgraders on Dec. 19 completed their training requirements for this 280-hour course. Graduating and receiving certificates (photo at right, in alphabetical order) were: Ray Avie Jr., Rigoberto Beata, Martin Hamilton, Benny Orosco, Hashiem Pittman, David Spaulding, Daryl Thomas and Philander Walton. Their instructor, Jay Henderson, is at far right. April 2009 Seafarers LOG 23 �Volume 71, Number 4 April 2009 T-AKE Ship Brashear Delivered - Page 4 The 2008 Toys for Tots campaign in the Port of Tacoma was a hugh success. Clockwise from left, bikes and a variety other toys are staged for collection in the hiring hall. GUDE Alfredo Genio, AB Morgan Piper and Patrolman Kris Hopkins make their donations for the effort while Sgt. Mansoo Masga, Staff Sgt. Patrick Salmon and Lance Cpl. Ben Abraham pose in front of a vehicle which has been loaded to capacity with toys donated to the Toys for Tots campaign by Tacoma-area Seafarers. At Port of Tacoma Toys for Tots Huge Success A number of children in the Tacoma Wash., area had a more enjoyable Christmas thanks to the generosity of Seafarers. SIU members in and around the port of Tacoma, while participating in the U.S. Marine Corps’- sponsored Toys for Tots campaign donated six new bicycles and more than 100 toys to some 30 families (50 children) during the 2008 Christmas holiday season. The effort represented the single largest donation in the Tacoma area for the second consecutive year, according to Tacoma Port Agent Joe Vincenzo. The items were donated from Oct. 1 through Dec. 14 in the hiring hall. Union members collected the items following the hall’s annual holiday luncheon. With the assistance of Staff Sgt. Patrick Salmon and fellow Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Command, 12th Marine Corps District in Tacoma, members following the luncheon collected and loaded the toys into two large vehicles for distribution. “The year 2008 was tough for families in the Tacoma area as well as throughout the nation,” Vincenzo said. “With unemployment soaring, many men and women were unable to provide even the basic necessities such as putting food on the table for their children, let alone Christmas gifts. “Many have been victimized because of huge layoffs,” he continued. “Unlike them however, we still have good union paying jobs and because of that we are in position to help. “I am personally honored and privileged to have been a part of this worthy goodwill effort,” he concluded, “and I am extremely proud of how our membership responded to those needing assistance in our community.” The 2008 Toys for Tots campaign in the Port of Tacoma was an overwhelming success. Besides rank-and-file members, others responsible (above, left to right) included Tacoma Port Agent Joe Vincenzo, Safety Director Ryan Palmer, Tacoma Adminintrative Assistant Brenda Flesner, Staff Sgt. Patrick Salmon, Lance Cpl. Ben Abraham, Patrolman Kris Hopkins and Sallie Shawl, director, Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful. In photo below, GUDE Alfredo Genio (foreground, center), other Seafarers and guests partake in the hiring hall’s annual Christmas luncheon. At the conclusion of the luncheon, members loaded items donated for the Toys for Tots campaign into vehicles for distribution. Tacoma Port Agent Joe Vincenzo (right in photo above, wearing white shirt) thanks Tacoma-area Seafarers for their genorosity during the port’s 2008 Toys for Tots campaign. In photo below, Vincenzo (left) chats with Recertified Bosun Tony Gurney, Staff Sergeant Salmon and Lance Corporal Abraham during the hiring hall’s Christmas luncheon. � 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 2000-2009 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXII-LXXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present, Seafarers Log Digital Copies 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 April 2009 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES CHINESE VESSELS SHADOW, HARASS UNARMED U.S. SURVEILLANCE SHIP MTD CHARTS COURSE FOR STRENGTHENING WORKERS’ RIGHTS, AMERICAN-FLAG FLEET MEMBERS APPROVE 3-YEAR PACT AT GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK MSC ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF AMMO SHIP USNS BRASHEAR FROM NASSCO TRANSITION TO NEW MARINER CREDENTIAL BEGINS MID-APRIL AFL-CIO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WELCOMES PLEDGES OF SUPPORT FROM OBAMA, BIDEN U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TOPS 8 PERCENT FERRY CREWS RECEIVE PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS CIVMAR-MANNED USNS BRIDGE WINS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD MAERSK SHIPS ACHIEVE SAFETY MILESTONES IN LATE 2008 STEWARD RECALLS ANTARCTIC JOURNEY UNION-AFFILIATED SCHOOL TESTS ELECTRICIAN APPRENTICE PROGRAM AB ABOARD GREEN RIDGE RECALLS POIGNANT MOMENT PAUL HALL CENTER COURSE SPOTLIGHT COMMANDER CITES CRUCIAL LABOR ‘PARTNERSHIP’ ‘A TIME OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY’ CONGRESSMAN PLEDGE CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR MARITIME, OTHER PRO-WORKER ISSUES TOUGH TIMES BUT NEW TONNAGE STILL COMING NY WATERWAY RECOGNIZED FOR RESCUE ON HUDSON EFCA REMAINS PRIORITY FOR ORGANIZED LABOR STATEMENTS ADOPTED BY MTD EXECUTIVE BOARD SEAFARERS ‘MOTOR’ IN ROLLING THUNDER FOR U.S. MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS TOYS FOR TOTS HUGE SUCCESS 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2009 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. 71, No. 4 2009 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/6d45906ff252aa8000a4b7161f85944c.pdf de8aa5d7f165826d4a8b54b5e42d3e6c PDF Text Text 58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:13 AM Page 1 Volume 72, Number 4 April 2010 Military Leaders, Other MTD Speakers Reinforce Support for U.S. Mariners At the most recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board, guest speakers emphasized appreciation and support for the U.S. Merchant Marine. Most mentioned the relief mission in Haiti as yet another example of the U.S.-crewed, American-flag fleet’s dependability. Clockwise beginning at upper left, left to right in each photo, some of the guest speakers from the Feb. 25-26 meeting in Orlando, Fla., are pictured with SIU officials as follows: SIU and MTD President Michael Sacco and General Duncan McNabb, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; Vice Admiral Mark Buzby, commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command, and SIU Government Services VP Kermett Mangram; Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky and SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez; and SIU Sec.Treasurer David Heindel and AFL-CIO Sec.-Treasure Liz Shuler. Coverage starts on page 3 and continues on pages 9-13. USNS Comfort Returns Home Liberty Promise Becomes Newest Vessel to Join SIU-Crewed Fleet The car carrier Liberty Promise (right) recently joined the SIU-contracted fleet, signaling more job opportunities. SIU members man the vessel’s unlicensed positions in all three shipboard departments. Page 3. Following a successful deployment for Operation Unified Response, the Seafarers-crewed hospital ship USNS Comfort last month returned to its home port, Baltimore. SIU Port Agent Elizabeth Brown (left) welcomes Bosun Gerald Butch shortly after the vessel docked on March 19. Previously, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen visited crew members while the ship was in Haiti. Page 24. Finance Committee Approves Records Snapshots from New Ship Mohegan Page 2 Page 4 Important Notice to Seafarers Page 15 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:14 PM Page 2 President’s Repor t Effective Partnership Good for America A highlight from the recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board was the presentation by General Duncan McNabb, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command. Depending on whether you’re reading this article on the web or in our union newspaper, you may already have seen General McNabb’s photo and read some of his remarks to the MTD. In any case, he was very gracious and undoubtedly sincere when he described the American-flag maritime industry – including SIU members and other U.S. civilian mariners – as valuable partners who boost our national and economic security. A few weeks later, he made similar, supportive statements when testifying before the House Armed Services Committee. On March 17, General McNabb said, “One of our greatest advantages over any adversary is our nation’s strategic ability to move – it is a crown jewel in our National Strategy and gives us our true global reach.” Part of that capability is the U.S. Military Sealift Michael Sacco Command, one of the Transportation Command’s components. He also urged continued support of pro-maritime initiatives including the Maritime Security Program (MSP), among others. And he said that TRANSCOM’s partnerships with the U.S. commercial sealift industry “give us critical access to U.S. commercial capability while ensuring the availability of a viable U.S.-flag maritime industry and U.S. citizen mariner pool in times of national emergency.” It’s an honor for our industry to have the support of a leader like General McNabb, and I know we’ll continue to earn his trust and confidence. One of the steps that will help us accomplish that goal is the extension and expansion of the MSP. As the SIU noted in our own testimony prepared for a separate Congressional hearing last month, the current version of the program expires in just a few short years. It would cost literally billions of dollars to replicate the tonnage and infrastructure currently available to our military through MSP. The cost of replacing the manpower pool really cannot be measured. When you add it all together, you get a program which has been described year after year by our nation’s military leaders, including General McNabb, as an invaluable bargain. The bottom line is that the MSP is a proven, effective program with widespread backing. It benefits not only our industry but our nation. Health Care The fight over health insurance reform has been intense and complicated, as was evident when the House recently passed health care legislation patterned after the bill approved by the Senate on Christmas Eve. If there’s one thing everyone seems to agree on – supporters and opponents alike – it’s that the newly signed bill isn’t perfect. While it’s too soon to know in fine detail exactly how the new rules and regulations will affect the SIU, for the most part it doesn’t appear as if they will mean much to people who already have medical benefits through their employer. As our old-timers know, the SIU has always made sure we could afford the benefits we offered our members and their families. The biggest changes apply to the uninsured – an additional 32 million people will be covered. We will continue analyzing what it all means for the Seafarers Plans and we’ll be reporting on it. Meanwhile, this bill contains a number of labor-supported improvements, not the least of which is the elimination of denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions. It also bans charging higher rates due to pre-existing conditions and outlaws the practice of insurers dropping coverage when someone files a claim or is diagnosed with a condition requiring expensive treatment. Other key components include eliminating 85 percent of the tax on benefits (contained in the Senate bill) that would have penalized working families. Instead, the bill signed by President Obama substitutes a tax on the wealthy stipulating that Medicare contributions be paid on unearned income. It also extends the age for dependent coverage to 26. Again, the bill isn’t perfect, but it’s not the abomination that some are portraying it to be. It’s a start and it’s something we can build on. Volume 72, Number 4 The double-hulled vessel Overseas Martinez, pictured during its launch in Philadelphia, is part of the largest-ever commercial order for tankers. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Launches Overseas Martinez Tanker will be Operated By SIU-Contracted OSG The SIU-contracted fleet continued on its course to expansion March 10 as Aker Philadelphia Shipyard launched the ninth Veteran Class MT-46 product tanker in a series of 12 such ships to be completed by 2011. A 46,000 dwt vessel, Ship 013 was floated off of its blocks and was transferred by tug from the shipyard’s building dock to the outfitting dock. It was expected to remain in that location for a few weeks while undergoing continuous testing and commissioning in preparation for its upcoming sea trials. When completed, the 600-foot-long vessel, to be named the Overseas Martinez, will be sold to American Shipping Company and bareboat chartered to union-contracted Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) for use transporting petroleum products. A double-hulled tanker, she will join her Akerbuilt sister ships—the Overseas Houston, Overseas Long Beach, Overseas Los Angeles, Overseas New York, Overseas Texas City, Overseas Boston, Overseas Nikiski and Overseas Cascade—which are crewed by members of the SIU. Each vessel is diesel powered with a beam of roughly 105 feet. They can carry 332,000 barrels apiece and sail at speeds in excess of 14 knots. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is a union-contracted facility and a leading U.S. commercial yard building vessels for operation in the Jones Act market. The Jones Act is a law that protects United States national and economic security by stipulating that vessels travelling from one domestic port to another be crewed, built, owned and flagged American. Union’s Financial Records for 2009 Reviewed, Approved by Members Each year, in accordance with the union’s constitution, a committee of rank-and-file SIU members closely reviews the organization’s financial records for the prior year. This routine-but-important scenario played out again last month, as seven Seafarers found the SIU’s financial records for 2009 in good order. Those members were elected March 8 by fellow rank-andfile Seafarers to serve on the financial committee. They scrutinized all of the appropriate records that same week, meeting at SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. Again in accordance with the SIU Constitution, the committee’s report will be read in all ports at the union’s monthly membership meetings and presented for membership approval. The report formally has been presented to the SIU secretary-treasurer. Serving on the committee following their election at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md., were Seafarers Gerard Costello (chairman), Army Joe Leake, Kimberly Strate, Cecil Williams, Aubrey Davis, Thomas Woerner and Robert Ott. In its report, the committee, using traditional phrasing, stated, “We find that the headquarters of the union is taking all steps possible to safeguard union funds and to see that the disbursements of the union are in accordance with the authority delegated to them and that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to increase day-to-day efficiency of our operation.” The report further pointed out, “Representatives of the certified public accounting firm who periodically audit the union’s books and records explained their auditing procedures for the checking of the secretary-treasurer’s financial report of the union’s records. They further discussed with us the overall financial operation of the union. In addition, the secretary-treasurer worked with the committee and made himself and the records of his office available to the committee…. All of said records were, in fact, examined by the committee.” Article X, Section 14-c of the SIU Constitution lists the duties of the annual financial committee along with rules and procedures for electing the committee. April 2010 The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFLCIO; 5201 Auth Way; 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 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Jim Guthrie; Associate Editor, Mark Bowman; Photographer, Mike Hickey; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2010 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD. All Rights Reserved. The Seafarers International Union engaged an environmentally friendly printer for the production of this newspaper. 2 Seafarers LOG Committee members and SIU officials are pictured at union headquarters. Seated from left to right are QE4 Cecil Williams, Recertified Bosun Aubrey Davis, QEP Thomas Woerner and QMED Robert Ott. Standing (from left) are Chief Steward Army Joe Leake, Asst. VP Ambrose Cucinotta, Chief Steward Kimberly Strate, Recertified Bosun Gerard Costello and Sec.-Treasurer David Heindel. April 2010 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:13 AM Page 3 MTD and SIU President Michael Sacco (photo at right) encourages board members and guests. The meeting room (above) is packed for a detailed presentation from Gen. McNabb, commander of TRANSCOM. MTD Speakers Credit Maritime Labor Many Cite Haiti Relief Ops as Latest Example of Mariners’ Reliability An impressive array of guest speakers at the most recent Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board meeting praised the U.S. Merchant Marine for its dependability and said America simply cannot afford to do without a strong U.S.-flag fleet. A number of those speakers, including the respective leaders of the U.S. Transportation Command and the U.S. Military Sealift Command, pointed to Operation Unified Response in Haiti as yet another prime example of how civilian mariners and the industry as a whole always answers our nation’s call. Representatives from the military, the Obama administration, labor and business addressed the board Feb. 25-26 in Orlando, Fla. Their insights and support helped MTD officials hone strategies designed to boost not only maritime workers but America’s working families in general. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as president of the MTD, which is a constitutionally mandated depart- ment of the AFL-CIO. The MTD consists of 23 international unions and 21 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing 5.5 million working men and women. In his opening remarks, Sacco said that while organized labor undoubtedly feels some frustration about the economy and on issues including health care and the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), neither the MTD nor its individual affiliates or port maritime councils will abandon efforts to advocate for working families. “There is nothing in front of us that we can’t overcome,” he told the audience. “We are still in a position where we have a fighting chance to stand up for our members and for all working families. We are still in a position where we have a pro-labor White House and Congress. And we’re smart enough and experienced enough to know that we simply have no choice but to stay in the fight.” In order of appearance, the following guest speakers addressed the board Feb. 25: U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, commander of MSC; Eric Smith, vice president and chief commercial officer of OSG America; Stephen Cotton, International Transport Workers’ Liberty Promise Reflags Under ‘Stars and Stripes,’ Adds More Job Opportunities for Seafarers More shipboard opportunities recently appeared on the union’s job radar with the delivery of the Liberty Maritime Corporation (LMC)-operated MV Liberty Promise into the U.S. fleet. A roll on/roll off platform, the Liberty Promise becomes the ninth vessel in LMC’s SIU-crewed fleet. She joins fellow RO/RO sister ships the Alliance New April 2010 York and the Liberty Pride along with bulk carriers Liberty Eagle, Liberty Glory, Liberty Grace, Liberty Spirit, Liberty Star, and Liberty Sun in LMC’s flotilla of vessels which sail under the Stars and Stripes. Like the Liberty Pride, which entered the American-flag fleet late last year, the Liberty Promise also is a pure car and truck carrier. LMC’s affil- Federation maritime coordinator; Frank Larkin, communications representative from the International Association of Machinists; and Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris. A day later, the following individuals spoke to the board: U.S. Air Force General Duncan McNabb, commander of TRANSCOM; U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, the agency’s assistant commandant for marine safety, security and stewardship; Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky; U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda; and AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Liz Shuler. As the meeting concluded, on behalf of the MTD and its port councils and affiliate unions, President Sacco and other officials presented a check for the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center’s Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers’ Campaign. Altogether, the MTD and its affiliates donated more than $82,000, including contributions from SIU members. See pages 9-13 for detailed coverage of the MTD meeting iate, Liberty Global Logistics, will employ the vessel together with its sisterships, the MV Alliance New York and MV Liberty Pride, in the worldwide international trade focusing on providing first class service to the United States military and other customers. Seafarers are manning the vessel’s unlicensed positions in all three shipboard departments. Current crew members include Bosun Mark Lance, ABs Benjamin Wright, Hector Barnes, Ryanne Wheeler, Delroy Brown and Lawrence Tharp; Oilers Alexander Kramer and Lee Roy Wright; Steward Baker Gergory Melvinand SA Richard Gegenheimer. The Liberty Promise was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea. She boasts a draft of 32.8 feet and has a 105.44-foot beam. The Promise has a total deck cargo area of more than 584,000 square feet and is rated to carry 6,100 small cars. She is 656 feet in length, has a MAN B7W 7S60MCC6 engine and can sail at a service speed of 20.5 knots. “We are delighted to take delivery of the MV Liberty Promise, our second newly constructed, state of the art, pure car truck carrier, and to bring it into the U.S. flag fleet to serve the needs of our nation’s military personnel,” said Philip J. Shapiro, Liberty’s President and CEO. “We also salute the men and women of our U.S. citizen crew, comprised of well trained members of the SIU and the MEBA, and wish them fair winds and following seas,” he concluded. “The addition of the Liberty Promise to the U.S.-flag fleet means more jobs for SIU members,” said SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. “It’s great news not only for the union but also for the country during these very trying economic times.” Liberty Maritime Corporation is based in Lake Success, N.Y. Formed in 1988 as the operating entity for various deep sea oceangoing dry bulk carrier vessels owned by Liberty Shipping Group, the LMC is one of the largest privately held independent operators of U.S.-flag dry bulk carrier vessels. Its American-flag fleet operates in both the preference trades of the United States and the international commercial trades. The Liberty Maritime operated Liberty Promise (above and in photo at left) is shown during sea trials last month. A pure car and truck carrier, the vessel is the latest platform to join the SIU-contracted fleet. Seafarers LOG 3 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:14 AM Page 4 Containership MV Mohegan Delivering Cargo for MSC The containership MV Mohegan, one of the newest additions to the Seafarers-crewed fleet, is delivering cargo for the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) following its recent reflagging into the American registry. Operated by Sealift Inc., the vessel is sailing on resupply mis- sions to Diego Garcia in a shuttle service from Singapore. The ship was built in 1994. Formerly named the Rio Bogota, it was reflagged U.S. late last year and then was delivered to MSC the first week of January. The charter for the Mohegan may extend up to five years if all options are exercised. Operated by Sealift Inc., the Mohegan is under charter for up to five years The vessel was built in 1994. This photo was taken aboard the ship late last year while the vessel was reflagging overseas. Pictured from left to right are (sitting) AB Anthony Pace, Recertified Steward William Bragg (standing), SIU Guam Port Agent John Hoskins, AB Chris Johnson, OMU Terry Abbott, OMU Mike Jones and AB Kenneth Taylor. Navy Confirms 2 More T-AKE Orders New Builds will Boost Lewis and Clark-Class Fleet to 14 Despite the fears and woes that the recession and unemployment rates are causing for many, U.S. mariners can breathe a little easier than most due to the introduction of new ships and jobs into the U.S.-flag fleet. For example, the U.S. Military Sealift Command recently announced it will follow through on its plans for additional Lewis and Clark-class T-AKE ship construction; the agency has committed budget money to add two more such vessels to its fleet. The original plan for the dry cargo/ammunition ships was to award contracts for the construction of six vessels with an option for six more at a later date. Due to the success of the program, the Defense Department announced the funding of T-AKE 13 and T-AKE 14, to be built by unioncontracted General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego. T-AKE 13 is the future USNS Medgar Evans and T-AKE 14 has yet to be named. Construction of the ships is scheduled to begin in the second and fourth quarters of 2010, respectively. According to MSC, T-AKEs allow Navy ships to stay at sea, on station and combat ready, for extended periods of time. The ships are crewed by approximately 124 civil service mariners and 11 U.S. Navy sailors, who provide supply coordination. 4 Seafarers LOG SIU Government Services Division members sail in the unlicensed positions aboard the Lewis and Clark-class T-AKE ships. In other recent news about the TAKEs, the U.S. Navy christened and launched the USNS Charles Drew (TAKE 10) in February. The ship honors Dr. Charles Drew, an American physician, regarded as the father of the blood bank, who researched and developed methods of blood collection, plasma processing and storage. Drew’s research in blood storage first benefited soldiers in the field during World War II, but has continued to save the lives of millions of people worldwide. His blood bank design is still the model for modern hospitals and for organizations such as the American Red Cross. Also in February, NASSCO delivered the USNS Matthew Perry (TAKE 9) to the Navy. The ship is named in memory of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, the U.S. Navy officer who established American trade with Japan in the mid-19th Century. The USNS Charles Drew (above) slides into the water following its christening Feb. 27, at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah E. Burford, Sealift Logistics Command Pacific Public Affairs). Union-contracted NASSCO delivered the USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) (photo at left) to the Navy in February. April 2010 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:15 AM Page 5 List of Nations to Ratify ILO 185 Grows to 17 United States, Canada Still Lagging on Measure In late February, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that Russia had become the latest nation to ratify a convention known as the Seafarers Identity Document No. 185 (typically abbreviated as ILO 185). This brings the number of ratifications of the convention up to 17. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) pointed out that so far in 2010, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina also have ratified ILO 185. “The ratification shows that this convention is still relevant,” said ITF Seafarers’ Section Secretary Jon Whitlow. “This should encourage other countries to do likewise.” SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who serves as first vice chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, said the recent ratifications are bittersweet in that they once again indirectly call attention to the fact that neither the U.S. nor Canada has signed off on the agreement. “This convention is important to all mariners, not just U.S. mariners,” Heindel stated. “When our seafarers go abroad, it’s critical that we have an ILO 185-compliant document. And when seafarers of other nations sail to our shores we should not further complicate their profession by restricting their ability go ashore. To that end, America should ratify this important convention immediately.” According to the ILO, the Seafarers Identity Documents Convention of 2003 (No. 185) revises the earlier Seafarers Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108). The new convention, among other things, covers shore leave and is aimed at helping enable mariners to go ashore in foreign ports. “The much-needed changes of 2003 relate to the identification of the seafarers,” the agency pointed out. “They have radically enhanced the security features as well as the uniformity of the Seafarers Identity Document (SID) that countries are required to issue to their seafarers and lay down minimum requirements with respect to the countries’ processes and procedures for the issuance of SIDs.” In late February, the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board approved a statement on this topic. The resolution in part reads: “ILO 185 … calls for nations to use state-of-the-art technology to verify the identity of mariners documented by their countries. These documents would be audited every five years. They would eliminate the need for visas for shore leave. “Maritime unions throughout the world, including those belonging to the MTD, believe such a technologically advanced document would provide greater security for ports while allowing mariners to disembark vessels when in port. However, despite being the originator of the proposal in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the United States – as well as Canada – is among the nations who have failed to ratify ILO 185…. “The MTD and its unions believe [ILO 185] deserves support and ratification. The United States and Canada should take the lead in doing so in order that mariners around the world will have safer and better working conditions.” The International Labor Organization is a United Nations agency self-described as “bringing together governments, employers and workers of its member states in common action to promote decent work throughout the world.” The ITF has more than 750 affiliated unions representing more than 4.6 million transport workers in 154 countries. Tanker Modified for Shuttle Service Seafarers and SIU officials in early March helped commemorate the conversion of the tanker Overseas Cascade (above), which was modified for shuttle service. A ceremony took place March 4 in Charleston, S.C. For a related story, see page 12. SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez (right) and VP Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski (left) congratulate U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) on receiving a prestigious award from a Great Lakes coalition. U.S. Rep. Sutton Honored By Great Lakes Coalition SIU Asst. VP Archie Ware, OSG Senior VP Capt. Robert Johnston SIU Asst. VP Archie Ware, OSG VP and CCO Eric Smith The SIU crew aboard the tanker includes (from left) AB Romualdo Medina, OMU Marcos Arriola, QEP Victor Quioto and ABs Jonathan Weaver, Lawrence Hernandez, Julio Arzu and Silvio Lino. April 2010 U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) recently was honored by a key maritime industry coalition because of her lifelong commitment to American-made goods and the workers who produce them, as well as for her dedication to saving and creating jobs. In an early February ceremony in Washington, D.C., Sutton received the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) 2010 Great Lakes Legislator of the Year Award. The task force is the largest labor/management coalition representing workers and industries dependent on shipping on the Great Lakes. The SIU is one of its members; SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez and SIU Vice President Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski attended the award presentation. The president of the GLMTF, James H.I. Weakley, said that in addition to her many other accomplishments, Sutton’s leading role in helping enact the program known as Cash for Clunkers “made her our overwhelming choice” for this year’s award. He pointed out there is a strong connection between shipping on America’s fourth sea coast and the automotive industry. “On average, a car requires 1,600 pounds of steel, so the Cash for Clunkers program means 265,000 tons of American-made steel is moving people about the country,” Weakley said. “Iron ore, the primary ingredient in steel, is the largest cargo on the Great Lakes. It takes about 1.5 tons of iron ore to make a ton of steel, so those vehicles consumed nearly 400,000 tons of Minnesota and Michigan iron ore that moved from mine to mill in U.S.-Flag lakers.” John D. Baker, first vice president of the coalition said the only thing stronger than Sutton’s commitment to the environment is her allegiance to American labor and enterprise. “I have known Betty for many years. Time after time she has stood firm with American labor and American companies,” he stated. Rep. Sutton has made other significant contributions to Great Lakes shipping since being elected to the House of Representatives in 2006. She serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and serves as co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Job Creation. Seafarers LOG 5 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 9:50 AM Page 6 Retired SIU Official Babkowski Passes Away in N.J. at Age 91 Theodore “Teddy” Babkowski, a retired SIU official who took part in virtually all of the union’s earliest fights, passed away Feb. 21 at his home in Kendall Park, N.J. He was 91. Babkowski joined the union in 1941 in Philadelphia and sailed in all combat zones during World War II. A member of the deck department, he helped organize the Isthmian fleet, was active in the 1946 general strike and participated in many of the other beefs which helped lay the SIU’s foundation. He came ashore after the war to work for the union as a port representative in New York, where he spent much of his career. Before retiring in 1983, he also at various times served the union on the West Coast (including Seattle) and at other East Coast locations including Baltimore and Piney Point, Md. “He was a good union man – a real fighter,” remembered SIU President Michael Sacco. “He was involved in a lot of battles in the early days of the union and was one of the builders. He helped organize a lot of companies.” SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez recalled that Babkowski was the patrolman on Tellez’s first payoff as a mariner, which took place in Italy. “He later broke me in on the waterfront,” Tellez said. “Ted dedicated a lot of years to the SIU and had a unique way of resolving beefs. He was a good guy.” SIU New York Port Agent Bob Selzer knew Babkowski for more than 50 years. “He was a good man and was well-liked by the membership,” Selzer stated. “He broke many guys in and was a good union official. He was just a wonderful guy.” Retired SIU Piney Point Port Agent Edd Morris remembered Babkowski as quiet and serious during the union’s earlier years, “but then, those were some trying days as we were growing. While (then SIU President) Paul Hall had all those sleepless nights and constant campaigns, Teddy and all of us were handling the orchestration of Paul’s conductorship. “We have many unsung heroes who enabled what we take for granted today. I am glad that Teddy is being recognized at his passing, as he played an important role.” Babkowski was a native of Wilkes Barre, Pa., which also was the site of his funeral. Family members remembered him as a loving husband and father and a proud grandfather. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, three children and three grandchildren. Off-watch members of the MV Sea-Land Champion prepare to commence burial at sea ceremonies for the late Seafarer Norman Evans. Brotherhood of the Sea Memorializes Steward Retired SIU official Teddy Babkowski sailed throughout WWII before coming ashore to work for the union. In this photo from late 1979, Patrolman Teddy Babkowski (seated) fills out a dues receipt for Chief Steward Joe Speller (fourth from left) aboard the Sealand Anchorage. Also pictured are (from left) AB Osman Malip, Recertified Bosun George Burke and Engine Delegate Raymond Collazo With Seafarers in Puerto Rico These recent snapshots were taken at the hall in Santurce, P.R. In the top photo, Bosun Dion Tury (center) helps with some repairs and other tasks, assisted by retiree Luigi Roman (left) and Port Agent Amancio Crespo. In the other photo, the port agent welcomes back AB Anibal Vega, who had just finished a long voyage. Vega is displaying his new “A” seniority book. 6 Seafarers LOG The ashes of the late Seafarer Norman Evans were scattered at sea Sept. 20 from aboard the SIUcrewed MV Sea-Land Champion. A retired Recertified Steward, Brother Evans passed away Aug. 30, 2009 at the age of 72. He retired in 2000 after proudly sailing under the SIU banner for nearly 30 years. In accordance with his wishes, the ceremony was held off the West Coast of Amsterdam, the Netherlands at Latitude 31-59.9, and Longitude 07805.5W. A memorial service was conducted by MV Sea-Land Champion Master John W. Muir and attended by all off-watch members of the crew, each of whom were fellow SIU union brothers of Brother Evans. Included were Bosun James Walker, ABs Richard Gathers, Brian Gauntt, Rubin Mitchell and Christopher Johnson, Electrician Dennis Baker, QMED Gregorio Blanco, DEU Andre Mitchell, Steward Gregory Melvin, SA Dagoberto Guavara and Cook Michael Harris. Chief Mate Richard Boullion also attended the service. During his ceremonial remarks, Master Muir in part said, “We commit the earthly remains of Norman W. Evans to the deep, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. From water, all life arises. Mother of waters, Father of rain, you have taken back your own. “As a stream flows into a river, as a river flows into the sea, may Norman W. Evans’ spirit flow to the waters of the healing, to the waters of rebirth.” AB Mitchell spoke during the services on behalf of the crew. Senator Vitter to Receive ‘Salute to Congress’ Award The International Propeller Club of the United States recently announced it is bestowing its 2010 “Salute to Congress Award” to Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). Vitter, a staunch supporter of the American maritime industry who serves on three Senate committees with substantial jurisdiction over maritime, will be the 26th recipient of the annual award. It is scheduled to be presented April 27 at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Vitter’s senatorial resume includes service on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, where he is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, and service on the Subcommittee on Personnel and the Subcommittee on Sea Power. Additionally, he is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where he serves on the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard and (separately) the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. During a past National Maritime Day ceremony, Vitter stated, “Each day, mariners perform a vital service in the global economy by ensuring that international trade proceeds without interruption. They work long hours in all kinds of weather. Whether they sail on the storm-tossed waves of the North Atlantic or the tropical heat of the South Pacific, these men and women perform their duties without recognition or fanfare.” According to the Propeller Club, the first Salute to Congress Award was presented to Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill in 1985. Recent recipients have included U.S. Reps. James Oberstar, (D-Minn.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Don Young (R-Alaska), Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and Duncan Hunter (RCalif.) and Senators Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), John Warner (R-Va.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The Propeller Club of the United States is selfdescribed as a grassroots, non-profit organization “dedicated to the enhancement and wellbeing of all interests of the maritime community, nationally and internationally. The organization aggressively promotes the maritime industry through many of its programs and partnering with other similar organizations.” April 2010 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:14 PM Page 7 AFGE President John Gage (above) addresses rally participants while Seafarers gather for a photo before the demonstration in Washington, D.C. (Group Photo by Bill Burke/Page One) Seafarers Support TSA Workers, AFGE With more than 30 percent of the Transportation Security Administration workforce expressing interest in making their choice of union representation official, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) recently filed a petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to be the exclusive union representative for 40,000 Transportation Security Officers. SIU members earlier this year showed their support for the workers and for AFGE by participating in related demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and SIU members and officials in Oakland show their support for workers’ rights. Oakland, Calif. Speakers at the D.C. event included AFGE President John Gage, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker, AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Liz Shuler, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen, Flight Attendants President Patricia Friend, National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi, Letter Carriers President Fredric Rolando and Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO President Ernie Grecco, among others. “It is way past time for the Obama administration to give the TSOs (transportation security officers) their right to bargain collectively and hold their election so they can sit down at the table with management, start the negotiations and change their lives for the better,” Holt Baker said at the Feb. 23 rally. Shuler said the labor movement “will not rest until the TSOs are treated equally” with other Homeland Security employees who have the right to bargain for a contract. Gage refuted the misguided arguments by some in Congress who believe that allowing TSOs to have a union contract would jeopardize national security. He cited union members who have acted heroically when national security was threatened, such as the first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001 bombings and the police officers who shot a gunman who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas. Gage said, “The national security argument is an insult to AFGE, the AFL-CIO and every union member. Don’t tell me that being in the union movement doesn’t do anything but good for national security.” Ten days earlier, state and local political and labor leaders teamed up with security workers at Oakland International Airport for a rally. Attendees included California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski, Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, Assemblyman Dave Jones, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools Sheila Jordan, San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos and Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak. Maersk Seafarers Complete Safety Session SIU-contracted Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) is maintaining its popular and productive series of safety leadership conferences at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. In late January, 24 Seafarers employed by Maersk along with several shore-side MLL employees finished the latest two-day session at the school. As previously reported, the safety conferences are part of a bigger MLL program geared toward workplace safety. SIU President Michael Sacco (at podium in photo at right) welcomed the group and briefly updated them on some key current events. He was joined by SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez (right) and SIU Sec.-Treasurer David Heindel (center). Scheduled attendees from the January conference, many of whom are shown in the group photo below, included SIU members James Walker, James Battista, Terry Franklin, Guy Wilson, Donald Gearhart, Lawrence (Jack) Croft, Rafael Irizarry, Edward Rockinger, Stephen Osovitz, Connie Tarplin, Gilbert Louis, Brian Sengelaub, Tony Spain, Konstantino Prokovas, James Wynegar, Herbert Hyde, Ato Aikins, John Daniels, Timothy Girard, Rudolph Daniels, Malachi Tannis, Russell Haynes, Todd Abrams and Bill Jacobs and, from the company, Sean Kline, Sara Breed, Patrick Callahan, Jeff Londynsky, Steve Krupa, Erika Meinhardt, Dennis Houghton and Carol Berger. April 2010 Seafarers LOG 7 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:15 PM Page 8 ACNV Fred Hart A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sails past the Algonac, Mich., union hall. Bosun James Skowronek Lakes Crews Report for Fit Out AB Norbert Hinrichs Alpena One of Many SIU-Crewed Ships Returning to Work Great Lakes fit out was in full swing last month, as Seafarers reported to numerous vessels throughout the region. One such ship is the Alpena, aboard which most of the photos on this page were taken on March 11 in Muskegon, Mich. The other photo was snapped outside the SIU hall in Algonac, Mich. AB Dan Hart AB Phillip Piper (left) and Third Mate William Rieckelman 8 Seafarers LOG AB Herbert Schiller (left) and AB Richard Sawyer Steward Richard Lalonde April 2010 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:19 AM Page 9 2010 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting ‘What a Difference You’ve Made’ Military Leaders Cite Value of Mariners’ Reliability, Industry Partnership T he heads of the U.S. Transportation Command and the U.S. Military Sealift Command and a high-ranking U.S. Coast Guard officer all credited the U.S. Merchant Marine for its ongoing reliability, and also cited the invaluable partnership that exists between the military and the American-flag commercial maritime industry. Making those statements Feb. 25-26 to the Maritime Trades Department executive board were U.S. Air Force General Duncan McNabb, commander of TRANSCOM; U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, commander of MSC; and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, the agency’s assistant commandant for marine safety, security and stewardship. They addressed the board in Orlando, Fla., during its annual winter meeting. America’s relief mission in Haiti – titled Operation Unified Response – was a common thread in their comments. McNabb, Buzby and Salerno each pointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine’s quick, efficient response as the latest example of a sterling record of dependability. “I’m here to say thanks to all of you and the folks you represent,” McNabb stated. “What a difference you’ve made. I get to see that firsthand as we move additional forces to Afghanistan, as we bring equipment out of Iraq and most recently what went on with Haiti. It was amazing.” Gen. Duncan McNabb Rear Adm. Mark Buzby Rear Adm. Brian Salerno As he explained TRANSCOM’s various components and its mission of overseeing the global movement of materiel, the general pointed out that when the military gets an assignment, very often “we turn to our commercial industry and say let’s go get ’em.” He said the commercial sector is “a big part” of America’s capability to keep supply lines open and support the troops. Describing the hundreds of civiliancrewed, American-flag ships available for military use through the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, McNabb said, “If we had to own that, it (the monetary cost) would be astronomical. But by having that in the commercial industry, where they’re doing the normal commercial business and helping us as we need it, it’s huge. What a difference it makes.” He said the military taps into industry expertise to boost efficiency. In part that is how they recently teamed up to deliver 5 million meals to Haiti in 5 days. Within the command, as they plan missions, “It’s based on trust,” McNabb said. “Again, my thanks go to you all for being such great partners.” Buzby said that without the merchant marine, MSC couldn’t fulfill its mission. “Your people make my ships go,” he stated. “I’m under no illusion – I don’t have a command unless I have you and your brothers and sisters running my ships for me. And your people have never failed to answer the call in peace and war. The latest example of that is Haiti.” He said the response for Haiti was “amazing” in terms of speed and is “a real tribute to the mariners who answer the call, and not just the mariners” but also port personnel, many of whom also are represented by MTD-affiliated unions. Buzby went to Haiti when many of the MSC ships were arriving. He boarded each of the U.S.-flag vessels and met many Seafarers. “Our impact was huge, delivered by your mariners,” he said. The admiral drew loud applause when he explained why he thinks there will be increased job opportunities for mariners. “The Navy is relying on MSC more and more to provide fleet logistics and other, non-combat services because we deliver,” he said. “We continue to be a growth industry and we deliver economically and still get the mission done. My belief is that as budgets continue to get tight, and the Navy is pressed more and more to continue to provide service with fewer dollars, that means more ships are coming our direction. I truly believe we are going to see more ships – ships that we never considered becoming MSC ships – coming our way.” Along those lines, he said MSC is “taking advantage of your expertise in education right now by sending some of our mariners through your worldclass training schools…. I see MSC turning increasingly to you and your schools to meet our training needs. I think it makes perfect sense.” He credited mariners for doing an exceptionally good job maintaining the fleet and also said he is “very heartened” by the negotiations in Washington, D.C., between maritime unions and MSC concerning the Civilian Marine Personnel Instructions (CMPI) update. “For years, that’s been at an impasse and we’re actually making progress and moving forward on that. I have great optimism that we’re going to actually make that happen,” he said. Buzby concluded, “Together, we have much to be proud of and much to look forward to.” Salerno also credited mariners for their effort in Operation Unified Response, adding that their work was indispensable but in character. “The role of maritime was really preeminent,” he said. “You could not have done what was done in Haiti without maritime. The civilian mariner once again showed their true value to the nation, just as they did after Katrina, just as they did after 9/11…. When it comes to national resiliency, mariners are very much a part of that.” He discussed several other topics including mariner credentialing and licensing. Salerno said the agency’s National Maritime Center “I think is really on track. It has overcome some of the glitches that it experienced when the 17 regional exam centers merged or their functions were merged and is now running fairly smoothly. There’s still a lot more to do but their goal is to improve the procedures so that no mariner is ever harmed or prevented from going back to work because the system was to slow. In fact the average processing time at the National Maritime Center is now 20 days. If you consider where we were a year ago where it was over 90 days that’s a considerable improvement. “We do welcome visitors,” he continued. “I know many of the unions have come up there and seen the process and we’ve received a lot of feedback. We’ve taken that feedback and we’ve done some things that make it easier for the individual mariner.” MSC Commander: Seafarer Personifies Spirit During his speech to the MTD board, Rear Adm. Mark Buzby recalled a recent stop aboard the SIU-crewed Cornhusker State, which had deployed for relief efforts in Haiti. The MSC commander met numerous mariners aboard various U.S.-flag ships in that area, but one – SIU Chief Cook Patricia Sullivan, pictured above – personified the U.S. Merchant Marine’s eagerness to lend a hand, the admiral stated. “When she heard this relief effort was going down, she immediately went and looked for the first ship she could get on that was going to Haiti,” Buzby said. “She signed on immediately…. She really epitomized the pride and the desire of our mariners to be a part of this effort and to help out. She literally dropped what she was doing, as did many other people on that crew, to be a part of it…. The Haiti ops really underscored the strength of our industry and the mariners who make it run.” April 2010 Seafarers LOG 9 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:15 PM Page 10 2010 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler Machinists Representative Frank Larkin U.S. Must Create, Maintain Good Jobs Administration, Labor Officials Say Recovery Impossible Without Rebuilding Middle Class Focusing not only on the importance of good jobs but also on how to create and maintain them in America, representatives from the Obama administration, the AFL-CIO and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) recently told the Maritime Trades Department executive board that economic recovery depends on rebuilding the middle class. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and IAM Representative Frank Larkin were among the guest speakers who addressed the board Feb. 25-26 in Orlando, Fla. Harris recalled that he got his start in the labor movement 26 years ago, working as a field representative for the Seafarers in Houston. Coincidentally, SIU and MTD President Michael Sacco (then a union vice president) was based at the same hall. “Mike and I spent a lot of hours talking about the hard lives of workers in this industry,” Harris remembered. “He told me about the stories he had heard about what it was like in this industry before there were unions, what it took to build a strong union and what it meant to stand up for working families. “That union hall is where I earned my ‘graduate degree’ in trade unionism and fighting for working families,” Harris continued. “Mike and Joe (the late SIU Executive Vice President Joey Sacco) and the other Seafarers officials were my professors; our members were my tutors, and they gave me an education that changed my life.” Harris pointed out that the economic climate in those days was comparable to what Americans face in 2010. “I have no illusions about what’s happening to working families right now,” he stated. “Working families are suffering through the worst economic times in seven decades. But our political system seems paralyzed to help – unable to resolve this painful crisis. The unemployment rate stands at 9.7 10 Seafarers LOG “...creating and maintaining good jobs will be this administration’s number one focus in 2010, and that’s why President Obama has called for a new and comprehensive jobs bill on his desk this year. But rescuing the economy is only the first step. It will not be good enough for America’s working families to just get by. Our country needs them to thrive.” - - - Seth Harris, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor percent. Some 6.3 million Americans have been out of work for six months or longer. In some industries and in some communities, it’s much higher.” Harris acknowledged his frustration concerning health care, pension issues, stagnant wages and EFCA. He blamed much of the political gridlock in Washington on a climate in which productive debate aimed at achieving results to benefit citizens instead has been replaced by perpetual focus on “who wins and loses arguments.” “But there’s another way to do business,” Harris said. “There is a way to make progress without insisting that one side must be losers in order for the other side to be winners. The people in this room know what I’m talking about because it’s the way that the maritime industry has been doing business since before my days in Houston with Mike and Joe…. I know that maritime labor and maritime management don’t always love each other. You have different interests and perspectives and goals. But maritime labor and management have found a way to work together so that both parties’ interests are served. You have friends on both sides of the partisan aisle, because it’s not about ideology. It’s not about party. It’s about everyone’s interests being served. You don’t agree on everything, but that’s what negotiations are for. You know as well as I do that if both sides sit down and bargain honestly for their interests, there’s almost always room to [reach] a deal. That’s the governance model we should insist on: a focus on shared interests and honest negotiations that involves some give and take. This industry can be a model for my friends and colleagues back in Washington. It can show them how business can be conducted – business that serves everyone’s interests and moves our country forward.” Finally, Harris said that creating and maintaining good jobs “will be this administration’s number one focus in 2010, and that’s why President Obama has called for a new and comprehensive jobs bill on his desk this year. But rescuing the economy is only the first step. It will not be good enough for America’s working families to just get by. Our country needs them to thrive.” Similarly, Shuler said that jobs are the labor federation’s top priority. Illustrating today’s tough times, she pointed to Evansville, Indiana, where more than 1,000 workers are losing their jobs because Whirlpool is relocating a refrigerator production plant to Mexico. “That may pad Whirlpool’s profits, but it’s a disaster for the whole community of Evansville,” Shuler said. That is true for “not only the workers who’ve lost their jobs at the plant, but the grocery stores where they shop and the schools that depend on their taxes, and on down the line. Multiply Evansville by 10,000 and that explains a lot of the jobs crisis in this country.” Shuler said the Economic Recovery Act has helped but is just a start. She described the federation’s five-point program for job creation. Those steps include extending unemployment benefits; putting people to work repairing the nation’s infrastructure and in green jobs; boosting aid to state and local governments to continue vital services; increasing government work where appropriate, but not as a replacement for private-sector jobs; and taking leftover TARP funds and using them to support lending to small businesses. “But we can’t stop there,” Shuler said. “When we create jobs, we have to rebuild our economic foundation and make sure that those jobs are good jobs. And that means one thing above everything else, and that is ensuring the freedom of every worker to join a union and bargain collectively…. Without the Employee Free Choice Act, if we create millions of jobs but the jobs have low pay, lousy benefits and no future, that means we win the battle but lose the war.” She concluded by saying that the labor movement “must lead the way.” Larkin described the massive grassroots campaign the IAM is waging to educate Americans about the importance of good jobs and to offer hope and solutions by building community networks. “We’re continuing to make the point that a jobless recovery is no recovery,” he said. “Our issue is that until there are jobs being created, it is not a real recovery. We say there should be a comprehensive strategy. It’s not simply enough to resuscitate the finance industry or the insurance industry or the banking industry. We’re talking about the manufacturing and shipbuilding industry, construction sectors…. We’re encouraging skills training so that when the economy does begin coming back these highskill jobs don’t end up having to be pushed overseas.” April 2010 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:15 PM Page 11 2010 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Joseph Hunt President Iron Workers Robert Scardelletti President TCU Richard Hughes President ILA Michel Desjardins President SIU of Canada Roman Gralewicz President Emeritus SIU of Canada MTD Profile Dean Corgey VP Seafarers James Williams General President Painters The Maritime Trades Department, to which the SIU is affiliated, is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. The MTD comprises 23 international unions and 21 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing 5.5 million working men and women. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as president of the MTD. He most recently was reelected to the latter post during the MTD convention in September 2009. Traditionally, the MTD execu- Lynn Tucker General VP Machinists Ralph Maly Vice President CWA Bernard Hostein Asst. to President Steelworkers tive board meets early in the year. Such was the case again for 2010 – the board convened Feb. 25-26 in Orlando, Fla. During the two-day session, board members and guests tackled important issues confronting not only maritime workers but all working families. The articles and excerpts on pages 9-13 are based on comments made at the meeting. Also, the photos on this page show some of the board members and guests, including a photo of a check presentation made by the MTD for Haiti relief efforts. Desiree Gralewicz Secretary-Treasurer SIU of Canada Robert Gleason Sec.-Treasurer ILA David Kolbe Political Director Iron Workers MTD Unions Donate for Haiti Relief Near the end of the meeting, on behalf of the MTD and its port councils and affiliate unions, MTD President Michael Sacco (left) and other officials presented a check to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler (center) for the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center’s Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers’ Campaign. Altogether, the MTD and its affiliates donated more than $82,000, including donations from rank-and-file Seafarers. Pictured from left to right are Sacco, MEBA President Don Keefe, Shuler, AMO President Tom Bethel and MM&P VP Rich May. April 2010 Richard Lanigan Vice President OPEIU Joseph Condo International VP TCU Nick Marrone VP Seafarers Tommy Fisher International Rep Sheet Metal Workers Joseph Soresi VP Seafarers Jerry Abell Sec.-Treasurer South Fla. Maritime Trades Council Seafarers LOG 11 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:20 AM Page 12 2010 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting OSG Executive: Labor-Management Cooperation Boosts Maritime Industry Working together, management and labor are writing a new chapter in American maritime history. However, much work remains if the industry is to continue making progress and weathering the current economic crisis. That’s what Eric Smith, the vice president and chief commercial officer of OSG America, told the executive board of the Maritime Trades Department on Feb. 25. The most prominent examples of this management and labor cooperation are the 12 new SIU-contracted Jones Act tankers that were commissioned by OSG America a few years ago, Smith said. It was the largest order of its kind in the U.S. commercial sector. According to Smith, unionized workers at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard who are building the vessels have been meeting the highest international standards, matching shipbuilding giants like those located in China and South Korea. OSG America VP and CCO Eric Smith “...We – OSG and labor – are living proof that when good policy is created and established, great things come to this industry. We did it in 2004 and we can do it again.” - - -Eric Smith, VP, CCO, OSG America Smith stressed that these are state-ofthe-art vessels that will enable OSG to remain the second-largest tanker company in the world and the largest one in America. He reminded the audience that in 2004, the company went to Washington, D.C., with a promise that if certain tax laws were changed to allow for fair competition, the company would use the savings to build new tankers “and create jobs at sea and ashore here in the United States. The law was changed; we honored our promise. We took 20 future years’ worth of tax savings and spent them in three years. We signed a contract to build 10 new, modern tankers…. We then increased that order to 12, bought a competitor and ordered large ATBs for lightering in Delaware Bay. After spending a couple of billion dollars, we added $17 billion to the nation in economic impact, created 2,600 jobs at sea and on shore, generating $3 billion in income for these folks. Together, we stimulated the economy.” He believes management and organized labor need to continue working together to get the federal government to enact policies helping the maritime industry to get through these difficult times. Among other potential benefits, such policies could help the nation fully capitalize on opportunities involving massive oil and energy supplies in the Gulf of Mexico that would create tens of thousands of jobs in industries across the board. Already, some of those jobs will involve shuttle tankers. There are billions of barrels of “proven reserves” in that region, Smith said. Because of a lack of pipelines in certain areas, shuttle tankers “may be the next great Jones Act shipping opportunity. This is new ground for the U.S., as there are no shuttle tankers currently trading in the Gulf of Mexico. That’s about to change, as OSG will deliver the first-ever shuttle tanker in the Gulf of Mexico on April 1 of this year,” he stated, referring to the Seafarers-crewed Overseas Cascade. Smith also credited MTD-affiliated unions for their outstanding safety records. He described OSG’s diverse U.S.-flag fleet and pointed out that “since 1985, we’ve lightered more than 2 billion barrels of crude oil in Delaware Bay and carried on 12,000 voyages with no incidents or spills.” Both on the legislative front and when it comes to shipboard safety, Smith said the company is “succeeding because of the efforts from SIU, MEBA and AMO…. We at OSG are grateful to you and your folks for the support we’ve received.” He concluded, “Good tax policy is a critical element in growing our economy and in growing jobs in the maritime community. We – OSG and labor – are living proof that when good policy is created and established, great things come to this industry. We did it in 2004 and we can do it again. We become more competitive with Jones Act tonnage. We create a means for the U.S. government to use Jones Act tonnage in times of war. And, most of all, we create jobs.” In his remarks to the board, Eric Smith mentioned the new shuttle tanker Overseas Cascade, which recently underwent conversion in Charleston, S.C. ITF Urges Increased Action to Thwart Piracy Stephen Cotton ITF Maritime Coordinator 12 Seafarers LOG An official from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) told the Maritime Trades Department executive board that piracy is growing, and greater effort is needed to protect the world’s mariners. ITF Maritime Coordinator Stephen Cotton on Feb. 25 reported on the global effort the federation has been spearheading to ensure safety for seafarers. He offered some sobering statistics reflecting the depth of the piracy problem – one which has been pressing for many years, but which didn’t gain widespread attention until the 2009 attacks on the SIU-crewed Maersk Alabama and Liberty Sun. The SIU is one of the ITF’s 751 affiliates. Those unions collectively represent more than 4.6 million transport workers worldwide. “The last few years have seen massive growth in piracy,” Cotton said. In 2009 alone, he reported, there were 406 documented incidents – mostly near Somalia, though the danger zone is expanding. Of those cases, 153 vessels were boarded by pirates, and 49 of the ships were hijacked. Some 120 vessels were fired upon – a threefold increase from the prior year. More than 1,000 mariners were taken hostage and eight were killed, though the fatalities “were not necessarily (directly) because of the attacks but because of stress and strain related to hijack,” Cotton said. As he and others have observed, the long-range solution isn’t simply a military one. Piracy in the region is a political and social problem, particularly given the chaos in Somalia and the crushing poverty there. This is a crisis that must be resolved, he stated, not just because of the humanitarian aspects involved but because of the great economic and strategic importance of the Gulf of Aden. More than 30,000 vessels a year transit the area. At a minimum, he said, flag states need to increase military action in the region and use innovative concepts like shared convoys and increased training. Cotton reiterated the ITF’s call that steps should be taken to ensure that all countries and companies sending vessels into the region be required to actively fight piracy. Some are failing to take proactive steps to combat this growing menace, relying on nothing more than additional incentives for civilian mariners so that they continue to crew vessels, he said. Additionally, Cotton pointed to what happened nearly a decade ago near the Straits of Malacca, where a concerted international effort drastically reduced such incidents. The same thing could happen in the Gulf of Aden, but only if the entire international community gets involved, he declared. Cotton also thanked North American labor for all it is doing and urged it to keep the issue in the spotlight through petitions and by mobilizing political support. On a separate subject, he reported that ITF inspectors worldwide had a banner year in 2009 when it came to assisting marines. “It’s fair to say it’s still difficult times, but last year, the ITF inspectors collected over $20 million in unpaid wages for seafarers on a global basis, which is a massive increase,” Cotton said. April 2010 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:16 PM Page 13 2010 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Maritime Administrator, FMC Chairman Underscore Need for Strong U.S. Fleet Addressing the Maritime Trades Department executive board Feb. 26 in Orlando, Fla., U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky reiterated the strong support of their respective agencies for the U.S. Merchant Marine. The Maritime Administration (MarAd) is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation; its functions include promoting the use of waterborne transportation and the sustainment of a viable U.S. Merchant Marine. The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is an independent agency responsible for regulating oceanborne transportation in America’s foreign commerce. Matsuda praised the U.S. maritime industry’s strong response to the crisis in Haiti. He also expressed support for the laws that have helped preserve a viable domestic industry – most notably, the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the America’s Maritime Highway initiative and the Title XI Shipbuilding Loan Guarantee Program. He went on to stress President Obama’s appreciation of the American maritime industry, noting, “We have the right guy in the White House.” Matsuda said that the response to the Haiti earthquake once again displayed “what the merchant marine is all about and how we contribute and help in times of need.” He pointed out MarAd activated seven vessels for Operation Unified Response, and said it was a prudent move considering one ship can carry as much cargo as hundreds of airplanes. “These ships are crewed by dedicated and skilled U.S. mariners represented by the unions here today,” he stated. Looking ahead, he said one of the agency’s “major priorities is job creation and the future of our workforce.” MarAd’s critical missions also include security, preparedness and response. For example, Matsuda described the MSP, which DOT administers, as “a program many of you here (in the MTD) had a hand in helping create. This program guarantees military access to commercial U.S.-flag ships, related logistic services and a workforce of trained U.S. mariners.” He noted that since the start of 2009, the agency “has worked closely with the Coast Guard and U.S.-flag carriers to approve the reflagging of foreign ships to the U.S. registry under an expedited process. Seven new ships (have been added) since then – that’s approximately 300 new jobs. These U.S.-flag commercial ships, many of them in the MSP program, delivered around half a million containers of equipment and supplies to support U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Lidinsky discussed the FMC’s history and priorities and drew on his working relationships with figures from labor’s past and present to underscore his commitment to preserving the Jones Act fleet. He noted that he has worked in the industry for more than four decades in such places as the old House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and in the Port of Baltimore. He said it was an honor to know such legendary labor leaders as the late Paul Hall of the SIU. According to the chairman, while the FMC dates its existence back to 1916, the present shape of the agency took hold in 1961 under a restructuring that gave MarAd control of most promotional programs and which made the FMC the entity in charge of regulation. “Besides administering our parts of the Shipping Act that impact labor activity,” he said, “we stand in full support of the Board Approves 13 Statements The following are excerpts from a few of the 13 statements approved Feb. 25-26 by members of the Maritime Trades Department executive board. The resolutions help emphasize the MTD’s position on issues which are critical to its affiliates and to the rank-and-file members of MTD unions. Jones Act What is the Jones Act? Simply put, it is the best known of the nation’s cabotage laws. By calling for movements of waterborne cargoes between U.S. ports by vessels that are American-crewed, -built, -flagged and -owned, it has enhanced important national security interests and generated many economic benefits…. As numerous national defense experts have noted, the Jones Act has helped maintain a pool of skilled civilian mariners capable of meeting the nation’s strategic sealift needs. By generating 76 percent of all commercial U.S. shipbuilding opportunities, it has preserved a viable domestic shipbuilding base. Moreover, some 70 percent of the ocean-going self-propelled vessels in the Jones Act fleet are militarily useful…. The total annual economic impact of the Jones Act is $100 billion. Annual taxes generated by the Jones Act fleet top $9 billion. Support the Troops, and Veterans Once again, American armed forces are standing on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as patrolling for pirate motherships in the Indian Ocean. Other troops are in Haiti assisting the earthquake survivors in regaining some semblance of a life and a country. Still more are April 2010 David Matsuda Maritime Administrator Richard Lidinsky Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Jones Act, cargo preference requirements, protection of our mariners from piracy, and other key laws that form the foundation of American-flag maritime policy.” Lidinsky devoted much of his speech to “the state of the global maritime economy and its impact on our country and workers.” He said 2009 was an historically bad financial year in maritime, though the challenges certainly weren’t confined to one industry. Further, he said that although most experts who track the industry aren’t predicting a full recovery in 2010, there are “small signs of the corner being turned and good news in the wings. In the AsiaEurope trades traffic is up nine percent. In our Pacific trade eastbound from Asia to the U.S., container traffic is up 2.2 percent. Experts are predicting growth in the westbound trade of 9.9 percent, with the eastbound trade growing 8.7 percent…. “On the port front,” he continued, “positive signs are being registered, such as Los Angeles, which had a 35 percent increase in containers in December over the previous year. Exports at that port were also up 40 percent. Overall, some economists [predict] a port recovery of 20.2 percent for West Coast ports and 13.1 percent for East Coast ports this year…. The bottom line is that full recovery will come to all maritime trades, so don’t lose determination and hope.” located around the globe making sure American interests remain secure. Our hearts and prayers go out to these brave men and women, and to their families. Among these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are our own union sisters and brothers. They have stepped away from their professions to answer their nation’s call…. However, some of these returning veterans are finding yet another battle when they take off their country’s uniform and attempt to return to their jobs. They are discovering roadblocks and locked doors to picking up where they left off. Despite the fact that it is federal law that workers called to active duty for their country should get their jobs back, some veterans are finding that is not the case. When these workers seek legal redress, they are discovering governmental red tape that could keep them off the job for years. Others are coming home only to find their jobs have been contracted out. The facility still is standing, some of the same workers may even be doing the same jobs as when the veteran left, but a new name is on the paperwork so the original obligation no longer exists. We in the MTD have seen this too often as union busting. Now it is being turned against those returning from service to their country as a way to cut costs. How patriotic is that! Those who have worn the nation’s uniform do not deserve such treatment. Cargo Preference As we have seen with the recent tragedy in Haiti, people in need around the world look to the United States to be the first to provide aid and assistance. The sight of the American flag on an aid package or on the shoulder of a member of the armed services means somebody cares and help is on the way. From the famines in Africa to tsunamis in Southeast Asia, Americans have been swift and generous with food and staples to help those without. A major contributor to these humanitarian efforts has been the nation’s cargo preference laws, especially the Food for Peace section of the Cargo Preference Act of 1954. That specific law calls for a percentage of certain kinds of government-generated cargo to be carried aboard U.S.flag commercial vessels at fair and reasonable prices. With regard to the Food for Peace provision, it covers humanitarian aid to people in need around the world. Food for Peace has assisted more than 3 billion people in 150 countries. But the 1954 act is only one of the laws dealing with cargo preference. The others are the Cargo Preference Act of 1904 which requires all cargo procured or owned by the U.S. military to be carried exclusively by U.S.-flag vessels, and Public Resolution 17 (enacted in 1934) which states that all cargo generated by the Export-Import Bank be shipped on U.S.-flag vessels. Jobs Officially the national unemployment figure is around 10 percent. However, we know the problem is even worse. For almost every person included in the official count, there is another who is either underemployed or who has quit looking…. No one has created a cute or clever name for the economic downturn that is enveloping the country because there is nothing cute or clever about these last several years. What is true is the old axiom that when a friend or neighbor is unemployed, that’s a recession; when you are unemployed, that is a depression…. Americans are a proud and determined people. They don’t want handouts; they want jobs! That is why the AFL-CIO has proposed a five-point program to get America back to work…. The time for action is now. While economists claim the recession is coming to an end, the depleted pocketbooks and wallets of working people tell a different story. People want jobs and they want them now. The MTD, its affiliates and its Port Maritime Councils will continue to pursue whatever action is necessary to get America back to work. Seafarers LOG 13 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:21 AM Page 14 AT THE FT. LAUDERDALE HALL – Following a recent membership meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., AB Angela Corbitt (photo at right) picks up her union book while other Seafarers (above) spend some additional time at the hall. SUNSET ON SODERMAN – At Sea and Ashore With the SIU Recertified Bosun James Orlanda emailed this photo of a sunset as seen from the USNS Soderman. A Seafarer since 1995, Orlanda completed recertification near the end of 2009. The Soderman is a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off vessel (LMSR). KUDOS TO STEWARD – Fellow mariners aboard the Antares recently praised the work of Recertified Steward Stephen Bird, pictured above. Baltimore SIU Port Agent Elizabeth Brown reported that when she went aboard the ship, “the captain and every crew member spoke so highly of him, I thought it would be nice to give him some recognition in the LOG.” Bird’s SIU career began in late 1991 ABOARD TYCO DEPENDABLE – This photo was taken aboard the Tyco Dependable in Baltimore, during the holiday season. Pictured with Baltimore SIU Port Agent Elizabeth Brown are (standing, from left) OS Johnny Hunter, SA Lamond Fulton, and Wiper Mike Kelly. CONGRATS TO AB – At the hall in Oakland, Calif., Dispatcher Nick Marrone II (left) congratulates AB Ralph White on qualifying for his “A” book. White most recently sailed aboard the Capella. CELEBRATING RETIREMENT – Fellow SIU members and officers aboard the Seabulk Arctic, some of whom are pictured in the group photo above, wished all the best for Recertified Bosun Juan Castillo as he headed into retirement. In the photo at left, taken during the same voyage last fall, the bosun cuts the first piece of his farewell cake. Castillo sailed with the SIU for 40 years. 14 Seafarers LOG WELCOME ASHORE – At the union hall in Jacksonville, Fla., Patrolman Brian Guiry (right) presents newly retired AB Francisco Rivera with his first pension check. Rivera started sailing with the SIU in 1964. His last ship was the National Glory. April 2010 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:33 AM Page 15 Important Notice to Seafarers: Dispatchers’ Repor t for Deep Sea Always Keep Your Shipping Documents, Records Updated SIU members already understand the importance of keeping their maritime credentials current. In short, mariners can’t sail unless they comply with Coast Guard and TSA and other requirements pertaining to documentation and training. Another vitally important step for all Seafarers is making sure their records are up-to-date in the new Seafarers Management Information System (SMIS), which is used for shipping and registration. Failure to do so may result in delays or other hang-ups when members are ready to ship out. Specifically, members are urged to bring the following items to the union hall as soon as possible after any of the items are renewed or otherwise modified: ■ Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC); ■ Merchant Mariner Document/Z-card (MMD); ■ Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); ■ Passport; ■ 1995 STCW certificate, if applicable. Examples of modifications to the aforementioned items would include new stickers added to an MMC upon upgrading a rating, renewal of a passport, original receipt of a TWIC, etc. Also, it is critical that members help ensure SMIS reflects their compliance with each of the four elements of STCW Basic Safety Training (BST). Any member who has completed BST at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., and who has renewed it either via sea service or by returning to the school already should be current in SMIS. Similarly, any member whose training record book (TRB) already reflects compliance with the four elements of BST (personal survival, fire prevention, elementary first aid, and social responsibility) found on the Basic Training pages of their TRB should be current in the system. Anyone who successfully completed the unlicensed apprentice (UA) program will be in compliance as long as they have continuously sailed and obtained one year of seatime in the past five years. Those who were originally grandfathered in need to have taken the BST course at least once and sailed one year in the past five. However, entry and steward department members who completed BST elsewhere should bring both their original STCW Basic Safety Training certificates and their training record books to the union hall as soon as possible. This will allow port personnel to update SMIS and to credit mariners for the training they have completed. Finally, rated members who hold a 1995 STCW certificate from any entity other than the Paul Hall Center and who never sent their original certificates to the school now must bring their original certificates to the hall as soon as possible. The bottom line is that, while SMIS is a state-of-the-art system and widely is regarded as a major improvement compared to the system built in 1981, its effectiveness in serving the membership depends in part on containing and maintaining current data. Therefore, Seafarers are asked not to wait until the last minute to inform the union halls of any changes to their documents/credentials. Questions about SMIS may be directed to port agents or to the admissions office in Piney Point. April & May 2010 Membership Meetings Piney Point.............................................Monday: April 5, May 3 Algonac ....................................................Friday: April 9, May 7 Baltimore.............................................Thursday: April 8, May 6 Guam...............................................Thursday: April 22, May 20 Honolulu ..............................................Friday: April 16, May 14 Houston...............................................Monday: April 12, May 10 February 16, 2010 – March 15, 2010 Port Total Registered All Groups A B C Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 12 0 4 13 3 9 48 28 6 12 11 48 17 21 2 2 14 41 2 26 319 9 3 4 18 3 2 31 24 10 6 8 15 30 15 13 5 8 21 1 20 246 7 0 2 5 0 1 4 7 1 2 2 6 7 0 1 6 0 1 1 2 55 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 3 0 4 13 1 9 16 20 7 4 7 14 10 10 3 2 1 19 0 12 155 3 2 6 3 2 3 8 15 2 1 1 9 21 5 2 3 5 10 3 18 122 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 11 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 2 0 2 5 2 13 21 16 3 3 4 23 10 14 0 2 2 14 3 27 166 3 2 0 4 0 6 2 9 1 3 2 8 8 2 2 1 1 4 1 7 66 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 9 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 2 0 1 0 0 2 5 2 5 0 0 9 0 4 0 0 0 7 0 3 40 12 1 3 8 0 4 9 25 15 5 6 18 13 18 2 6 0 12 2 10 169 7 0 6 7 0 4 4 6 1 2 2 11 10 7 1 13 4 4 1 9 99 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 1 5 1 1 5 1 3 0 0 0 4 0 1 30 Mobile...........................................Wednesday: April 14, May 12 New Orleans.............................................Tuesday: April 13, May 11 New York...............................................Tuesday: April 6, May 4 Norfolk................................................Thursday: April 8, May 6 Oakland ............................................Thursday: April 15, May 13 Philadelphia......................................Wednesday: April 7, May 5 Port Everglades ...............................Thursday: April 15, May 13 San Juan ..............................................Thursday: April 8, May 6 St. Louis ...............................................Friday: April 16, May 14 Tacoma.................................................Friday: April 23, May 21 Wilmington....................................... Monday: April 19, May 17 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. GRAND TOTALS: 680 603 174 560 April 2010 Trip Reliefs Registered on Beach All Groups A B C Deck Department 26 0 4 14 2 5 57 17 9 8 7 22 19 21 3 0 12 24 1 29 280 8 0 0 11 3 6 11 9 3 6 4 13 13 12 6 5 5 14 0 15 144 5 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 3 2 0 0 3 1 0 1 1 22 0 0 1 11 0 3 12 7 0 1 3 14 7 8 2 1 4 11 0 13 98 15 0 5 30 7 16 84 51 5 23 28 88 27 45 5 3 12 72 3 50 569 23 6 6 27 12 14 61 46 13 7 10 33 42 17 13 6 18 39 4 51 448 4 0 2 6 0 2 5 9 1 3 4 7 14 1 2 5 3 5 0 10 83 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 2 1 0 1 3 6 0 1 2 3 3 8 0 0 0 6 0 2 38 3 0 7 18 3 10 33 35 5 9 12 31 23 9 7 3 4 26 0 19 257 3 3 4 14 5 5 26 30 5 1 2 22 38 9 2 2 13 24 7 22 237 2 0 1 3 2 1 3 0 1 1 0 2 1 6 0 1 0 0 1 4 29 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 0 0 0 3 0 3 9 7 0 4 1 9 3 4 0 3 1 3 0 5 55 5 0 7 14 4 24 35 23 0 7 9 41 15 31 4 2 2 34 3 60 320 3 2 1 6 0 7 11 12 2 3 1 10 14 11 2 1 4 5 2 8 105 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 6 9 2 0 4 1 5 8 12 17 5 2 21 6 10 1 5 0 10 2 7 127 1 0 1 3 2 0 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 3 2 15 0 1 0 6 43 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 17 4 0 1 0 0 6 8 3 2 1 0 12 0 3 0 0 0 18 0 4 62 21 1 4 8 3 4 31 43 3 13 8 51 35 33 2 3 2 29 0 28 322 7 1 4 12 0 4 11 15 3 7 6 18 29 16 1 7 3 7 1 13 165 397 78 208 1,208 1,112 283 Engine Department 6 0 3 5 0 8 6 11 4 5 9 15 5 12 2 0 2 8 2 11 114 3 0 4 5 0 3 9 9 1 1 2 4 10 6 0 1 4 7 2 8 79 Steward Department Jacksonville.........................................Thursday: April 8, May 6 Joliet.................................................Thursday: April 15, May 13 Total Shipped All Groups A B C 1 0 0 9 1 10 16 18 3 7 5 18 6 15 1 4 3 9 1 9 136 3 1 0 5 3 2 3 7 1 2 1 3 8 1 0 1 2 3 1 0 47 Entry Department Seafarers LOG 15 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:22 AM Page 16 Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 GUAM P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932 Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910 (671) 477-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256 (904) 281-2622 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 Inquiring Seafarer Editor’s note: This month’s Inquiring Seafarer question was asked in Norfolk, Va. Question: What was one of your most memorable voyages, and what made it so? Jeremy Finley AB Honestly, the most memorable was the most recent voyage, aboard the Energy Enterprise. I had sailed deep sea before; this was my first coastwise trip. I learned a lot – just general ship’s knowledge. You’re all over that ship, all the time. It was nice to see…. I’d run a T-AGOS before and you’re just out in the middle of the ocean. The Energy Enterprise was a true merchant ship and the diversity of the crew was really nice to see. We were on with the chief mate from the Maersk Alabama. I didn’t realize he was that young. I have to say the officers and crew were really cohesive – more cohesive than I’ve seen before, with more camaraderie. It was a really good voyage. Sherman Hudson Bosun I’d go all the way back to my first trip as an OS, which was aboard the Sealand Explorer. I was running from Seattle to Anchorage and the greatest thing was the adventure, just being out at sea. Shipping now is a little different than it was then. The best thing is being around different cultures and exploring the world. I’ve been doing it for 31 years and it’s still an adventure. Being out at sea, you have time to think about how you want to live your life…. It might sound phony to others but you’ve got to like what you’re doing in this world, and God blessed me to become a mariner. The brotherhood aboard the ships is always great. In the SIU you have a chance to upgrade your skills and further your education. It’s a golden opportunity and can be a great foundation for anyone. Tim Kacer AB I’d say the trips when I used to be an AB on the Gopher State. I was on it for five years. We went from Guam to Thailand for a military exercise and that was fun. I saw a lot of parts of the Pacific on that ship…. The best trip I ever made to Europe was in 1994 on a tanker called the Sealift Antarctic. We got to see a lot of different sites and we spent about two or three days in every port. We went from North Carolina to Rhode Island to Italy, Spain, back to Italy, then Greece, Turkey and England. The port time is what made it memorable. Abner Diaz Torres QMED-Electrician My most recent one I guess is the best one. I was an electronics technician aboard the USNS 1st Lt. Harry Martin and it was one of the best experiences. I’m a very academic person and this voyage put me in a position to troubleshoot, to work on communications systems and other systems. It helped me become more proficient in all the electrical systems in the engine department and I also learned that I need to keep training. That ship goes from South Korea carrying military cargo. We started the voyage in Yeosu and discharged in Chinhae. I learned a lot and gained good experience. Pic-From-The-Past NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 The above photo shows the crew of the SIU-contracted SS Steel Vendor during an around the world voyage that took place from Nov. 3, 1951 to Feb. 18, 1952. It was submitted by Pensioner R.J. McConnell of Long Beach, Calif. A member of the crew during the voyage, McConnell said that he could “write a book about this trip.” McConnell is second from left in the photo. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org 16 Seafarers LOG April 2010 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:17 PM Page 17 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. Welcome Ashore DEEP SEA EDWARD ARMOND Brother Edward Armond, 65, joined the union in 1986. He initially sailed on the USNS Indomitable. Brother Armond shipped in the deck department. His final ship was the USNS Assertive. Brother Armond resides in Vandemere, N.C. CHARLES BOWEN Brother Charles Bowen, 65, became an SIU member in 1988 while in the port of Wilmington, Calif. His first ship was the USNS Curtiss; his last the Defender. Brother Bowen upgraded in 2001 at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member was born in San Francisco and now lives in Ojai, Calif. JUAN CASTILLO Brother Juan Castillo, 60, joined the Seafarers in 1970 while in the port of New Orleans. He sailed in the deck department on vessels including the Andrew Jackson and the Seabulk Arctic. Brother Castillo frequently visited the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He makes his home in Katy, Texas. FERNANDO DOMENICALE Brother Fernando Domenicale, 74, started sailing with the SIU in 2001 from the port of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. His first voyage was aboard the Independence. Brother Domenicale, who sailed in the steward department, attended classes on two occasions at the Piney Point school. He was last employed on the Overseas Philadelphia. Brother Domenicale is a resident of Hallandale, Fla. ARTHUR EDWARDS Brother Arthur Edwards, 67, donned the SIU colors in 1969 in the port of San Francisco. He originally shipped aboard the Santa Maria. In 2000 and 2002, April 2010 Brother Edwards enhanced his seafaring abilities at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He was born in Philadelphia and worked as a member of the steward department. Brother Edwards most recently sailed on the Keystone State. He calls San Pablo, Calif., home. CARLOS JULIO Brother Carlos Julio, 65, signed on with the Seafarers in 1990 while in Honolulu. He often took advantage of educational opportunities at the SIU-affiliated school in Maryland. Brother Julio initially worked aboard the Independence as a member of the steward department. He was born in Panama. Brother Julio’s last ship was the Overseas Maremar. He resides in New York. WALTER KIMBROUGH Brother Walter Kimbrough, 65, joined the SIU ranks in 1973 while in the port of New York. His first trip was aboard a vessel operated by Gulf Canal Lines. Brother Kimbrough upgraded on numerous occasions at the Paul Hall Center. He sailed in the engine department in both the inland and deep sea divisions. Brother Kimbrough’s final voyage was on the LNG Libra. He calls Sparks, Nev., home. OGDEN LAFAYE JR. Brother Ogden Lafaye Jr., 69, was born in New Orleans. He became a union member in 1981 while in San Francisco. Brother Lafaye’s first ship was the Liberator; his last was the Motivator. He worked in the engine department. Brother Lafaye makes his home in Starbuck, Wash. JULIO MATTOS Brother Julio Mattos, 62, began sailing with the SIU in 1966 from the port of New York. He was originally employed aboard the Wacosta. Brother Mattos was a frequent upgrader at the Piney Point school. His final trip was on the El Morro. Brother Mattos shipped in the deck department and lives in Buena Vista, P.R. THOMAS MCCORMACK Brother Thomas McCormack, 70, donned the SIU colors in 1999 while in San Francisco. He initially shipped aboard the Stephen W. Pless. Brother McCormack was born in New York and sailed in the deck department. His most recent voyage was on the Honor. Brother McCormack resides in Lake Worth, Fla. RICHARD STUVERUD Brother Richard Stuverud, 65, started his career with the union in 1990 while in the port of Seattle. He originally sailed aboard the Independence. In 2000, Brother Stuverud took advantage of opportunities available at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. The engine department member’s last ship was the Tacoma. Brother Stuverud calls Federal Way, Wash., home. ANGELO URTI JR. Brother Angelo Urti Jr., 66, became a Seafarer in 1965. His earliest trip was aboard the York. Brother Urti often upgraded his skills at the Paul Hall Center. He worked as a member of the deck department. Brother Urti’s final ship was the Sgt. Matej Kocak. He lives in Hammond, La. INLAND THOMAS FITZPATRICK Brother Thomas Fitzpatrick, 62, joined the union in 1973. His first ship was operated by Steuart Transportation Company. Brother Fitzpatrick was born in Pennsylvania. He was last employed with Moran Towing of Pennsylvania. Brother Fitzpatrick settled in St. Petersburg, Fla. DAVIS GRIFFIN Brother Davis Griffin, 62, signed on with the SIU in 1981. He primarily sailed with Dravo Basic Materials Company for the duration of his career. Brother Griffin is a resident of Megargel, Ala. MICHAEL OFFENSEND Brother Michael Offensend, 71, began his SIU career in 1977. He initially sailed with Interstate Oil Transportation Company. Brother Offensend most recently worked on a Mariner Towing vessel. He makes his home in Linesville, Pa. WILLIAM PALMER Brother William Palmer, 66, was born in Houston. He joined the union in 1959. Brother Palmer first worked with G&H Towing as a member of the deck department. He enhanced his skills frequently at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Brother Palmer’s final trip was on the Pacific Reliance. He now resides in Conroe, Texas. This Month In SIU History Editor’s note: The following items are reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG 1945 A Japanese suicide plane, which hit smack in number 3 hold, could not stop the SIU men on the SS Kyle V. Johnson from participating in the invasion of Luzon. A number of soldiers and the steward were killed, and a hole torn in the side, but after an emergency patch was made in the side of the vessel, it was able to continue in the convoy. The ship was given credit for shooting down six Japanese planes, with the members of the crew helping man the guns. The crew was commended by the Army officers and General MacArthur for their splendid behavior and action during and after the attack. 1956 SIU crewmembers of the Steel Advocate who took part in a dramatic rescue of two fliers from shark-infested Pacific waters were awarded a special blue pennant for “meritorious rescue operations” by the National Security Council. The rescue took place about 1,100 miles west of Hawaii. A commercial cargo plane went down with five men, but only two sur- vived after being in the weather for 44 hours. They were being attacked by sharks when they were spotted by the ship’s bosun. A smoothrunning rescue followed and the men were quickly brought aboard. 1978 The latest in what has become a grim history of flag-of-convenience tanker wrecks involves the 233,000 dwt Amoco Cadiz. The ship, which was registered under the Liberian flag, went aground off the coast of France. Despite efforts to minimize pollution, several days later the Cadiz broke in two and spilled her entire load of 68 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean. 1999 The SIU-crewed USNS Gordon was prepositioned and anchored when crew members spotted two United Arab Emirates fisherman waving and clinging to a mostly submerged 12-foot boat in high wind and choppy seas. Reacting quickly, the Gordon launched an inflatable boat and saved the two men. The rescue lasted only 28 minutes. Rear Admiral Gordon Holder, commander of Military Sealift Command, described the rescue as “a perfect example of seamanship in the finest tradition.” Seafarers LOG 17 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:17 PM Page 18 Final Depar tures DEEP SEA LORAINE CHRISTENSEN Pensioner Loraine Christensen, 89, passed away Nov. 17. Sister Christensen joined the Marine Cooks & Stewards in 1968 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged into the SIU. She was born in Wisconsin and shipped in the steward department. Sister Christensen sailed with States Steamship Company and Matson Navigation Company during her career. She went on pension in 1982 and called San Joaquin, Calif., home. DAVID CORDERO Pensioner David Cordero, 62, died Nov. 29. Brother Cordero became a Seafarer in 1969. He originally worked aboard the Jacksonville as a member of the deck department. Brother Cordero was born in Puerto Rico. Prior to his retirement in 2007, he shipped on the Quality. Brother Cordero settled in New York. PEDRO CORTEZ Pensioner Pedro Cortez, 84, passed away Nov. 23. Brother Cortez started sailing with the union in 1963 while in the port of New York. He was born in Ponce, P.R. Brother Cortez’s earliest trip was aboard the Cantigny. He shipped in the engine department. Brother Cortez most recently worked on the USNS Altair. He retired in 1991 and lived in Burlington, N.C. RONNIE DAY Brother Ronnie Day, 55, died Nov. 15. He signed on with the SIU in 1990 in the port of Houston. Brother Day initially shipped aboard the USNS Capella. His final voyage was on the Samuel L. Cobb. Brother Day was a member of the engine department. He was born in Illinois and made his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. SAMUEL GIBSON Pensioner Samuel Gibson, 83, passed away Nov. 30. Brother Gibson, a member of the engine department, began sailing with the 18 Seafarers LOG Seafarers in 1951. His first trip was aboard the Alcoa Pennant and his last was on the Overseas Alaska. Brother Gibson was born in Alabama. He became a pensioner in 1983. Brother Gibson was a resident of Gilbertown, Ala. THOMAS MARTINEZ Pensioner Thomas Martinez, 89, died Nov. 12. Brother Martinez was born in Ecuador. He joined the union in 1945 while in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Martinez originally shipped with Sinclair Oil Corporation as a member of the engine department. His most recent vessel was the USNS Bruce Heezen. Brother Martinez went on pension in 1999 and resided in Philadelphia. FRANCIS SCHUMACHER Pensioner Francis Schumacher, 82, passed away Nov. 30. Brother Schumacher began his seafaring career in 1947 while in the port of Baltimore. His first ship was operated by CSX Lines. Brother Schumacher’s final trip was aboard the George White. The deck department member started collecting his retirement compensation in 1982. Brother Schumacher called Evansville, Ind., home. INLAND CHARLES KEICHLINE Brother Charles Keichline, 51, died Nov. 26. He became a union member in 1991 in the port of Philadelphia. Brother Keichline primarily worked with Moran Towing of Philadelphia. He was born in Woodbury, N.J., and sailed in the deck department. Brother Keichline continued to live in New Jersey. JACK TILLETT Pensioner Jack Tillett, 77, passed away Oct. 11. Brother Tillett signed on with the SIU in 1951. His earliest trip was with Blidberg Rothschild. Brother Tillett was a North Carolina native. He last sailed on a Marine Oil Service vessel. Brother Tillett retired in 1994 and settled in Chesapeake, Va. JOHN ZELLER JR. Pensioner John Zeller, Jr., 62, died Nov. 18. Brother Zeller joined the union in 1973 while in Baltimore. He initially shipped aboard a Charles H. Harper & Associates vessel. Brother Zeller was most recently employed with Moran Towing of Maryland. He went on pension in 2009 and resided in his native state of Maryland. NATIONAL MARITIME UNION Editor’s note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU), have passed away. Cortes was born in Puerto Rico. He went on pension in 1992. Brother Cortes lived in Bayamon, P.R. CLARENCE DOUGLAS Pensioner Clarence Douglas, 69, died Dec. 13. Brother Douglas was a native of Mobile, Ala. He began receiving his retirement pay in 1995. Brother Douglas resided in Cypress, Texas. GERALDO FERREIRA Pensioner Geraldo Ferreira, 79, passed away Oct. 27. Brother Ferreira was born in New Bedford, Mass. He became a pensioner in 1989 and settled in Waterford, Conn. ANTONIO ALVARADO Pensioner Antonio Alvarado, 89, passed away Sept. 20. Brother Alvarado was born in Honduras. He became a pensioner in 1987 and settled in New York State. MICHAEL GORMLEY Pensioner Michael Gormley, 72, passed away Sept. 24. The New Jersey-born mariner became a pensioner in 1992. Brother Gormley made his home in Port Orange, Fla. FRIDE ANDERSSON Pensioner Fride Andersson, 86, died Sept. 14. Brother Andersson was a native of Sweden. He retired in 1989 and called Vidor, Texas, home. LEWIS HATCHER Pensioner Lewis Hatcher, 86, died Jan. 4. Brother Hatcher was born in Alabama. He retired in 1967. Brother Hatcher called Norfolk, Va., home. NICOLAS APONTE Pensioner Nicolas Aponte, 77 passed away Nov. 10. Brother Aponte was born in Santo Domingo. He began receiving his pension in 2002. Brother Aponte was a resident of New York. JOHN HUGHES Pensioner John Hughes, 89, passed away Sept. 11. Brother Hughes was a native of Massachusetts. He started collecting his retirement compensation in 1973. Brother Hughes made his home in Timonium, Md. JOSE ARANGO Pensioner Jose Arango, 95, died Dec. 12. The Colombia native started collecting his retirement pay in 1976. Brother Arango resided in Austin, Texas. ELPIDIO CORTES Pensioner Elpidio Cortes, 74, passed away Sept. 16. Brother LAWRENCE KORYCKI Pensioner Lawrence Korycki, 84, died Sept. 22. Brother Korycki was a resident of Maryland. He went on pension in 1966. ANTONIO MARTINEZ Pensioner Antonio Martinez, 88, passed away Sept. 17. Brother Martinez was born in Tampa, Fla. He became a pensioner in 1966 and continued to reside in Tampa. PRISCILIANO MORALES Pensioner Prisciliano Morales, 85, died Dec. 30. Born in Puerto Rico, he retired in 1968. Brother Morales resided in New York. JAMES PERRODIN Pensioner James Perrodin, 80, passed away Jan. 4. Brother Perrodin began receiving his pension in 1999. He lived in Cottageville, S.C. JUAN RIVERA Pensioner Juan Rivera, 99, died Sept. 21. Brother Rivera was a native of Puerto Rico. He started collecting his retirement compensation in 1968. Brother Rivera continued to make his home in Puerto Rico. ROLANDO RIVERA Pensioner Rolando Rivera, 75, died Sept. 14. Brother Rivera was a native of El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras He retired in 1995 and called Metairie, La. ANGELO RODRIGUEZ Pensioner Angelo Rodriguez, 87, passed away Sept. 12. Brother Rodriguez, a native of New York, retired in 1966. He called Bronx, N.Y., home. GILBERTO RODRIGUEZ Pensioner Gilberto Rodriguez, 83, died Sept. 3. The Puerto Rico native went on pension in 1967. Brother Rodriguez made his home in Tampa, Fla. NAJI SAIBAN Pensioner Naji Saiban, 77, passed away Sept. 14. Brother Saiban was born in Yemen. He became a pensioner in 1995 and settled in San Leandro, Calif. MELVIN SPEIR Pensioner Melvin Speir, 82, died Sept. 3. Brother Speir was a native of Georgia. He retired in 1972. Brother Speir lived in Pembroke, Ga. KESLEY WALLACE Pensioner Kesley Wallace, 78, passed away Sept. 29. Brother Wallace, a native of the Cayman Islands, went on pension in 1986. He made his home in St. Petersburg, Fla. Name Barreto, Daniel Barrs, Marion Bodden, John Brande, Clifford Carrero, Juan Cruz, Raymond Daniels, Franklin Ekleberry, Bobby Frazer, Vincent Garcia, Salvadore Guerrero, George Hill, Donald Jakobsen, Jack Kon-lin, Szu Lawrence, William Lewis, Edward Maxwell, John Poplar, Stephen Rantas, Emetrio Age 92 81 78 82 85 85 87 82 83 82 88 82 93 85 91 91 84 65 87 DOD Dec. 16 Dec. 30 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Dec. 3 Dec. 20 Dec. 20 Dec. 20 Nov. 26 Jan. 1 Dec. 17 Dec. 1 Nov. 13 Nov. 24 Dec. 20 Dec. 11 Nov. 2 Jan. 2 Dec. 21 April 2010 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:17 PM Page 19 Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings ALASKAN FRONTIER (Alaska Tanker Company), Feb. 8 – Chairman Carlos Loureiro, Secretary Gregory Lynch, Educational Director Corey Hann. Chairman challenged mariners to maintain safety record from beginning of outfitting. He discussed new performance agreement and stated it is a difficult but welcome challenge to beat last year’s nearperfect performance. All involved in tank cleanup were thanked. Secretary asked crew to report items that are needed. Educational director suggested crew members take advantage of upgrading opportunities at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. Members were reminded to renew documents early so they won’t miss job opportunities. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Motions were made regarding 2011 contract negotiations. Phone and internet access is now available at sea with new satellite. Crew asked to clean up after themselves in laundry room. Kudos were given to steward department for great food. Members were urged to communicate on the job before situations get out off hand. HORIZON RELIANCE (Horizon Lines), Feb. 21 – Chairman Kissinfor Taylor, Secretary Joseph Laureta, Educational Director Cirico Geonanga, Deck Delegate Julius Udan, Steward Delegate Frank Iverson. Chairman announced payoff February 25 in Long Beach, Calif., and read president’s report in the Seafarers LOG. Secretary expressed gratitude for help keeping ship clean. Educational director encouraged fellow mariners to keep going to Piney Point to upgrade skills and also reminded them to keep documents up-to-date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward Laureta was thanked for an excellent job and putting out special food. Next ports: Long Beach, Calif., and Honolulu. HORIZON TACOMA (Horizon Lines), Feb. 28 – Chairman Joseph Artis, Secretary Lincoln Pinn, Educational Director Vladimir Babenko, Steward Delegate Sam Kassem. Bosun stated payoff upon arrival on March 3 in Tacoma, Wash. He urged members to keep dues current and contribute to SPAD (Seafarers Political Activity Donation). Chairman was pleased with cleanliness of ship. Educational director advised members to upgrade, which can lead to better opportunities and advancement. No beefs or disputed OT reported. January 2010 president’s report from Seafarers LOG about union’s success in 2009 was read and discussed. Steward department was thanked for a job well done. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. MARILYN (Sealift), Feb. 1 – Chairman Fareed Khan, Secretary Gordon Major, Educational Director Tyrone Benjamin, Engine Delegate Bobby Turner, Steward April 2010 Delegate Timothy E. Taylor. Chairman reported smooth sailing and thanked all aboard for a job well done. Secretary stated that during voyage the crew was very positive and helpful which made for a pleasant trip. Educational director advised mariners to attend classes at the Piney Point school to enhance seafaring abilities. It was suggested to enroll in security or small arms training classes due to pirate activity. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made for new dryers. 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. Way Down South OVERSEAS LONG BEACH (OSG Ship Management), Feb. 1 – Chairman Anton Sulic, Secretary Mario Firme, Educational Director Charles Kennedy, Deck Delegate Michael Bell, Engine Delegate Rolando Ocson, Steward Delegate Sallahaldin Nasser. Chairman noted that crew members were doing a great job helping each other. He commended them for and contributing to SPAD and the Maritime Defense League. He stressed the importance of keeping necessary mariner documents current. Secretary reminded members to separate plastic from paper and make sure plates are brought back to galley. Educational director urged crew to upgrade whenever possible to improve skills. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members would like satellite TV receivers and refrigerators in rooms. Recommendations were made regarding the dental plan and direct deposit for vacation checks. Next ports: Cherry Point, Wash., and Long Beach, Calif. PHILADELPHIA EXPRESS (Crowley), Feb. 19 – Chairman Samuel Uyatede, Secretary Exxl Ronquillo, Educational Director David Carter, Engine Delegate Phillip Niles, Steward Delegate Jose Constantino. Bosun announced payoff February 20 in the port of Houston. He advised fellow members to take advantage of upgrading opportunities in Piney Point, Md., and thanked them for their hard work during voyage. Secretary thanked everybody for help cleaning up after meals and putting dirty linen in the right spot. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members stated there are lots of movies to watch and exercise equipment is available. The SIU-crewed vessels USNS Paul Buck and American Tern, both part of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet, recently participated in Operation Deep Freeze, the annual resupply mission to the National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The USNS Paul Buck, a tanker operated by Ocean Shipholdings, Inc., pumped off more than 150,000 barrels of fuel for equipment ranging from generators to helicopters. Once the Paul Buck departed, the American Tern, operated by OspreyAcomarit Ship Management, docked at McMurdo’s ice pier to deliver 734,907 cubic feet of cargo that included equipment, food and other supplies—the life-sustaining cargo for McMurdo’s research scientists and residents. These photos of some of the crew members and sites are from the Buck and were submitted by Robert Lee, a pilot. Look for additional photos from Deep Freeze in an upcoming issue of the LOG and on www.seafarers.org. HORIZON PACIFIC (Horizon Lines), March 4 – Chairman Michael Kadderly, Secretary Robert Mosley, Educational Director Joie Flesner, Deck Delegate Jovencio Cabab, Engine Delegate Larry Calixto, Steward Delegate Ronald Fluker. Bosun lead discussion about the reason for union meetings and thanked his crew for working safely. Secretary asked mariners to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen for next member. Educational director reminded everyone of the value of upgrading their skills at the Piney Point school. He explained how the Seafarers 401(k) plan works and touched on the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. Treasurer reported $115.50 in cookout fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. All departments were credited for outstanding work. Everyone was asked to keep noise down while watchstanders are resting. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash., Oakland, Calif., and Hawaii. USNS SODERMAN (Ocean Ships), March 4 – Chairman James D. Orlanda, Secretary Milton Sivells, Educational Director Kevin Quinlan, Deck Delegate Lynn Mallis, Steward Delegate Andrea Hargrove. Chairman reviewed the basics of SPAD, the union’s voluntary political action fund, with the crew. Clarification requested as to whether or not members could fly into their home address versus the registered union hall. Educational director encourage members to apply for scholarships. Treasurer stated $100 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew members were informed about online classes. All aboard were thankful for their jobs. Seafarers LOG 19 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:35 AM Page 20 Seafarers Support ‘Unified Response’ The photos appearing on this page were sent to the LOG by Jan Genemans of the American Maritime Officers Union and by SIU Jacksonville Safety Director Ashley Nelson. The images were taken during various stages of Operation Unified Response, a relief mission in Haiti which began in the aftermath of the 7.0- magnitude earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation Jan. 12. As reported earlier in the Seafarers LOG, more than a dozen SIU-crewed vessels, including the PFC Dewayne T. Williams, Cornhusker State, MV Cape May and 1st Lt. Jack Lummus sailed to the area in support of the mission. The PFC Dewayne T. Williams SIU crewmembers aboard the Cornhusker State (front row, from left to right) included: AB Kevin Johnson, OS Shaun Wood, OMU Hubert Dennis, Wiper Gregory Attawora, AB Papa Yankeh and OMU Christopher Sheppard. In the back row are: AB Gary Turner, OMU James Corprew, OS Alvin Rhodes, AB William Markeson, Cook Patricia Sullivan, SA Penny Taylor, Steward Adele George, AB Damon Parker, SA James Petite, AB Daniel Marcus and SA Francisco Calix. Also on the crew, but not pictured were Wiper Al Greene and Electrician J. Clothier. The AMO crew aboard the Cornhusker State (front row, left to right) included REO Ashley Vail, 3AE Warren Carroll, Capt. Todd Cooper, 3AE Scott Williams, (middle row) 3M Mark Holman, 3M Erik Bekkelund, (back row) 3AE Adamo Ferriero, CE Mick McDermott, 2AE Chris Gilman, 3M John Baucom and CM Jan Genemans. Missing from this photo is 1AE Mark Harvey. The Cornhusker State Crewmembers from the PFC Dewayne T. Williams (photo above) are pictured in Jacksonville following their return from Haiti. Included (from left to right) are Bosun Chris Janics, SA Sixto Carcamo, S A L e z l i e Vehikite, and AB John Gonnsalves. In the photo at left, Bosun Janics joins SA Rosemary Glover and AB Nick Vandergriff. Chief Cook Meili Seegers PFC Dewayne T. Williams Cook/Baker Edward English PFC Dewayne T. Williams Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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/NMU 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 by 20 Seafarers LOG certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2010 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:23 AM Page 21 Seafarers Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Schedule The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., for the next few months of 2010. All programs are geared to improving the job skills of Seafarers and to promoting the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. 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 Date of Completion Medical Care Provider April 19 June 14 April 23 June 18 Steward Department Upgrading Courses Chief Steward April 19 July 19 May 28 August 27 Steward Recertification April 12 May 3 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. Deck Department Upgrading Courses Title of Course Start Date Date of Completion Able Seaman April 26 June 21 May 21 July 16 ARPA April 19 April 23 Bosun Recertification October 18 November 8 Celestial Navigation May 24 June 18 Fast Rescue Boat Lifeboatman May 3 June 21 June 7 May 7 June 25 June 18 Radar Observer (Unlimited) April 5 April 16 Radar Recertification June 21 June 21 Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman May 10 May 21 Certified Chief Cook/Chief Steward These classes start every other Monday. The most recent class began March 22. Academic Department Courses General education and college courses are available as needed at the Paul Hall Center. In addition, basic vocational support program courses are offered throughout the year, two weeks prior to the beginning of a vocational course. The following opportunities are currently available: Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), a College Program and a Preparatory Course. When applying for preparatory courses, students should list the name of the course desired on upgrading application. An introduction to computers course, a self-study module, is also available. Online Distance Learning Courses Engine Department Upgrading Courses Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations May 24 June 18 FOWT April 26 June 21 May 21 July 16 Welding April 5 May 10 June 7 April 23 May 28 June 25 Safety Upgrading Courses Basic & Advanced Firefighting BST/Basic Firefighting May 31 April 26 May 24 June 21 June 11 April 30 May 28 June 25 Medical Care Provider March 22 March 26 UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ____________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________ “Distance learning” (DL) courses are available to students who plan to enroll in classes at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. The online courses are not mandatory, but they are structured to benefit students who eventually attend other classes at the Paul Hall Center, which is located in Piney Point, Md. The online courses are: DOD Level 1 Antiterrorism Awareness Training, MSC Environmental Awareness, First Aid Preparation, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, Hazardous Material Control and Management, Hearing Conservation, Heat Stress Management, Bloodborne Pathogens, Shipboard Pest Management, Respiratory Protection, Back Safety, Fixed Fire Fighting Systems, Shipboard Firefighting, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Fire Fighting Equipment, Shipboard Water Sanitation, Crew Endurance Management, Basic Math Refresher, Intermediate Math Refresher, Marine Engineering Mathematics Preparation, Introduction to Navigational Math, Basic Culinary Skills, and Chief Cook Preparation. Students MUST have access to the internet and an e-mail address in order to take the aforementioned classes. Each course must be taken online, not at the Paul Hall Center. Email addresses should be provided on applications (printed neatly) when applying. Applicants should include the letters DL when listing any online course on the upgrading application form below. Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twentyfive (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back or relevant pages of merchant mariner credential, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested, 1995 STCW Certificate, valid SHBP Clinic Card and TWIC. _________________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth ______________________________________________________________ ____________________________ START DATE _______________ Deep Sea Member ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ ____________________________ _______________ _______________ Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________ Lakes Member Inland Waters Member If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security #_______________________ Book # ____________________________ Seniority_____________________________ COURSE DATE OF COMPLETION _______________ Department______________________ Home Port_____________________________________________________________ E-mail________________________________________________________________ LAST VESSEL: __________________________________Rating: ______________ Date On: ___________________________ Date Off:________________________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held______________________________________ SIGNATURE ________________________________ DATE___________________ _________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are reimbursable.Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? Yes No If yes, class # ______________________________________________________________ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? Yes No If yes, course(s) taken_____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ April 2010 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, of 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. 4/10 Seafarers LOG 21 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:17 PM Page 22 Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 727 – Nineteen unlicensed apprentices completed their requirements in this 60-hour water survival course Dec. 11. Those graduating (right, in alphabetical order) were: Ibrahim Abubaker, Brandon Albro, Rafael Alvarez-Chacon, Joshua Bickel, Russell Bravo, Lawrence Brooks, John Cacella, Christin Clanton, Walter Clark, Christopher Corvino, Dhindo Faulve, Kaamil Gray, Brandon Hubbie, Melbourne Leask, Kassim Mohamed, Tervin Narcisse, Luis SantiagoSotero, Ricky Sherfy, and Daniel Stepnik. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Welding – Four upgraders completed their requirements in the 103-hour course Feb. 19. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Steven Hamilton, Jonathan McNeil, Reina Mendez, and Rogelio Thompson. Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, is standing, second from left. Tank Ship Familiarization DL – Seventeen urgraders on Feb. 26 completed their requirements in this 63-hour course. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Danilo Achacoso, Nicholas Barkdull, David Blue, Mamadou Diallo, Terry Franklin, Jape Geonzon, John Gryko, Peter Hamm, Jeremiah Harrington, Fabian Lanzy, Travis Long, Malek Muhsen, Raymond Nowak, Rudy Puerto, Salahuddin Saleh, John Schmanski and Bernard Smalls. Herb Walling, their instructor, is at left. BAPO – The following Phase III apprentices and upgraders (above, in alphabetical order) completed this 140-hour course Feb. 26: Benjamin Arroya, Joseph Bankhead, Roberto Borras, Ja’Quaral Carroll, Christepher Cross, Daniel Daligcon Sr., Christopher Dehr, Jacob DieFenbach, Jason Greene, Shawn Haber, Kelvin Jennings Jr., Shaun Lewis, Allen Ludlow, Tremain McCoy, Carlos Noriega, Thomas Respicio, Grayson Ross, Zachary Ross, Garland Scott, Aleksey Vigovskiy and Antoine White. Their instructor, Tim Achorn, is at right. ARPA – Six upgraders completed this 32-hour course Feb. 19. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Tyler Adams, Richard Barnes, Scott Ellis, Mark Gaskill, Thomas Hancock and John Howard. Their instructor, Stacey McNeely, is at right. Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. 22 Seafarers LOG April 2010 �58860_p01_24:58860 3/25/2010 7:17 PM Page 23 Paul Hall Center Classes Vessel Security Officer – The following individuals (above, in alphabetical order) finished their requirement in the course Feb. 17. Graduating were: Greg Allman, David Callis, Douglas Carson, Douglas Covil, James Dixon, Scottie Duncan, William Eskridge, Dennis Gaskill Jr., Wayne Huebschman, Parran Keane, Richardson Korron, Brian Pruitt, Gil Pruitt, James Robinson, Michael Smith and Foster Watts. Their instructor, Brad Wheeler, is fourth from the left. Tank Pic Barge – Sixteen uprgraders completed this course Feb. 19. Graduating (photo at left, in alphabetical order) were: Stephen Banks, Robeson Carrier, Al Caulder, Thomas Conry, Monte Cross Jr., Joel Fahselt, Cory Gardner, Ronel Guerzon, Thomas Halliburton, John Immerfall, John Manning, Kenneth McLamb, Louis Ponsiglione, Robert Stevens, Annie Walker and Emmanuel Wilson. Their instructor, Mitch Oakley, is kneeling in the front Certified Chief Cook Eight members of the steward department recently completed this 12-week course. Those graduating (photo at left, from the left) were: Brad Stephenson, BeGiana Eason, Lamberto Palanos, Elizabeth Ibanez and Stanford Drakes. Also graduating (photo at right) were Greg McNiel, Alexandra DeJesus and Richard Wythe. BST (Hawaii) – Sixteen individuals completed this training at the Seafarers Training STCW – Eleven upgraders on Feb. 12 completed their requirements in the course. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Danilo Achacoso, Jaysen Cummings, David Denizac, Jape Geonzon, Ricky Langley, Michael Lyell, Kenneth McLamb, Terry Polly, Salahuddin Saleh, Bernard Smalls and Annie Walker. Their instructor, Steve Stockwell, is at left. April 2010 Center in Hawaii Jan 30. Graduating (above, in no particular order) were: Kimberly Tibbs, Chad Eichelberger, Maria Obando, Blaine Tennyson, Roberto Arteaga, Patricia Trueblood, Jillian Clark, Christopher Aldrich, Catherine Pozerski, Allison Holladay, Rebecca Ray, Gerry Stocker, Steven Scordino, John Medwid, Nick Lucero and Bryan Suarez. Seafarers LOG 23 �58860_p01_24X:58860 3/29/2010 6:25 AM Page 24 Volume 72, Number 4 April 2010 SMIS Notice - Page 15 Navy Secretary, Joint Chiefs Chairman Commend SIU-Crewed USNS Comfort T he civilian mariners and sailors aboard the Seafarers-crewed hospital ship USNS Comfort are known worldwide for their humanitarian assistance efforts. They were visited in January and February by the U.S. Navy’s top brass and a Haitian leader to commend them for the lifesaving assistance they provided to an earthquake-devastated Haiti in Operation Unified Response. Additionally, the U.S. House of Representative recently passed House Resolution 1048 commending the efforts of the Comfort crew and those of all Navy and Military Sealift Command ships involved in the operation. The civilian mariners in the Comfort’s unlicensed positions are members of the SIU’s Government Services Division and were on hand when Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen and Haitian Health Minister Dr. Alex Larsen visited the ship while the Comfort was anchored off the coast of Port-au-Prince to commend the vessel’s personnel for their efforts. During the Comfort relief mission, the medical contingent performed surgery and related assistance to more than 900 Haitians hurt from the quake. Mariners distributed relief supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Comfort also provided more than 300 units of blood from its on-board blood banks, delivered more than 100 pallets of other relief supplies and acted as ambassadors of the U.S. “I want to simply say thank you for the skills you have, the dedication you have and the hours you have put in,” said Secretary Mabus to the crew. “Thank you for everything you have done on behalf of the United States for the people of Haiti. To have Comfort anchored off the coast of Haiti shows a completely different face of America.” Mabus added, “It shows what we can do, and that we are here to help.” “You got down here in record time and made a huge difference,” said Adm. Mullen. “I can only imagine what you’ve been through and seen. I wanted to thank you and thanks to your families who make this possible. We just couldn’t do it without their support. They’re proud of what you’re doing.” Health Minister Larsen presented a plaque to the crew on behalf of a grateful nation. “The United States answered the call very early. The only thing I can do from the bottom of my heart,” said Larsen, “is to say thank you from the Haitian people.” As of March 5, more than 1,200 civilian mariners, sailors, and nongovernmental volunteers from the Comfort had helped provide aid during Operation Unified Response, a USAID-led multinational relief effort to begin the steps toward recovery from January’s catastrophe, according to the Navy. Military forces attached to the Joint Task Force in Haiti have provided just over 2.6 million bottles of water, 2.2 million meals, and 149,000 pounds of medical supplies. When commending the Comfort crew, H.R. 1048, sponsored by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), noted the extraordinary USNS Comfort staff has saved the lives of 98 percent of the ship’s patient population and “commends the efforts and honors the work of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the U.S. Navy in the immediate response to those affected by this calamity.” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen (left) speaks with Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Mortimer and other personnel aboard the SIU-crewed hospital ship USNS Comfort. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chelsea Kennedy) AB Wendell Moore mans the lines during an underway fuel replenishment. The hospital ship received fuel from fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman, allowing the vessel to continue support of Operation Unified Response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Edwardo Proano) AB Mina Abucay communicates with the USNS Leroy Grumman. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Edwardo Proano) Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus (center) meets with Capt. Rodelio Laco, commander of Task Group 41.8, aboard the USNS Comfort. Mabus visited the Comfort to recognize the accomplishments of the crew, who provided critical medical care to more than 900 victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy Wilson) � 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 2010-2019 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXXII-LXXXI of the 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-2019 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 April 2010 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MILITARY LEADERS, OTHER MTD SPEAKERS REINFORCE SUPPORT FOR U.S. MARINERS AKER PHILADELPHIA SHIPYARD LAUNCHES OVERSEAS MARTINEZ UNION’S FINANCIAL RECORDS FOR 2009 REVIEWED, APPROVED BY MEMBERS MTD SPEAKERS CREDIT MARITIME LABOR LIBERTY PROMISE REFLAGS UNDER ‘STARS AND STRIPES,’ ADDS MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEAFARERS CONTAINERSHIP MV MOHEGAN DELIVERING CARGO FOR MSC NAVY CONFIRMS 2 MORE T-AKE ORDERS LIST OF NATIONS TO RATIFY ILO 185 GROWS TO 17 U.S. REP. SUTTON HONORED BY GREAT LAKES COALITION RETIRED SIU OFFICIAL BABKOWSKI PASSES AWAY IN N.J. AT AGE 91 SENATOR VITTER TO RECEIVE ‘SALUTE TO CONGRESS’ AWARD SEAFARERS SUPPORT TSA WORKERS, AFGE LAKES CREWS REPORT FOR FIT OUT ‘WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU’VE MADE’ MILITARY LEADERS CITE VALUE OF MARINERS’ RELIABILITY, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP U.S. MUST CREATE, MAINTAIN GOOD JOBS OSG EXECUTIVE: LABOR-MANAGEMENT COOPERATION BOOSTS MARITIME INDUSTRY ITF URGES INCREASED ACTION TO THWART PIRACY MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR, FMC CHAIRMAN UNDERSCORE NEED FOR STRONG U.S. FLEET SEAFARERS SUPPORT ‘UNIFIED RESPONSE’ NAVY SECRETARY, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN COMMEND SIU-CREWED USNS COMFORT 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2010 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. 72, No. 4 2010 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/207b29a97f51b620800278c02a5d4603.pdf d2d8a95c4d4b6284a3ddfab8ac8af03d PDF Text Text 63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 7:23 PM Page 1 Volume 73, Number 4 April 2011 M TD Sp ot l i ght s C ri t i c al Ne e d F o r S t r o n g U . S . M er c h a n t M a r i n e During the most recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board, guest speakers and MTD officials thoroughly explored major issues confronting the industry. Preserving the Jones Act – a law vital to America’s national and economic security – and effectively fighting back against piracy were two of the main topics discussed during the meeting, which took place Feb. 24-25 in Orlando, Fla. Guest speakers from the military, the administration, Congress and the business community all stated their unequivocal backing for the U.S. Merchant Marine. Pages 3, 9-13. SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez (center) is pictured with (from left) Vice Adm. Albert J. Herberger (USN) (Ret.); Maj. Gen. James Hodge, commander, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command; Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; and MEBA President Mike Jewell. MTD President Michael Sacco (right), who also serves as president of the SIU, describes the patriotism consistently displayed by U.S. civilian mariners as MTD VP Scott Winter looks on. SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (right) greets Jeffrey Lantz, director, commercial regulations and standards, U.S. Coast Guard. International Maritime Groups Launch New Anti-Piracy Effort Major maritime organizations around the globe have started a significant new anti-piracy campaign titled “Save Our Seafarers.” This ramped-up initiative includes a new website that makes it easy for visitors to contact elected representatives and urge their support for the world’s mariners. In photo at left, Seafarers at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., line up to give their backing. Pages 3, 24. USNS Washington Chambers Delivered Page 2 Horizon Producer Rescue Page 4 ‘Sail-In’ Scheduled for May Page 5 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:06 PM Page 2 P re s i d e n t ’ s R e p o r t Battles Continue Between ongoing budget battles in Washington, a new global campaign against piracy, and our never-ending efforts to secure and maintain good jobs for the rank-and-file membership, the SIU remains fully engaged on maritime-specific issues. But this month, I have to begin by offering a heartfelt word of solidarity to our brothers and sisters in the public sector. Anyone who’s read a newspaper or watched TV in the last month undoubtedly is aware of the statelevel attacks against Americans who belong to publicsector unions. These disgusting legislative assaults aren’t based on facts or budgets, but on stripping workers of their bargaining rights. Everyone knows our nation is struggling with the worst economy in decades. What everyone also should know is that the public-sector workers who provide important services to our communities did not create any budget shortfalls. They are being blamed by some politicians and commentators for problems they didn’t Michael Sacco cause. Collective bargaining didn’t set off these economic troubles, either. Taxpayers are better off in states where public workers exercise their rights to bargain for wages and working conditions and benefits. You don’t have to be an economist to know that workers who are well-trained and understand their jobs regularly perform better and more efficiently. Just ask the companies that know what it means to have Seafarers under contract. Blaming working families and their unions isn’t the answer in Wisconsin or anywhere else. Neither is promoting so-called right-to-work legislation, which has proven year after year to drive down wages. The answer is to focus on creating good jobs. Public-sector workers already have taken pay cuts and refused pay raises to maintain health care and other benefits. They’re already sharing a burden they didn’t create, and it’s unfair for any governor or talk-show host or anyone else to point fingers at our union brothers and sisters. We have marched in solidarity with those members and will continue to support them in every way possible. Meanwhile, as I mentioned last month, we are right there on the front lines of budget fights in the nation’s capital that promise to have a huge impact on maritime. By way of proposed lack of funding, critical items including our nation’s cargo preference laws and the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program are being attacked, and those aren’t the only maritime issues in the crosshairs. Our members’ livelihoods depend on a number of these programs, and that’s more than enough motivation for us to stay on top of these battles for as long as it takes to win. Additionally, I want to thank all SIU members who’ve signed up for the new anti-piracy campaign at the “Save Our Seafarers” web site. If you haven’t already done so, please take a minute and visit the site. It is prominently linked on our own home page, and we have member-accessible computers set up in all of our union halls as well as at headquarters and in Piney Point. Details about the campaign appear elsewhere in this edition. But I have to add one thing about this ongoing struggle against Somali piracy. I forget who first made the comparison, but it really drove home an eye-opening point: Can you imagine what the world’s reaction would be if 800 airline passengers and flight crews were being held hostage in Somalia? I have a strong hunch it wouldn’t be allowed to drag on, yet that’s exactly what is happening with mariners whose ships were taken over by those waterborne terrorists. Like so many other aspects of our industry, the solution to this problem has to start with political action. That’s the point of “Save Our Seafarers,” and the very early returns are promising. This is literally a life-and-death issue and we are treating it as such. Finally, I encourage the membership to take some time and read about the recent meetings of the Maritime Trades Department executive board. The comments by our guest speakers are very relevant to shipboard employment and your future. Also, the supportive words from the two military commanders who addressed the MTD are nothing short of inspirational. Check it out and be proud of the job you’re doing as part of America’s “fourth arm of defense.” Volume 73, Number 4 April 2011 Pasha Hawaii Orders New RO/RO Aker Philadelphia to Build Additional Tankers A new car carrier and two new tankers are on the horizon following separate announcements by SIU-contracted Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines and Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. Pasha recently signed an agreement with Pascagoula, Miss.-based VT Halter Marine for construction of a roll-on/roll-off car and truck carrier that will join the trade routes between the West Coast and Hawaii. The ship is slated for delivery in 2013, and the agreement includes an option for a third vessel. “Building a second ship has always been part of our organization’s plan,” said George Pasha IV, CEO of Pasha Hawaii. “The level of enthusiasm and customer support we received when we deployed our first vessel was well beyond our expectations. Our second vessel will both better serve the Hawaii/mainland market and also provide increased frequency and superior reliability.” The current Pasha vessel, the SIU-crewed MV Jean Anne, was launched in 2005. It was named “Ship of the Year” that year by American Ship Review, and the vessel and its crew since then have been credited by the Chamber of Shipping of America with awards for outstanding ship- board safety as well as an excellent environmental record. Meanwhile, agreements have been signed in Philadelphia for the construction of two new vessels. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard has partnered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the project, which will create the seventeenth and eighteenth vessels to be built at the Philadelphia site. The two new vessels will feature state-of-theart design and technology in an effort to maximize efficiency, according to a shipyard spokesman. Additionally, union workers at the shipyard are celebrating a new collective bargaining agreement that allows shipbuilders and other employees to get started as soon as possible on the new tankers. The Philadelphia Metal Trades Department, which is an organization that encompasses 11 different unions at the shipyard, had a contract set to expire on Jan. 31. Without a new contract, work on the new ships may have been delayed. However, management and the Philadelphia Metal Trades Department’s representatives reached an agreement. The new pact was ratified Jan. 18 and will continue to be in effect until January 31, 2015. Pasha’s MV Jean Ann (above) was launched in 2005. Union workers at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard recently approved a new contract. MSC Accepts Delivery of Newest T-AKE Ship USNS Washington Chambers Becomes 11th Vessel in Class The newest addition to the SIU Government Services Division fleet, the USNS Washington Chambers, was delivered to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) on Feb. 23 in San Diego. The dry cargo/ammunition ship is the 11th vessel in the Lewis and Clark class. Like its sister ships, the Washington Chambers was built at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) yard. According to MSC, the vessel is designed to minimize operating costs as well as have the capability to quickly change from mission to mission with state-of-the-art modular cargo holding and handling systems. For example, the ship can carry ammunition or food to members of the armed forces overseas and then quickly offload and reload food aid for other parts of the world. This allows the vessel to be at the disposal of the MSC quickly and in varying capacities, the agency pointed out. Construction began on the Washington Chambers in March 2009 followed by sea trials in January 2011 and finally its delivery in February. The ship honors Navy Capt. Washington Irving Chambers, a pioneer in Navy aviation who arranged the world’s first airplane flight from a warship Nov. 14, 1910. The flight confirmed the potential for carrier-based naval aviation. During a brief ceremony at the shipyard when the vessel was delivered, Navy Capt. Jerome Hamel, commander Sealift Logistics Command Pacific, stated, “This ship represents the continued growth that MSC is experiencing and our continued commitment in support of our Navy.” The vessel has a projected 40-year service life. Other Seafarers-crewed ships in the class include the USNS Lewis and Clark, USNS Sacagawea, USNS Alan Shepard, USNS Richard E. Byrd, USNS Robert E. Peary, USNS Amelia Earhart, USNS Carl Brashear, USNS Wally Schirra, USNS Matthew Perry and USNS Charles Drew. The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFLCIO; 5201 Auth Way; 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 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Paddy Lehane; Photographer, Mike Hickey; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2011 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD. All Rights Reserved. The Seafarers International Union engaged an environmentally friendly printer for the production of this newspaper. 2 Seafarers LOG The USNS Washington Chambers is manned in the unlicensed slots by members of the SIU Government Services Division. April 2011 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:54 PM Page 3 MSC Commander Rear Adm. Mark Buzby (right in photo at left), pictured with SIU VP Government Services Kermett Mangram, said “national security and national defense depend on” civilian mariners. In the photo above, MTD President Michael Sacco (right) thanks U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) (center) for his remarks to the board as MTD VP Scott Winter (left) and others applaud the congressman’s supportive comments. MTD Speakers Underscore Vital Need For Robust U.S. Maritime Industry Guest speakers from a wide range of government and industry organizations addressed the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board in late February, and all expressed sincere appreciation for American maritime labor. Representatives from the military, the Obama administration, labor and business spoke at the board’s winter meeting Feb. 24-25 in Orlando, Fla. They discussed the U.S. Merchant Marine’s crucial role in national and economic security; the escalating scourge of piracy; state-level attacks on workers’ rights; the ongoing need for political action, and more. Their remarks helped MTD officials sharpen plans aimed at improving the lives of maritime workers as well as those of all working families. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as president of the MTD, a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. The MTD consists of 23 international unions and 21 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than 5 million members. Kicking off the meeting, Sacco said the MTD’s mission boils down to one word: jobs. He said the entire labor movement must be fully engaged in bringing back jobs to the U.S. and keeping the good jobs that are already here. He acknowledged that solutions aren’t easy, but added, “They are out there, and it’s up to us to deliver them.” For example, he cited the need to change tax laws so they reward businesses that remain in the U.S. Sacco also encouraged the board members and guests not to lose sight of labor’s many accomplishments during the previous 12 months, notwithstanding the serious challenges confronting workers. “Right at the top of that list is the strong partnership we continue to enjoy with our military,” he stated. “That’s a great working relationship and it’s reflected in part by the recent ten-year extension of the Maritime Security Program. That, brothers and sisters, is a job-sustaining program, and it’s a great victory for many of the unions represented here today.” In order of appearance, the following guest speakers addressed the board Feb. 24: U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda; World Shipping Council President Chris Koch; Jeffrey Lantz, director, commercial regulations and standards, U.S. Coast Guard; Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) (via video); Mark Ruge, counsel, American Maritime Partnership; and Dale Lumme, national executive director, Navy League of the United States. The next day, the following individuals spoke to the board: Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; Maj. Gen. James Hodge, commander, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command; U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris (via video); Jim Gordon, president, Cape Wind Associates; Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, director, prevention policy, U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.); Matt Paxton, president, Shipbuilders Council of America; Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (via video); and U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.). The board approved a number of policy statements mapping out strategies for the months ahead and expressing support for our troops and first responders. See pages 9-13 for detailed coverage of the MTD meeting International Groups Launch New Anti-Piracy Campaign Maersk Alabama Turns Back Another Attempted Attack In response to the rising number and increasing barbarity of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, international maritime groups have joined together to call on governments to do more to protect mariners. Shipowners and seafarers are reaching out to citizens throughout the world to push their respective governments to act now and show the political will to resolve the growing Somali piracy crisis before it strangles world trade and before more innocent mariners are harmed. The SOS or “Save Our Seafarers” campaign, launched in early March by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF, to which the SIU is affiliated), the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Shipping Federation (ISF), Intercargo and INTERTANKO, is aimed at encouraging millions of people around the world to heap pressure on their national governments to crack down on piracy. Two components of the campaign are high-profile advertisements that have been published in major newspapers and magazines around the world, and the web site www.saveourseafarers.com, through which visitors may quickly contact their elected political representatives. The ongoing problem of piracy again hit close to home for the SIU on March 8 when the Seafarers-crewed Maersk Alabama – famous for its April 2009 saga when pirates tried to take over the ship – was approached by April 2011 another group of would-be attackers while the vessel was en route to Kenya. In the most recent episode, the pirates turned away after warning shots were fired by an embarked security team, among other defensive steps. SIU members at union halls across the country have stepped up to support the new campaign, logging on to the SOS web site and using it to write to President Obama and ask for increased anti-piracy measures by the United States. The SIU also continues to speak out on behalf of all mariners – SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who serves as chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, is playing an important role in the new campaign, as is SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, who represented the union at a mid-March hearing on piracy conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives as well as at an anti-piracy session hosted by the U.N in New York. “The world has lost control of piracy,” Heindel stated. “Each day it’s becoming more savage and more widespread. All the Arabian Gulf and most of the Indian Ocean are now effectively lawless. Yet there is a way that control can be regained: by actively going after pirates, stopping them and prosecuting them. Not this ludicrous situation of taking away their guns and setting them free to strike again. “The burden of dealing with pirates is being borne by a few nations and the burden of actually taking them to court by even fewer,” he continued. “We have repeated- See Page 24 For related coverage ly requested stronger intervention by all governments, including the flag-of-convenience states that are reaping the profits from so much of the world’s shipping fleet without meeting any of the obligations. If we daily allow a few thousand thugs to [continue with] the danger and violence then we will soon reach a point where there is no alternative but to stop putting people and ships within their reach – with all the effects that could have on world trade and oil and food prices.” Indeed, the ITF in late February said it is moving closer to having to advise seafarers to consider avoiding working in all the affected areas – including the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the SOS campaign has six specific aims: ■ Reducing the effectiveness of the easily-identifiable pirate mother ships. ■ Authorizing naval forces to detain pirates and deliver them for prosecution and punishment. ■ Fully criminalizing all acts of piracy and intent to commit piracy under national laws in accordance with their mandatory duty to cooperate to suppress piracy under international conventions. ■ Increasing naval assets available to fight piracy. ■ Providing greater protection and support for seafarers. ■ Tracing and criminalizing the organizers and financiers behind the criminal networks. “Pirates are getting stronger, more violent and richer every day as a result of inertia by governments,” said ITF General Secretary David Cockroft. “On behalf of all the major shipping organizations, we’re calling for help See Maritime, Page 4 Seafarers LOG 3 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:54 PM Page 4 One of the fishermen is helped aboard the Horizon Producer. Two individuals were stranded for days while their boat was taking on water. Horizon Producer Rescues Stranded Fishermen On the morning of Jan. 29, 2011, the SIU-contracted Horizon Producer departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, en route to Jacksonville, Fla., on what the crew thought would be a routine trip. However, the routine turned to excitement when the mariners saw two stranded fishermen adrift in the water several hundred miles off the Puerto Rican coast. According to Electrician Angel Hernandez, during the afternoon, he noticed that the Producer was veering off course. Investigating, Hernandez found that a serious situation was developing. A mariner on wheel watch observed something unusual in the water. As the vessel got closer, the crew realized that they had an emergency on their hands. Two men in a small boat were flailing their arms, seemingly desperate for someone to notice them. The Producer made its way towards the craft, which turned out to be an 18foot fishing boat. Because of the disparity in size between the vessels the Producer couldn’t get close enough without its wake causing the smaller boat to float even farther away. The Producer then sent out a line which the fishermen tied to their boat. The two fishermen were pulled in and climbed aboard. The crew provided them with water, food, and medical attention as they listened to their story. The fishermen had been stranded in shark-infested waters for three days. Apparently, the men were on a short fishing trip off the coast of Aguadilla, P.R., when they got caught in a minor squall. They ran out of fuel and, worse yet, began taking on water. And to add to the terror, at one point a whale emerged Maritme Groups Launch Campaign To Combat Piracy Continued from Page 3 from governments to tackle this human and economic terror being inflicted upon innocent seafarers. We hope that by working together and encouraging support from the global community we can ease the current crisis of Somali piracy.” “Politicians don’t realize the severity of this crisis,” added Intercargo Chairman Nicky Pappadakis. “Escalation affects our seafarers first and foremost, but the potential effect on world trade and regional stability will affect us all. Governments can no longer afford to simply to deter and disrupt the pirates.” In jointly announcing the SOS campaign, the ITF and the other aforementioned organizations pointed out, “Merchant ships are being attacked daily, running a gauntlet of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenade attacks from armed gangs of Somali pirates. Over 800 seafarers are currently held hostage on their hijacked ships. Subjected to physical and psychological abuse for months at a time, they are held ransom for millions of dollars. Yet even when caught red-handed by naval forces, 80 percent of pirates are released to attack again. Why? Because the world’s politicians don’t realize the severity of this critical situation. The governments give the orders. The governments hold the key to resolving this crisis. But they seem unwilling to face reality and act. Their brief to the naval forces is simply to deter and disrupt, unless it involves a national interest. “Enough is enough.” See Page 24 For Related Coverage 4 Seafarers LOG nearby and nearly overturned the boat. Their rescue by the SIU crew, to the fishermen and their families, was an act of extreme heroism and bravery. But to the crew, it was all part of the code that all mariners live by. “That’s the way of a seaman’s life,” said Hernandez. “If you see somebody in danger, that’s your first obligation: to save another’s life. We all knew it was part of our duty.” The two fishermen called their families from aboard the ship, causing an emotional scene. The Producer continued on to Jacksonville, where the fishermen were given further medical attention and then were returned home. For Hernandez, providing assistance to the stranded men was the only possible option. “It’s a thing of honor,” said Hernandez. “It’s the unwritten rule of the sea. If we see somebody in distress, we try to save them. It’s an obligation to humanity to do anything you can to help another human being.” SIU members aboard the ship at the time of the rescue were Recertified Bosun Paul Dornes, AB Kurt Bruer, AB Frank Hamm III, AB Curtis Dunlap, Sr., AB Hector Barnes, AB James Rush, Jr., AB Angelo Wilcox, Sr., AB Jackie Jones, AB Jack Gainers, Electrician John Walsh, GUDE Aresha Rivers, Oiler Milton Israel, Oiler Ramon Corretjer, Oiler Terry Harmon, Oiler Guiomar Rancel, Steward Baker Jerome Jordan, Chief Cook Juan Vallejo Hernandez, SA Dietre Jackson, SA Duane Washington, Apprentice Jatniel Aguilera Santiago, Apprentice Khadim Robinson, Apprentice Frances Bautista and Apprentice Nathan Graddick. Members Examine, Approve SIU’s Financial Records for 2010 The union’s constitution calls for an annual review of the SIU’s financial records for the prior year. In accordance with that mandate, a committee of seven rank-and-file Seafarers recently examined and approved the SIU’s financial records for 2010. Elected by their fellow members to serve on this year’s committee were John Haller (chairman), Charles David James, David James, John Reid, Kevin Quinlan, Nelson Poe and Thommie Hampton. Those Seafarers were elected at the March membership meeting in Piney Point, Md. They subsequently met at SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md., the rest of that same week, where they studied all of the appropriate records and found them in good order. Again in accordance with the SIU Constitution, the committee’s report will be read in all ports at the union’s monthly membership meetings and presented for membership approval. The report formally has been presented to the SIU secretary-treasurer. Article X, Section 14-c of the SIU Constitution lists the duties of the annual financial committee along with rules and procedures for electing the committee. Members of the financial committee join headquarters officials after finishing their report. Pictured from left to right are (seated) Nelson Poe, John Reid, David James, Thommie Hampton, (standing) Asst. VP Ambrose Cucinotta, John Haller, Kevin Quinlan, Sec-Treas. David Heindel and Charles David James. April 2011 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:06 PM Page 5 Unions Urge Stronger Rules Protecting U.S. Mariners Defending Against Piracy The SIU recently joined with several other maritime unions in urging the U.S. Coast Guard to institute stronger rules protecting American mariners who may need to use force while defending themselves and their vessels against piracy. Jointly submitting comments to the Coast Guard in late February were the SIU; American Maritime Officers; International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MM&P); Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; Marine Firemen’s Union; and Sailors’ Union of the Pacific. The agency had requested input on its policy regarding “standard rules for the use of force for self-defense of vessels of the United States.” The unions pointed out that current guidance, issued in June 2009, “actually allows less force to be used than American common law and the statutory law of most states.” Therefore, they said, the Coast Guard “should develop standard rules for the use of force for self-defense of vessels of the United States when on the high seas that permit the use of deadly force by any means, including armed resistance, when the master, mariner, embarked personnel including security personnel, or individuals who use force, or authorizes the use of force, reasonably believes the vessel or a mariner is being subjected to an act of piracy.” Comparing the current maritime regulations in Port Security Advisory (PSA) 3-09 to long-established U.S. laws governing shore-side conduct, the unions wrote, “Since the general introduction of firearms, the common law has recognized that one is not ‘required to retreat when he is assailed in a place where he has a right to be.’ Likewise, one may defend his domicile or his property to the extent of taking life, when necessary in defense of his property. Although any American would be justified in using deadly force to protect his home or property, [the current guideline] advises that only non-deadly force should be used in defense of the vessel or in defense of property the master and crew are authorized to protect.” The union comments continued, “Of course, it is impossible for a mariner to retreat from attack when he is at sea. At the same time, the vessel is the mariner’s domicile and contains all the property with which the mariner travels. The master is charged with the protection of both the vessel and a ship’s cargo – often valuable military and humanitarian aid owned by the U.S. government. Faced with these realities, mariners or embarked security forces must be able to use deadly force in defense of the vessel; if pirates are permitted to board a vessel with only non-lethal resistance because the pirates were not actively threatening the crew with imminent death or great bodily harm, it will often be too late for the vessel and too late for the crew.” Additionally, the unions pointed out what they described as a significant omission in current law. Specifically, left unaddressed is the use of deadly force when a mariner has a reasonable fear of kidnapping. The way the existing guidance is worded, “a mariner who reasonably fears he will be kidnapped for ransom is not entitled to use deadly force,” the unions noted. “This is a serious oversight because ransoming vessels and crew is the main motivation behind pirate attacks off the Somalia coast. Indeed, when the Maersk Alabama was attacked in 2009, the pirates were unable to seize the ship due to the valiant efforts of the crew; however, the attackers kidnapped the master as they fled the vessel.” Elsewhere in their submission, the unions reiterated their shared position that the suppression of piracy “is primarily a government responsibility using embarked military security detachments under rules of engagement enforced by military command and control procedures.” Moreover, they said that in the event that a U.S. shipowner, mariner or security personnel face civil or criminal liability in a foreign jurisdiction for their lawful use of force, the U.S. government “must be prepared with diplomatic and legal assistance to ensure U.S. law is applied to actions taken by U.S. ships.” Coalition Slates 2nd Annual Maritime ‘Sail-In’ for May The U.S. Maritime Coalition has announced plans for its second annual Congressional “Sail-In,” an effort to educate members of Congress on the importance of the American maritime industry. The event is scheduled to be conducted on Capitol Hill on May 4, 2011. This year’s Sail-In aims to build on the success of the 2010 event, in which several dozen maritime industry representatives from all over the country – including a number of SIU officials – took to the Capitol and met with members of Congress and their staff. Several maritime groups are expected to attend this year, among them international and domestic carriers, terminal operators, and maritime unions again including the SIU. The event will inform members of Congress and their staffs about the importance of pro-maritime legislation and programs, as well reiterate the impact the maritime industry has on the economy and national security. U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Albert J. Herberger (Ret.), a former U.S. maritime administrator and current head of the volunteer organizing group, said that for last year’s event, “We had folks from 20 states, 48 congressional districts, 28 companies, nine unions and labor organizations, and 10 related associations. That’s a powerful message to Congress.” According to the coalition, at this year’s event, the stakes have been raised by a changing political climate. A large class of freshman congressional representatives including 20 newcomers on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the loss of several longtime friends of the maritime industry means that it’s now more important than ever to mobilize and stand up for a strong maritime industry. “The meetings will entail informing Congressional leaders of the American maritime industry’s importance to the economic and national security of the United States, of the important role the industry plays in supporting American troops and America’s defense mission overseas, and of the thousands of American jobs created and maintained throughout the industry,” the coalition noted in a news release. For more information on the Sail-In, as well as registration instructions, visit www.maritimeindustrysailin.com The event is open to any and all whose lives are affected by the maritime industry. U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Albert J. Herberger (Ret.) addresses attendees at last year’s event. April 2011 A tugboat is among debris in Ofunato, Japan, following a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew M. Bradley.) Japanese Ports Recovering Vessels Alter Routes Due to Issues at Nuclear Plant As with the overall damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami that struck the Pacific Ocean near northeastern Japan on March 11, the maritime-specific destruction will take a long time to fully quantify. However, within 10 days of the tragedy, a number of stricken Japanese ports had reopened, according to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. One of the hardest-hit areas, the Port of Sendai-Shiogama, had reopened only for vessels carrying relief supplies. The nation’s two largest ports (Tokyo and Yokohama) were not directly affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Meanwhile, despite the progress at some ports, SIU-crewed ships and other vessels continued to alter routes and schedules due to port availability issues and, more significantly, radiation from nuclear power plants near Fukushima. The union remains in close contact with SIU-contracted operators including Maersk Line, Limited and APL and with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) to help ensure mariner and vessel safety. Additionally, the union’s Government Services Division sent precautionary information to CIVMARS. The union also reached out to officials at the All Japan Seamen’s Union, offering condolences and support. On March 17, the U.S. Maritime Administration issued an advisory to U.S. vessels transiting to or from Japan or in waters in the vicinity of the northeast coast of the island of Honshu. Among other points, the advisory pointed out that the U.S. Department of Energy “and other technical experts in the U.S. government have reviewed scientific and technical information collected from assets in Japan, as well as what the government of Japan has disseminated. Consistent with the results of that review, NRC guidelines and guidance issued by the U.S. ambassador to Japan, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends, as a precaution, that vessels avoid transiting within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima nuclear power plant…. Mariners are advised that this recommendation should be considered a minimum distance…. Prudent trackline planning should incorporate current wind and weather conditions.” Within a few days after the earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese coast guard released information on several cargo ships that grounded at ports including Ishinomaki, Kashima and Kamaishi. All the crews were reported safe, as were mariners aboard several other ships that initially were drifting in or near those ports and others. The agency also reported that four Indonesian fishermen and their boat had gone missing. The tsunami also affected Hawaii and the West Coast. The SIU hall in Honolulu closed due to flooding on the islands, though it wasn’t damaged. And the Seafarers-contracted cruise ship Pride of America, which is based in Hawaii, safely sailed away before the surges hit Oahu, Maui and the Big Island on March 11. Seafarers LOG 5 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:06 PM Page 6 SIU members and officials from Houston (including those pictured above) took part in a mid-March demonstration against budget cuts that would harm police officers, firefighters and teachers. Seafarer and Green Bay resident John Ingold (right) in late February marched with fellow trade unionists in Wisconsin to support workers’ rights. Governors Train Sights on Workers’ Rights Union Members Rally in Wisconsin and Elsewhere to Defend Working Families Newly elected governors, many of whom gained power by defeating labor-backed opponents during the midterm elections last November, appear to be dubbing unions their number one adversary, according to the AFL-CIO. These state-level managers are falsely blaming middleclass workers for their states’ fiscal shortfalls (44 states and the District of Columbia are projecting budget deficits for fiscal year 2012), while at the same time giving huge tax breaks to corporations that supported them during their campaigns, the federation recently reported. As one communication from the labor federation put it, they are taking dead aim on union members’ pensions, health care benefits, wages and collective bargaining rights. Governors Scott Walker (Wisconsin), John Kasich (Ohio), Chris Christie (New Jersey) and Mitch Daniels (Indiana) over the last month have become household names of sorts because of their no-holdsbarred onslaughts against unions and working families. Walker, however, drew the earliest and most attention. On Feb. 11, he proposed a now-infamous budget repair bill that called for deep cuts in spending for education and local government services. His bill also would eliminate 1,200 Wisconsin state jobs, call for increased contributions from workers for their benefits and strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. According to several published reports, Walker during an interview said he hoped that by “pushing the envelope” and setting an aggressive example, Wisconsin might inspire more states to curb the power of unions. “In that regard, I hope I’m inspiration just as much as others are an inspiration to me,” he said. Elsewhere, reported the same sources, a Washington-based extremist group said it was trying to use its lists of activists to turn out supporters for a variety of bills aimed at cutting the power of unions — not just in Wisconsin, but in Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio as well. Walker’s proposals were met with rejection from the outset as thousands upon thousands of union workers and ordinary citizens in Wisconsin took to the streets to voice their objections. They were later joined in solidarity by more union members and supporters from throughout the country in the fight of their lives. Despite this outcry, the measure made its way through the Wisconsin House and headed to the Republican-controlled Senate where it was a shoe-in for passage. Most of the state’s 14 Democratic senators, in an attempt to force backers of the bill to negotiate a compromise, boycotted a vote on the measure and left the state. Unmoved by those tactics and ignoring his state’s statues which required that a quorum of 20 senators be present for a vote on the issue, Walker and his supporters in the Senate passed an amended version of measure, 18-1. Walker signed the bill into law March 11, but Dane County Wisconsin Judge Maryann Sumi a week later prevented the measure from taking effect by issuing a temporary restraining order. Sumi’s action was in response to a lawsuit filed by the local Democratic district attorney charging that Republican lawmakers violated the state’s open meetings law by hastily convening a special committee before the Senate passed the bill. The ruling also raised the possibility that the Wisconsin legislature may have to vote again to pass the bill. Opponents are hopeful that some concessions will be made during this process should it come to fruition. As of press time for the Seafarers LOG, no resolutions to the matter had been made; however, a hearing on Judge Sumi’s injunction was scheduled for March 29. “What Scott Walker did was take away the ability of teachers to bargain for smaller classrooms, for firefighters to bargain for better safety, for nurses to bargain for better healthcare,” AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka said March 18 on MSNBC. “He upset over 80 years of history and collective bargaining in that state and, quite frankly, they did it in the middle of the night, which was a true affront to democracy and our rights.” Ohio Governor Kasich, who introduced his budget March 15 calling for $1.9 billon in public service sector cuts, apparently is taking a similar approach to Walker’s when it comes to workers’ rights. The federation charges that he wants to limit collective bargaining rights for public sector unions and require them to take pay cuts and kick in more for pensions and health care. Kasich said the changes in labor rules—the state Senate approved a measure March 2, and the House is expected to follow suit—are necessary to shore up Ohio’s struggling economy and help close a two-year budget deficit estimated at $8 billion. In New Jersey, Governor Christie unveiled his $29.3 billion budget in February that relies almost entirely on spending cuts to reverse the declining fortunes of a state he sees as battered by the recession and choking on its tax burden. To rein in the deficit that he said was nearing the $11 billion mark, Christie called for the layoffs of 1,300 state workers, the closure of state psychiatric institutions, an $820 million cut in aid to public schools, and nearly a half-billion dollars less in aid to towns and cities. Breaking one of his own cam- paign pledges, the governor also suspended until May of this year a popular property-tax rebate program. In Indiana, one of Governor Daniels’ first acts upon taking the office in 2005 was to use his executive power to eliminate collective bargaining rights for state employees. Republicans in the Indiana Senate currently are pushing socalled right-to-work legislation, which would enable private sector employees to decide not to join or pay dues to a union, even if their colleagues agree to do so. Indiana does not face the budget troubles of many other states, but the fight over the right-to-work measure symbolizes what could be next for organized labor if it loses collective bargaining rights in other states. Although the eyes many Americans are trained on the situations as they develop in the foregoing states, AFL-CIO Director of Media Relations Alison Omens says that corporate-backed politicians are clearly gunning for working people in every state across the country. Recently, she said, governors and legislators in state after state have taken aim at their own constituents with increasingly blatant attacks on education, public services, and working people’s voices. Omens said that it’s not just the rights of workers to collectively bargain for a middle-class life that is under attack. We’re also seeing a nationwide push to take away the rights of voters. For example, New Hampshire State Representative Gregory Sorg recently introduced a bill that would eliminate the right of New Hampshire’s college students to cast a ballot where they go to school. Sorg’s argument against the ability of students to vote where they go to school was not based on their residency, but on their habit for voting for liberals. Moreover, “paycheck deception” bills, which would silence workers’ voices in the political process, have been or soon will be introduced in nearly two dozen states; and prevailing wage laws that protect workers and communities from dishonest contractors’ bids on taxpayer-funded construction projects have been targeted for repeal by governors and legislatures in 19 states. Even in states where the outcry has not been as publicized, Omens said working families have stepped up to express their dismay to lawmakers who would rather play partisan games than create jobs. Working people from across the country are preparing for rallies on April 4 under the slogan “We Are One.” Participants will point to Dr. Martin Luther King’s struggle for civil rights and how the movement continues today. Port Personnel Train in Piney Point SIU Safety directors, patrolmen and port secretaries recently completed computer and safety training at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. The training took place in two separate sessions, March 14-17. The first group included (photo at left above) Brian Kinard, Ashley Nelson, Sam Spain, Mark von Siegel, James Brown, Warren Asp, Monte Burgett, Chris Mercado, Kevin Marchand, Ryan Palmer and Abdul Al-Omari, joined in this photo by SIU VP Contracts George Tricker, Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen, retired Paul Hall Center Safety Director Jimmy Hanson and Paul Hall Center Instructors Joe Zienda and John Dobson. The second group, shown in the other photo, included Don Thornton, Lisa Clark, Terry Montgomery, Clara Rampersadsing, Benita Evans, Adrienne Nash, Brian Guiry, Karen Shuford, Judy Benton, Sheila Burton, Diana Marrone, Linda Kluska, Betty Wierschem, Jim Ott and Amy Aud, pictured with Paul Hall Center VP Don Nolan and Bowen. 6 Seafarers LOG April 2011 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:54 PM Page 7 USNS Matthiesen Delivers for ‘Deep Freeze’ The SIU-crewed tanker USNS Richard G. Matthiesen recently participated in a challenging and vital mission to resupply an outpost in Antarctica. The mission, dubbed Operation Deep Freeze, was a race against time and the elements to help provide a year’s worth of supplies for more than 1,000 people based at the McMurdo Station. Operation Deep Freeze is a U.S. Air Force-led operation that occurs once a year within a very small window of opportunity. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) plays a central role in transporting the desperately needed supplies as do the mariners that serve aboard MSC-contracted ships. The need for a fast and efficient group of Seafarers was paramount to keeping the outpost up and running and allowing the scientists and support personnel at McMurdo to continue their work. SIU members aboard the Ocean Shipholdings Inc.-operated Matthiesen heeded the call and delivered fuel to the base – enough to keep the operation running for a year and effectively providing life support for the people stationed there. The Matthiesen delivered more than 5 million gallons of gas, diesel, and jet fuel to the station from late January to early February. The mission has been supported by U.S. Merchant Mariners since the McMurdo Station was founded in 1956. Every year, crews of civilian seafarers do their part by bringing supplies, and this year turned out to be no different. The voyage takes place during the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere. However, despite the relatively warmer temperatures, the tanker still had to follow behind an icebreaker to get its cargo through the difficult passage, according to MSC. This year’s mission also marks the last time a Champion-class T-5 tanker will be used in support of Operation Deep Freeze. The Matthiesen was scheduled for decommissioning in mid-March. “This is the last McMurdo Station port call for a T-5 tanker, a milestone in 26 years of dedicated tanker support by MSC, the Champion-class tankers and the U.S. merchant seamen who crew them in support of Operation Deep Freeze,” said Navy Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, commander of MSC. “This marks the end of a proud era for the Champion-class tankers.” Thanks in part to the support of civilian mariners, the scientists and others at the McMurdo Station can look forward to another year of their important work. The Seafarers-crewed USNS Richard G. Matthiesen transported important cargo to Antarctica. CMPI 610 Negotiations Continue The SIU Government Services Division, the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the Military Sealift Fleet Support Command (MSFSC) are continuing negotiations on the Civilian Marine Personnel Instruction 610. The negotiations started more than a year ago, in January 2010, and most recently continued in early March at SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. At the most recent negotiations, the parties were assisted by two unlicensed CIVMARS – both experienced members of the engine department. West Coast CIVMAR Floyd Fullilove and East Coast CIVMAR Greg Woods provided support and technical expertise throughout at the CMPI 610 negotiations. A more-detailed article and photographs of this-week long negotiation will appear in the May edition of the Seafarers LOG. CMPI 610 covers the hours of work and premium pay rules applicable to all CIVMARS. For the most part consensus has been reached on general work rules, and the work rules specific to the deck and engine departments. All consensus agreements will be reviewed at the end of the negotiations to determine if, as a result of any changes, CIVMARS have experienced more than a minor unintended negative impact. The rules will also be reviewed to ensure that CIVMARS have not experienced an unintended gain. The MSC and CIVMARS are also protected as a result of an agreement which allows the parties to study the economic impact of the rules for four years after implementation. As previously reported, all of the negotiators continue focusing on helping ensure that the new Instruction will be as clearly written as possible and, as a result, will be applied consistently on all vessels throughout the fleet. Along with uniformity and clearness in the revised document, the union is focused on ensuring that as work rules are modified, the overtime and penalty wages of CIVMARS are protected to the greatest possible extent. Maersk Constellation Resumes Voyage Port Agent Neil Dietz (right), pictured with then-U.S. Rep. (now governor of Hawaii) Neil Abercrombie at a 2008 Maritime Trades Department meeting, spent 25 years with the SIU. Port Agent Dietz Retires Longtime SIU Honolulu Port Agent Neil Dietz barely needed a fraction of a second to consider what he’ll miss most as he retires after a 25-year career. “The members, beyond a doubt,” said Dietz, who retired in late March and immediately started working for Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie as chief negotiator for the state. “We have the most fascinating people in the world in our union. I came to work for the SIU as an outsider, and it takes Seafarers a little while to accept people from the outside. “But once they trust you and take you into their hearts,” Dietz continued, “you’re their friend forever. It’s a hallmark of this industry that you stay friends with people you may not see for a few years at a time. That’s what I have enjoyed the most and I’m certain what I’ll miss the most.” Although new to the maritime industry, Dietz was no stranger to organized labor when he came aboard with the SIU in 1986. He had been a rank-and-file member of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and later was elected as a local official and then as president of a central labor council in the Midwest. He started working for the SIU in April 2011 Seattle and eventually relocated to Honolulu, 15 years ago. “It has been an exciting time here,” said Dietz, 56. SIU Executive Vice President Augie Tellez said Dietz “has been a great asset to our union since his very first days in Seattle. I wish him the absolute best of luck and I know he’ll be a tremendous asset to Neil Abercrombie’s administration.” Reflecting on his time with the union, Dietz credited two late officials for helping him immeasurably: Executive Vice President Joey Sacco and Vice President West Coast George McCartney. Looking ahead, Dietz said his new role working for the state “will be a real change for me because I’m literally switching sides of the table…. I couldn’t make that change for anybody else other than Neil Abercrombie. He has proven how supportive he is of working people. “The SIU has taught me how labor and management can work together,” he added. “We may have differences on contractual matters but we can work those out, and I anticipate taking those lessons I’ve learned into a new arena. I owe my future to the SIU and I understand that.” The SIU crew and AMO officers aboard the Maersk Constellation safely departed the port of Lobito, Angola, following a peculiar detention by Angolan authorities that lasted more than two weeks. The vessel was carrying food aid and ammunition provided by the U.S. government and destined for several African nations. Beginning March 1, the ship was detained in Angola due to a perceived customs documentation issue that eventually was clarified. The vessel sailed again on March 17. SIU headquarters officials stayed in touch with the crew and company throughout the episode. During a phone call, Recertified Bosun Doyle Ellette told SIU President Michael Sacco and Vice President Contracts George Tricker that the mariners remained patient and kept their sense of humor throughout the delay. The bosun also said he and the rest of the crew appreciated the concern and regular communications from Maersk and the union. U.S government entities including the State Department helped resolve the situation. Apparently, Angolan authorities were confused about some of the ship’s cargo, which included ammunition bought by the government of Kenya as well as food aid destined for Rwanda, Angola, Malawi and Mozambique. “Our top concern from the beginning has been the safety of the mariners aboard the Maersk Constellation, and I know the same is true of AMO and Maersk,” said Tricker. “We’re obviously pleased that the ship was able to resume its voyage without further delay, and on behalf of the entire union I applaud the patience and professionalism of the crew.” Maersk Vice President of Labor Relations Ed Hanley thanked SIU and AMO officials for their support and added, “The entire ship’s crew has stood tall and done the U.S. Merchant Marine proud.” SIU crew members aboard the Maersk Constellation during its recent ordeal included (from left) AB Rosalind Sparrow, DEU Oshema Watson, SA Jessica Crockett, Chief Cook Brian Corp, AB Fethanegest Demoz, Recertified Bosun Doyle Ellette, Steward/Baker John Greubel, Electrician Sixin Ling, AB Rickie Zelaya, AB Philip Carlton, AB Pascal Masanilo and SA Abelardo Reyes. Seafarers LOG 7 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:54 PM Page 8 Cargo is loaded aboard the vessel in Baltimore. Students examine the bridge of the union-contracted ship. Seafarers Shine During Ocean Atlas Demo Event Highlights Importance of Strong U.S.-flag Fleet, America’s Cargo Preference Laws The SIU-contracted Ocean Atlas sailed into the spotlight March 14 while its crew performed a demonstration and gave a tour for SIU officials, members of the Maritime Administration, and unlicensed apprentices from the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., among many other figures from the maritime industry. SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker and Port Agent Pat Vandegrift represented the union at the event. The ceremony began with remarks from Intermarine CEO Andre Grikitis, who talked about the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-flag fleet. “It’s necessary to protect U.S.-flag shipping,” said Grikitis, whose company operates the Ocean Atlas. “It’s vital, not just to the commerce of the United States, but also to the interests of national security as well.” Grikitis went on to thank the crew and wish the more than 20 unlicensed apprentices in attendance good luck with their future careers as merchant mariners. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda was also on hand and discussed the importance of cargo preference, a law designed to ensure that U.S. government property and aid is shipped on U.S.flagged and American-crewed ships. “Whether it’s military cargo supporting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan or civilian cargo like for the Department of Energy or these items today, it’s critical that they are shipped on a U.S.-flagged ship,” said Matsuda. Former Federal Maritime Commissioner and retired Congresswoman Helen Bentley spoke about the importance of maintaining the fleet, in addition to paying specific attention to the future for young workers. “Young people need jobs, this country needs trade, and this country needs the revenue from American-flag ships,” Bentley affirmed. Following the remarks, a tour was organized for the people in attendance. The Ocean Atlas was gearing up for a run to South America carrying a cargo of cranes for use in a gold mine in the Andes Mountains. The project, negotiated by Intermarine and mining companies since 2008, is financed in part by the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im). Cargo preference laws insist that certain cargo procured by the Ex-Im Bank must be shipped on U.S.-flag vessels, thus protecting America from being undercut by foreign interests. While watching from the bridge, the unlicensed apprentices witnessed firsthand the work involved in being a merchant mariner on a heavy-lift ship. Captain Steven Lund was quick to answer questions about a life at sea for some of the inquiring apprentices. When asked for advice for someone’s first run as a mariner, Capt. Lund laid out an essential requirement for any seafarer: safety first. “Safety is definitely the most important thing,” Lund said, continuing on to suggest that all workers aboard ask questions about safety Unlicensed apprentices and other guests observe a crane demonstration from the bridge of the Ocean Atlas. 8 Seafarers LOG issues, especially new mariners. For many of the trainees, this was their fist experience on a working ship and their first glimpse at the life of a seafarer. “I’ve never been on a ship before,” said David Leader, an unlicensed apprentice. “Being here, I learned a lot about the different positions you can choose on a ship.” Brion Lanata had a similar sentiment. “It was a lot of fun,” said Lanata. “I saw a lot of the deckhand work that goes on aboard these ships. I honestly don’t know what ship life is like and this is giving me an opportunity to see it. I’m really looking forward to getting out there.” With its demonstration and tour completed without a hitch, the crew of the Ocean Atlas proved an excellent group to show off the capabilities and unique talents of a U.S.-flagged and union-crewed vessel. Pictured from left to right are AMO National Executive VP Bob Kiefer, Intermarine CEO Andre Grikitis, SIU VP Contracts George Tricker, former Congresswoman Helen Bentley, Captain Leo Bonser of Intermarine, Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and Captain Steven Lund. SIU Vice President Contacts George Tricker, Port Agent Pat Vandegrift and Instructor Bernabe Pelingon are pictured with a group of unlicensed apprentices from the Paul Hall Center. Tricker and Vandegrift are standing sixth and seventh from left, respectively, in the middle row, while Pelingon is at far right. April 2011 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:07 PM Page 9 2011 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Military Commanders Emphasize Value, Reliability of U.S. Merchant Mariners Navy League Chief: Strong Commercial Fleet ‘More Critical Than Ever’ T wo high-ranking United States military officers and the head of an organization dedicated to promoting American sea services told the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board that the U.S. Merchant Marine remains a trusted, invaluable partner with the nation’s armed forces. Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), and Maj. Gen. James Hodge, commander of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command, addressed the MTD on Feb. 25, while Dale Lumme, national executive director of the Navy League of the United States, spoke one day earlier. Each of the speakers credited America’s civilian mariners – and their unions – for their reliability, professionalism and dedication. Buzby heads up an agency that is the country’s largest employer of civilian seafarers. He stated, “The professional mariners who are your union brothers and sisters are also the people that I rely on to operate the MSC fleet every day. Sixty percent of our ships are operated by commercial mariners, and I can’t execute that mission without you or without them. National security and national defense depend on it. You are very willing partners in this great mission we have facing us.” Recapping some of the significant activities since he addressed the board a year ago, Buzby cited improvements in work rules covering CIVMARS (including members of the SIU Government Services Division), the use of interest-based bargaining, and the habitability agreement reached with the SIU. He said that after a decade of limited advancement, “I’m very, very encouraged by our progress, and when I go out and talk to our mariners, they are very pleased to see us moving forward.” The commander also said communication between MSC and maritime labor remains open and effective. He noted a recent meeting with maritime union presidents and other officials and said additional gatherings are scheduled, including one set for April. Buzby said that in addition to MSC bringing in new civilian-crewed tonnage such as the T-AKE ships, the double-hulled replacements for the Kaiser-class vessels and a series of high-speed vessels, he anticipates more work being transferred from the Navy to the commercial and CIVMAR fleets. He referred to ships and missions which during the past 40 to 50 years have been moved from the Navy to MSC. Since an early 1970s underway replenishment experiment, he said, “The trust and confidence that’s been established by our crews with the Navy and with DOD has been phenomenal, to the point that we now have 20 different missions that used to be carried out by Navy bluejackets that we now carry out … certainly less expensively but with no loss of effectiveness. There continues to be more and more missions that I get Dale Lumme National Exec. Director Navy League April 2011 Rear Adm. Mark Buzby Commander Military Sealift Command asked to look at to see if we can take on. The Navy gets it and the reason we’re even being asked is because of the trust that’s been established and is maintained every single day by our mariners out there doing the job as beautifully as they do it.” He concluded by explaining that MSC is “a critical element of any operation worldwide where persistent force must be applied and sustained, afloat or ashore. We are MSC and we deliver thanks to the American merchant seaman who makes it happen any time, any ocean, in peace and in war.” Hodge is in charge of the Army’s transportation, logistics and sustainment efforts – missions that are supported by the merchant marine. He told the board, “I think that our partnerships between the Department of Defense and industry are absolutely critical to the military to be able to do its job. Given my experience with the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC, which he commanded in his previous assignment), I firmly believe there are none better than the maritime industry with DOD and the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM). The relationship that we have is truly extraordinary and I see no reason why it won’t continue well into the future.” Hodge pointed out that the Army component of TRANSCOM is “responsible for providing strategic sealift, strategic surface lift for our armed forces. In the United States you’re normally talking about truck or rail or barge capabilities, but when you have to go overseas you’re talking about vessels. And what we do at SDDC is garner all the Army requirements to move…. We see those requirements on the horizon and then we go about trying to figure out how we’re going to get them over there. Normally we go to the commercial industry first. “In the last 18 months of my command, there was not a single time that our commercial maritime industry was not able to meet our movement requirements,” he continued. “In other words, for at least 18 months in a row, I did not have to go to Admiral Buzby to activate a Military Sealift Command vessel. I could do it through commercial industry. I think that’s absolutely incredible.” Illustrating the importance of the sealift efforts sustained in part by U.S. mariners, he referred to a documentary put together by two reporters who were embedded for two years with a U.S. platoon in Afghanistan. The platoon was located in what has been labeled as the deadliest place on Earth. Hodge said the film was an “open and honest look at what our soldiers are doing and how they’re living…. Their mission was to clear the valley of insurgents and to gain the trust of the local populace. When you watch something like that, you think about what they’re doing day in and day out, it just Maj. Gen. James Hodge Commander, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command makes you realize that there’s really not anything too good for those soldiers. And when I look across the crowd here, I recognize the fact that given your positions, every single one of you were involved in supplying and sustaining that group, that platoon while they did their job for 18 months. You played a huge role in their survival and the job that they did, and I can’t thank you enough.” Lumme reminded the board that the Navy League is a non-profit civilian organization “whose mission is to educate the American people and their leaders about the enduring importance of sea power to a maritime nation, and to support the men and women of the U.S. sea services. Since the Navy League’s founding, in 1902, by President Teddy Roosevelt, the organization has strongly promoted America’s maritime interests through our strong advocacy of all of the maritime industry – to include the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the US Navy.” Lumme described a strong commercial American-flag fleet as “more critical than ever” to the nation’s security. He pointed out that 95 percent of the equipment and supplies required to deploy U.S. forces is delivered by ships manned by U.S. citizen mariners. He also reminded the audience that maritime transportation “contributes more than $11 billion per year directly to the U.S. economy, and hundreds of billions indirectly.” At the heart of that national and economic security are American mariners, Lumme said. “Skilled mariners are more critical than ever to ensuring our ability to sustain U.S. national and global security interests,” he stated. “Union members including shipyard workers, teamsters, longshoremen and other skilled workers have all been active in building and maintaining maritime shipping in support of humanitarian relief operations and sustainment of overseas combat operations.” He also reiterated his organization’s support for vital laws and programs including the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program and its related Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, which, he explained, “provides an expanded pool of trained and experienced mariners to crew U.S. government-owned sealift assets, and helps to sustain the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base that is vital to the U.S. Navy. Without these commercial capabilities, the U.S. government will be required to provide significantly more funds to build a replacement fleet and infrastructure while losing the pool of highly qualified mariners needed to sail these vessels.” Moreover, Lumme said the Navy League “supports efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard to expedite the licensing and documentation of merchant mariners while striking a balance between security and commercial maritime interests.” Seafarers LOG 9 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:54 PM Page 10 2011 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Politicians Support Maritime, Working Families A United States Senator, two Congressmen, an administration official and a governor each promised their ongoing support for the goals and aspirations of the U.S. maritime industry Feb. 24-25 during the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board meeting in Orlando, Fla. Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), and U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) each pledged to champion the MTD’s objectives as opportunities availed themselves in their respective realms of influence. Carnahan and Rangel made live appearances before the board and guests while Begich, Harris and Abercrombie addressed them via video. “We certainly know the value of the maritime industry in my home state of Alaska,” said Senator Begich. “Marine transportation is crucial in my state. We don’t have the highway infrastructure of the lower 48 states and as a result we rely on aviation and marine freight and transportation to keep geographically separated sections of the state connected.” Begich recognized the thousands of hardworking Americans who are employed by the industry and elaborated on the vital role they all play in the nation’s commerce and economic recovery. “As we look towards the strengthening of our economy and reducing our deficit, Congress must work to maintain and improve the viability of our maritime interests,” Begich said. “There’s an inherent advantage of having a fleet of American-built, owned, and crewed vessels.” While there are several legislative actions Congress could take to spur maritime industry growth and ensure its preservation, none is more important than protecting the Jones Act, the senator said. Despite this opportunity to create a positive impact, Begich made the point that because of special interests, some lawmakers appear to be going out of their way to destroy the Jones Act. “There were a few members of Congress who tried to use the Deepwater Horizon tragedy as a catalyst to repeal the Jones Act by making inaccurate claims that the Jones Act somehow inhibited our country’s spill response,” he said. “We know that this was a disingenuous argument that simply isn’t true.” The senator then expressed his appreciation for the job done by the MTD to debunk the inaccurate statements about the Jones Act. Begich said that as he and other lawmakers got to work in the 112th Congress, he looked forward to working with his colleagues in the Senate to protect the Jones Act and make sure that waivers are only granted in the most extenuating circumstances. He added that the he and his colleagues also would be working hard to continue on the successes of the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and cargo preference laws. “This program (MSP) is vital to ensuring that our country has the U.S.-flag and strategic sealift capabilities it needs as well as a trained workforce of American Merchant Mariners during times of war or international emergency,” Begich said. “That’s why I was proud to support full funding for the Maritime Security Program in both 2009 and 2010. “Cargo preference is another important program,” he continued, “In addition to bolstering the viability of the maritime industry, some of our greatest foreign policy comes from the rest of the world seeing American foreign aid arrive by our U.S.-flag vessels. We saw this firsthand with the relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.” Turning to the economy, the senator said there is no doubt that our nation faces significant budgetary challenges and further that our federal deficit is unsustainable. And while the senator agrees with President Obama’s observation that tough cuts will have to be made, Begich suggested that: “We need to invest in our crumbling infrastructure, including our marine infrastructure. “This includes working with the corps of engineers in local ports and harbors to make sure that our channels are dredged and our 10 Seafarers LOG waterways are safely navigated,” he continued. “Investing in our infrastructure today will ensure that we have the capacity to accommodate marine commerce that helps drive the nation’s economy tomorrow and it will put Americans employed in the maritime trades to work.” The senator closed by telling the audience that he was honored to be selected at Chairman of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee in the 112th Congress. “In this capacity, I’ll look forward to working with organized labor, and the maritime community to continue to grow the economy as we turn the corner on this recession.” rifice needed to sustain this recovery, they’re trying to balance the burden on the backs of hard working Americans,” Harris said. “Instead of negotiating with workers to find solutions to difficult problems based on shared interests, they demonize and degrade in a vain attempt to show how strong and tough they are.” The maritime industry has an important lesson to teach these politicians, according to Harris. “It’s a lesson this industry taught me almost 30 years ago when Mike Sacco was showing me what it took to build a strong union and what it took to fight for working families,” he said. “It’s a message which some MTD President Michael Sacco (left) joined U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y., center) and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) for this photo at the conclusion of the board meeting. Harris reflected on the state of the economy and the campaign being launched in several states to eliminate their budget problems by slashing workers’ benefits and eliminating their rights to collective bargaining. When he addressed the MTD a year ago, Harris noted that the nation’s economy was at a critical stage, but that signs of recovery from the worst recession in decades were visible on the horizon. The Recovery Act and other actions by President Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress stemmed the tide of devastating job losses, he said. “Our economy had begun growing again and I promised you that our priority of the coming year would be getting the American people back to work and laying the foundation for a sustained recovery that reflected our values,” Harris said. Recalling key points of President Obama’s recent state of the union address, Harris said the president focused the nation’s attention on his administration’s plan for “winning the future” by making investments that would help boost education, innovation and industrial capacity. “At the Department of Labor, we know that winning the future also means having the best prepared and most innovative workforce in the world,” Harris pointed out. “It also means ensuring workers across the country have safe and healthy work places, and that they keep what they rightfully earn and what their unions have rightfully negotiated.” Harris said that some lawmakers in Congress seem to have no interest in providing working families help in rebuilding their lives or putting their talents to work rebuilding or nation’s economy. Others, he suggested, are calling for reckless budget cuts that could put another one million people out of work. “Instead of working towards real solutions, they are looking for scapegoats; instead of seeking thoughtful ways to truly share the sac- in power have forgotten or willfully ignored: Strong leaders don’t run from negotiations, they embrace them.” Harris said that if both sides come to the negotiating table to bargain honestly, there’s almost always room to reach an agreement. “The maritime industry has operated under these tenets for decades,” he continued. “And at a time when many seem to think that negotiations with unions are the problem, I’m proud that there’s at least one industry that’s demonstrated for years that good-faith bargaining can be the solution.” Congressman Carnahan said he admired the partnership between the military, business and labor he saw being put on display in the MTD. Such cohesion has a major positive economic impact while also boosting national security, he said. Using partnership as a framework, the congressman turned his attention to the recent assaults on organized labor, especially in Wisconsin. “They need to remember a little American history,” he said, “that America once had business leaders like Henry Ford who figured out that we needed to produce things here and also that we should pay fair wages and benefits to the people at work so they could buy the products. Too many folks have lost sight of the importance of partnership. You have not.” After discussing government bureaucracy in Washington and all of the “red tape” that comes to bear effectively halting progress, the congressman told the audience that the only way to break down barriers of this sort is to work together as partners. As examples of what could be achieved through effective partnerships, Carnahan cited successes such as the Jones Act, the cargo preference program and the MSP, all of which help maintain a viable U.S.-flag fleet. “That flag means more than being American,” the congressman said. “It means American employment, it means American security, it means smart cost efficiency in the spending of our tax dollars.” Carnahan then told board members that despite the loss of some former industry champions after the last elections, maritime still has strong allies in Congress. “But it’s now time that we have to reach out,” he said. “We have to educate a whole group of new members on both sides of the aisle and we’ve got to work to build even more allies going forward.” Turning his attention to the great American spirit, Carnahan elaborated on some of the tough challenges the country has experienced during its history including wars, depressions and recessions. It’s during times like these that Americans are at their best, he said. “That’s why I was pleased to hear the president in his state of the union speech just recently talk about the way we are going to compete globally,” he said. Carnahan said he was also pleased one day later when the president of the AFL-CIO and head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce made a joint statement indicating they agreed with the president, and they wanted to back him in his initiatives. The congressman then thanked military leaders present for their service, business leaders for their innovation and investments, and labor leaders for their skills and commitments to joint efforts undertaken by all stakeholders in attendance. “I want you to know that you can count on me and your longtime allies in the Congress, and your new allies in the Congress to be a partner in making this all success, for your industry and for our country,” Carnahan concluded. Newly elected Governor of Hawaii and former Congressman Neil Abercrombie extended his thanks for the support he received during his gubernatorial race. “I’ve been elected governor in Hawaii in great measure because of the support of the working people throughout the state and in great measure because of the support of the Seafarers and the Maritime Trades,” Abercrombie said. “They’ve never let me down and I’m never going to let you down.” The governor concluded, “You can count on this governor; you can on this former Congressman Neil Abercrombie to be with you in solidarity.” Congressman Rangel, to a thunderous round of applause upon taking the podium, was the final speaker to address the board. “This is the time for us to get together and remind our brothers and sisters in other unions that it was not always this way,” Rangel said as he commented on the assaults being launched against union members in several states around the country. “People who have gone before us have fought, they have died, they have lost so much, and we have an obligation to make certain that we don’t lose this on our watch.” Because of this crisis being faced by working families and the inspiration received as a result of the contributions made by the MTD during rough times as well as easy ones, Rangel said, “When Russ (Congressman Russ Carnahan) and I get back to Washington, I can tell you without fear of contradiction that the first thing he and I will be doing is to make certain that when we talk about jobs. “We’re not talking about jobs in China,” he continued. “We’re talking about jobs in our ports, on our ships, for our workers. We’ll make certain that we talk about what has made this country so great: It’s being able to fulfill the dreams that our fathers and our grandparents have had; making certain that the quality of life is going to be better for our kids.” Rangel said that it’s our dreams that have made our country great. “To be able to say that you have an aspiration for your children and your grandchildren, that’s what makes America great,” he said. “You don’t have that in many countries. There are millions of people that want to come into this great nation. We have a lot of people complaining, but nobody is asking to leave. This is the greatest country in the world.” See Lawmakers, Page 15 April 2011 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:55 PM Page 11 2011 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Robert Scardelletti President TCU T Richard Hughes President ILA Michel Desjardins President SIU of Canada Walter Wise President Iron Workers James Williams General President Painters MTD At A Glance he Maritime Trades Department, to which the SIU is affiliated, is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. The MTD includes 23 international unions and 21 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than 5 million working men and women. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as president of the MTD. He most recently was reelected to the latter post during the MTD convention in September 2009. The MTD executive board usually meets early in the year. The board convened Feb. 24-25 in Orlando, Fla., during which time board members and guests addressed key issues facing not just maritime workers but all working families. The articles on pages 9-13 are based on comments made at the meeting. Also, the photos on this page show some of the board members and guests. Mark Spano President Novelty Workers Desiree Gralewicz Secretary-Treasurer SIU of Canada Jim Given Executive VP SIU of Canada James L. Henry Chairman, Board of Directors American Maritime Partnership Joseph Soresi VP Atlantic Coast SIU Kermett Mangram VP Government Services SIU Joseph Condo International VP TCU Lynn Tucker General VP Machinists Richard Lanigan VP OPEIU April 2011 Joseph Hunt President Emeritus Iron Workers Mike Jewell President MEBA Gunnar Lundeberg, President, SUP Anthony Poplawski, President, MFOW Brian Schoeneman, Legislative Director, SIU George Tricker, VP Contracts, SIU Dean Corgey VP Gulf Coast SIU Tom Orzechowski VP Great Lakes and Inland Waters Dewey Garland Directory, Railroad and Shipyard Dept., SMWIA Nick Marrone VP West Coast SIU Daniel Duncan (left) takes the helm as MTD executive secretary-treasurer as MTD President Michael Sacco (right) makes the announcement. Duncan succeeds the retiring Frank Pecquex, who will be featured in an upcoming issue of the LOG. Seafarers LOG 11 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:55 PM Page 12 2011 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting M U.S. Coast Guard: aintaining a strong and healthy partnership between the U.S. Coast Guard, labor unions, and shipping companies is a key to the continued and long-term success of the U.S. maritime industry. This was the central message proffered by Rear Adm. Kevin Cook and Jeffrey Lantz during their addresses to the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board during the body’s Feb. 24-25 meetings in Orlando, Fla. Admiral Cook is director for prevention policy, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), while Lantz serves as director, commercial regulations and standards, for the USCG assistant commandant for maritime safety, security and stewardship. Cook launched his presentation with a look back at the disaster response actions taken by Seafarers, shipowners and the Coast Guard during the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. “I’d like to offer my congratulations and thanks for all of the support all of you provided during this effort in helping to resolve this crisis,” he said. “At that time I know it was big on the Coast Guard’s plate and we thought it would be our biggest challenge in 2010, but as you know we moved on and got other homework with the Deepwater Horizon assignment.” The admiral said that at the height of the Deepwater Horizon response, the Coast Guard was overseeing operations involving 48,000 people, 9,000 vessels and 127 aircraft. In addition, 10 million feet of boom had been deployed under the Coast Guard’s direction. “But I think ultimately that the thing that all of us will never forget is that tragically 11 mariners lost their lives in that explosion.” The admiral then informed the audience that his commanding officer had identified the enhancement of stakeholders’ partnership as one of the Coast Guard’s central goals. “I would say that our partnership in general with the U.S. maritime interests and unions are very strong as it is,” he said. “You are always there when we need you and certainly are there when the country needs you. Although we’ll work to strengthen our partnerships, I’m really pleased with the state that they are at right now.” He then addressed several issues that are especially relevant to members of the MTD executive board and the department’s member unions: the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), seafarer port access, piracy and mariner credentialing. The TWIC reader pilot project now has been going on for a couple of years, according to Cook. Currently, he said, there are 16 participants in the project ranging from small passenger vessel operators to large container terminal operators that are spread out all around the country. These participants are in the final stages of collecting data for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which in turn will provide a report to Congress. Once these reports have been filed, the Coast Guard will be able to define what the parameters are for TWIC readers to be deployed throughout the country, Cook said. “We’ll then be able to move to a much more effective use of the card.” He added that the Coast Guard already has given 161 portable TWIC identification readers to captains of the port throughout the country and that mariners can expect the see them with greater frequency along with Coast Guard inspections on MTSA facilities. “Some of your people may be asked to produce their TWIC cards as we do a validation of identification versus how the card is displayed,” the admiral said. “It’s an internal check to make sure that the system is working and to make sure that the people that are using the TWIC as identification are really the people that deserve to have that TWIC.” Moving to Seafarer access, Cook noted that this matter has and continues to be an area of concern, but based on the number of complains he has received over the last year seems to be decreasing. “The guidance that I personally put out required all of our captains of the ports to go back and review each facility security plan and look for three things: make sure that mariner access was in the plan, make sure it was properly addressed and third whatever was in the plan to make sure that’s what the company was actually doing,” he said. “That was a huge effort and we found issues with one out every10 plans that were reviewed and it provided a lot more consistency.” Cook pointed out that the Coast Guard still hears about access issues, but primarily they seem to be more individual in nature and involve either a specific terminal or someone’s very bad experience. “We try to follow 12 Seafarers LOG Sturdy Alliance With Labor, Ship Operators Holds Key to Future of Maritime Industry Jeffrey Lantz Director, Commercial Regulations and Standards U.S. Coast Guard Asst. Commandant For Maritime Safety, Security & Stewardship up on them as quickly as possible,” Cook said, “but I think we’re going to be taking this to a whole new level in the very near term as the Coast Guard Authorization Act was signed into law in October.” This legislation includes an additional provision for facility security plans that identify a system for mariners, pilots, seamen’s welfare and labor organization representatives to board and depart vessels through facilities in a timely manner at no cost to the individual, he said. Regarding piracy, Cook said the agency deeply shares the concerns of maritime labor “and we work hard within the government interagency to promote an understanding and a common way forward that provides the best set of flag-state recommendations and requirements for our U.S.-flag operators. We also do a lot of work internationally to try to promote an international solution…. We think ultimately that’s where the solution needs to reside.” He thanked American operators and crews for the way they have stood behind the requirements put forward through a Coast Guard directive covering “best practices” for combating piracy “well ahead of the rest of the world.” He added that while the notion of embarked armed security teams was not popular internationally, most of the U.S. operators whose vessels sail in dangerous waters elected that option “and it has proven to be successful. There has not been a ship hijacked that has an armed team on board and I think that’s what it’s going to take to maintain safety and security out there.” Cook told the audience that he had read a release from the International Chamber of Shipping indicating that their position on embarked armed security teams had changed and they have become more open to the idea. Addressing the issue of mariner credentialing, the admiral said the Coast Guard is taking a critical look at the process. “We know we have issues that we need to improve on right here today,” he said. “We had meetings with the maritime (union) presidents and the medical review process is the emerging issue with a number of folks who need to get their licenses to the National Maritime Center. I just want you to know that we heard you and we’ve set up a dedicated desk within the call center that is always manned by a medical professional to facilitate more timely resolutions of issues.” He also pointed out that in the last 18 months, the average processing time for issuing licenses has dropped from around 120 days to 60 days. He indicated that for the first time, the credentialing function is fully staffed and despite missing the Coast Guard’s target of 30 days turnaround time, he thought that they were still doing very well. Lantz heads the U.S. delegation to two International Maritime Organization committees and several subcommittees. He has the MTD’s backing for the position of secretary-general of the IMO; the election is scheduled to take place later this year. Rear Adm. Kevin Cook Director, Prevention Policy U.S. Coast Guard Lantz brought the audience up to speed on the progress being made on the ratification of several significant International Labor Organization (ILO) standards affecting the maritime industry including the Seafarers’ Identity Document Convention (ILO Convention 185), the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), the STCW Convention and medical requirements. After briefing them on the process employed by the U.S. government when considering ILO conventions, Lantz said the secretary of labor in May 210 convened a meeting of the President’s Committee to consider the ratification of ILO Convention 185, which has the support of the MTD. “The Department of Labor is leading this effort,” Lantz said, “but I call tell you that the Coast Guard continues to support the ratification of ILO Convention 185. I think that we all know that the issue with this convention is the issue with visas. It is a sticking point with CBP and the Department of State.” Lantz said the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2010 completed its study on Convention 185, and that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are next in line to examine it to ascertain what risks may be presented if it is ratified. That work has yet to be undertaken, he said, but the Coast Guard has passed a rulemaking that establishes a merchant mariner credential which is consistent with the convention at hand. “And this is what we will be issuing to all U.S. mariners so that in the event that we should ever ratify this convention, the mariners (already) will have the documentation.” With respect to the MLC, Lantz said the President’s Committee looked at this rule at the same time it examined Convention 185. “They decided that they needed to move forward on it,” he said. “The Coast Guard is taking the lead on this,” he continued. “We believe that this convention is very positive and … we will support its ratification. We have been working with the Maritime Administration on this and in August 2010 held a public meeting to provide the industry with a background of this convention.” Turning his attention to STCW Convention 2010, Lantz told those in attendance that he was keenly aware of how significant these standards are to mariners and that quite frankly, it contained a number of shortcomings. “I’m sure that everyone knows that we have published a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention and IMO,” he said. “We also know that notice was not very wellreceived and rightfully so…. There were a number of things that weren’t right.” Lantz pointed out that the Coast Guard in March came out with a notice saying that his agency was going See Healthy, Page 20 April 2011 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 6:30 PM Page 13 2011 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Politics, Cooperation Remain Vital to Maritime P olitical action and cooperation in the months and years ahead will remain vital both to the domestic and international fleets, according to several guest speakers who addressed the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board Feb. 24. U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, World Shipping Council President Chris Koch and American Maritime Partnership (AMP) Counsel Mark Ruge separately discussed some of the key issues facing maritime, including preservation of the Jones Act, efficiently complying with new environmental regulations, fighting back against piracy and promoting greater use of the nation’s waterways. Educating members of Congress about the industry is central to many if not all of those efforts, they said. Matsuda is in charge of the Department of Transportation (DOT) agency whose mission is helping promote and maintain a viable U.S. Merchant Marine. The first speaker at the two-day board meeting, he thanked the MTD for “championing the industry.” He also said both the DOT and Maritime Administration are regularly seeking input from all segments of the industry, definitely including maritime labor. “This department, from the secretary on down, believes that the best public policy comes when we have the most seats at the table,” he stated. “That’s why we’re rolling T Chris Koch President World Shipping Council up our sleeves and listening to you in (an ongoing series of) face-to-face meetings.” Matsuda reiterated President Obama’s support for the industry. He said the administration recognizes in particular the value of U.S. seafarers. “We know that educated and trained merchant mariners are a fundamental resource for seagoing and shore-side occupations and are indispensible to our national defense,” he declared. David Matsuda Administrator U.S. Maritime Administration Additionally, Matsuda touched on current efforts to combat piracy, the need to replace aging U.S.-flag tonnage, and recent progress in the long-awaited marine highway program. “For too long, America has overlooked the economic and environmental benefits of moving domestic goods on the water, but the marine highway program will change that,” he concluded. Koch presides over an international Mark Ruge Counsel American Maritime Partnership group whose companies operate approximately 90 percent of the world’s liner ship capacity. He said that in addition to the aforementioned challenges, the rocky economy has taken a toll. Koch described 2009 as “the worst year ever for container shipping. It was a neardeath experience for many of the carriers. The bottom dropped out.” See Speakers, Page 20 Speakers See Maritime Job Opportunities in Something Old, New he respective presidents of a windfarm company and a shipbuilders association stressed abundant job opportunities that exist in both industries when they spoke to the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department executive board Feb. 25. Cape Wind Associates President Jim Gordon and Shipbuilders Council of America President Matt Paxton represent mostly divergent industries, but when it comes to the potential for sustaining and adding maritime jobs, those industries may have much in common. Gordon’s company is building the nation’s first offshore wind farm, on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound – an MTD- and SIU-backed project that has been 10 years in the making. “It’s going to create jobs,” he stated. “The Energy Department estimates the construction alone will create 40,000 jobs. This does not include the supply chain that, once this market explodes … we will supply our nation’s energy from the natural winds blowing off our coasts. This will improve Jim Gordon President Cape Wind Associates April 2011 our quality of life, it will create economic prosperity and it will create better national security.” He declared, “This project is going to be constructed with union labor…. There’s going to be a lot of jobs that are going to come out of this industry.” Gordon also pointed out that projects like Cape Wind could mean new work for American shipyards that build special-purpose vessels to install the gear and for mariners who sail the ships that service the farms. Offering background on the venture, Gordon shook his head as he recalled, “We thought that when we announced this project, we would be paraded down Main Street in Hyannis as heroes.” Reality proved different, in part because the proposed location is surrounded by affluent opposition. “This is a project that would offset almost one million tons of greenhouse gasses annually,” he explained. “We were proposing a project … with zero pollutant emissions, zero water consumption and zero waste discharge.” The project’s opponents included an opposition group described by Gordon as consisting of “wealthy waterfront trophy homeowners and some entrenched business interests.” Among the former were some of the same individuals who financed the campaigns of anti-worker governors now attacking collective bargaining rights in various states. Wind-farm proponents turned to organized labor “and said this is what we’re trying to do. This is what this project means to the nation,” Gordon said. “This is the resource we have off of both our coasts. We have over 900,000 megawatts of offshore wind blowing off our coats. To put that in perspective, the installed generation capacity in the United States today is about 980,000 megawatts. So we could produce within five to 50 nautical miles of our coast, almost 100 percent of the electricity this nation needs, with zero pollution emissions, zero water consumption, zero waste discharge – and using American talent, American skills, American labor.” Gordon estimates it will take two years to build the first U.S. offshore wind farm. The Cape Wind project already has the required permits and is “in the financing stage.” He concluded, “We need a lot of energy. We need oil, we need coal, but we also need to diversify, and bringing renewable energy makes a lot of sense. It makes a lot of sense for your unions in particular because you are the people that are going to build the nation’s offshore wind infrastructure…. Once the nation sees the first offshore wind project operating, and that it’s producing all these benefits, the market will explode, just like it has in the United Kingdom.” Paxton’s group consists of 44 companies that own and operate more than 100 American shipyards. (It also represents dozens of affiliate firms that provide goods and services to the shipyard industry.) He began by telling the board, “I think there’s a misconception out there that there are no shipyards left. There’s a vibrant U.S. commercial shipyard industry…. We are on every coast of the United States, Alaska and Hawaii.” However, things have gone downhill. In the early 1980s the commercial yards had nearly 200,000 “direct” employees. “Today we represent less than one percent of the world’s shipbuilding output, and our employment is down to 85,000,” Paxton said. “Those jobs have a multiplier effect of roughly four related shore-side jobs for each shipyard job.” Nevertheless, “We think we still have some opportunities,” he continued. For instance, he sees the U.S. Transportation Department’s marine highways program as having great potential. “We support it and we build for it,” Paxton said. “What we think can happen is, we can have a short-sea component to our domestic commerce that can be very Navyuseful. At a moment’s notice, these dual-use roll-on/roll-off vessels can be called into action.” When it comes to renewable energy, “U.S. shipyards can build every asset needed for this industry…. What we mustn’t do at the outset of a new, emerging market is say, ‘Well guys, just give an exemption for the vessels. Because the next thing they’ll say is give us an exemption for the taxes and the labor and everything else. And pretty soon we’ll have [foreign]-built ships putting in these installations with foreign crews.” Paxton also urged the board not to overlook the servicing needs of the offshore wind equipment, much of which has to be visited at least monthly. “There’s an estimate out there that if we fully realize our East Coast wind capability, that would be 60,000 wind turbines off the coast. That means 60,000 moves would have to take place to maintain these things monthly,” he observed. “That’s a lot of work – that’s seafarers, that’s skilled craftsmen, that’s a big deal for us. We mustn’t lose this market. We can do this and we should be excited about this. I think this has big, big potential for my industry and for yours, too.” Matt Paxton President Shipbuilders Council of America Seafarers LOG 13 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:55 PM Page 14 SUPPORTING NURSES IN D.C. – Seafarers demonstrated their support for registered nurses at Washington Hospital Center during a one-day walkout March 4. The 1,650 nurses, members of National Nurses United, say negotiations have failed to resolve their primary concerns regarding patient safety and nursing standards. They also object to attempts to cut nurses’ pay and benefits. AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka (center in photo directly above), flanked by Unlicensed Apprentices Mike Adorno, left, and Monasser Mohamed Ali, was among those who addressed the rally. At Sea And Ashore With The SIU MEMBERS MEET IN NORFOLK – Taking the union oath and receiving their respective membership books at the hall in Norfolk, Va., are (from left) Ernest Britt, Tyesha Boyd and Alvin Rhodes. Thanks to Port Agent Georg Kenny for the photo. CHIEF COOK EARNS ‘A’ BOOK – Patrolman Nick Marrone II (left) presents an A-seniority membership book to Chief Steward Gerald Archie earlier this year at the union hall in Oakland, Calif. Brother Archie’s recent ships include the APL Singapore and the USNS MAJ Stephen W. Pless. WELCOME ASHORE IN JACKSONVILLE – Patrolman Brian Guiry (right) congratulates SIU Captain Michael Bradshaw on his career with Crowley, which dates to the mid-1970s. Brother Bradshaw recently retired. ABOARD THE PRESIDENT JACKSON – New York Patrolman Mark von Siegel submitted these photos of the galley gang aboard the President Jackson when the vessel paid off in Staten Island, N.Y. Pictured from left to right in the group photo are Chief Cook Alonzo Belcher, ACU Atik Almontaser and Recertified Steward Muhamad Sani. WITH WEST COAST CROWLEY BOATMEN – Wilmington Port Agent Jeff Turkus and Safety Director Abdul Al-Omari recently met with Crowley boatmen in San Diego. Pictured near the Spartan in the photo at the immediate right (from left to right) are Engineer Ernie Salgado, AB Elliott DelAguila, Engineer Peter DeMaria, Turkus, Captain Ed Brooks and Captain Jim Tank. Standing left to right in the other photo, in front of the Saturn, are Brooks and AlOmari. 14 Seafarers LOG April 2011 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:55 PM Page 15 D is p at c h e r s ’ R e p o r t f o r D e e p S e a Lawmakers Back Maritime, Labor Continued from Page 10 The congressmen reminded his audience that middle class Americans have fought hard for what they have and that if it was not for the trade union movement, we would still have 12-hour work days, unsafe working conditions, child labor, no health care, no Social Security or the ability to get an education. “But there are people out there who don’t believe that we deserve this,” he continued. “If you believe that there is not a conspiracy, please read your newspapers and see what is happening around the country. I am so pleased to know that the AFL-CIO recognizes that the advancements that we have made are under a threat.” Commenting on the country’s economic health, Rangel said that there is no question we have a fiscal crisis. “We owe over $14 trillion,” he pointed out. “A lot of that we owe to ourselves because we borrow from ourselves. We also owe money to China and other countries.” But each time you pick up the newspaper, he said, pundits and some politicians are saying that we cannot close the budget gap unless we first attack the public workers. “So you have the workers that they are going after, and then they are going after health care and saying you have to make a bigger contribution, and then they are going after pensions,” the congressman said. “This is not only immoral but heartless. This is not what our country was built on. This is not what people have fought for and let me tell you … this is not going to happen.” Rangel said that everybody knows what sacrifice means and further that it is not a word that people run away from. “If we have to make sacrifices, let us put everything on the table,” he said. Rangel then told the board that less than one percent of the American public owns 40 percent of America’s wealth and less than 50 percent of all Americans own three percent of that wealth. “Do we deny that the rich become more rich? Do we recognize that during the last couple of decades we have created more billionaires than in the whole history of America? Do we not say that if you work hard, make the right decisions or just inherit it that we want to take it away from you?” he asked. The answer is no, he continued, “but during a time of sacrifice, you (the rich and wealthy) better be at that table with us. And if we have to put everything we’ve worked for on the table, they better put what they’ve fought for on the table, too.” In closing, Rangel directed his remarks to MTD President Michael Sacco. “Mike,” he said, “You don’t have to call on us in Congress, we all know who you are. If indeed there’s a fight in Wisconsin, in Indiana and Ohio, we will be there and we will let them know that we got to where we are the hard way. We never thought for one minute that this was the end of the improvement for the quality of life for ourselves and for our children.” In his parting remark to all present, Rangel said, “More important than anything else, don’t forget the contribution that you have made for this country. Don’t ever forget that it was not management that was talking about health care, education and pensions. It was you that made these dreams come true. Don’t let us wake up and find that we have a nightmare.” P e r s o na l Angie Lindle and/or Crystal Lindle, please contact Robert Lindle at (810) 956-5586. May & June Membership Meetings Piney Point................................................Monday: May 2, June 6 Algonac .....................................................Friday: May 6, June 10 Baltimore.................................................Thursday: May 5, June 9 Guam...................................................Thursday: May 19, June 23 Honolulu .................................................Friday: May 13, June 17 Houston....................................................Monday: May 9, June 13 Jacksonville.............................................Thursday: May 5, June 9 Joliet....................................................Thursday: May 12, June 16 Mobile..............................................Wednesday: May 11, June 15 New Orleans................................................Tuesday: May 10, June 14 New York..................................................Tuesday: May 3, June 7 Norfolk...................................................Thursday: May 5, June 9 Oakland ...............................................Thursday: May 12, June 16 Philadelphia..........................................Wednesday: May 4, June 8 Port Everglades ...................................Thursday: May 12, June 16 San Juan..................................................Thursday: May 5, June 9 St. Louis ..................................................Friday: May 13, June 17 Tacoma....................................................Friday: May 20, June 24 Wilmington.................................................Monday: May 16, June 20 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. April 2011 February 16 - March 15, 2011 Port Total Registered All Groups A B C Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 19 1 6 9 4 6 39 39 7 14 14 30 16 37 8 1 12 41 1 23 327 6 1 9 9 8 5 18 29 5 7 13 13 28 14 6 1 8 20 4 17 221 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 2 1 5 6 4 4 15 13 7 6 6 13 6 8 3 1 2 16 2 13 133 4 1 5 3 2 2 11 20 3 3 4 18 15 9 2 2 9 9 3 10 135 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 1 0 3 11 2 6 19 11 1 9 6 25 13 19 2 2 3 8 1 28 170 2 0 0 3 1 4 5 4 2 1 1 3 11 6 1 1 0 5 2 3 55 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Seattle St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 1 0 0 0 0 3 4 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 5 25 14 1 4 7 2 1 15 17 11 5 2 27 19 7 2 4 0 12 0 8 158 GRAND TOTAL: 655 569 Total Shipped All Groups A B C Trip Reliefs 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 2 0 2 17 0 1 2 8 0 1 11 18 1 2 4 13 3 11 2 0 4 18 1 8 108 23 2 9 31 5 17 88 56 6 14 24 62 31 53 11 2 7 63 2 65 571 18 3 12 23 9 12 41 39 6 15 8 30 42 15 14 0 12 35 5 42 381 3 0 4 2 0 1 3 5 2 2 3 2 8 4 2 1 3 5 0 8 58 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 4 0 4 2 9 0 1 2 5 4 1 1 0 3 12 0 4 52 7 1 8 15 4 14 33 31 2 16 13 22 11 14 3 1 5 20 2 20 242 10 1 8 7 2 4 19 26 2 4 6 22 33 15 3 4 12 21 2 37 238 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 6 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 16 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 1 3 1 3 7 2 0 0 2 10 8 7 1 0 1 3 0 6 55 6 0 5 13 1 18 31 21 1 12 7 40 21 30 5 4 4 24 1 45 289 10 0 1 8 2 5 9 9 4 4 3 7 23 9 1 2 1 9 2 9 118 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 4 1 0 3 1 6 0 0 2 0 5 0 1 16 0 3 0 3 45 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 2 12 3 0 0 0 0 4 14 2 0 1 1 11 0 6 0 0 3 7 0 7 59 16 2 5 14 5 7 26 43 2 10 5 80 40 20 3 6 1 20 4 45 354 28 1 4 12 2 7 7 19 1 6 4 12 48 14 6 10 0 8 0 38 227 Deck Department 4 20 6 0 2 0 1 2 7 2 8 12 0 1 2 1 5 2 2 43 5 3 28 18 0 9 5 1 10 4 1 12 8 1 31 10 5 12 18 2 17 9 0 5 2 2 0 3 2 13 6 3 32 19 0 2 1 3 15 10 33 267 147 Engine Department 2 5 4 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 9 6 0 1 0 0 8 2 0 9 8 0 15 9 1 6 6 0 5 1 0 8 1 3 12 6 1 7 9 1 9 6 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 19 8 0 0 3 0 4 7 9 124 86 Steward Department 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 10 3 0 3 0 1 4 1 0 18 3 1 12 1 0 2 3 0 2 0 0 4 1 0 16 3 1 13 5 3 19 2 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 7 4 0 0 1 0 15 2 6 139 31 Entry Department 5 1 11 0 0 1 4 0 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 7 2 4 2 1 8 8 0 9 0 1 9 2 1 1 2 1 3 6 3 17 13 0 5 8 3 8 1 0 1 19 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 9 0 0 0 5 4 7 89 20 97 137 550 361 75 227 Registered on Beach All Groups A B C 1,161 1,091 Seafarers LOG 307 15 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:55 PM Page 16 Inq uiring Seaf are r S ea f a r e r s I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i o n D i r e c t or y Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 GUAM P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932 Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910 (671) 477-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256 (904) 281-2622 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 Editor’s note: This month’s question was answered by Seafarers in Baltimore. How important are social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to your life as a mariner? Archie Eldridge QMED Facebook is a good thing. You can get in contact with people you haven’t heard from or seen in a long time. It’s also good for keeping in contact with friends you do see all the time. My classmate from Alabama didn’t know where I was and he didn’t know where to find me. He Googled me and found a cousin of mine, and through Facebook, found a way to contact me. Finding people that you otherwise wouldn’t be in contact with is why Facebook is important to me. Louis Gracia Wiper Social networking, email, and all that? I’m getting into it. It’s becoming more important to me. For example, I had an uncle pass away and having access to an online obituary allowed me to sign an online guestbook for my uncle. I obviously couldn’t attend the funeral, because I’m on the ship, but being able to sign that book meant a lot to me and my family. Using the internet is a good way to keep up with union stuff, too. I go on the LOG website often to keep up with union stuff, as well as the (rest of the) Seafarers site. Gregory White AB-Maintenance For me, being on a ROS ship, a lot of our communication is controlled by the government while we’re out at sea. With these social networking sites, we can’t real- P i c - F r o m - T h e -P a s t ly use those when we’re out on deployment. If you’re on a military activated ship, you can’t use it for security reasons. I’m not really hot on computers right now, but I do use it for emails and keeping in contact. But as far as going on a site and looking up union information, I do it because I can go print off documents I need for my work. Those types of sites are more useful to me right now. Mainly what I do online is ordering something, not so much communicating with people. Robert Brown Chief Steward I’m not a Facebook person. I do think that it’s some of the best stuff people have come up with for merchant seaman’s purposes, though. Getting in touch with people is important because we know people all over the country, on different ships, and it sounds like it would be great to be able to keep up with all those people, but I’m not really into Facebook. Tom Moore Bosun Well, Facebook is really not important at all to me. Email is really important to stay in touch with family, but Facebook is not all that important. Honestly, I’ve never really been on it. People that I really need to talk to know how to contact me. Through cell phone, especially with the technology today, you can talk on a cell phone pretty much anywhere in the world. To me, letters that you send off and mail home and waiting for another one to get to you works. I get all my information about the union from the LOG and also from the union hall. I can see how it has the potential to be a useful tool, though. NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 In this file photo from September 1946, Seafarers converge in the chow line at the old headquarters building on Beaver Street in New York. The picture was taken during the general strike. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org 16 Seafarers LOG April 2011 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:07 PM Page 17 W e l c o me A sh ore 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 ANDRES CABALLERO Brother Andres Caballero, 65, became a Seafarer in 1990 while in the port of Houston. His first ship was the Independence; his last, the Overseas Luxmar. Brother Caballero was born in Honduras and worked in the steward department. He lives in Houston. SANTIAGO CRUZ Brother Santiago Cruz, 63, started his SIU career in 2001 during the SIU/NMU merger. The engine department member originally sailed on the Chilbar. In 2001, Brother Cruz took advantage of educational opportunities at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. His most recent trip to sea was aboard the Alliance Norfolk. Brother Cruz calls Philadelphia home. JOSEPH FABBIANO Brother Joseph Fabbiano, 65, joined the union in 1967. He initially sailed aboard the Longveiw Victory. Brother Fabbiano shipped in the engine department. He upgraded in 1967 at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. (the year the school opened). Brother Fabbiano’s final ship was the Little Hales. He resides in West Covina, Calif. MILTON FLYNN Brother Milton Flynn, 65, began sailing with the SIU in 2000 while in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Flynn’s earliest trip was on the USNS Dahl. He attended classes on numerous occasions at the Piney Point school. Brother Flynn most recently shipped aboard the Lt. Col. Calvin P. Titus. He is a resident of Pompano Beach, Fla. CHARLES JOHNSON Brother Charles Johnson, 67, signed on with the Seafarers in 1990. He originally worked in the inland division aboard a Crowley of Puerto Rico vessel. Brother Johnson’s final voyage was on the Ascension. The deck department member makes his home in Hudson, Fla. JOHN JOHNSON SR. Brother John Johnson Sr., 65, April 2011 donned the SIU colors in 2001 while in Piney Point. His earliest trip was on the USNS Red Cloud. Brother Johnson upgraded on two occasions at the Paul Hall Center. His most recent trip was aboard the Ltc. John U D Page. Brother Johnson, who sailed in the deck department, lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. MICHAEL KIRBY Brother Michael Kirby, 60, was born in Philadelphia. He started shipping with the union in 1970. Brother Kirby’s first voyage was on the Noonday. He last sailed on the Horizon Hawk. Brother Kirby, who sailed in the engine department, enhanced his seafaring abilities frequently at the Piney Point school. He settled in Audubon, N.J. RICHARD KUCHARSKI Brother Richard Kucharski, 69, joined the SIU ranks in 1985. He was initially employed aboard the USNS Contender. Brother Kucharski was a steward department member. He most recently worked on the USNS Impeccable. Brother Kucharski upgraded in 2001 at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. He now calls Kingston, Wash., home. MARJORIE MACK Sister Marjorie Mack, 65, began sailing with the Seafarers in 1991. Her first trip to sea was aboard the Arabian Sea. Her most recent ship was the President Polk. Sister Mack worked in the steward department. She attended classes on two occasions at the Paul Hall Center. Sister Mack resides in Norfolk, Va. ARMANDO MEDINA Brother Armando Medina, 65, became an SIU member in 1988. His earliest trip was aboard the Star of Texas. Brother Medina’s final voyage was on the Liberty Grace. He was a member of the deck department. Brother Medina is a resident of New Orleans. LUIS ROEBUCK Brother Luis Roebuck, 65, started his SIU career in 1999 while in Puerto Rico. Brother Roebuck worked in the engine department. His first ship was the Green Mountain State; his last was the Horizon Producer. Brother Roebuck visited the Piney Point school in 2001 and 2004 to enhance his seafaring abilities. He makes his home in Puerto Rico. STEPHANIE SIZEMORE Sister Stephanie Sizemore, 60, joined the Seafarers in 1989. She was born in Sacramento, Calif. Sister Sizemore initially worked on the Independence. The steward department member’s final trip was aboard the Champion. Sister Sizemore calls Roseville, Calif., home. INLAND MICHAEL BRADSHAW Brother Michael Bradshaw, 56, signed on with the union in 1976. He primarily sailed with Crowley on tugs such as the Apache and Explorer. Brother Bradshaw visited the Piney Point school often to upgrade his skills. He was born in Tennessee and worked in the deck department. Brother Bradshaw lives in Florida. born in Washington, D.C. He joined the SIU in 1977 while in the port of Baltimore. Brother Lehew originally worked on vessels operated by National Maritime Service Inc. He most recently worked with OSG Ship Management. Brother Lehew, who sailed in the deck department, settled in Riverdale, Md. WAYNE MOORE Brother Wayne Moore, 64, became an SIU member 1973. Brother Moore initially shipped aboard Taylor Marine Towing Company vessels. His last trip was with Moran Towing of Philadelphia. Brother Moore is a resident of Newton Square, Pa. MIGUEL NEGRON Brother Miguel Negron, 62, began sailing with the union in 1976. He was mainly employed with Crowley Puerto Rico. Brother Negron worked in the deck department. He upgraded his skills in 1980 at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Negron lives in San Juan, P.R. GREAT LAKES JOEL LECHEL Brother Joel Lechel, 51, started shipping with the SIU in 1979. His earliest trip was on the Indiana Harbor. Brother Lechel attended classes on numerous occasions at the Piney Point school. He worked in the deck department. Brother Lechel’s final vessel was the Walter J. McCarthy. He resides in Alpena, Mich. DON MILLS Brother Don Mills, 62, joined the union in 1979 while in the port of Algonac, Mich. He sailed primarily aboard vessels operated by Luedtke Engineering Company. Brother Mills was born in Ohio and shipped as a member of the deck department. He makes his home in Frankfort, Mich. T h is M o nt h I n S I U H i s t o r y WILLIAM LEHEW Brother William Lehew, 55, was Editor’s note: The following items are reprinted from previous editions of the Seafarers LOG. 1953 With just three days to go to strike deadline, the Cities Service Oil Company yielded completely to all SIU demands and signed the standard SIU tanker agreement, retroactive to January 1, 1953. The contract was signed on Friday, April 17, a few hours after the Seafarers LOG came out with news about the SIU’s full strike preparations and pledges of support received from shoreside Cities Service unions such as the Lake Charles Metal Trades Council, AFL, representing Cities Service employees at the Lake Charles refinery and the Louisiana State Federation of Labor. The refusal of the membership and the union negotiating committee to accept anything less than a full settlement paid off after several weeks of negotiations at which the company unsuccessfully argued for special treatment. 1957 The Seafarers Welfare Plan medical center, first seaman’s health center in maritime, was officially opened in Brooklyn on April 16. The next morning the center was functioning, giving complete physical examinations to Seafarers and recommending treatment where necessary by private physicians or the Public Health Service. Dedication of the center, the Peter Larsen Memorial Clinic, drew an audience of more than 500 guests from the industry, various government agencies including the U.S. Public Health Service and the Coast Guard, the medical profession, and the trade union movement, plus Seafarers themselves. 1986 Trade unionists in seven cities demonstrated against the apartheid system in South Africa and against Shell Oil for its treatment of black workers there. Members of the AFL-CIO’s Executive Council including SIU President Frank Drozak spoke at the rallies, which were also attended by black trade unionists from South Africa. During the speeches in Washington, D.C., speakers were framed by two SIU trainees from the Harry Lundeberg School who held a sign aloft that read “Labor Against Apartheid.” Upgraders, trainees and recertified bosuns from the SHLSS attended the rally, as did their family members and workers from SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. 2000 With the opening of a new SIU hall in Guam, Seafarers now have an additional location where they can register, file for benefits, acquire upgrading forms and beneficiary cards and take care of other related business with the union. Additionally, the Seafarers Welfare Plan has contracted with a local clinic in Guan, so members may utilize that facility to meet their medical requirements for shipping. Seafarers LOG 17 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:56 PM Page 18 Fina l De pa r tu r e s DEEP SEA EDWARD ALLEN Pensioner Edward Allen, 78, died Dec. 12. Brother Allen joined the Seafarers in 1962. His initial voyage was aboard a Penn Marine Company vessel. Brother Allen, who sailed in the deck department, was a Memphis, Tenn., native. His final trip was on the USNS Bellatrix. Brother Allen retired in 1988 and called Slidell, La., home. HERNEGILDO BATIZ Brother Hernegildo Batiz, 50, passed away Nov. 11. He signed on with the union in 1987 while in the port of Houston. Brother Batiz’s earliest trip was aboard the Ultrasea. He was born in Honduras and worked in the steward department. Brother Batiz was most recently employed on the Sulpher Enterprise. He lived in Houston. WERNER BECHER Pensioner Werner Becher, 75, died Dec. 11. Brother Becher was born in Germany. He joined the SIU in 1966, originally working in the deck department aboard a vessel operated by Connecticut Transport Inc. Brother Becher last sailed on the Horizon Navigator. He went on pension in 2005 and lived in Waveland, Miss. JAMES BOVAY Pensioner James Bovay, 75, passed away Nov. 23. Brother Bovay began sailing with the union in 1963. He was initially employed with United States Shipping Company. Brother Bovay, who sailed in the deck department, was born in New York. He most recently sailed aboard the Challenger. Brother Bovay started receiving his pension in 2002 and settled in Houston. VERNON BRYANT Pensioner Vernon Bryant, 98, died Dec. 12. Brother Bryant started his seafaring career in 1951. His first vessel was the Ocean Transport. The Floridaborn mariner worked in the deck 18 Seafarers LOG department. Brother Bryant’s final trip was on the Mohawk. He went on pension in 1977 and made his home in Tampa, Fla. STEPHEN CZAPLE Brother Stephen Czaple, 62, passed away Nov. 22. He joined the union 1998 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Czaple initially worked aboard the Maersk Constellation. The deck department member’s last trip was on the Horizon Tiger. Brother Czaple was born in San Francisco but called San Leandro, Calif., home. SEVERINO GARCIA Pensioner Severino Garcia, 84, died Dec. 20. Brother Garcia became a Seafarer in 1951. He originally worked aboard a Louisiana Sulphur Carrier vessel. Brother Garcia, a member of the engine department, was a native of Galveston, Texas. Prior to his retirement in 1973, he sailed with Michigan Tankers Inc. vessel. Brother Garcia resided in Houston. MARTIN HAMMOND Pensioner Martin Hammond, 82, passed away Dec. 23. Brother Hammond first donned the SIU colors in 1953. His first ship was the Andrew Jackson; his last, the Overseas Juneau. Brother Hammond was a member of the deck department. He was born in South Carolina. Brother Hammond began collecting his retirement compensation in 1983. He was a resident of Tabor City, N.C. BOLAND HOFFMAN Pensioner Boland Hoffman, 83, died Dec. 9. Brother Hoffman signed on with the Seafarers in 1945. The deck department member initially worked with Sprogue Steamship Company. Brother Hoffman was born in South Carolina. Before retiring in 1989, he shipped on the Challenger. Brother Hoffman continued to live in his native state. KENNETH LEE Brother Kenneth Lee, 64, passed away Nov. 23. He was born in Hong Kong. Brother Lee started sailing with the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1978 from the port of San Francisco. He was a member of the steward department. Brother Lee’s first ship was the Santa Mercedes. His last voyage was aboard the Thailand. He was a resident of San Francisco. WILBUR LEWIS Brother Wilbur Lewis, 54, died Nov. 12. He began his seafaring career in 2000 while in the port of New Orleans. Brother Lewis originally sailed in the deck department of the Global Sentinel. His final voyage took place on the Freedom. Brother Garcia made his home in Gulfport, Miss. ALLAN MELENDEZ Brother Allan Melendez, 45, passed away Nov. 8. He became an SIU member in 1994 while in the port of Houston. Brother Melendez first shipped on the Independence. He worked in the steward department. Brother Melendez’s last trip was aboard the Sulphur Enterprise. He lived in Houston. DERRICK MOORE Brother Derrick Moore, 29, died Nov. 13. He was an Alabama native and started sailing with the SIU in 2008. Brother Moore joined the union while attending classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member initially worked on the USNS Pathfinder. Brother Moore’s final voyage took place aboard the USNS Stockham. He called the Bronx, N.Y., home. EDWARD RICKARD Pensioner Edward Rickard, 80, passed away Nov. 16. Brother Rickard, a member of the deck department, began sailing with the SIU in 1960 while in Houston. His first trip was on the Pandora. Before retiring in 1996, Brother Rickard sailed aboard the Nedlloyd Holland. He resided in Sweeny, Texas. JOHN YOUNG Pensioner John Young, 72, died Dec. 13. Brother Young was born in Cleveland. He first donned the SIU colors in 1988. Brother Young initially sailed on the USNS Algol. He was a member of the deck department. Brother Young’s last voyage was aboard the Sulphur Enterprise. He went on pension in 2003 and settled in Junction, Texas. INLAND JOSEPH BRADY Brother Joseph Brady, 50, passed away Nov. 15. He joined the union in 1991. Brother Brady shipped in the deck department. He worked with Higman Barge Lines for the duration of his seafaring career. Brother Brady lived in Madisonville, Texas. LESTER HEBERT Pensioner Lester Hebert, 73, died Nov. 3. Brother Hebert signed on with the SIU in 1968. He was primarily employed with HVIDE Marine aboard the Sabine. Brother Hebert retired in 1994 and made his home in Port Arthur, Texas. EDWARD PACE Pensioner Edward Pace, 59, passed away Dec. 9. Brother Pace became an SIU member in 1969. He was a Florida native. Brother Pace originally sailed with Southern Carriers Corporation. His final trip was aboard a Penn Maritime Inc. vessel. Brother Pace called Portsmouth, Va., home. Virginia native but settled in Thonotosassa, Fla. He became a pensioner in 1996. NATIONAL MARITIME UNION VITENTE AVILA Pensioner Vitente Avila, 91, passed away Nov. 7. Brother Avila was born in Honduras. He retired in 1969 and lived in Humble, Texas. LEROY HICKMAN SR. Pensioner Leroy Hickman, Sr., 82, died Nov. 13. Brother Hickman, a native of Crowley, La., became a pensioner in 1987. He called Port Arthur, Texas, home. ADAM IZAGUIRRE Pensioner Adam Izaguirre, 89, passed away Nov. 16. Brother Izaguirre was born in Honduras. He went on pension in 1985. Brother Izaguirre settled in Bayside, N.Y. MCADOO PARMAR Pensioner McAdoo Parmar, 91, died Nov. 29. The Alabama-born mariner became a pensioner in 1968. Brother Parmar was a resident of Fairhope, Ala. RAUL SOCIA Pensioner Raul Socia, 88, passed away Nov. 10. Brother Socia was a native of Puerto Rico. He started collecting his retirement compensation in 1986. Brother Socia made his home in New York. Name Buchanan, William Cerko, Carlos Garcia, Benigno Gonzalez, Cristobal Gonzalez, Ramon Lambert, Edward Lance, Eugene Nixon, Melvin Pappas, John Rosa, Manuel Santos, Federico Schumansky, John Shireh, Mohammed Age 91 89 85 88 68 82 82 84 84 93 81 89 67 DOD Nov. 27 Dec. 1 Nov. 20 Nov. 7 Nov.23 Nov. 7 Nov. 19 Dec. 1 Nov. 6 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Nov. 1 Nov. 5 CARL VETRA Pensioner Carl Vetra, 79, died Nov. 14. Brother Vetra began sailing with the union in 1964 while in Norfolk, Va. He mainly worked aboard Sheridan Transportation Company vessels as a member of the deck department. Brother Vetra was a April 2011 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 5:56 PM Page 19 D i g es t o f S h ip b oa r d U n io n M e et i ng s CHARGER (Maersk Line, Limited), January 16 – Chairman Robert Pagan Jr., Secretary George F. Farala, Educational Director Andrew J. Linares, Deck Delegate Julius J. Dagoldol, Engine Delegate Salvador Baclayon, Steward Delegate John Bennett. Chairman reported a smooth voyage with a great crew and went over ship’s itinerary. Secretary expressed gratitude for fellow crew members and good leadership. Educational director encouraged mariners to upgrade at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer stated $1,200 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. It was suggested that there be a 30-minute per-person limit on computer. Next port: Oakland, Calif. ENTERPRISE (Horizon Lines), January 28 – Chairman George B. Khan, Secretary Keesha D. Smith, Educational Director Erik W. Nappier, Deck Delegate Charles E. Turner. Bosun reported that safety award points to be donated to the charity “Give Kids the World.” He discussed company’s financial situation and responsive actions of both unlicensed and licensed unions. Educational director advised all mariners to attend classes at the SIU-affiliated training center in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestions were made regarding vacation benefits and communicating with officials. FALCON (Horizon Lines), January 4 – Chairman Rudy A. Santos, Secretary Rodulfo O. Pardilla, Educational Director Anwar N. Muthala, Engine Delegate Jeffrey Murray. Chairman reminded members to leave rooms clean and supplied with fresh linen for arriving crew. He thanked steward department for excellent food. Educational director reiterated the need to renew documents in a timely manner and advised all mariners to attend classes at the SIU-affiliated training center in Piney Point, Md. He also urged members to contribute to SPAD (Seafarers Political Activity Donation). No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made for a new DVD player in crew lounge. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department. It was reported that company would provide Chinese visa. GLOBAL SENTINEL (Transoceanic Cable Ship Company), January 24 – Chairman Lee Hardman, Secretary Vicki L. Haggerty, Educational Director Vladimir G. Tkachev, Deck Delegate Terrence X. Carmody, Engine Delegate Norman A. Arquillano, Steward Delegate Dennis D. Skretta. Chairman asked everyone to help keep common areas clean. He noted that the engine department had installed a new washer in crew laundry room and reminded crew that flu shots were still available. Secretary thanked deck department for painting and waxing the decks, “they look great.” Bingo night to take place February 9. Educational director advised everyone to upgrade at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md., and make sure they stay up-to-date on all necessary seafaring documents. Treasurer reported $4,000 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Recommendations were April 2011 made to improve medical and dental coverage. GREEN BAY (Waterman), January 2 – Chairman Gerald M. Alford, Secretary John Bukowsky, Educational Director Fernando A. Ortega, Deck Delegate Robert T. Cole, Engine Delegate Steve Schaffer, Steward Delegate Betty Cooper. Chairman thanked crew members for cooperation and safe working habits. He announced that Patrolman is expected to visit ship in Hawaii. Secretary expressed gratitude for fellow members help keeping ship clean. They were encouraged to take advantage of upgrading opportunities available at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Captain maintains ship’s fund that is used to purchase DVDs stateside. Mariners would like minirefrigerators for rooms and a larger washing machine. Thanks given to the steward department for great holiday meals. Next port: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. HONOR (Crowley), January 23 – Chairman Billy G. Hill Sr., Secretary Gerald L. Hyman, Deck Delegate Oliver W. Dailey, Engine Delegate Matthew Bryant, Steward Delegate Nora Porter. Chairman announced payoff in Jacksonville, Fla., on January 29. He reported a safe voyage with no lost-time injuries. Job well done in all departments. Secretary thanked crew for keeping mess hall clean and separating paper, plastic and food waste. He urged members to keep credentials in good order and support SPAD. Treasure noted $3,000 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Final room inspection by captain was a success in all departments. Crew was reminded to supply fresh linen for arriving mariners. Next ports: Jacksonville, Fla., Beaumont, Texas and Galveston, Texas. LIGHTNING (Maersk Line, Limited), January 8 – Chairman Shawn T. Evans, Secretary Donald F. Dwyer, Educational Director Daniel F. Dean, Deck Delegate James Morgan. Chairman thanked crew for good trip and reminded them to leave rooms clean for next mariners if they’re signing off. Secretary encouraged fellow members to support Maritime Defense League (MDL) and reminded them to return DVDs in good order to movie locker. Educational director recommended upgrading at unionaffiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He also reminded them to keep their documents updated and accurate. No beefs or disputed OT reported. New washer for crew laundry will be replaced in Oakland, Calif. New DVD player needed for lounge. Crew suggested renaming vacation benefits. Next ports: Oakland and Long Beach, Calif. MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Line, Limited), January 2 – Chairman Brian K. Fountain, Secretary Alexander Banky, Educational Director Kevin M. Cooper, Deck Delegate Ronald Mena, Steward Delegate Martin Krins. Crew noted money available in ship’s fund for TV equipment for lounge. Chairman reported another safe voyage with no lost-time injuries and no beefs. He announced payoff scheduled for 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. SIU Members Assist in Military Exercise Seafarers aboard the AMSEA-operated USNS Sgt. William R. Button and SS Curtiss supported a military exercise known as Pacific Horizon 2011 from March 1-13. According to the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the yearly exercise involved approximately 2,500 Marines and Navy sailors in addition to 64 civilian mariners. Pacific Horizon prepares U.S. forces to conduct at-sea transfers of equipment “from sealift platforms to ships and shore-side locations via surface craft,” MSC reported. In photo above, an amphibious assault vehicle with 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion drives onto a roll on/roll off discharge facility attached to the Button near Camp Pendleton, Calif. In the other photo, the Button floats three miles off the coast off Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach. (Photos by Sgt. Jason Fudge) Jan. 10 and reminded crew to keep garbage room locked while vessel is in port. He extended “special thanks to everyone for doing their jobs professionally and in a timely manner.” Secretary urged members to read Seafarers LOG for important information and also recommended contributing to SPAD “because when you do, you help yourself as well as your union brothers.” Educational director reminded crew to get their time in and take advantage of upgrading at Piney Point. Crew thanked steward department for all the great holiday meals. Crew made numerous recommendations about next contract and various benefits plans. They included detailed suggestions related to piracy and how current realities may be reflected in writing. Crew gave special thanks to Deck Delegate Mena for donating his time and efforts making Christmas gifts for fellow mariners: “Just another one of the many ways Ron looks out for his union brothers, making the holiday a little brighter at sea.” Next ports: Newark, N.J., Charleston, S.C. and Norfolk, Va. MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk Line, Limited), January 30 – Chairman Domingo Leon, Secretary Billy Gigante, Educational Director Roger L. Dillinger Jr., Deck Delegate John O’Shaughnessy, Engine Delegate James Sieger, Steward Delegate Husain Salah. Chairman reported good voyage and good crew. He said that on the next trip, the ship will be bound for Dubai, Port Qasim, Salalah and India. Secretary agreed it was a good voyage with excellent crew. He reminded mariners to leave cabins clean for reliefs. Educational director encouraged crew to upgrade at Piney Point and keep documents up-to-date. No beefs or disputed OT. Members recommended modifications to pension plan and dental benefits and also asked that a wiper be added to regular crew complement. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Next ports: Charleston, S.C., Norfolk, Va. and Newark, N.J. MERCURY (Maersk Line, Limited), January 23 – Chairman Larry Bradley, Educational Director Oswald Bermeo, Engine Delegate Seller T. Brooks. Crew is addressing safety issues. New port of call may be added. Chairman thanked crew for safe voyage and encouraged them to submit suggestions for upcoming contract. He thanked Chief Cook David Brown for good meals and announced payoff to take place at sea. Educational director encouraged mariners to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and asked school personnel to lengthen classes for electricians. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted impor- tance of receiving regular communications from headquarters and visits by patrolman. Crew read SIU President Michael Sacco’s column from the December edition of the LOG. They noted some of the Election Day results including losses by several longtime supporters of the U.S. Merchant Marine. Crew suggested modifications to contract and various benefits plans. Crew noted port of Miami is expected to have “24/7” transportation available to and from the ship and taxi drop-off areas outside of restricted zones. They asked for changes in food provisions. Next ports: Newark, N.J., Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Ga. PEARL (American President Lines), January 16 – Chairman James R. Blitch, Secretary Philip J. Paquette, Educational Director Eddie Almodovar, Deck Delegate Paul Riley, Engine Delegate Wilfredo Martinez, Steward Delegate Manes Sainvil. Chairman mentioned recent correspondence from union. He clarified rotation schedule. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade and keep documents up-to-date. No beefs reported. Crew made suggestion related to procedure for contract ratification. They thanked steward department “for outstanding food and great meals and great service.” Next port: Charleston, S.C. Seafarers LOG 19 �63932_Newsletter:January 08 3/24/2011 6:31 PM Page 20 Healthy Partnership Plays Significant Role In Maritime’s Future Continued from Page 12 to reconsider its original proposal and would be publishing a supplemental notice. Since that time, he said, the IMO has revised the STCW Convention 2010 with amendments and further that the Coast Guard’s intention is to include these amendments in its proposed rulemaking. “I want to point out that deciding to publish a supplemental notice was in no small part due to the comments we received from Mike [MTD President Michael Sacco] and his organization on the things we have had wrong,” he said. “I want to emphasize that when we do this rulemaking, we do try to be inclusive. Sometimes we don’t get it right but that’s why we have these proposals and we do appreciate the comments.” Lantz said the Coast Guard received more than 1,000 comments on the rulemaking at hand. The problem his agency now faces is getting this rulemaking out in time; the amendments are supposed to enter into force Jan. 1, 2012. On the licensing and credentialing front, Lantz said that the charter for Coast Guard’s Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) is yet to be signed. “That’s very discouraging and the membership of that advisory committee still has not been approved,” he said. “I can tell you that the Coast Guard has been pushing very, very hard to get this done…. Some of you in the room have been pushing also and we appreciate your efforts.” He concluded, “The Coast Guard is committed to working with labor. We appreciate the help you’ve given us; you’ve been sitting with us as we go over to IMO and I know you’ll be sitting with us when we go over to ILO. We look forward to this continued cooperation.” FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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/NMU 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper 20 Seafarers LOG Speakers Outline Vital Maritime Industry Issues Continued from Page 13 However, 2010 “was a year of recovery” and the early returns from 2011 are positive. He pointed out that one result of the still-challenging times is that ships are “slow steaming,” which drastically reduces fuel consumption. Also, larger ships are being ordered because they’re ultimately cheaper to operate. Concerning policy, in Washington, it is currently “difficult to get maritime up on the priority list. Frankly, it’s difficult to get transportation up on the priority list in the current environment in Washington, D.C.,” he said. He discussed competition for funding in various industries and the need for improved, modernized maritime infrastructure. While crediting organized labor for grassroots political support, Koch said that when looking ahead “the environmental agenda will continue to be one we have to pay a lot attention to. Politically, we know in many port communities there’s a concern about the environmental impact of the shipping industry.” The industry has put emission controls in effect starting next year, he added. Concerning piracy and shipboard security, Koch said that the recent murder of four yachtsmen was “a brutal and appalling tragedy” that spotlighted the ongoing problem. “The concern that our industry has is that as appalling and abhorrent as that was, there are 800 seafarers that are hostages to these pirates, and people tend to forget them,” he continued. “It’s not something that should be forgotten. There are daily attacks on ships in that area. It’s costing the economy, it’s costing seafarer welfare, it’s costing everybody – and governments need to step up and do a better job. We have to bring attention to this. I fully recognize there’s no simple solution but unless efforts are brought together by governments, including efforts on shore in Somalia to set up some sort of infrastructure that can try to bring discipline to this situation, we have an intolerable situation that’s only going to continue. I’m pleased to say we are working closely with labor on this.” He added, “We need to recognize that by working together as an industry, we can affect a positive outcome for all of us, from dealing with climate change to protecting commerce from terrorist risks to making real increases in dealing with the transportation infrastructure challenges we all face. The maritime industry and the maritime labor community are generally on the same page when it comes to addressing maritime public policy challenges.” Ruge reminded the audience that his newly renamed coalition – formerly the Maritime Cabotage Task Force – “represents every segment of the American maritime industry. In fact, you could say AMP is the American maritime industry.” (The SIU is one of hundreds of AMP affiliates.) He discussed “unprecedented threats” to the Jones Act and the industry’s response. (The Jones Act is an indispensible part of the American maritime industry’s foundation. It requires that goods moving between domestic ports be transported on vessels that are crewed, built, owned and flagged American.) Among the concerns cited by Ruge were the recent losses of many industry champions in Congress; unfair and inaccurate blame placed on the Jones Act and U.S. maritime labor during the BP oil cleanup; and 2012 elections that may result in erosion of maritime support. Reflecting on the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the lies about the Jones Act, Ruge said, “It was ridiculous at times. We were so much in the bullseye, particularly in the right-wing media and right-wing blogs. At one point Sarah Palin tweeted to her people that Kn ow Y o u r R i gh t s address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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. the only reason that President Obama was not waiving the Jones Act was that, quote, ‘He was trying to protect his union friends, who are all thugs.’ Rush Limbaugh told his listeners that what the law says in the Jones Act is that the only way you can serve on a ship is if you’re in a union. So there was lots of misinformation. A lot of that problem has been solved in the last couple of months due to everybody’s efforts to correct the record. In fact, pretty much everybody involved in government has admitted the Jones Act was not an impediment. But if we think for one second that there’s no scars left from that experience, we are kidding ourselves.” However, Ruge promised “a significant response from the industry” which already is under way. He thanked the MTD for “being there from the start. There would be no AMP without the Maritime Trades Department.” Talking about a recent message-testing study involving the Jones Act, Ruge said that the average person outside the industry appreciated the economic and national security aspects of the law. The Jones Act helps maintain roughly 500,000 American jobs and pumps billions of dollars into the economy. From a national security standpoint, “Everyone knows that a foreign vessel can safely come into the carefully controlled environment of a U.S. port,” he continued. “But what would happen if the Jones Act was repealed and if foreign vessels could move freely throughout the United States? What really concerned people during our focus groups was the thought of tens of thousands of foreign-controlled vessels, manned by foreign nationals, roaming freely through the navigational bloodstream of our country: under bridges, near cities, near sports stadiums, near schools. “Our task now is to take our message to Capitol Hill. We have an aggressive plan to do that.” SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION — SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2011 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:07 PM Page 21 P a u l H a ll C e nt e r U p g ra d ing C o u rs e Sc he d u le The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., for the next few months. All programs are geared to improving the job skills of Seafarers and to promoting the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. 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 AB Fast Rescue Boats April 29 May 16 April 29 June 24 May 6 May 27 May 20 Engine Department FOWT Advanced Container Maintenance Marine Electrician Welding May 30 June 24 April 11 May 5 March 7 May 2 June 27 April 1 May 27 July 22 May 9 July 1 May 9 June 6 May 27 June 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 Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? Yes No If yes, class # ______________________________________________________________ If yes, course(s) taken_____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ April 2011 Vessel Security Officer May 9 Government Vessels April 25 June 20 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday May 16 Basic Auxiliary Plant Ops May 13 April 22 May 6 May 2 May 23 Tank PIC Barge DL BST/Basic Fire Fighting Chief Steward April 18 June 13 ECDIS May 9 May 16 April 1 May 27 May 16 GMDSS Medical Care Provider March 21 May 16 June 24 April 25 Radar Recertification (1 day) May 13 May 27 April 11 ARPA May 2 Safety Upgrading Courses May 16 May 2 Radar Observer Unlimited Date of Completion Date of Completion May 30 STOS Fire Fighting Start Date Start Date Deck Department Water Survival Title of Course MSC Readiness Refresher April 11 May 16 June 13 Steward Department April 11 May 20 May 10 April 29 June 24 April 15 May 20 June 17 May 20 Chief Cook These modules start every other week. The next class is scheduled to begin April 4. Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twentyfive (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back or relevant pages of merchant mariner credential, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested, 1995 STCW Certificate, valid SHBP Clinic Card and TWIC. 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, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/11 Seafarers LOG 21 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:08 PM Page 22 P a u l H a l l C en t er C l a s s es Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 740 – Eighteen unlicensed apprentices com- pleted their training in this 60-hour class Nov. 26. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Jerry Aquino, John Bielamowicz, Mario Botelho, Terence Brenan, Marco Brown, Keith Carswell, Rodney Davis, John Diaz Jr., Theophilus Essien, Richard Flores, William Gibson, Clifton Medley III, Daniel Reynolds Sr., Christopher Sanicola, Cynthia Servance, Derrick Siefre, Adam Smith and Marcus Thornton. Ben Cusic, their instructor, is kneeling at the far right. Small Arms Training – A pair of upgraders completed their requirements in this course Feb. 25. Graduating from the course were George Borromeo (left) and Jim Romeo. The duo received instruction in the safe operation and firing of the pistol, rifle and shotgun. Robbie Springer and Stanley Boothe (not pictured) served as instructors. Welding – Six Seafarers completed the enhancement of their skills in this 103- hour course Feb. 25. Graduating and receiving certificates (above, in alphabetical order) were: Gorden Cherup, Boyko Kovatchev, Jorge Lawrence, Charles Searfass, Tyler Sheff and Scott Thompson. Their instructor, Buzzy Andrews, is standing second from left in the back row. Electronic Chart Display Information System – Six individuals finished their requirements in this course Feb. 18. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Chris Bridges, Lou Cabano, Douglas Carson, William Dunney, Robert Hoffman and Jim Romeo. Class Instructor Brad Wheeler is at the far right. Helo Fire Fighting – Five individuals finished their training in this course Feb. 18. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Steven Blair, George Borromeo, Israel Edmunds, Jonathan Miler and Matthew Sandy. Able Seaman – Twenty-three upgraders finished this course March 4. Graduating and receiving their certifications (above, in alphabetical order) were: Imaad Alhag, David Arcilla, Daryl Balance, Kareem Baxter, Timothy Bradstreet, Amancio Crespo, Jose Crespo, Jaroslav Dvorak, Nathaniel Fitzpatrick, Ricky Gault Jr., Kevin Hanmont, Nita Holly, Ricky Howard, Bryan Howell, Jordache Hunter, John Matichak, Jason Monk, Tyler Peyton, Justin Pierce, Jeremy Sales, Kenneth Stearns, Timothy White and Dannal Wiliams. Stan Beck, their instructor, is at the far right. 22 Seafarers LOG Students who have registered for classes at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover—for whatever reason—that they cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. April 2011 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:08 PM Page 23 Pa u l H a l l C e n t e r C l a s s e s Basic and Advanced Fire Fighting – Twenty-three upgraders completed the enhancement of their skills in this course Feb. 18. Graduating (left, in alphabetical order) were: Antuan Barnes, Rigoberto Beata, Apolinardio Calacal, William Carney, Richard Dela Cruz, Hayden Gifford, Michael Hurst, Charles Jensen, Timothy Littles, Samuel Lloyd, George Murphy, Orlando Pabon, Jeremy Pace, Randy Pearson, Reynato Ramos, Paul Russell, Ricky Shumock, Darnell Slayton, Ryan Smith, Davin Tucker, Stacey Twiford, Deralle Watson and Richard Wright. Their instructor, Mike Roberts, is at the far right. Pumpman – The following Seafarers (above, in alphabetical order) completed their train- ing in this course March 4: Therman Ames, Arman Deblois, Patrick Devlin, Alshea Dixon, Kenneth Evett, Martin Hamilton, Dwight Hunt, Michael Iverson, Joseph Jacobs, Gilbert Johnson, Stravon Jordan and Enrique Velez. Jim Shaffer, the class instructor, is at the far right. STOS – Seventeen Seafarers finished their requirements in this course March 4. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Matthew Baptist, Robert Bryson III, Jeremy Cooke, Melissa Gooch, Marques Johnson, William Kane, Robert Mackey, David Marquez, Terry Mattison, Saleh Mohamed, Meree Mused, Bryan Page, Roman Pauley, Jonathan Scalsky, William Smith, Richard Swirtz and Robert Tlalka. Class Instructor Tom Truitt is at the far right. BST (Hawaii) – The following individuals (above, in no particular order) completed this course Feb. 19 at the Seafarers Training Facility in Barbers Point, Hawaii: Samuel Maples, Laura McGowen, Michael Miller, Nicholas Petriella, Wayde Badgley, Steuart Graham III, Michael Shane, Andrew Marunowski, John Del Ray, Melanie Gibson, William Crawford, Jason Igancio, Michael Perez, Christopher Vaughn, Raymond Waggoner, Lee Paonessa and John Hicks Jr. (Note: Not all are pictured.) April 2011 BAPO – Sixteen individuals finished this course March 4. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Mohamed Ahmed, Austin Anderson, Matthew Clements, John Cooper, Rommel Crespo, Dave Cronce, Daniel Cunningham, Joshua Harris, Patrick Kirkland, Anthony Kpodivia, Ali Saeed Musa, Xavier Normil, Valentine Okei, Fidel Paswa, Jose Rivas and Robert Scrivens. Their instructor, Tim Achorn, is at the far right. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Medical Care Provider – The following individuals (above, in alphabetical order) completed this course Feb. 25: Antuan Barnes, Dolores Brown, Apolinario Calacal, William Carney, Richard Dela Cruz, Michael Hurst, Guy Ireland, Charles Jensen, Timothy Littles, Samuel Lloyd, George Murphy, Orlando Pabon, Reynato Ramos, Paul Russell, Ricky Shumock, Darnell Slayton, Ryan Smith, Davin Tucker, Deralle Watson, Richard Wright. Mark Cates, their instructor, is at the far right. BST (Hawaii) – Sixteen individuals graduated from this course Feb. 5 in Hawaii. Those completing the training (above, in no particular order) were: Kari Baline-Ornelas, Eric Ornelas, George Miaris, Vincent Deamon, Balal Darwich, Christopher Newkirk, Yolanda Ramos, Patrick Runyan, Brandon Smith, Andrew Starnes, Kirill Verkhozin, Krystal Murrell, Natalie Varela, Matthew Zeilik, Ronald Lyon Jr., and Joshua Mercer. Seafarers LOG 23 �63932_Newsletter_X:January 08 3/25/2011 8:08 PM Page 24 Volume 73, Number 4 April 2011 Paul Hall Center Course Dates Page 21 Members Back ‘Save Our Seafarers’ Campaign On March 1, major organizations from every segment of the maritime industry announced a new anti-piracy campaign designed to call on governments around the world to do more to protect mariners. Through the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the SIU helped launch the new effort; the union also is helping publicize the campaign through the SIU web site, its social media pages, the Seafarers LOG and at union halls across the country. Part of the campaign involves advertising in a number of major newspapers around the world. The U.S. version of the ad appears on the bottom of this page. Another key component is the new web site www.saveourseafarers.com. Through that site, individuals quickly and easily may write to their elected political representatives and also may keep up with the latest news about piracy. SIU members at various union halls have accessed the site to write to President Obama, asking for increased U.S. backing of anti-piracy efforts. Some of those Seafarers are pictured on this page. See page 3 for related coverage Oakland Algonac This ad has been published in major newspapers and magazines around the world. Tacoma Wilmington Houston � 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 2010-2019 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXXII-LXXXI of the 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-2019 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 April 2011 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES PASHA HAWAII ORDERS NEW RO/RO AKER PHILADELPHIA TO BUILD ADDITIONAL TANKERS MSC ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF NEWEST T-AKE SHIP MTD SPEAKERS UNDERSCORE VITAL NEED FOR ROBUST U.S. MARITIME INDUSTRY INTERNATIONAL GROUPS LAUNCH NEW ANTI-PIRACY CAMPAIGN HORIZON PRODUCER RESCUES STRANDED FISHERMAN MEMBERS EXAMINE, APPROVE SIU’S FINANCIAL RECORDS FOR 2010 UNION URGE STRONGER RULES PROTECTING U.S. MARINERS DEFENDING AGAINST PIRACY COALITION SLATES 2ND ANNUAL MARITIME ‘SAIL-IN’ FOR MAY JAPANESE PORTS RECOVERING GOVERNORS TRAIN SIGHTS ON WORKERS’ RIGHTS UNION MEMBERS RALLY IN WISCONSIN AND ELSEWHERE TO DEFEND WORKING FAMILIES USNS MATTHIESEN DELIVERS FOR ‘DEEP FREEZE’ CMPI 610 NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE MAERSK CONSTELLATION RESUMES VOYAGE PORT AGENT DIETZ RETIRES SEAFARERS SHINE DURING OCEAN ATLAS DEMO EVENT HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF STRONG U.S.-FLAG FLEET, AMERICA’S CARGO PREFERENCE LAWS MILITARY COMMANDERS EMPHASIZE VALUE, RELIABILITY OF U.S. MERCHANT MARINERS POLITICIANS SUPPORT MARITIME, WORKING FAMILIES U.S. COAST GUARD: STURDY ALLIANCE WITH LABOR, SHIP OPERATORS HOLDS KEY TO FUTURE OF MARITIME INDUSTRY POLITICS, COOPERATION REMAIN VITAL TO MARITIME SPEAKERS SEE MARITIME JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN SOMETHING OLD, NEW MEMBERS BACK ‘SAVE OUR SEAFARERS’ CAMPAIGN 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2011 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. 73, No. 4 2011 Periodicals Seafarers Log http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/7ba0147e5ecbf253885d2c288c629b44.pdf 440e81fb58e6440ee33a6e09e9c4ab9a PDF Text Text Volume 74, Number 4 April 2012 MTD, Guests Underscore Need For Robust U.S. Maritime Industry Jobs Crisis, Piracy Among Key Topics at Annual Meeting The executive board of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO on March 8-9 conducted its annual winter meeting, and as usual, the gathering featured prominent guest speakers from the military, government, labor and business. Both the board and the guests covered many important topics, including the critical need for a strong U.S. Merchant Marine; the ongoing fight against piracy; America’s jobs crisis; the importance of this year’s elections, and more. In photo at left, SIU President Michael Sacco, who also serves as MTD president, stands with Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command. Pictured from left to right in photo at right are MEBA Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo, SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, and International Transport Workers’ Federation official Jon Whitlow. Left to right in the group photo above are SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and SIU VP Contracts George Tricker. The meeting took place near Orlando, Fla. Coverage starts on page 3 and continues on pages 9-14. SIU Welcomes Maersk Texas SIU members in mid-March reported to the newly reflagged Maersk Texas in Mobile, Ala. An outright addition to the union-contracted fleet, the heavy-lift ship was scheduled to make its first voyage under the Stars and Stripes late last month. Pictured aboard the ship are SIU crew members (from left) Electrician Gary Dahl, QMED Courtney Price, GVA Willie Clemmons, OS Melvin Hill, Steward/Baker Michael McDermott, Bosun Kennard Campbell and OS Dennis Marshall. Page 3. Green Wave Helps Complete ‘Deep Freeze’ Page 4 10950_LOG_X.indd 1 Federation Endorses Obama Page 5 Union Plus Services Page 8 3/26/2012 6:54:14 PM �President’s Report Tackling the Jobs Crisis Both during the most recent Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting and then the AFL-CIO executive council meeting that followed, much of the discussions centered on jobs and the economy. Our nation’s financial state and still-too-high unemployment promise to be the most important issues in this year’s national elections, which means we will all hear different plans and ideas for digging out from the recession. The AFL-CIO laid out some realistic, promising strategies during last month’s meeting. But let me back up for a second, for those of you who are new to our union. The AFL-CIO is a federation of 57 unions, including the SIU, representing more than 12 million working men and women. I have served on the federation’s executive council for many years; our affiliation helps give the SIU strength beyond our numbers. Those affiliated unions are autonomous, and I can tell you without giving away any secrets that it’s not always easy to get dozens of union leaders to agree on Michael Sacco something. Heck, once in a while it feels like it’s hard to get us to agree on anything. Some of you may have been aboard ships like that. But our ultimate solidarity is very real and very much intact, and when it comes to a blueprint for creating and keeping good jobs at home, we are clearly united. One of the first points we tackled at the AFL-CIO meeting was the need to stop rewarding companies that send jobs overseas. And that starts by changing the focus of our national economic policy from one of maximizing the competitiveness and profitability of corporations that only maintain headquarters somewhere on U.S. territory to one of maximizing the competitiveness and prosperity of the human beings who live and work in America. Note that we didn’t say companies don’t have the right to turn a profit. We’re not fools – we know that America’s working families can’t succeed unless their employers are doing well. But we are saying that U.S. businesses still can make money by keeping their production here. I’ve said it for years: The national economy is every bit as real and arguably more important than the global economy. We don’t have any interest in protectionism, and Seafarers in particular undoubtedly appreciate the importance of having imports and exports to ship. But it’s like the instructions you receive on an airplane, when they’re explaining how to use the oxygen masks – you’d better get yourself squared away first, or you won’t be able to help anyone else. Something else the council agreed upon is that, to encourage domestic investment and lay a stronger and more stable foundation for long-term growth, it is essential that we tackle the problems of wage stagnation and economic inequality. This will mean changing our labor laws so that all workers who want to form a union and bargain collectively have a fair opportunity to do so. What it also means is making full employment the top goal of our economic policy. We can do that by, in part, shrinking the trade deficit and eliminating incentives for offshoring. Once again, we’re not talking about doing economic harm to other countries. We instead want to make it easier for them to rely on domestic incomes as sources of growth. A key to that step is establishing suitable minimum standards for the global economy, stopping the race to the bottom, and in the process, creating new markets for American manufacturing. The executive council summed it up like this: “We can no longer rely on household debt, real estate bubbles, tech bubbles, stock bubbles or any other kind of bubbles to fuel our economic growth. We cannot go back to a low-wage, high-consumption economy. We need bold leadership to draw the right lessons from the mistakes of the past 30 years and forge a new model of economic growth in which we make things in America again, workers can form a union and bargain collectively if they want to, working people can afford to buy the things they make, the U.S. economy produces as much as it consumes, everybody who wants to work can find a good job and prosperity is broadly shared.” Lofty ambitions? No. This is how our families, our union and our nation were built. We cannot allow the American Dream to fall further and further out of reach. Coalition: U.S.-Flag Tonnage Ready to Transport SPR Oil AMP Urges Adherence to New Rules Governing Jones Act Waivers In a letter to the Departments of Homeland Se- comply with certain requirements to maximize the curity (DHS), Energy (DOE) and Transportation use of U.S.-flag vessels for the transportation of oil (DOT), the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), from future SPR drawdowns before Jones Act waiva broad-based coalition representing U.S.-flag ves- ers are approved. sel operators, maritime unions (including the SIU) Specifically, the new law states that no waivers and allied interests, in late February offered its re- may be granted until the DHS “takes adequate measources to help implement new Congressional re- sures to ensure the use of United States-flag vessels” quirements that should increase the use of U.S.-flag and no waivers may be granted unless the DOT has vessels in future Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) determined whether U.S.-flag vessels are capable of drawdowns. assisting an SPR move. The DOT is now required Several circumstances could lead to another SPR to provide the DHS with written justification for not drawdown soon, according to the coalition, includ- using U.S.-flag vessels during an SPR drawdown. ing an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and To ensure that the federal government has adrising U.S. gas prices. There are dozens of American equate measures in place to utilize U.S.-flag vessels, vessels with millions of barrels of capacity available the departments are statutorily required to consult to transport oil, according to AMP. with representatives of the U.S.-flag maritime in“AMP was troubled by the decisions during the dustry. AMP believes that such consultations with last SPR drawdown to issue waivers for foreign- industry should begin immediately, the letter stated. flag vessels, employing foreign workers to transport Meanwhile, the Maritime Trades Department oil from the SPR despite the fact U.S.-flag ves- (MTD), AFL-CIO recently published a story comsels were available to assist,” the AMP letter said. paring new attacks on the Jones Act with the er“AMP recognizes roneous ones that that there may surfaced after the be circumstances Deepwater Horizon where waivers of disaster. the Jones Act are “Now, just as necessary, but we then, [Jones Act want to work with opponents] are the Departments disseminating into maximize the formation that, use of available at best, is highly American vessels, skewered,” the deemploying Ameripartment reported. can workers, in “The MTD and its the transportation allies in the labor of SPR oil should movement and another drawdown shipping industry occur.” have been working The coalition overtime to educonsists of more cate the American than 400 Ameripublic and the new can companies, members of Conassociations, labor gress about the isorganizations, sues involved. The shipyards, defense important thing to groups and others. Jones Act vessels like the SIU-contracted Overseas Tampa, pic- remember is that The Jones Act tured last year in Philadelphia, have proven vital to U.S. national there are proceis a longstanding and economic security. (Photo by John Curdy) dures in place to U.S. maritime law grant waivers if that mandates the use of vessels that are crewed, they are needed. There is, almost everyone in the built, owned and flagged American to move cargo industry believes, no reason to do so when U.S.-flag between two U.S. ports. The law is critical for vessels are available.” American economic, national, and homeland secuIn a mid-March New York Times article about gas rity, which is why it has enjoyed the support of the prices, some industry experts said that waiving the U.S. Navy, many members of Congress of both par- nation’s freight cabotage law likely would have, at ties, and every president in modern history includ- most, a nominal effect on prices at the pump. ing President Obama, the coalition pointed out. The paper quoted MTD Executive SecretaryRelease of oil from the SPR in 2011 resulted in Treasurer Daniel Duncan as saying, “In a time of nearly 50 waivers of the Jones Act, allowing the high unemployment in the United States, ignoring transportation of the oil on foreign vessels when the Jones Act, which has been central to American U.S.-flag vessels were available to assist. New Con- national security and protects American jobs, makes gressional law now requires the DHS and DOT to no sense.” Final T-AKE Set for Christening Volume 74, Number 4 April 2012 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 District/NMU, AFLCIO; 5201 Auth Way; 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 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Paddy Lehane; Photographer, Harry Gieske; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2012 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD. All Rights Reserved. The Seafarers International Union engaged an environmentally friendly printer for the production of this newspaper. 2 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 2 The USNS Cesar Chavez (shown in late December) is scheduled to be christened and launched into San Diego Bay during an evening ceremony May 5 at the NASSCO shipyard. The 689-foot vessel, named in memory of labor leader Cesar Chavez, is the fourteenth and final vessel in the U.S. Navy’s T-AKE class. Members of the SIU’s Government Services Division sail in the unlicensed slots aboard those vessels, which deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to American combat ships at sea. April 2012 3/23/2012 10:22:08 AM �MTD Speakers Focus on Need for Jobs Military, Government, Business Leaders Also Cite Ongoing Need for Strong U.S.-Flag Fleet The need for good jobs in the United States – and the maritime industry’s great potential to be part of the solution – were prime topics during the annual winter meeting of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board March 8-9 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. As usual, the meeting featured an array of high-level speakers from the military, government, business and labor. They talked about the ongoing need for a strong U.S. Merchant Marine; projects that may be sources of union jobs; the importance of this year’s elections; global efforts to combat piracy, and much more. SIU President Michael Sacco, who also serves as MTD president, chaired the meeting. The MTD consists of 23 affiliated unions representing approximately 5 million members. The MTD also includes 21 port maritime councils. In his opening remarks, Sacco said that family-wage jobs “are on everybody’s mind all across the country, not just in the labor movement. Jobs and the economy are really one subject, and that’s going to be front and center not only for the presidential election but for other federal and state campaigns.” He said that in order to recover some of the jobs the nation has lost as well as protecting the good American jobs that are still here, President Obama “is on the right track when he talks about rewarding companies who keep their production here at home, and not rewarding the ones who move it overseas. That’s a pretty simple concept, but it won’t be possible to execute unless we have pro-worker majorities in Congress and a pro-worker administration.” Sacco then emphasized the need for membership education, supporting proworker candidates, getting out the vote, and then “following up with the winners and making them live up to their promises.” He discussed federal and state-level attacks on collective bargaining rights, and pointed to recent wins by working families MTD President Michael Sacco (right) opens the meeting. MTD VP Scott Winter is at left. In the photo below, SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez (second from left) and others applaud remarks by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. in Ohio and Wisconsin as proof that the labor movement still knows how to fight. He added, “I think it’s ironic that as we’re fighting to protect workers’ rights, a lot of the media coverage has pointed to unions as a key to economic revitalization. Don’t get me wrong – our state-level battles aren’t exactly the preferred method for spreading the word about the union advantage. “But one of the silver linings has been coverage that points out the facts that union members are more productive, earn more money and have better benefits than unrepresented workers. Other reporting – and this is coming from economists and journalists, not from labor organizations – has flat-out stated that one reason the economy is in the tank is because fewer people belong to unions now than they did any number of years ago. We can use that as a recruiting tool. We have a lot to offer.” In order of appearance, the following guest speakers addressed the board on March 8: Capt. Andrew McGovern, president, United New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Association; Barry Holiday, executive director, Dredging Contractors of America; Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; Rear Adm. Wendi Carpenter, president, State University of New York Maritime College; Rear Adm. Michael Devany, director of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine and Aviation Operations Centers; Joseph Angelo, managing director, Intertanko; and Paul Anderson, CEO, Jacksonville Port Authority. Speaking to the board the next day were AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; Michael Stotz, president, AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation; U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis (via a video specifically prepared for the MTD); Robert Mitchell, CEO, Atlantic Wind Connection; Jon Whitlow, secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation Seafarers’ Section; U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.); and U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.). Throughout both days, the board approved policy statements that define many of the MTD’s goals and strategies and voice unwavering support for our troops and first responders. Full copies of those statements are posted on maritimetrades. org. See pages 9-14 for more coverage of the MTD meeting Maersk Texas Newest Addition to SIU Fleet The union last month welcomed new shipboard jobs with the reflagging of the Maersk-Rickmers heavy-lift vessel Maersk Texas. Like its sister ship Maersk Illinois, which reflagged U.S. at the end of last year, the Maersk Texas is 485 feet long and can carry 20,000 cubic meters of cargo. Built in 2011, the 19,600 DWT ship features two cargo cranes with a combined maximum lift of 480 metric tons. It has a service speed of 16 knots. The Maersk Texas was April 2012 10950_LOG.indd 3 scheduled to sail from Mobile, Ala., late last month with a load of cargo destined for India. The first SIU crew aboard the Maersk Texas included Bosun Kennard Campbell, ABs Michael Congress, Robert Boudreaux and Billy Hill, OSs Melvin Hill and Dennis Marshall, Electrician Gary Dahl, QMEDs Courtney Price and Tyesha Boyd, GUDE Roderick Thomas, GVA Willie Clemmons, Steward/Baker Michael McDermott and ACU Paula Hopson. Maersk-Rickmers is a joint venture between Maersk Line, Limited and Rickmers-Linie (America) to provide American-flag service for breakbulk cargo around the world. AB Michael Congress Bosun Kennard Campbell, Capt. Nickolaus Keydel, Port Agent Jimmy White. AB Billy Hill, GUDE Roderick Thomas, QMED Tyesha Boyd, ACU Paula Hopson Seafarers LOG 3 3/23/2012 10:22:12 AM �New Contract Secured with Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Seafarers employed at the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company have overwhelmingly approved a new contract that features some significant gains, as well as maintaining important benefits. The three-year pact is being hailed as a win-win for both the members and the company. The agreement calls for wage increases in each of the three years of the contract and the maintenance of benefits at CorePlus levels, the highest level possible. The negotiating committee also secured continued company contributions on members’ behalf to the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan. The contract covers both licensed and unlicensed members. “We were able to make some real progress in the negotiations and I think the results reflect the hard work put in by both sides,” said SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. “The fact that we secured annual wage increases while maintaining ben- efits is a solid achievement.” In addition to the maintenance of benefits and pay increases, the contract calls for a new classification to be added to the unlicensed agreement. That classification is known, as of March 1, as “Electronic Technician.” The negotiating committee also obtained extra compensation for AB dragtenders and steward assistants. The negotiations were led by Tricker, Norfolk Port Agent Georg Kenny, and Brooklyn Patrolman Terence Maxwell. Representing the licensed crew were Robert Kiefer and Elmer Prestidge and representing the unlicensed crew were Duane Evans and Charles Troutwine. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC is the largest provider of dredging services in the country. Founded in 1890, the company is one of the only U.S. dredge businesses to have a significant international presence. It operates 10 hopper dredges that are crewed by around 100 SIU members. Bargaining committee members are pictured at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. Company reps included (front, from left) George Strawn, Bill Pagendarm and (standing, far left) Jack Graham. The union’s team included (front, starting third from left) VP George Tricker, Port Agent Georg Kenny, (standing, starting second from left) members Duane Evans, Jake Troutwine, Robert Kiefer and Elmer Prestidge and Patrolman Terence Maxwell. SIU-Crewed Green Wave Delivers Supplies to McMurdo, Completes ‘Deep Freeze’ Mission The SIU-crewed containership MV Green Wave departed McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Feb. 25, after delivering more than 6.8 million pounds of vital supplies in support of Operation Deep Freeze (ODF). ODF is the annual U.S. military mission to resupply the remote scientific outpost. Earlier, the SIU-crewed tanker Maersk Peary delivered more than 6.3 million gallons of crucial diesel, gasoline and jet fuel to McMurdo Station Jan. 28-31. Waterman Steamship operates the Green Wave, while Maersk Line, Limited operates the Peary. The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) pointed out that during the yearly ODF mission, the agency’s civilian-crewed ships “deliver 100 percent of the fuel and about 80 percent of the supplies that researchers and support personnel who live and work across Antarctica need to survive and work over the course of a year.” “MSC’s Operation Deep Freeze support is truly a ‘no failure accepted’ mission,” said Tim McCully, MSC Pacific deputy commander. “Without the fuel, food, and other support materials delivered by our chartered ships, researchers could not continue their operations through the brutal Antarctic winter.” SIU-crewed ships operated for MSC have made the challenging voyage to Antarctica for decades. Two SIU-crewed ships – the Green Wave (above, at McMurdo Station The station was established in 1955. During the most recent ODF, although the Maersk in February) and the Maersk Peary – transported vital cargo during this Peary and Green Wave have hulls designed to withyear’s Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Navy photo by Larry Larsson) stand the pressure of ice, both ships were escorted through a 15-mile ice channel – in places more than 13 feet thick – by an icebreaker that carved a safe path to the station. The Green Wave arrived at McMurdo Station Feb. 13 with cargo loaded on board in Port Hueneme, Calif., in early January, including food and research equipment. Typically, the ODF cargo ship off-loads at a 500foot ice pier that juts out from the Antarctic coast. This year’s mission was one of the more challenging in the last two decades, according to the agency, due to unfavorable weather conditions that made the ice pier at McMurdo unusable for dry cargo operations. In lieu of the ice pier, the Green Wave carried a disassembled modular causeway system from the U.S. Army. Once the ship safely was anchored at McMurdo Station, 41 Army personnel spent three days assembling the interlocking pieces of the causeway and powered modular warping tugs, which were craned off the ship individually and built into a floating dock capable of handling the vessel’s load. After the causeway was ready, approximately 60 Navy personnel worked around-the-clock for eight days to off-load the Green Wave’s cargo, then load the ship with 391 pieces of cargo for transportation off the continent, including ice core samples carried back to the United States in sub-zero freezer containers. The ship also took on trash and recyclable materials for disposal. Cargo operations ended Feb. 24, and the Green Wave was slated to arrive back at Port Hueneme late last month. Horizon Lines Releases Green Initiative Report SIU-contracted Horizon Lines in early March issued a report presenting the company’s progress in pursuing environmental excellence through its ongoing “Green Initiatives.” The report describes the carrier’s efforts to mitigate environmental impact from shipping operations and intermodal transport. “Ensuring sustained environmental protection has always been a mission at Horizon Lines,” said Stephen H. Fraser, the company’s president and chief executive officer. “Our approach emphasizes environmental excellence through conservation techniques, waste stream management, system upgrades and voluntary compliance.” The report, available at www.horizonlines. com, outlines a number of initiatives the company has been pursuing. In a news release announcing the report’s availability, Horizon said that in the marine environ- 4 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG_X.indd 4 ment area, “these initiatives include vessel management controls, low sulfur diesel fuel usage, and marine terminal pollution mitigation planning. The company has focused on reducing transportation emissions through improvements in vessel fuel consumption and truck efficiency, the use of alternative fuels and the development of more fuel-efficient transportation solutions. Additionally, the company is pursuing a long-term, sustainable approach to logistics management that should benefit all stakeholders. Examples include working to reduce empty backhaul miles through logistics network optimization and researching the feasibility of using containers built from recycled materials.” Andrew Phillips, Horizon’s newly appointed environmental compliance director, added, “Environmental stewardship is a fundamental tenet at Horizon Lines. In 2011, our company received recognition from the Chamber of Shipping of America for environmental excellence and we also were named a Top 75 Green supply chain partner by Inbound Logistics magazine. We remain ever vigilant and committed to continuous improvement when it comes to environmental stewardship and compliance.” Under Horizon Lines’ Green Initiative, specific areas of focus include training; recycling and waste reduction; fuel conservation; cargo hold water pumping; a ballast water management program; and a joint venture with the U.S. Department of Energy. Additionally, according to Horizon, “Improved technology oily water separators (OWS) were installed several years ago on a number of the company’s vessels as a pre-treatment system to the ship’s existing OWS. This upgrade is not required by any country, international organization or regulatory body. The dual processing approach allows for improved management of oily water discharge through more efficient processing of problematic waste streams such as oil-water emulsions, resulting in an effluent oil content of significantly less than the allowable 15 ppm. The dual approach incorporates a pretreatment step before the contents of the bilge holding tank are processed through the existing OWS system and pumped overboard. Horizon Lines installed the improved technology OWS to further reduce the possibility of inadvertent discharge of oil into the sea.” The cooperative effort with the Energy Department (dubbed MAGIC) aims “to investigate clouds and their properties by deploying radars and other instrumentation aboard the Horizon Spirit sailing between Los Angeles and Honolulu from October 2012 through September 2013.” April 2012 3/26/2012 6:54:16 PM �Federation Endorses President Obama The AFL-CIO Executive Council, on which SIU President Michael Sacco sits, has announced its backing of President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for a second term. Citing President Obama’s commitment to working families, executive council members on March 13 during their semiannual meeting in Orlando, Fla., unanimously voted to endorse the president for his run at a second term in office. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Obama has placed his faith in America’s working men and women to lead our country to economic recovery while Republican presidential candidates have pledged their loyalty to Wall Street and the 1 percent. Trumka, announcing the federation’s support for the 2012 Obama/Biden reelection ticket, issued the following statement which is being published in its entirety: “As president, Barack Obama has placed his faith in America’s working men and women to lead our country to economic recovery and to our full potential as a nation. With our endorsement today, we affirm our faith in him—and pledge to work with him through the election and his second term to restore fairness, security and shared prosperity. “The coming election is about values. President Obama honors the values of hard work, of mutual respect, and of solving problems together—not every person for himself or herself. He believes that together we will get through the most challenging economic crisis in memory and restore opportunity for all. Each of the Republican presidential candidates, on the other hand, has pledged to uphold the special privileges of Wall Street and the 1percent – privileges that have produced historic economic inequality and drowned out the voices of working people in America. “President Obama took America from the brink of a second Great Depression by pressing Congress to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which saved or created 3.6 million jobs. He championed comprehensive health insurance reform, which – while far from perfect – set the nation on a path toward health security that had eluded our country for nearly 100 years. He insisted upon Wall Street reform—passed over the objection of almost every Republican—that is now beginning to reverse decades of financial deregulation that put our entire economy at risk. “Although the labor movement has sometimes differed with the president and often pushed his administration to do more and do it faster, we have never doubted his commitment to working families. He has worked hard to create good jobs; he has made the revival of the manufacturing sector a hallmark of his jobs agenda; he has moved aggressively to protect workers’ rights, pay and health and safety on the job; he has worked for a fair resolution of the housing crisis and he put his confidence and administration unequivocally behind the workers and companies in the American auto industry—a move that saved hundreds of thousands of jobs and is helping to revive the economy now and for the future. “President Obama has earned the support of working people for a second term and today the AFL-CIO voted proudly and enthusiastically to endorse him for a second term. “The labor movement is the original social network—a working class social network—and this year the unions of the AFL-CIO will be mobilizing working people to come together to organize our neighborhoods door to door, powered by cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned energy. “We will be running an independent program rooted not in parties or candidates but in helping working people build power, making informed decisions about which candidates at every level to work for based on records and issues.” The AFL-CIO is the umbrella federation for U.S. unions. It is comprised of 57 unions representing more than 12 million working men and women. The federation functions to ensure that all people who work receive the rewards of their work— decent paychecks and benefits, safe jobs, respect and fair treatment. The alliance operates to make the voices of working people heard in the White House, on Capitol Hill, in state capitals across the country and in corporate boardrooms. The federation provides an independent voice for working families and ways for working people to be actively engaged in politics and legislation. It holds corporations accountable for their treatment of employees and ensures the voice of working people is heard in the financial system. The coalition also works with federations of unions in other countries to achieve global social and economic fairness. STCW Amendments Include New Minimum for Rest Hours SIU officials and representatives at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., are making a concerted effort to help ensure that Seafarers are prepared for the ongoing application of the Manila amendments to the STCW convention. The 2010 amendments to the convention (known popularly as the Manila amendments) will be phased in during the next five years, with the process having begun in January 2012. The more immediate effects on the day-to-day lives of SIU members include an increase in mandatory minimum rest hours in any seven-day period, and documentation of security-related training. The new standard for rest is 77 hours, while the old one was 70 hours. Because the final rule covering these issues hasn’t been published, the Coast Guard isn’t yet enforcing the provisions. However, the agency strongly urges compliance by U.S.-flag ships, particularly when overseas. A Coast Guard notice released earlier this year further points out that the Manila amendments changed “the rest hours requirements as follows: (1) Expanded the application for hours of work and rest periods for mariners to include all personnel with designated safety, prevention of pollution, and security duties onboard any vessel; (2) changed the weekly rest hours requirements from 70 hours to 77 hours; and (3) required the recording of hours of rest…. Vessels operating in foreign ports are encouraged to implement these requirements to avoid any potential port state control detentions. Hours of rest for each crew member can be documented in the vessel logbook.” In part, the section of the notice covering security training requirements reads as follows: “The STCW Convention requires that mariners who commenced service after 1 January 2012 meet the training requirements for vessel personnel with designated security duties and security awareness, as appropriate. In addition, the STCW Convention also provides transitional provisions for mariners who started service prior to 1 January 2012. Recognizing that the implementation date is fast approaching, and that there may be practical difficulties for all seafarers with security related requirements to obtain necessary certifications and/or the necessary endorsements required in accordance with regulation VI/6 of the 2010 Manila Amendments, the IMO issued Circular STCW.7/Circ.17. The Circular provides advice for port state control officers on transitional arrangements leading up to full implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments on 1 January 2017. The Circular also recommends that Administrations inform their port state control authorities that, until 1 January 2014, it would be sufficient to accept compliance with section 13 of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, even if a seafarer’s documentation with regard to the security-related training in regulation VI/6 is not in accordance with the 2010 Manila Amendments….” In addition to added rest and security training, other noteworthy changes include mandatory training in a variety of capacities including Tanker, Bridge and Engine-room Resource Management, and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). While these training standards are currently optional, they will become mandatory in 2014. Failure to prepare for the implementation of the Manila amendments can result in the inability to get needed sea time. April 2012 10950_LOG_X.indd 5 Brian Schoeneman (right), the union’s legislative director, testifies at the recent House hearing on cruise ship safety. SIU Asserts Vital Importance of Training Union Testifies at House Hearing Spurred by Costa Concordia Disaster The SIU was called upon to testify at a Congressional hearing on cruise ship safety Feb. 29. The hearing, dubbed “A Review of Cruise Ship Safety and Lessons Learned from the Costa Concordia Accident,” was called in response to the deadly accident involving the Costa Concordia passenger vessel off the coast of Italy earlier this year. Due to the severity of the accident, and the widespread media attention that accompanied it, Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee both called for the hearing to address safety concerns within the industry. SIU Legislative Director Brian Schoeneman testified that one of the top priorities for the union and its members has been safety training. In fact, according to Schoeneman’s testimony, the SIU leadership has long been preaching that having a well-trained and qualified crew is one of the most important steps a ship operator can take in an effort to ensure safe travels. “This is why the SIU places so much emphasis on training,” said Schoeneman. “Since our founding in 1938, we have had been providing mariner training as a key part of the benefit of being a union member.” Schoeneman also pointed out that with access to unionaffiliated training facilities such as the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md., and at Barbers Point, Hawaii, Seafarers are some of the best equipped to deal with unforeseen emergencies when at sea. “The SIU has established a state-of-the-art training program to ensure that both our mariners and our other cruise ship personnel receive the best, most up-to-date and in-depth training available anywhere,” said Schoeneman. “We’ve invested a considerable amount of time and money into training, so when our members go up the gangway they know what to do if the unthinkable happens.” Another significant issue that was raised by the SIU is flag-of-convenience vessels and the unfortunate amount of market share they have in the cruise industry. While the Costa Concordia was not an FOC ship, a majority of those in the Caribbean and Hawaiian cruise industries are. SIU officials are quick to point out that crews on FOC vessels often don’t have the stringent safety training that American, union mariners have. Others testifying included Coast Guard Vice Admiral Brian Salerno, the president of a cruise-line trade association, a mariner whose work has included serving as captain of the SIU-crewed Pride of America, two of the passengers from the Costa Concordia, and an executive from Princess Cruises. The consensus of those testifying before the subcommittee is that safety in the cruise ship sector must be a top priority. “Experience has long since proven that training and practice saves lives, especially in situations where every second counts,” Schoeneman concluded. “It is important to remember that the best way to protect passengers and respond to an emergency is to ensure that crew members are well-trained and professional and that passengers and crew alike know what to do in an emergency. Training saves lives. It is that simple.” Seafarers LOG 5 3/26/2012 6:54:17 PM �Like Sons, Like Father Seafaring careers often run in families, but for Jim Ross and his sons, Zachary and Grayson, the proverbial torch wasn’t handed down. Instead, Jim followed his sons’ path from California through the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education and into the union. The three of them sail in the engine department, and all say they are quite pleased with their careers. Jim, who turns 55 this month, already knew the benefits of union representation from prior work as a meat cutter long before he arrived at the Paul Hall Center’s Piney Point, Md., campus in January 2010. He knew the pitfalls of non-union work, too, and lost his managerial job when the recession started. “I was very interested in getting back into a union,” Jim said. “Non-union is a cut in pay and cut in lifestyle.” He was working in landscaping in early 2009 – a time when Grayson and Zach were studying as members of Paul Hall Center Unlicensed Apprentice Class 719. “They both told me I should get started with the school and the SIU,” Jim recalled. He went to Piney Point within a year and quickly knew he’d made a good decision. “Shipboard life agrees perfectly with me,” he said. “I love it. You work 12 hours a day on the ship, but what else are you going to do out there? And when you’re off, you’re home all the time or you can travel. We travel more now than when I worked on shore.” He added, “It’s kind of interesting that the kids got into it before the old man. Seafaring Life Proves Great Fit for Ross Family Usually it’s a family thing handed down, but it has worked out great. I’m extremely grateful both to the union and the school.” ‘A Lot of Fun’ For Zach, 29, the lousy economy led him out of the construction business and into the maritime industry. He and Grayson, both of whom recently upgraded to junior engineer, met a former SIU member and then a current official (Assistant Vice President Chet Wheeler) who explained the basics. “It seemed like a great opportunity,” Zach stated. “So far, I love the union. It has really taken care of me and I love all the perks. It’s been a lot of fun.” He said that despite some initial surprise at Jim’s entry into the unlicensed apprentice program, “for him it makes sense. He saw us enjoying it and he had been a union member before. He lives to travel. By no means did we talk him into it.” Zach also said that even when they’re on the beach, shop talk “is pretty much the majority of our conversation. It’s nice to have somebody in the family you can vent to or ask questions.” Finally, he recommended upgrading at the Paul Hall Center and its Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. He said that upgrading improves job security and earning power. (Jim was taking the basic auxiliary plant operations course at the same time the brothers were in the junior engineer class.) ‘Right Choice’ Grayson, 25, remembered doing asphalt work several years ago “and then the From left, Jim, Grayson and Zachary Ross successfully switched from other fields to the maritime industry. economy died, pretty much.” After checking out the union’s website, he and his brother went to the SIU hall in Oakland, Calif., “and the rest is history. We were sold; we started getting our documents ready and headed out [to the school] five or six months later.” Grayson said that while his lineage includes some affiliation with the sea – family members have served in the Navy – he and Zach and Jim are the first ones to make a living in the merchant sector. “I like it,” he said. “Working on a ship is like helping make a small city run. It’s nice being part of something that big, and I enjoy building stuff. We’re all pretty mechanical. It seems like the right choice.” Like Zach, Grayson said he was at least slightly surprised at Jim’s entry into the apprentice program – not because it wasn’t a good potential fit, but rather because it was such a big change. “He was a butcher all my life, but I think he was tired of it,” Grayson said. “It wasn’t going anywhere and of course the money is a lot better out here…. It’s pretty cool. We’ve never lived anywhere near the coast, but we’re all sailing now.” Guard Unit Trains at Union-Affiliated School The SIU’s affiliated training center in Hawaii recently provided classroom and handson instruction for members of the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG) Fire Unit. The sessions took place Feb. 18-19. Two photos from the training are shown here. VP Contracts George Tricker (front, left) is pictured with other Polar Plunge participants and a Special Olympics athlete. Union VP ‘Takes the Dive’ For a Very Special Cause SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker braved the bone-chilling Atlantic Ocean off Seaside Heights, N.J., to raise money for the New Jersey Special Olympics. The annual event, dubbed The Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics-New Jersey, brought nearly 5,000 people to the shore for a good cause. The plunge, which took place Feb. 25, generated more than $1 million for the Special Olympics, according to event organizers. Participants are required to raise at least $100 apiece for the organization in order to participate in the plunge. Tricker was joined by other officials and rank-and-file members from various unions for the plunge. In addition to members of the organized labor community (among them, police officers, fire fighters and teachers), participants included people from all walks 6 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 6 of life and all parts of the country. According to Tricker, it was an experience he won’t soon forget. “This was the first year that I’ve been able to do this and I’m really glad I got the opportunity,” he said. “I’m honored to have been able to do my part and help out the Special Olympics, which is a truly great event.” According to the website for the Polar Bear Plunge, the “Special Olympics New Jersey provides year-round sports training and Olympic-type competition in 24 sports for more than 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, all completely free of charge.” For any Seafarers interested in participating in next year’s event, registration can be completed at http://www.sonj.org/LawEnforcement/NjPolarPlunge/. April 2012 3/23/2012 10:22:19 AM �BOOK PRESENTATION AT HQ – In early April, SIU VP Contracts George Tricker (right) administered the union oath and presented an A-seniority book to QMED James Oling (left) at the union’s headquarters building, located in Camp Springs, Md. When he’s not sailing, Oling works as a substitute teacher. PAYOFF IN NEW YORK – SIU Asst. VP Nick Celona (right) and Patrolman Mark von Siegel (left) paid off the APL ship President Truman on March 13 in Staten Island, N.Y. Pictured with the officials are (from left, starting second from left) Chief Steward Benjamin Sivells, Chief Cook Julio Lobo and ACU Jaime Cayonte. At Sea and Ashore With the SIU ABOARD ALLIANCE CHARLESTON – AB David Denizac (left in photo above) and Joselito Beof are shown in early March painting and installing a non-skid safety walkway on the bridge deck of Maersk’s Alliance Charleston. Thanks to Bosun Terry Cowans and Chief Mate Ryan Arnold for their efforts to submit the photo to the LOG. SHIPBOARD MEETINGS OVERSEAS – SIU VP West Coast Nick Marrone and Guam Port Agent John Hoskins earlier this year met with Seafarers aboard several ships in Diego Garcia and Saipan. In the photo above, Marrone (center) is pictured with AB Francis Miller (left) and Bosun John Wells aboard the USNS Seay. In the photo below, Hoskins (center) stands with SA Marcelo Rase (left) and Storekeeper Eurico Liboon aboard the USNS Pomeroy. The Seay is operated by AMSEA, while the Pomeroy is operated by Ocean Shipholdings. REWARDED FOR SAFETY – Electrician James Beatty (photo at right) recently won a cash award as part of Maersk Line, Limited’s ongoing program promoting shipboard and shore-side safety. According to a recap by the chief mate aboard the Baldomero Lopez, Beatty discovered that an incorrect-sized wire had been used on a lube oil heater and the protective covering was starting to deteriorate, which could have caused an injury or accident. Beatty “took it upon himself to open and inspect all of the other … heads to ensure they were correctly wired. Job well done on discovering the problem and having the initiative to take it the next step and make sure there would not be any future issues,” wrote Chief Mate David Schumacker. VISION IN CALIFORNIA – In late February, Patrolman Nick Marrone II (right in photo at left), with member Lou Cabano) met with Seafarers aboard the Crowley ATB Vision in Martinez, Calif. They discussed upcoming contract negotiations, the importance of contributing to SPAD, and other union and maritime industry news. Among those on hand for the gathering were Captain George Sadler, 1st Mate Charlie Carlson, 2nd Mate David Gilles, 3rd Mate Lou Cabano, Chief Engineer John Ashley, Asst. Engineer Piotr Kwiatkowski, QMED Edward Schlueter, AB/Tankerman Bruce Murphy, AB/ Tankerman Kenric Henry, AB/Utility Caesar Smith and OS/Cook Bradley Palmer. April 2012 10950_LOG.indd 7 Seafarers LOG 7 3/23/2012 10:22:25 AM �8 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 8 April 2012 3/23/2012 10:22:28 AM �2012 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting AFL-CIO President Cites ‘Critical Juncture’ for U.S. Trumka: Solidarity a Must for Working Families Throughout Nation Solidarity—the willingness and commitment of union members to stand together shoulder to shoulder and fight to achieve a better life for working families—is the foundation on which the labor movement rests. This point was exemplified repeatedly by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka March 9 during his address to the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board’s annual meeting near Orlando, Fla. The federation president was one of 12 distinguished speakers to address the body during the two-day gathering. “The time has come again for us all to stand together, and to show America the true meaning of solidarity,” Trumka said, “because we will not win what we need without strong coalitions—not only of our union members, but also of working people of allied organizations and industries.” Having grown up in a small mining town in southwestern Pennsylvania, Trumka told those present that he learned early in life about the importance of solidarity and the necessity of its unbroken practice for working people. “My entire family would come together every Sunday at my grandmother’s house,” he said. “The adults would be sitting and talking about what was going on, and about 95 percent of them were mine workers, the other five percent were teachers. “They talked unions and I learned about unions from the time that I can remember,” he continued. “At those sessions, we learned the meaning of solidarity. We learned how to stand together for safety on the job. We learned what it meant to stand together for a fair share, for good benefits and for a dignified retirement.” Thanks to this background, said the federation president, no one had to tell him or members of his family what to do when it was time for them to stand together in the struggle to make things better for working families. “No one had to teach us on the line,” he said “When you saw a picket line, you honored it first, you asked questions later…. What mattered is working people were struggling and that picket line was sacred. And every picket line out there became your own picket line. That was solidarity. What to do when you saw it was ingrained in all of us.” Along those same lines, Trumka told members of his audience that each of them had an important role to play, a critical contribution to make toward ensuring the survival of a strong trade union movement and the continued presence of the American flag on the waterways and high seas. “Brothers and sisters, today we really have to gather ourselves together again and raise our voices for all aspects of the maritime trades—from ships and docks to railways and highways,” he said. “Right now, our country is at a very, very critical juncture and we stand at that critical juncture in American life.” The federation president pointed out that as a nation, we have some vital choices to make and questions to answer regarding our future: “Will we continue to build ships in America at places like Avondale? Will we embrace the future of green energy by supporting the construction of wind farms, like those proposed off the Mid-Atlantic coast? Will we build deep-water harbors to accommodate the rise in traffic from expansion of the Panama Canal Zone, and the necessary rail and trucking infrastructure, so that America’s marine-highway system can handle the freight coming off those jumbo ships?” he asked. Trumka then advised board members and others in the crowd to avoid the temptation of treating the foregoing questions as isolated issues or assuming “that they are someone else’s problem rather than mine.” That’s precisely what anti-union factions want us to do, he said. April 2012 10950_LOG_X.indd 9 “They want these to be isolated questions, but they are not because the answers won’t affect just a handful of workers or a small number of companies,” Trumka said. “The answers will spell the future of America, just as the outcome of political fights for collective bargaining rights for public employees in Wisconsin and Ohio, and for the right to form strong unions in Indiana. All will impact the prosperity of America for generations to come.” Emphasizing the importance of unity, Trumka noted that the labor movement can’t win if individuals affected by a single issue act alone. “We can’t act in isolation, or we’ll surely be beaten one at a time,” he said. “We need all of us working together.” This approach is what made the difference in Wisconsin and Ohio, where public employees and private employees worked together and won key political fights, he pointed out. Turning his attention to the issue of jobs, Trumka noted that the country needs to invest in infrastructure. The East Coast needs mega-ports, America needs clean wind energy, and all across America—from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River waterways, the Gulf Coast, the West Coast, Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii—we need investments in infrastructure, he said. “When the public invests in jobs … it benefits everybody, every last American out there,” Trumka said. “We’ll get mariners, longshoremen, shipbuilders, painters, machinists, ironworkers, boilermakers, operating engineers, laborers, miners and teamsters and a thousand other occupations back on the job when we do that because it’s pretty simple: America prospers when America works.” Recalling the 2010 elections, Trumka talked about how right-wing politicians duped the American public by reneging on their campaign promises to create jobs. “They got elected, and what happened on day one? On day one, they forgot about jobs,” he said. Politicians like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Ohio Governor John Kasich MTD President Michael Sacco (right), and MTD VP Scott Winter (left) joined AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka for this photo shotrly after Trumka addressed the MTD Executive Board. percent of Hispanic women because they don’t have a voter ID. Trumka continued, “Remember what else they did? They closed down the place where you get the IDs on Saturday so that you had to take a day off of work during the week to go and get one. It wasn’t an accident, it was an assault on democracy, and it’s an assault on us as well.” Trumka expects more of the same during the 2012 election cycle. “They spent almost $2 billion in the last election cycle and they’ll spend between $5 billion and $6 billion this time,” he said. “Money will be no object; they will be coming right at us.” The attacks on collective bargaining and the right to vote have the same purpose, Trumka noted. “The goal is one thing and one thing only—and that’s to tilt the playing field against us, to defeat us, to keep us in our place, to stop the workers from getting “Brothers and sisters, today we really have to gather ourselves together again and raise our voices for all aspects of the maritime trades—from ships and docks to railways and highways. Right now, our country is at a very, very critical juncture and we stand at that critical juncture in American life.” - - - AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and hundreds of others like them in Washington and the state legislatures around the country dropped jobs from their agenda and attacked collective bargaining rights, Trumka said. They also attacked democracy with so-called voter ID laws and with other new laws meant to restrict the ability of working people to vote. According to Trumka, the impetus for the voter ID measures is a group known as ALEC, the American Legislative Education Council. They brought 2,000 legislators together and established as their goal a 10 percent reduction in the progressive vote in 2012. “So they came after our collective bargaining rights, they came after immigrants, they came after seniors, they came after students, they came after people of color, they came after public employees and they came after private employees, trying to suppress that vote,” Trumka said. The resulting laws, if unchallenged, will have devastating effects for certain categories of voters, said the federation president. In the state of Wisconsin alone, it disenfranchises 52 percent of senior women because they don’t have an ID and they can’t get out to obtain one; it disenfranchises 78 percent of African-American males between the ages of 18 and 24 because they don’t have a driver’s license; and it disenfranchises 56 uppity and actually start to demand something, like health care and wage increases and retirement security.” Trumka said labor knows the antidote for anti-worker politicians: solidarity. “We stood together in Wisconsin and Ohio, and we delivered stunning defeats to those who targeted working people,” he said. “We know more tests are coming, and we’re getting ready for them.” That’s why the AFL-CIO is launching a political program that reaches all levels, the federation president said. “Seven days a week, 12 months a year, it’s not going to break down after the elections, are over.” Quite to the contrary, it’s going to continue to build and bring more people in, Trumka said. “It’s going to last and we’re building power for working people—not power for politicians—an independent voice that won’t vanish after Election Day. “It will stay there and it will grow, and it will organize and it will bring more people in,” he said. “And our new program will be able to transition from electoral politics to advocacy and from advocacy to accountability. We’ll stay strong so we can win the legislation we need to rebuild the America that we can have and that we must have.” Trumka told the MTD attendees that the country needs leaders who will campaign for jobs, and then after they get elected, stand and fight and create those jobs, not give us lip service. “We need leaders who will run a campaign for those jobs and create them,” he said. “And I’ve got to tell you that the Maritime Trades, you are a powerful voice for working people, a mighty voice. But as mighty as you are, and as mighty as our labor movement is, we cannot take on this battle alone.” The federation leader said that when we stand together with those organizations, progressive groups and individuals who share our values, the numbers are on our side. No matter how much money they have, he said, we can produce votes that nullify that money. “When we remind America that work connects us all, we can build a culture of mutual support and solidarity. Quite frankly, if all working people united, we can’t be turned around.” Commenting on the upcoming 2012 General Election, Trumka said that he was sure that some of us are going to look back to 2008 when labor helped elect President Obama. “It seemed like our time had finally come,” he said. “I remember that and I was so excited. I said man we got the House, we got the Senate … good times are going to roll.” But the “good times” have been few and far between, Trumka suggested. Based on a record numbers of filibusters in the U.S. Senate and a flood of cash that’s been let loose by the Citizens United decision, Trumka said that the right-wing has put up a much more viscous fight than anyone anticipated. Further, he said, President Obama has had fewer people confirmed in his cabinet than any president before him. “They won’t even give him the people that he needs to make the government run,” Trumka said. “You know why? They don’t want government to run. They don’t want him to be able to create jobs; they don’t want him to be able to solve problems. That doesn’t fit their agenda.” After noting that the right wing’s number one goal is not fixing the economy, not creating jobs, not bringing retirement security to Americans, not fixing education, and not fixing our infrastructure, but instead to take Barack Obama out of office, Trumka said that he still expected more from the president. “Sometimes the right-wing blocked President Obama from making more progress, and quite honestly sometimes Obama and our friends in the Senate could have fought a whole lot harder and negotiated a whole lot better.” Continued on Page 14 Seafarers LOG 9 3/26/2012 6:54:19 PM �2012 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting ‘Best of America’s Labor Movement’ Labor Secretary, Congressmen Credit MTD Unions for Vital Roles A cabinet member and two U.S. Representatives were among speakers to address those who attended the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board (MTD) meeting last month near Orlando, Fla. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond (D-La.) and U.S. Representative Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) each delivered speeches to the body March 9. Solis’ message came via a DVD specifically prepared for the MTD while Congressmen Richmond and Grimm made personal appearances. Solis thanked American merchant mariners, shipbuilders, longshoremen and their affiliated unions for their respective roles in making the nation’s maritime industry strong and vibrant. Noting the strong leadership provided to the MTD by President Michael Sacco and Vice President Scott Winter, Solis said, “The members you represent are fortunate to have you at the helm. Your advocacy is making an enormous difference for the middle class workers who labor in our ports and build and supply our flag vessels.” The Labor Secretary then told attendees that she was incredibly proud of the contributions the merchant mariners have made to our commerce, our national defense and vital humanitarian missions around the world. “Whether bringing supplies to Haiti to alleviate suffering after the earthquake, or delivering grains to foreign ports to alleviate famine, or serving as our fourth arm of defense in times of emergency,” she said, “you represent the best of America’s labor movement. Focusing on the economy, Solis said that the MTD’s meeting was being held at a critical time. She conceded that the recession had taken a tremendous toll on the maritime industry, but expressed optimism for a better future. “We have now created nearly 3.7 million jobs over the last 24 months,” she said. “Our recovery is growing stronger and you played a critical role in educating Congress about the millions of jobs generated by American ports.” She then pledged the administration’s continued support of the maritime industry, noting that if this country is going to export products rather than jobs, then we need to make major infrastructure investments in our ports. These investments will enable us to keep pace with our rapid trade growth, she said. “President Obama understands this,” Solis told the board members. “Even in these difficult partisan times, we will continue to make the case on Capitol Hill and to the American people that these investments are in our vital national interest. And as we make that case, we will continue to stand up against the attacks on the rights of organized labor.” In closing, the Labor Secretary noted that our opponents are waging attacks on working people at the worst possible time in states all across the country. “They say that given the state of the economy, we can’t afford unions right now,” Solis said. “I say they got it backwards…. That’s why I continue to speak out against those who want to use the financial crisis as an excuse to take this country backwards by attacking collective bargaining rights. That’s that wrong way to go…. President Obama understands that labor unions are not the cause of America’s problems, they are part of the solution.” Congressman Richmond A strong advocate for the U.S. maritime industry, Richmond talked about the importance of solidarity and organizing in the labor movement. To set the tone for his presentation, he told the board members about the role he and others have been playing in the ongo- 10 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG_X.indd 10 The Honorable Hilda Solis U.S. Secretary of Labor The Honorable Cedric Richmond U.S. Representative (D) Louisiana ing battle to keep New Orleans’ Avondale Shipyard open. In the middle of the night, Richmond said, company executives decided to shut the facility down because they did not deem it efficient. The congressman said that he didn’t think it was fair for them to kick 11,000 New Orleans metro area residents out of work. He later learned that the company stood to gain some $310 million by closing the facility. This to him was insane: a company being given $310 million for quitting on the American people. “I can see giving $310 million to a company if they are expanding, or if they are opening,” he said. “But to give $310 million to somebody who is going to quit on the American people…. It just seemed like foolishness.” Armed with this information, Richmond said he launched an all-out campaign to save Avondale. His crusade, strongly backed by organized labor, continues today; and although he has not realized his ultimate goal of saving Avondale, he said he believes that he, his supporters, and the Avondale workers eventually will prevail. The congressman pointed out that while he was captivated by the masses of Avondale workers who turned out during their rallies to save the shipyard, he was more awestruck by the turnout of supporters – by “all of the brothers and sisters from labor from all over the country who came down to support them. That really means a lot,” he said. “You find out who your friends are when you are in a time of need. And I can tell you as a survivor of Katrina, you really find out who your friends are when you’re down.” With that as a framework, Richmond shared his views on the importance of the maritime industry. “The future of the maritime industry in this country is important to the future of this country,” he said. Richmond said that Americans make up only five percent of the consumers in this world, so the remaining 95 percent of them are outside of our country. “This means that we need not only an information superhighway, but we also need to make sure that we invest in our maritime superhighway which is the trade superhighway for this country,” he stated. “So, just as we talk about laying fiber-optic cable, we should be talking about dredging our rivers and our ports. Just as you talk about investing in the infrastructure of the country to make sure we can hardwire things, we have to talk about the infrastructure in our maritime industry.” The congressman then stated while he was sure each member of the audience was on the same page when it came to the maritime industry, that wasn’t enough. It’s more important that everyone continue to stand together and let their feelings be known through a united voice, he noted. “Whether we’re talking about the Jones Act, cargo preference or the Maritime Security Program, we should keep saying it again and again,” he said. “I support them all.” “Muhammad Ali used to always say I’m the greatest, I’m the greatest, I’m the greatest everywhere he went,” the congressman continued. “One day, a reporter asked him why do you keep saying that? His response was if I say it long enough, people will start to believe it.” One of the problems developing in this country is that we have allowed people to say labor is a bad thing, Richmond pointed out. “They said it over and over again to the point that people are starting to believe it. We can’t afford to let people say it over and over again without them getting checked. We have to say it’s all lies and garbage.” On the issue of the 99 percent versus the one percent, Congressman Richmond emphasized that Americans are not in the business of penalizing people for being successful. “That’s not what we do,” he stated. “But as my grandmother once told me, to whom much is given, much is required.” This means that during these tough economic times, “rich people need to do a little more,” he said. “We’re not saying that you have to give more for the rest of your life, but for the next couple of years while we’re in this crunch, we’re going to need just a little bit more. And for people who don’t have that, we’re asking for their time. We need you to mentor kids, to coach little league, to give what you can give.” Richmond told the board that his passion for labor was ingrained in him as a child. Having picketed with his mother, who served as a strike captain for a teachers union in New Orleans, he said he learned a great deal about organized labor deal from her. “My mother was from one of the poorest places in the country, she had 15 brothers and sisters,” he said. “But she was proud to be in the union, she was proud to stand with others to fight for what she believed in. And my brother and I started to believe in it, too. As we grew up and watched her fight when things were not right … we formed that same pride. And that’s the pride that it’s going to take to get this country back on the right track.” Congressman Richmond closed by saying he is a product of all of their hard work and sacrifice. “It was the labor movement that joined to make sure that I could go to some of the best schools and do anything I wanted to do” he said. “And it was certainly your help that got me elected to the United States Congress.” The Honorable Michael Grimm U.S. Representative (R) New York Congressman Michael Grimm Republican Congressman Grimm told the board that despite the popular perception that Congress is broken and dysfunctional, a lot of across-the-aisle bipartisanship exists. “A good example of that is taking place here today because not only do I stand here in support of and behind every one of you, not only with the labor movement, not only with the maritime industry, but also with my colleague Congressman Richmond from across the aisle,” Grimm said. “So when you get past the sound bites and rhetoric and nonsense, you’re going to find out just how much alike we really are.” A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who also served as an FBI Special Agent, Grimm also hails from a labor background. And, like his Democratic colleague, he developed a deep appreciation for labor and its pioneering values early in life. “No one knew this when I was running for office, but I grew up in a union household,” the congressman shared. “My dad, who could barely read and write, swung a hammer and basically broke his back all day working two or three jobs because he promised himself that his two children would have a chance to have an education that he did not have. He was a proud member of Local 8 Roofers and Water Proofers Union. And he taught me from a very early age that it was about a fair day’s work for a fair day’s wage. This was ingrained in me from day one and that made me grow up with a very profound respect for the people who work hard, the very people who built this country.” Congressman Grimm said he was fortunate to have grown up New York because of its historic connection with organized labor. “When you look around New York, you have to marvel at the architecture, the roads and bridges, tunnels and infrastructure that was built by the hard working hands of labor,” he said. “It really makes me so proud and I don’t hesitate to admit that I bleed red, white and blue. You can’t find anyone that’s more proud of this country and that why I stand here today – because we need to get back to get back to our basics.” Addressing the issue of jobs, the congressman said that virtually everyone—especially elected politicians—has an idea about how to create jobs. “That’s all you hear from them when you stick a microphone in front of them,” Grimm said. “But the answer is right here in front of our nose: We need to get back to the basics.” To clarify his point, Congressman Continued on Page 14 April 2012 3/26/2012 6:54:22 PM �2012 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting SIU VP Government Services Kermett Mangram (right) and Asst. VP Chet Wheeler (left) are pictured with MSC Commander Rear Adm. Mark Buzby following the admiral’s address to the executive board. Rear Adm. Wendi Carpenter President, SUNY Maritime MSC Commander, NOAA Admiral Cite Crucial Work of U.S. Merchant Mariners SUNY Maritime President Echoes Need for Good Jobs, Partnerships The commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the director of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine and Aviation Operations Centers recently praised the work of U.S. Merchant Mariners and their respective unions at the Maritime Trade Department, AFL-CIO meeting on March 8 near Orlando, Fla. MSC Commander Rear Adm. Mark Buzby and NOAA Rear Adm. Michael Devany described the key roles played by mariners when it comes to protecting America’s national and economic security. They also talked about the ongoing need for industry partnerships and the importance of creating and maintaining good jobs – themes echoed at the MTD meeting by Rear Adm. Wendi Carpenter (USN), president of the Maritime College of the State University of New York. Buzby gave a brief history of MSC and its missions throughout the years. He cited the “trust that has been established” between the agency and maritime labor, and said it was a privilege to address the MTD executive board. “It is important to me to be here,” Buzby stated. “I can’t execute the MSC mission without you. National security and national defense rely on you.” The admiral pointed out that agency and union leaders regularly meet to address various issues affecting both organizations, including mariners. He specifically pointed to the ongoing Civilian Marine Personnel Instructions (CMPI) 610 negotiations, and expressed optimism about final changes being implemented in the very near future. Regular communications between labor and the agency also help address issues “before they become problems,” Buzby added. “All of this goes toward maintaining a strong U.S. maritime industry that is crucial to our continued leadership in a world that depends on the seas and the maritime trade.” Buzby described MSC as a “growth industry” and said that “when it comes to new ships and missions, the pace seems to be picking up.” Among other examples, he cited the launch of the joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead, slated for delivery this summer. That vessel is one of 10 scheduled to be built; the first four will be crewed by civilservice mariners, while the other six will be run by private American-flag operators. April 2012 10950_LOG_X.indd 11 The commander further noted that NASSCO is assembling modules for the first two mobile landing platforms and soon will launch the final ship in the 14-vessel T-AKE fleet, the USNS Cesar Chavez. Finally, Buzby said that MTD-affiliated unions including the SIU “have been helping us as we take advantage of your expertise and training. We will continue to use your schools for some of our training. Of course, we take advantage of your seamanship, and your shipbuilding skills, and all the rest. “We’ve been charting the same course as we move America forward, and I fully expect that to continue, so I’m looking forward to moving ahead together. So thanks for your continued help and partnership – in peace and war.” Devany described NOAA’s missions and how mariners’ work supports the U.S. economy. Those tasks include weather forecasting, severe storms warnings, fisheries management, marine charting, coastal restoration and protection. “All of these support maritime commerce and the U.S. economy, and our fleet is dispersed across the nation,” he pointed out. “There’s a vital national security role as well as a commercial role.” Devany acknowledged the budgetary battles that are affecting NOAA’s fleet, but added, “We also have some opportunities to move ahead,” including a scheduled addition of a new ship that will be based in San Diego. He also said it is “imperative” that NOAA work with maritime unions to help recruit “the mariners of the future.” Speaking of those efforts and others, he said they “all require partnerships. The future of what NOAA does, the future of the people who sail on our ships, is built on partnerships not only with the folks that provide training, but also with the maritime unions…. I look forward to a continued positive relationship with all of you.” Echoing not only the dominant theme of MTD President Michael Sacco’s opening remarks but also a key point in virtually every other address given at the meeting, Carpenter said, “I also believe it’s all about jobs, and it’s about how we innovate for the future.” She said her parents grew up during the Great Depression, which enhanced her appreciation for the need for good jobs. “I understand firsthand your com- mitment to jobs, to good jobs, and how that fits into the maritime industry.” Carpenter discussed maritime training and also how various regulations affect such training, including cost. “We must be united together in turning back some of these regulations that are stifling our economy, and stifling the jobs, and stifling our opportunities to move forward competitively in such a global industry,” she asserted. She also touched on a recent visit to the SIUaffiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, calling it “a fine facility” and adding, “I believe that there are ways that we can move forward together” when it comes to innovative training. Finally, she emphasized the importance of partnerships in the industry and how they will benefit everyone. MTD President Michael Sacco (right), Rear Adm. Michael Devany Seafarers LOG 11 3/26/2012 6:54:24 PM �2012 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Robert Scardelletti President TCU Bruce Smith President GMP James Williams President Painters Mark Spano President Novelty Workers Tom Bethel President AMO Mike Jewell President MEBA Michel Desjardins President SIU of Canada Roman Gralewicz President Emeritus SIU of Canada Richard Hughes President Emeritus ILA Gunnar Lundeberg President SUP Anthony Poplawski President MFOW Brian Bryant Chief of Staff to VP Machinists Lynn Tucker, General VP Machinists Joseph Condo International VP TCU Desiree Gralewicz Secretary-Treasurer SIU of Canada Daniel W. Duncan Exec. Secretary-Treasurer MTD Scott Winter Vice President MTD Bernard Hostein Asst. to President Steelworkers MTD Snapshot Formed in 1946, the Maritime Trades Department is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. The MTD’s 23 affiliates include the SIU, and altogether those unions represent approximately 5 million members. The MTD also features 21 port maritime councils. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as MTD president, a post to which he most recently was re-elected in 2009. The articles and images on pages 9-14 reflect some of the happenings at this year’s MTD executive board meeting, which took place March 8-9 near Orlando, Fla. Check out the MTD’s new website (www.maritimetrades.org) for additional information about the department. Warren Fairley International VP Boilermakers Jerry Abell Secretary-Treasurer South Florida Maritime Trades Council Joseph Soresi VP Atlantic Coast SIU 12 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG_X.indd 12 Richard Lanigan Vice President OPEIU Larry Holbert Director, Rail & Shipyards Sheet Metal Workers Nick Marrone VP West Coast SIU Brian Schoeneman Legislative Director SIU Don Nolan Vice President Paul Hall Center Tom Orzechowski VP Great Lakes SIU Tim Buxton Cleveland Port Maritime Council Tom Orzechowski III, son of SIU VP Great Lakes Tom Orzechowski, leads the Pledge of Allegiance as President Michael Sacco looks on. April 2012 3/26/2012 6:54:37 PM �2012 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Speakers Offer Different Perspectives, Same Focus: Jobs Whether it involves port modernization or harnessing new sources of energy, job creation is at the forefront of planned and needed maritime projects, noted three guest speakers at last month’s Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meeting. Robert Mitchell, CEO of Atlantic Wind Connection, told the board on March 9 that developing offshore wind energy on the East Coast will generate good jobs and tens of billions of dollars in economic activity. A day earlier, both Barry Holliday, executive director of the Dredging Contractors of America, and Paul Anderson, CEO of the Jacksonville Port Authority, said that the United States can’t waste any more time improving the nation’s ports, or it will continue to cost the country jobs and other assets. They both pointed to the surplus in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and said the money should be used for its explicit mandate of paying for dredging. Mitchell described Atlantic Wind’s 10year plan “to build more than 350 miles of sub-sea transmission cable that will become like the interstate highway for electricity along the East Coast.” He pointed out that between Washington, D.C. and New York City “we have the most congested transmission corridor in the United States, and that means that, just like on a highway that’s congested, everything slows down and it costs extra money for people to sit in traffic. The analogy for electricity is that the demand is there, and you’ve got to push it through, but the power that does get through now becomes extremely expensive.” He estimated that from New Jersey to Chicago, energy rate-payers fork over anywhere from $2 billion to $4 billion extra in congestion cost “because we don’t have enough transmission. When we build this line, it will relieve a great deal of that congestion.” Mitchell said Atlantic Wind has the administration’s support and is going through the process of securing permits. Their goal is “to have this operational by 2017-2018.” He added that while the expected creation of 34,000 jobs associated with the project may not seem like a large number, the related economic activity is expected to surpass $100 billion. Finally, Mitchell stated that he doesn’t view the project as one that competes with Paul Anderson, CEO Jacksonville Port Authority Barry Holliday, Exec. Director Dredging Contractors of America Robert Mitchell, CEO Atlantic Wind Connection other energy sources. “America is going to need as much energy as we can produce,” he said. “How many times will we have an opportunity to produce an entirely new industry for this country? Right now, offshore wind is welldeveloped in Europe. There are factories there that are producing the turbines and the towers and blades and so on. But it’s expensive to move all of that over here. There’s no reason at all why we can’t put American workers to work, producing quality machines that are going to be great not only for our environment but for our economy.” Holliday described the Harbor Maintenance Trust (HMT) Fund and explained a four-year effort to improve U.S. ports spearheaded by a large coalition called Realize America’s Maritime Promise. “It’s all about jobs, and this is no exception,” he said. “It’s been our mantra all through this in talking with Congress…. Our focus right now is to try to get the HMT legislation introduced into the transportation bills on both the House and the Senate side, and as many of you know, that’s been a real challenge…. I have my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll have some recognition and acknowledgement that this is important to our nation and our jobs.” The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund provides money for the United States Army Corps of Engineers to dredge federally maintained harbors to their authorized depths and widths. That money comes from the Harbor Maintenance Tax, under which certain users of U.S. coastal and Great Lakes harbors pay a tariff of $1.25 per $1,000 in cargo value passing through these waters. The tax applies to imported and domestic waterborne cargo, as well as the ticket value of cruise ship passengers. The tax was intended to provide a sufficient, stable, long-term source of funding to pay for harbor dredging. In recent years, Fund expenditures have remained flat while collections have increased with rising imports, creating a large surplus. The Fund’s uncommitted balance continues to grow and reached an estimated $6.1 billion at the beginning of fiscal year 2012. Yet, many U.S. harbors are under-maintained because the federal government has been using the trust fund to off-set increasing deficits, rather than spending the funds on what they were intended – harbor maintenance and dredging. Those points where echoed by Anderson, who said that larger ships are here already, and U.S. ports must grow to accommodate them. “To handle these ships, we’re having to sail these in at high tide,” he explained. “The ships have to wait to come in to ports along the East Coast of the United States because the channels are not deep enough.” Anderson said that all of Florida’s 14 ports have lost jobs “because those ships are not able to call at our ports 24/7…. Our country is woefully behind in our investment in port infrastructure.” He mentioned that as recently as 10 years ago, Los Angeles/Long Beach was ranked as the world’s third container port. Today it is ranked tenth, and the six overseas ports that moved ahead of it didn’t exist a decade ago. Anderson said he believes political red tape is a big part of the problem. “This is a critical, critical factor in our country’s ability to maintain competitiveness over the next decade,” he declared. “We have to change the process and the system and the funding for our nation’s gateway infrastructure…. We need faster improvement of our ports, full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund … and if we don’t get on the stick, our country is going to face serious problems in the next decade with the ability to handle bigger ships.” Progress in Piracy Fight, but Much Work Remains Jon Whitlow ITF Seafarers’ Section Secretary Joseph Angelo Intertanko Managing Director April 2012 10950_LOG_X.indd 13 High-ranking officials from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the influential global tanker association Intertanko told the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board that progress is happening in the battle against piracy, but it’s still a significant problem. ITF Seafarers’ Section Secretary Jon Whitlow talked to the board on March 9, while Intertanko Managing Director Joseph Angelo (a former U.S. Coast Guard official) addressed the MTD a day earlier. Both men asserted that mariner wellbeing should be the first consideration in the piracy fight. Whitlow pointed out that since 2008, more than 800 vessels have been attacked by pirates; last year alone, some 113 vessels were fired upon. During that same period, and sometimes inexplicably omitted from mainstream reporting, Whitlow noted, “More than 60 seafarers have died – killed by pirates in crossfire or deliberately, by suicide in despair, killed in naval action to counter piracy, or died through illness, usually [because of] poor water, poor nutrition.” He said that the “failure to confront piracy off of Somalia has led to it becoming a growing problem elsewhere, (including) off West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.” Whitlow declared the challenges in combatting piracy include lack of effort by some of the major flag states; attempts to outlaw ransom payments; an overall reduction of naval assets; and not enough prosecution of pirates, sometimes labeled “catch and release.” However, he also stated that real progress has been made, as reflected by reliable figures which demonstrate far fewer successful attempted attacks. Positive developments include growing political will, the use of armed security guards, improved shipboard practices, “more robust naval action,” and follow-up care for mariners after they return home from a piracy incident. A less-obvious but much-needed step, Whitlow continued, is stopping the pirates before they ever leave shore. The ITF “is on record with 60 governments calling for the need to attack the pirate logistic bases on land.” Finally, he talked about the Save Our Seafarers (SOS) campaign, launched one year ago by organizations representing every component of the maritime industry, including the ITF and Intertanko. In order to achieve the campaign’s goals, the industry first had to get the attention of the people whom Whitlow described as “the decisionmakers.” With that in mind, he stated, “The biggest achievement in our eyes is that we’ve secured mainstream press coverage. Previ- ously we’d been confined to the maritime press…. We have managed to secure widespread and regular coverage in Reuters, five articles in Time magazine, a special edition of The Economist, coverage by the BBC, CNN, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal to name but a few. So we’ve moved into the main press.” However, he concluded, “We’ve got a long way to go, and we need to put an end to the scourge of piracy once and for all.” Much of Angelo’s presentation also focused on piracy, but he first pointed out that Intertanko is a non-profit association of independent owners and operators of oil and chemical tankers (oil companies are not members). Collectively, the 230 or so members account for about 80 percent of the world’s tanker fleet. He described why his organization is deeply concerned about its market – worries that perhaps were best illustrated by the grim fact that current tanker market rates are consistently below shipowners’ operating costs. Nevertheless, he said that piracy, especially off the coast of Somalia, is the international shipping industry’s main concern. And, like Whitlow, he stated that the plight of mariners should top that list. Continued on Page 14 Seafarers LOG 13 3/26/2012 6:54:41 PM �2012 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Federation President Says It’s Time For Labor To Lead Continued from Page 9 Despite the administration’s real or perceived shortcomings, Trumka urged his audience to remain resolute in labor’s quest to level the playing field for working families in this country. “We know progress never comes easy, and that’s why our job is to never stop demanding more—demanding from this president, demanding more from the senate and the state houses and the state legislators and from any other leader that’s out there. “We cannot allow the blowback from the right-wing to make us lose track of the very real progress we have made since 2008 when we were losing 700,000 jobs per month. Seven hundred thousand of our brothers and sisters were becoming unemployed every month,” he said. With the help of organized labor, Trumka said that the job hemorrhaging has stopped. “President Obama has created more jobs, almost 3 million in a recession, than George Bush did in eight years of good times,” Trumka said. “He enacted a health care reform that’s going to make a life-and-death, dollars-and-cents difference for working people. “He passed strong and significant Wall Street reform and he bypassed the effort to keep the consumer financial protection bureau from doing its job,” he continued. “And, President Obama also bypassed right-wing obstructionism to keep the National Labor Relations Board working to protect workers.” Trumka told those present that as they recalled the frustrations of the past Three Voice Praise for Labor Movement Continued from Page 10 Grimm said the ports in New York City and a few other ports around the country started commerce in the Unites States. “That’s where it all began, so we don’t need a Harvard professor or some other Ivy League expert consultant to tell me how to create jobs,” he said. “Our forefathers and ancestors invested in our ports when they came here; they invested in our infrastructure, they invested in our maritime industry.” During the next 15 years, the expectation is that international trade will double. This, he said, sounds like an excellent opportunity to create jobs and is the chief reason why he has been pushing for improving our ports— getting ready for the mega ships that will be coming into Staten Island and elsewhere. “Why don’t we continue to create jobs in the areas that we know already work?” he asked the board. “I’m talking about goodpaying, honorable and distinguished jobs where people go to work with dignity, work hard and are able to feed their families. “That’s really what it’s all about,” he continued. “I believe that the American dream is to have the opportunity to give the next generation more and that’s why I have been an ardent and fervent supporter of maritime, because I really do think that it’s a part of the greatness of this country…. That’s where American exceptionalism got its start.” Speaking specifically about the maritime industry, Congressman Grimm voiced his support. “I’ve been there with all of you from day one,” he said. “Whether it was the MSP, or the Jones Act, or the need to get monies so that we could continue to dredge, I was in your corner. I would still like to know why we don’t use 100 percent of the money from our ports for our ports; to dredge and make other improvements,” he continued. “In my view, it’s foolish and constitutes a fight that we need to have. We need to bring that to the forefront.” Congressman Grimm said he has been talking to many of his congressional colleagues about these issues. He also told the board that it was not always an easy task as a Republican to stand up with labor, but nonetheless pledged his unwavering support. Recalling a recent union-related vote on the House floor in which he cast the deciding ballot in favor of labor, he said, “After the vote, some of my friends from labor came up to me and said we were holding our breaths. I’m here today to let each and every single one of you know … that you don’t have to hold your breath with me. I’m there for and with you and I’m going to be there. And I’m going to be there, not because I need your vote … but because I believe in you and that’s how I was raised.” ‘100 Percent Union’ four years, they should remember one truth about politics: Sometimes elected leaders lead, sometimes we walk side by side and sometimes “it’s on us to push them forward and get behind them and kick them in the backside to keep them moving forward as we push them ahead. That’s our job and we can’t forget about that. “Now is the time for us to lead, to show them where to go and how to create jobs. “It’s time for us to do our part for the American Dream, so that working people can earn a fair wage and some good benefits and can look forward to a secure retirement,” he continued. “So that every worker can have the right to bargain collectively for a better life. So that the infrastructure in this country that’s falling down around us gets rebuilt. It’s time for us to lead.” In closing, Trumka said that if we want a better America then we are going to have to work for it. “We are going to have to stand for it together,” he said. “Each and every one of us, you and me, all of us standing together to bring out the best in America, to bring out the best in ourselves, and each other. Because, when we are united, we are the 99 percent. We are moving America forward. And I promise you that if we stay united—not lip service solidarity, but real solidarity where your fight is absolutely my fight and my fight is your fight—no one will ever be able to turn us around. “We will rebuild the middle class and we will rebuild and take back America for every last worker that’s out there,” he concluded. Union Captain Helps Promote Industry The first guest speaker to address the board was Capt. Andrew McGovern (above), a member of the MM&P and the president of the United New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots. McGovern introduced the stirring video “Boatlift,” a 12-minute piece that shows how mariners responded to the 9/11 tragedy in New York. (Look it up on YouTube.) McGovern said he agreed to be interviewed for the video “because I think it’s important that we try to show the resiliency of the marine transportation system and what the seafarer can do in times of trouble.” He said that the industry’s biggest problem “is that nobody knows what we do,” and he hopes “Boatlift” will generate well-deserved positive exposure and, in turn, help produce more jobs. The evacuation from Manhattan on September 11, 2001 was the largest water evacuation in history (nearly 500,000 civilians moved by boat), and greatly was aided by SIU members aboard NY Waterway ferries. McGovern added that 9/11 itself was just the start of the story for the local maritime industry, whose members spent four days transporting rescue workers and performing other tasks as needed while area roads, bridges and tunnels were closed. Piracy Remains Troubling Issue Continued from Page 13 Michael Stotz (above), president and managing director of the AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation (ITC), spoke at the MTD meeting on March 9. The ITC works with the labor movement and the pension community to raise capital for labor-related investment projects. Funds served by the ITC have more than 170 pension plan investors and more than $2.5 billion in total assets. “Our returns are very, very competitive, and I’m really proud of that,” Stotz said. “We think that not only are we creating jobs, but we’re doing it very strategically to keep the returns quite competitive…. We build union and we service union 100 percent.” He said that in simplest terms, the ITC’s mission is “let’s get workers’ money to work for workers.” 14 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 14 Angelo recalled doing a BBC interview last year about a tanker that had been captured en route to Houston. The vessel was carrying $200 million worth of cargo. “My response was, the number one concern of Intertanko and the entire shipping industry is the 35 seafarers on the ship who are being detained,” he said. “Not only that, but the 700 seafarers who were being held (in Somalia) as hostages. The response I got from the reporter was, ‘Oh, we didn’t know that, that’s very interesting. But let’s talk about the $200 million cargo.’ ” He added that Intertanko deserves credit for initiating the SOS campaign, which is expanding its outreach and currently has 30 industry organizations on board. The campaign’s goals include boosting government will to eradicate piracy in part by increasing general public awareness; stopping the use of mother ships; increasing prosecution of pirates; adding naval assets in the region; and taking action ashore in Somalia to address piracy’s root causes. Overall, Angelo (who led numerous U.S. delegations to the International Maritime Organization while working for the Coast Guard) said that Intertanko’s main goals all involve mariner welfare and safety: no fatalities, no pollution, no ship detentions. He stated that while some outsiders are surprised to learn that seafarers are such a big part of Intertanko’s focus, the organization is proud of its priorities and will continue working on issues including piracy, shore access, accommodation spaces, fatigue and more. April 2012 3/23/2012 10:22:53 AM �Personals Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea Harold Viser Jr. wants to get in contact with Wilfred Maurice. The two mariners sailed together during the early 1990s. Viser’s phone number is (713) 775-7072. Frank Jenkins would like to get in contact with Robert Beecks. Jenkins’ phone number is (347) 325-6844. May & June Membership Meetings Piney Point....................................Monday: May 7, June 4 Algonac..........................................Friday: May 11, June 8 Baltimore...................................Thursday: May 10, June 7 Guam.......................................Thursday: May 24, June 21 Honolulu......................................Friday: May 18, June 15 Houston......................................Monday: May 14, June 11 Jacksonville...............................Thursday: May 10, June 7 Joliet........................................Thursday: May 17, June 14 February 16, 2012 - March 15, 2012 Port Total Registered All Groups A B C Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 14 1 5 18 2 10 39 30 6 16 16 35 16 24 7 1 9 40 4 33 326 7 0 7 16 2 7 12 25 7 9 3 19 15 8 7 0 5 14 3 22 188 2 0 1 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 2 21 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 1 0 6 4 1 11 12 18 2 8 3 12 8 14 2 2 3 15 2 8 132 7 1 8 5 0 4 11 16 2 5 1 6 15 8 2 5 7 12 1 10 126 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 New York......................................Tuesday: May 8, June 5 Norfolk......................................Thursday: May 10, June 7 Oakland....................................Thursday: May 17, June 14 Philadelphia..............................Wednesday: May 9, June 6 Port Everglades........................Thursday: May 17, June 14 San Juan.....................................Thursday: May 10, June 7 St. Louis.......................................Friday: May 18, June 15 Tacoma.........................................Friday: May 25, June 22 Wilmington....................................Monday: May 21, June 18 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 3 0 1 13 2 7 15 16 1 3 8 16 3 11 4 3 2 16 1 20 145 Attention: Seafarers Another New Ship! Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS SPAD Works For You! Contribute to the Seafarers Political Activities Donation SPAD GRAND TOTALS: April 2012 10950_LOG.indd 15 C Trip Reliefs Registered on Beach All Groups A B C Deck Department 35 14 0 1 2 3 8 10 3 5 5 1 28 8 28 13 12 7 12 4 9 1 38 8 10 17 19 4 6 0 1 0 10 4 32 14 2 1 25 10 285 125 4 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 12 0 0 2 3 0 0 15 10 0 1 1 13 6 8 3 0 4 13 0 11 90 12 2 9 24 7 20 94 49 2 18 24 72 24 43 11 0 14 64 7 68 564 15 3 12 23 3 10 28 59 7 6 10 35 31 18 10 0 14 26 4 47 361 1 0 1 2 0 4 15 5 2 0 1 3 7 0 0 0 2 4 0 8 55 Engine Department 10 7 0 2 3 3 5 2 2 0 4 4 10 9 11 11 7 3 5 1 1 2 10 11 9 15 2 5 2 0 1 2 1 5 14 8 2 0 5 12 104 102 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 2 0 0 1 10 8 0 0 0 5 1 2 1 0 3 7 0 3 43 3 0 5 12 5 18 22 39 1 15 9 23 15 23 5 3 4 21 1 23 247 4 1 6 10 1 5 25 40 3 4 2 15 34 17 7 7 18 20 6 22 247 3 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 14 2 1 0 2 0 3 3 9 3 1 2 7 10 2 0 1 3 4 0 4 57 Steward Department 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 8 3 1 0 0 0 2 4 1 8 4 2 10 3 0 3 4 0 6 1 2 2 0 0 14 4 2 8 7 1 13 2 0 5 0 0 3 2 0 2 1 0 15 2 1 1 2 1 20 1 14 123 46 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 0 1 1 8 3 4 1 0 0 2 0 4 31 8 0 5 21 3 20 34 29 0 5 9 31 11 25 3 4 4 32 2 48 294 3 1 0 5 0 2 12 12 2 6 5 7 19 4 0 2 3 7 0 9 99 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 15 3 0 1 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 5 0 0 0 8 0 5 34 7 0 6 4 2 4 14 13 9 2 4 30 17 16 3 11 1 11 0 10 164 Entry Department 5 4 19 0 0 2 1 1 3 2 0 5 1 0 0 9 1 3 8 2 8 9 3 12 0 0 11 4 0 4 7 0 1 9 1 15 15 0 19 7 1 8 3 0 2 27 0 7 0 0 0 4 5 9 0 0 1 7 2 6 118 20 135 1 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 0 1 2 6 7 1 0 24 1 2 0 2 55 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 2 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 16 3 0 1 0 0 9 6 4 1 0 1 13 0 5 0 0 1 8 0 12 64 15 3 4 15 6 12 24 36 1 6 5 54 25 20 2 11 1 18 3 26 287 20 0 4 5 1 12 9 21 3 3 9 30 30 10 4 15 2 8 0 23 209 637 535 160 79 180 1,169 994 293 Mobile..................................Wednesday: May 16, June 13 New Orleans...................................Tuesday: May 15, June 12 Total Shipped All Groups A B 532 408 Seafarers LOG 15 3/23/2012 10:22:54 AM �Inquiring Seafarer Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 Editor’s note: This month’s question was answered by SIU members in Piney Point, Md. What do you like most about your job? Tristan Brand QMED I like working with my hands, being able to get outside and not sitting in an office. I’m coast-side now, but I really enjoyed traveling when I had the chance to work deep sea. And the pay. The pay and the vacation are both good things. the opportunity to get a lot of time off and a lot of money at once. Also, you have the opportunity to advance. The union and the school give you the opportunity to go as far as you want. That’s a great advantage to have. The opportunity of advancement is my favorite part. You have the option of not only improving your rating, but also being able to do it at your own pace. You don’t have to follow a set path – it’s really up to you how far and how fast you want to go. Not a lot of other jobs give you that kind of freedom. 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 Grayson Ross Junior Engineer HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256 (904) 281-2622 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 Zach Ross Junior Engineer I like the fact that I get to work in a block schedule. Working in blocks gives you from the travel, I also get to experience on-the-job training which, to me, is the best way to learn. Anthony Thomas Oiler There’s always something interesting going on. You’re constantly learning something new. I transferred over to the engine department and I’m learning every single day. When you’re learning how to work on engines and things like that, those skills not only help you become a better mariner but are transferable to other fields as well. With the training that I get, I can work on all sorts of engines. The stuff I learn at work also helps me at home. I can fix my own car and save some money. That’s something you can’t get anywhere else. Samuel Shuebrooks Oiler I like having the opportunity to travel. I’m learning new things every day, meeting new people from different cultures. The best place I’ve been to so far is Dubai. I got to see a totally different way of living and I have the opportunity to see places that I never would’ve been able to see in a different job. Aside Pic-From-The-Past NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 In August 1948, nearly 150 members attended the first regular branch meeting at the new union hall in San Francisco, located at 85 Third Street. Conducting the meeting were (from left) West Coast Representative Steve Cardullo, Chairman Al Bernstein, Reading Clerk Roy Pierce and Recording Secretary H.A. Orlando. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org 16 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 16 April 2012 3/23/2012 10:22:59 AM �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 IVAN AGUILAR Brother Ivan Aguilar, 65, donned the SIU colors in 1988. His first voyage was aboard the President Taylor; his last was on the Eugene A. Obregon. Brother Aguilar was born in Nicaragua and sailed in the deck department. He settled in Metairie, La. JOHN CADE Brother John Cade, 65, signed on with the union in 1965. He was a frequent upgrader at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Cade’s earliest trip was on a Transeastern Shipping vessel. His final ship was the Overseas Chicago. Brother Cade, who sailed in the engine department, lives in Mobile, Ala. GERALDINE CARTER Sister Geraldine Carter, 65, started sailing with the union in 1980 in San Francisco. A member of the deck department, she upgraded on three occasions at the Piney Point school. Sister Carter initially worked on the Santa Adela. Her most recent trip was aboard the Oakland. Sister Carter calls San Francisco home. JOSEPH COMEAUX Brother Joseph Comeaux, 62, joined the SIU in 2001 as the NMU merged into the Seafarers International Union. In 2001 and 2002, Brother Comeaux attended classes at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member’s last trip was on the Horizon Spirit. Brother Comeaux resides in Riverside, Calif. RICHARD GARCEA Brother Richard Garcea, 71, was born in Spokane, Wash. He became an SIU member in 1971 while in Seattle. Brother Garcea often took advantage of educational opportunities at the Paul Hall Center. He sailed as a member of April 2012 10950_LOG.indd 17 school in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member makes his home in Shelton, Wash. the steward department. Brother Garcea’s final voyage was aboard the Express. He continues to make his home in Washington. JOHN GLENN Brother John Glenn, 65, began sailing with the union in 1967. He first worked with Columbia Steamship Company. Brother Glenn sailed in the deck department, most recently on the North Star. He attended classes on numerous occasions at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. Brother Glenn is a resident of Enumclaw, Wash. ODELL MURRAY Brother Odell Murray, 71, became an SIU member in 2001 during the SIU/NMU merger. On two occasions he took advantage of educational opportunities available at the Piney Point school. Brother Murray’s final voyage was on the Resolve. He sailed in the engine department and lives in Houston. WILLIAM GOELTZ RICHARD NICHOLAS Brother William Goeltz, 62, signed on with the union in 1973. He originally sailed on the Buck Monitor. Brother Goeltz was born in Ashland, Wis., and worked in the deck department. In 2007, he enhanced his skills at the Piney Point school. Brother Goeltz last shipped aboard the Presque Isle. He lives in Wisconsin. Brother Richard Nicholas, 62, began his SIU career in 1990. He initially shipped aboard the Francis Hammer. Brother Nicholas enhanced his seafaring abilities often at the Paul Hall Center. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Nicholas most recently worked on the Dodge Island. He lives in Bay Minette, Ala. JOHN HENRY MICHAEL ORTON Brother John Henry, 65, started sailing with the SIU 2001 as the NMU was merging into the SIU. He mainly worked aboard vessels operated by Alaska Tanker Company such as the Tonsina and the Prince William Sound. Brother Henry, who sailed in the engine department, calls Keizer, Ore., home. Brother Michael Orton, 66, joined the union in 2002 while in the MARCOS HILL Brother Marcos Hill, 63, donned the SIU colors in 1968. His earliest trip was with Penn Tanker Company. Brother Hill often attended classes at the Paul Hall Center. His most recent trip was aboard the Horizon Falcon. Brother Hill sailed in the engine department and resides in New Orleans. CHARLES JAMES Brother Charles James, 66, joined the Seafarers in 1991 while in Seattle. His first ship was the Sealift Arctic; his last was the Midnight Sun. Brother James upgraded in 1997 at the union-affiliated port of San Francisco. In 2006, the deck department member went to the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. Brother Orton’s final trip to sea was aboard the Lawrence Gianella. He calls Jacksonville, Fla., home. CARMA PETERSEN Sister Carma Petersen, 67, started shipping with the Seafarers in 1998. She originally worked on the USNS Silas Bent. Sister Petersen was a steward department member. She upgraded in 2002 at the Piney Point school. Sister Peterson’s last trip was aboard the USNS Pathfinder. She resides in Roanoke, Va. MICHAEL WEBER Brother Michael Weber, 62, donned the SIU colors in 2001 as the NMU merged into the Seafarers International Union. He primarily sailed with Marine Personnel & Provisioning on vessels such as the Yorktown Express and the Washington Express. Brother Weber attended classes in 1999 at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. The deck department member is a resident of Cornell, Mich. INLAND MICHAEL DOUTHITT Brother Michael Douthitt, 64, became a Seafarer in 1983 while in the port of New Orleans. His earliest trip was with Dravo Basic Materials Company. Brother Douthitt sailed in the deck department and last worked with Martin Marietta. He lives in Sontag, Miss. BENJAMIN GUILLOT Brother Benjamin Guillot, 64, joined the SIU ranks in 1992 in New Orleans. He initially worked with Energy Ammonia Transportation Corporation. The Louisiana native sailed in the deck department. Brother Guillot upgraded his skills in 2000 and 2004 at the Paul Hall Center. His final trip was on a vessel operated by Crowley Towing and Transportation of Wilmington. Brother Guillot makes his home in Slidell, La. This Month In SIU History Editor’s note: The following items are reprinted from previous editions of the Seafarers LOG. 1950 With a complete tie-up of all U.S. shipping by the powerful AFL Maritime Trades Department hanging over their heads, East and Gulf coast ship operators quickly altered their union-busting stand and negotiated an agreement with the AFL Masters, Mates and Pilots. The pact was signed on April 21, just 36 hours before the strike deadline set by the licensed officers’ union. The settlement ended nine months of stalling by the operators. At the request of federal mediators, the old contract had been extended four times since it expired on September 30. Member unions of the MTD intervened in the dispute when they were satisfied that the shipowners were intent on destroying the MM&P, one of the AFL waterfront group’s affiliates. 1960 Hitting back at Egypt President Nasser’s blacklisting of American-flag ships, the SIU and the International Longshoremen’s Association have tied up the Egyptian-flag SS Cleopatra in New York harbor. A joint SIU-ILA picket line demonstration protesting the blacklist has idled the Egyptian vessel since Wednesday morning, April 13, when the ship arrived in New York. Efforts by the owners of the vessel (which, incidentally, includes the Egyptian government) to obtain court orders against the picket line were rebuffed in two federal courts. 1970 “No industry is more dependent on world trade than the merchant marine,” AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Lane Kirkland told a conference on the crisis in international trade. But he warned: “When American exports are being shipped on foreignflag vessels, American jobs are being exported. When U.S.-made goods are exported, if it’s on a foreign bottom, a service – shipping – is being imported.” He spoke at an AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department conference, “Developing Crisis in International Trade.” 1980 Wherever she goes on the Great Lakes, American Steamship’s brand-new bulk carrier will serve as a floating ambassador, paying tribute to all hardworking U.S. seamen. Because the name painted on her 730-foot hull is MV American Mariner. At christening ceremonies held April 15 at Bay Shipbuilding’s Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., yard, the SIUcontracted vessel was dedicated “to the generation of seamen – past and present – who have kept the Lakes as the primary transportation link in North America’s heartland.” Ably wielding the inaugural bottle of champagne over American Steamship’s tenth new vessel in seven years was Valerie Nemirow, wife of Maritime Administration head Samuel B. Nemirow, who gave the keynote speech of the day. Seafarers LOG 17 3/23/2012 10:23:02 AM �Final Departures DEEP SEA WILLIAM BARNES Pensioner William Barnes, 89, passed away Nov. 18. Brother Barnes was born in Alabama. The steward department member began receiving his retirement compensation in 1970. Brother Barnes called Irvington, Ala., home. WILLIAM DILLON Pensioner William Dillon, 82, died Oct. 25. Brother Dillon became a union member in 1960 while in the port of New York. He was originally employed aboard the Cantigny. The engine department member was born in Massachusetts. Brother Dillon last sailed on the Challenger. In 1995, he retired and settled in Jacksonville, Fla. FREDDIE GRIFFIN Pensioner Freddie Griffin, 71, passed away Oct. 27. Brother Griffin began sailing with the SIU in 1984. His earliest trip to sea was aboard the Portland. Brother Griffin was a native of Onward, Miss. Prior to his retirement in 2002, he sailed on the Westward Venture. Brother Griffin, a member of the deck department, made his home in Renton, Wash. RONALD HACKENSMITH Brother Ronald Hackensmith, 61, died Nov. 21. He started sailing with the union in 1996. Brother Hackensmith, who sailed in the engine department, was first employed aboard the Presque Isle. He was born in Evansville, Wis. Brother Hackensmith’s last voyage was on the St. Marys Challenger. He was a resident of Gordon, Wis. ALI MOHAMED Brother Ali Mohamed, 59, passed away Oct. 27. He signed on with the SIU in 1990. Brother Mohamed, a member of the steward department, initially shipped on the Independence. He was a Yemen native. Brother Mohamed last sailed aboard the Cape Jacob. He lived in Dearborn, Mich. 18 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 18 STEVEN MYRICK GILBERT DIGGS Brother Steven Myrick, 54, died Oct. 31. He first donned the SIU colors in 2008. Brother Myrick’s earliest trip was aboard the Integrity. The steward department member most recently shipped on the Freedom. Brother Myrick called Baltimore home. Brother Gilbert Diggs, 52, passed away Nov. 17. He was born in Newport News, Va. Brother Diggs started his SIU career in 1999. He worked primarily with Allied Transportation Company. Brother Diggs sailed in both the engine and steward departments. He lived in Haynesville, Va. EDWARD O’BRIEN Pensioner Edward O’Brien, 85, passed away Nov. 13. Brother O’Brien began shipping with the union in 1967. He was a New York native and worked in the deck department. Brother O’Brien first sailed aboard the Eagle Traveler. His final trip was on the Liberator. Brother O’Brien went on pension in 1998 and resided in Pomona, Calif. GRADY STEWART Pensioner Grady Stewart, 83, died Nov.14. Brother Stewart became a Seafarer in 1962. He initially sailed with Seatrade Corporation. The Floridaborn mariner was a member of the deck department. Brother Stewart’s final trip was aboard the Overseas New Orleans. He started collecting his pension in 1995 and made his home in Jay, Fla. TELE TOGIAI Brother Tele Togiai, 61, passed away Nov. 22. He joined the union in 1979. Brother Togiai originally shipped on the Pioneer. He worked in the engine department. Brother Togiai last worked as a crane maintenance electrician on the West Coast. He was a resident of Fort Mohave, Az. INLAND ANTHONY CHIPERAS Brother Anthony Chiperas, 67, died Nov. 26. He began sailing with the SIU in 2004 while in the port of Norfolk, Va. Brother Chiperas mainly sailed aboard Allied Towing vessels. The steward department member made his home in Norfolk. JOSEPH MAZUREK Pensioner Joseph Mazurek, 82, died Dec. 6. Brother Mazurek first donned the SIU colors in 1962. He spent most of his career aboard Moran Towing of Maryland vessels. Brother Mazurek became a pensioner in 1987 and resided in his native state of Maryland. ALFRED SMITH Pensioner Alfred Smith, 74, passed away Nov. 17. Brother Smith signed on with the SIU in 1962. He was a deck department member. Brother Smith initially worked with Merritt Chapman & Scott. He was a Connecticut native. Brother Smith was last employed with Turecamo Maritime. He retired in 1997 and called New Jersey home. GREAT LAKES PETER NAGOWSKI Brother Peter Nagowski, 55, died Oct. 26. He was born in New York. Brother Nagowski became a union member in 1976. His earliest trip was on the Frank Denton. Brother Nagowski, who sailed in the deck department most recently worked aboard the Indiana Harbor. He was a resident of Williamsville, N.Y. GLENN WEIST Pensioner Glenn Weist, 88, passed away Nov. 13. Brother Weist joined the union in 1957 while in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He originally worked with T.J McCarthy Steamship. The deck department member was born in Pennsylvania. Before retiring in 1988, Brother Weist shipped on the St. John. He made his home in Bedford, Pa. Editor’s note: The following brothers, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU), have passed away. FRANK BALLOU Pensioner Frank Ballou, 86, died Oct. 30. Brother Ballou went on pension in 1974. He made his home in La Marque, Texas. DAGOBERTO BORGES Pensioner Dagoberto Borges, 93, died Nov. 11. Brother Borges was born in Cuba. He retired in 1987 and made his home in Galveston, Texas. BERTRAND DANIELS Pensioner Bertrand Daniels, 84, passed away Oct. 29. Brother Daniels was born in Jacksonville, Fla. He became a pensioner in 1991 and continued to reside in Jacksonville. JOSEPH DENNIS Pensioner Joseph Dennis, 78, died Oct. 5. Brother Dennis, a native of Alabama, started collecting his retirement compensation in 1995. He lived in Mobile. LUCIAN HARRIS Pensioner Lucian Harris, 86, passed away Oct. 4. The Texasborn mariner became a pensioner in 1990. Brother Harris called Houston home. 60, passed away Oct. 5. Brother Lankford was a Virginia native. He went on pension in 2006 and resided in Norfolk, Va. PAUL MILOBAR Pensioner Paul Milobar, 88, died Oct. 25. Born in Nebraska, Brother Milobar became a pensioner in 1965. He lived in Lincoln, Neb. RAMON ORTIZ Pensioner Ramon Ortiz, 92, passed away Oct. 30. Brother Ortiz, a native of Puerto Rico, started collecting his retirement pay in 1968. He called Brooklyn, N.Y., home. MANUEL PUIG Pensioner Manuel Puig, 86, passed away Nov. 10. Brother Puig, a native of Caguas, P.R., went on pension in 1970. He lived in Deltona, Fla. ROBERT REQUA Pensioner Robert Requa, 84, died Oct. 31. Brother Requa was born in New York. He went on pension in 2001. Brother Requa settled in Davenport, Wash. ANTONIO VARA Pensioner Antonio Vara, 79, passed away Oct. 25. Born in Spain, Brother Vara began receiving his pension in 1994. He continued to make his home in Spain. DALLAS WILLIAMSON Pensioner Nathaniel Jackson, 84, died Oct. 28. Brother Jackson was born in Virginia. He went on pension in 1995 and was a resident of Houston. Pensioner Dallas Williamson, 84, died Oct. 7. Brother Williamson was born in Plaquemine, La. He became a pensioner in 1989. Brother Williamson was a resident of Iberville, La. GERMAN KERCADU SO YUE Pensioner German Kercadu, 77, passed away Oct. 27. Brother Kercadu, a native of Fajardo, P.R., began receiving his pension in 1989. He settled in Philadelphia. Pensioner So Yue, 101, passed away Oct. 11. Brother Yue, a native of China, retired in 1966. He lived in Sunnyvale, Calif. NATHANIEL JACKSON JOHN KNIGHT Pensioner John Knight, 89, died Oct. 31. Brother Knight was born in New York. He retired in 1984 and made his home in Tuskegee, Ala. Name Bauer, John Rivera, Manuel Taylor, Luke Torres, Francisco Torres, Miguel Age 71 88 83 86 87 DOD Nov. 1 Oct. 29 Nov. 7 Oct. 29 Nov. 4 RAYMOND LANKFORD Pensioner Raymond Lankford, April 2012 3/23/2012 10:23:03 AM �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings HORIZON ENTERPRISE (Horizon Lines), January 27 – Chairman George B. Khan, Secretary Scott A. Opsahl, Educational Director Shawn L. Clark, Engine Delegate Albert Dulig, Steward Delegate Joseph J. Gallo. Chairman asked mariners to help keep common areas clean and return movies when finished watching them. He let crew know TV series available upon request. Secretary requested members leave fresh linens for reliefs. Educational director suggested Seafarers take advantage of courses available at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. He also reminded them that they will not be able to ship if MMD/ Merchant Mariner Credential runs out before the trip ends, so keep documents up-to-date. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Members were advised to check out members-only section of the SIU website. Suggestion was made to cover periodontal maintenance, to prevent gum disease which is a gateway to other health issues such as heart disease and stroke. Crew members were reminded that there is no smoking in computer room. Thanks given to the steward department for a job well done. Honorable mention given to SA Steve Walsh and D.E.U. Zayed Ali for making crew members’ jobs a lot easier. Next ports: Tacoma, Wash., Oakland, Calif. and Honolulu. MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Line, Limited), January 29 – Chairman Albert Williams, Secretary Alexander Banky, Educational Director Carl D. Montoya, Deck Delegate Daniel K. Murley, Engine Delegate Albert Riollano, Steward Delegate Medardo Thomas. Bosun thanked crew for a safe 80th voyage. Secretary urged crew to read Seafarers LOG to stay up-to-date on information pertaining to the union, benefits and shipping rules. They were also encouraged to contribute to SPAD and reminded that when they do, they are helping themselves as well as their union brothers and sisters. He recognized SA Tharwat Saleh for completing his tour (200 days) without safety issues or health problems. Educational director reminded crew to get their time in and take advantage of upgrading at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer stated $2,456 in ship’s fund. Suggestion made to use ship fund monies to put satellite pay phone in ship’s conference room and sell calling cards out of slop chest so all crew members can call home. Beef reported in engine department; no disputed OT. Request was made for new toaster in crew mess. Recommendations were made regarding medical, pension and vacation benefits. Next ports: Newark, N.J., Charleston, S.C. and Norfolk, Va. CHAMPION (Maersk Line, Limited), February 26, - April 2012 10950_LOG.indd 19 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. Remembering Brother Joseph Gutierrez In accordance with his wishes, the ashes of the late engine-department Seafarer Joseph H. Gutierrez – who passed away late last year at age 82 – were scattered at sea Jan. 23 from aboard the Seabulk Trader, while the vessel was sailing from Port Everglades, Fla., to Lake Charles, La. A few photos from the ceremony are shown here. “On behalf of the crew, it was an honor and privilege for us to perform the burial-at-sea ceremony for Mr. Gutierrez, carrying out his final wishes and serving as the final chapter in his life story,” wrote vessel master Capt. Thomas M. Liebsch. “Our deepest sympathies go out to his extended family, friends and former SIU shipmates.” Brother Gutierrez started going to sea as a teenager during World War II, and sailed for 66 years, including initial voyages with the SUP and later the NMU and SIU. He last sailed in 2009 before retiring to Hollywood, Fla. Chairman James K. Walker, Secretary Willie E. Massaline, Educational Director Dennis R. Baker, Deck Delegate Jerry P. Ray, Steward Delegate Will D. Dalton, Engine Delegate Samuel M. Addo. Chairman went over ship’s itinerary and encouraged mariners to read the president’s report in the Seafarers LOG. Secretary urged members to support our union leadership and donate to SPAD and MDL. Educational director advised everyone check expiration dates and keep documents current. He also suggested Seafarers upgrade at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked the steward department for excellent food. Members would like to increase pension amounts and lower sea time requirements. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. COMET (Maersk Line, Limited), February 25 – Chairman Khaled G. Munassar, Secretary William E. Bragg, Educational Director Rene R. Rosario, Engine Delegate Alton Hickman, Steward Delegate Reynaldo Ricarte. Chairman thanked crew members for a smooth voyage. He asked those departing vessel to ensure rooms are clean and ready for reliefs. Mariners were reminded to make sure all necessary seafaring documents were up-to-date. Secretary noted payoff to take place in Long Beach, Calif., on February 27. Educational director urged mariners to upgrade often at the Piney Point school. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Request was made to increase food budget to reflect current food prices. Vote of thanks was given to steward department for good meals and deck dayman for always rendering assistance. Next ports: Long Beach, Calif. and Oakland, Calif. FREEDOM (ARC), February 2 – Chairman Timothy J. Fitzgerald, Secretary Frank J. Starling, Educational Director Angel Cintron. Bosun discussed ship’s schedule and announced payoff in Beaumont, Texas, on February 7. Secretary advised all mariners to attend classes at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next ports: Beaumont, Texas, Jacksonville, Fla. and Charleston, S.C. HORIZON TRADER (Horizon Lines), February 7 – Chairman George H. Saltz, Secretary Kevin M. Dougherty, Educational Director Thomas M. Flynn, Engine Delegate Igbal Mahmood. Chairman stated payoff to take place upon arrival in Elizabeth, N.J., on February 10. He expressed gratitude to the steward department for great barbecue and Super Bowl party. Educational director advised all mariners to enhance skills at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. Treasurer noted $1,662 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Suggestion made pertaining to medical benefits. Next ports: Newark, N.J. and Charleston, S.C. MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk Line, Limited), February 26 – Chairman Oliver M. Balico, Secretary Glenn C. Bamman, Educational Director Jerome Culbreth, Deck Delegate Rolando Guity, Engine Delegate Anatoli Vetsinov, Steward Delegate Brian T. McEleney. Chairman reported a good trip with a great crew. Seafarers were urged to attend classes at the union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a job well done. Next ports: Newark, N.J., Charleston, S.C. and Norfolk, Va. MAERSK VIRGINIA (Maersk Line, Limited), February 19 – Chairman Mohamed S. Ahmed, Secretary LaShawn L. Rivera, Educational Director Michael D. Murphy, Deck Delegate Hanapiah Ismail. Chairman announced payoff on February 20 in Newark, N.J. Crew members leaving ship were reminded not to depart until properly relieved. They were also asked to leave rooms clean for arriving mariners. Secretary noted that parts for broken garbage disposal to be ordered. Motion was made to add wiper to engine department. Treasurer reported $2,000 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew expressed gratitude for great food by the steward department. Next port: Newark, N.J. RACER (Maersk Line, Limited), February 3 – Chairman Thomas P. Flanagan, Secretary Glenn Williams, Educational Director Paul M. Titus, Deck Delegate John Walsh, Engine Delegate Davon A. Brown. Bosun reported a safe and productive voyage. He informed crew of upcoming room inspections and warned about cold weather in New York. Secretary requested crew separate plastic from trash. Departing mariners were asked to leave clean sets of linens for arriving mariners. Educational director reminded crew to get their time in and take advantage of upgrading at Piney Point. Treasurer stated $1,500 in ship’s fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Seafarers requested new dryer for laundry room. Thanks were given to the steward department for a job well done. Seafarers LOG 19 3/23/2012 10:23:06 AM �Mariners Hone Skills in Piney Point The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, which includes the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, has provided instruction for mariners since 1967. Located in Piney Point, Md., the school blends hands-on training with classroom instruction both for entry-level mariners and for experienced individuals returning for upgrading classes. Since 1999, the school also has featured the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School, a state-of-the-art facility located on a nearby campus. A handful of recent photos from the school appear on this page. Additional information about the school, including a new application for the unlicensed apprentice program, is available in the Paul Hall Center section of www.seafarers.org Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU 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 secretarytreasurer. 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/NMU 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 by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: 20 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG.indd 20 Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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. Conse quently, no member may be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, sex, national or geographic origin. If any member feels that he or she is denied the equal rights to which he or she is entitled, the member should notify union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes in- cluding, 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2012 3/23/2012 10:23:10 AM �Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Information The following is the schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., for the next few months. All programs are geared to improving the job skills of Seafarers and to promoting the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the nation’s security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. 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 Title of Course Chief Cook These modules start every other week. The next class begins April 6. Start Date Date of Completion Deck Department Lifeboat April 28 May 26 June 23 May 11 June 8 July 6 Able Seaman May 12 June 8 Fast Rescue Boat May 5 June 23 May 11 June 29 Radar May 19 June 1 ARPA June 2 June 8 Radar Renewal June 25 June 25 Engine Department BAPO May 26 June 22 FOWT April 28 June 23 May 25 July 20 Junior Engineer May 12 July 6 Marine Electrician May 5 June 29 Welding April 28 June 2 May 18 June 22 Safety Upgrading Courses Advanced Firefighting May 5 June 2 May 11 June 8 Basic Firefighting/STCW April 7 May 12 June 23 April 13 May 18 June 29 Medical Care Provider March 10 May 12 June 9 March 16 May 18 June 15 Government Vessels April 21 June 16 April 27 June 22 ` UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________ Date of Birth __________________________________________________________________ Deep Sea Member o Lakes Member o Inland Waters Member o If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security #_______________________ Book # _________________________________ Seniority_____________________________ Department_____________________________ Home Port____________________________________________________________________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? o Yes o No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________________ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? o Yes o No If yes, course(s) taken____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back or relevant pages of merchant mariner credential, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested, 1995 STCW Certificate, valid SHBP Clinic Card and TWIC. April 2012 10950_LOG_X.indd 21 Start Date Date of Compeltion Steward Department Serve Safe April 14 July 7 September 29 April 20 July 13 October 5 Chief Steward April 14 July 7 October 13 May 25 August 17 November 23 Galley Operations/Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. The next class will begin April 2. Reminder for Paul Hall Center 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 cannot attend should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements can be made to have other students take their places. NOTICE: National Maritime Center Web Site Provides Valuable Mariner Resources The National Maritime Center (NMC), the licensing authority for the U.S. Coast Guard, offers a comprehensive web site covering mariner credentialing, medical guidelines and much more. The site features a wide range of applications and forms, deck- and engine-department exam information, lists of Coast Guard-approved courses and COURSE more. Seafarers are encouraged to check out the site at:http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/ Mariners may call the NMC at 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662). Operational hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. (The NMC is closed for all federal holidays.) Various email forms also are available through the NMC web site. ____________________________ 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, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4/12 Seafarers LOG 21 3/26/2012 6:54:42 PM �Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class #756 – Twenty-one individuals (unlicensed apprentices and upgraders) completed this course Feb. 17. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Pedro Abuda, Rajeh Ahmed, Jose Alicea Sanchez, Nathaniel Balos, Eric Collins Jr., Lawa Dowdell, Elliot Duncan, John Garrett, Dominique Greer, Jonathan Harrell, Mark Maduro, Adele Messina, Paul Nelson, James O’Hara, Robert Resurreccion, Dennis Saggese, Frank Sambula, Julius Sykes, Jessie Ticer, Samuel Tilles and Danylo Zayats. (Note: Not all are pictured.) ARPA – The following individuals (above, in alphabetical order) completed the enhancement of their skills in this course Feb. 10. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Tyrone Hernandez, Charles Hosea Jr., Amancio Mendez, Stephen Roell, Kevin Stehlik and Richard Weaver. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Survival Craft/Personal Survival Techniques – Seven upgraders completed their requirements in this course March 2. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Leonard Anderson, Ronald Derouin, Michael Kolich, Christopher Mathers, Kenneth Mathers, Robbi Purcell and Danny Stropich. Class Instructor Bernabe Pelingon is seated in the vessel at the far left. Government Vessels – Sixteen individuals graduated from this course March 2. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Harlan Alonzo, Joseph Arigo, Darrol Bates, Lawa Dowdell, Curtis Harris, Timothy Heil, Leola Johnson, Ogden Lee, David McCarthon, Kevin Moore, James Oling, Fidel Pascua, Paul Pitcher, Lamont Surrat, Gemini Tacang and James Watson. Tom Truitt, their instructor, is at the far right. BAPO – Twenty-three students, including upgraders as well as unlicensed apprentices, completed their training in this course March 2. Finishing their requirements and graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: John Albritton, Nabil Ali, Majed Alsharif, Lakisha Barnes, Major Brooks, Rodriques Carson,Dwight Cherry, Matthes Curtis, Davis Freitas, Bobbie Gibbs, Evan Hansen, Lucion Liles, Mark Loughman, Do Q. Luong, Trevor Manion, Tremain McCoy, Kyle Pardun, Davon Peterson, James Ross, Fadhel Saleh, Jerry Semper Jr., Michael Souza and Florencio Tindugan. Class Instructor Tim Achorn is at the far right, in the front row. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Marine Electrician – Six individuals graduated from this course March 2. Completing their requirements (above, in alphabetical order) were: Marion Cruzat, Mohsen Hubair, Kenneth Sumner, Jervona Vorise, Kareim Wright and Joshua Zelinsky. Jay Henderson, their instructor, is at the far left. BST – The following Seafarers (photo at right, in alphabetical order) upgraded their skills and graduated from this course Feb. 10: Ahmed Ali, Jamie Austria, Darrol Bates, Susano Cortez, Edward Dandy, William Doud, Lydia Dye, Henry Gamp, Paul Gohs, Santos Guity, Sean Hall, Andrew Lukasiewicz, George McAnern, John McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Timothy McKenna, Fidel Pascua, James Roy, Monassar Saleh, Gary Toomer and Kevin Williams. Class Instructor Ethan Evans is at the far right. 22 Seafarers LOG 10950_LOG_X.indd 22 April 2012 3/26/2012 6:54:47 PM �Paul Hall Center Classes STOS – Sixteen individuals completed their requirements in this course March 2. Those graduating (photo at left, in alphabetical order) were: Patrick Bethel, Richard Brockway, John Cragin, Richard Cristiani, James Dillon, Steven Gagnon, Kevin Gebhard, Carlo Gentile, Priscilla Greene, Frank Jennings, Peter Mertz, Leo Onofrio, Sonny Perez, Christopher Sanicola, Derrick Siefke and Robert Tomo. Stan Beck, their instructor, is at the far left. Important Notice 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. Medical Care Provider – Six Seafarers completed this course Feb. 10. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Wiliam Davis Jr., Roy Frett, Benjamin Hodge, Anthony Kimbrell, Michael Presser and Victor Quioto. Class Instructor Mike Roberts is at the far left. Welding – Upgraders Felipe Jimenez (above, left) and Kevin Carraby (above, right) augmented their skills by completing this course Feb. 10. Course Instructor Buzzy Andrews is in the center. Machinist – Six Seafarers completed their requirements in this course Feb. 10. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Michael Blue, Ruben Haynes, Travis Moody, Carmus Peet, Lawrence Todd Jr., and Abner Torres. Their instructor, Steve Haver, is at the far left. Basic & Advanced Firefighting – Eight upgraders completed the enhancement of their skills in this course Feb. 10. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Ashley Carmichael, Larry Harewood, Phillip Harmon, Jeffrey Idalski, Michael Lau, Walter Ritvalsky, Elmer Rochez and William White. Class instructors Joe Zienda and Wayne Johnson are at the far left and far right respectively. April 2012 10950_LOG_X.indd 23 Medical Care Provider – The following Seafarers (above, in alphabetical order) enhanced their skills by completing this course Feb. 17: Kevin Carraby, Ruben Haynes, Larry Harewood, Lisa Harewood, Reginald Hunter Sr., Jeffrey Idalski, Michael Lau, Travis Moody, Anthony Thomas and William White. Mark Cates, the class instructor, is at the far right. Vessel Security Officer – Upgrader Perry Cubeta (above, right) was the lone graduate of this course which culminated Feb. 9. At left is his instructor, Brad Wheeler. Machinist – Six Seafarers finished this course March 2. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Alex Amarra, Antoine Best, Mohammed Elazzouzi, Robert Orloff III, Cornelius Smith and Steben Torres. Class Instructor, Steve Haver, is in the center wearing white jacket. BST (Hawaii) – The following individuals (above, in no particular order) completed this course March 3 at the Seafarers Training Facility in Barbers Point, Hawaii: Jonathan Harvey, Mark Perkins, Heather Bohn, James Harvey, Patrick McCannon, Milena Mladenova, Jessica Platt, Thavy Van, Samuel Burdick, Holly Canale, Jessica Chapman, India Evans, Paul Guinan, Christopher Hogan, Koral King, David Lewis, Mindy Livesey, Christopher Lyons, Shalena Mumford and Ana Nunes. Seafarers LOG 23 3/26/2012 6:54:53 PM �Volume 74, Number 4 April 2012 Save With Union Plus Page 8 Port Agent Hazel Galbiso presents AB Bill Cooley with his full B-book. Seafarers and members of other MTD-affiliated unions demonstrate in support of the American Postal Workers Union. SIU Snapshots from Hawaii Safety Director Warren Asp congratulates ACU Jennifer Reid for receiving her full Bbook. Here are some recent photos of Seafarers aboard ship, at the union hall and demonstrating in support of fellow trade unionists in Hawaii. Additional photos from the Aloha State are posted on the gallery section of seafarers.org. Chief Steward Karen Fensel Manukai Chief Cook Efren Ancheta Jean Anne 10950_LOG.indd 24 AB Roger Tupas Jean Anne Chief Cook Romarico Hinayon Maunawili ABs Mohamed Mohamed and Ali Quarish Jean Anne Chief Steward Colleen Mast Matsonia ACU Nasser Hasson Manulani 3/23/2012 10:23:33 AM � 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 2010-2019 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXXII-LXXXI of the 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-2019 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 April 2012 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES MTD, GUESTS UNDERSCORED NEED FOR ROBUST U.S. MARITIME INDUSTRY JOBS CRISIS, PIRACY AMONG KEY TOPICS AT ANNUAL MEETING COALITION: U.S.-FLAG TONNAGE READY TO TRANSPORT SPR OIL AMP URGES ADHERENCE TO NEW RULES GOVERNING JONES ACT WAIVERS MTD SPEAKERS FOCUS ON NEED FOR JOBS MAERSK TEXAS NEWEST ADDITION TO SIU FLEET NEW CONTRACT SECURED WITH GREAT LAKES DREDGE AND DOCK SIU-CREWED GREEN WAVE DELIVERS SUPPLIES TO MCMURDO, COMPLETES ‘DEEP FREEZE’ MISSION HORIZON LINES RELEASES GREEN INITIATIVE REPORT FEDERATION ENDORSES PRESIDENT OBAMA STCW AMENDMENTS INCLUDE NEW MINIMUM FOR REST HOURS SIU ASSERTS VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING UNION TESTIFIES AT HOUSE HEARING SPURRED BY COSTA CONCORDA DISASTER LIKE SONS, LIKE FATHER SEAFARING LIFE PROVES GREAT FIT FOR ROSS FAMILY UNION VP ‘TAKES THE DIVE’ FOR A VERY SPECIAL CAUSE AFL-CIO PRESIDENT CITES CRITICAL JUNCTURE’ FOR U.S. ‘BEST OF AMERICA’S LABOR MOVEMENT’ LABOR SECRETARY, CONGRESSMEN CREDIT MTD UNIONS FOR VITAL ROLES MSC COMMANDER, NOAA ADMIRAL CITE CRUCIAL WORK OF U.S. MERCHANT MARINERS SUNY MARITIME PRESIDENT ECHOES NEED FOR GOOD JOBS, PARTNERSHIPS SPEAKERS OFFER DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, SAME FOCUS: JOBS PROGRESS IN PIRACY FIGHT, BUT MUCH WORK REMAINS 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2012 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. 74, No. 4 http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/dde6b5d6d73941384a95ac657baafdff.pdf f23e97565d5e5a5badde08e9848ec6a8 PDF Text Text Volume 75, Number 4 April 2013 National Security Depends on Strong U.S.-Flag Fleet Guest speakers including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (at podium in photo above) recently addressed the executive board of the Maritime Trades Department near Orlando, Fla. Board members and other guests heard from representatives of the U.S. Military Sealift Command, U.S. Coast Guard, Obama administration, private maritime companies, trade unions and others. While many topics were covered, two common themes were that America’s national and economic security depend on a strong U.S. Merchant Marine, and a middle-class resurgence won’t be possible without a revitalized labor movement. Coverage starts on Page 3 and continues on Pages 9-13. Pictured from left in the photo with President Trumka are MTD VP Scott Winter, MTD President Michael Sacco (who also serves as SIU president) and MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Duncan. Union Welcomes New Jobs as Navy Christens USNS Montford Point More than 1,000 guests gathered March 2 at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego for the christening of the USNS Montford Point (vessel shown in photo at right), the Navy’s first mobile landing platform ship. Seafarers-contracted Ocean Ships, Inc. will operate the vessel. SIU VP Gulf Coast Dean Corgey (third from left in group photo below) joined Ocean Ships officials (from left) President Jim McGregor, CEO Joe Vaughan and VP Bob Sheen at the ceremony. Page 3. Specially Engraved Bricks Will Highlight Waterfront Park in Piney Point, Md. Donations Will Help Beautify School, Honor Individuals and Organizations The union and its affiliated school in southern Maryland have announced the availability of bricks that will be donated for a new waterfront park at the school’s campus in Piney Point, Md. Each donor chooses an inscription (see sample in photo above) and also gets a chance to enter a name-the-park contest. Check out the back page for details. President’s Column Page 2 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 1 New SHBP Clinic System Update Page 4 Photos from ‘Deep Freeze’ Pages 6-7 3/26/2013 8:04:03 PM �President’s Report Jones Act Report Validates Value Our industry got a big, well-earned boost with the recent release of a Government Accountability Office study on the Jones Act and how that law affects Puerto Rico. To the surprise of no one who actually believes in American-flag shipping, the study shot down claims by Jones Act critics who’ve alleged the law harms consumers and costs too much. On the contrary, the GAO – an independent, non-partisan federal agency – found that the U.S. domestic container shipping fleet has provided dependable service to Puerto Rico while offering substantial rate reductions. While the report confirmed that it’s practically impossible to measure certain aspects of the overall cost of Jones Act shipping, it clearly reflects big rate drops in recent years. And it also Michael Sacco warns of potentially grave consequences to the U.S. Merchant Marine and American shipbuilding and national security if the law were weakened or eliminated. If you’re new to our industry or otherwise unfamiliar with the Jones Act, it’s one of the foundations of the American maritime industry. This law mandates that cargo moving from one domestic port to another be carried on vessels that are crewed, owned, built and flagged American. It has served the United States quite well since 1920, and has enjoyed consistent bipartisan support in Congress as well as the backing of every president and the U.S. military. Dozens of other nations have similar laws – because they promote national and economic security. And some version of the Jones Act has been in effect since our nation’s founding. Make no mistake: The individuals and organizations who attack the Jones Act aren’t interested in so-called free trade or helping consumers save a buck. They’re interested in sinking the U.S. Merchant Marine, closing U.S. shipyards, and exporting our jobs overseas. In this time of high unemployment with Americans calling upon their government officials to change laws that have permitted jobs to go overseas, altering the Jones Act to allow foreign companies to enter the Puerto Rican-U.S. market would adversely affect both the Puerto Rican and the American economies. The Jones Act helps sustain nearly 500,000 American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in annual economic output along with nearly $11 billion in annual tax revenue. It helps maintain a pool of U.S. citizen seafarers who are available to sail on American military support ships anywhere around the world. And, as the GAO found, it doesn’t harm consumers. While that should add up to “case closed,” we know the attacks will keep coming. Our industry will be ready, and we’ll set the record straight as many times as needed. Along those lines, we’re fighting to maintain the Food for Peace program, as reported elsewhere on this page. This is another pillar of the U.S. Merchant Marine, also under attack by people who do not care about maintaining American maritime jobs – or U.S. farm jobs, for that matter. When I say we’ve been working on it practically 24/7, it’s not much of an exaggeration. This is a difficult fight, but we have strong support on both sides of the aisle and from the military. As with the Jones Act, Food for Peace helps sustain the American crews and American-flag ships that our country needs in times of conflict. It also helps our own economy and those of other nations while promoting goodwill across the globe. At times it seems like these battles never end. For our members who have a few years behind them, these fights about the Jones Act and Food for Peace may seem like old news. Our attackers are like dogs trying to catch a car. They just won’t give up. But we are up to the challenge, and we will commit every possible resource to protecting and promoting the U.S. Merchant Marine. Volume 75, Number 4 April 2013 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 Auth Way; 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 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing Editor/Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Brian Ahern; Photographer, Harry Gieske; Administrative Support, Misty Dobry. Copyright © 2013 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD. All Rights Reserved. The Seafarers International Union engaged an environmentally friendly printer for the production of this newspaper. 2 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 2 U.S. Senators Urge President Obama To Maintain Food for Peace Program A bipartisan collation of 21 senators recently signed a letter to President Obama to “maintain funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Peace Program, also known as Public Law 480, in your Fiscal Year 2014 budget request to Congress.” The senators, who are from all over the country, were responding to published reports that the Office of Management and Budget would be eliminating the multi-billion dollar program in favor of providing straight cash donations to nongovernmental organizations or the affected countries directly. In addition, Congress passed and the president signed a surface transportation bill last summer that reduced the percentage of food aid cargo that would be carried by U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed vessels. Also speaking out recently on behalf of the program were the Navy League of the United States and a key industry coalition, USA Maritime. The Food for Peace Program has been a staple of American diplomacy since its inception in 1954, bringing American-grown grain and food products aboard U.S.-flag vessels to the world’s hungry and afflicted. Besides helping people in need globally, it has provided steady employment for American farmers and merchant mariners, so they and their ships would be available to transport military cargo in times of crisis. “Food for Peace provides economic benefits at home, stimulating our farm and transportation industries,” stated the senators’ letter of Feb. 20. “This program is important to American farmers and shippers and developing nations around the world.” Those signing the letter include Mark Pryor (DArk.), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Tom Harkin (DIowa), David Vitter (R-La.), Barbara Mikulski (DMd)., John Boozman (R-Ark.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Johanns (RNeb.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). Navy League President Dale Lumme, writing to the head of the Office of Management and Budget on behalf of the organization’s 48,000 members and 250 worldwide councils, stated, “We urge you to maintain the structure of and funding levels for the Food for Peace and Food for Progress programs…. These food aid cargo programs are necessary to maintain the commercial U.S. Merchant Marine and play an important role in American diplomacy.” He added, “Cancelling this vital program will significantly undermine the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and have devastating impacts to our national security. The United States Merchant Marine has been a necessary part of our national defense since the founding of our nation. The U.S. government relies on U.S.-flag, U.S.crewed ships in a public-private partnership with the Department of Defense to ensure the safe transportation of critical cargo anywhere in the world at any time – especially during times of war or national emergency.” Lumme also pointed out that the Food for Peace program helps maintain tens of thousands of American jobs in various sectors while generating almost $2 billion in economic output. Meanwhile, USA Maritime Chairman James Henry in late February issued a statement that read in part, “USA Maritime is deeply disappointed to learn that the Obama Administration is considering the elimination of our flagship international food donation programs, Food for Peace (PL 480) and Food for Progress. Since 1954, Food for Peace alone has benefited more than three billion people in 150 countries and is an important symbol of America’s goodwill. Any move to eliminate these important U.S. commodity donation programs would be shortsighted, ineffective, and could ultimately jeopardize national security and merchant mariner jobs. “Unlike other foreign aid programs, these timetested programs do more than just send aid overseas,” he continued. “Food for Peace is a point of pride for the 44,000 American farmers, shippers, processors, port workers, and merchant mariners whose jobs depend upon the program. Food for Peace is not just a handout. It’s the sharing of American bounty and American know-how to help rescue those less fortunate from starvation and chronic food insecurity. By creating a uniquely sustainable public-private partnership among American faith-based organizations and charities, U.S. industry, and the U.S. government, Food for Peace leverages private and public resources to make a meaningful difference for millions of people in a way that government alone or cash handouts simply cannot.” Another consideration, Henry pointed out, is that the “same U.S. citizen mariners and U.S.-flag ships that deliver food aid under the Food for Peace program also provide vital transport capabilities for our troops. In fact, they delivered more than 90 percent of defense cargo to military posts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, without the base of food aid cargoes to help sustain the commercial U.S.flag fleet, we will not be able to sustain the national defense sealift capability our military needs without significant additional federal expenditures.” He concluded, “We all agree on the importance of reducing spending during these trying economic times, but the Food for Peace program has already been cut 35 percent since 2008 despite increased need among the most vulnerable populations in the world. Now is not the time to eliminate the most dependable tool we have to fight global hunger.” Jones Act Has No Role in Fuel Prices One of the American maritime industry’s most respected voices recently set the record straight on baseless accusations that the Jones Act somehow plays a role in bumping up the cost of gasoline in the U.S. Retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Albert Herberger, who also served as U.S. maritime administrator and as the deputy commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, wrote an op-ed clearly explaining that the nation’s freight cabotage law doesn’t cause “pain at the pump.” In part, Herberger, who remains an industry spokesman, wrote, “The Jones Act is a long-standing U.S. maritime law that mandates the use of vessels that are American-crewed, -built and -owned to move cargo between two U.S. ports. The law is critical for American economic, national and homeland security, which is why it has enjoyed the support of the U.S. Navy, many members of Congress of both parties, and every president in modern history. It doesn’t make sense to blame the American shipping industry in general, and the Jones Act in particular, for the spike in gasoline prices. The cost of shipping does not affect the price at the pump — the global market does. “The overwhelming factor in the price of gasoline at the pump is the price of its main raw material — crude oil, the price of which is set in the global marketplace,” he continued. “The cost of crude accounts Vice Adm. Albert Herberger U.S. Navy, Retired for about two-thirds of the price of gasoline. Data from the American Petroleum Institute show the price of crude oil has spiked over the past several months, which has led to the spike in gasoline prices.” The admiral added that basic supply and demand also affects the price at the pump, and while the reason for the spike in crude oil prices is complicated, “most experts believe an improving economy and demand in China has also driven the crude spike. According to the Energy In- formation Administration, other factors also affect the price at the pump, including the value of the dollar, state and local taxes, geopolitical issues, decisions by OPEC, inflation and weather. The cost of transportation within the United States, however, is so insignificant as to have no effect on the price to consumers at the pump.” Also worth noting, Herberger wrote, is that the Jones Act “has proved efficient and has made significant contributions to the U.S. economy. Today, the maritime industry is the most economical and environmentally friendly form of domestic transportation, moving more than 1 billion tons of cargo annually at a fraction of the cost of other modes. It is no wonder that the domestic fleet governed by the Jones Act moves a quarter of the nation’s freight for just 2 percent of the national freight bill. And despite false claims by critics, there is ample capacity in the U.S.-flag fleet to address changes in petroleum product markets as a result of Northeast refinery closures. A large American tank vessel fleet of modern and highly sophisticated vessels exists in this country to move petroleum products from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northeast. “It is our hope that the gasoline prices come down as soon as possible. The U.S.-flag fleet stands ready to continue transporting fuel efficiently and effectively to meet America’s energy needs.” April 2013 3/26/2013 7:26:22 PM �MTD Speakers Draw Blueprint for Revitalization Industry, Government, Military and Labor Leaders Push for Strong U.S. Fleet Despite facing significant challenges, both the maritime industry and the union movement are quite capable of revitalization, according to representatives of the administration, the U.S. military, business, government and organized labor. Guest speakers from each of those sectors addressed the Maritime Trades Department (MTD), AFL-CIO executive board Feb. 21-22 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. They were candid in assessing obstacles faced by labor and industry, but also were adamant that solidarity and hard work will lead to success. SIU President Michael Sacco, who also serves as MTD president, chaired the meeting. The MTD is a constitutional department of the AFL-CIO consisting of 23 affili- ated unions representing 5 million members. The MTD also includes 21 port maritime councils. In opening the session, Sacco recalled that union members played an indispensable role in helping re-elect a proworker administration last November. “We showed once again that grassroots political action is the greatest weapon we’ve got,” he told the board and 200 or so guests. “That’s been true for as long as the labor movement has been in existence, and there is no doubt that unions made the difference on November 6. We helped win the White House; we helped build on a pro-worker majority in the Senate; and we helped secure many other victories, including the defeat of California’s anti-worker Proposition 32.” He also touched on this year’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report that showed a drop in overall union membership. “Those numbers don’t tell the whole story,” Sacco stated. “Our numbers are down because of state-level attacks on workers’ rights in the public sector and also because the economy is still bad, so people are out of work. But the report also showed that membership grew in California and some other states, and it also showed once again that union members earn more money and have better benefits, on average, compared to non-union workers…. “We’re in a battle in the labor movement, but we’ve never been afraid of a fight,” he continued. “And we’re going to win the fight against so-called right-to-work (for less) laws. We’re going to mobilize like we did last year as we restore and protect public-sector rights. We’re going to bring back fairness in union organizing campaigns, so the deck isn’t stacked against people who want to exercise their legal right to form or join a union. We know it’s not easy and we know it’s a long road. But we’re still a force, as we proved on Election Day, and I’m optimistic about our future.” In order of appearance, the following guest speakers addressed the board on Feb. 21: Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie (D); Steve Bertelli, secretary-treasurer of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers; Donald Dame, vice president of human resources, General Dynamics NASSCO; Rear Adm. Joseph Servidio, U.S. Coast Guard assistant commandant for prevention policy; Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command; and Steve Cotton, acting general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation. The following day, the board heard from (also in order) Matthew Cox, president and CEO of Seafarers-contracted Matson Navigation; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; United Mine Workers Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Kane; Fred Myers, executive director and CEO of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance; Michael Stotz, president and managing director of the AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation; and Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris. The board also approved policy statements highlighting its beliefs, goals and strategies. Related content is available on the MTD website, maritimetrades.org See pages 9-13 for more MTD coverage MTD President Michael Sacco (above) tells the board he is optimistic about labor’s future. In the photo at right, board members and guests welcome a speaker (AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka). Navy Christens USNS Montford Point At General Dynamics NASSCO Shipyard First Mobile Landing Platform Means New Jobs for Seafarers The USNS Montford Point is moored pier-side in San Diego during the christening ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique Pineiro) Gen. James Amos Commandant, USMC April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 3 Rear Adm. Mark Buzby Commander, MSC The Seafarers-contracted USNS Montford Point, the Navy’s first mobile landing platform (MLP) ship, was christened in San Diego March 2. Scheduled for delivery in mid-May, the Montford Point was built by union members at General Dynamics NASSCO, and will be operated by Ocean Ships, Inc. It’s the first in a three-ship order and is scheduled for mobilization as part of the Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) prepositioning fleet. The Montford Point, which is 784 feet long, is named in honor of the 20,000 African American Marine Corps recruits who trained at Camp Montford Point, N.C., from 1942 to 1949. Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, gave the keynote address at the christening. MSC Commander Rear Adm. Mark Buzby also was a featured speaker as more than 1,000 attendees – including more than 30 original Montford Point Marines – gathered at the shipyard. SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey represented the union; others attending included U.S. Reps. Susan Davis, Juan Vargas and Scott Peters (each a California Democrat). Jackie Bolden, the wife of NASA Ad- ministrator Charles Bolden (a retired Marine major general), christened the vessel. “Today we recognize the legacy of the Montford Point Marines with another pioneering effort,” said Amos. “[This ship] represents a leap ahead in our nation’s ability to project power across the world’s oceans. As an inter-operable pier in the sea, the [mobile landing platform] will significantly reduce our requirement for foreign ports in which to offload our equipment.” “This ship, with its unique capabilities, will become the centerpiece of seabasing, allowing the U.S. Navy to raise forward operations to a new level,” said Buzby. “Wherever the call, whatever the need, USNS Montford Point will be part of the Navy’s global force for good.” He added that the crew’s “determination will stand this ship and its mission in good stead as they sail anywhere on the globe that the mission sends them.” The other MLP vessels are the USNS John Glenn and the USNS Lewis B. Puller. They’re scheduled for delivery in early 2014 and early 2015, respectively. Including options, the Ocean Ships operating contract is for five years. Seafarers LOG 3 3/26/2013 7:26:26 PM �Union officials and port agents listen to presentations on the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan’s new health clinic system. CHSi, GCR Brief Officials on New Clinic System Top-ranking union officials and agents from the union’s 20 constitutionally established ports received a comprehensive briefing on the operational particulars of the new Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) Health Clinic System Feb. 19 in Orlando, Fla. Conducting the seminar was Kay Whitson, program manager of Cape Canaveral, Fla.-based Comprehensive Health Services (CHSi), the firm which the both the SIU and SHBP earlier this year contracted to provide active members with a more extensive network for clinic services. As was reported in the February Seafarers LOG, and earlier at the union membership meetings, CHSi’s larger network—which includes more than 2,000 participating facilities in the contiguous United States—will offer members access (almost without exception) to clinics closer to their homes for annual exams, functional capacity evaluations and interval exams. Whitson provided her audience with step-by-step explanations as to how the new clinic system would operate and what members could expect once they started to use it. Joining Whitson in her presentation was Dean Charbonnet, director Technology Services, GCR, Inc. GCR provides both the union and Seafarers Plans with consulting services and technology solutions. Charbonnet briefed those in attendance on how members eventually would be able to access and use the new health clinic system via the member portal of the SIU website (www.seafarers.org). Whitson told those present that utilizing the new clinic system will allow mariners to schedule the exams they need by following an eight step process. Medical exams are of two types (automated and approval required by the SHBP Medical Department) and are required at various frequencies. The medical exams are as follows: Automated Exams n Annual Physical Examination – required no more than once annually, no sooner than 60 days prior to the expiration date of the previous annual exam n New Member Physical Exam – this is a one-time requirement and is necessary only upon entry into the system n U.S. Coast Guard Exam – required once every two years unless the mariner is upgrading n Interval Exam – needed once every six months for deep sea members n DOT/U.S. Coast Guard Drug Test – needed once every six months (unless otherwise authorized by the SHBP Medical Department) n Benzene Clearance – mandatory no more than once annually, no sooner than 60 days prior to the expiration date of previous annual exam n Steward Department Certification – compulsory no more than once annually, no sooner than 60 days prior to the expiration date of the mariner’s previous annual exam n Unlicensed Apprentice Physical Exam – Will become automated after initial HLSS notification of acceptance. Exam is required one time only upon entry into the system. n Functional Capacity Evaluation – required no more than once annually, no sooner than 60 days prior to expiration date of previous annual exam Approval Required Exams n Return to Duty Exam – (repatriation, interval illness or injury, etc.) Required upon demand by SHBP Medical Department n MSC Physical Exam – required by job order and approved as necessary by the SHBP Medical Department n MSC Shots only– required by job order and approved as necessary by the SHBP Medical Department n Commercial Non-MSC Shots only– required by job order and approved as necessary by the SHBP Medical Department n ARC Exam – approval required by ARC and SHBP Medical Department n TB Screening only – needed upon demand by SHBP Medical Department Following are the steps that should be taken to schedule exams: Step 1 – Ports (and eventually all mariners) order the exam type they need Step 2 – CHSi receives exam request Step 3 – CHSi schedules exams and notifies mariner of appointment date. All paperwork/lab kits are sent to the local clinics Step 4 – CHSi network clinic performs Kay Whitson Program Manager Comprehensive Health Services exams and completes all associated paperwork. All paperwork/lab kits are sent to local clinics Step 5 – CHSi network clinic sends completed paperwork to CHSi and lab specimens to lab Step 6 – CHSi conducts quality assurance of all paperwork for completeness Step 7 – CHSi Medical Review Officer reviews record and makes preliminary determination and recommendations Step 8 – CHSi sends completed medical record to SHBP Medical Department According to SHBP Administrator Maggie Bowen, the new clinic system was rolled out March 1. In order to foster a seamless transition to the new system, union and SHBP officials opted to bring ports on-line in a staggered fashion, she said. Following are the dates on which the system went live at the respective ports: Went online effective March 4 n Jacksonville and Norfolk Went online effective March 18 n Tacoma, New York, Houston, Oakland, Piney Point and Ft. Lauderdale Reminder for Prospective Pensioners Requirements Must Be Satisfied to Receive Benefits In order for a pensioner to be eligible for pensioner health benefits from the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP), they must meet the following eligibility requirements: n 5,475 days of covered employment under the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan if retiring on a Normal Pension or Early Normal Pension n 4,380 days of covered employment under the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan if retiring on a Disability Pension, and n At least 125 days of covered employment in the calendar year immediately 4 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG_X.indd 4 preceding the year in which participant becomes eligible for and applies for pension benefits. Covered employment under the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan does not include “Extra Service Credit” or “Supplemental Service” earned under the Seafarers Pension Plan. These days do not count for eligibility under the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. In addition, days for which a participant may receive more than one day’s credit for one day worked and/ or credit received for vacation days are not counted toward eligibility under the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan. Under the Seafarers Pension Plan Rules, a participant may qualify for a Normal Pension Benefit, an Early Normal Pension Benefit, or a Disability Pension Benefit, but not satisfy the covered employment requirements under the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan for pensioner health benefits. Detailed information about pensioners’ benefits is available under the Member Benefits tab (SHBP section) at www. seafarers.org (see the SHBP Guide for retirees), or you may contact the Seafarers Plans at 1-800-252-4674 to request a printed copy of this guide. Dean Charbonnet Director, Technology Services GCR, Inc. n Went online effective March 25 Algonac, Anchorage, Baltimore, Guam, Harvey, Honolulu, Joilet, Mobile, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, St. Louis and Wilmington Bowen emphasized that if members require clinic services prior to the date their ports went online and began using the new system, they should continue using the process and clinics they relied on in the past. She pointed out, however, that members will need to go into the halls to schedule and receive receipts to present at clinics to obtain services. Notice to Mariners Don’t Let Bad Timing Cost You Employment With the introduction of the new clinic services program, mariners should keep the following considerations in mind so that they don’t miss out on any employment opportunities: n Since you can now get these services closer to your home, there is at least a three-day window to get into a clinic. The process to schedule an appointment takes longer since paperwork and lab materials have to be sent from the CHSi processing location directly to the clinics. n Some of the exam requests need Medical department approval which requires time to get accomplished. In addition, until you have been through the system the first time, there is an exchange of medical history which also requires time. n Immediate exams have almost been eliminated. This includes drug screens. You can begin the process 60 days before the expiration of your current documents so start early. Be prepared because it takes more time now. April 2013 3/28/2013 6:46:56 AM �GAO Report Refutes Jones Act Critics Study Finds Cabotage Law Good for Puerto Rico A new government study examining the impact of the Jones Act on Puerto Rico has sunk allegations that the Jones Act is costly and inconvenient for those living there. Conducted by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), the study found Puerto Rico’s U.S. domestic container shipping fleet has not only provided top-notch service and reliability, but has also seen significant reductions in price over the last few years. “The (Jones Act) has helped to ensure reliable, regular service between the United States and Puerto Rico – service that is important to the Puerto Rican economy,” read the GAO report’s conclusion. In a statement following the report’s release last month, the American Maritime Partnership (AMP) said the report clearly dispels a series of un-truths perpetuated by a small group of critics pushing for the Jones Act’s repeal. “GAO disproved charges that the Jones Act raises prices for consumers in Puerto Rico,” AMP said in the statement. “GAO specifically said, ‘[S]o many factors influence freight rates and product prices that the independent effect and associated economic costs of the Jones Act cannot be determined.’” AMP, whose affiliates include the SIU, is considered the most broad-based coalition ever assembled to represent the domestic maritime industry. Its 450-plus members span the country and include vessel owners and operators, shipboard and shore-side unions, shipbuilders and repair yards, equipment manufacturers and vendors, dredging and marine construction contractors, trade associations, other coalitions, pro-defense groups, and companies and organizations in other modes of domestic transportation. The Jones Act stipulates that all cargo shipped between U.S. ports be transported on vessels that are owned, built, flagged and crewed by Americans. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Jones Act accounts for approximately 500,000 jobs, more than $100 billion in annual economic input and nearly $11 billion in annual tax revenue. While critics of the Jones Act have argued the law has resulted in higher shipping costs, the GAO study showed no evidence of those charges. If anything, AMP said, the GAO report showed how those criticisms of the Jones Act were baseless and lacked the data to back up their cost-related assertions. “GAO’s report confirmed that previous estimates of the so-called ‘cost’ of the Jones Act are not verifiable and cannot be proven,” AMP said. “In many cases, GAO cited allegations against the American fleet despite admitting that the claims could not be validated or verified.” Conducted between October 2011 and February 2013, the study was the most comprehensive examination of the relationship between the Jones Act and Puerto Rico ever produced. AMP said the large amount of data included in the report showed just how wrong allegations of high Jones Act costs were. “In fact, container shipping rates in Puerto Rico for American companies dropped as much as 17 percent between 2006 and 2010, according to the study,” AMP said. “GAO said there is no guarantee that shipping rates would go down further if the Jones Act were changed.” Aside from its economic significance, the Jones Act is also considered vital to national defense. American mariners have been called on to serve their country time and time again during periods of national crisis or war, and the Jones Act has ensured U.S. Merchant Mariners were available to answer that call. Statements by the U.S. Navy and other segments and supporters of the military have underscored just how important the law is to the country. As the Navy League of the United States put it, “As a maritime nation, the United States depends not only on a strong Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, it also requires a strong commercial maritime industry. The Jones Act must be maintained so that … U.S. citizen mariners can continue to provide the economic and military support that is critical to our national interests.” In its statement, AMP said it was happy to see the GAO report highlight some of the important national security benefits of the Jones Act. “In fact, the study quoted the Defense Department and the U.S. Maritime Administration as saying the contributions of American commercial shipyards are more important than ever as the number of new military vessels being constructed is reduced by federal budget cuts,” AMP said. “American ship construction for Puerto Rico is important for national security because (according to GAO) it ‘help[s shipbuilders] sustain their operations, as well as helps them to retain a skilled workforce and supplier base. Absent new orders, that workforce could be put at risk.” Perez Picked for Labor Secretary President Barack Obama has nomi- so heavily toward corporations and the nated Assistant Attorney General and very wealthy, our country needs leaders former Maryland Labor chief Thomas like Tom Perez to champion the cause Perez to be the next U.S. Secretary of of ordinary working people.” Labor. At the Justice Department, Perez Perez, head of the Justice Depart- cracked down on housing discriminament’s Civil Rights Division, would tion and hate crimes while also fightreplace Hilda Solis, who spent the last ing employers who cheated workers out four years as Obama’s labor secretary. of wages and health care. Prior to that, Perez’s confirmation would make him he served as Maryland’s secretary of the only Latino in the president’s sec- labor, helping to implement the counond-term cabinet. try’s first statewide living-wage law. Born a son of immigrants with Maryland Governor Martin working-class roots, Perez was hailed O’Malley, who picked Perez in 2007 by Obama as someone who understood to head the Maryland Department of the issues facing the middle class and Labor, called him “a valuable and outwould expand opportunities for all standing member” of the state’s cabiAmericans. net. “Like so many Americans, Tom “I am confident that he will serve knows what it’s like to climb the lad- the American people well as the nader of opportunity. He’s the son of tion’s economy continues a strong reDominican parents. He helped pay his covery,” O’Malley said in a statement. way through college “Under his leaderas a garbage colship in Maryland, lector and working he worked diligently at a warehouse. He to find innovative went on to become ways to protect our the first lawyer in state’s workforce his family,” Obama in the toughest of said during a March times. From fore18 nomination cereclosure protection to mony for Perez. “So living-wage implehis story reminds mentation to workus of this counforce development try’s promise, that and skills training, if you’re willing to Tom established an work hard, it doesn’t aggressive portfolio matter who you are, that helped Marywhere you come landers weather a from, what your last changing new econname is – you can omy.” make it if you try.” Perez, meanObama’s choice while, said he’s of Perez as the couneager to get to work. Thomas Perez try’s next labor sec“As you well Labor Secretary Nominee retary was met with know, our nation still praise from many faces critical ecoin the labor community, including the nomic challenges, and the department’s AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affili- mission is as important as ever,” he ated. In a statement following Perez’s said during his nomination ceremony. nomination, AFL-CIO President Rich- “I am confident that together with our ard Trumka said working men and partners in organized labor, the busiwomen would be well-served by Perez ness community, grassroots commuas head of the Labor Department. nities, Republicans, Democrats, and “Throughout his career, Perez has Independents alike, we can keep makfought to level the playing field and ing progress for all working families. I create opportunities for working peo- look forward to meeting with senators ple, whether in the workplace, the mar- of both parties to discuss the Labor Deketplace or the voting booth,” Trumka partment’s key role – protecting and said. “At a time when our politics tilts growing the middle class.” April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 5 The USNS Choctaw County is pictured last fall at the shipyard. (Photo courtesy Austal) More Jobs on Horizon for CIVMARS, Other Seafarers Second JHSV Completes Builder’s Trials The USNS Choctaw County, the second of the Navy’s new joint high-speed vessels (JHSV), completed builder’s trials March 7-8 in Mobile, Ala. The ship is under construction at Austal USA. Builder’s trials are a key step in the construction and delivery of a vessel. They offer the first chance to operate the ship underway and test overall system performance prior to demonstration to Navy inspectors. As previously reported, the Navy has ordered 10 JHSVs. The first four ships will be manned by federally employed civilian mariners, while the remaining six will be crewed by seafarers working for private operators under contract to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). According to MSC, the Choctaw County’s trials included operating the ship’s propulsion plant for many hours at different power levels, up to full power; testing and calibration of communication and naviga- tional systems; ride control systems testing; and pollution control systems tests. Maneuverability trials tested the ship’s four steerable water jets while a series of high-speed turns demonstrated the stability and agility of the JHSV’s catamaran hull form. The ship reached speeds of more than 41 knots. The Choctaw County is scheduled for delivery this summer. Each ship in the fleet will be 338 feet long. MSC describes the JHSVs as “designed to commercial standards, with limited modifications for military use. [Each] vessel is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combatloaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2). Other joint requirements include an aviation flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations.” Seafarers LOG 5 3/26/2013 7:26:32 PM �Seafarers Support Operation Deep Freeze SIU members and AMO officers are pictured on the deck of the Maersk Peary. S IU members recently continued their decades-old tradition of supporting the yearly resupply mission to McMurdo Station in Antarctica – a mobilization known as Operation Deep Freeze. The SIU-crewed ships Maersk Peary (operated by Maersk Line, Limited) and Ocean Giant (operated by Crowley for Intermarine) played vital roles in this year’s mission to the remote scientific research outpost. The Ocean Giant transported nearly seven million pounds of supplies such as frozen and dry food stores, building supplies, vehicles and electronic equipment and parts, according to the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), while the Maersk Peary carried more than six million gallons of diesel fuel, jet fuel and gasoline. Continued on next page The Maersk Peary (right) preps for a refueling with an icebreaker near the station. 6 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG_X.indd 6 Chief Cook Alberto Insong, Recertified Steward Tony Spain, SA Mark Keller April 2013 3/28/2013 6:47:09 AM �Mariners Resupply Scientific Outpost Continued from Page 6 Civilian mariners have supported the annual mission since 1955. This year, according to MSC, they helped deliver “100 percent of the fuel and about 80 percent of the supplies that researchers and support personnel in Antarctica need to survive and work over the course of a year.” The ships also return with cargo from the station, including “ice core samples carried back to the United States in sub-zero freezer containers, as well as trash and recyclable materials for disposal and equipment no longer required on station.” SIU members aboard the Maersk Peary during Operation Deep Freeze 2013 included Recertified Bosun Ronald Paradise, AB Nathaniel Lynch, AB Vincent Castellano, AB Xavier Alfaro, AB Christopher Allen, AB David Kennedy, Pumpman Virgilio Demegillo, QMED Nicholas Gattuso, QMED Lee Wright, Wiper Elliot Duncan, Recertified Steward Tony Spain, Chief Cook Alberto Insong and SA Mark Keller. Editor’s note: Thanks to Recertified Steward Tony Spain for rounding up and submitting the photos on these two pages, all from the Maersk Peary. Additional photos from the voyage are posted in the Gallery section of the SIU website (www.seafarers.org) and in an album on our Facebook page. The National Science Foundation manages the U.S. Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station. (The Peary is visible near the top of the photo.) U.S. Air Force Col. Gary James (right in photo at left) presents medals and certificates to crew members including (from left) SA Mark Keller, QMED Nicholas Gattuso and Recertified Bosun Ronald Paradise. The Air Force thanked Seafarers for their support by presenting the Antarctica Service Medal (photo above). Engine-department mariners gather for a photo aboard the Maersk Peary. April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG_X.indd 7 Seafarers LOG 7 3/28/2013 6:47:12 AM �Seafaring Father, Son Sail Together Again Editor’s note: The following account and the accompanying photos were submitted by Seafarer Alton Hickman Jr. It was truly a blessing to sail with my father again – it had been 16 years since were on the same ship, back in 1996, the Sam Houston. My name is Alton Hickman Jr., and my father’s name is Alton Hickman Sr. Combined, we have 63 years sailing in the SIU: 42 for him, 21 for me. I sail as chief electrician or reefer electrician and my old man sails as QMED. We made a whole 42-day trip together on Maersk’s Sealand Comet this past July 23 through Sept. 4, 2012. I am sending some photos we took while on board. I ship out of the port of Houston, while my father ships out of Wilmington, Calif. The SIU has been very good to both of us, and we’ve been able to achieve success in other areas of life thanks to our good incomes earned aboard SIU-contracted vessels. We have a record store in New Orleans, and my father owns some property. The union has opened doors for the whole family, in fact, and I sincerely hope our story can inspire other seamen to become more business-minded and invest some of the very good money they make out there at sea. You name it, the SIU has been extremely good to us. Chief Electrician Alton Hickman Jr. (pictured above last year aboard the Sealand Comet) credits the union for opening doors for his whole family. Hickman Jr. and his father sailed together in 1996 aboard the Sam Houston (photo at far left) and again last year on the Sealand Comet (photo at immediate left). U.S. Coast Guard Salutes SIU/Crowley Tug Crew Seafarers-contracted Crowley Maritime recently reported that the SIU crew of the tugboat Explorer received kudos from the U.S. Coast Guard for their humanitarian actions late last year. According to the company, Rear Adm. William Baumgartner, commander of the agency’s Seventh District (headquartered in Miami), sent a letter saluting Capt. Andrew Smith and his fellow Jacksonville, Fla.-area Seafarers “for their humanitarian actions, unwavering determination, professionalism and skilled seamanship after they assisted a disabled vessel 30 miles west of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, in December. The Explorer arrived on scene soon after the vessel became stranded, and provided assistance to the stricken crew by giving them water, lifejackets, flashlights and a hand-held radio until the Coast Guard arrived on scene to provide assistance.” In addition to Smith, the crew included Chief Mate David W. Keefe, Chief Engineer Robert A. Malouin, AB Marcus Huntley, AB Raymond A. Petterson, and OS Richard C. Smith. Celebrating Safety Milestone at Petty’s Island SIU members at Crowley’s Petty’s Island, N.J., facility in early March celebrated a significant safety achievement: 552 consecutive accident-free days. Officials from the union and the company, including Crowley President/CEO Tom Crowley Jr., gathered with members to recognize the milestone. Among those pictured are SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, VP Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi and Philadelphia Port Agent Joe Baselice. SIU boatmen employed by Crowley earned kudos for humanitarian actions. 8 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG_X.indd 8 April 2013 3/28/2013 6:47:15 AM �2013 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Acting Labor Secretary Harris Advocates View That Unions Are Key to Middle-Class Resurgence Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Seth Harris recently offered forceful comments reaffirming his belief in the critical importance of unions, and he also cited American maritime labor as a model for part of a national economic recovery. “Any strategy that talks about American workers’ wages must begin with every worker’s right to organize and bargain collectively,” Harris said during his address to the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board Feb. 22 near Orlando, Fla. “It’s very simple: Unions raise wages. Unions assure workers have pensions. Unions win workers health insurance. Unions give workers a voice in their workplace. Unions guarantee fairness and fight discrimination. Unions win paid leave for workers when they’re sick or must care for their family members. Unions are a central pillar of the American middle class.” SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as president of the MTD, which is a constitutional department of the AFL-CIO. The MTD’s 23 affiliated unions and 21 port maritime councils represent 5 million workers; its board includes presidents and other high-ranking officials from those affiliates. When introducing Harris to the 200-plus audience members, Sacco jokingly said the acting secretary credits his success to the foundation he built many years ago working as a field representative for both the SIU and the MTD. But Harris said there is a lot of truth in that sentiment. In fact, he said that during his time as a union representative, what stood out is that the other reps (including, at that time, Mike Sacco) and officials wanted to pave the way for a better life for working families. He admired “their savvy and their passion. They knew that livelihoods and jobs were hanging in the balance, and that families needed a strong labor movement.” That experience, along with working directly with members, “inspired me to devote my career to the cause that we all believe in and the values we all share,” Harris told the board and guests, including several highranking executives from U.S. businesses. “And that is the simple idea that American families should be able to get good jobs; they should be paid a living wage; they should have a voice in their workplaces; they should arrive home safe and healthy after the job is done.” He said the Obama administration shares those commitments and strongly believes the economy must be strengthened “from the middle out.” Echoing an outline from the most recent State of the Union address, Harris said that we as a nation “have to attract more jobs to our shores, equip people with skills to do those jobs, and make sure that hard work leads to a decent, living wage. The unions and employers in this room have been models that we can rely on for answers.” He said America can’t afford to offer corporate tax incentives to move jobs overseas. In fact, he said U.S. tax laws should reward companies that bring back jobs to America and expand hiring here at home. We must also reinvest in rebuilding America’s infrastructure, Harris continued. Exports are up, “but American goods don’t ship themselves. We need a 21st century transportation infrastructure and a growing American-flag merchant fleet that will make the United States the most competitive place in the world to do business.” When it comes to jobs training, President Obama has cited the importance of partnerships between the trainers and employers. Here, Harris said, the maritime industry, along with the building trades and metal trades, “offer a model for other industries. From the (SIU-affiliated) Paul Hall Center at Piney Point (Md.) to the apprenticeship programs that we find all across our country, we see labor and management and skills trainers and job-seekers coming together to build pathways into good middle-class jobs. The employers work with the train- Immediately following his address to the MTD, Acting Labor Secretary Seth Harris (left) stops for a photo with MTD President Michael Sacco (right) and International Union of Operating Engineers President James Callahan. ers to define the competencies that workers will need. The unions and the employers agree how they’ll fund the training and find on-the-job training opportunities. The unions and the trainers test the curriculums, they build the programs, and they recruit the workers. And the workers devote themselves to learning the skills they’ll need to lead to new jobs.” He has been visiting community colleges across the U.S. that are trying to build programs “that look very much like what you would find at Piney Point or any of the training facilities or apprentice programs run by the organizations in this room.” Once a job is secured, Harris said, union representation can help ensure fairness for all concerned. He then addressed the administration’s push to boost the minimum wage and to index it to the cost of living. Harris pointed out that contrary to conventional wisdom, the vast majority (80 percent) of minimumwage earners are not teenagers. “They live life one setback away from disaster.” In his travels, Harris said he has met a number of minimum-wage workers, and without exception they are hard workers just trying to do their best and make ends meet. U.S. Admirals Praise Mariners’ Work, Cooperation Between Unions, Agencies American mariners and their unions are valued partners and crucial assets for the country, said two high-ranking military officers in recent remarks to the Maritime Trades Department (MTD), AFL-CIO executive board. Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), and Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, assistant commandant for prevention policy for the U.S. Coast Guard, addressed the board Feb. 21 near Orlando, Fla. Buzby oversees an agency that operates more than 100 Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, SIU VP Gov’t. Services Kercivilian-crewed military support ships, many of them with mett Mangram SIU crews. He addressed the board for the fourth straight year (and also was a featured speaker at last year’s Seafarers International Union of North America convention). Buzby primarily discussed the potential effects of sequestration on parts of the maritime industry and then his recent voyage aboard the Navy’s first joint high-speed vessel (JHSV), the Seafarers-crewed USNS Spearhead. In the face of the wide-ranging federal cuts and furloughs, he stated, “I pledge to you that we’re going to do everything we possibly can to the benefit of our mariners – to keep them working and keep them from having a nickel taken away from them. They do such tremendous work for us, I owe it to them.” Nevertheless, for the Navy as a whole, Buzby said he expects sequestration, combined SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez, Rear Adm. Joseph Servidio, SIU Sec.- with previous budget cuts for the current fiscal year, to “have a debilitating effect on us.” Treas. David Heindel April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 9 Responding to pundits who have said the Defense Department should be able to handle the billions of dollars of cuts with minimal difficulty, Buzby declared, “We could easily absorb this if we had the options to absorb it in the right places. But when you’re forced to do it in specific places, or indiscriminately, it really has significant impact. That’s what’s causing us a lot of heartburn.” He reviewed money-saving actions already taken by MSC and other steps being considered, including placing some ships in reduced operating status and cancelling all major exercises. On a brighter note, Buzby described spending four days aboard the Spearhead, the first in a planned fleet of 10 JHSVs. He rode it from the Gulf Coast to Norfolk, Va., and said it’s a great boost to America’s sealift capability. The Spearhead is “basically a big, fast box,” he said. “She can do a number of missions. It’s a tremendous ship manned by 22 mariners who are very highly trained, and let me tell you, they are having a ball. She was definitely worth the wait.” Speed is a significant asset for the ships in this fleet, and the Spearhead, made of aluminum, can sail at 35 knots. It’s 338 feet long, 96 feet wide and can carry 600 tons of cargo in addition to more than 300 troops. The Spearhead will host the change-of-command ceremony May 10 in Little Creek, Va., as Buzby completes his tour as MSC commander. Servidio’s wide-ranging responsibilities at the Coast Continued on Page 11 Seafarers LOG 9 3/26/2013 7:26:47 PM �2013 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting ‘It’s Up to Us to Make It Happen’ The blueprint for strengthening the labor movement isn’t simple and the task won’t be easy, but history and solidarity prove it can be done. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, a longtime friend of the SIU, delivered that message Feb. 22 when he addressed the executive board of the federation’s Maritime Trades Department (MTD) near Orlando, Fla. “America’s labor unions and America’s working people are in a tough place. There will be no easy answers,” Trumka told the board. “But progress never comes easy. It never has and never will…. It’s up to us to make it happen. Working people want and need progress, and we’re not afraid to go the extra mile.” Trumka called upon personal history – including cooperative experiences with MTD President Michael Sacco (who also serves as SIU president) – as an inspiration for today’s labor movement. He recalled difficult times nearly 40 years ago, when Trumka was a United Mine Workers official (he later became the union’s president) assisting coal miners in Kentucky and Illinois while Sacco was organizing inland boatmen. “We sealed our friendship” at that time, Trumka noted, by supporting each other’s efforts. “Solidarity is a remarkable thing,” he continued. “You can’t put it on a scale to weigh it. You can’t measure it in board feet. It can seem contradictory: The harder it is to do, the more powerful it gets. And when it really gets rolling, solidarity – true solidarity – can come out the winner in any contest, and in the process it makes everybody stronger. “Mike and I have been through a lot together. We know the meaning of true solidarity.” The federation president said labor history is “instructive, and all of us can learn from the past. History helps us gain context for the present. And we can take those lessons and use them to shape a strong vision for the future.” Trumka also talked about the recently released government report on union membership that showed a decline in 2012. He said he worries both about those members who lost work and about their families. “Those numbers are no accident, but the result of sustained effort by our opponents, who want to crush the futures of our members and silence our voices,” he explained. “The lives and livelihoods of real people are at stake. The loss of those members also endangers the institutions of the labor movement. Our unions have fewer resources to put into political battles, to lobby for working families on Capitol Hill, to bargain contracts and to organize new workplaces. “The loss of those members makes it harder to mobilize and win the things your members need and what America needs. I’m talking about fighting against the flags-ofconvenience. I’m talking about cracking down on piracy – and I’m glad to say that struggle is going fairly well. I’m talking about the defense of the Jones Act, and your advocacy of maritime infrastructure, of adequate ports and harbors, of connecting rail and trucking to our shipping centers, of so many other important issues you advocate for.” However, he also pointed out that tens of thousands of people in 2012 visited the AFLCIO online to inquire about forming or joining a union. Candidly as always, he followed up by saying not enough people view unions as vehicles to better their lives. “I’d say we have a laundry list of reasons why that’s the case,” Trumka stated. “The broken NLRB, feckless political friends and ironclad political opponents, bad actors in business, but in the end, those reasons aren’t good enough. We also know our unions haven’t done enough to change and to reach out to those workers on their ground, not ours. We have to do better.” Again reflecting on labor history, he said that today’s advocates “must use the institutions of our unions to grow the movement of labor, and then to regularize and institutionalize the strongest elements of that move- AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka ment. That’s what the United Mine Workers did under John L. Lewis, with the organizing committees that built the great unions of the CIO: the Steelworkers, the Communications Workers and so many others. The growth of unions in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s didn’t come about by accident but as a result of hard work, of creative and relentless work. We need to do the same thing today. And, to realize that vision, we need courage and a belief that the impossible can be pos- Hawaii Governor: ‘We Can Win This Thing’ Labor’s agenda is good for America, but the only way to enact it is by electing politicians who’ll support working families, said a longtime SIU ally. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie stressed the ongoing need for grassroots political action and also covered other key topics when he kicked off the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meetings Feb. 21 near Orlando, Fla. Always a favorite speaker at MTD gatherings, the former congressman told board members and guests that next year’s congressional campaigns have already begun – and that organized labor must be active in them. Abercrombie credited the labor movement for last year’s get-out-the-vote efforts, including a massively successful online voter registration drive in California. He said unions and other labor organizations also did a good job getting younger voters to the polls – their numbers were up significantly compared to the previous election. As those in the movement well know, however, the struggle never ends, and Abercrombie said it’s not too soon to focus on the 2014 U.S. House of Representatives races. He said that while maritime is a bipartisan issue, it’s important to put a pro-worker majority in power. “If we do it, then we can begin to put the agenda of the Maritime Trades into action,” he stated. “We’ve got these values that have sustained the labor movement throughout its entire existence. They’re at stake right now. The next campaign is already under way. We’ve got to find those candidates that are going to be representative of the values that your membership expects you to stand up for – expects us to stand up for. It can be done. “Labor has always been about solidarity: One for all and all for one,” he continued. “An injury to one is an injury to all. Those are the kinds of values – the fundamentals – that make the labor movement what it is. And so I’m asking you to join together and we can win this thing. And when we win this thing, it means America wins.” 10 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG_X.indd 10 Electing pro-worker candidates is just one step, however. The governor said Congress’ workings have become “totally dysfunctional.” Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie sible. We need a serious and appraising eye, and the absolutely certain belief that every worker – every single worker – deserves a voice on the job and a chance to improve his or her life through collective action. America needs that now, today. “My friends, ours is an important job, a sacred responsibility. It’s time for us to stop wishing the world were different. It’s time to make it different…. We will climb this hill and we will win – together!” Moreover, the turnover on Capitol Hill just in the last dozen years has left fewer elected representatives and senators who are familiar with the maritime industry. Educating new members of Congress is a vital mission for the MTD and the entire industry, he said. Turning to the economy, Abercrombie said workers are suffering from incomes that have been stagnant for many years, and from a corresponding lack of savings. He said the all-too-common sight of adults moving back into their parents’ homes reflects the desperate times. America must address “the greatest income disparity since the Great Depression. That [doesn’t reflect] a prosperous, working middle class,” he said. “Real income is stagnant or declining for millions. This is America! How can that be?” He reminded everyone that America can overcome these challenges. We had a balanced budget during the Clinton administration and were debating whether to pay off the national debt, he recalled, pointing out those days aren’t ancient history. Abercrombie also spoke highly of project labor agreements, and cited current construction of housing for military families as an example of how PLAs provide benefits. That housing in part is a result of bipartisan efforts that Abercrombie helped spearhead. Within the program, every single house is union-built, and every one (there are thousands) “has come in under budget and ahead of schedule.” Using his state as an example, Abercrombie said that many politicians and pundits have erroneously ascribed the nation’s economic woes to too much government spending. “We need productive domestic investment,” he explained, adding the problem isn’t too much spending, but rather “not investing in ourselves.” He said Hawaii is a good example of how it can and should work: Employment there is up, interest rates are down. “The prosperity is going up because we’re investing in our own people and our own infrastructure, and that’s what needs to be done. And you have to put people into office that are going to understand that.” Finally, to those who would say labor’s work is done and unions aren’t needed, he asserted, “We need them now more than ever before.” April 2013 3/28/2013 6:47:17 AM �2013 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Executives Agree, Jones Act Vital for America Even though Matthew Cox and Donald Dame work in different sectors of the American maritime industry, they emphatically agree that the Jones Act is an indispensable contributor to U.S. national and economic security. Cox is president and CEO of Matson Navigation, a Seafarers-contracted company that operates vessels both in the domestic and international trades. Dame is the vice president of human resources at General Dynamics NASSCO, a union shipyard that builds commercial and military vessels. Both men addressed the executive board of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, during late February meetings near Orlando, Fla. While the Jones Act is a common topic at MTD gatherings, it’s particularly timely now, as the nation’s freight cabotage law is under well-funded, deceptive attacks by parties whose only possible interest is sinking the U.S. Merchant Marine. The law mandates that goods moving from one domestic port to another be carried aboard ships that are crewed, built, owned and flagged American. Cox stressed that the Jones Act must be maintained in its entirety, including the U.S.-build component. He said Matson “has put its money where its mouth is” in backing that requirement – they spent more than $500 million from 2002-2006 having vessels built at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (also a union facility). And, Matson is finalizing plans to replace two older ships with ones built in America. (Overall, the company has 10 containerships and three rollon/roll-off vessels in its Jones Act fleet, plus several barges.) “This is an essential part of the Jones Act,” he told the board. “It provides employment for U.S. shipyards and provides capabilities – these skills that are important (in building commercial ships) are also important to the U.S. military.” He said that although it’s more expensive to build in a U.S. yard, “these are assets that will last 30 years or more if properly maintained. If you take that cost and you amortize it over many years, it’s actually a very small component of our total operating costs.” Cox added that another benefit of building at home is that it lessens the likelihood of the country having to depend on foreign nations to support the industry and to meet U.S. sealift needs. He also mentioned a PricewaterhouseCoopers study that demonstrated the Jones Act’s hugely positive impact on America. The study showed the law helps sustain a half-million U.S. jobs and generates more than $100 billion in annual economic output along with $11 billion in annual taxes. Cox said the nation simply can’t afford to outsource those jobs to foreigners. Finally, he emphasized the importance of cooperative efforts from all segments of the industry. For example, Cox mentioned that during the past decade or so, maritime has lost many members of Congress who understood and supported the industry. Educating newer members is a vital task. “Working together is essential,” he stated. “In the Maritime Trades, you’ve long understood the power of working together. It’s important for us on the commercial side to get the owners of various companies to work together with a single voice, to complement the voices of labor.” Dame gave a riveting – and sobering – presentation demonstrating the undesirable parallels between U.S. and United Kingdom (UK) shipbuilding. He said that while it’s not too late to revitalize the industry, we’re on a dangerous course. Since 1953, the U.S. has lost more than 300 shipyards, both commercial and naval, Dame reported. The country now has around 100 yards; the UK, following a similar decline, has five. “We can do something about it,” Dame stated. The expected replacement of ships in the domestic trades “offers hope for U.S. shipbuilding. This requires a strong and intact Jones Act. A healthy Jones Act ensures preservation of our supplier base, our design and production workforces, and of course our seafarers. Amending the Jones Act would wipe out most U.S. commercial Donald Dame General Dynamics NASSCO VP Matthew Cox Matson President/CEO yards and shipping companies. Furthermore, it would limit U.S. Merchant Mariner employment to MSC (the Military Sealift Command).” He stressed the importance of the entire industry actively supporting pro-Jones Act representatives at every level of government, and also called for developing a national transportation policy, led by the Department of Transportation, that includes adequately funding the Title XI loan guarantee program while streamlining the application process. “The U.S. cannot expect to be a global power without the ability to build the breadth of naval ships it requires,” Dame added. “In time, this ability will be lost without commercial shipbuilding to share the costs and develop new technologies. Preserving both commercial and naval shipbuilding will require a shared, concentrated effort by government and industry and labor to develop a national policy that prioritizes shipbuilding. “As the Brits have found,” he continued, “there is an inflection point in the industry where the ability to build certain ships no longer exists. I would argue that we are on the path to that point. While the fate of shipbuilding in the UK may already be written, it is not too late for the U.S.” (He mentioned that the UK recently turned to a foreign yard to build four ships for defense purposes, due to a lack of domestic resources.) Dame wrapped up his talk with a quote from author and political scientist George Friedman: “The United States controls all of the oceans, and that control is not only the foundation of America’s security but also the foundation of its ability to shape international systems. Maintaining its control of the world’s oceans is the single most important goal for the United States geopolitically.” Officers Give Mariners Thumbs Up Continued from Page 9 Union Officials Update Board on Campaigns Secretary-Treasurers from two MTD affiliates – Steve Bertelli (left) of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers, and Dan Kane (right) of the United Mine Workers – updated the executive board on critical campaigns involving their respective unions. Bertelli discussed the Hostess bankruptcy and what his union is doing to support members who worked for the company, while Kane explained how the Mine Workers are fighting back against attempts by Patriot Coal to squirm out of its obligations to members and retirees. The board unanimously approved statements fully backing both unions’ efforts. April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG_X.indd 11 Guard include overseeing inspections and compliance, marine transportation systems, and commercial regulations and standards. He covered three main topics in his speech: the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC); the most recent amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW); and maritime piracy. Servidio described the MLC as “one of the most significant pieces of international legislation to come out of the United Nations system in the recent past.” It is known as a bill of rights for mariners. He pointed out that it takes effect in August and serves as a revision and consolidation of 37 separate existing International Labor Organization conventions. While the U.S. meets or exceeds most if not all minimum standards in the new convention but hasn’t signed off on it, “that doesn’t mean we’re not interested in ratifying this most important convention…. I’ve made it a high priority within the Coast Guard to do what is necessary to move this to the Senate” so they’ll facilitate ratification, he explained. After thanking SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (who is also an official for the International Transport Workers’ Federation) for “his leadership and tremendously significant contributions to this most important effort” of advancing the MLC around the world, Servidio pointed out that if America doesn’t ratify it by August, U.S. ships will be subject to the convention’s standards when calling on nations that have approved it. For that reason, the Coast Guard will offer a certificate of voluntary compliance for qualified U.S.-flag vessels at their request. Turning to the STCW convention, Ser- vidio thanked maritime labor for providing valuable feedback that helped the agency avoid hastily issuing new regulations. Nevertheless, the amendments “require action by our government – in this case, the promulgation of regulations necessary to implement these amendments and to assure that U.S. seafarers and U.S. shipping maintain an equal footing with international competitors.” Regulations for the final rule have been developed and “are going through the final stages of review within the government,” he said, adding that he expects them to be posted “in the very near future.” Finally, he offered a detailed look at the Coast Guard’s anti-piracy work, and said that while significant progress has been made, piracy remains “an issue of grave concern to the U.S. and the Coast Guard and one that I know is of interest to all seafarers…. We can’t let our guard down.” Speaking of maritime labor as a whole, Servidio stated, “We have continually enjoyed a collaborative relationship with our seafarer organizations…. Our partnerships with the maritime community at large reflect our commitment to protecting seafarers’ and (other) workers’ interests, which I personally discussed as recently as last fall when I met with many of the union leaders present today.” He described union members as “the eyes and ears of our maritime community, and a vital component of any maritime safety and security system…. The Coast Guard is well aware of the contributions made by mariners in both our domestic and our international shipping, and how important shipping is to the U.S. economy. You play an instrumental role in keeping us safe and secure, and facilitating commerce and trade. I’m committed to making sure we do good by you, because you do good by us.” Seafarers LOG 11 3/28/2013 6:47:20 AM �2013 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting Ron Ault President Metal Trades Department Joseph Nigro President SMART Robert Scardelletti President TCU James Callahan President Operating Engineers Tom Bethel President AMO Mike Jewell President MEBA Michel Desjardins President SIU of Canada Walter Wise President Iron Workers Jim Chalmers, President Lower Great Lakes & Tributaries Port Council of Canada Ron Krochmalny President Michigan Maritime Trades Port Council Warren Fairley International VP Boilermakers Bernard Hostein Asst. to President Steelworkers Daniel Duncan Exec. SecretaryTreasurer MTD Scott Winter Vice President MTD George Tricker VP Contracts SIU Dean Corgey VP Gulf Coast SIU MTD at a Glance The Maritime Trades Department is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. It was formed in 1946, and its 23 affiliates include the SIU. Altogether, those unions represent more than 5 million members. The MTD also features 21 port maritime councils. SIU President Michael Sacco also serves as MTD president, a post to which he most recently was reelected in 2009. The coverage on pages 9-13 reflects some of the happenings at this year’s MTD executive board meeting, which took place Feb. 21-22 near Orlando, Fla. Check out the MTD’s website (maritimetrades. org) for additional information about the department. Lynn Tucker General VP Machinists Gunnar Lundeberg President SUP Anthony Poplawski President MFOW Ken Rigmaiden Exec. General VP Painters As the meeting ended, the MTD honored James Williams (center), president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, who is retiring. MTD President Michael Sacco (left) presented him with a ship’s wheel; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (right) also joined in the salute along with the MTD executive board and guests. Ralph Maly Vice President CWA Joseph Condo International VP TCU Desiree Gralewicz Secretary-Treasurer SIU of Canada Brian Bryant Chief of Staff to VP Machinists Sito Pantoja General VP Machinists Morris Harvey President American Merchant Marine Veterans Nick Marrone VP West Coast SIU Tom Orzechowski VP Great Lakes SIU Joseph Soresi VP Atlantic Coast SIU Don Nolan Vice President Paul Hall Center 12 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 12 Brian Schoeneman Legislative Director SIU James L. Henry Chairman, Board of Directors American Maritime Partnership John Baker President Cleveland Port Maritime Council April 2013 3/26/2013 7:27:04 PM �2013 AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Board Meeting ITF Official Describes Challenges, Opportunities Pointing to recent successes and big developments on the horizon, Acting International Transport Workers’ Federation General Secretary Steve Cotton said the coming months and years will be ripe with opportunity for the international labor movement. “The world is changing,” Cotton said during a speech to the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meeting near Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 21. “We have a responsibility … to challenge ourselves to deliver a brighter future for working men and women.” Cotton singled out piracy, the upcoming implementation of the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC) and the changing face of the ITF as where the challenges and opportunities lie. Much can be done, he added, if the international labor community continues to work together. Concerning piracy, Cotton spoke of the recent drop in Somali pirate attacks, while adding the ITF and its allies would continue to fight back where the threat remains. “Yes, the situation is changing on the Indian Ocean, but there are still many people in the world looking to use piracy as an opportunity to make a fast buck and using seafarers as hostages for that money,” he said. “The battle goes on with piracy and we have to continue responding to the issue.” Part of that response is being led by the ITF Seafarers Trust, whose trustees are chaired by SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. The trust has contributed more than $1.4 million to help piracy victims and their families. “It helps the families of seafarers when their loved ones are being held hostage, but it also helps the seafarers when they return home to come to terms with life after being held in captivity,” Cotton said. “There’s a lot of good work being done there. We’ve challenged the industry to put (more) money in the pot to treat them.” As for the upcoming implementation of the MLC, Cotton said the convention will not only improve mariners’ rights around the world, but could also help those seafarers advance their standard of living. The MLC is set for implementation in August 2013 and is widely considered a “bill of rights” for seafarers, providing minimum workplace standards for mariners worldwide. “The Maritime Labor Convention is a convention to protect everybody, particularly those who don’t have union agreements. But we in the ITF don’t feel it’s just legislation,” Cotton said. “We believe it should be used as a mighty weapon to raise standards, irrespective of flag.” He added that every ITF inspector has been given training on the convention by the International Labor Organization. “And they’ll be using every part of that legislation to make sure seafarers receive protections similar to those working under collective bargaining agreements,” Cotton said as applause filled the room. As the international labor climate continues to change, Cotton said the opportunities for organizing and expansion could only grow. He used the story Shwe Aung, an ITF inspector for the SIU, to illustrate International solidarity was evident at the meeting, including among (from left) Acting ITF General Secretary Steve Cotton, ITF Inspector Shwe Aung, SIU of Canada President Michel Desjardins, Indonesian Seafarers Union President Hanafi Rustandi and SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who chairs the ITF Seafarers’ Section. the way the international community works together to achieve common goals. Years ago, after being blacklisted in his home country of Burma for pro-union activities, Aung journeyed first to Venezuela and Brazil and then made his way to Texas to apply for asylum. For Aung, returning to anti-union Burma at the time would have likely resulted in prison. Thanks to help from the ITF and SIU, Aung was granted asylum and has worked in Texas ever since. But with Burma undergoing political changes that once again allow for union activities, Aung has the opportunity to periodically return home and organize his fellow countrymen. Situations like that, Cotton said, illustrate how important it is for the international labor community to work together and how things could continue to improve. “It’s the epitome of what the ITF is all about,” he said. Headquartered in London, the ITF has approximately 760 affiliated unions, including the SIU. Collectively, those unions represent more than 4.6 million members. Investing in Union Projects a Win-Win Sportsmen’s Alliance Affords Various As president and managing director of the AFL-CIO’s Investment Trust Corp. (ITC), Michael Stotz often gets to dispel the myth that investing in unionbuilt and -serviced construction projects results in measly returns. “I get the opportunity to say, ‘no, quite frankly it’s the contrary,’” Stotz said during a speech Feb. 22 at the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO executive board meeting near Orlando, Fla. “We have skilled workers, we have excellent contractors. We see that as a strength and we do it day-in and dayout.” The truth, he added, is investing in union-built and -serviced projects not only brings about impressive returns, but also provides thousands of workers with union jobs and the good pay and benefits that come with them. In short, everybody wins. And he has the numbers to prove it. His organization – which coordinates Michael Stotz, President AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corp. April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 13 with the pension community to fund those union projects – currently has more than $1.6 billion worth of new projects in the pipeline and is raking in record returns on its investments. Those projects include everything from a $420 million building in New York City to undertakings in places as far away as Chicago, Seattle and Minneapolis. “Right now the (ITC’s) Building Investment Trust has more projects in construction or under development than any time in the history of the program,” Stotz said. “Experts have said our portfolio is very well-balanced and in great shape.” That’s good news, he added, for union workers as well. “Today, across the country, thousands of union members are working because of active Building Investment Trust construction projects,” Stotz said. “Once those jobs are completed, every service and maintenance jobs in those buildings will be union. Those service contracts will ensure permanent union jobs long into the future.” Pointing to these facts, Stotz said the labor movement could have an even bigger political and economic impact if it decided to invest more in such projects. If just 10 percent of the more than $4 trillion sitting in public and private union pension funds across America was leveraged for similar projects, Stotz said more union jobs would be created and the world – especially enemies of the labor movement – would take notice of the success. “They are already paying close attention, hoping that we fail,” Stotz said. “Our projects and our jobs are only limited by our ability to secure union pension dollars.” The result, Stotz added, would be a victory for the labor movement, union workers and the country’s overall economy. “What better case could you make for the power of solidarity?” he said. Events for Unions’ Outdoor Enthusiasts With millions of union members regularly the television show “Your Brotherhood Outenjoying outdoor activities like hunting and fish- doors” – a program that was recently voted the ing, the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) has most popular hunting and fishing show on the found great success in focusing on where the in- Sportsmen’s Channel. terests of the labor movement and outdoor enthu“We’re proud to inform and engage millions siasts meet. of outdoors men and women,” Myers said. In a speech to the Maritime Trades DepartHe added the strong link between union workment, AFL-CIO executive board meeting near ers and the outdoors was not much of a surprise Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 22, – more than 6 million of USA Executive Director the 13 million active union Fred Myers said those intermembers working with ests are more common than AFL-CIO-affiliated unions many people realize. Formed take part in hunting, fisha little over five years ago to ing, shooting, camping or advance causes important to some other outdoor activity. union members and outdoor Without the opportunities enthusiasts, the USA now provided by having the good has more than 60,000 mempay and benefits of a union bers and has done a tremenjob, Myers said, many of dous amount of good across those workers would likely the country. not have the opportunity to “They’re passionate enjoy those activities in the about their families, they’re first place. passionate about their jobs “However they enjoy the and their union and they’re outdoors, their union plays passionate about their love a huge, huge part in makfor the outdoors,” Myers said ing their outdoor way of of the USA members. “Being life possible,” Myers said. a sportsman or woman is not “Without a good union job something these folks do; it’s and without a fair wage and who they are.” safe working conditions and With its flagship Boots excellent health care and Union Sportsmen’s Alliance on the Ground program, the Executive Director Fred Myers guaranteed time off, it would be USA gathers its highly skilled impossible for these millions of union members from a variety union sportsmen and women to of unions and trades to volunteer on outdoors- … have the opportunity to pursue their outdoor related projects that revitalize communities and passions.” show residents the value of union workers. The Thanks to the formation of the USA, Myers result, Myers said, has been more outdoor offer- said those members now have an organization ings and a public that better understands the role that not only advances their outdoor interests, but union workers play in their communities. helps to secure the good union jobs that provide “They’re empowering outdoors men and the opportunity to explore those interests. women and creating good will,” he said. “They’re “For the first time in the history of the labor putting forth a positive image of our union part- movement these union sportsmen and women ners in key communities where they live and have an outdoor home,” Myers said. “The USA work. That is what the Union Sportsmen’s Alli- is truly a union of the outdoors.” ance is all about.” More information is available at unionsportsThey also have a national presence through men.org. Seafarers LOG 13 3/26/2013 7:27:06 PM �4/13 14 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 14 April 2013 3/26/2013 8:42:58 PM �3 Mariners Should Check TWIC Expiration Dates Seafarers are reminded to check the expiration dates on their federally issued Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC), particularly now that the first documents issued back in 2007 have begun expiring. Mariners weren’t required to secure TWICs until April 2009, but the cards were available beginning in October 2007. So, any of the TWICs issued at that time with five-year expiration dates are due for renewal. Additionally and as previously reported, the Transportation Security Administration is offering certain TWIC holders the option of replacing their expiring TWICs with a three-year Extended Expiration Date (EED) TWIC. That credential costs $60 and may be obtained via a single trip to an enrollment center. Detailed information about the three-year credential is available directly from the TSA at 1-866-347-8942, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and at www.tsa. gov/twic. Due to the large number of workers requesting EED TWICs, the agency requests that individuals order the EED TWIC “no sooner than four months prior to your current TWIC expiration date.” Personals Retired Seafarer Matt Carroll would like to hear from other retired or active mariners in the El Paso, Texas, area. Matt may be reached at: 1011 N. St. Vrain Street, El Paso, TX 79902. Former member John Merriam submitted the following message: I am in the process of publishing books about two trips I took in the 1970s and am searching for photographs of the Delta C-2, S.S. Del Valle, and a T-2 stretched out to about 600 feet called the S.S. Producer. The Producer was renamed American Rice. If you have photos of either of these ships, please send a copy to me at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle: 4005 20th Ave. West, #110, Seattle, WA 98199. Charlie Smith, QMED who sailed out of New Orleans in the 1990s, please contact your old shipmate Jimmy Sabga at (905) 727-4858. May & June 2013 Membership Meetings Piney Point.............................................Monday: May 6, June 3 Algonac...................................................Friday: May 10, June 7 Baltimore..............................................Thursday: May 9, June 6 Guam.............................................Thursday: May 23, June 20 Honolulu...............................................Friday: May 17, June 14 Houston...............................................Monday: May 13, June10 Jacksonville.......................................Thursday: May 9, June 6 Joliet................................................Thursday: May 16, June 13 Mobile..........................................Wednesday: May 15, June 12 New Orleans...........................................Tuesday: May 14, June 11 New York.......................................Tuesday: May 7, June 4 Norfolk...............................................Thursday: May 9, June 6 Oakland...........................................Thursday: May 16, June 13 Philadelphia...................................Wednesday: May 8, June 5 Port Everglades................................Thursday: May 16, June 13 San Juan..............................................Thursday: May 9, June 6 St. Louis.................................................Friday: May 17, June 14 Tacoma..................................................Friday: May 24, June 21 Wilmington..............................................Monday: May 20, June 17 Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 15 Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea February 12, 2013 - March 15, 2013 Port Total Registered All Groups A B C Total Shipped All Groups A B Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 16 2 11 12 3 7 58 49 11 8 17 51 17 26 5 2 13 42 2 35 387 6 1 5 10 3 7 12 38 4 6 7 26 25 8 3 2 6 16 1 21 207 3 1 0 2 0 1 3 3 3 2 3 2 4 1 1 0 1 6 1 4 41 Deck Department 24 11 1 0 9 3 11 11 3 3 3 3 41 6 23 13 11 5 16 5 15 3 48 7 14 12 17 5 3 1 3 0 8 2 33 8 2 1 30 16 315 115 3 0 0 3 0 0 5 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 1 1 23 0 0 1 7 0 2 21 9 1 4 6 18 4 10 1 1 2 8 0 17 112 23 6 6 25 5 20 83 74 9 17 18 68 28 44 12 0 12 66 7 82 605 18 4 7 17 7 8 24 41 8 6 5 44 44 11 5 3 16 30 5 47 350 3 4 2 6 2 1 4 2 4 1 4 6 13 3 1 0 7 3 2 6 74 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 2 0 5 6 0 7 16 19 3 5 6 15 10 10 5 2 2 18 2 25 158 7 2 3 7 1 4 15 14 1 1 2 9 20 10 3 2 6 10 1 16 134 1 0 1 4 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 18 Engine Department 8 4 1 2 5 4 8 1 3 0 7 1 26 10 18 7 7 4 8 2 5 2 12 9 7 16 7 3 2 1 1 0 1 4 11 3 2 2 9 8 148 83 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 11 0 1 3 2 0 2 10 2 0 0 3 5 4 3 0 0 2 4 0 3 44 3 1 7 14 1 17 33 45 3 10 4 26 24 16 7 3 3 26 2 33 278 11 1 5 7 1 9 15 26 3 2 4 19 30 11 5 5 15 17 1 28 215 3 0 2 3 0 0 3 6 1 0 0 7 0 4 1 0 1 2 1 8 42 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 4 0 5 12 1 16 16 26 2 5 7 22 12 17 3 5 2 18 3 28 204 2 0 1 6 2 2 6 8 0 4 1 8 8 3 0 2 3 5 1 6 68 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 Steward Department 2 4 0 1 3 2 10 1 2 2 6 1 7 7 19 8 1 1 6 1 5 0 15 4 7 6 12 1 2 0 7 3 1 1 16 2 2 1 23 1 146 47 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 1 4 0 0 3 12 0 1 1 5 6 6 0 0 1 4 1 9 54 9 0 8 13 3 24 31 33 3 9 8 30 16 26 3 2 5 27 4 58 312 4 2 0 6 2 3 9 11 3 2 2 13 16 4 0 2 3 7 2 6 97 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 2 2 3 0 0 3 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 22 Algonac Anchorage Baltimore Fort Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston Jacksonville Joliet Mobile New Orleans New York Norfolk Oakland Philadelphia Piney Point Puerto Rico Tacoma St. Louis Wilmington TOTALS 4 0 0 0 0 3 4 4 2 1 3 4 0 4 0 0 2 9 0 7 47 10 3 6 7 2 8 9 12 7 3 3 26 13 12 1 1 0 8 0 17 148 6 0 0 5 0 8 6 16 3 1 2 14 31 4 1 1 0 4 0 14 116 Entry Other 2 19 0 0 0 4 0 8 0 1 4 3 1 6 3 6 2 9 0 4 1 0 6 10 0 6 2 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 7 0 0 3 3 30 97 1 0 1 0 0 4 3 5 0 0 0 2 14 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 34 0 0 0 3 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 13 4 0 0 0 0 4 7 5 1 2 3 12 1 6 1 0 2 14 0 12 74 19 3 2 8 0 13 18 19 1 2 5 43 29 16 2 4 0 10 1 45 240 18 0 0 5 1 15 6 26 3 2 3 32 40 13 3 2 3 10 0 43 225 GRAND TOTAL: 796 557 187 639 76 223 1,269 902 363 342 C Trip Reliefs Registered on Beach All Groups A B C Seafarers LOG 15 3/26/2013 7:27:09 PM �Inquiring Seafarer Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco, President Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer George Tricker, Vice President Contracts Tom Orzechowski, Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast Kermett Mangram, Vice President Government Services HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001 (810) 794-4988 ANCHORAGE 721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4988 BALTIMORE 2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224 (410) 327-4900 GUAM P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932 Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B 422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910 (671) 477-1350 HONOLULU 606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St., Houston, TX 77002 (713) 659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256 (904) 281-2622 JOLIET 10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 723-8002 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 478-0916 Editor’s note:This month’s question was answered by SIU members in Piney Point, Md. maraderie with the guys. We have a lot of fun. It’s hard work sometimes, but it’s a lot of fun. Question: What do you miss about home when you’re at sea and what do you miss about seafaring when you’re at home? Keith White Deckhand When I’m at sea I miss my daughter. She’s my whole life – I couldn’t imagine life without her. When I’m at home, I miss making money and I miss the ca- Damien Bautista QMED I don’t really miss anything about home. I can’t wait to get out (to sea). I really like the routine. I like having something to do. When I’m at home I have to find something to occupy the day. I don’t like being bored throughout the day. Jason Babbitt OMU When I’m at sea I miss my loved ones; I miss my girlfriend. And I miss the freedom of sleeping in late and going to Burger King to grab a burger. When I’m at home I miss being able to see the sights and check out all these new places. And I like keeping busy and that’s kind of hard to do when you’re at home. You can only do so much stuff. Ryan Papa Wiper (At sea) I miss having the highspeed Internet. You don’t really get much of that at sea. I usually try to get what I can from the Internet before (shipping out) so I can take it out with me. (At home) I miss getting paid and keeping my mind busy. Work is work anyway you look at it, but I like the mental challenge. I miss being with them and being on land. When I’m at home I start missing work after some time. You’ve got this gap afterward. You always have to make an adjustment during the first couple of weeks. Whether you’re first getting on the ship or whether you’re just getting home, you’ve got to make that adjustment. Salah Saleh GUDE (At sea) I miss my family. I like going out with them and Pic-From-The-Past NEW ORLEANS 3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 328-7545 NEW YORK 635 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718) 499-6600 Government Services Division: (718) 499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 622-1892 OAKLAND 1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 444-2360 PHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674 (301) 994-0010 PORT EVERGLADES 1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 522-7984 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos Ave., Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (787) 721-4033 ST. LOUIS/ALTON 4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 752-6500 TACOMA 3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 272-7774 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 Seafarers gather at the New York hall for a membership meeting in early 1947. The union’s headquarters was located in New York until 1982. If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org 16 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 16 April 2013 3/26/2013 7:27:14 PM �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 FRANKLIN BANDOH Brother Franklin Bandoh, 68, was born in Ghana. He became an SIU member during the 2001 merger with the National Maritime Union. Brother Bandoh sailed in the steward department. In 2001, he attended classes at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point, Md. Brother Bandoh’s most recent ship was the Lt. Col. Calvin P. Titus. He settled in Houston. REYNALDO DIMACALE Brother Reynaldo Dimacale, 64, joined the union in 1980. He initially shipped on the Bay Ridge. Brother Dimacale sailed in the deck department and upgraded on numerous occasions at the Piney Point school. He is a native of Manila, Philippines. Brother Dimacale most recently sailed aboard the Oakland. Ha calls San Leandro, Calif., home. NANCY HEYDEN Sister Nancy Heyden, 59, signed on with the Seafarers in 1982. Her first trip was aboard the Independence; her last was on the Overseas Luxmar. Sister Heyden frequently upgraded at the maritime training center in Piney Point, Md. The former steward department member lives in Houston. MILTON ISRAEL Brother Milton Israel, 63, became a union member in 1968. He first worked on the Monticello as an engine department member. Brother Israel took advantage of educational opportunities at the Piney Point school. His most recent vessel was the Eagle. Brother Israel makes his home in Jacksonville, Fla. MICHAEL LANDESS Brother Michael Landess, 64, joined the SIU ranks in 2000. His earliest trip was aboard an OLS Transport Limited vessel. Brother Landess was born in Pittsfield, Ill. He sailed in both the steward and deck departments. Brother Landess enhanced his skills in 2008 at the Piney Point school. He most recently sailed on the ATB Brownsville. He settled in Jacksonville, Ill. JACK MADDEN Brother Jack Madden, 55, donned April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 17 the SIU colors in 1990. His first voyage was aboard the Overseas New Orleans; his most recent was on the North Star. Brother Madden was a member of the deck department. He was born in Seattle and makes his home in Olympia, Wash. FREDERICK MEIER Brother Frederick Meier, 65, began his seafaring career in 1990. He initially shipped aboard the USNS Vindicator. Brother Meier was born in New York and sailed in the deck department. In 1995, he attended classes at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Meier most recently sailed on the USNS Pathfinder. He calls Panama City, Fla., home. GUADALUPE PASTOR Brother Guadalupe Pastor, 66, signed on with the SIU in 2000 while in the port of New York. As a member of steward department, Brother Pastor upgraded in 2001 at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md. He originally worked on the Grand Canyon State. Brother Pastor’s last trip was aboard the 2nd Lt. John Paul Bobo. He is a resident of Bronx, N.Y. MANUEL PENA Brother Manuel Pena, 65, was born in Spain. He joined the SIU in 2001 as the NMU merged into the Seafarers International Union. His most recent trip was aboard the Freedom. Brother Pena, a member of the deck department, enhanced his skills on three occasions at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He lives in Houston. EROWIN UDAN Brother Erowin Udan, 51, became a union member in 1985 while in the port of Honolulu. He first worked on the Constitution as a deck department member. Brother Udan took advantage of educational opportunities at the Piney Point school. His final vessel was the Green Cove. Brother Udan makes his home in Waipahu, Hawaii. INLAND GEORGE COX Brother George Cox, 55, donned the SIU colors in 1979 in Wilmington, Calif. He worked with Crowley Towing & Transportation of Wilmington for the duration of his career. Brother Cox worked in both the engine and deck departments. He attended classes often at the Paul Hall Center. Brother Cox resides in Cathedral City, Calif. JAMES GATES Brother James Gates, 64, started shipping with the union in 1971 while in Baltimore. He first sailed on the Gulf Atlantic. Brother Gates last sailed with Moran Towing of Maryland. He is a resident of Grass Valley, Calif. Jacksonville. The deck department member lives in Jacksonville, Fla. PEDRO REYES Brother Pedro Reyes, 63, became a union member in 1977. He originally worked aboard the San Juan. Brother Reyes is a native of Puerto Rico. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Reyes’ most recent trip was with Crowley Puerto Rico Services. He settled in San Juan. CHARLES RICHARD Brother Charles Richard, 49, signed on with the union in 1982. He primarily sailed in the engine department of vessels operated by Crescent Towing of New Orleans. Brother Richard makes his home in Terrytown, La. HENRY TULEWICZ OTTO HEBERT Brother Otto Hebert, 62, began sailing with the SIU in 1974. He initially sailed with Inland Tugs. Brother Herbert worked in the deck department. He was last employed on the Boomtown. Brother Hebert calls Terrytown, La., home. the Piney Point school. The deck department member’s most recent trip was aboard the American Mariner. Brother Brzezinski settled in Rogers City, Mich. THOMAS SKOWRONEK Brother Thomas Skowronek, 65, was born in Michigan. He began sailing with the SIU in 1968. Brother Skowronek first worked with Huron Portland Cement. The deck department member’s most recent ship was the St. Clair. Brother Skowronek lives in Alpena, Mich. NATIONAL MARITIME UNION PAUL CASSON Brother Henry Tulewicz, 62, donned the SIU colors in 1966 while in the port of Philadelphia. He first sailed with Meyle Towing Company. Brother Tulewicz was born in Pennsylvania. He was most recently employed with Taylor Marine Towing Company. Brother Tulewicz is a resident of Clementon, N.J. Brother Paul Casson, 55, joined the NMU in 1978. He is a native of Colorado. Brother Casson last worked aboard the Cape Horn. He now calls Bremerton, Wash., home. GREAT LAKES JOHN O’NEAL Brother John O’Neal, 60, joined the SIU ranks in 1990 while in the port of Jacksonville. His earliest trip to sea was on the USNS Wilkes. Brother O’Neal upgraded in 2000 at the Paul Hall Center. His most recent trip was with Crowley Towing & Transportation of ALBERT BRZEZINSKI Brother Albert Brzezinski, 61, started his SIU career in 1977. The Pennsylvania native initially shipped on the Saginaw Bay. In 2007, Brother Brzezinski attended classes at FRANCIS ETTNER Brother Francis Ettner, 65, became an NMU member in 1967. His final trip was on the Sohio Intrepid. Brother Ettner was born in Illinois and now makes his home in Midland, Texas. This Month In SIU History Editor’s note: The following items are reprinted from previous editions of the Seafarers LOG. 1945 One of the most important agents’ conferences held in the entire history of the SIU, a conference out of which came many vital policy and organization decisions, closed in Chicago after laying a course for the union in the post-war period. Out of the conference came a unity and spirit of cooperation between the various districts which hold the promise of great gains for the union during the difficult days which lie ahead. Among the important decisions reached by the conference was to establish equal shipping rights for all SIU-SUP members on all coasts; to reduce the transfer fees from district to district; to demand revision of the so-called “Seamen’s Bill of Rights;” and to establish more efficient inter-district machinery to handle strikes and lockouts. 1963 The SIU-manned Floridian became the first U.S. merchant ship fired on by Cuban jets when she was attacked about 50 miles north of Cuba. The 2,200-ton Floridian was strafed by two Russianbuilt MIG aircraft while returning from Puerto Rico on her weekly run. Circling the ship for 20 minutes, the jets alternately buzzed and fired machine gun bursts across the ship’s bow and stern. None of the shots hit the ship, and no one was injured. The attack came in the same water between Cuba and Florida where, on Feb. 20, Cuban-based MIGS fired rockets at the American shrimp boat Ala. 1965 The SIU told a subcommittee of the Joint Economic Committee recently that the costs to the government of shipping government-generated cargoes could be substantially reduced by building new American-flag bulk carriers which would be able to carry these at lower rates and still operate profitably. The Subcommittee on Federal Procurement and Regulation, headed by Senator Paul H. Douglas of Illinois, has been holding hearings on ocean freight rates in an attempt to determine if the government is paying excessively high rates for government-generated cargoes and if these rates have an inflationary impact on commercial rates. The SIU’s statement was submitted for inclusion in the subcommittee’s record. 1968 As a result of vigorous protests by the SIU and management officials of the unsubsidized sector of the United States merchant marine, the Maritime Administration has set slightly higher – but still inadequate – guideline rate ceilings for U.S.-flag vessels carrying full loads of government-sponsored cargoes effective Jan. 1. The main objection of the SIU and the industry to MARAD’s method of establishing ceilings for the so-called 50-50 cargo rates has been that they discriminate against the more efficient intermediate-sized vessels – those between 15-500 tons and 39,999 tons – and cater to higher-cost smaller ships. Seafarers LOG 17 3/26/2013 8:43:01 PM �Final Departures DEEP SEA MACK CARRUTHERS Pensioner Mack Carruthers, 89, died September 20. Brother Carruthers started sailing with the Marine Cooks & Stewards in 1978. He initially worked aboard the President Madison. Brother Carruthers was born in Memphis, Tenn. The steward department member last shipped on the Philadelphia. Brother Carruthers retired in 1988 and settled in Seattle. ROBERT GORBEA Pensioner Robert Gorbea, 82, passed away August 27. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Brother Gorbea joined the union in 1951. He first sailed aboard the Seatrain Texas. Brother Gorbea was a deck department member. Prior to his retirement in 1995, he shipped on the Elizabeth. Brother Gorbea continued to call New York home. STANLEY JANDORA Pensioner Stanley Jandora, 95, died September 27. Brother Jandora became an SIU member in 1944. He sailed aboard the Steel Apprentice early in his career. Brother Jandora was born in New Jersey and worked in the deck department. His final trip was on the Wilson in 2004. Brother Jandora made his home in Tinton Falls, N.J. CURTIS LANG Pensioner Curtis Lang, 80, passed away September 14. Brother Lang began shipping with the Seafarers in 1967. He originally sailed aboard a vessel operated by Mt. Vernon Tankers Corporation. Brother Lang was a member of the engine department. He last worked on the Quality. Brother Lang continued to reside in his native state, Florida. JOSEPH STANTON Pensioner Joseph Stanton, 80, died September 20. Brother Stanton first donned the SIU colors in 1951. The deck department member was born in Philadelphia. Brother Stanton’s first trip was aboard the Ft. Hoskins. His final ship was the USNS Wright. Brother Stanton became a pensioner in 1991. He was a 18 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 18 resident of Pennsylvania. INLAND EUGENE BRADSHAW Pensioner Eugene Bradshaw, 75, passed away August 26. Brother Bradshaw signed on with the SIU in 1979. His earliest trip was with Stc. Holly S Company. Brother Bradshaw was born in Virginia. Before his retirement in 1999, he worked for Piney Point Transportation. Brother Bradshaw lived in Onley, Va. HARRY WROTEN Pensioner Harry Wroten, 100, died September 24. Brother Wroten was a Virginia native. He joined the union in 1962 and sailed with McAllister Towing of Virginia for the duration of his career. Brother Wroten started collecting his pension in 1985. He called Smithfield, Va., home. GREAT LAKES JACK POVASER Pensioner Jack Povaser, 75, passed away September 14. Brother Povaser started shipping with the union in 1987. He primarily worked in the Great Lakes division, initially with Great Lakes Associates. Brother Povaser was born in Ashland, Wis. He sailed in both the engine and steward departments. Brother Povaser most recently sailed on the Walter J. McCarthy. He retired in 2009 and made his home in Superior, Wis. Editor’s note: The following brothers and sisters, all former members of the National Maritime Union (NMU), have passed away. VICTOR ALCOCER Pensioner Victor Alcocer, 87, died September 29. Brother Alcocer was born in Houston. He went on pension in 1987. Brother Alcocer made his home in Spring, Texas. GUILLERMO BASTIAN Pensioner Guillermo Bastian, 86, passed away August 18. Brother Bastian, a native of Puerto Rico, started collecting his retirement compensation in 1973. He continued to live in Puerto Rico. ANTONIO BERNAL Pensioner Antonio Bernal, 89, died September 7. Born in Spain, Brother Bernal became a pensioner in 1986. He called Miami home. tive of Washington State. Brother Byrd lived in Richmond, Va. SHIRLEY BYRD Pensioner Shirley Byrd, 83, passed away August 23. Sister Byrd, a native of Detroit, went on pension in 1997. She made her home in Gretna, La. FRANCIS CARL Pensioner Francis Carl, 90, died November 18. Born in Washington, D.C., Brother Carl started receiving his retirement compensation in 1966. He lived in Temple Hills, Md. WILLIAM FERRELL Pensioner William Ferrell, 81, passed away September 13. Brother Ferrell was born in South Carolina. He retired in 1986 and settled in Charleston, S.C. ARMANDO GOMES Pensioner Armando Gomes, 90, died September 16. Brother Gomes was a Trinidad native. He became a pensioner in 1971 and called Brooklyn, N.Y., home. PAULA GONZALEZ Pensioner Paula Gonzalez, 103, passed away August 19. Brother Gonzalez, a native of Puerto Rico, began collecting his pension in 1972. He resided in Riverdale, Ga. JOSEPH GREEN Pensioner Joseph Green, 90, died September 18. Born in Honduras, Brother Green went on pension in 1969. He lived in Port Charlotte, Fla. CARROL GUNDERSON Pensioner Carrol Gunderson, 86, passed away September 25. Brother Gunderson was born in Seattle. He retired in 1996 and was a resident of Buckley, Wash. ALBERT HOLZENDORF Pensioner Albert Holzendorf, 82, died September 1. Brother Holzendorf was a Florida native. He started receiving his retirement pay in 1995. Brother Holzendorf made his home in Oceanside, Calif. ARNOLD BROWN Pensioner Arnold Brown, 98, passed away August 7. Brother Brown was born in Honduras. He retired in 1984 and resided in New Orleans. JOSE JIMENEZ Pensioner Jose Jimenez, 93, passed away September 11. Brother Jimenez, a native of Arecibo, P.R., became a pensioner in 1985. He continued to reside in Puerto Rico. LESLIE BYRD Brother Leslie Byrd, 84, died September 7. Brother Byrd was a na- EDWIN JOYNER Pensioner Edwin Joyner, 93, died September 26. The Florida-born mariner went on pension in 1965. Brother Joyner called Jacksonville, Fla., home. CHARLES KAYSER Pensioner Charles Kayser, 84, passed away September 19. Brother Kayser was born in Illinois. He began collecting compensation for his retirement in 1968. Brother Kayser made his home in Mobile, Ala. WAVERLY LONG Pensioner Waverly Long, 90, died December 16. Born in Danville, Va., Brother Long began sailing with the union in 1946. He started receiving his pension in 1987. Brother Long lived in Norfolk, Va. ROBERT MATTHEWS Pensioner Robert Matthews, 80, passed away August 27. Brother Matthews was a native of Victor, N.Y. He retired in 1997 and resided in New Jersey. BESSIE MCBRIDE Pensioner Bessie McBride, 93, died July 28. Sister McBride was born in West Virginia. She became a pensioner in 1970. Sister McBride called Naples, Fla., home. SAYED MOHAMED Pensioner Sayed Mohamed, 92, passed away September 2. Brother Mohamed, a native of Sudan, went on pension in 1967. He settled in Springfield, Va. CLAUDE NORTON Pensioner Claude Norton, 85, died September 3. Brother Norton began receiving his retirement pay in 1971. Brother Norton was a resident of Salem, Mo. JESUS OCASIO Pensioner Jesus Ocasio, 85, passed away September 6. Brother Ocasio was born in San Juan, P.R. He retired in 1972 and continued to make his home in Puerto Rico. CHARLES PACHECO Pensioner Charles Pacheco, 83, died September 29. He was born in New Bedford, Mass. Brother Pacheco went on pension in 1992. He was a resident of Oreland, Pa. CHARLES RAY Pensioner Charles Ray, 71, passed away August 18. Brother Ray was born in Rolla, Mo. He became a pensioner in 1994 and called Summerville, S.C., home. sion in 1973. Brother Rosenstein resided in Corpus Christi, Texas. GUILLERMO SALGADO Pensioner Guillermo Salgado, 89, passed away September 3. He was born in Honduras. Brother Salgado began receiving his retirement pay in 1988. He lived in New Orleans. PACO SANCHEZ Pensioner Paco Sanchez, 84, died August 15. Brother Sanchez, a native of Puerto Rico, retired in 1985. He settled in East Longmeadow, Mass. CHESTER SLIWA Pensioner Chester Sliwa, 91, passed away September 9. Brother Sliwa was born in Chicago. He went on pension in 1986 and made his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. LLOYD SUMPTER Pensioner Lloyd Sumpter, 92, died September 19. Brother Sumpter was a Florida native. He became a pensioner in 1991. Brother Sumpter called Los Angeles home. KENNETH THOMPSON Pensioner Kenneth Thomson, 85, passed away September 25. Born in Horton, Kan., Brother Thompson started collecting his retirement pay in 1965. He was a resident of Sulphur, La. RAYMAN WHITE Pensioner Rayman White, 82, died August 7. Brother White was born in Portland, Ore. He retired in 1990 and settled in Seattle. MARCOS ZEPEDA Pensioner Marcos Zepeda, 89, passed away September 20. Brother Zepeda, a Houston native, went on pension in 1967. He lived in Harwood, Texas. Name Age Benjamin, Robert 73 Dejesus, Jose 64 Forre, Knut 81 Frazier, Eldridge 90 Gonzalez, Andres 93 Gonzalez, Manuel 86 Jackson, Robert 93 Jaronczyk, Henry 87 Mccaskill, Charles 84 McLaughlin, Wilbur 88 Monsanto, Hans 88 Moore, Howard 90 Murray, Louis 78 Paglinawan, Albert 91 Paz, Anibal 87 Richard, William 80 Rivera, Juan 87 Rodriguez, Roberto 76 Rosado, Ruperto 89 Sargent, James 84 Shields, William 69 Torres, Brunaldo 92 Williams, Ernest 82 DOD Oct. 14 Sept. 9 Sept. 7 July 25 Nov. 22 Aug. 3 Aug. 7 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 July 1 Sept. 3 Sept. 26 Sept. 27 Nov. 18 Aug. 13 Oct. 11 Sept. 17 Oct. 13 July 30 Nov. 17 Sept. 25 Oct. 13 Oct. 28 PHILIP ROSENSTEIN Pensioner Philip Rosenstein, 87, died August 22. Brother Rosenstein was a native of Manhattan, N.Y. He started collecting his pen- April 2013 3/26/2013 7:27:20 PM �Digest of Shipboard Union Meetings CHARGER (Maersk Line, Limited), January 25 – Chairman Robert Pagan, Secretary William Bragg, Educational Director Olie Webber. Chairman announced upcoming payoff in Los Angeles. Crew was reminded to turn in room keys when signing off. He mentioned the terminal now requires all personnel transiting the yard to wear hard hat and safety vest. SIU official will be on board upon ship’s arrival. He gave a vote of thanks to the steward department. Educational director urged everyone to upgrade and ensure documents are up-to-date, including TWIC. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported mattresses need to be replaced. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. With Seafarers Aboard USNS Bob Hope COMET (Maersk Line, Limited), January 6 – Chairman Khaled Munassar, Secretary Cleto Lindong, Educational Director Rene Rosario, Engine Delegate Lonnie Carter, Steward Delegate Reynaldo Ricarte. Chairman thanked deck gang and DEU for working hard, and thanked entire crew for working safely. Educational director encouraged fellow members to donate to SPAD, the union’s voluntary political action fund, and stay current on dues. No beefs or disputed OT reported. New washing machine will be taken aboard in Long Beach, Calif. Crew thanked steward department for “demonstrating an extraordinary ability to make the most beautiful Christmas and New Year’s celebrations” and for overall excellent food and a job well done. Next port: Long Beach. He reviewed company’s safety incentive program and ship’s fund. Vessel may be in Houston for a while undergoing repair. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Newark, N.J. EAGLE (Maersk Line, Limited), January 12 – Chairman Scott Heginbotham, Secretary John McGill, Educational Director Samir Elbaguer, Engine Delegate Brandon Granger, Steward Delegate Alonzo Belcher. Chairman saluted galley gang for job well done over the holidays. EL MORRO (Interocean American Shipping), January 24 – Chairman Nathaniel Leary, Secretary Rafael Cardenas, Educational Director Joseph Letang, Deck Delegate David Denizac, Engine Delegate James Emidy, Steward Delegate Tracey Newsome. Chairman encouraged SIU Wilmington, Calif., Safety Director Abdul Al Omari snapped this photo aboard the military support ship USNS Bob Hope earlier this year. Pictured from left to right are (front) Chief Cook Ahmed Qoraish, Bosun William Henderson, AB Joshua German, (back) Wiper Robert Brady, OS James Washington and Recertified Steward Robert Mosley. The vessel is operated by American Overseas Marine. Apprentice Earns Safety Award Congratulations to Unlicensed Apprentice Jacob Gaskill (above) for recently earning Horizon Lines’ Safety Sailor of the Month award, for his work aboard the Horizon Enterprise. Vessel Master Ron Radicali kindly passed along the photo and following notation indicating that Jacob, “Having been found to be an outstanding shipmate – conscientious in his duties, safety conscious and considerate of all is hereby being recognized for such noble effort amongst his peers, performed in a safe manner and entitling him for recognition as Safety Sailor of the Month.” April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 19 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. fellow Seafarers to upgrade at union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. He also reminded everyone to keep documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed time off and payroll items. LIBERTY GLORY (Liberty Maritime), January 6 – Chairman Tyronne Burrell, Secretary Abraham Martinez, Engine Delegate Donald Bernard, Steward Delegate Dawn Johnson. Chairman announced upcoming payoff in Orange, Texas, and also encouraged crew members to know the contract. Educational director reminded everyone to keep documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported, but deck and engine crews needed clarification on penalty OT. Crew also discussed shipboard safety and requested a new dryer and direct deposit. MAERSK CAROLINA (Maersk Line, Limited), January 27 – Chairman Brian Fountain, Secretary Ali Matari, Educational Director Kevin Cooper, Deck Delegate David Freeman, Steward Delegate Medardo Thomas. Crew awaiting response on question about imminent danger pay. Chairman reported another safe trip with no lost-time injuries. This makes 3,118 days. He thanked everyone for their professionalism and especially the steward department for their good work. Secretary encouraged members to read Seafarers LOG to stay updated. He also urged Seafarers to donate to SPAD “because when you do, you help yourself as well as your union brothers.” Educational director advised mariners to upgrade at union-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate thanked other departments for helping keep the house clean. Crew made a number of detailed suggestions for next contract. MAERSK MISSOURI (Maersk Line, Limited), January 6 – Chairman Brian Corbett, Secretary Glenn Bamman, Educational Director Jerome Culbreth, Deck Delegate Dudley James, Engine Delegate Albert Riollano, Steward Delegate Brian McEleney. Chairman reported good voyage and thanked crew for their work. He said to check with union concerning updated physical exam rules. Secretary said it was a good voyage with a good crew, and reminded everyone to leave cabins clean for reliefs. Educational director encouraged mariners to upgrade and keep documents current. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to steward department. They asked for clarifications on shipping rules pertaining to rotary shipping. Next ports: Elizabeth, N.J., Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va. MAERSK MONTANA (Maersk Line, Limited), January 13 – Chairman Robert Lindsay, Secretary Michael Carello, Educational Director Eddie Almodovar, Engine Delegate Robert Orloff, Steward Delegate Edward English. Chairman reported safe voyage and upcoming payoff. He reminded members to stay current on dues. Educational director encouraged fellow mariners to upgrade. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted that Seafarers LOG is available in print and on the union’s website. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. They asked for information about how STCW amendments may affect day work. MAERSK WYOMING (Maersk Line, Limited), January 20 – Chairman Roan Lightfoot, Secretary Kenneth Hagan, Educational Director Joe Grandinetti, Deck Delegate Mohamed Mazid, Steward Delegate Stanford Drakes. Chairman thanked crew for keeping ship clean and managing garbage. He mentioned company policy of no garbage except food scraps to be thrown over the side. He urged Seafarers to contribute to SPAD. Secretary said they are still waiting on details about crew’s move to a replacement vessel. Educational director encouraged members to upgrade at Paul Hall Center and to use the SIU website. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Vote of thanks given to steward department for excellent holiday meals. Crew made general and specific recommendations for improving medical, dental and pension benefits, including eligibility requirements. They also expressed appreciation for the recently secured standard contracts, which included wage increases and other gains despite the current hostile climate toward organized labor. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. OVERSEAS ANACORTES (OSG), January 6 – Chairman Tony Beasley, Secretary Khaled Taffi, Educational Director Melvin Ratcliff, Deck Delegate Feliciano Gimutao. Chairman thanked steward department for job well done during the holidays. He also thanked deck and engine gangs for doing good jobs and working safely. He thanked all those who donate to SPAD. Secretary also thanked members for SPAD donations and noted union forms are available. Educational director encouraged Seafarers to apply for the SHBP scholarship, keep documents current, and upgrade at Piney Point. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Parts were received for washing machines. Seafarers LOG 19 3/26/2013 8:43:03 PM �Oiler Burns Mothershed and ABs Junior Rankin and Neil Nelson Sheila McDevitt Chief Mate Justin Lewis Mako Snapshots from Ft. Lauderdale Bosun Richard Hamilton and Port Agent Kris Hopkins Sheila McDevitt Jacksonville Safety Director Ashley Nelson and AB Alvin Clark Sheila McDevitt Ft. Lauderdale Port Agent Kris Hopkins submitted these photos from the M/V Sheila McDevitt, the tug Mako and ATBs Courage and Innovation. AB Jarrod Nix, Engineer Rino Skoblar, Cook Joe Jones and DDE Travis Hudgins Innovation Engineer Jeff Altzner Mako Capt. Jon Richardson and Chief Cook Carlicia Jones Courage Steward Donna Peterson Sheila McDevitt AB Tankerman Dwayne Love Mako Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters 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 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 by certified mail, return receipt 20 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 20 requested. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat. Members should know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, he or she should contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the union, officer or member. 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 ACTIVITY DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but not limited to, furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are 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 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746. April 2013 3/26/2013 7:27:26 PM �Paul Hall Center Upgrading Course Information The following is a schedule of courses at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., for the next few months. All programs are geared toward improving the job skills of Seafarers and promoting the American maritime industry. Please note that this schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the maritime industry and—in times of conflict—the national security. Students attending any of these classes should check in the Saturday before their course’s start date. The courses listed here will begin promptly on the morning of the start dates. For classes ending on a Friday, departure reservations should be made for Saturday. 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 Date of Completion Title of Course Start Date Date of Completion Basic Firefighting/STCW April 13 May 11 June 15 April 19 May 17 June 21 Government Vessels April 15 May 6 June 3 April 19 May 10 June 7 Tank Pic Barge May 4 May 10 Deck Department Steward Department Upgrading Courses Lifeboatman/Water Survival April 27 May 25 June 22 May 10 June 7 July 5 STOS April 27 May 10 Able Seaman May 11 June 7 Radar Renewal (One day) May 28 May 28 Radar Observer May 4 May 17 ARPA May 18 May 24 Bosun Recertification July 13 August 5 Fast Rescue Boat April 27 June 15 May 3 June 21 Engine Department Chief Steward April 13 July 6 May 24 August 16 Serve Safe June 8 June 14 Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. Chief Cook These modules start every other week. The next class will begin April 12. Advanced Galley Operations These modules start every Monday. NOTICE National Maritime Center Website Provides Valuable Mariner Resources The National Maritime Center (NMC), the licensing authority for the U.S. Coast Guard, offers a comprehensive website covering mariner credentialing, medical guidelines and much more. The site features a wide range of applications and forms, deck- and engine-department exam information, lists of Coast Guard-approved courses and more. Seafarers are encour- aged to check out the site at: http://www. uscg.mil/nmc/ Mariners may call the NMC at 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662). Operational hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. (The NMC is closed for all federal holidays.) Various email forms also are available through the NMC website. Designated Duty Engineer Prep May 4 June 15 July 6 July 27 May 17 June 28 July 19 August 9 Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations (BAPO) May 18 June 14 FOWT April 20 June 15 May 17 July 12 Notice to Students Junior Engineer May 4 June 28 Marine Refer Tech May 4 June 14 Welding May 4 June 1 May 24 June 21 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. Safety Upgrading Courses Basic Firefighting/STCW March 23 March 29 UPGRADING APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________ Date of Birth __________________________________________________________________ Deep Sea Member o Lakes Member o Inland Waters Member o If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Social Security #_______________________ Book # _________________________________ Seniority_____________________________ Department_____________________________ Home Port____________________________________________________________________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________________ Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? o Yes o No If yes, class # __________________________________________________________________ Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? o Yes o No If yes, course(s) taken____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five (125) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date your class starts, USMMD (z-card) front and back or relevant pages of merchant mariner credential, front page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, qualifying seatime for the course if it is Coast Guard tested, 1995 STCW Certificate, valid SHBP Clinic Card and TWIC. April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 21 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, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or fax to (301) 994-2189. The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, of 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. 4 /13 Seafarers LOG 21 3/26/2013 7:27:27 PM �Paul Hall Center Classes Unlicensed Apprentice Water Survival Class 769 – Eighteen individuals, Phase I unlicensed apprentices as well as upgraders, completed this 60-hour course Feb. 15. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Steven Baker, Daniel Briggs, DeAnthony Cole, Bobby Conner, Gary Dalbec, Colton Edmiston, Jason Fuller, Andrew Graham, Romeo Isorena Jr., Ricardas Juska, Samuel McClure, Matthew Meehan, Kevin Parrilla-Alicea, Joseph Pelerin, Peter Plathan, Eddie Solichin, Curtis Walker and Jeffrey Watts. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Welding – Ten upgraders finished this four-week course March 1. Those graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Chris Bongard, Scott Ciatto, James Dillon, Michael Durago, John Ingold, Matthew Keese, Brittenne Kelly, Terrance Meadows, Darnell O’Hara and Anthony Riddick. Class Instructor Buzzy Andrews is at the far left in the back row. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Basic Auxiliary Plant Operations (BAPO) – Fourteen Phase III unlicensed apprentices and upgraders completed their requirements in this 63-hour course Feb. 22. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Jose Alicea-Sanchez, Sean Geddie, David Gentsch, Julio Gomez, Arvin Heras, Jason Knapp, Zeljko Krizan, Thomas Leroy, Ali Malahi, Michael Pirch, Alisia Scheurer, Brett Scott, Joseph Spencer and Yolanda St. Clair. Tim Achorn, their instructor, is at the far left. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Electronic Chart Display Information System – The following upgraders (above, in alphabetical order) graduated from this course March 1: Dennis Blackman, Dustin Carter, Michael Harris Jr., Matthew Jenness, Enchantress Johnson, Oleg Pankratov, James Tank and Kwamena Watson. Brad Wheeler, their instructor, is at the far left. BAPO – Three upgraders graduated from this course Feb. 22. Completing their requirements (above, in alphabetical order) were: Julio Gomez, Zeljko Krizan and Thomas Leroy. Class Instructor Tim Achorn, is at the far left. Designated Duty Engineer – Twelve individuals graduated from this course Feb. 8. Completing their requirements (above, in alphabetical order) were: Michael Bosarge, Marty Bush, Larry Conway, John Creel, James Hilliard, Jerry Jones, Tony Menotti, Jerry Mock, John Noel, Roger O’Bier, Rusty Orgeron and Paul Parker. Class Instructor Scott Ciatto is at the far left. BST – Two classes of upgraders completed their requirements in this course March 1. Those graduating (right, in alphabetical order) were: Marie Acosta, Saad Al-Aqel, Martin Arcenio Jr., Deborah Artis, Larry Bradley, Robert Brown, Richard Deane, Daniel Denaeu, Andrew Devine, Saleh Elhubishi, David Gentsch, Julio Gomez, Richard Gould, Marlon Green, Raymond Henderson, Kayle Hower, Vincent Igneri, David Joaquin, Daniel Luglio, Rashaad Mangram, Robert Maschmeier, Fermin Morin Jr., Holly Norick, Robert Owens, Emma Porter, Walter Ritvalsky, Michael Sivells, Jeff Van Slambrouck, Edward Villanda, David Wakeman, Keith White and Prescilo Zuniga. Class Instructors Wayne Johnson Jr., and Wayne Johnson Sr., are at the far left and far right respectively. 22 Seafarers LOG 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 22 April 2013 3/26/2013 7:27:34 PM �Paul Hall Center Classes Able Seaman – The following individuals (left, in alphabetical order) completed this course March 1: Ali Ali, Ahmed Ali, Brian Beasley, Valerio Bellezze, Tania Carson, John Cragin, Richard Flores, Priscilla Greene, Christopher Hughes, Peter Mertz, Nathan Nicholson, Leo Onofrio, Angela Puchalsky, Ervin Sadler, William Sculley, Derrick Siefke and Burton Uys. Class Instructor Tom Truitt is second from the right in the back row. Important Notice to 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. Machinist – Seven upgraders finished their requirements in this course Feb. 8. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Christopher Bongard, Michael Durago, Gregory Holsey Jr., Fernando Ortega, Francisco Ramilo, Jesse Tornabene and Jimmie Williams Jr. Class Instructor Steve Haver is at the far right. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Government Vessels – Six Seafarers graduated from this course March 15. Completing their requirements (above, in alphabetical order) were: Volodymyr Bendus, Brandon Braam, Antionne Kelly, Wilson Peniston, Jennifer Ramirez and John White. Mark Cates, their instructor, is at the far right. Steward Department Classes – A pair of Seafarers recently completed steward department courses. Graduating and the courses they finished were Sheltia Wright (advanced galley operations) and Henry Bigelow (chief steward). April 2013 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 23 Machinist – Eight Seafarers completed the enhancement of their skills in this course March 1. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Bentley Arrundell, Damien Bautista, Tyesha Boyd, Herman Castro, Prentice Conley, Wilbert Hinton, Joe Nimcho and Patrick Sullivan. Steve Haver, their instructor, is at the far left. Medical Care Provider – Four mariners completed their requirements in this course Feb. 15. Graduating (above, in alphabetical order) were: Darryl Bence, Donald Bishop, Mana Muhsen and Gary Torres. Class Instructor Mike Roberts is at the far left. Steward Department Classes – Four upgraders recently finished steward department classes. Those graduating and their respective courses (above, in alphabetical order) were: Munasser Ahmed, galley operations; Walter Barnes, galley operations; Sheryl Farmer, advanced galley operations; and Fernando Lopes, advanced galley operations. Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation – Nine upgraders graduated from this course Feb. 22. Finishing their requirements (above, in alphabetical order) were: Jimmy Copeland, Michael Harris, Matthew Jenness, Enchantress Johnson, Nichoas Kempker, Jermaine McGhee, Oleg Pankratov, Rudy Puerto and Kwamena Watson. (Note: Not all are pictured.) Certified Chief Cook – Two upgraders recently graduated from this course. Completing their requirements (above) were Brion Lanata (left) and Michael Fernandez. Seafarers LOG 23 3/26/2013 7:27:43 PM �Volume 75, Number 4 April 2013 Paul Hall Center Course Dates Page 21 Park Offers Great Chance to Honor Seafarers, Others Engraved Bricks Available for Walkway at Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg School Seafarers, their families and friends and the companies that employ them now have the opportunity to ensure those they care about will always be recognized and remembered within the maritime community. That opportunity is coming with the construction of a waterfront park at the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. The park will feature a brick walkway where bricks can be donated and engraved to honor individuals, groups and organizations. The donation of a brick also comes with an entry in the project’s namethe-park contest. Seafarers Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen, who is helping oversee the project, said the engraved bricks “offer a chance to honor our heritage and keep it alive. This is a great opportunity not only to preserve SIU and school history, but also to acknowledge individuals and organizations. In fact, that’s true even if they have no direct tie to Piney Point or the Seafarers – a brick can be donated for anyone.” While the proceeds from the brick donations will be used to offset some of the costs of the phases of the waterfront reconstruction, the larger goal of the project is to beautify the area while giving people the chance to share This is the area where the walkway and waterfront park will be built. The order form and an electronic version of this sample brick (photo at left) are posted at www.seafarers.org/SIUbricks.htm memories and honor others in a lasting way. Bricks can be ordered to commemorate everything from departed loved ones and remarkable class instructors, to heroic rescues and memorable crews. The possibilities are practically limitless and the engravings don’t have to be related to the school or the union. Bricks are available in two sizes, and ordering information is available online at www.seafarers.org/SIUbricks.htm. The sizes include a traditional-sized brick (4 x 8 inches x 2.25) with three lines of engraving for a donation of $125 and a larger brick (8 x 8 inches x 2.25) with six lines of engraving for a donation of $250. The larger version also may be ordered with a corporate logo and up to three lines of text (subject to space limitations based on the logo) for a donation of $300. The park and walkway are part of a multi-stage restoration project for the school, which has resulted in more than 1,500 feet of old piers being replaced on the waterfront and as well as more than 1,000 feet of seawall. The restoration project has also included a new concrete pier and floating marina, a new pier site for the M/V John Fay training vessel, a single point davit with fast rescue capability and a new lifeboat davit with new lifeboats. Questions about the brick program may be emailed to SIUBricks@seafarers.org Waterfront Park Will Contain Brick Honoring Late, ‘Fun-Loving’ Recertified Steward When Bill Eglinton first heard about the SIU’s commemorative brick program, a smile spread across his face. He instantly knew who he wanted to honor. He could already picture the name appearing on the brick. That name was Luis Escobar. Known to Eglinton and others as a fun-loving and generous recertified steward, Escobar was murdered in his Florida home in 2007. While Escobar’s death was tragic, Eglinton said he saw the brick program as way to shine a positive spotlight on his gregarious friend. “Of course, it was devastating when we got the news,” said Eglinton, a retired director of vocational education at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg School. “But when I heard what they were going to do (with engraved bricks) I thought I would sure like to dedicate a brick to Luis on his behalf.” The brick bearing Escobar’s name will take its place in a waterfront walkway at the Paul Hall Center’s Lundeberg School in Piney Point, Md. It will join a large collection of engraved bricks ordered by Seafarers, families, companies and others as a way of ensuring certain individuals, groups and crews will always be remembered within the maritime community. “It will be a memorial for us,” Eglinton said of one aspect of the brick program. “I’m at the school regularly, so I’ll get to go often and reminisce.” 15044_APRIL2013LOG.indd 24 He added it’s fitting that Escobar will find a permanent place in Piney Point. The two men met there during a summer crabbing session in the 1990s and shared many happy memories at the campus. Their friendship began when Escobar generously offered Eglinton and his son, Ryan, a bucket full of nearly three dozen crabs, and continued until his death. “Luis became a part of our family that summer and we came to learn about this caring, humorous, loving man,” Eglinton said. “He was just a fun-loving Seafarer.” Their memories at the school also included a once-in-a lifetime family meeting during Escobar’s graduation from the recertified steward program in 1998. Escobar had one daughter living in Colombia and another Living in Buffalo, New York; he arranged to have the two girls meet for the first time at his graduation ceremony. “Immediately, both girls started screaming each other’s names while running toward the stage,” Eglinton recalled. “There was not a dry eye in the place.” Eglinton said he and his wife, Sharon, are still in touch with Escobar’s daughter Paula. He added they’ll be sure to let her know about the brick honoring her father in Piney Point. “Maybe one day she would like to come and visit the school and see it with Luis’ The late Recertified Steward Luis Escobar (right) smiles as his daughters grandson,” Eglinton said. “It would be a re- meet in Piney Point, Md., in 1998. ally touching thing.” 3/26/2013 7:27:47 PM � 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 2010-2019 Description An account of the resource Volumes LXXII-LXXXI of the 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010-2019 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 April 2013 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES NATIONAL SECURITY DEPENDS ON STRONG U.S. -FLAG FLEET UNION WELCOMES NEW JOBS AS NAVY CHRISTENS USNS MONTFORD POINT U.S. SENATORS URGE PRESIDENT OBAMA TO MAINTAIN FOOD FOR PEACE PROGRAM JONES ACT HAS NO ROLE IN FUEL PRICES MTD SPEAKERS DRAY BLUEPRINT FOR REVITALIZATION INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, MILITARY AND LABOR LEADERS PUSH FOR STRONG U.S. FLEET NAVY CHRISTENS USNS MONTFORD POINT AT GENERAL DYNAMICS NASSCO SHIPYARD CHSI, GCR BRIEF OFFICIALS ON NEW CLINIC SYSTEM GAO REPORT REFUTES JONES ACT CRITICS STUDY FINDS CABOTAGE LAY GOOD FOR PUERTO RICO PEREZ PICKED FOR LABOR SECRETARY SEAFARING FATHER, SON SAIL TOGETHER AGAIN ACTING LABOR SECRETARY HARRIS ADVOCATES VIEW THAT UNIONS ARE KEY TO MIDDLE-CLASS RESURGENCE U.S. ADMIRALS PRAISE MARINERS’ WORK, COOPERATION BETWEEN UNIONS, AGENCIES ‘ITS UP TO USE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN’ HAWAII GOVERNOR: ‘WE CAN WIN THIS THING’- EXECUTIVES AGREE, JONES ACT VITAL FOR AMERICA ITF OFFICIAL DESCRIBES CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITY SPORTMEN’S ALLIANCE AFFORD VARIOUS EVENTS FOR UNIONS’ OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS MARINERS SHOULD CHECK TWIC EXPIRATION DATES PARK OFFERS GREAT CHANCE TO HONOR SEAFARERS, OTHERS WATERFRONT PARK WILL CONTAIN BRICK HONORING LATE, ‘FUN LOVING’ RECERTIFIED STEWARD 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/01/2013 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. 75, NO. 4 2013 Periodicals Seafarers Log